IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR FORMING SEWERS, TUNNELS, AND WAYS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abraham Rogers, of Field House, near
Bradford, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR FORMING SEWERS, TUNNELS, AND WAYS."
Sealed the 21st January 1853, and dated the 15th November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abraham Rogers
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Peti-
tion, on the 15th November 1852.
I, ABRAHAM ROGERS, of Field House, near Bradford, in the County
of York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR FORMING SEWERS, TUNNELS, AND
WAYS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of constructing an arched frame composed
of arched ribs of iron, on the upper surfaces of which are applied
0 several long metal plates, covering the arch, and which are made
capable of sliding longitudinally in a frame, so that they may be
moved forward in succession whilst the arched frame remains
stationary; and it is preferred that these long plates should, at their
fore ends, be provided with cutting edges, in order that they may

page_text: cut into the earth, if desired, as they are forced forward; so that
when all the plates have been forced forward any distance, and the
arched ribs have also been moved forward, they will offer an arched
roof over the space covered thereby, and the workman will be
ated from the falling in of the earth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Abraham Rogers in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ABRAHAM ROGERS, of Field House, near Bradford, in the County of
York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Abraham Rogers, Her special
licence that I, the said Abraham Rogers, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Abraham Rogers,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR FORMING SEWERS
TUNNELS, AND WAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I
the said Abraham Rogers, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to b
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Paten
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after th
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Abraham Rogers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner th

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say: -
This Invention consists of constructing an arched frame com-
posed of arched ribs of iron, on the upper surfaces of which are
applied several long metal plates covering the arch, and which are
made capable of sliding longitudinally in a frame, so that they may
be moved forward in succession whilst the arched frame remains
stationary; and it is preferred that these long plates should, at
their fore ends, be provided with cutting edges, in order that they
may cut into the earth, if desired, as they are forced forward; so that
when all the plates have been forced forward any distance, and the
arched ribs have also been moved forward, they will offer an arched
roof over the space covered thereby, and the workman will be
protected from the falling in of the earth; and in order that my
said Invention may be more fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
apparatus constructed according to my Invention, for working
through the earth and constructing of a drain, sewer, tunnels, or
ways; Figure 3, shows a side view, and Figure 4, an end view of
an apparatus suitable for making only the upper half of a drain,
tunnel, or sewer. a, a, are arched formned frames or bars connected
together, as shown by longitudinal bars b, b, between which the
plates c, c, slide, and are guided in their movement forward. In
working, the plates c, c, are driven forward, so as to support the
earth and to prevent its coming in as the interior earth is removed;
the earth on the interior can then be safely removed, and the arched
frame may then be moved forward, and a portion of a drain, tunnel,
sewer, or way built on the interior.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I would have
it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein shown and described, and the shape of the apparatus will

page_text: have to be varied when different forms of arches to those shown
are to be constructed; but what I claim is, the combination of
apparatus herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abraham Rogers, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
ABRAHAM ROGERS. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN ROGER PEARSON,
Field House,
near Bradford,
YORKSHIRE.