IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING EARTH OR SOIL FROM FOUNDATIONS SUNK UNDER AIR PRESSURE, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE FILLING UP OF THESE FOUNDATIONS WITH CONCRETE OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Albert Sauvée at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th April
1873. A communication from abroad by Monsieur L'ingenieur
Eraste Zouboff, and Monsieur Nicolas Grounnere, of St. Petersburg,
Russia.
I, ALBERT SAUVÉE, of 22, Parliament Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING EARTH OR SOIL
FROM FOUNDATIONS SUNK UNDER AIR PRESSURE, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE FILLING UP OF THESE FOUNDATIONS WITH CONCRETE OR
ANY OTHER MATERIAL," to be as follows:-
'
This Invention has reference to a method of extracting earth or soil
from caissons or any other apparatus of the same kind used for foun-
dations under water and under pressure, and also of filling up the said
foundations with concrete or any other material without passing the said
carth, soil, or material through the ordinary air chambers; consequently
.
.

page_text: much time is saved, less air is wasted, the work simplified, and the
danger to the health of the workmen is lessened.
In order that this Invention may be more fully understood I will
proceed to explain the Drawing hereunto annexed.
The reservoir or vessel A. filled with water is placed into the caisson C
(Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). The shape and dimensions of the said reservoir and
the mode of fastening it inside the caisson can be varied. The lower end
of a pipe or pipes B dips into the water of the reservoir. This pipe goes
through the roof of the caisson, and through the brickwork or masonry
as well. The upper end of the pipe is open and communicates with the
atmosphere. The section and the number of the pipes is of no essential
importance.
The apparatus works as follows:-At the beginning of the sinking of
the foundations the cassion C and also the pipe B are filled with water;
then before the extraction of the soil has begun, compressed air is
introduced into the caisson, which drives out the water, partly under the
caisson and partly through the pipe B open at the top. The level of
the water in the pipe B will rise to a height corresponding to the
elasticity of the air in the caisson, and will be higher than the level of
the water outside the caisson. When the water is entirely driven from
the caisson, which can be ascertained without entering it, by judging only
by the level of the water in pipe B, the workmen descend into the
caisson to dig the soil and throw it into the reservoir A, from which it is
lifted out through the pipe B without passing through the air chamber.
The raising of the soil through the pipe B can be attained by different
apparatuses, such as pails, buckets, or any other lifting machine.
The advantages claimed by me for this Invention are,-
First. Great rapidity in extracting the soil from the caisson, and
therefore in sinking the same and reducing the expense.
Secondly. The soil being already dug up and loosened, the lifting
apparatus working at the bottom of the pipe B does not get nearly so
much out of order, and the chances of breakage are considerably reduced.
Thirdly. The soil being lifted up through pipe B filled with water,
looses a considerable part of its weight, and makes the lifting more
easy.