IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN STRUCTURES FOR RETAINING WATER
Year: 1850

page_text: WILD'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HEARD WILD, of Saint Martin's Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Seventeenth day of
August, (One thousand eight bundred and fifty,) in the fourteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Heard Wild, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial license,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Charles Heard Wild,
my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Heard
Wild, my exors, adññiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Guernsey,
Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN STRUCTURES
FOR RETAINING WATER;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso,
that I, the said Charles Heard Wild, shall cause a particular description of
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more
fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Heard Wild, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention relates to improvements in docks, lock gates, dock walls, and
other similar structures for retaining water. I will first proceed to describe
an improved construction of graving dock.
Graving docks are in general built of stone and are very expensive structures.
In my improved graving dock, I employ in place of stone a lining of cast-iron
plates fitted to iron ribs, which are tied firmly down to the earth by means of
holding-down bolts attached to piles or other contrivance for taking firm hold
of the ground beneath.
---In-Figure 1, Sheet I., I have hewn an end view, partly in section, of a
graving dock constructed in this manner; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section";
and Figure 3, a plan of the same. In the two last Figures a portion of the
central part of the dock is removed, such part being merely a continuation of
those shewn in the Drawings. A, A, are cast-iron plates, the edges of
which pass under the flauges of cast-iron ribs B, as shewn in section on
a larger scale in Figure 4. The ribs B are made in segments and bolted
together, and are formed with sockets C, into which are keyed the iron
rods D, provided with large screws E at their lower ends, and forming the
description of piles known as screw piles. The plates A rest upon a mass of
concrete F; strong angle irons I, I, connect all the ribs together, and serve
as abutments for the shores used to support the ship. G is a pipe for
admitting the water when it is required to fill the dock, and for withdrawing
it by means of pumps, or otherwise when it is required to empty the dock.
The entrance of the dock is closed by a hollow iron caisson H, which is
removed and replaced by floating it in the ordinary manner; a front view of
the caisson, partly in section, is shewn in Figure 5. In cases where it is
required to have the power of retaining the water both within and without
the dock at pleasure, the caisson I should drop into a groove at the entrance
of the dock, and should be fitted to both sides of the groove, so that the
water may be retained whether the pressure of the water is greatest on
one side of the caisson or on the other. By constructing a graving
dock as above described a very firm structure is produced, and being firmly
tied down by the screw piles, it is not liable to be blown up by pressure
from below when the water is withdrawn, as has sometimes been the case

page_text: with graving docks built of stone. The plates A may be flat, or they may be
curved, which I prefer, and I have so represented them in the Drawings;
the plates and ribs may be made of either cast or wrought iron.
Figure 6, Sheet II., is a transverse section; Figure 7 is a longitudinal
section, and Figure 8 a plan, of a floating caisson dock for raising vessels out
of the water for the purpose of repairs, and adapted for being used in place of
a graving dock. A is a large cellular wrought-iron box or caisson, moving
up and down in a recess formed in one side of a dock, and guided by wheels
B, B, working against racks C, C. The box or caisson A is divided into four
principal compartments by two central division plates D and E, crossing each
other at right angles, as shewn by the double dotted lines in Figure 8. Other
plates are introduced, as shown by the single dotted lines, and the whole is
rivetted together with angle iron, so that the caisson thus consists of a
multitude of cells. All the cells in each of the four principal compartments
communicate at top and bottom with the other cells in the same compartment,
but each of the four principal compartments is separated from the others.
Valves opening outwards are fixed at F, F, to allow of the escape of the
water retained in the caisson. G is a pipe which conveys air from an air
pump driven by a steam engine or otherwise; and H, H, are branch pipes of
vulcanized india-rubber or other flexible materials, by means of which the
air is conveyed into the caisson.
The walls of the recess in which the caisson moves are constructed in an
improved manner. I, I, are cast-iron piles driven into the ground and tied
back to other piles J, J, by means of the rods K, K. The space between the
piles I, I, is filled in with inverts or curved walls L, L, as shewn in Figure 8.
The pressure of the earth or puddle behind the wall is supported by the curved
wall, the thrust of which comes upon the cast-iron piles which are prevented
from yielding by being driven into the ground and tied back, as above
mentioned. This construction of wall is particularly applicable to wharf and
dock walls, reservoir walls, and other similar structures. The mode of using
this caisson dock is as follows:-The ship which is to be examined or repaired
is floated over the caisson, which is previously filled with water, and, sunk to
the bottom of its recess. The ship having been then shored up or secured in
a cradle on the caisson, air is pumped into the four compartments of the
caisson, so as to expel the water gradually and simultaneously from them all,
the flow of air being regulated by cocks or valves to each branch pipe. When
a sufficient quantity of air has been introduced, the caisson will float up
and lift the ship gradually out of the water. It can then be examined and
repaired, and again lowered into the water by admitting water into the

page_text: caisson through valves provided for that purpose, and which are opened by
means of rods passing through stuffing boxes, or in any other suitable manner:
These valves are not shewn in the Drawing, as their particular arrangement is
not material, and the valves F may, if desired, be adapted for this purpose.
Each branch pipe II is disconnected from the air main G by closing a valve,
and another valve in connection with each branch is opened to allow of the
escape of the air from the caisson, the descent of which can be regulated by
these valves. When the caisson has sunk to the bottom of the dock, the
shores are removed and the ship floated out.
The parallelism of the motion of all parts of the caisson is insured by fixing
vertical toothed racks C to the side of the dock, and mounting longitudinal
and transverse shafts on the caissons, with toothed wheels or pinions B fixed
on them, and taking into the teeth of the fixed racks.
.
Another method of guiding the caisson is shewn in Figure 9, which is a
side view of a portion of the caisson A, which in this case is guided by a
number of parallel links N, N, N, jointed-to-the sides--or-to-the-ends-of--the-
caisson, and to the bottom or top of the recess. The links guide the caisson,
and cause it to preserve its horizontal position as it rises to the surface of
the water. Various other equivalent modes of guiding the caisson may be
employed, as, for instance, by means of chains, pulleys, and balance weights,
in lieu of wheels and racks.
rows of iron piles I, I,
The tie rods K, K, are
Figure 10, Sheet II., shows a plan of a double wall constructed on similar
principles to the walls of the caisson duck shewn in Figures 6, 7, and 8. In
this case the wall is supposed to be a division wall between two docks or a
jetty, or other similar structure, and consists of two
with inverts of brickwork or masonry between them.
carried straight across from one row of piles to the other, and thus the
additional piles J, J, shewn in Figure 6, are dispensed with. In place of using
brickwork or masonry, curved iron plates may be employed, as shown in the
graving dock, Figures 1, 2, and 3. The arched form in each case serves to
resist the pressure.
Figure 11, Sheet III., is a plan, partly in section, of a pair of lock gateś
A, B, constructed according to my Invention, and combining various improve-
ments. The gate B is shewn in section. They are constructed of wrought-iron
plates, arranged in a cellular form, that is to say, each gate consists of two
surfaces of iron plate C, D, connected together by transverse plates, and the
whole are firmly united together by angle irons and rivets.
Figure 12 is an elevation or front view, and Figure 18 a transverse section,
of one of the gates A.; C and D are the external plates; E, E, are the

page_text: horizontal plates; and F, F, are vertical T-iron ribs to stiffen the plate C.
Supposing the gates A, B, to be closed, and the lock full of water, the gates
will be exposed to the pressure of the water, and the plates C and D will act
like the top and bottom of a tubular beam, being connected together by the
plates E, E, which act like the sides of the same.
:
tubular
It will thus be seen, that great strength is obtained by arranging the metal
in the cellular form, as the gate virtually consists of a series of strong
beams. These cellular wrought-iron gates may be made straight, or cambered,
or curved, to such an extent that the two gates when closed may form a
perfect segment of a circle.
In constructing large gates I make openings through the horizontal plates
E, large enough to admit of the entrance of a man, in case of any repairs
being required in the gate. The opening in the top plate is shewn at G, in
Figure 11. When in use, however, I close the opening in one of the lower
plates, as, for instance, in the plate G¹, Figure 18, so as to form the lower
part of the gate into a close air chamber, which being immersed in the water
serves as a float, and supports the greater part of the weight of the gate.
The remainder of the weight is supported by a roller H, Figure 12, or in the
absence of such rollers by the pivots P and Q. The air chamber, when prac-
ticable, is made of such a depth that it may be totally immersed in water at
all times when it is required to move the gate, and openings are made in
either of the sides of the gate above the air chamber, to allow the water to
flow freely in and out, so that the floating power of the air chamber is always
the same, or nearly so, at whatever height the water may stand. S is a screw
for adjusting the roller H, which runs upon a rail R at the bottom of
the lock. The pivot Q rests on a step at the bottom of the lock, and
the upper pivot P turns in a bearing fixed to the side wall of the lock.
The heel posts of these cellular wrought-iron gates may be made of the ordi-
nary cylindrical form, and fitted to the masonry cut to the same form; or the
joint at the heel may be made in my improved manner; and in the pair of
gates A, B, Figures 11 and 12, I have shewn a new and improved construction
of heel joint, adapted for lock gates when made in pairs. In lieu of forming
the heel post and the masonry in which it works of a truly cylindrical form,
which is an expensive operation, I attach to the heel post a flat strip of wood
K, and I prepare the masonry with a corresponding narrow flat surface L,
with which the wood K comes in contact when the gates are closed; a
similar piece of wood M is attached to one or both gates, at the point at
which they come in contact. The direction of the joint at M is in a line
bisecting the angle formed by the two gates, as in ordinary lock gates. To

page_text: .
determine the angle of the joint at K I draw a line from K to M, and I
make the joint at K to form the same angle with this line as is formed by the
joint at M with the same line. The pressure of the water has then no tendency
to cause any sliding motion at the joints. And I would remark that I make
the angle which the joints K and M form with the line K, M, not less than
an angle of fifty degrees. The strips of wood K and M are dovetailed into
the gate, but I do not confine myself to that arrangement, nor to the use of
wood for this purpose, as other substances may be employed. The surfaces
which form the heel joint may be slightly curved or made flat, as shewn in
the Drawings, which I prefer. This construction of heel joint is applicable
to wooden gates with wooden or cast or wrought iron heel posts, as well as to
the cellular wrought-iron gates, and it is applicable to both straight and curved
gates. My improvements in gates are applicable to gates for docks, canals,
reservoirs, and other structures for retaining water.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood-that-I-claim,—
Firstly, the constructing a graving dock, with a lining of iron plates, tied
down, as above described.
Secondly, I claim a floating caisson dock, with a cellular wrought-iron
caisson, constructed and arranged in such manner as to preserve its parallelism
as it rises and falls, as above described and represented.
Thirdly, I claim the constructing dock walls and similar structures of iron
piles, with inverts of brickwork, or masonry, or iron between them, the piles
being kept in their places by ties, as above described.
Fourthly, I claim the constructing the folding gates of locks and other
structures for retaining water of wrought-iron plates, arranged in a cellular
form, as above described.
Fifthly, I claim the constructing the folding gates of locks and other struc-
tures for retaining water with an air-tight compartment at the bottom, and
admitting the water to flow freely in and out above this compartment, so that
the weight of the gate may be equally or nearly equally balanced at different
heights of the water, as above described.
Sixthly, I claim the making the joint at the heel of gates for retaining
water, as above described in reference to the gate sshewn in the Drawings on
Sheet III.
3
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Heard Wild, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
CHARLES HEARD (L.s.) WILD.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventeenth day of February,
in the year of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid Charles Heard Wild came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Speci-
fication aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in
form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.