Improvements in Shoring and Strutting.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 23rd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shoring and Strutting.
I, WILLIAM BALMER, Miner, of 3, Northbourne Street, in the City and County
of Newcastle-on-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to shoring and strutting and has for objects simplicity,
efficiency and economy as compared with the present system.
The invention consists in the use of shores, pillars, props or struts constituted
by two or more tubular parts fitted together telescopic fashion, each lower part
being adapted to receive a filling to support the bottom of the next part above
and in this way the shores, pillars, props or struts can be used in various depths
by simply adjusting or varying the amount of the filling.
I have specially devised my invention for timbering in mines, and according
to one form of pit prop or chock embodying my improvements I employ two
metal tubes, one being of a less size than the other so that it may be placed
therein. The base of the larger tube rests in use upon the floor of the seam or
place to be shored, and for obtaining a firm foundation it may be provided
with a flange or foot-piece. Its upper end may also be similarly furnished.
This tube receives, by way of its upper end, a filling of stones, refuse or small
coal, or the like, the amount being determined by the depth of the seam or
place and the length of the other tube. This filling is tightly packed so that
it may form a firm bottom for the lower end of the second tube that is fitted
therein to complete the prop or chock which is knocked up to perform the usual
function with a wood or metal wedge or head-tree, or several of them, situated
between the roof and the upper end of the last mentioned tube, which end may
be flanged or otherwise disposed to procure a good bearing.
In the outer tube, I make holes so that if it be desired or necessary, owing
to surface creeps or other causes, to remove a portion of the filling without
disturbing the prop, then such may be easily effected by operating upon the
filling with an appropriate tool, such as a drill, inserted through any of the
holes. These holes may be adapted to be closed by caps or covers to prevent
the filling escaping.
The flanges at the upper ends of both tubes serve to receive or support
lengthening pieces if required.
The tubes may be parallel throughout their length, or they may taper, while
they may be of any suitable transverse section. Further, they may be closed at
the lower ends to increase the stability.
In props composed of more than two parts, each part receiving a part of
smaller diameter will be adapted for service in much the same way as the lower
tube herein described.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1899.

page_text: .
1, WILLIAM BALMER, Miner, of 3, Northbourne Street, in the City and County
of Newcastle-on-Tyne, 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:
=
This invention relates to shoring and strutting and has for objects simplicity,
efficiency and economy as compared with the present system.
The invention consists in the use of shores, pillars, props or struts constituted
by two or more tubular parts fitted together telescopic fashion, each lower part
being adapted to receive a filling to support the bottom of the next part above
and in this way the shores, pillars, props or struts can be used in various depths
by simply adjusting or varying the amount of the filling.
I have specially devised my invention for timbering in mines, and by way
of exemplifying how it may be carried into practice, I will fully describe it in
reference to the accompanying drawings, which show one form of pit prop or
chock embodying my improvements, and from which other forms will be
apparent.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section representing the prop in
the operative position, and Fig. 2 is an elevation, at right angles to Fig. 1,
illustrating the components apart.
In this form of prop I employ two round tubes A and B of cast iron or other
suitable material, one, A, being of a less size than the other, B, so that it may
be placed therein. The base of the larger tube B rests in use upon the floor C
of the seam or place to be shored, and for obtaining a firm foundation it may
be provided with a flange or foot-piece b. For strength, its upper end may also
be similarly furnished, as at b¹, and it may be ribbed, as at 1262. This tube B
receives, by way of its upper end, a filling D) of soft stones, refuse or small
coal, or the like friable material, the amount being determined by the depth of
the seam or place and the length of the other tube A. I find coal forms a very
effective filling, and as it is always handy, I recommend its use.
The filling is packed so that it may form a firm bottom for the lower end
of the second tube A that is fitted thereon within the tube B to complete the
prop or chock, which is knocked up, to perform the usual function, with a wood
or metal wedge or head-tree E, or several of them, situated between the roof F
and the upper end of the last mentioned tube A, which end may be flanged or
otherwise disposed to procure a good bearing as shown at a.
Thus it will be seen that, when the prop is first fitted, as the roof F settles,
the tube is forced into the tube B, thereby compressing the filling D, and
so accommodating itself to the required condition. However, in time the filling
becomes very solid, and to meet further surface creeps or other causes, it is
necessary to remove it to avoid detrimental pressure on the tube B.
To this end, in the outer tube B, I make holes 63-63 so that when it is required
to remove a portion of the filling D to allow the tube A to fall or telescope
within the tube B without disturbing the prop as a whole, then such may be
easily effected by operating upon the filling with an appropriate tool, such as
a drill, inserted through any of the holes; and in the same way is the filling
displaced when it is required to withdraw the prop.
The holes 33, may be round as shown in Fig 2, or oblong as indicated by
the dotted lines in the same figure, or of any other convenient shape; and for
strength, they may have a rib around them merging into the ribs 62-62. They
may be adapted to be closed by caps or covers to prevent the filling escaping;

page_text: but from experience I find such closure is quite unnecessary, since the filling D,
as it is compressed, has no tendency to run, the small escape that does take place
in the first instance being of no moment.
The flange
a at the upper end of the tube A serves to receive or support a
lengthening piece if required.
The tubes may be parallel throughout their length as represented, or they
may taper, while they may be of any suitable transverse section besides that
shown. Further, they may be closed at the lower ends to increase the stability;
as illustrated, the tube A is closed entirely, and the tube B partially.
In props composed of more than two parts, each part receiving a part of
smaller diameter will be adapted for service in much the same way as the lower
tube B herein described, that is to say, it will have holes 363 and a filling D
to support the lower end of the superposed and inserted tube.
Other applications of the invention will be understood from the foregoing,
since, in all cases, the construction and use will be the same, or practically the
same, always.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In shoring or strutting, the use of shores, pillars, props, or struts consti-
tuted by two or more tubular parts fitted together telescopic fashion, each lower
part being adapted to receive a friable filling to support the bottom of the next
part above, substantially as set forth.
2. A shore, pillar, prop, or strut composed of two or more metal tubes fitted
together telescopic fashion, each lower tube being of a greater size than the one
immediately above, and containing a filling of soft stones, refuse or small coal,
or the like friable material whereon the bottom of the superposed tube rests,
and having holes for removing the filling, substantially as described.
3. In telescopic shores, pillars, props, or struts, a lower part or parts con-
taining a filling and having holes for permitting the removal thereof, as and
for the purposes described.
4. A shore, pillar, prop, or strut constructed and arranged for use, substan-
tially as herein described in reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dotad this 92nd dow of Vanch 1000