Improvements in and connected with the Construction of Submarine or Subterrane Chambers, Canals, Tunnels, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
Improvements in and connected with the Construction of Submarine
or Subterrane Chambers, Canals, Tunnels, and the like.
I, CARL REDLICII, of 16, Tuchlauben, Vienna, Austria, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;
-
This invention relates to an improved method of "pneumatic sinking" for the
construction of submarine or subterrane chambers, canals, tunnels and the like,
whereby one canal or tunnel section after the other can be formed and sunk in
such a manner that one section will be placed in continuation of the other and
that the bottom of the tunnel or canal space will be joined after the masonry has
been completely sunk so that during the sinking the work space together with
the canal space will form one work chamber.
To this end I erect the caissons vertically over the place to where they are to
be sunk and the masonry which forms the work and canal space I build inclined
from the edges of the caisson which form the consoles up to the canal bottom where
it is continued conform with the profile of the canal to be constructed and closed
in by the roof in which an opening is left for communication with the air shaft.
After having finished the masonry, the mouths of the canal section at the narrow
sides of the caisson and above the caisson jacket are closed by means of partitions
built in, so that when being sunk the inferior of the canal is cut off completely
air tight.
The caisson formed as described is sunk to the required depth in the usual
manner and the air shaft gradually lengthened so that its upper end will reach
above the water level.
The bottom of the canal being formed after the sinking of the caisson, the real
work space will remain increased during the whole period of sinking in size equal
to that of the canal or tunnel and its bottom arch to be formed, so that the distance
between the edges of the caisson and canal roof can be considerably reduced.
If the canal section has been sunk to the desired depth the work space will be
concreted, in the usual manner, and the bottom of the canal more or less arched
or straight built over the same.
The second canal section, which when sunk forms a continuation of the axis
of the first one, is formed in identically the same manner as the first one, the
only difference being that a certain precaution must be exercised in joining it
with the one already sunk.
For this purpose two channel irons are fixed vertically to each end of the caisson
jacket at the side of the mouths and the caissons are so sunk in relation to each
other, that the open sides of the said iron face each other for the reception of wood
planks, the second caisson being sunk provided with the said planks and the
latter allowed to slide in the irons of the other which ensures it being sunk into
its correct position. These planks serve not only as a guide but also to fill up
the space and form lateral joints between each two caissons.

page_text: If the friction on the surfaces of the channel irons on the caisson being sunk,
should not be found sufficient, to cause the planks to be taken with it correspond-
ingly it is advisable to assist the operation by means of a suitable ram.
If the caisson segments are sunk into the desired position it will be necessary
to form a connection between the canal segments, which is effected in the following
manner;-
In sinking the caisson sections a certain amount of earth is removed between
their ends and the space formed will fill with air or water as the case may be.
In order to completely cut off under currents from the said space a suitable
quantity of concrete is placed between the caisson before removing the aforesaid
partitions and the water which might percolate during further work is removed
by means of a temporary pump.
The aforesaid partitions are then removed and the ends of the caissons joined
by masonry.
In the same manner as described the third, fourth and successive segments are
sunk and joined together until the canal or tunnel is completed.
It is obvious that the profile of the canal or tunnel to be sunk does not depend
upon the modus operandi described and the length and number of canal segments
will be chosen in accordance with the requirements of each particular case.
As the shaft of each caisson is lengthened during the sinking, in cases where
it is to remain it is built up successively with masonry so that after having been
sunk in position its mouth will be above the level of the water and give access for
cleaning and examination.
The method of reducing the distance between the edges of the caisson and the
roof of the canal may also be applied in the sinking of subterrane chambers
as the modus operandi described in general is the same.
This modus operandi owing to the said advantages is not only more economical
than those resorted to heretofore but it also dispenses with a separate layer for the
masonry to be built on.
Dated this 10th day of March 1807
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements in and connected with the Construction of Submarine
or Subterrane Chambers, Canals, Tunnels, and the like.
I, CARL REDLICH, of 16, Tuchlauben, Vienna, Austria, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to an improved method of "pneumatic sinking" for the
construction of submarine or subterrane chambers, canals, tunnels and the like,
whereby one canal or tunnel section after the other can be formed and sunk in
such a manner that one section will be placed in continuation of the other and
that the bottom of the tunnel or canal space will be joined after the masonry has
been completely sunk so that during the sinking the work space together with
the canal space will form one work chamber.
And in order that. my invention may be more fully understood I have caused
to be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings, marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures, showing how my invention is carried
out when building a canal below water level, Fig. 1 showing two canal sections

page_text: one of which, I, is sunk and the other, II, ready for being sunk, Fig. 2 a plan of
Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a section at line -, and Fig. 4 a section at line y-y of Fig. 1,
Figs. 5 & 6 are respectively a canal section sunk, before and after having been
joined with a previously sunk section, Figs. 7 & 8 vertical sections at lines z-z,
2 of Figs. 5 & 6 respectively.
To this end according to my invention I erect the caisson, I, (see dotted lines
Fig. 1), vertically over the place to where it is to be sunk (position of, I, shown
in full lines) and the masonry which forms the working chamber A and the canal
space B I build inclined from the edges of the caisson which form the consoles up
to the bottom of the canal B where it is continued conformable with the profile of
the canal to be constructed and closed in by the roof in which an opening is left
for communication with the air shaft.
After having finished the masonry, the mouths of the canal sections at the
narrow sides of the caisson and above the caisson jacket m are closed by means
of partitions A, A' built in, so that when being sunk the interior of the canal is
cut off completely air tight.
The caisson closed as described is sunk to the required depth in the usual manner
and the air shaft gradually lengthened so that its upper end will reach above the
high water level.
The bottom of the canal B, Fig. 3, being formed after the sinking of the caisson,
the real working space A will remain increased during the whole period of sinking
in size equal to that of the canal B and its bottom arch to be formed, see Fig. 4,
so that the distance between the edges of the caisson and canal roof can be con-
siderably reduced.
If the canal section has been sunk to the desired depth the working space
will be concreted in the usual manner, see Fig. 3, and the bottom a of the canal,
more or less arched or straight, built over the same.
The second canal section, II, which when sunk forms a continuation of the
axis of the first one, is formed in identically the same manner as the first one,
the only difference being that a certain precaution must be exercised in joining
it with the one already sunk.
For this purpose two channel irons 'd, d, are fixed vertically to each end
of the caisson jacket at the side of the mouths and the caissons are so sunk in
relation to each other that the open sides of the channel irons of two sections, I
& II, face each other for the reception of wood planks D, see Figs. 1, 2, 5 & 7,
the second caisson, II, being sunk provided with the said planks and the latter
allowed to slide in the irons d, d of section, I, see Fig. 1, which ensures the section
being sunk into its correct position. These planks serve not only as a guide but
also to fill up the space and form lateral joints between each two caissons.
In case the friction on the surfaces, of the channel irons on the caisson being
sunk, should not be found sufficient, to cause the planks to be taken with it corre-
spondingly it is advisable to assist the operation by means of a suitable ram.
If the caisson sections have been sunk into the desired position, as shown in
Fig. 5, it will be necessary to form a connection between the canal sections, I-II,
which is effected in the following manner;-
As during the sinking of the caissons the ground between their adjacent ends
and the planks D sunk at the same time, is removed by the caisson-edges embedding
themselves, a space is formed which in accordance to the level of the canal is filled
with air or water.
In order to cut under currents completely off from the said space M before remov-
ing the partitions A¹, A', in the ends of the channels B, B, a suitable quantity
of concrete is placed between the caisson and the water which might percolate
during further work is removed by means of a temporary pumping plant.
The aforesaid partitions are then removed and the ends of the caissons joined
by masonry A2, Fig. 6.
In the same manner as described the third, fourth and successive sections are
sunk and joined together until the canal or tunnel is completed.

page_text: It is obvious that the profile of the canal or tunnel to be sunk does not depend
upon the modus operandi described and the length and number of canal sections
will be chosen in accordance with the requirements of each particular case.
As the shaft of each caisson is lengthened during the sinking, in cases where it
is to remain, it is built up successively with masonry so that after having been
sunk in position its mouth will be above the level of the water and give access
for cleaning and examination.
The method of reducing the distance between the edges of the caisson and the
roof of the canal, may also be applied in the sinking of subterrane chambers as the
modus operandi described in general is the same.
Owing to the advantages named this modus operandi is not only more economical
than those heretofore resorted to but it also dispenses with a separate layer for the
masonry to be built on, such as shown in Fig. 9.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is:-
1st. A method of constructing submarine or subterrane chambers, canals,
tunnels and the like consisting chiefly in building the respective chamber, canal
or tunnel in sections and sinking one after the other of such sections in such a
manner that one forms a continuation of the other, all substantially as set forth.
2nd. In the method specified in Claim 1, the closing of each canal section before
being sunk by means of temporary walls A¹, A¹ and the embedding of the bottom
outside the caisson ends during the sinking of the caisson so that a space will be
formed between the adjacent ends of two sunken caissons filled with water or air,
all substantially as set forth.
3rd. In the method specified in Claim 1, for the purpose of connecting two
adjacent sections, pumping the water out of the space M between two adjacent
caissons, covering the bottom of the said space with concrete, removing the
temporary walls A', A', and joining the canal sections by masonry of correspond-
ing profile, all substantially as set forth.
4th. In the method of constructing submarine or subterrane chambers, canals
or tunnels specified in Claims 1 & 2, the guiding of each section whilst being
sunk on the section already sunk by means of U irons d, d secured to the caisson
ends, which embrace planks D from two sides, all substantially as set forth.
5th. In a method of constructing submarine or subterrane chambers, canals or
tunnels by caisson masonry, such as specified in Claim 1, building the bottom a
directly upon a layer of concrete in the working space A, after having the caisson
masonry work completely sunk so that during the sinking of the same the working
space and canal space B form one chamber, all substantially as set forth.
Dated this 19th day of November 1897.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.