Apparatus for Facilitating the Withdrawal of Props and other objects in Coal and other Mines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Facilitating the Withdrawal of Props and other
objects in Coal and other Mines.
I, DANIEL EVANS, of Rose Villa, Spelters, Maesteg, Glamorgan, Coal Miner,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in apparatus for facilitating the withdrawal of props
and other objects in collieries and other mines. Among other objects besides props
the withdrawal of which is facilitated are trams and tram rails when buried by
falls.
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In coal and other mines much valuable timber is abandoned owing to difficulty
in getting the props or arms out of the positions which they occupy. "Buried
trams and tram rails are at times abandoned for the like reason.
Now, the apparatus which constitutes' this invention is 'devised to enable such
objects, to be dislodged and their recovery thus facilitated.
The apparatus consists of a screw which works in a screw-threaded bush provided
for it in a nut in a suitable frame.
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At one end the screw carries a ratchet handle fitted with a pawl. By this handle
the screw is rotated. 'At the other end the screw is furnished with a hook for
attachment of a chain attached' also to the "object to be dislodged. The
frame carrying the nut in which the screw works is adapted for attachment to
props or other supports..,It can be set so that the screw may assume a horizontal
or vertical or diagonal position. "The frame having been fixed and 'the attachment
with the object to be dislodged having been made, the screw is turned until the
object is sufficiently dislodged that it can be further withdrawn either with or
without the further aid of the apparatus.
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The frame is fitted with removable legs free to open out and close on pivot pins
passed through lugs provided on the frame. The legs are applied to the frame
and made to support it when it is not secured to other supports as above set forth.
Dated this 4th day of April 1898.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.
Apparatus for Facilitating the Withdrawal of Props and other
objects in Coal and other Mines.
I, DANIEL EVANS, formerly of Rose Villa, Spelters, Maesteg, Glamorgan, and
now of 82, Caerau Road, Caerau, Maesteg, Glamorgan; Coal Miner, do
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page_text: .
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 follow-
ing statement:-
This invention consists in apparatus for use in collieries and other mines for
the purpose of facilitating withdrawal of roof props and the like from positions
where they, after having served the purpose for which they were so placed, are no
longer required thereat. The apparatus is also designed for facilitating withdrawal
of other objects such as trams and tram rails buried by falls from the roof or sides,
or otherwise so obstructed as to be somewhat difficult to dislodge.
As is well known, much valuable timber in the form of props and the like, is
abandoned in collieries and other mines owing to the difficulty of dislodging it
from the positions in which it has been placed and in which it becomes firmly held
by the pressure exerted by the roof or sides, or from other causes. Buried trams
and tram rails and other objects are also occasionally abandoned on account of
the same or like difficulty.
The apparatus which constitutes this invention is devised to enable such timber
and other objects to be dislodged, withdrawn and so recovered.
The apparatus consists of a screw-threaded spindle arranged to work in screw-
threaded nuts carried in a suitable frame which may have detachable legs arranged
in tripod or other convenient form. At one end the screw-threaded spindle is
furnished with a ratchet, pawl and handle adapted to work after the manner of
a ratchet-base and thus to rotate the spindle. At the other end the spindle is
shaped as a hook or an eye for connection to a chain or rope which is also connected
to the object to be dislodged for recovery. The frame can either be fixed direct to
supports or, as aforesaid, it may have legs on which to stand.
In practically applying the apparatus to the purpose aforesaid, the frame is first
fixed or set, and attachment is then made, by a chain or rope, to the prop or other
object which is to be dislodged. The screw spindle is then turned in the required
direction, and in this manner, the object is dislodged and its further withdrawal
and recovery facilitated.
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Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents, in elevation
apparatus arranged and constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.
is a plan, and Fig. 3 a section on the line x, x, Fig. 2.
The apparatus consists of a screw-threaded spindle a arranged to work in a
nut b carried in the frame c. To the frame are fitted detachable legs d hinged or
pivotted by the pins e passed through them and the lugs f formed on the frame c.
The legs & may have pointed ends, as shown at Fig. 1, or be shod with discs, as
shown in side view at Fig. 4 and in plan at Fig. 5.
In the drawing, the spindle a is shown in a vertical position. The frame c
carries a second nut 61 horizontally disposed, that is to say, at a right angle or
approximately so to the nut b, as seen more particularly at Fig. 3. The spindle a
can be removed from the nut 6 and placed in the nut b¹, and vice versa. Again,
the direction of the spindle a can be further varied by setting the frame to the
required angle. In the wings of the frame c are holes c¹ to receive ropes or chains
by which the frame can be lashed or bound to posts, props or other supports when
the legs d are not in use. At one end the spindle a is fitted with a ratchet
wheel g, a pawl, and handle h arranged after the manner of a ratchet brace. At
the other end the spindle a has an eye i. Instead of an eye it may have a hook.
Instead of the ratchet-brace arrangement for rotating the screw, obviously other
means may be employed for the purpose.
In practically using the apparatus for the purpose of withdrawing props and
other objects from positions in which they have become jammed, buried or other-
wise obstructed in collieries and other mines, the frame c is fixed in the required
position in the road, gallery heading or other suitable place, and a chain or rope
is attached to the eye of the spindle a. The other end of the chain or rope is
connected to the object which it is required to dislodge and recover.
The spindle a
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page_text: is then turned in the proper direction, and thus the object to be withdrawn and
recovered is dislodged. After having been dislodged, the object, whether it be a
prop or a tram or a tram rail or other property, can be further withdrawn, either
with or without the aid of the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
Apparatus for dislodging and facilitating withdrawal of timber and other props,
trams and tram rails and other objects in collieries and other mines; said apparatus
consisting of a screw-threaded spindle such as a arranged to work in a corre-
spondingly screw-threaded sleeve or nut such as b or b¹ carried in a frame such as c
which is so contrived that it can be secured either directly to suitable supports by
lashing or otherwise, or supported on legs pivotally connected to the frame and
detachable therefrom; the said screw-threaded spindle being adapted for connection
by a chain or rope, or the like, to the object which is required to be dislodged,
substantially as hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1808
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.