IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHTHOUSES, BEACONS, PIERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ERECTIONS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicholas Douglass, of St. George's in the Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHTHOUSES, BEACONS, PIERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR
ERECTIONS."
Sealed the 14th March 1856, and dated the 27th December 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicholas Douglass at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th December 1855..
I, NICHOLAS DOUGLASS, of St. George's in the Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHTHOUSES, BEACONS, PIERS, AND OTHER
SIMILAR ERECTIONS, to be as follows:-
My said Invention refers to a mode of employing wrought or cast iron or
other metal cylindrical piles, peculiarly constructed for their external preserva-
tion, for the foundations of marine and other like structures, which cylinders
being hollow, are floated by means of a novel arrangement of pontoons;
carrying several cylindrical piles; and applies also to giving increased external
strength to iron lighthouses and like erections by adopting the form of fluted
corrugations.
I construct my pontoons of iron tubes, laid horizontally and rivetted together
in such a manner as to carry any required length of cylindrical piles, either
vertically or at any desired angle, each closed at bottom to exclude water and

page_text: increase the buoyancy of the pontoon. On the pontoons I erect a framing,
carrying above a suitable barracks for the accommodation of workpeople, and
also a travelling crane and other apparatus.
Over the cylindrical piles I pass an external cylinder of sheet metal, and run
in between them melted bitumen to act as a preservative coating. The interior
of the piles at their base is closed or nearly closed with a flanged foot piece,
which, spreading out externally after the piles are in their places, adds to their
stability. The interior of the piles can afterwards be, filled with concrete or
any suitable material, and in some cases the spaces between the piles.
When building on submerged rock, I apply a man-hole cover to the cylinders,
and force air into them, when they can be used similarly to the diving bell.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Nicholas Douglass in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th June 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NICHOLAS
DOUGLASS, of St. George's in the. Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors; give and grant unto me, the
said Nicholas Douglass, Her special licence that I, the said Nicholas Douglass,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Nicholas Douglass, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHTHOUSES, BEACONS, PIERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ERECTIONS,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nicholas Douglass,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nicholas Douglass, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment-
My said Invention refers to a mode of employing wrought or cast iron or
other metal cylindrical piles, peculiarly constructed for their external preserva-
tion, for the foundations of marine and other like structures, which cylinders
being hollow, are floated by means of a novel arrangement of pontoons,
carrying several cylindrical piles in position; and applies also to giving
increased strength to iron lighthouses and like erections by adopting the form
of fluted corrugations.
For the better understanding of my said improvements I will now proceed
to give a detailed description thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, in which the same letters refer to like parts throughout.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1, Figure 1 is an elevation of lighthouse cylinders and staging afloat;
Figure 2 is a plan of pontoon. Sheet 2, Figure 3 is an elevation of a light-
house erected on shoal of loose material; and Sheet 3, Figure 4 is a section of
Figure 3. A, A, is my improved pontoon, formed of horizontal tubes; B, B,
are cylindrical piles, with B', their external protective metal casing and
bituminous lining; C, strong wood framing, surmounted by D, barracks
for workmen; and E is the cylindrical-hinged flanched expanding foot, with
E', a guide rod, for forcing out and securing the same to give stability to the
foundation of the piles, particularly in shoal of loose material.
It will thus be seen that I construct my pontoon hexagonal, or of any
desired figure, by laying tubes horizontally, and bolting them together in such
a manner as to carry any required length of cylindrical piles, either vertically
or at any desired angle, in position ready to be erected, each pile closed at
bottom to exclude water, and increase the buoyancy of the pontoon. On the
pontoons I erect a substantial wood or other framing, carrying above a suitable
barracks for the accommodation of tools, stores, and work people, and also a
travelling crane and other apparatus. Over the cylindrical piles I pass an
external cylinder of sheet metal, and run in between them melted bitumen to
act as a preservative coating. The interior of the piles at their base is closed
or nearly closed with a flanched foot piece, which can be spread out externally
after the piles are in their places, to add to their stability. The interior of the
piles can afterwards be filled with concrete or any suitable material, and in
like manner also in some cases the spaces between the piles. When building

page_text: on submerged rock, I apply a man-hole cover to the cylinders, and force air
into them, and they can then be used similarly to the diving bell. The fluted
form of the tower is novel in the construction of lighthouses, and adds
materially to the strength of such or like erections.
Having thus fully described my said improvements, I would observe that I
do not limit myself to materials, form, or dimensions of the several parts, so
long as the principle of my said Invention is substantially adhered to; and I do
declare that what I claim as my improvements are, namely,—
First, the peculiar construction of pontoons, with staging and barracks, for
transporting and erecting hollow metal piles.
Second, the novel construction and arrangement of hollow metal piles.
And, third, the application of fluted or corrugated iron in the construction of
lighthouse towers and similar erections, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nicholas Douglass, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of June, in the year of our
Lord 1856.
NICHOLAS DOUGLASS. (L.S.)