IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE OVERFLOW OF RIVERS OR OTHER STREAMS OR WATERS, AND CONSEQUENT FLOODS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arnold Goodwin, of 42, Great Guildford Street, Southwark,
in the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE OVERFLOW OF RIVERS OR OTHER
STREAMS OR WATERS, AND CONSEQUENT FLOODS."
Sealed the 31st October 1879, and dated the 8th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arnold Goodwin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1879.
ARNOLD GOODWIN, of 42, Great Guildford Street, Southwark, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING
THE OVERFLOW OF RIVERS OR OTHER STREAMS OR WATERS, AND CONSEQUENT
FLOODS."
The object of my Invention is by self acting means or apparatus to prevent the
overflow of rivers or other streams or waters, and consequent floods. For this
purpose I provide in the vicinity of the river or other stream or water whose over-
How is to be prevented, wells, chambers, or vessels furnished with openings, passages,
or channels so arranged that after the water level of the river or other stream or
body of water has attained a given height water shall be admitted into such wells,
chambers, or vessels, and shall cause suitable valves, doors, gates, or closures therein,
to rise out of and above the tops of the wells, chambers, or vessels, and form walls
or stops which will prevent the passage or overflow of the water. The valves, doors,
gates, or closures are suitably packed so as to prevent leakage of water out of the
wells, chambers, or vessels in which they work.
Suitable posts, frames, or guides are provided against which the valves, doors,
gates, or closures may slide, bear, or travel, so as to counteract the pressure of the
water against their outer sides or surfaces, exposed to the river or other stream or
body of water whose overflow is to be prevented. Means are also provided for
removal of the water from within the wells, chambers, or vessels when the valves,
doors, gates, or closures are no longer required in their closed or elevated positions,

page_text: One mode of carrying out my Invention is illustrated in outline in the accom-
panying Drawing, wherein A is the river wall; B, the roadway; C, the well or
chamber; D, one of the openings, passages, or channels whereby water may enter
the said well or chamber on rising above the usual high water mark E; F, the
valve, door, gate, or closure, which will be caused to rise as indicated by dotted
lines as water enters the well or chamber; G, packing to prevent leakage of
water out of the well or chamber; H, outlet provided with a flap valve I, so as to
allow water to escape from the well or chamber C, but to prevent water entering.
Although I have given this illustration it is to be understood that the arrange-
mment may be more or less modified to suit requirement without departure from
the essential characteristics of my Invention.

page_text: 'SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arnold Goodwin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th Novem-
ber 1879.
ARNOLD GOODWIN, of 42, Great Guildford Street, Southwark, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING
THE OVERFLOW OF RIVERS OR OTHER STREAMS OR WATERS, AND CONSEQUENT
*FLOODS."
The object of my Invention is by self acting means or apparatus to prevent the
overflow of rivers or other streams or waters, and consequent floods. For this
purpose I provide in the vicinity of the river or other strean or water whose over-
flow is to be prevented wells, chambers, or vessels furnished with openings, passages,
or channels so arranged that after the water level of the river or other stream or
body of water has attained a given height water shall be admitted into such wells,
chambers, or vessels, and shall cause suitable valves, doors, gates, or closures therein
to rise out of and above the tops of the wells, chambers, or vessels, and form walls
or stops, which will prevent the passage or overflow of the water. The valves,
doors, gates, or closures are suitably packed, so as to prevent leakage of water out
of the wells, chambers, or vessels in which they work.
Suitable posts, frames, or guides are provided against which the valves, doors,
gates, or closures may slide, bear, or travel, so as to counteract the pressure of the
water against their outer sides or surfaces exposed to the river or other stream or
body of water whose overflow is to be prevented. Means are also provided for
removal of the water from within the wells, chambers, or vessels when the valves,
doors, gates, or closures are no longer required in their closed or elevated positions.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan, Fig. 2 a side eleva-
tion, and Fig. 3 a cross section; illustrating my Invention as applied to the wall
of a river or other stream to prevent its overflow. A is the river wall; B, the
roadway; C, a well or chamber formed in the wall; D, a passage or opening leading
into the upper part of the well or chamber C, and formed in the wall a little below
the roadway, so that water may enter the said well or chamber on rising above the
usual high water mark E; F is a valve, door, gate, or closure which will be caused
to rise as water enters the well or chamber C, thereby preventing the escape of the
water past it as the water level on the outer side of the said valve, door, gate, or
closure rises above the level of the roadway, as indicated to the right in Fig. 3.
G is a strip or packing of leather fixed to the inner edges of the valve, door, gate,
or.closure, to prevent leakage of water out of the well or chamber; H is an outlet
leading from the bottom of the well or chamber, and provided with a flap valve I,
so as to allow water to escape out of the well or chamber, but not to allow water to
enter through such outlet; J, J, are frames or guides provided on each side of the
well or chamber C, and rising above the roadway as far as the buoyancy of the
valve, door, gate, or closure will permit the said valve, door, gate, or closure to rise
for guiding it in its ascent and descent; against these frames or guides the valve;
door, gate, or closure bears or travels so that they counteract the pressure of the
water against its outer side or surface exposed to the river or other stream or body
of water whose overflow is to be prevented. The frames or guides J, J, are in this
instance built into the sides of the opening K. formed in the wall above the roadway
for the purpose of allowing a truck L or other vehicle to travel to the outer edge
of the wall for unloading into a barge or vessel on the river.
When the valve, door, gate, or closure is in its elevated position, as shewn to the
right in Fig 3, as the water in the river or stream falls below the level of the road
or top of the well or chamber C, the valve, door, gate, or closure F descends by its
down weight, forcing out water below it through the flap valve I.
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a side elevation and cross section of the arrange-
ment described above, with the addition of counterweights M connected to the valve,
door, gate, or closure by means of chains M' passing over pulleys N so as to help to
raise the said valve, door, gate, or closure from the vessel or chamber C when the

page_text: said valve, door, gate, or closure is not sufficiently deep to enable it to rise above
the roadway by its own buoyancy.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew in side view and cross section respectively a modification in
which the chamber containing the valve, door, gate, or closure is made in the form
of a separate vessel, which is fixed behind the river wall. A is the river wall, and
C the vessel or chamber fixed behind it. The inlet and outlet pipes D and H are
carried through the wall to the said vessel or chamber, and the frames or guides J, J,
are fixed to the vessel or chamber, and rise above the roadway as shewn to guide
the valve, door, gate, or closure as it rises or descends.
Fig. 8 shews in side view, and Fig. 9 in cross section, my apparatus as applied at
some distance from a river or stream for the special protection of some particular
premises or place, as, for example, to a doorway leading from a street where floods
may occur. The well or chamber C is formed in and beneath the roadway under
the doorway or other entrance leading to the premises to be protected from flood.
The several parts of the apparatus are marked with the same letters of reference as
used to denote like parts in the preceding Figures.
Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 shew a modification in which the use of counterweights
is dispensed with, the well or chamber and valve, door, gate, or closure being of
sufficient depth to ensure the timely rising of the valve, door, gate, or closure by its
own buoyancy unassisted. Fig. 10 is a side elevation, shewing the valve, door,
gate, or closure, with the well or chamber C and frames or guides in section, as
applied to a doorway or entrance at a distance from a river or stream. Fig. 11 is
plan of the same. Fig. 12 is an end view of the well or chamber C, shewing the
inlet D and outlet H in section. Fig. 13 is a cross section of the well or chamber C,
´and valve, door, gate, or closure F; and Fig. 14 is a side view of the valve, door,
gate, or closure F, shewing the packing of leather or other suitable substance applied
thereto. In this arrangement the outlet valve H is not self acting, as in previous
arrangements it has to be opened (by turning the rod or spindle H) for letting out
the water from the well-or chamber C, in order to allow of the descent of the valve,
door, gate, or closure F. D, D, are two inlets for conveying water from the roadway
to the vessel or chamber C, to raise the valve, door, gate, or closure F.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and explained in what
manner the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I
hereby declare that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as
the Invention secured to me under the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part recited
is, the method, substantially as herein before described, of preventing the overflow of
rivers or other streams or waters, and consequent floods, by the application and use
of wells, chambers, or vessels in conjunction with valves, doors, gates, or closures,
the said wells, chambers, or vessels being furnished with openings, passages, or
channels so arranged that after the water level of the river or other stream or body
of water has attained a given height water shall be admitted into such wells,
chambers, or vessels, and shall cause the said valves, doors, gates, or closures therein
to rise out of and above the tops of the wells, chambers, or vessels, and form walls
or stops, as hereinabove explained. I also claim the constructing and arranging
apparatus for preventing floods, as shewn in and described with reference respec-
tively to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 inclusive, to, Figs. 4 and 5, to Figs. 6 and 7, to Figs. 8
and 9, and to Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 inclusive of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arnold Goodwin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of November, in, the year of our Lord One
thousand sight hundred and courantes nine