Improvements in Props and Supporting Framework for use in Mines, Quarries, and Tunnels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1890-Accepted, 2nd Aug.,
1890
Improvements in Props and Supporting Framework for use in Mines,
Quarries, and Tunnels.
I WILLIAM WILSON BARNES of Melbourne House Harrington in the County of
Cumberland Mining Engineer 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 and accompanying drawings:-
--
My Invention relates principally to the props and supports used in mines and
quarries for supporting the roofs and walls of workings and passages, adits and shafts
and has for its object to obtain strength combined with economy in cost of materials.
To this end I make use of iron or steel rails such as are rolled for railway or tramway
uses. For the purposes of my Invention I use crop ends or spoiled rails or wasters
that is to say rails which have been badly rolled or are otherwise unsuitable for their
intended uses.
Old rails which have been discarded for railway or tramway use can
also be rendered serviceable for the purposes of my Invention.
I cut the rails or pieces into suitable lengths if they are not already short enough
and I slot or notch or shape the ends of the pieces so that they can be framed together
or so that they can be wedged up as will be hereinafter indicated. In the cases of
simple props I provide the pieces so prepared with shoes or bearing plates.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I will refer in this place to
the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 of the said drawings represents a prop consisting of a length of flange or
vignole rail a, a sole plate 6 and a cap plate 61 these plates preventing the prop
ends from being forced into the floor and roof. I do not claim these plates as
novel apart from their combination with the lengths of rail of the indicated
character.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sole plate with the rail section indicated by dotted lines.
The two ends of the piece 6 have the web punched or cut away for a short distance
from each end so as to form a notch as indicated in Fig. 5. When the prop is in
position it can be tightened up so as to carry the weight of the roof by driving
wedges 62 into the notches at the top and bottom of the prop or a wedge may be
applied either at the head or at the foot alone. Figs. 3 to 9 in sheet 1 and Fig. 13 in
sheet 2 illustrate some of the formations of rail ends cut for the purposes of my
invention some of the Figs. representing rails of flange or vignole section and others
of double headed section.
In Fig. 10 are two props a. a resting upon shoes and carrying a cross piece c which
helps to sustain the roof of a level or passage. The flat foot part of the piece c is
turned upward so as to present a wide bearing surface to the roof the head part
resting in suitably shaped recesses cut in the upper ends of the props a. a. The
props a may be wedged up as in the case of Fig. 1. In Fig. 11 a bottom cross
piece d is added this construction being intended for use in cases wherein there is a
tendency for the floor to heave or rise. The props a would rest upon the floor rail d
the ends of the latter being cut somewhat as indicated in Fig. 8. or being suitably cut
for the purpose. In Fig. 12 a roof support c is sustained at one end by being let
into the wall and at the other end by a slanting prope which rests upon a sole plate
or shoe as in the cases of the props a. The roof support c is cut at one end as
indicated in Fig. 3 or is suitably notched or cut to enable it to bear well upon the
end of the prop. A vertical prop might in some cases support the other end of the
piece c. Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the application of the cut rails in the support of
the walls or sides of a shaft. Fig. 14 representing a vertical section of a shaft and
Fig. 15 a horizontal section. At intervals in the shaft lengths of flange or vignole
rail ff. are placed in horizontal positions on opposite sides of the shaft with their
flat feet in contact with the wood lining 9 of the shaft. Other lengths h. h of double

page_text: headed rail fit tightly between the pieces ff and keep them in position at the same
time supporting the other two walls of the shaft. The ends of the pieces fare cut in
the manner indicated in Fig. 13 so as to form shoulders which keep the lengths / from
yielding inward the ends of the lengths being notched out as indicated in Fig. 9 to
engage with the lengths f. In Fig. 14 the lengths fare sustained by lengths of rail i
which extend vertically from one length f to another and serve to prevent the dropping
of the parts fh and to keep the wall supports at regular distances apart. If preferred
the parts may be cut to receive wedges so that the wall supports may be forced tightly
against the lining. The vertical supports i may not be required in all cases.
Fig. 16 illustrates a modification suitable for circular shafts. In this example
vertical rails of flange or vignole section are placed with their flanges against the
wall of the shaft and are fished or connected together so as to forui continuous
supports which may extend from the top to the bottom of the shaft or as far as is
necessary. At intervals horizontal supports rest upon brackets which are bolted
or riveted the uprights k. The parts are curved to suit the shaft and are cut at
the ends to fit against the uprights & and if preferred may be bolted to the supporting
brackets. It will be seen that in the examples illustrated by Figs. 14 and 16 the
framework of rails may reach from the top to the bottom of the shaft, and would be
capable of withstanding an enormous lateral pressure. It must be understood that
similar combinations may be used in the lining of shafts or passages which are inclined
from the vertical. Fig. 17 illustrates a combination suitable for use in the formation
of a gateway or gangway. In this example two partly curved rails m. m rest upon
a cross rail.d as in Figs. 8 and 11 and are keyed together at the top by means of a
longitudinal rail n the ends of the rails m being cut out or recessed to fit the rail n.
The combination constitutes a strong arched opening. If preferred the connections
between the rails in this and in previously described examples may be secured by
means of corner brackets or fishes and of bolts or rivets. I do not confine myself to
the use of waste or old rails for the purposes of my invention as rails might be specially
rolled for the purpose with advantage owing to the greater facilities for the rolling
of such sections.
•
In all cases the rails may be punched with holes as may be required to facilitate
transport and erection. The application of my invention is attended with several
advantages in addition to the saving arising from the use of scrap material as for
example there is a saving of cost in consequence of the great strength of the supports
and of their comparatively indestructible character and also the use of such supports
will be attended with greater security to life and limb owing to the great strength
of the 'supports.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is.
1. The combination of parts of the formation and for the purposes substantially as
set forth and indicated.
2. The pit or mine props composed of lengths of rail recessed at the ends and of
shoes or sole and cap plates substantially as set forth and indicated.
3. The use for the indicated purposes of lengths of iron or steel "rails" cut out
at the ends or prepared to fit together substantially as set forth and indicated.
4. In the lining of pit or mine shafts lengths of iron or steel "rails" prepared to
fit together and combined substantially in the manner herein set forth with reference
to Figs. 14. 15 and 16 of the drawings hereto.
Dated this 24th day of June 1890.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.