An Expanding Stretcher for Inserting Timber in Excavated Trenches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Expanding Stretcher for Inserting Timber in Excavated
Trenches.
HENRY COLLISON Builder and Contractor No. 30 North Everard Street King's
Lynn, Norfolk, England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention consists of an iron sleeve fitted at one end with a bearing plate
and inside which is a screw working through a nut.
The opposite end of the screw is fitted with a bearing plate similar to that on the
sleeve. By turning the nut the distance between the two bearing plates is increased.
The object of the invention is to facilitate the fixing of timber in excavated trenches
such as for sewers, gas or water pipes. The expanding stretcher is first placed
between the whaling or longitudinal timbers and after being screwed up tight the
permanent wood stretcher is cut to the exact length required and the nut of the
expanding stretcher is then slacked back so that the wood stretcher takes the weight.
The operation of fixing the stretcher is effected in much less time than any other
method, there is no vibration due to knocking and the timber of the whaling is not
injured by the operation.
Dated this 11th day of May 1896.
HENRY COLLISON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Expanding Stretcher for Inserting Timber in Excavated
Trenches.
HENRY COLLISON, Builder and Contractor, No. 30 North Everard Street, King's
Lynn, Norfolk, England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention consists of an iron sleeve fitted at one end with a bearing plate
and inside which is a screw working through a nut.
The opposite end of the screw is fitted with a bearing plate similar to that on
the sleeve. By turning the nut the distance between the two bearing plates is
increased. The object of the invention is to facilitate the fixing of timber in
excavated trenches such as for sewers gas or water pipes.
The expanding stretcher is first placed between the waling or longitudinal
timbers and after being screwed up tight the permanent wood stretcher is cut to
the exact length required and the nut of the expanding stretcher is then slacked
back so that the wood stretcher takes the weight.
The operation of fixing the stretcher is effected in much less time than any other
method, there is no vibration due to knocking and the timber of the waling is not
injured by the operation.

page_text: Referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the expanding stretcher.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of same.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the spauner used to operate the nut.
In Figs. 1 and 2 D is the wrought iron sleeve to which is attached the disc
bearing plate E.
F is the screw working through the nut B. and attached to F is a second bearing
plate A.
C is a ring or washer to reduce the wear on the end of the sleeve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
(1.) An expanding stretcher or strut for timbering excavated trenches substan-
tially as described.
(2.) The application of the principle of the screw to the particular purpose above
referred to.
Dated this 6th day of August 1896.
HENRY COLLISON.