IMPROVE-' MENTS IN CONSTRUCTING BREAKWATERS AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES."
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Scott, of 3, Stanhope Terrace, Hyde Park
Gardens, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-'
MENTS IN CONSTRUCTING BREAKWATERS AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Scott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the,
8th July 1858.
I, MICHAEL SCOTT, of 3, Stanhope Terrace, Hyde Park Gardens, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING BREAKWATERS AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing breakwaters
and other like structures. For these purposes, in constructing wood piles
with screws, the same are each fitted with a worm or screw, formed by pre-
ference of T or angle iron. The angles of the wood piles are first removed,
and then the iron bar (being heated) is wound spirally around the lower end,
and shrinks thereon tightly. In constructing works, whether for breakwaters
or other structures of a like description, frames of woodwork are formed on
shore, and floated out to the place where they are used, and there sunk in
position. Each frame consists of three or other number of piles placed

page_text: parallel to each other. These piles are combined together by means of wales
or horizontal planks or timbers fixed at intervals; and it is preferred when
great strength is required that the piles should each be built of four thick-
nesses of wood combined in such manner as to break joint. The piles so
connected together are connected to another similar upright pile at a greater
or less distance from the piles first mentioned, according to the strength of
the work or the width of platform or way which is intended to be constructed.
The lower ends of the three or other number of outer piles are connected to
the last-mentioned inner pile by means of a tie, from which four or other
number of timbers radiate, and are fixed to the front piles, and the other end
of the tie is connected to the inner pile by two pieces of timber trenailed to
it and to the inner pile. It is arranged that the radiating timbers should
enter the tie at different points, otherwise it would be difficult to fix them to
the tie without weakening it. The outer piles are combined with the inner
pile by means of other ties at the upper or near the upper ends, and also at
points intermediate of the length of the piles. The frames of piles thus pro-
duced on being floated out and sunk in position, are kept down by stones or
rubble, which rest on the bottom ties, and fill the space behind the front row
of piles. In some cases, in place of using a rigid tie, such as above described,
flexible ties are used, consisting of links of wood interlinked into each other,
the ends of the outermost lengths being attached to the front and back piles
respectively. These flexible ties are used where the bottom on which they
rest is uneven or composed of rocks. Each link is formed of two planks or
pieces of timber fixed together with trenails, but kept apart by interposed
chocks or blocks of wood. When frames such as above described, or of other
suitable construction, are employed for forming the face of a work of con-
siderable width, so that the other face (if any) of the work has to be con-
structed of other frames or by other work detached from the first face, then
I proportion the width of the frames (that is to say, the distance between the
front and back piles,) to the strain which the work has to bear. Thus, in
constructing a breakwater or pier, I use frames of different widths, and I
place those having the smallest width where the sea strikes with least force,
and those having the greatest width where the sea strikes with greatest
force.
In constructing breakwaters and other like structures by means of frames
resting on the bottom, and filled in with stone as described, I sometimes
prepare bearings for the frames when below the low-water mark of spring
tides by means of divers, who lay flat stones in suitable positions, and then the
measurements for constructing the frames can easily be taken from these

page_text: foundations, and the frames may be built at a distance, and when finished
brought to their places, and erected on the foundations already prepared.
In some cases when using piles, whether framed as above described, or
driven, or otherwise fixed in position, the same are planked horizontally, in
such manner as to produce a description of basket-like work, that is, the
plankings pass alternately from back. to front and from front to back of the
piles. In some cases it is preferred to fill the spaces between the piles by
panels or frames of planking, consisting of upright and horizontal timbers
formed of a width suitable for filling in between the neighbouring piles.
In some cases, when forming rounded ends of breakwaters and other like
structures, a ring of masonry with a central column or structure is erected,
and round the masonry ring piles are lowered into position, and tied to the
central column by radial ties of timber. The piles are then planked on the
basket-work system before described, and the space between the piles and
the column is afterwards filled in with rubble or stones. Where necessary,
diagonals are used to give strength and stability to the structure, in addition
to the horizontal ties.
In order to combine together a series of timbers under water, as, for
instance, the intermediate timbers or planking employed for forming a wall
of timbers or planking between two piles, it may be between the front piles
of two frames, such as before described, a sliding tie is employed, constructed
in the following manner :-Two pieces of timber, of a slightly greater length
than the distance between the two piles, are placed one against the front and
the other against the back of the two piles, and these timbers are at their two
ends connected together by interposed chocks or blocks of the thickness of
the piles; and in between the two piles the two timbers are also connected
together by a series of similar chocks or blocks, having spaces between them:
of sufficient width for the passage of the other timbers which are to be intro-
duced and combined with the piles. When this sliding tie is constructed as
above described, it is pushed down the piles until it rests at or near the
bottom. The ends of the intermediate timbers are then easily introduced into.
the spaces left for them in the sliding tie, by which they are thus combined
together at their lower ends; and if it is desired that these intermediate
timbers should be driven or screwed into the bottom, the sliding tie serves for;
a guide for their lower ends while driving or screwing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th January 1859.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
SCOTT, of 3, Stanhope Terrace, Hyde Park Gardens, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, send greeting.
..WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Michael Scott, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Scott, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Scott, 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 CONSTRUCTING
BREAKWATERS AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Michael Scott, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 performed, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Scott, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing breakwaters
and other like structures. For these purposes in constructing wood piles with
screws, the same are each fitted with a worm or screw, formed by preference
of Tor angle iron. The angles of the wood piles are first removed, and then
the iron bar (being heated) is wound spirally around the lower end, and shrinks
thereon tightly.
Figure 1 shews the end of a pile, around the lower end of which angle iron
is coiled, so as to form the thread of a screw. In place of the form of angle
iron shown in the Drawing, T angle iron may be used.

page_text: In constructing works whether for breakwaters or other structures of a like
description, frames of woodwork, such as are shown at Figures 2, 3, and 4,
are formed on shore and floated out to the place where they are used, and
there sunk in position. Each frame consists of three or other number of piles
a, a, placed parallel to each other; these piles are combined together by means of
wales or horizontal planks or timbers b, b, fixed at intervals, and it is preferred
when great strength is required that the piles should each be built of four
thicknesses of wood, combined in such manner as to break joint. The piles
so connected together are connected to another similar upright pile c, at a
greater or less distance from the piles first mentioned, according to the
strength of the work, or the width of platform or way which is intended to be
constructed. The lower ends of the three or other number of outer piles are
connected to the last-mentioned inner pile by means of a tie d, from which
four or other number of timbers e, e, radiate, and are fixed to the front piles,
and the other end of the tie is connected to the inner pile by two pieces of
timber f, f, trenailed to it and to the inner pile. It is arranged that the
radiating timbers should enter the tie at different points, otherwise it would be
difficult to fix them to the tie without weakening it. The outer piles are
combined with the inner pile by means of other ties at the upper or near the
upper ends, and also at points intermediate of the length of the piles, as shown
in the Drawing, or in any convenient manner. The frames of piles thus
produced on being floated out and sunk in position, are kept down by stones
or rubble which rest on the bottom ties and fill the space behind the front
row of piles. In some cases in place of using a rigid tie, such as above
described, flexible ties are used, consisting of links of wood interlinked into
each other, as shewn at Figure 5, the ends of the outermost lengths being
attached to the front and back piles respectively; these flexible ties are used
where the bottom on which they rest is uneven or composed of rocks; each
link is formed of two planks or pieces of timber h, h, fixed together with
trenails, but kept apart by interposed chocks or blocks of wood i, i.
Figures 6 and 7 show a front elevation and cross section of a wider frame
connected by flexible ties at their lower parts, and with horizontal ties and
diagonals. When frames, such as above described, or of other suitable con-.
struction are employed for forming the face of a work of considerable width,
so that the other face (if any) of the work has to be constructed of other
frames, or by other work detached from the first face; then I proportion the
width of the frames (that is to say, the distance between the front and the
back piles,) to the strain which the work has to bear; thus in constructing a

page_text: breakwater or pier I use frames of different widths, and I place those having
the smallest width where the sea strikes with least force, and those having the
greatest width where the sea strikes with greatest force.
In constructing break waters and other like structures by means of frames
resting on the bottom and filled in with stone, as described, I sometimes
prepare bearings for the frames, when below the water mark of spring tides,
by means of divers, who lay flat stones in suitable positions, and then the
measurements for constructing the frames can easily be taken from these
foundations, and the frames may be built at a distance, and when finished
brought to their places and erected on the foundations already prepared.
In some cases when using piles, whether framed as above described, or
driven or otherwise fixed in position, the same are planked horizontally in
such manner as to produce a description of basket-like work, (see Figures 8
and 9), that is, the plankings j, j, pass alternately from back to front, and
from front to back of the piles. In some cases it is preferred to fill the spaces
between the piles by frames of panels or planking, consisting of upright and
horizontal timbers formed of a width suitable for filling in between the
neighbouring piles, see Figures 10 and 11, where k, k, are the piles, and 1, 1,
are the filling frames which go at the back of the piles. In some cases when
forming rounded ends of breakwaters and other like structures, a ring of
masonry with a central column or structure is erected, and round the masonry
ring piles are lowered into position, and tied to the central column by radial
ties of timber; the piles are then planked on the basket-work system before
described, and the space between the piles and the column is afterwards filled
in with rubble or stones. Where necessary, diagonals, as shewn in Figures 2
and 6, are used to give strength and stability to the structure, in addition to
the horizontal ties.
In order to combine together a series of timbers under water, (as for
instance, the intermediate timbers or planking employed for forming a wall of
timbers, or planking between two piles, it may be between the front piles of
two frames, such as before described,) a sliding tie, Figure 12, is employed,
constructed in the following manner :-Two pieces of timber of a slightly
greater length than the distance between the two piles, are placed one against
the front and the other against the back of the two piles, and these timbers
are at their two ends connected together by interposed chocks or blocks of the
thickness of the piles, and in between the two piles the two timbers are also
connected together by a series of similar chocks or blocks, having spaces
between them of sufficient width for the passage of the other timbers, which

page_text: are to be introduced and combined with the piles; when this sliding tie is
constructed as above described, it is pushed down the piles, until it rests at or
near the bottom; the ends of the intermediate timbers are then easily intro-
duced into the spaces left for them in the sliding tie, by which they are thus
combined together at their lower ends; and if it is desired that these inter-
mediate timbers should be driven or screwed into the bottom, the sliding tie
serves for a guide for their lower ends while driving or screwing. This will
be understood by reference to the lower part of Figure 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Scott, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
MICHAEL SCOTT. (L.S.)
Witness,
GABRIEL HINDHAUGH.