IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKWATERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Williamı Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
65
the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKWATERS."-A communi-
Sun ahuand he. Dardan Mona of Davis Truanca
Sealed the 24th June 1873, and dated the 27th January 1873:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 27th January 1873.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKWATERS,” a
communication, to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a breakwater characterized by a peculiar
construction, which consists in a series of parallel horizontal planes
receiving the waves between their spaces, and thereby destroying their
action in a manner which I will now proceed to explain.

page_text: The forces which compose a wave, and which are destroyed by my
breakwater are the following:-First, the clasticity of the water;
secondly, the force of gravitation; thirdly, the strength of the current
of the wave; fourthly, the action of the wind.
The clasticity of the water under the pressure of the wind reacts in a
direction contrary to its gravitation, and by gravitation and the constant
action of the wind in conjunction with the fluidity of the wator these
forces are developed in the following manner:-The moleculis out of the
centre of equilibrium or gravitation yield successively under the impulse
of the wind to change place, forcing by their own gravitation and the
action of the wind other molecules to rise to an equal height vertically,
and in one resultant of the two forces. This vertical direction of raising
the water constitutes a perfect equilibrium of the two forces in cach
moleculis, or in the whole of the wave. In this state, if each part of the
wave comes to one plane and there remains, it transmets all its gra- 1
vatation in addition to a minimum part of the same forces, which dissolve
and expand it so that it occupies a larger space. These planes inter-
cept and avoid at the same time the accumulation of the forces of
gravitation of the wave in its vertical action, whereas in its free state
they constitute and propogate them. The strength of the current in:
the slight progress of the water of the wave being horizontal, because
of the parallelism of the planes in the same direction, the latter do not
receive its impression because it must be considered as dissolved.
The force of the wind completes simply the entrance of the wave, and
is spread and lost in the expansion of the water inside the parallels.
The force of clasticity mecting the planes in the vertical direction, but
slightly oblique from bottom to top, excrcises on the lower part of the
parallels au alternate and successive action, according to the different
levels of the wave. This force will be soon found in equilibrium by the
pressure of the gravitation of the part which enters and is surperposed a
immediately in the plane. The friction of the wave in spreading on the
planes constitutes between them a tension that is not the same in all the
spaces, but the equilibrium of these differences is to some extent caused
by determining the strength that the planes and the parts unite them
should have. In like manner the force of the movement composed of 3
the different forces, which constitute the wave, requires that the planes
present in their face a diminished surface of resistance. The forces and
their manner of acting being thus considered the zone á action of cach

page_text: wave under water being known by experience, and the height of one of
them being given the sizes and the solidity of the construction that
ought to be opposed to them may be determined so that their action is
not transmitted, but is totally annihilated, and a comparative calm is
maintained on the opposite side. The foregoing will suffice to determine
the simple structure of the breakwater and its stability.
A structure calculated for waves rising 12 fect or a little more from
their natural level to have the stability required ought to be 30 feet or
36 feet in clevation with a width capable of receiving the strongest waves
in the locality of the structure. Considering all these circumstances,
if a wave should penetrate the structure to disturb its stability it must
be supposed capable of putting in motion a volume of water many times
greater than that contained in the parallels or horizontal planes below
the level of the region of the wave. This could not be the case, because
a wave below its level does not put in motion a volume even equal to
that external to its periphery. One wave or more would be powerless to
move a structure which has so many times their size. The currents
could not move thic structure if it is anchored properly, as it should
bc, on both sides throughout its length, as the motion induced by
the currents is neither deflecting or turning like that of the waves.
The stability is not destroyed by the action of the wind, for only a small
surface is presented to the same.
It will be observed that at the exterior, because of the floatation, tho
level below the waves is in certain regions lower than the level of tho
waters at the back of the structure, which waters are at rest, therefore
there is a constant current in the inside of the parallels and towards the
outside. This current tends to compensate the action of the wave, some-
times in the mass of water, sometimes in the impulse it communicates to
the structure, thus contributing to its stability. Furthermore the water
which enters from the outside with the wave would hardly compensate
for that which must constantly pass out at the opposite side. If the
action of the wave was violent upon the water resting in the inside of
the apparatus that water would react in the same direction as the parallels
to the outside throughout its extent; that is to say, the reactions would
take place as much by the lateral flanks of the waters of the wave as
below the latter.
Having thus explained the efficiency of a structure of this arrange-
ment to effect the dispersion of waves it remains to be said that I do not

page_text: mention their different moving forces, as whatever may be their origin
they are none the less natural, and they exert their action in the manner
above explained.
In the Drawing the structure is shown adapted to a locality where the
height of the waves would rise to twelve feet.
Figures 1 and 2 show a portion of the head of the structure, Figure 1
being a vertical section section, and Figure 2 a horizontal section; Figure 3
is partly a longitudinal section and partly an elevation of the structure. a
indicates the horizontal parallel planes, between which the wave is divided
in such a manner as to lose its effect as above explaned; indicates the 1
stays which keep the distance between the horizontal planes. It will
be seen by referring to Figure 3 that it is at the extremities of the
structure that the stays are most numerous, as the action of the waves is
exerted on these points nearly simultaneously on the three flanks,
thereby causing a greater strain within the parallels at this part. The 1
curve 1, 2, and 3, shown throughout the length, extending from the base
is designed to prevent the deflection of the heads.
Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the floats or apparatus to be
employed as the action of the waves. The currents and the winds may'
be exerted obliquely to the line of each structure, and cause a strain on g
the chains in an oblique direction between these resultants of the two
series of anchors, or, which is the same thing, in the direction of the
heads. It would be convenient to place (leaving between them free
spaces and covering the spaces behind at a suitable distance) other
sections of floats that have smaller dimensions than those placed in the 2
first line. It must not be forgotten that the obliquity of the waves also
exercises its action perpendicularly to the structure at the last moment
when they micet it by the destruction of the equilibrium which operates
at this moment in the waves, which we must consider as meeting a solid
body.
Figure 5 illustrates the symmetry of the order of the chains; this
symmetrical order is necessary because of the diversity of the currents
that would effect the structure if the latter were found many times in
the direction of these currents as well as of the waves and the wind.
3
The law of floatation to be observed in these structures is that they g

page_text: height, which height as aforesaid is based on that of the wave. These
structures may be of divers materials; their equilibrium and their
floatation may be obtained exclusivly by air chambers and ballast suitably
distributed in conformity to the laws that govern this theory and general
law of floating bodys.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 24th July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKWATERS," a communication to me from
abroad by Pedro Marquez, of Paris, France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that 1, the said William Robert Lake, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal.
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing, forming a part of this Specification:-
My Invention relates to a breakwater characterized by a peculiar
construction, which consists in a series of parallel horizontal planes
receiving the waves between their spaces and thereby destroying their
action in a manner which I will now proceed to explain. The forces
which compose a wave and which are destroyed by my breakwater
are the following First, the clasticity of the water; secondly, tho
force of gravitation; thirdly, the strength of the current of the wave;
fourthly, the action of the wind.
The clasticity of the water under the pressure of the wind reacts in
a direction contrary to its gravitation, and by gravitation and the
constant action of the wind in conjunction with the fluidity of the
water, these forces are developed in the following manner:-- The
molecules out of the centre of equilibrium or gravitation yield
successively under the impulse of the wind to change place, forcing
by their own gravitation and the action of the wind other molecules
to rise to an equal height vertically and in one resultant of the two
forces. This vertical direction of raising the water constitutes a
perfect equilibrium of the two forces in each molecule or in the whole
of the wave. In this state if each part of the wave comes to one plane
and thero remains it transmits all its gravitation in addition to a :
minimum part of the same forces which dissolve and expand it so that
it occupies a larger space. These planes intercept and avoid at the
same time the accumulation of the forces of gravitation of the wave
in its vertical action, whereas in its free state they constitute and
propogate them. The strength of the current in the slight progress of i
the water of the wave being horizontal because of the parallelism of the
planes in the same direction, the latter do not receive its impression
because it must be considered as dissolved.
The force of the wind completes simply the entrance of the wave
and is spread and lost in the expansion of the water inside the
parallels. The force of clasticity meeting the plaucs in the vertical
direction but slightly oblique from bottom to top exercises on the.

page_text: lower part of the parallel an alternate and successive action, according
to the different levels of the wave. This force will be soon found in
equilibrium by the pressure of the gravitation of the part which enters
and is superposed immediately in the plane; the friction of the wave
in spreading on the planes constitutes between them a tension that is
not the same in all the spaces, but the equilibrium of these differences
is to somo extent caused by determining the strength that the planes
and the parts that unite them should have. In like manner the force
of the movement composed of the different forces which constitute the
wave requires that the planes should present in their face a diminished
surface of resistance; the forces and their manner of acting being thus
considered, the zone of action of each wave under water being known
by experience, and the height of one of them being given, the sizes
and the solidity of the construction that ought to be opposed to them
may be determined so that their action is not transmitted but is totally
annihilated and a comparative calm is maintained on the opposite side.
The foregoing will suffice to determine the simple structure of the
breakwater and its stability.
A structure calculated for waves rising 12 fect or a little more from
their natural level to have the stability required ought to be 30 feet or
36 feet in elevation with a width capable of receiving the strongest
waves in the locality of the structure. Considering all these circum-
stances, if a wave should penetrate the structure to disturb its stability
it must be supposed capable of putting in motion a volume of water
many times greater than that contained in the parallels or horizontal
planes below the level of the region of the wave. This could not be
the case because a wave below its level does not put in motion a volume
even equal to that external to its periphery; one wave or more would
be powerless to move a structure which has so many times their size.
The currents could not move the structure if anchored properly, as it
should be on both sides throughout its length, as the motion induced
by the currents is neither deflecting or turning like that of the waves.
The stability is not destroyed by the action of the wind, for only a
small surface is presented to the same.
It will be observed that at the exterior because of the flotation the
level below the waves is in certain regions lower than the level of the
waters at the back of the structure, which waters are at rest, therefore
there is a constant current in the inside of the parallels and towards the

page_text: outside; this current tends to compensate the action of the wave,
sometimes in the mass of water, sometimes in the impulse it
communicates to the structure, thus contributing to its stability.
Furthermore the water which enters from the outsido with the wave
would barely compensate for that which must constantly pass out at
the opposite side. If the action of the wave was violent upon the
water resting in the inside of the structure that water would react in
the same direction as the parallels to the outside throughout its extent,
that is to say, the reaction would take place as much by the lateral
flanks of the waters of the wave as below the latter.
Having thus explained the efficiency of a structure of this arrange-
ment to effect the dispersion of waves it remains to be said that I do
not mention their different moving forces, as whatever may be their
origin they are none the less natural, and they exert their action in the
manner above explained.
In the Drawings the structure is shewn adapted to a locality where
the height of the waves would rise to twelve feet.
Figures 1 and 2 shew a portion of the head of the structure, Figure 1
being a vertical section and Figure 2 a horizontal section; Figure 3
is partly a longitudinal section and partly an elevation of the
structure; a indicates the horizontal parallel planes between which
the wave is divided in such a manner as to lose its effect as above
explained; indicates the stays which keep the distance between the
horizontal planes. It will be seen by referring to Figure 3 that it is
in the extremities of the structure that the stays are most numerous
as the action of the waves is exerted on these points nearly simul-
taneously on the three flanks, thereby causing a greater strain within
the parallels at these parts. The curve 1, 2, 3, shewn throughout the
length of the structure and extending from the base is designed to
prevent the deflection of the heads.
Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the floats or apparatus to be
employed in front of the structure as shown. As the action of the
waves, the currents, and tho winds may be exerted obliquely to the line
of cach structure and cause a strain on the chains in an oblique
direction between these resultants of the two series of anchors, or, :
which is the same thing, in the direction of the heads, it would be
convenient to place (leaving between them free spaces and covering

page_text: these spaces behind at a suitable distance) other sections of floats that
have smaller dimensions than those placed in the first line. It must
not be forgotten that the obliquity of the waves also exercises its action
perpendicularly to the structure at the last moment when they meet
it by the destruction of the equilibrium that operates at this momcut
in the waves which we must consider as meeting a solid body.
Figure 5 illustrates the symmetry of the order of the chains; this
symmetrical order is necessary because of the diversity of the currents
that would affect the structure if the latter were found many times in
the direction of these currents, as well as of the waves and the wind.
The law of floatation to be observed in these structures is that they
should be superposed at the base of the wave at a third of its entire
height, which height, as aforesaid, is based on that of the wave.
These structures may be of divers materials, their equilibrium and
their floatation may be obtained exclusively by air chambers and
ballast suitably distributed in conformity to the laws that govern this
theory and the general law of floating bodies.
In the Drawing the structure is supposed to be built of resinous pine
with iron tics, so that its equilibrium is self maintained. As to the
number of parallels the following considerations have led to its
determination, their number must not be sufficient to cause excessive
resistance to the action of the waters nor so small as to leave the
parallels deficient in strength, and it will not be in accordance with the
theory that the volume of dead water ought to be contained by its
base. The economy of this method of constructing a breakwater will
be obvious by comparing it with the solid and floating constructions
heretofore known. It is useless to enter now into comparisons that
can be readily seen and appreciated.
The application of this Invention is so practicable from its economy
that it is within the reach of those commanding but a small capital,
and may be used in localitics on sea coasts, in rivers, lakes, and
bays, and an immense increase may be effected in the value of property
on the sea coast by reason of the multiplicity of the points where the
said Invention could be applied, creating wealth and revenue that could
not be otherwise obtained by reason of the difficulties that would
have to be overcome. The application of this system will render

page_text: possible the creation of landing ports in convenient parts for general
traffic.
In the countries where the seas are frozen during part of the year
the breakwaters might be so constructed that they may be taken down
in the ice season.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim, a series of superposed parallel
horizontal plancs receiving the waves within their spaces in such a
manner as to destroy their action, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
JAMES EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)