Operation
Year: 1885

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like Operations.
I, CHARLES CORDON, of Cleveland Villas, Queen's Bridge Road, Nottingham
Nottinghamshire, Contracting Plumber do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the construction of new or improved apparatus
to be used instead of the wooden props or stays commonly used at present,
for propping or staying purposes in mining, quarrying, excavating, building, and
other operations where it is required to prop or stay earth or other substances or
materials.
Hitherto in propping or staying earth in excavating operations as in mining,
and also in constructing sewers and similar operations it has been usual to employ
wooden props which require to be cut to about the required size and then secured
firmly in position by means of wedges. In mining operations, where large
numbers of props are required, such wooden props are a source of considerable
expense and some danger as after being used once they are seldom suitable for use
as props again. This Invention therefore aims at the construction of new or
improved apparatus which while being capable of withstanding a much greater
strain than wooden props, is also capable of being readily and conveniently
wedged securely in the required position, where it may remain permanently
unless it is required to be removed when by means of a simple arrangement it
may be easily and instantaneously displaced.
In carrying out the Invention there are two strong metal tubes arranged so that
one which is a little longer can freely slide within the other. The outer tube
may have an enlargement at one end forming a base or sole upon which the inner
tube can rest, and this outer tube has formed in it two slots on each side of it
opposite to one another at a part near its upper end when placed on end. These
slots extend from near the top of the tube to near the middle of its length where
there is fitted across the tube a strong piece of metal forming a bearing. This
bearing passes through slots formed in the sides of the inner or sliding tube, which
slots are of a length sufficient to allow of the tube to rest on the sole of the outer
tube without the metal at the upper ends of the slots touching the bearing in the
CD.
077

page_text: outer tube and also permits of the tube being raised. At the upper end of the
slots in the inner tube there is also fitted a strong metal bearing the edge of which
has an incline to one side of the tube the bearing on the outer tube being also
formed with its edge inclining towards one side, so that when the inner tube is
resting on the sole an opening at one side is formed in the slot by the two
divergent bearings. For raising and wedging the inner tube which may have
an enlargement or head fitted or formed on its outer end, an angular plate of
metal is inserted into the slot at the opening between the bearings and this plate
is forced in like a wedge with its lower edge against the bearing in the outer tube
whilst its inclined edge bears against the bearing in the inner tube thus raising
the tube as it is forced between the two bearings. The angular plate may be
forced in by means of a screw having a handle fitted to it and attached to the
apparatus by clamps or in any other well known manner. The inclined edge of
the plate has teeth or notches formed in it and as it enters the slot, a sliding bolt
fitted on the outer tube above the slot engages with the teeth and prevents the
plate slipping out again. The angular plate is also connected to the side of the
outer tube by a cord or chain attached to the perpendicular side of the angle. For
releasing the wedge plate when it is required to remove the apparatus after having
been fixed there is a cord or chain attached to the upper end of the sliding bolt
and passed over a small pulley fitted in a slot in one side at the top of the inner
tube and through a hole at the other side. A rope or chain is connected to this
which may be pulled at a safe distance causing the lifting of the sliding bolt
releasing the tooth of the wedge plate when the wedge plate will be forced out of
the slot by the weight of the inner tube the pressure of the superincumbent earth
assisted by the inclined shape of the bearings. In place of the pulley a lever may
be used for lifting the sliding bolt.
By employing the novel or improved apparatus in mining operations considerable
saving will be effected as well as greater safety insured, as the apparatus being of
metal will stand longer than a wooden prop, bear a greater strain and may be
used again and again as long as the metal stands. In case there should be a fall
of earth on removing the apparatus when used in mining as a prop to a roof and
the apparatus be covered, in most cases the apparatus may be recovered by pulling
the rope attached to the sliding bolt, and the entire apparatus will be extricated
along with the wedge plate which is connected to it by the chain, in default of
this it may be dug out when convenient. It is obvious that the apparatus may be
utilised for shoreing, staying or propping the earth when excavating for the
construction of sewers and the like by making the tubes of a suitable and
convenient length and the relative parts to correspond. It is also obvious that the
various parts may be made in duplicate and any damaged part easily replaced
when necessary.
7
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100K

page_text: New or Improved Apparatus for Use for Propping or Staying
Purposes in Mining, Quarrying, Excavating, Building, and
like Operations.
I CHARLES CORDON of Cleveland Villas, Queens Bridge Road, Nottingham,
Contracting Plumber do hereby declare the nature of my 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 will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2 a vertical section of my
improved apparatus, and Figure 3 a sectional elevation of the central portion
taken in a vertical plane at right angles to that shewn in Figure 2.
There are two strong metal tubes 3 and 4 arranged so that one can freely slide
within the other. The outer end of each tube is enlarged forming a base or sole
and a head and pieces of hard wood 5 are turned to fit and forced tight into the
enlarged ends. The outer tube 3 has formed in it two slots 6 one on each side of
it opposite to one another at or near the middle and at the bottom of the slots 6,
there is fitted across the tube a strong metal bearing block 7. This bearing block 7
passes through slots 8 formed in the inner tube 4 which slots are of a length
sufficient to allow the tube 4 to rest on the wood block 5 in the outer tube 3.
At the upper end of the slots 8 in the inner tube 4 there is also fitted a strong
metal bearing block 9 the edge of which has an incline to one side of the tube, the
bearing block 7 in the outer tube 4 being also formed with its edge inclining to one
side, so that when the inner tube is resting on the block 5 in the outer tube 3 an
opening whose upper and lower faces converge towards one side of the tubes is
formed in the slot by the two bearing blocks.
For raising and wedging the inner tubes an angular plate of metal 10 is inserted
into the slot at the opening between the blocks 7 and 9 and is forced like a wedge
with its lower edge against the bearing 7 whilst its upper edge bears against the
bearing 9 in the inner tube 4. The angular plate is forced in by means of a
screw 11 having a handle 12, working in a nut on the framing 13 which has its
two ends turned downwards to engage in holes which are provided in the bearing
rings 14 and 15.
The angular plate 10 has teeth or notches 22 formed in its upper edge, and as it
emerges from the slot a sliding bolt 16 on the outer tube 3 engages with these
teeth and prevents the plate slipping back again. The angular plate 10 is also
connected to the ring 15 by a chain 17.
For releasing the wedge plate 10 when it is required to remove the apparatus,
after having heen fixed, a forked lever 18 is placed with its forked ends on pins 19
on the outer tube 3, this lever 18 is provided with a catch 20 which engages with
the teeth 23 on the upper end of the sliding bolt 16, a cord or chain is connected to
the lower end 24 of lever 18 which can be pulled at a safe distance causing the
lifting of the sliding bolt 16 when the wedge plate will be forced out of the slot by
the weight of the inner tube and the pressure of the superincumbent earth assisted
by the inclined shape of the bearings 7 and 9.

page_text: The whole of the apparatus may be recovered by pulling a rope or chain attached
to the eye on the ring 21.
Modifications in the details of construction herein described may of course be
made without departing from the spirit of this invention. For example the inner
tube 4 might be replaced by a solid block of wood and the plate or wedge 10 might
be driven in with a hammer instead of by the screw apparatus described; never-
theless I prefer the construction set forth.
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. The complete prop or stay substantially as specified.
2. In an apparatus such as described the combination with an outer metal tube
such as 3 of an inner tube such as 4 adapted to slide within 3 both tubes having
their ends enlarged and plugged with wood as at 5 substantially as specified.
3. In an apparatus such as described the combination with the telescopic tubes 3
and 4 of bearing blocks such as 7 and 9 and a plate or wedge such as 10 the whole
constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In an apparatus such as described the combination with the telescopic tubes 3
and 4 of a movable framing and screw such as 13 and 11 for the purpose of forcing
in the plate or wedge 10 substantially as specified.
5. In an apparatus such as specified the combination with the plate or wedge 10
having teeth or notches 22 of a bolt such as 16 adapted to engage with the said
teeth 22 substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. In an apparatus such as described the coinbination therewith of a removable
lever such as 18 adapted to hook on to the said apparatus and having a catch such
as 20 for the purpose of engaging the bolt 16 and releasing the plate or wedge 10
substantially as specified.