Drum shapes as affecting the mine hoist duty cycle and motor rating

The standardization of mine hoists, from an engineering standpoint is considered impossible on account of the wide variation in the conditions and methods under which anthracite coal is mined. The problem of drum shape consists in varying the diameter of different parts of the winding drum so that the load may be accelerated and retarded at the beginning and end of its travel with the minimum consumption of power. Numerical examples of the performance of various drum shapes under assumed conditions are given.