Abstract: There is disclosed a device for shoring the side walls of a trench or the like which includes a pair of elongate rails and a pair of parallel, hydraulically extendible and contractible actuators connected at opposite ends to the rails for lowering with the rails into and out of positions between the walls of the trench, and adapted, when extended, to hold the rails tightly against the walls.

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of a trench shoring device of the type having rails which are forced against the sides of the trench by one or more fluid actuated, extendible and retractible braces connected to and extending between the rails. In one embodiment, the rails extend vertically within the trench, and the opposite ends of the braces are so connected to the vertical rails that they may be swung folded positions during lowering into and raising from the trench. In another embodiment of the invention, the rails extend horizontally of the trench, and the ends of the braces are connected thereto in such a manner as to prevent substantial movement of the braces out of perpendicular positions with respect to the rails.