-28B COALFIELDS AND COLLIERIES OF AUSTRALIA. 



tlie front skip. An inverted Y-shaped plank between the 

 rails throws the chain clear of the line, so there is no fear of 

 a loaded skip being derailed. 



The shaft, which is 300ft. deep, is fitted with .the usual 

 cage for holding two skips end on. The cage runs on steel 

 rail guides, which engage shoes attached to the ends of the 

 cage, except when at the top and bottom, of the pit where end 

 guides would be in the way of those running the skips on and 

 oft' the cages. The shoes being situated at the ends instead of at 

 the centre of the sides, keep the cage steadier when in motion. 

 The hoist is a duplex, horizontal, direct-acting engine, with 

 slide valves, and cylinders that are 26in. diameter, and a 

 4ft. 6n. stroke. The levers for manipulating this engine are 

 arranged at one side, instead of between the cylinders, as is 

 usual. The dial indicator is worked from the connecting rod 

 at the point where it is pinned on to the disc. 



Fig. 186. Skip Detacher. 



At the surface the skips are run into an end tippler, and 

 emptied on to a screen, which has a door across it to regulate 

 the quantity of coal that slides down, The slack falls into a 

 tray, which is weighed on an Avery machine. The round 

 coal falls into another tray, which is weighed on a similar 

 machine. Boys and men break up the lumps that show band 

 or brasses, and throw the dirt 011 one side before the coal is 

 emptied into waggons for the market. When not filled direct 

 into waggons, the slack is stored in wooden coal boxes. 

 There is a small hopper below the slack tray, which lias double 

 the capacity of the hopper ski]). The reason why this is 

 made to hold double the quantity is to allow room for the 

 slack to accumulate in case there is a delay, such as when the 

 hopper skip is engaged at another screen.' The hopper skip 



