The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

286 THE MECHANICAL HANDLING OF -MATERIAL The hand wheels are placed close to one another, so that when the brakesman is operating the ropeway with one brake, he has another immediately in reserve should anything fail. As a matter of fact, one brake strap will control the load; the other, therefore, serves as a spare one. The hauling rope passing round the upper brake wheel returns and passes round the tension wheel, then again returns to the brake gear, passes round the lower brake wheel, and in its turn is led to the head wheel and down to the carrier to which it is connected. Fig. 416. Last Stone being put in Position. For the loading of heavy weights, a lift, worked by hand, is provided in the loading position of the carrier on the 6-in. rope, which, as stated above, is the only one employed for the carriage of stone. The. lift, which is fitted with a moving platform provided with rails, is supported by locking gear in a position which brings the stone from the depot on the rails of a tramway. This having been done, the load is raised by operating a twin- grab winch, which simultaneously moves four ropes attached to the four corners of the platform. As soon as the stone has been raised sufficiently it is shackled to the running head, and the platform with the truck is allowed to descend slowly into a pit, which is sufficiently deep to allow the stone, suspended from the carrier, to pass over the platform