IMPROVEMENTS IN WELL SINKING AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR SINKING TUBES FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred le Grand and Robert Sutcliff, both of 100, Bunhill
Row, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WELL
SINKING AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR
SINKING TUBES FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
:
Sealed the 22nd January 1878, and dated the 25th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred le Grand and Robert
Sutcliff at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th August.
1877.
ALFRED LE GRAND and ROBERT SUTCLIFF, both of 100, Bunhill Row, in the
City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WELL SINKING AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED
THEREWITH, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR SINKING TUBES FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
In constructing tube wells, instead of sinking the tube at or above the surface by
means of a monkey or weight falling upon the top of the tube or upon a clamp, the
blow is given immediately above the point at its lower extremity by means of an
elongated weight small enough to pass down the inside of the tube to be driven.
This weight is raised and allowed to drop inside the tube by means of a rope, chain,
rods, or other appliances, either lifted direct or by pulleys attached to the tube
itself, or by other suitable means. The weight, by preference, is shod with steel.
In some cases we make the first tube about three feet long, with a clean boré
slightly smaller in internal diameter than those which are to follow it; the driving
weight is in this case packed with a leather cup or other suitable packing sufficient
to allow it to pass loosely down the tubes until it comes to the small or bottom
pipe, where it fits more closely, so that when raised it produces a partial vacuum,
which not only obviates any compression of air that might take place during the
fall of the weight and so partially impede the force of the impact, but, on the
contrary, accelerates the fall and increases the effect of the blow.

page_text: Instead of striking the blow at the bottom of the tube a stout collar or ring, to
form a ledge inside the tube, may be placed at the first joint, say 2 feet or 3 feet
from bottom of tube, upon which a cylindrical block of iron or steel can be laid to
receive the blow of the monkey or driving weight. This block is provided with a
keyhole, so that it can be fished up and lowered by a key attached to a rod.
Tubular piles may also be driven by the means above described; and this method
of driving is especially applicable where piles have to be driven in many feet of
water, as they can be driven as easily in the deep bed of a river as on dry land;
they can also be afterwards filled with fine concrete to increase their strength.
When necessary, to prevent sand or fine earth getting into the lower perforated
end of a well tube during the time of driving, a short thin inner tube closed at
bottom and shod with steel is dropped into the tube well, and is withdrawn when
the well is driven. This inner tube can either be made so as to be withdrawn
separately, or it can consist of a tube or tubes sufficiently long for the driving
weight to work within its length, and for an inner flange to be screwed on to its
upper extremity, so that when the driving weight is pulled right up it brings the
inner tube with it.
.
Where tube wells have to be driven into fine or quick sands it has hitherto been
the practice to make use of a larger tube perforated throughout with large holes
and lined with an annular filter. The disadvantage of this method is that it has to
be driven into the ground, and in passing through loam or clay the holes get
completely blocked up before reaching the water-bearing seam, and it is very difficult
to free the filter; and, further, if after a few years the filter becomes choked, it is
necessary to pull the whole tube well up to clear it. To avoid these evils we drive
down the tube with the usual perforated point at its lower end, and by preference
form the point with more holes, either the same size as usual, or larger, and when
the tube well has been driven into the water-bearing seam and cleared from loam,
&c., by the usual plan of pumping it out by smaller tubes, we then lower a tapered
filter tube made of fine perforated brass or other suitable material (by preference
electro-plated), through which the water will freely filter and shut back all the sand.
To prevent the sand coming up round the outside of this taper filter tube, either a
packing can be put round the top, which, while being sufficiently free to allow it
being pushed down the tube well, fits close enough to prevent any sand getting
past; or we provide a taper seating at the first joint of the tube well immediately
above the bottom perforated tube, and the top of the filter is made taper to corre-
spond, so that it will wedge itself securely and shut back the sand. Should this
taper filter become choked it can be readily withdrawn by lowering a suitable key
attached to a rod.
In some cases when sinking a tube well in sandy soils we bore a hole 5 or 6 times
the diameter of the tube well, and line the hole in the usual way with pipes, and
carry the boring and pipes fairly into the bed of quicksand; then, having cleared
the large pipes of sand, fine gravel is poured down this pipe and rammed well
down; this pipe is pulled up gradually as the gravel is. put down and rammed;
thus the gravel more than fills the space occupied by the pipe for about 3 feet or
4 feet, after which clay is put down and rammed like the gravel, simultaneously
withdrawing the large tube for a foot or two more, then the small tube well is
driven down into the centre of the gravel, after which more clay is put down and
the larger tubes entirely withdrawn, and the space they occupied filled with clay,
&c., level to the surface. The object of ramming the clay down is to effectually
shut out surface soakage and seal the water from atmospheric pressure.
In dry wells, where there is a quicksand or other fine natured soil, a filter bed
may be introduced by throwing sharp fine grit gravel into the well, and then
pumping the sand from under the gravel by means of tubes with suitable strainer,
so that the gravel by its own weight subsides and takes the place of the objection-
àble stratum.
Where large open pipes have to be inserted into the ground, either for procuring

page_text: a supply of water out of gravel soil or to shut out the gravel, a heavy pointed
cylinder of the same diameter as the pipe is raised and allowed to fall and punch
its way into the gravel, rainming it so tight all round that the hole retains its shape
down to the depth required with little fear of its falling in; but should the gravel
lay exceptionally loose a small quantity of clay can be put down the hole from time
to time to make it bind; after the hole has been punched the depth required the
punch or piercer is withdrawn, and the pipes are inserted in the hole thus made.
.
In withdrawing tubes from the earth where they have been driven into very hard
soils they are commonly knocked up by reversing the blow of the monkey, but the
labour of so doing is very great; this heavy labour we entirely overcome by
suspending the driving weight by means of one or more stout india-rubber springs,
which take the whole weight, and the force required to strike an upward blow is
little more than that of overcoming its inertia, as the rebound after each blow is
almost sufficient to bring the driving weight up to the striking point. Metal
springs or counterpoise weights will accomplish the same results.
In some cases we also employ for the same purpose a forked lever, the fulcrum of
which can be altered according to the power required to be exerted. The lever in
itself may be but very short, and be formed with a socket to receive the end of, a
length of the well tube, which will form the lever handle. By preference we make
this lever of a double form upon one sole plate, so as to equalize the pressure on
both sides.
In order to avoid having to shift the clamp against which the lever presses each
time the pipe is raised, we employ a collar of iron about 9 inches long having a
deep thread on its outside, and two pawls fixed on to the jaws of the lever catch
into the teeth of the collar at any point desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred le Grand and Robert Sutcliff in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th February 1878.
ALFRED LE GRAND and ROBERT SUTCLIFF, both of 100, Bunhill Row, in the
City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WELL SINKING AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED
THEREWITH, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR SINKING TUBES FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
In constructing tube wells and in driving. tubes for other purposes, instead of.
striking the tube at or above the surface by means of a monkey or weight falling
upon the top of the tube or upon a clamp, the blow is given immediately above the
point at its lower extremity by means of an elongated weight small enough to pass.
down the inside of the tube to be driven. The weight is raised and allowed to
drop inside the tube by means of a rope, chain, rods, or other appliances, either
lifted direct or by pulleys attached to the tube itself, or by other, suitable means.
The weight, by preference, is shod with steel.
This arrangement is illustrated by Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings, in which
A is the bottom length of a well tube, shown in longitudinal section; it is pointed at
its lower end to penetrate the ground, and is coupled by the screw collar B with
the length above. C is the driving weight, which, for the purpose of sinking the
tube, is raised and dropped within it repeatedly.
In some cases we make the first tube about 3 feet long with a clean bore slightly
smaller in internal diameter than those which are to follow it; the driving weight
is in this case packed with a leather cup or other suitable packing sufficient to
allow it to pass loosely down the tubes until it comes to the small or bottom pipe,
where it fits more closely, so that when raised it produces a partial vacuum, which
not only obviates any compression of air that might take place during the fall of
the weight, and so partially impede the force of the impact, but, on the contrary,
accelerates the fail and increases the effect of the blow. This plan effectually
prevents water or sand from getting beneath the weight and impeding its action.
This arrangement is shown in Figure 2. The lower length A is bored out smooth
within, and the weight C is provided with a packing at C¹ to fit it. A passage for
the escape of air is also formed through the weight from end to end, and an outlet
valve is provided at the. upper end of the passage.
Instead of striking the blow at the bottom of the tube a stout collar or ring, to
form a ledge inside the tube, may be placed at one of the joints, say at the first
joint, say feet or 3 feet from bottom of tube, upon which a cylindrical block of
iron or steel can be laid to receive the blow of the monkey or driving weight. This
block is provided with a keyhole, so that it can be fished up and lowered by a key
attached to a rod.
This arrangement is shown at Figure 3. D is a collar introduced into the joint
between the lengths A and that immediately above it. E is the iron or steel block
resting upon the collar to receive the blow of the driving weight. The keyhole
being in the upper surface of the block is not seen. In some cases the collar D may
be made broader and the use of the block E dispensed with.
Tubular piles, posts, and poles, as telegraph poles, flag staffs, posts for fencing and
for other purposes, may also be driven by the means above described; and this
method of driving is especially applicable where piles have to be driven in many
feet of water, as they can be driven as easily in the deep bed of a river as on
dry land; they can also be afterwards filled with fine concrete to increase their
strength.
Another plan employed, when necessary, to prevent water, sand, or earth getting
into the lower perforated end of a well tube during the time of driving, is to use a
short thin inner tube closed at bottom and shod with steel, dropped into the tube
well, and withdrawn when the well is driven. This inner tube can either be made
so as to be withdrawn separately, or it can consist of a tube or tubes sufficiently

page_text: long for the driving weight to work within its length, and for an inner flange to be
screwed on its upper extremity, so that when the driving weight is pulled right up
it brings the inner tube with it. The inner tube may be prolonged to any
convenient length.
This arrangement is shown in Figure 4. F is the inner tube; it is closed at the
bottom, and of such a length that the rise and fall of the driving weight C takes
place within it. There is an internal flange at F, so that when the weight is
hauled up to remove it from the tube well it brings the inner tube with it.
Where tube wells have to be driven into fine or quicksands, it has hitherto been
the practice (after withdrawing the ordinary tube) to make use of a larger tube
perforated throughout with large holes and lined with an annular filter. The
disadvantage of this method is that it has to be driven into the ground, and in
passing through loam or clay the holes get completely blocked up before reaching
the water-bearing seam, and it is very difficult to free the filter; and, further, if
after a few years the filter becomes choked it is necessary to pull the whole tube
well up to clear it. To avoid these evils we drive down the perforated tube with
the usual point at its lower end, and by preference form more holes, either the same
size as usual, or larger, and when the tube well has been driven into the water-
bearing seam and cleared from loan, &c., by the usual plan of pumping it out by
smaller tubes, we then lower a tapered filter tube made of fine perforated brass or
other suitable material (by preference electro-plated), through which the water will
freely filter, and shut back all the sand. To prevent the sand coming up round-the
outside of this taper filter tube, either a packing can be put round the top, which,
while being sufficiently free to allow it being pushed down the tube well, fits close
enough to prevent any sand getting past; or we provide a taper seating at the first
joint of the tube well immediately above the bottom perforated tube, and the top of
the filter is made taper to correspond, so that it will wedge itself securely and shut
back the sand; should this taper filter become choked it can be readily withdrawn
by lowering a suitable key attached to a rod.
This arrangement is seen in Figure 5. G is the filter tube, and H is the seating
tapered to fit it, which is introduced at the first joint of the well tube.
In some cases when sinking a tube well in sandy soils we bore a hole 5 or 6 times
the diameter of the tube well, and line the hole in the usual way with pipes, and
carry the boring and pipes fairly into the bed of quicksand; then, having cleared
the large pipes of sand, fine gravel is poured down this pipe and rammed well
down; this pipe is pulled up gradually as the gravel is put down and rammed;
thus the gravel more than fills the space occupied by the pipe for about 3 feet or
4 feet, after which clay is put down and rammed like the gravel, simultaneously
withdrawing the large tube for a foot or two more; then the small tube well is
driven down into the centre of the gravel, after which more clay is put down and
the larger tubes entirely withdrawn, and the space they occupied filled with clay,
&c., level to the surface. The object of ramming the clay down is to effectually
shut out surface soakage and seal the water from atmospheric pressure.
Figure 6 shows a tube well made in this manner. The dotted lines. I, I, represent
the sides of the original hole; K indicates the gravel which has been introduced;
and L represents the clay;. M is the tube well driven down through the clay Linto
the gravel K.
In dug wells, where there is a quicksand or other fine natured soil causing the
well to silt up, a filter bed may be introduced by throwing sharp fine grit gravel
into the well and then pumping the sand from under the gravel by means of a tube
with suitable strainer, so that the gravel by its own weight subsides and takes the
place of the objectionable stratum, after which the dug well may be filled with
puddled clay and the tube well left in the gravel filter.
When large open-ended pipes. have to be inserted into the ground, either for
procuring a supply of water out of gravel or other loose soil, or to shut out the
gravel and water, a heavy pointed cylinder of the same diameter as the pipe is

page_text: raised and allowed to fall and punch its way into the gravel, ramming it so tight
all round that the hole retains its shape down to the depth required, with little fear
of its falling in; but should the gravel lay exceptionally loose a small quantity of
clay or hydraulic cement can be put down the hole from time to time to make it
bind or set after the hole has been punched the depth required the punch or
piercer is withdrawn and the pipes are inserted in the hole thus made. For some
purposes by the use of cement in this way the bore can be lined sufficiently to allow
of metal lining pipes being dispensed with.
:
Figure 7 represents the punch or piercer which we employ. In order to produce
the hole it is lifted and dropped by means of tackle similar to that usually employed
in driving well tubes. Clay or cement mixed with water is poured into the hole
from time to time when the punch or piercer is raised.
In withdrawing tubes from the earth where they have been driven into very
hard soils they are commonly knocked up by reversing the blow of the monkey,
but the labour of so doing is very great; this heavy labour we entirely overcome
by suspending the driving weight, by preference, by means of two or more stout
india-rubber springs, which take the whole weight, and the force required to strike
an upward blow is little more than that of overcoming its inertia, as the rebound
after each blow is almost sufficient to bring the driving weight up to the striking
point.
This arrangement is illustrated by Figure 8. N represents the tube which it is
desired to withdraw; O is a collar fixed upon it by means of set screws; P is the
weight or monkey; it has a hole through it for the tube, upon which it is free to
move up and down; Q, Q, are springs of vulcanized india-rubber suspending the
weight P from the upper part of the tripod frame R; S, S, are cords passing over
pulleys on the tripod frame and attached to the weight, and by these cords the
weight is drawn up and caused to strike its upward blow. Metal springs or
counterpoise weights will accomplish the same results.
In some cases we also employ for the same purpose a forked lever, the fulcrum of
which can be altered according to the power required to be exerted. The lever in
itself may be but very short, and be formed with a socket to receive the end of a
length of the well tube, which will form the lever handle. By preference we make
this lever of a double form upon one sole plate, so as to equalize the pressure on
both sides.
In order to avoid having to shift the clamp against which the lever presses each
time the pipe is raised we employ a collar of iron about 9 inches long having a
deep thread on its outside, and two pawls fixed on to the jaws of the lever catch
into the teeth of the collar at any point desired. This tool is shown by Figure 9,
which is an elevation partly in section. T is the tube to be drawn; U is a ribbed
collar placed upon it and kept in position by a clamp; V is a sole plate resting on
the ground, and having a hole in its centre through which the tube T passes;
W, W, are levers pin jointed to the sole plate, and the pin can be shifted nearer to
or further from the nose of the lever, according to the power required. The levers
are made with sockets to receive long handles.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim,-
First. The process of sinking tubes by means of a weight contained within the
tube, and raised and dropped within it, substantially as described.
Second. The means of avoiding compression of air beneath the weight by
applying a packing around it to work as a piston in the lower length of the tube,
substantially as described in respect to Figure 2.
Third. The application of a collar within the tube to receive the blow of the
weight, substantially as described in respect to Figure 3.
Fourth. The application within the main tube of an inner tube serving to exclude
water and sand, and to contain the driving weight, substantially as described in
respect to Figure 4.

page_text: Fifth. The application within the main tube of a finely perforated filter tube, and
of a packing or seating around it to stop down the sand, substantially as described
in respect to Figure 5.
Sixth. The process of forming a tube well by first sinking a large tube and intro-
ducing gravel and clay, the large tube being progressively withdrawn, and the well.
tube driven through the clay and into the gravel, substantially as described in
respect to Figure 6.
Seventh. The process of forming a filter at the bottom of a dug well by throwing
down grit gravel, and pumping away all soft or flowing material from beneath the
gravel, substantially as described.
Eighth. The process for sinking well and other tubes by inserting the tube into
a hole first formed with a punch or piercer, substantially as described in respect to
Figure 7. Also the use of cement when working with the punch or piercer, so as
to produce a lined hole, substantially as described.
Ninth. The process of withdrawing tubes from the ground by the upward blows
of a weight or striker suspended by springs or with counterpoise, substantially as
described in respect to Figure 8.
Tenth. The tool for withdrawing tubes from the ground, substantially as described
in respect to Figure 9.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred le Grand, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
A. LE GRAND. (L.S.)