AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic William Reeves, of No, 16, Eardley Crescent,
South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an
Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic William Reeves
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1880.
"
FREDERIC WILLIAM REEVES, of No, 16, Eardley Crescent, South Kensington,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. ÅN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUBMERGED OR PARTLY
SUBMERGED STRUCTURES."
The object of my Invention is the rapid and convenient construction of the
foundations of piers, jetties, and other submerged or partly submerged structures.
Hitherto the foundations of buildings which have to be laid in the bed of a river
or elsewhere under water have been effected in one of two manners. The first by
means of what are called "caissons" or cylinders sunk by means of appliances
worked from a platform erected above or Hoating -upon the surface of the water,
and the second by means of placing the base of the pier or other structure which it
is desired to erect upright in the place which is required to be occupied, and holding
it in an upright position while it sinks of its own weight or from added weights
into the yielding soil at the bottom of the water, and so gradually finds its own
foundation. Both these systems have many inconveniences which are well known
to all constructive engineers, the first especially in consequence of the expensive
and heavy staging or platform necessary to be constructed for the sinking of
caissons, and the difficulty in working cheaply and expeditiously therefrom; and
the second especially in consequence of the difficuly in moving bodies of such size
and weight as the foundation parts of large piers to the places they are desired to
occupy, and to their liability to upset or lose their erect position before they have
sunk sufficiently far into the soil to find a solid foundation.
By my Invention these inconveniences and many others are entirely obviated.
My Invention consists in the construction and use of square, oblong, cylindri cal,

page_text: or other shaped boxes or tubes perforated at the bottom, which are sunk into the
soil by means of hydraulic action.
These boxes or tubes, which I preferably call "sections," may be of any
convenient length and area, the length being preferably great in proportion to the
diameter. A current of water is forced into them at about their top by means
of a pump or other convenient appliance through a flexible tube or other suitable
contrivance.
Being placed upright upon the surface of the submerged soil in which it
is desired to lay the foundation with their perforated ends or bottoms upon
the soil, the current of water is forced into them which passing down upon
the soil through the perforations in the bottoms rapidly forces it away, and these
boxes or tubes or "sections" sink into the soil with ease and rapidity. These boxes
or tubes or "sections" may be so shaped at the bottom as to sink into the soil
with the greater ease, and are provided with flanges at their sides or are otherwise
so constructed as to fit into one another closely at the sides, so as to form a water
tight joint as nearly as possible. When forming a foundation I sink a number of
these "sections" side by side into any shape in which it is desired the foundation
should be, circular, square, oval, or otherwise. When the enclosure in the desired
shape is made by the sinking of these "sections" side by side as aforesaid, they can
be secured to one another beyond being already fixed by the flanges or other
appliances already referred to in any convenient manner. The whole will then
form a "caisson or dam, and the soil enclosed within the fence formed by the
" sections" arranged as above can be excavated as usual, and the foundation of the
structure built thereon.
"
It must be understood that while for the sake of clearness I have described my
sections as being sunk one by one, I may according as convenience may dictate
sink a whole enclosure of them or any less number at the same time, or one or
more or any number may be placed in position ready for sinking at the same time
and afterwards sunk either singly or in any desired number.
is
The bottoms or ends of the "sections" will more easily penetrate the ground if
they are sharpened or pointed, and where the weight of the "section
insufficient to overcome the friction of the ground, added weights can be employed
to cause the desired sinking.
The length of the sections will vary according to circumstances, and where they
require to be of great length they can be made in several pieces and joined together
as required. The enclosure formed as above can be carried up above the surface of
the water, or temporary lengths of sections can be used so as to leave the top of
the enclosure level with the ground, or at any other convenient height. When the
ground for foundation is enclosed by the sections, the materials therein contained
are removed by dredging, digging machines, or by any other convenient means,
until the required depth is reached, the space so cleared is then to be filled up to
the necessary height with semi-fluid concrete, concrete blocks, stones, or any other
suitable material. The upper ends of the sections may be additionally strengthened
by being bolted or rivetted together, and when desired, bands or hoops of iron can
be added around the external portion of the sections. When the enclosure formed
by the sections is completed, the interstices between the sections and the sections
themselves are filled up with cement, grout, concrete, or any other material which
will harden under water. The shape and dimensions of the sections will depend
upon the size, form, and depth of the foundation.
The various pieces must not be too heavy for easy handling, or to prevent them
from being placed in position by floating craft or light staging. If during the
process of sinking the section should encounter hard materials or any obstacles
which would prevent it from sinking, it can be left for the time being, and the next
ones proceeded with. When the excavation of the interior of the enclosure reaches
the level of the obstruction it may be removed and the sinking completed.
When the nature of the ground is hard and the water current insufficient to sink
the section it may be driven or forced down by ramming, and in some cases it

page_text: may be found servicable to sink and excavate in stages or given distances
alternately. It may also be found practicable where the ground is compact and
the depth not too considerable to fill the spaces between the sections with some
materials which would prevent the passage of water, and thus the enclosure might
be pumped dry.
In some cases when the enclosures formed by the aforesaid sections have been
filled up with materials which may be depended upon in themselves for carrying
the structures placed upon the foundations, I may withdraw the sections either by
force directly applied to lift them bodily, or the lifting may be assisted by means
of the water current, which will loosen the ground and facilitate their removal.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederic William Reeves in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th June 1881.
FREDERIC WILLIAM REEVES, of No, 16, Eardley Crescent, South Kensington, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUBMERGED OR PARTLY
SUBMERGED STRUCTURES.'
The object of my Invention is the rapid and convenient construction of the
foundations of piers, jetties, and other submerged or partly submerged structures,
especially where the water is of considerable depth.
Hitherto the foundations of buildings which have to be laid in the bed of a river
or elsewhere under water have generally been effected in one of two manners:-
The first by means of what are called caissons or cylinders sunk by means of
appliances worked from a platform erected above or floating upon the surface of
the water, and the second by means of placing the base of the pier or other
structures which it is desired to erect upright in the place which is required to be
occupied, and holding it in an upright position while it sinks of its own weight or
from added weights into the yielding soil at the bottom of the water, and so
gradually finds its own foundation.
Both these systems have many inconveniences which are well known to all
constructive engineers. The first especially in consequence of the expensive and
heavy staging or platform necessary to be constructed for the sinking of caissons,
and the difficulty in working cheaply and expeditiously therefrom; and the second
especially in consequence of the difficulty in deep water of moving bodies of such
size and weight as the foundation parts of large piers to the places they are desired
to occupy, and to their liability to upset or lose their position before they have
sunk sufficiently far into the soil to find a solid foundation.
By my Invention these inconveniences and many others are entirely obviated.
My Invention consists in the construction and use of square, oblong, cylindrical,
or other shaped boxes or tubes perforated or open at the bottom, which are sunk
into the soil by means of hydraulic action, or by the methods subsequently
described.
These boxes or tubes, which I preferably call "sections," may be of any convenient
length and area, the length being preferably great in proportion to the diameter,
especially where the ground is of a mobile character. A current of water is forced
into them at about their top by means of a pump or other convenient appliance
through a flexible tube or other suitable contrivance. Being placed upright upon
the surface of the submerged soil in which it is desired to lay the foundation with
their perforated or open ends or bottoms upon the soil, the current of water is
forced into them which passing down upon the soil through the perforations or
openings in the bottoms rapidly forces it away, and these boxes or tubes or
sections" sink into the soil with ease and rapidity. These boxes or tubes or
"sections" may be so shaped at the bottom as to sink into the soil with the greater
ease, and are provided with flanges, ribs, or dovetailed rails on the one side. and
corresponding grooves or recesses on the other, or are otherwise so constructed as
to fit into one another closely at the sides so as to form a water tight joint as
nearly as possible, sufficient clearance being given to allow of their sliding easily.
When forming a foundation I sink a number of these "sections" side by side into
any form in which it is desired the foundation should be, circular, square, oval, or
otherwise. When the enclosure in the desired shape is made by the sinking of
these "sections" side by side as aforesaid, they can be secured to one another

page_text: beyond being already fixed or interlocked together by the flanges or other appliances
already referred to or in any convenient manner. The whole will then form a
caisson or dam, and the soil enclosed within the fence formed by the "sections"
arranged as above can be excavated as usual and the foundation of the structure
built therein.
It must be understood that while for the sake of clearness I have described my
sections as being sunk one by one, I may according as convenience may dictate
sink a whole enclosure of them, or any less number at the same time, or one or
more or any number may be placed in position ready for sinking at. the same
time, and afterwards sunk either singly or in any desired number.
is
The bottoms or ends of the "sections" will more readily penetrate the ground if
they are sharpened or pointed, and where the weight of the "sections
insufficient to overcome the friction of the ground, added weights can be employed
to cause the desired sinking.
The length of the "sections" will vary according to circumstances, and where
they require to be of great length they can be made in several pieces and joined
together as required.
The enclosure or dam formed as above can be carried up above the surface of
the water, or temporary lengths of sections can be used so as to lean the top of the
enclosure level with the ground or at any other convenient height.
When the ground for the foundation is enclosed by the "sections," the materials
therein contained are easily removed by dredging or digging machines, or by any
other convenient method, until the required depth is reached, the space so cleared
is then to be filled up to the necessary height with semi-fluid concrete, concrete
blocks, brick blocks, stones, or any other suitable material which can thus easily
be placed under water at considerable depths.
The upper ends of the "sections may be additionally strengthened by being
bolted or riveted together, and when desired bands or hoops or stringers' of iron
can be added around the external portions of the sections to give lateral stiffness
to the structure.
When the enclosure formed by the "sections" is completed, the interstices between
the "sections" and the "sections" themselves may be filled up with cement, grout,
concrete, or any other material which will harden under water.
The shape and dimensions of the "sections" will depend upon the size, form, and
depth of the foundation. The various pieces must not be too heavy for easy
handling or to prevent them from being placed in position by floating craft or light
staging. If, during the process of sinking, any of the "sections" should encounter
hard materials or any obstacle which would prevent them from sinking they can
be left for the time being and the next ones proceeded with. When the excavation
of the interior of the enclosure reaches the level of the obstruction it may be
removed and the sinking completed.
Where the nature of the ground is hard and the water current insufficient to sink
the "section" it may be driven or forced down by ramming, or, where of large
dimensions, the materials may be excavated therefrom. And in some cases it may
be found desirable to sink and excavate or remove the materials from within the
enclosure in stages or given distances alternately. It may also be found practicable
where the ground is compact and the depth not too considerable to fill the spaces
between the "sections" with some material, such as clay, which would prevent the
passage of water, and thus the enclosure might be pumped dry.
In some cases when the enclosures formed by the aforesaid "sections" have been
filled up with materials which may be depended upon in themselves for carrying
the structure placed upon the foundation, I may withdraw the "sections" either by
force directly applied to lift them bodily, or the lifting may be assisted by means
of the water current, which will loosen the ground and facilitate their removal.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the Drawings hereunto annexed is a side view partly in
section of an oval enclosure of my boxes, tubes, or sections nearly completed.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same. a, a, (Fig. 1) is the level of the water;

page_text: b, b, is the bed of the river; A, B, C, are my sections, one of which, B, is in
process of being sunk while the others are already sunk; k is the flexible tube
or pipe leading the current of water into the section B, the water coming
out at the bottom. Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 are respectively views in cross-section
showing some of the various shapes in which I may construct my sections;
Figures 3 and 4 are so constructed as to fit into one another. The flanges or
projections c, c, of Figure 4 are so arranged as to fit into corresponding flanges or
projections d, d, of Figure 3. Similarly in Figures 5 and 6 the angles e, e, of
Figure 6 are constructed to fit into the corresponding angles f, f, of Figure 5.
In Figure 7, also in cross-section, I show a modified and simpler form of section
which may be advantageously used when the work desired to be performed is of a
small dimension or in shallower water, or in hard ground, where the section would
require ramming. The sections are no longer in this case boxes or tubes, but are
composed of H iron having a tube g passing down the side of the section for the
purpose of carrying the water current described above. These shaped sections are
also constructed in such a way as to fit into one another, as shown in Figure 8,
which is a plan of a long enclosure of these sections h, h, h, partly completed; j,j,j,j,
are distance pieces or struts for the purpose of keeping the sections apart at their
upper ends so as to prevent the enclosure from collapsing.
At Figure 9, Sheet II., I show a longitudinal section of one of my enclosures, in
which a pier has been constructed up to a height a little above the level of the
water a, a; Figure 10 is a plan view of the same. A, B, C, are the sections forming
the enclosures; D is the pier, shown in dotted lines, the interior or core of which is
filled with concrete E. The line F, F, shows the bottom of the water, or diver's
level, or limit to which a diver can work, while G, G, is the level of the foundation,
the intervening spaces being filled with liquid concrete or other suitable material.
In Figure 11 I have shown on an enlarged scale a cross-section of two of my
tubes or "sections" connected together so as to clearly show the manner in which
they are held together, as already described with reference to Figures 3 to 7.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
1st. The improved method of and apparatus for constructing subaqueous
foundations, substantially as herein before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
2ndly. The method of forming an enclosure on ground under water made of
various pieces or "sections" which fit into and support each other, as herein
before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
3rdly. The shapes and configuration of the various forms of the said pieces or
"sections" to be used for the purpose of constructing subaqueous. foundations,
herein before described and shown at Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic William Reeves, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and nighter