AND SUPPORTS FOR COAL AND OTHER MINES."
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Elliot, of Betley Hall, in the County of
Stafford, Colliery Owner, for the Invention of
AND SUPPORTS FOR COAL AND OTHER MINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Elliot at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
September 1863.
I, GEORGE ELLIOT, of Betley Hall, in the County of Stafford, Colliery
Owner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROPS AND SUPPORTS FOR COAL AND OTHER MINES," to be as follows:-
The use of props and cross pieces or bars in pits and mines for the purpose
of supporting the "roof," that is, preventing the rock measure or strata lying
over the coal or other seam from falling in and filling up the open space after
the coal has been wrought. For this purpose vertical props are sometimes
sufficient, as in the description of work known as the "long wall," where the
coal is got in lengths. In this case the props are set up close to the face or
wall to be worked, and as by degrees the getting of the coal proceeds fresh
props are set up close to the face of coal; those previously used are not
abandoned, but as soon as their support is no longer needed, the fall of the
roof not interfering with the progress of the work, they are taken out, and are
again put to use. In workings of this description props of timber and cast
iron have been used, but when the weight of the roof rests on the cast iron it
becomes brittle, and liable to fracture at any accidental blow it may receive.

page_text: The timber props are not all able to support the continuous and increasing
pressure of the roof, and break or bend below the weight, thus causing a
constant loss of material.
I have so far only alluded to the vertical props as sufficient for the support
of the roof in "long wall" work; but in cases of roadways, gateways, or
rolley-ways, technically denominated "narrow work," and driven the full height
of the seam when not more than six feet high, and generally about six feet
wide, which have to be kept open for the passage of workmen, horses, and
coals, the vertical props are not sufficient, and it becomes necessary, in addi-
tion to the uprights fixed along the sides, to place horizontal bars across the
roadway from one prop to the other. This kind of "timbering," as it is
technically called, is always made of wood, and from the many sources of
destruction wood is exposed to in pits, these props and bars require constant
renewal, thus causing considerable outlay in material and labour.
Now, my Invention consists, first, in making the props and horizontal pieces
of wrought iron instead of wood, whereby greater strength is obtained, and
more room is gained for the "gateways" or galleries. The wrought-iron props
may be of any convenient shape, but I prefer to form them with three ribs
springing from a centre, or with four ribs representing in section the shape of
a cross.
Secondly, in the employment of shoes of metal or wood to support the props
or uprights.
Thirdly, in interposing wooden blocks or distance pieces between the props
or uprights and the horizontal or cross piece.
And, fourthly, in forming the horizontal or cross piece with its two ends bent
at right angles, or nearly so, in order to grasp the props or uprights, and prevent
them coming loose owing to the deflection of the horizontal or cross piece.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Elliot in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ELLIOT, of Betley Hall, in the County of Stafford, Colliery Owner, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Elliot, Her special licence that I, the said George Eliot, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Eliot, 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 PROPS
AND SUPPORTS FOR COAL AND OTHER MINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said George Elliot, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Elliot, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
The use of props and cross pieces in pits and mines is for the purpose of
supporting "the roof," that is, preventing the rock measure or strata lying
over the coal or other seam from falling into the open space after the coal or
other mineral has, been wrought. In the working of coal and other mines,
props of timber and cast iron and cross pieces of timber have been used, but
when the weight of the roof rests on cast-iron props they become brittle and
liable to fracture. The timber props and cross pieces are not in all cases
adequate to support the pressure of the roof, and break or bend below the
weight, thus causing a loss of material. Both timber and cast-iron props have
a tendency to sink into the bottom or floor of the mine, their utility, is thus
lessened or destroyed, and the great size and weight of cast-iron props causes
their use to be most expensive. The pressure to which cross pieces are subject
renders it necessary that the timber employed in their construction should be
of considerable thickness, and this injuriously lessens the height of the passages
or galleries in the mine.
Now, my Invention consists, first, in making the props or uprights and the
horizontal cross pieces or bars of wrought or malleable iron instead of cast
iron or wood, whereby greater strength is obtained, less expense incurred,
and more room is gained for the passages or galleries of the mine. The

page_text: wrought or malleable iron props may be solid or hollow, and of any convenient
shape, but I prefer to form them with three ribs springing from a centre, as
seen in end view in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings, or with four ribs
representing in section the shape of a cross, as shown in Figure 2.
Secondly, in the employment of shoes of metal or wood to support the props
or uprights.
Thirdly, in interposing iron or wooden blocks or top pieces between the props
or uprights and the horizontal cross piece.
And, fourthly, in forming the horizontal cross piece with its two ends bent
at right angles, or nearly so, in order to grasp the interposed blocks or top
pieces or the said props, and prevent their coming loose owing to the
deflection of the horizontal cross piece.
Fifthly, in the use of horizontal cross pieces or bars of wrought or
malleable iron, with or without shoes or top pieces, in connection with props
or uprights, of whatever material composed.
Sixthly, in the use of shoes or footings for the reception and support of
props or uprights, of whatever material composed.
A, A, in Figure 3, are two wrougut or malleable iron props or uprights,
resting at bottom in shoes or footings B, B, of iron or wood; C, C, are iron
or wooden blocks or top pie
red between the props A, A, and the
horizontal bar or cross piece D. The horizontal bar or cross piece D is of
wrought or malleable iron, and the two ends thereof are bent down at right
angles, or nearly so, as shewn in the Figure, in order to grasp the interposed
blocks or top pieces C, C, or the said props A, A, and prevent their coming
loose, owing to the deflection of the bar D. E represents the sill or floor in
the mine.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my improve-
ments in props and supports for coal and other mines,―
First, making the props or uprights and the horizontal bars or cross pieces
of wrought or malleable iron, in manner and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Second, the employment of shoes of metal or wood to support the props or
uprights.
Third, interposing iron or wooden blocks or top pieces between the props or
uprights and the horizontal bars or cross pieces.
Fourth, forming the horizontal bars or cross pieces with their ends bent at
right angles, or nearly so, in manner and for the purpose herein-before
described.

page_text: Fifth, the use of horizontal cross pieces or bars of wrought or malleable
iron, with or without the use of shoes or top pieces, in connection with props
or uprights, of whatever material composed.
Sixth, the use of shoes or footings for the reception and support of such
props or uprights of whatever material composed.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Elliot, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and
sixty four
GEO. ELLIOT. (L.S.)