IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR EXCAVATING OR ELEVATING SAND, GRAVEL, MUD, AND OTHER MATTERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic William Reeves and Frank Henry Beattie, both
of Newport, in the County of Fife, North Britain, Engineers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR EXCAVATING
OR ELEVATING SAND, GRAVEL, MUD, AND OTHER MATTERS."
Sealed the 21st October 1876, and dated the 26th April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic William Reeves
and Frank Henry Beattie at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
26th April 1876.
FREDERIC WILLIAM REEVES and FRANK HENRY BEATTIE, both of Newport, in
the County of Fife, North Britain, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR EXCAVATING OR ELEVATING SAND, GRAVEL, MUD, AND
OTHER MATTERS."
Our Invention relates more particularly to the excavating of foundations under
water to the sinking of piers, cylinders, caissons, and other structures, to dredging
operations, and generally to the raising of earthy or other matters mixed or asso-
ciated with water or fluid.
For the said purposes we employ chambers in which a vacuum or partial vacuum
can be formed, and into which the matters to be raised are forced by the pressure
of the outer atmosphere, and from which the said matters are discharged at intervals
through suitable doors or valves.
In the form of apparatus which we now consider to be suitable we employ two
tanks or chambers, each formed with a bottom sloping to the discharge opening,
which is fitted with a hinged balanced door, the said door or opening being pro-
vided with caoutchouc or leather packing to render the joint air-tight. An air
pump or set of air pumps is employed to exhaust air out of the tanks, the connec-
tions being so arranged as that the two tanks can be exhausted in alternation, one
tank filling with the matters being raised whilst the other tank is discharging.
The connection with the air pump is formed with branches leading to the two
tanks, each branch being provided with a valve or cock, which, if preferred, may
be formed as a two-way cock arranged to admit air into the tank when the passage
[Price 6d.]

page_text: to the-air pump-is-closed, or one three-way cock-may be arranged to establish¯ `a
communication between the air pump and each tank alternately.
The valves or valve may be provided with arrangements of levers or shafts and
gearing whereby they or it may be closed, and when two valves are used they may
be actuated separately or in unison. From the tanks a trunk or pipe extends to
the material to be raised, say, for example, to the mud or gravel within a caisson,
the said trunk being connected with two branch pipes which lead to the two
tanks, and are provided with valves, which are preferably formed as door valves
hinged inside the tanks, and arranged to be opened and closed by means of shafts
which extend into the tanks. If preferred these valves may be arranged to
be self-acting, or a single shaft or connected shafts may be arranged to open
one valve and to close the other by one operation, or to actuate all the valves in
unison.
'
The said trunk is preferably formed of caoutchouc, strengthened with an em-
bedded coil of wire and having as near as may be an uniform diameter through-
out, the connections being effected by means of screw couplings formed with
passages uniform with that of the trunk. The lower end of the said trunk is
provided with a length of metal pipe, which is or may be formed with inlet holes
for water, situated a short distance from the lower end and is provided with a
plate or flanch to prevent it from sinking into the mud or matters to too great
an extent.
The high level of liquid or matters within each tank is or may be indicated
by means of a float attached to a spindle, which passes through gland to the
outside of the tank, and if preferred the, said float may be caused to open an air
inlet valve when rising, or air from the empty tank., may be admitted into the
full tank at the proper time, thereby establishing a partial vacuum within the
empty tank.
When required for use in barbours, rivers, or otherwise on water, the entire
apparatus may be mounted on a barge or floating structure, or on two barges or
structures having a hopper or hoppers below the tanks to permit of the discharge
of the debris, or constructed to permit barges to be brought below the discharge
openings of the tanks, and when required for use on land the apparatus may be
mounted on a suitable carriage running on rails.
To facilitate excavation at comparatively great depths we may admit a jet or
jets of compressed air into the lower end of the aforesaid trunk, and in some cases
we may divide the entire lift into two or more stages, the excavated matters being
first drawn into a chamber situated under water and being subsequently drawn
into a second chamber situated at a higher level.
When employing our apparatus in the raising of water or liquid holding in sus-
pension earthy or sandy particles or animal, mineral, or vegetable matters, we may
arrange the valves and outlet doors to open automatically, as, for example, the
indicating floats may be caused to control the air cocks or valves, and one discharge
door arranged to alternately close the discharge opening of each tank or chamber
may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederic William Reeves and Frank Henry Beattie in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 26th October 1876.
FREDERIC WILLIAM REEVES, and FRANK HENRY BEATTIE, both of Newport, in
the County of Fife, North Britain, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR EXCAVATING OR ELEVATING SAND, GRAVEL, MUD, AND
OTHER MATTERS."
Our Invention relates more particularly to the excavating of foundations under
water, to the sinking of piers, cylinders, caissons, and other structures, to dredging

page_text: operations, and generally to the raising of earthy or other matters mixed or
associated with water or fluid. For the said purposes we employ chambers in
which a vacuum or partial vacuum can be formed, and into which the matters
to be raised are forced by the pressure of the outer atmosphere, and from which
the said matters are discharged at intervals through suitable doors or valves.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we have appended
hereunto two Sheets of Drawings illustrative of apparatus which we have con-
structed in accordance with our Invention, the said Drawings being marked with
letters of reference, corresponding marks indicating the same parts in the various
Figures.
Referring in this place to Sheet 1 of the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a
front elevation partly in section, Fig. 2 a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan of the
principal portion of the apparatus, the said Figures having been drawn to a scale
of about half an inch to the foot.
In the said Figures A, B, are two tanks, one being represented in section in
Fig. 1.
Each tank is made of a cylindrical form, having a conically shaped bottom,
which slopes in all directions towards an opening at d, through which the matters
are discharged from the tank. The tanks may be made of wrought-iron plates
riveted together, or of cast-iron sections bolted together, or be otherwise constructed
as considered to be most suitable. In the example, each tank is provided with
four gussets b, b, which serve to strengthen the tank and also act as feet, by means
of which the tank may be sustained by and be secured to girders or to a scaffolding
or foundation as may be required in each case. The discharge opening a is pro-
vided with a door C, which is represented on a larger scale in Figs. 5 and 6 in
Sheet 2. In the example a ring of vulcanised caoutchouc c is secured between
two circular iron discs. To or on the lower and larger disc are secured or formed
two brackets or cheeks d. A lever è is fixed to a shaft f, which is mounted in
brackets fixed to the tank, and one arm of the said lever enters between the said
cheeks, and is secured thereto by means of a bolt g, which passes through the
cheeks and the lever arm. The other arm of the lever is provided with a weight,
which tends to press the caoutchouc ring against the margin of the discharge
opening, which margin is turned or made suitably true. The method of connection
of the valve or door with the lever enables the door to adjust itself when closed,
so as to bed equally around the discharge opening. Leather or other material
may be substituted for the caoutchouc if preferred, and the details of the door be
varied as considered to be most suitable. The said door may be opened or kept
open or be closed when necessary by means of a hand lever h, which is fixed on
the shaft f. One end of a pipe i, which in the example is formed in three parts
bolted together, passes through the roof or cover of the tank A, and is secured
thereto by means of a flanch and packing, so as to make an air-tight joint. A
similar pipe is connected with the tank B, and both pipes are connected with
a three-way cock or valve C, which is illustrated on a larger scale by Figs. 7 and 8
in Sheet 2. The shell of the said valve is cast with three branches. The
branches and are for connection with the aforesaid pipes i and i. The third
branch is for connection with a pipe j, which is in communication with an air
exhausting apparatus. The plug of the valve is formed with two passages so
arranged as that the said plug may be turned into position to establish a com-
munication between either the one or the other of the two branches i and the
branch j, as will be well understood. The said plug is fixed upon a spindle, which
passes through a stuffing box, and is provided with a hand wheel & by means of
which the said plug is turned. The tightness of the said plug is adjusted by means
of a footstep screw at 7. The pipe j extends to an air pump or to a set of air pumps
or to a suitable exhausting apparatus, conveniently situated near to or at a
distance from the tanks, but as such pump or pumps or apparatus may be of
ordinary construction, it has not been considered necessary to illustrate it or them
in the Drawings. In the interior of each tank and immediately below the mouth

page_text: of the pipe is mounted a valve m, which is represented by Fig. 10 in Sheet 2.
A block of wood m is arranged to slide upon rods which are secured to the roof
or cover of the tank. A disc or ring of vulcanised caoutchouc or other suitable
material is secured to the upper surface, or is let into the top of the said block.
When the matters rise so high within the tank as that the said block becomes
partly immersed, the said block floats, and in the event of the continued influx
of matters is raised until the said caoutchouc disc touches the mouth of the pipe i
and closes the same. The material and form of this valve may be varied so long
as its self-acting action is retained. In order that it may be known when the
tank is full of matters, an indicator E, separately represented by Fig. 11 in Sheet 2,
is provided. The said indicator consists of a hollow metal float attached to a rod,
which is fitted to slide in a stuffing box, which is screwed into the crown of the
tank. When the matters rise to a certain height within the tank the said float
rises, and the upper end of the said rod indicates the level reached by the said
matters. This arrangement may be varied, as, for example, a float may be fixed.
on a lever arm, which is secured to a spindle passing through a stuffing box fixed
to the side of the tank. In such a case an index on the outer end of the said
spindle might indicate the said level upon a scale. According to another arrange-
ment one or more "sight holes," closed by discs of strong glass, might be formed in
the side of the tank. A curved pipe is attached to the roof or cover of the
tank A, and the open mouth of the said pipe extends for a short distance into
the tank. A valve or door o, represented in Fig. 9, Sheet 2, is employed to close
the mouth of the said pipe when necessary. The said valve in form and action
is similar to the valve or door C previously described. The valve o is designed
to close the mouth of the pipe n during the emptying of the tank, and to be more
or less self-acting, but in order that its action can be governed from the outside,
the shaft upon which the said valve is mounted passes through a stuffing box
to the outside of the tank, and is provided with a hand wheel q, by means of
which the said valve may be caused to open or close the said mouth. The tank B
is fitted with a similar pipe n¹ and valve. The two pipes n and n¹ are connected
by means of a "breeches pipe" and screw-coupling to the upper end of a trunk or
pipe F, which extends down to the matters to be raised. The said breeches pipe
and coupling are represented on a larger scale by Fig. 12 in Sheet 2.
We prefer
that the said trunk shall be made of vulcanised caoutchouc, strengthened with a
coil of wire embedded in the substance of the caoutchouc, and having a smooth
bore of an uniform diameter throughout as nearly as is conveniently practible.
The other or lower end of the said trunk is represented detached by Fig. 4,
wherein s is a suction pipe, which is secured to the end of the trunk by means of
a screw coupling. In the example the open mouth of the said suction pipe is
protected by metal bridges crossing each other over the mouth in order to pre-
vent the influx of stones or solid substances of too large a size, but if preferred
the outer end of the said pipe may be closed and holes or slots be formed in
it. A shield t of a conical form is attached to and encloses the end of the
said suction pipe. This shield prevents the pipe from assuming a horizontal
position, and also from penetrating too deeply into mud or soft matter.
or plate or other suitable form of shield may be used in lieu of the conical
shield if preferred. Means are provided for the attachment of a chain, as indi-
cated by dotted lines, whereby the suction pipe can be raised and lowered and
inoved about.
A disc
When required for use in harbours, rivers, or otherwise on water, the entire
apparatus may be mounted on a barge or on connected barges, or on a floating
structure having a hopper or hoppers below the tanks to permit of the discharge
of mud, gravel, or matters, or so constructed as to permit barges to be brought
into position below the discharge openings of the tanks.
In some cases the
apparatus may be mounted on a carriage constructed to be moved on rails upon
the ground, or carried over water by means of scaffolding.

page_text: The action of the apparatus may be described as follows:-In Fig. 1 the tank A
is supposed to be in communication with the air pump and also with the trunk.
In the case of the other tank the valve o is closed, and communication with the
air pump is shut off by means of the valve D. The action of the said pump will
create a vacuum in the tank A, and the mud, gravel, and matters associated with
water are sucked through the pipe 8, and ascending through the trunk F flow into
and through the pipes r and n into the tank. When it is considered that the
tank is sufficiently filled, the hand wheel K is turned so as to shut off the com-
munication with the air pump, and air is admitted to the interior of the tank.
In Fig. 1, u, u, indicate air inlet cocks. By opening the cock belonging to the
tank A air is admitted to the said tank, whereby the vacuum is destroyed. The
valve o now closes, or is or has been closed, and the door c opens and permits the
matters to discharge themselves from the tank. Supposing the tank B to be empty,
and its door c to be shut when the tank A is full, the wheel K may be at once
turned to connect the tank B with the air pump, so that the latter tank commences
to fill whilst the other tank is discharging, or the plug of the valve d may be first
turned into position to establish a communication between the two tanks before
opening the cock or valve u, whereby a partial vacuum is at once formed in the
tank B, or a separate cock or valve may be employed to effect this temporary
communication between the two tanks. The two tanks are thus filled and emptied
alternately. Although we have represented two tanks, we do not confine ourselves
to this arrangement, as one tank only may be used, or more than two tanks may be
associated together in one set of apparatus. Various other modifications may be
made in the apparatus without departing from the nature and intent of our
Invention, as, for example, each tank may be provided with a separate cock or valve
formed as a two-way cock so as to open a communication with the exhausting
apparatus when turned into one position, and to let air into the tank when turned
into another position. In some cases it may be advisable to employ gearing to
work the cocks and valves, and in such cases, or if considered to be desirable in any
case, the cocks or valves may be connected together by shafts and gearing so as to
be worked in unison, that is to say, so that certain valves can be opened and others
closed by one action. If considered to be desirable the indicating float, or a specially
contrived float, may be arranged to open an air inlet valve when the tank has
become filled to a sufficient extent. To facilitate excavation or dredging at com-
paratively great depths we may admit a jet or jets of compressed air into the
mouth of the aforesaid suction pipe. The dotted lines v, in Fig. 4, indicate a pipe
for conveying the said air. In cases wherein the matters have to be raised to a
height exceeding the capabilities of one set of apparatus we shall divide the entire
lift into two or more stages, the matters being first sucked or drawn into a chamber
or tank situated at a comparatively low level, and being drawn thence into a
chamber or tank situated at a higher level. When employing our apparatus in the
raising of water or liquid holding in suspension earthy or sandy particles, or animal,
mineral, or vegetable matters, we may arrange that one door shall close the
discharge openings in both tanks alternately.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said Invention, and
means whereby the same may be carried into effect, we would in conclusion have
it to be understood that we claim―
First. The employment of a tank or chamber into which matters such as herein
indicated are sucked or drawn by the aid of an air pump or of exhausting apparatus,
and whence they are discharged substantially as herein-before set forth and
indicated.
Secondly. The employment of two such tanks or chambers working in alternation,
substantially as set forth and indicated.
Thirdly. The apparatus formed, fitted, and arranged substantially, as set forth
and indicated herein-before and in and by the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: And lastly. The combinations and arrangements of parts substantially as set
forth and indicated herein-before and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick William Reeves and Frank Henry
Beattic, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
FREDERIC WILLIAM REEVES. (LS.)
FRANK HENRY BEATTIE.
(L.S.)