Improvements in Props and Framework for Mines and Quarries.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Props and Framework for Mines and Quarries.
I WILLIAM WILSON BARNES Melbourne House Harrington Cumberland
Mining Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates principally to props and framework used in mines and
quarries for supporting the roof sole and walls of workings and passages adits and
shafts and has for its object to obtain strength and safety combined with economy
in cost of materials and labour. To this end I make use of iron and steel rails such as
are rolled for railways and tramways. For the purpose of my invention I use crop
ends and 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
and tramway uses and new rails, and H section girders and T section angles and
channels of iron and steel. I cut the rails into suitable lengths if they are not already
short enough for the purpose of forming them as props and to this end I suitably
fix or set specially formed roof pieces and sole pieces of cast or wrought iron or
steel upon one or both ends of the required lengths of rails and I also punch notch
or cut out pieces of the web of such rails at one or both ends for the purpose of
fitting therein specially formed roof pieces and sole pieces and wedges of iron or
steel or timber the roof pieces and sole pieces and wedges suitably formed and
fixed and set upon one or both ends of the required lengths of rails prevent the
sharp edges of the rails from being forced into the roof and sole and admit of
adjustment and setting according to the condition of the roof and sole and afford
great support and safety secure rapidity of erection and removal I also make use
of H section iron and steel girders and T section iron and steel angles and iron and
steel channels cut into suitable lengths for the purpose of forming them as props
and to this end I suitably fix or set at one or both ends and upon one or both sides
of the web of the girders angles or channels specially formed pieces or blocks of
timber or brick or metal and upon one or both ends I suitably fix or set cap pieces
and shoe pieces or binding pieces of cast or wrought iron or steel the object being
to prevent the sharp edges of the girders angles and channels from being forced
into the roof and sole and afford great support and safety secure rapidity of
erection and removal. I also make use of required lengths of iron and steel rails
specially punched notched or cut out in their heads at and near the ends aud- in
suitable places for the purpose of using them in combination with the required
lengths of rails punched notched or cut out in the web so that they may together
interlock the object being to afford great support and safety to the roof sole and
sides of workings and to prevent springing and slipping allow rapid and safe
erection and removal I also make use of specially formed or shaped fishing or
binding pieces or plates of cast or wrought iron or steel for the purpose of fishing
binding and connecting together and expeditiously fixing and adjusting suitable
lengths of iron and steel rails and H section girders and T section angles and
channels the object being to afford great support and safety to the roof, sole and
sides of workings and to prevent springing and slipping allow rapid and safe erection
and removal.
•
Such crop ends and wasters old and new rails and H section girders and T section
angles and channels cut punched notched constructed and arranged according to
my invention enable props and supports for mines and quarries to be cheaply used
and admit of new outlets for waste and old and new materials permit of rapid

page_text: erection and removal afford great support and increased safety to life and limb and
owing to their indestructible character effect a great saving in material and
labour.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of August 1894.
"
Improvements in Props and Framework for Mines and Quarries.
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 :-
My invention relates principally to props and framework used in mines and
quarries for supporting the roof, sole, and walls of workings and passages, adits,
and shafts, and has for its object to obtain strength and safety combined with
economy in cost of materials and labour. To this end I make use of iron and steel
.rails such as are rolled for railways and tramways. For the purposes of my
invention I use crop ends, or wasters, that is to say rails which have been badly
rolled or otherwise unsuitable for their intended uses, old rails, which have been
discarded for railway or tramway uses, and new rails and H section girders and
Tsection angles of iron and steel.
I cut the rails and H section girders and' T section angles into suitable lengths
if they are not already short enough and I slot or notch or punch or cut the pieces
so that they may be framed together as will be hereinafter indicated. In the cases
of props I provide them with cap or roof pieces and sole or floor pieces and blocks
..and binding pieces as will be hereinafter indicated.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will in this place refer to
the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. of the said drawings represents a cap or roof piece A. consisting of cast
iron or steel or wrought iron or steel of required size in the top or table a 1. and in
the stalk. a 2. formed substantially as indicated and suitably recessed substantially
as indicated by the dotted lines a 3. so as to enable it to fit, slide, or drop into the
notch of the prop b.
Fig. 2. represents a prop b. consisting of a length of double headed rail which is
at the roof or top end punched or cut out in the web for a required distance so
as. to form a slot or recess substantially as indicated in: Eig. 11. to admit of the
cap or roof piece A.
Fig. 3. represents a wedge c. of timber or iron or steel of required size for the
purpose of fitting into the notch of the prop b. to adjust the cap or roof piece A.
When the cap or roof piece A is within the notch of the prop b. it can be adjusted
and tightened up as required by means of the wedge c. so as to present the flat or
top to the roof and give bearing surface and forin secure support and facilitate
erection and drawing or removal of: the prop b. by knocking out the wedge c. from
a safe and convenient distance causing. the cap or roof piece A. to fall into the slot
or recess of the pròp b.
Fig. 4. represents the cap or roof piece 'A within the slot or recess of the prop b.
after the wedge c. has been knocked out. The sole or floor end of the prop b..may
be notched or recessed in the web'as in the roof end to admit of a sole or floor
-piece arranged substantially as indicated by Fig. 1. or as in Fig. 6. The wedge c.
may be punched. with a hole and suitably connected to the prop b. by means of a
chain.
Fig. 5. represents a prop b. consisting of a length of double headed rail with

page_text: suitably shaped blocks or pieces d. of timber or brick or metal set and fixed upon
the web of the prop b. at each end and upon each side of the web of the prop and
over and. upon the block pieces d. is set a suitably shaped binding piece or cap. or
roof-piece e. and sole or floor. piece e 1. formed substantially as shown of scrap or
waste iron or steel or cast metal that are riveted or suitably bolted through the
blocks d. and through the web of the prop b.
Fig. 6. represents a plan view of the prop b. blocks d. and sole or floor piece ę 1.
Fig. 7. illustrates a prop f, consisting of a length of H section iron or steel.
girder with suitably shaped block pieces d. and cap or roof piece e. and sole or
floor piece e 1. substantially formed combined and secured together as described in
construction of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 represents a plan view of the prop f. block pieces d. and sole or floor
piece e 1.
Fig. 9. illustrates a prop g. consisting of a length of T section angle iron or steel
with suitably shaped block pieces d. and cap or roof piece e and sole or floor
piece e 1. substantially formed combined and secured together as described in
construction of Fig. 5.
Fig. 10. represents a plan view of the prop g. block pieces d. and sole or floor
piece e 1. The object of the props as illustrated substantially by Figs. 5. 6. 7. 8.
9. 10. especially being to form them with "solid-ends to prevent imbedding of the
ends into the roof and sole or floor of workings and allow of easy setting and
drawing or removal. The block pieces d. of the props b, f, g, may be of any required
size so that they may extend to any required length upon the web of the rails and
H section girders, and T section angles and to overcome the objections hithertoo
preventing the employment of rails H section girders and T section angles owing
to their liability to cut the roof and sole or floor and especially to their liability to
imbed. I do not claim the blocks d. and cap or roof piece e. and sole or Hoor
piece el. as novel apart from their combinations with the lengths of rails H section
girders and T section angles.
Figs. 11 to 15 in Sheet 1 illustrate some of the formations of rails cut and notched.
and recessed for the purposes of my invention.
Fig. 18 in Sheet 3 illustrates a formation of H section girder cut and notched for
the purposes of my invention.
Fig. 20 in Sheet 3 illustrates a fish or binding plate formed or cast of iron or
steel for the purposes of my invention.
In Fig. 16 are two lengths of double headed rails a. a. set vertically carrying a
cross piece vignole or flat bottomed rail h. the flange or flat being turned up to
support the roof of a passage or adit. The vertically set rails a. a. are recessed or
cut at the roof ends in the webs and inner or web-side of their heads substantially
as indicated in Fig. 15 in Sheet 1 to engage with and lock into the cross piece h.
that is notched or cut at and near the ends in the head and in suitable positions
substantially as indicated in Figs. 12 and 13 to combine and lock together with the
vertically set pieces a. a. Thus the combination forms a strong and reliable.
support effectually preventing springing and slipping of the cross piece and falling
inwards of the vertically set pieces and secures the roof and sides of passages or
adits. Should the rails a. a. be required to be set at an angle from the vertical
the cross piece rail h. may be notched or cut in the head at or near one or both ends
and in suitable places substantially as indicated in Fig. 14. The sole or flool
ends of the rail pieces a. a. may be arranged substantially as indicated in Fig. 6 to
prevent the sharp edges from cutting into the sole or floor.
Fig. 17 represents the application of lengths of rails used to support any right
angled shaft or open casting. Lengths of vignole or flange rails I. 1. are placed in
borizontal positions on opposite sides of the shaft or open casting with the flange or
flat in contact with the walls or sides. Other lengths of double headed rails J. J.
fit tightly between the pieces .1. J. and keep them in position at the same time
supporting the other two walls or sides of the shaft.or open casting. Near the ends

page_text: 66
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and in suitable places of the rail pieces 1. I. are notches in the heads substantially
as indicated in Figs. 12. and 13. for the purpose of interlocking with the other two
lengths of rail pieces J. J. cut or notched at the ends in the web substantially as
shown in Fig. 15. thus preventing the walls or sides of the shaft or open casting
from twisting and being forced inwards and keeping them at regular distances apart.
The heads of the rails I. I. may be cut in suitable places as indicated in
Figs. 12. 13. and 14. for the purpose of fixing cross pieces or struts of double
headed or other section rails cut or notched at their ends in the web substantially as
indicated in Fig. 15. and the double headed rails J. J. may be cut in suitable
places in their heads substantially as indicated in Figs. 12. 13. and 14. for
the purpose of setting therein vertically or as may be required suitable lengths
of rails cut at their ends in the web substantially as indicated in Fig. 15. for the
purpose of forming continuous connections or supports from one set of frames
to the other. It must be understood that similar combinations may be used as
supports of shafts and open castings which are inclined from the vertical.
The
In Fig. 19. are two vertically set lengths of vignole or flange rails l. 1. carrying
a cross piece of H section girder K. for the support of a passage or adit.
lower flange of the cross piece girder K. being cut away from the web at each end
to a required distance substantially as indicated in Fig. 18 so that it may be bent
and overlap upon the flanges of the two vertically set rails l. l. and be bolted
suitably together thus preventing springing and slipping of the cross piece K. and
falling inwards of the vertically set lengths l. 1. At or near the sole or floor ends
of the vertically set vignole rails l. 1. notches may be cut in the heads substantially
as indicated in Figs. 12. and 13. in Sheet 1. for the purpose of adding to the
construction a double headed rail J. notched or cut at the ends in the web
substantially as indicated in Fig. 15. in Sheet 1. so as to form a sleeper for the road
or tram rails and stretcher-bar and prevent "widening-out" and "heaving
spewing" of the sole or floor. The combinations thus arranged form a support of
great strength for roof, sides, and sole or floor of workings. I do not claim the
notches or cuttings-away of the lower Hanage of the H section girder K. substantially
as indicated in Fig. 18. and in the construction of Fig. 19 as novel apart from the
combination with lengths of vignole or flange rails or apart from being combinations
in forming structural arrangements for the purpose of supporting the roof and sides
of passages adits and main-roads of mines and other places.
5.
"
or
In Fig. 21. two vertically set lengths of vignole or flange rails l. l. carrying
a crosspiece of H section girder m. to support the roof of an adit or passage are
secured together by means of fishes or binding plates n. n. substantially as
indicated in Fig. 20. Upon each side of the web at the roof ends of the vertically
set rails . l. and upon each side of the lower flange or flat of the cross piece H section
girder m. fishes or binding pieces n. n. are secured by suitably bolting them upon
and through the web of the rails 17. 1. and upon and through the lower flange or flat
of the cross piece H section girder m. thus preventing springing and slipping of the
cross piece m. and falling inwards of the vertically set lengths of rails l. i. The sole
or floor ends of the rail pieces 1. l. in Fig. 21 may be arranged substantially as
indicated in Fig. 6. to prevent the sharp edges from cutting into the sole or floor.
I do not claim the fish or binding piece as indicated in Fig. 20 as novel apart from
the combination with lengths of H section girders and lengths of vignole or flange
rails framed and arranged together substantially as indicated in Fig. 21.
In all cases the rails and H section girders and T section angles 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 use of scrap or waste materials as for example there is a saving in cost
in consequence of the great strength of the supports and the rapidity of erection
and of their comparatively indestructible character and also the use of such
supports will be attended with greater security to life and limb and generally be
productive of new industrial results.

page_text: 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 combination of parts of the formations for the purposes substantially as
set forth and indicated.
2. The pit or mine props composed of lengths of iron or steel rail recessed at the
end in the web, and cap or roof piece, and wedge, prepared to fit together and
combine substantially as set forth and indicated.
3. The pit or mine props composed of lengths of iron or steel rail and lengths
of H section iron or steel girder and lengths of T section iron or steel angle and of
blocks and of binding pieces or cap or roof pieces and sole or floor pieces prepared
to fit together substantially as set forth and indicated.
4. The use for the indicated purposes of lengths of iron or steel rails and iron or
steel H section girders cut notched punched and prepared at the ends and in
suitable positions to fit together substantially as set forth and indicated.
5. The fish or binding plate prepared substantially in the manner as set forth and
indicated with reference to the combination of Fig. 21 of the drawings hereto.
Dated this 15th day of May 1895.
WILLIAM WILSON BARNES.