IMPROVEMENTS IN PILES FOR ENGINEERING PURPOSES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Evan Leigh, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PILES FOR ENGINEERING PURPOSES."-A communica-
tion from abroad by Thomas W. H. Moseley and Frederick Allen
Leigh, of Boston, United States of America.
Sealed the 22nd November 1870, and dated the 24th May 1870.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Evan Leigh at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 24th May 1870, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EVAN
LEIGH, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN
PILES FOR ENGINEERING PURPOSES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to
grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that the

page_text: same has been communicated to me from abroad by Thomas W.
H. Moseley and Frederick Allen Leigh, of Boston, United States of
America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Evan Leigh, do hereby declare that
the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement
thereof, reference being had to the Figures on the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon (that is to
sav):
First. In constructing piles of hollow metal with spiral flanges for
carrying them into the mud or earth, and in afterwards filling them with
concrete or cement.
Secondly. In constructing a hollow metallic pile open at its lower end,
as and for the purposes herein-after explained.
Thirdly. In providing a hollow screw pile with a separate or removable
point which I term a "pilot," so constructed and applied as to be
rotated by a corresponding motion of the pile, and by this rotation to
remove obstructions which would otherwise retard or deflect the pile in
its descent.
Fourthly. In the combined use of wooden sub-piles and a concrete
filling with hollow iron piles, as herein-after explained.
And, fifthly. In constructing a hollow screw pile with a threadless
portion near its extremity, as and for the purposes herein-after set a
forth.
And some of the parts of this Invention may be embodied or applied
under various modifications, as herein-after explained.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 shows in elevation a
hollow pile with a solid conical point surrounded by a screw flange.
Fig. 2 an elevation of a hollow metallic pile with a hollow screw point
and a removable point or "pilot” applied to its extremity.
Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of a similar pile without the
pilot Fig, 4 an elevation of the same.

page_text: Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal section of a pile with a larger aperture
at its extremity to adapt it for a different character of soil; Fig. 6 an
elevation of the same.
Fig. 7 represents a longitudinal section thereof showing in elevation
a wooden pile passed through the hollow metallic pile.
Fig. 8 represents a longitudinal section of a pile constructed without
taper at its end; Fig. 9 an elevation of the same.
Fig. 10 represents a longitudinal section of a similar pile with a
wooden pile projected through its lower end and the hollow metallic
shell filled with concrete.
Fig. 11 an elevation of a pile similar to that represented in Figs. 8, 9,
and 10, but with the flukes or screw flanges omitted at the extreme end
so that the cylindrical end will constitute a guide below the flukes.
And Fig. 12 represents in elevation a set of piles in position framed
together and constituting the side of a pier.
This Invention is applied or embodied under four or more modifications
all involving the same principles but varying to suit the character or
condition of the ground in which they are to be used. All are generally
of cast iron and hollow, varying in calibre from eight inches to six or
more feet, and in thickness of shell from one-half inch to two inches or
more. They are usually made in sections A, A, A, from 12 to 16 feet
in length with flanges a, a, at the ends for the purpose of uniting two or
more sections as the depth may render necessary; near the point or lower
end of the first section are flukes or screw flanges F, F, varying in
width from three inches to two feet, and in pitch as the nature of the
ground may require. The spiral flukes or screw flanges usually extend
for a distance of eight feet from the lower end of the pile, though in some
cases much longer and in other cases much shorter screws may be used.
A base B extends around the pile above the screw flanges, having a
horizontal width equal to about the diameter of the pile in addition.
This base and its strengthening braces or brackets C, C, to resist the
downward pressure are cast in one piece with that section of the pile.
For hard compact ground which will afford at once a good hold for
the screw flanges and an adequate support for the iron pile and its
burden without the use of a supplemental or sub-pile herein-after
described, I employ a solid gimlet point x, Fig. 1, with the screw flanges
F cast upon it. In the other forms of the pile the hollow extends

page_text: from end to end. The pile shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 is used in clay or
earthy matter which is compact and tough, but not so hard as that for
which the pile shown in Fig. 1 is required. It differs but slightly in
external form from that shown in Fig. 1 but is made hollow throughout
with a small orifice o at its lower end. The tough clay and soil passing
through this orifice as the pile is turned give space for the point to
descend and allow the flukes or flanges F to take hold of walls of the
clay. Where the grounds contain many obstructions of such a character
as to tend to deflect the screw from its proper course and interfere with
the action of the fluke F I apply a separate spear-shaped point P,
Fig. 2, called a pilot. This pilot is constructed with lugs through which
it receives the rotary motion imparted to the pile to screw it into the
earth and with a hollow shank about twelve inches long which fits within
the orifice and which receives within it a centre pin or shaft which I
employ for finding the exact position that the pile is to occupy beneath
the water. In practice the pilot P is passed down first separately from
the pile on the point of the centre pin to its correct position in the clay
and there deposited. The pile is then sent down by the aid of and
over the centre pin until the orifice in its lower end passes over the
handle or shank of the pilot, and the lugs fitting in notches or recesses
prepared for them in the end of the pile form a clutch by which the
pilot is turned when the pile revolves. This pilot is used in soil that
has small stones, leaves, sticks, shells, and other obstructions which
would otherwise foul the orifice of the pile and interfere with its passage
downward. For clay, gravel, or other soil not compact enough to
require the pointed end shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and which is to
carry a lighter burden, yet requiring a sure foundation, I form the end
and the orifice o' therein about half the main diameter and calibre of the
pile as shewn in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. After this pile is screwed or driven
home the soil is taken out of the inside to near its lower end, and a
wooden pile C¹ (Fig. 7) of sufficient length sent down through it to the
solid bottom either stone or hard pan; Figs. 8, 9, and 10 represent a
form of pile similar to that last described except that it has no taper at
its screw end but is uniform in internal and external diameter. This
pile is used in softer clay than either of the others, and when heavier
burdens are to be borne and the hard bottom is at a greater depth, thus
necessitating a larger and longer wooden pile G. The wooden pile in
either case is well banded with iron at both its upper and lower ends,
and when it is of smaller diameter than the interior of the pile A its

page_text: upper end should be guided as shewn at Fig. 7, and when it is driven
to its proper position a cast-iron plate is placed upon its head inside of
the hollow pile, and upon this head is deposited cement with clean sand
or concrete which in time becomes as hard and compact as stone. The
pile is filled within some 3 or 4 inches of its top, and a cast head H
with a coping flange his set on to the concrete, and a gum gasket on
top of the cast pilo beneath the coping flange h. Upon this cast head
the burden or weight rests, thus dividing the pressure between the shell
of the pile and the concrete filling and down on to the wooden pile
which rests at its lower end upon a solid foundation. The pile repre-
sented in Fig. 11 is similar in form and dimensions throughout as
that shewn in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, but its flukes or screw flanges F do
not go down to the bottom of the pile; the object of which is that in
a loose shifting soil, such as mud or sand, the pile may have a guide
below the flukes or screw flanges. By first removing the soil from
inside of this pile to its lower end the pile is allowed to sink down into
the cavity thus made, the walls of which surrounding the pile prevent
the foot of the pile moving one way or the other out of its proper
position. The piles are all set in their exact position and driven down
by machinery.
The cement filling answers several valuable purposes; 1st, it is the
body on which the burden may mostly rest; 2nd, it gives strength and
weight to the metal pile; and, 3rd, it preserves the metal from corrosion
or oxidization.
Fig. 12 shows a set of piles representing a pier in the stream, driven
home with their adjuncts; the wooden piles sent to the foundation, and
braced and capped for use.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention
as communicated to me, I desire it to be understood that I claim,--
First. A hollow metallic pile provided with spiral or oblique flukes
or flanges for carrying it into the soil, and filled with concrete or
cement.
Secondly. A hollow metallic pile constructed with an orifice at its lower
end, through which the soil may pass up, and which according to its
size may admit the passage of a centering pin, or of a wooden sub-pile or
supplemental pile.
Thirdly. The pilot or removable point P adapted for use, substantially
in the manner described.

page_text: Fourthly. The combination of a metallic pile A, a sub-pile G, a
concrete filling, and a cap or head H, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
And, fifthly. A screw pile constructed with a threadless portion near its
lower end, substantially as shown in Fig. 11 for the object stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Evan Leigh, have hereunto set
his hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.