IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF CONSTRUCTING CERTAIN WORKS APPLICABLE TO AQUEDUCTS, VIADUCTS, RAILWAYS, CANALS, RIVERS, DOCKS, HARBOURS, LIGHTHOUSES, BREAKWATERS, RESERVOIRS, TUNNELS, SEA WALLS, EMBANKMENTS, SUB- MARINE FOUNDATIONS, AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Perks, Civil Engineer, No. 1, Wal-
brook, City, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MODE OF CONSTRUCTING CERTAIN WORKS APPLICABLE TO AQUEDUCTS,
VIADUCTS, RAILWAYS, CANALS, RIVERS, DOCKS, HARBOURS, LIGHTHOUSES,
BREAKWATERS, RESERVOIRS, TUNNELS, SEA WALLS, EMBANKMENTS, SUB-
MARINE FOUNDATIONS, AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 30th July 1853, and dated the 31st January 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Perks
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 31st January 1853.
I, SAMUEL PERKES, Civil Engineer, 1, Walbrook, City, London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF CONSTRUCTING CERTAIN WORKS APPLICABLE TO AQUEDUCTS,
VIADUCTS, RAILWAYS, CANALS, RIVERS, DOCKS, HARBOURS, LIGHTHOUSES,
BREAKWATERS, RESERVOIRS, TUNNELS, SEA WALLS, EMBANKMENTS, SUB-
MARINE FOUNDATIONS, AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows,
viz. :-

page_text: My Invention consists of a novel mode of constructing roadways,
&c. across rivers, railways, ravines, and other places, either by
bridges or tunnels, and also in the means of constructing founda-
tions or walls for the same or other works where great strength and
durability are required, such as docks, harbours, breakwaters, sea
walls, embankinents, reservoirs, lighthouses, &c. &c., and part of
which are applicable for other useful purposes.
The first part of my Invention relates to the mode of forming
timber bearers for supporting road ways, &c., which I effect by
means of combining together a quantity of boards or planks edge-
ways in a vertical position in certain thicknesses, a portion of which
are so arranged together that their fibres shall reverse and cross
each other at any required angle, thus rendering them capable of
being extended to any required length and strength. These planks,
&c. I propose either to arch or not as required, and secure them
together either with screws, nails, or bolts, as required. These tim-
bers can either undergo the preserving process or not, as required,
and can either be bedded in oils, paints, tar, pitch, asphaltum, glu-
tinuous substances, &c. As two or more ofsuch bearers will be re-
quired to form a bed or roadway, &c., I employ proper braces, either
of wood, iron, or both combined, and diagonal or otherwise, to con-
nect the same together, and the platform can either rest on the said
bearers, or on joists to be laid across and connected to the bearers to
carry the same. The platform I propose to lay diagonally in one or
more thicknesses, and at any required angle, so that the fibres of
the materials shall cross each other. This description of bearer will
be found of great value in buildings, &c., where great span is re-
quired to support the roof, &c., also for the purpose of forming a
portable bridge for landing troops from vessels, and also merchan-
dize, as a perfectly portable bridge can be constructed from a vessel
to shore some 300 or 400 yards long in one hour, capable of carry-
ing almost any reasonable weight.
The next part of my Invention consists of forming bearers for
roadways, &c. of iron plates in thicknesses set edgeways and lami-
nated, so that their fibres may cross in any required direction, and

page_text: secured together either by rivets, screw bolts, & nuts, &c., as re-
quired. This plan will also enable girders or bearers to be formed
of
greater length & strength than any other known principle. I
also purpose in certain cases to attach angle or other iron to the top
and bottom edges, and also vertically, to form flanges, &c., where
required, which will add to their strength and rigidity.
The next part of my Invention consists of forming archways for
the support of roadways or aquaducts, &c., of hollow cassions,
either to radiate vertically to the centre or centres, according to the
description of curve, or else in a transverse horizontal direction, and
in one or more rings, and of any required figure, as may be deemed
best, according to the span, or else in longitudinal curved tubes to
form the archway. And in each of the above methods I secure them
together cither by lugs, dovetails, screws, bolts & nuts, rivets, and
proper longitudinal transverse or diagonal braces and tension rods,
in such position and situation as they may be required in respectively.
Also in certain cases where the archways may be carried to the bottom,
I propose to use tension rods, chains, or bars, either galvanised or
otherwise, for the better security of the foundations, piers, &c., and
where required to be slightly embedded so as to be clear of any
traffic.
The next part of my Invention relates to an improved mode of
constructing traffic ways for crossings over railways or canals, or
very crowded thoroughfares, &c., by means of light iron framing, and
which I would form of ribs of wood, angle, T, or other iron, curved
so as to form an arch of any required height and width, and to be
secured together by means of proper diagonal and other stay rods, and
cover either with timber, glass, iron work, strong wire lattice work,
or other suitable material, and where required to be provided with
steps on the sides, so as to adinit of an easy method of ascending
and descending, according to the requirements of the position to be
erected in, and the work it has to perform. The bottom of such
structure either to be secured by tension rods and bed plates or not,
as may be required.
The next part of my Invention consists of a novel method of

page_text: crossing underneath rivers, canals, railways, and other sub-road
traffic ways, and which I also propose to extend to railways, &c.
My plan is to form tunnels of iron, and embed them in the earth or
water, as the case may be. For instance, where the water is coin-
pelled to be kept in the river, &c., for the convenience of the traffic,
I propose to make a submarine excavation by means of diving appa-
ratuses, blastings, &c., or by means of tubular valved plungers, to
be worked or driven into the bed of river after the manner of piles,
and then withdrawn, and their contents discharged, or with powerful
boring tools for rocky substances; these excavations to be made of
sufficient dimensions for the proposed tubes or tube required. I
then propose to construct and float over the exact position required
an iron tube, galvanised or otherwise, of such length, diameter, &
shape as the traffic way may require. This tube I propose to be
made water-tight, and with portable ends attached thereto by means
of screwed bolts & nuts. I construct valves in the said tube, by
which I would admit water at the moment it is adjusted and ready
for sinking. I propose to have the tube of sufficient length to reach
as far beyond the edge of water line as may be necessary, and to
which extent the excavations must be made and the water admitted
for the convenience of floating & sinking the tube; which when
done then I would well fill in and solidify the embankments of the
river, &c., as the case may be; which when accomplished, and the
water by that means properly and effectually dammed out from the
approaches, then I would pump out the water from the same,
and also from the interior of the tube, thro' suitable valves or
other arrangements previously prepared for that purpose, and then
reinove the portable ends from the tube, which will leave the tube
perfectly clear and open from end to end for the formation of the
rail, road, or traffic way as may be desired.
If the road or traffic way be required to be formed thro' earth-
work, and not in or connected with rivers, &c., then I propose
to construct the iron work in lengths or segments if required, and
properly jointed and secured to each other in any way that may be
desired.

page_text: In certain cases where it may be required, I propose to curve the
tubes, so that the top thereof may just lie underneath the bed of any
river, and by this means the entrance of the road way or tube may
be brought up to or near the level of the adjoining land or streets,
to make the ingress or egress easy, and can also be made available
for carriage or railway traffic by this very simple arrangement, and
a pair of tubes, or one of sufficient, dimensions to accommodate the
traffic both ways; and in no case need the ordinary traffic of a river
or canal be interfered with.
In case of a railway requiring to be carried under a river, &c. on
the inverted curved tubular principle, the carriages can all be sent
thro' detached or otherwise, by means of their own impetus and
breaks, on the principle of the centrifugal railway; the impetus of
the descent providing ample power to ensure their ascent on the
opposite side.
The next part of my Invention consists of the mode of forming
foundations or walls for the afore-mentioned structures, where such
may be required, and which system I also propose as a superior
method of establishing foundations in general for every description
of inarine works, and especially where loose soft or sandy beds have
to be reclaimed and built upon, such as the reclamation of lands
encroached upon by the sea, forming foundations upon or reclaim-
ing sandbanks, constructing sea walls, docks, harbours, breakwaters,
reservoirs, the construction of railways over very loose, boggy, or
nining districts, &c. &c. The method I propose to accomplish the
above is by employing a series of chainwork (galvanised preferred),
as the basis of the principle for the purpose of interlacing and con-
necting the whole mass together. For instance, the Goodwin Sands
form one of the greatest difficulties in this respect that I know of, and
which will form an admirable illustration of the principle I propose
to adopt, as the whole of them can be reclaimed by the following
simple means: The principle of piling, in my opinion, is false, as
they invariably loosen and displace the surrounding earth, to the
extent of the space they occupy, and which the failing of almost all
structures of magnitude hitherto built upon piles for any lengthened

page_text: period will testify. As the beds of rivers are scoured by the tidal
waters, they destroy the surrounding loosened earth, and in time
the piles waver and give way.
The bridges over the river Thames
are a painful example of the same; and time will undoubtedly
prove that the noble palaces at Westminster will be subject to the
same derangement. In tidal waters it is pretty well known that
ittle displacement of sands, &c., take place at a few feet below low-
water mark; then, in the case of the Goodwin Sands before alluded
to, I would commence by preparing rude blocks of granite or other
durable material, and attach thereto galvanised chains or chain rods
(the former preferred). Some portion of these chains should be
carried over the length and breadth of the banks to be so reclaimed,
and at each end these huge blocks of granite, &c., should be attached
and then thrown overboard from the vessel which conveyed them to
their destination, which must be previously defined by having buoys
anchored to the extent of the intended boundary required. These
main chain arteries should be made of large links, in order to attach
thereto a great number of smaller ones, which should radiate all
around the banks, and each chain should be connected wherever
practicable at the various crossings by means of S links or otherwise.
When some thousands of these blocks have been thus connected and
thrown overboard, and distributed at different spots, as they would
be, and each branch chain kept as tight as possible to its main,
there would be a natural stoppage to loose chained or linked blocks,
and bags of clay and lime and concrete, which could afterwards be
thrown amongst them, together with a considerable amount of con-
nected stones or other durable material, on the principle of ex-
tended chained shot, lying one within the other in every possible
direction, and by this means a basis can be formed from a few feet
below low-water mark, which would serve to construct walls upon
hereafter, upon this same principle. Such walls I would also form of
battered granite stones, bedded in clay or lime & concrete, and
attached by means of the complete lace work of chains, &c. as above
described. The whole mass of reclaimed lands, &c. may sink a few
inches, as the superincumbent weight of stone work, &c. is forined

page_text: upon the external margin of the sands, but they could never move
in a body; and the mains going thro' length and width of the
Island, all the sands & everything would be retained within the
area of these external walls, firmly connected as they would be all
around the Island on this impregnable combination principle. For
sea walls, docks, harbours, breakwaters, reservoirs, &c., the same
principle applies, and is simply a connexion of the main stones, &c.
together, either partially or wholly, across the whole extent of the
walls, embankments, &c. on this chain principle. For instance, the
Holmfrith reservoir; had it been connected together by a series
of chains & blocks running all thro' the embankments, &c., such
an accident could not possibly have happened, as they can be made
thus of ample strength to resist any amount of pressure required.
For dock walls, &c. on bad foundations, I would connect the stones
by means of these series of chains, and let them run inland a consi-
derable distance, where the situation will permit it. For founda-
tions of very heavy structures, such as bridges, public buildings, &c.,
on bad foundations, I would connect the external stones together
by means of these internal chains or rods, &c.; or if in certain cases
cast iron may be considered necessary, I would connect them simi-
larly, and form a thick bed of concrete connected together with chain
latticed work from out to out, rather than piles, whereby the super-
incumbent structure may sink as a whole for some few inches, but
could not possibly crack or give way otherwise, as the whole would
rest on a natural bed which would not be disturbed.
For the better security of foundations of railways, &c. in mining
districts, which are subject to very serious sinkings down of the
earth in consequence of being undermined, I propose to establish a
series of chainwork on the same principle, both longitudinally and
transversely, to be placed underneath the bed of rails, so that if the
earth below should suddenly sink and fall in (several instances of
which I have personally witnessed in such districts with serious loss
of life), the carriages and passengers might, as far as possible, be
saved.
I claim as my Invention the general principles of constructing the

page_text: aforesaid works as herein set forth, either separately or collectively,
or in combination with each other, and also the application of the
samic or any portion thereof to the above described or other works
wherever they are or may be found applicable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Samuel Perkes in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 30th July 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
SAMUEL PERKES, Civil Engineer, No. 1, Walbrook, City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three, in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her
heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Samuel
Perkes, Her special licence that I, the said Samuel Perkes, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Samuel Perkes, 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 THE MODES OF CONSTRUCTING CERTAIN
WORKS APPLICABLE TO AQUEDUCTS, VIADUCTS, RAILWAYS, CANALS, RIVERS,
DOCKS, HARBOURS, LIGHTHOUSES, BREAKWATERS, RESERVOIRS, TUNNELS, SEA
WALLS, EMBANKMENTS, SUBMARINE FOUNDATION, AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Perkes,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 Samuel Perkes, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:
My Invention consists of a novel mode of constructing roadways,
&c. across rivers, railways, ravines, and other places, either by
bridges or tunnels, sub-aqueous or otherwise, and also in the means
of constructing foundations or walls for the same or other works
where great strength and durability are required, such as for docks,
harbours, breakwaters, sea walls, embankments, reservoirs, light-
houses, &c. &c., and part of which are applicable for other useful
purposes, such as beans for large roofs, masts, keels, hulls, or decks of
vessels. And some of the principal features of this Invention have
been secured to me under the Protection of Inventions Act 1851,
and exhibited in Great Exhibition of that year under such pro-
tection, and which protection has been extented to the present date
under the recent Acts of Parliament in relation thereto.
Now the first part of my said Invention consists of a peculiar
mode of constructing timber bridges for roadways, &c., which I effect
by means of combining together a quantity of boards or thin planks
edgeways in a vertical position. The first thickness of such boards
or planks consists of what I term bearers, being plain boards on
their edges set one over the other of any required depth, according
to the span or opening and the supposed weight such structure will
be required to carry, and such boards to have their joints broken
all through as far as possible. The second row or thickness I term
binders, and secure to the first row at an angle of about 45 degrees;
the third row (videlicit) bearers I arrange similar to N° 1 row, only
as far as possible break joint with them; N° 4 row (videlicit) binders
I fix also at an angle of about 45 degrees, but in the opposite direction
to the angular binders in N° 2 row; and so continue on with as
many thicknesses as may be required either to construct the bridge,
&c. in one solid mass the whole width of such bridge, or in separate
beams for supporting a platform of flooring on joists upon them.
I do not confine myself to the number of thicknesses to be used

page_text: in any special structure, or the disposition of the bearers and binders,
or the angle or angles at which the binders are placed; but what I
claim is the principle of construction herein set forth for such erec-
tions, either as a solid structure, or as in separate beans to support
such platform as aforesaid, and which principle of construction is
self extending, and can be carried to almost any reasonable length
without intermediate supports. Neither do I confine myself to the
thickness or depth of the boards or planks to be used in such struc-
tures, or the kind of timber, as almost any medium size or kind will
do, so that each layer or thickness is equal in itself, but a very
convenient size will be obtained for general use by merely sawing
battens or deals one deep cut down the centre, and which size will
answer for the construction of bridges or beams of almost any span
to carry any ordinary weight, and the strength is obtained by
merely adding an extra board or so in depth, according to the
length of opening, and proportionately increasing the number of
thicknesses where beams are used. These boards or planks I fix
firmly together as aforesaid, by means of nails, screws, bolts, or pins,
galvanized or otherwise; and where required, I embed the timbers
against and between each other by means of inarine glue, asphaltum,
pitch, tar, white or red lead, oxide of zinc, or alınost any kind of
glutinous or liquified cements or paints, or any other such like
substances, with a view to render them more adherent and durable.
These beams or bridges I construct either flat or of any kind of
arch as may be required; and where beams are used for bridges
I place them side by side parallel to each other, at any convenient
distance apart, and strongly insert diagonal braces either of timber
or iron between them, and tie rods with screws or cotters to bind
the whole transversely together, and then cover over the same with
joists or timber planking, or iron plates, or both combined, as may
be desired, and the roadway to be finished in an ordinary manner
according to the nature of the traffic which may be required to pass
over such structure; but where timber planking is used as a
groundwork for any such roadway, I lay such planking either
diagonally at any required.angle, and for very strong structures

page_text: in two or three thicknesses laminated, and each thickness to be
reversed in the opposite direction, so that their fibres may be fixed
across each other, which will give great strength, and especially
so when embedded in marine glue or other such preserving com-
bination as heretofore mentioned. Also in some cases I use solid
timbers for the formation of the flooring, such as battens or any
other convenient size, and lay them edgeways upon the bearers in a
diagonal direction in one or more thicknesses, and firmly spike
them together into each other and to the bearers; and when in
more than one thickness, then their fibres to be reversed for each
succeeding thickness, each to be properly embedded where required
in glutinous or other substance as before mentioned. In certain
cases I also cover such timber bearers or bridge, in addition or not
to the other substances, either entirely or partially with copper,
sheathing, lead, zinc, galvanized iron, or other metallic substance,
for the purpose of more effectually preserving such beams or
bridge from decay; and when oak is employed, its durability will
doubtless be equal to any ordinary stone bridge, whilst the expense
will be so much less in proportion. Upon the timber surfaces
I lay a good coating of asphaltumn or other such material to form
the bed of the roadway, upon which I use ordinary stones or maca
damized stones, or any suitable material which may be found con-
venient for such road, according to the kind of use it is intended for.
I also construct the parapets and railings of such bridge in any of
the ordinary ways, either of wrought iron, cast iron, stone work, or
woodwork. I also in certain cases form deep bearers on this summe
principle of combination with the boards on their edges for beams
for bridges, and as principals for large roofs or bearers for build-
ings, and fixing the ordinary joists and flooring between them or to
them where required in any convenient way.
'
To construct a bridge for crossing any river, &c., either of beams
or in one solid mass, I propose to build such structure on the
margin of the water (or if on land over a ravine, &c., to be built
upon the ground beneath where required to be erected), and when
the beams, &c. are completed, then slide them into the water and

page_text: float them around to their destination; and having previously
prepared the foundations or piers on which to embed them, and
which I prepare just of sufficient height to allow the beams or
structure to float over it (and which can be very conveniently
effected, especially in tidal waters), then I stay the beams or struc-
ture as nearly as possible to its position (and being previously
prepared with proper hoisting tackle, such as screw jacks, hydraulic
lifters, &c., according to the estimated weight), I then commence
gradually hoisting the same, and follow it up by under building the
superstructure at each end until it is of sufficient height. In tidal
waters the lifting can also be very materially assisted by the
employment of pontoons and blocks thereon adjusted to the height
required for lift of the tide. In case of iron beams being built,
boats or pontoons must be used for the purpose of floating the same
to their beds respectively; or if on land, it can be hoisted by any
convenient means, and underbuilt at convenience, or else con-
structed on scaffolding, as may best suggest itself, according to the
nature of the site, and as the circumstances may require. But in
all cases where timber is required, I recommend it undergoing some
preserving anti-decaying or anti-dry-rot process.
I also propose the construction of portable timber beams on this
principle in convenient lengths, with iron joint sockets and pins or
sliding socket rings at the ends of each to connect them together,
for the purpose of forming portable bridges for the landing or
embarking of troops or merchandize from the side of a vessel to
shore in certain situations where the vessel has not sufficient water
to enable it to get to shore, as such portable bridge or platform can
be thrown across a distance of some three or four hundred yards in
the space of an hour or two, by means of jointing several of the
portable lengths of beams together and pinning their sockets, and
float them till there is sufficient length to reach the land; and
when two or more lengths are thus formed, cover them over with
portable flooring planks, and lock each end of plank upon such
beams by means of a I headed bolt and morticed slot plate, and
the whole will be complete. If only a short distance is required,

page_text: then the ends of such portable beams can be hoisted to the level of
the deck, and lashed thereto, for sake of greater convenience. These
portable structures will be found capable of carrying a considerable
weight, according to the strength of beams and sockets employed.
The next part of my Invention consists of forming beams or
bearers for any required purpose upon the same principle as above
named, only using plates of wrought iron, either galvanized or
otherwise, instead of wood, as aforesaid, in two or more thicknesses
set edgeways quite close upon each other, and laminated so that the
fibres of the iron may cross in any required direction, and well
secured together by rivets or screw bolts and nuts, &c., as may be
required, with good coating of inetallic paint or other preserving
substances; and in certain cases I employ strong ribs of T iron, or
angle or other iron, at the sides or top or bottom edges, or both,
for the purpose of affording such iron beams lateral rigidity and
strength, such flanges also forming the double purpose of giving
strength, and forming bearing places for joists, &c. &c., or brick
arches or planking, where required. These aforegoing structures
are built upon a self-extending principle perfectly simple, safe, and
practicable, and can be so constructed that almost any reasonable
span can be given without intermediate piers or supports other than
at each end, and are equally adapted either in wood or iron for
any description of traffic, either as footpaths, carriageway or rail-
way, aqueduct or viaduct, as any amount of strength can be given.
These iron beams I likewise furnish with any required kind of
covering or braces and stays, as may be found requisite, according
to the nature of the structure.
The next part of my Invention consists of a novel mode of form-
ing arches for bridges in cast iron instead of ordinary stone work,
and for which I substitute hollow iron cassions, either in a transverse
horizontal direction, in the form of radial blocks, all pertaining to
their centre or centres respectively, or else vertically with similar
radiating tendencies, and the whole of which I construct either with
plain exterior surfaces, or with projecting ribs or lugs and grooves,
or nortices or dovetails, in order to afford stops or catches for the

page_text: purpose of preventing any slip of either of such blocks from the ring
of arch, as is frequently the case with heavy stone arches; and where
required, I further secure such arched rings of radial hollow blocks
or cassions by means of screwed bolts and nuts, or cotter pins, rivets,
or catches through each other, and which can be secured by means
of the hollows through them. I do not confine myself to one ring
only, but use any number, according to the span required, and in
some cases I use hexagonal blocks, either vertically or horizontally,
or any other convenient shape, taking care everywhere, as far as
practicable, to break joint with each other, and likewise secure them
together by screw bolts or cotters, &c. as aforesaid. I also con-
struct longitudinal iron tubes to form the ribs of arches where-
upon to construct roadways as may be required; these tubes I
propose to rivet up somewhat of the shape of a curved boiler, to
suit the shape of arch and span required, either whole or in halves,
vertically or horizontally, or in any convenient number of segments,
and secure the same together by means of flanges and screwed bolts
and nuts, and also using very strong transverse stay rods and
diagonal braces, for the purpose of binding them firmly together
in such positions and situations as they may be respectively
required. And in certain situations I propose to carry the arches of
sonie of the bridges named in this Specification to the bottom or bed
of river, &c. from a suitable foundation, in or upon which I spring
my arches and raise the superstructure to any required plan or
elevation. At the foot of such springings I employ strong cast iron
plates upon the masonry, concrete piles, or other substructure,
and to these plates or foot of arches I attach strong tension rods or
chains, galvanized or otherwise, and run them from springing to
springing, and when required to be slightly embedded just beneath
the bed of such river, &c., to lie out of the way of any traffic. The
parapets of any of the aforegoing descriptions of iron structures, I
construct in any ordinary manner, either plain or ornamental, as
may be required, and for which I do not claim. The top of the
arches of the iron structures alluded to, I cover over either with
timber, iron plates, or brick work in any convenient manner to

page_text: arrive at a proper surface for the pavement, which, when required, I
construct of cast iron plates or hollow paving blocks of any required
shape, but hexagonal will be found most convenient, and each to have
internal foot flanges, and the tops thereof to be provided with quadri-
lateral, hexagon, or other shaped stops on their surfaces about three
fourths of an inch in thickness above the level of plate, so as to formn
a good footing for horse traffic where required; also in certain cases I
form such bridge pavements of cast iron cellular sheets, on the prin-
ciple of celluar gratings, of any required strength and size, either in
squares, diamonds, hexagons, or other figures, and fill in such open-
ings either with small blocks of granite, stones, iron, wood, or gravel,
or inacadamized stones or concrete or other suitable material, as the
iron gratings, dovetailed, pinned, bolted, or clasped together, will
always maintain an even surface or bed of roadway, and the openings
can at any moment be filled in with a supply of such stones, or iron, or
wood blocks, or gravel, &c., either of which should be left to project
a little above the face of the iron grating, and which projections will
carry the wear and tear of the traffic without destroying the bed of
road or gratings, and care being taken to allow of sufficient taper
in the sockets or hollows of gratings to admit of the blocks being
removed and replenished with facility when worn down. I there-
fore claim this particular mode of paving the road over such bridges
or other bridges or roads in general, wherever the same may be
required and found applicable, as in no case need the ordinary traffic
of any road be interrupted for the sake of repairing the pavement
after this plan has been adopted upon it.
.
The next part of my Invention consists of a novel mode of con-
structing traffic ways for crossings over railways, canals, and such
like places or dangerous crossings in very crowded thoroughfares,
&c., by means of light framing, which I form into ribs of any arched
curve or nearly flat on my laminated diagonal principle, either of
iron or wood, or combined, and of open work where required, and
employ therewith suitable angle or T iron, to afford stability and
rigidity. These ribs I construct of any required height and width,
and secure the same together by means of proper diagonal or other

page_text: stays, and cover over the same where required either with timber,
glass, iron work, wire, lattice work, or other suitable material, and
provide the same with joists and flooring, as may be found neces-
sary; and, where required, I provide steps at each side, so as to
admit of an easy mode of ascending and descending, according to the
requirements of the locality of crection and traffic over it, and such
structure to stand upon suitable beds prepared for their reception.
I claim this mode of constructing such erections, and the applica-
tion thereof to the above-named uses, or whenever it may be found
to be useful or required.
The next part of my Invention consists of a novel method of
crossing underneath rivers, canals, roads, &c., and forming beneath
them sub-roads or sub-aqueous traffic ways as may be required for
any purpose whatever. I construct an iron tube or tubes, galva-
nised or otherwise, of any required dimensions, and embed the same
in the earth in any convenient manner as required, and therein form
the necessary roadway upon a segment of the bottom; but if such
roadway be required to cross underneath the bed of a river where
the water is compelled to be kept in for the convenience of traffic, I
make a submarine excavation by means of diving apparatus, blast-
ing or tubular valved plungers, to be worked or driven into the bed
of such river after the manner of pile driving, and then withdrawn
and their contents discharged, or else with powerful boring and
blasting tools for rocky substances. These excavations I make of
sufficient dimensions for the proposed tube or tubes as required. I
then construct and float over the exact position required, an iron
tube, galvanized or otherwise, of such length, diameter, and shape as
the traffic way may require; such tube or tubes I construct water-
tight, and with portable ends attached thereto by means of screw
bolts and nuts. The shell or body of such tubes I rivet or bolt very
firmly together, after the manner of very strong boiler work, with
internal strengthening ribs where necessary. I form valves in the
said tube or tubes, by which I admit water at the moment it is
adjusted and ready for sinking. I make the tube or tubes of suffi-
cient length to reach as far beyond the edge of water line as may be

page_text: necessary, and to which extent the excavations must be fully conti-
nued, and the water admitted therein for convenience of floating
and sinking the tube or tubes when required; which when done I
fill in, reconstruct, and well solidify the embankment of the river,
&c., as the case may be, up to the proper level; which when accom-
plished, and the water by that means properly and effectually
dammed out from the approaches, then I pump out the water from the
same, and also from the interior of the tube, through suitable valves
or other arrangements previously prepared for that purpose, and
then remove the portable ends from the tube or tubes, which will
leave the same quite clear and open from end to end, for the forma-
tion of the railway, roadway, or traffic way, as may be required, and
likewise for the necessary erections or approaches at each end. If
the road or traffic way be required to be formed through earthwork,
and not beneath or in connection with water, &c., then I construct
the iron tubes in convenient lengths or segments, or both if re-
quired, and securely join them to each other by means of bolts and
nuts or rivets, &c. in any desired way.
In certain cases, where found desirable, I curve the tubes in their
construction, so that the top thereof may lie just beneath the bed of
any river or hollow, and by this means the entrance to such road-
way or tube may be brought up to or very near the level of the
adjoining land or street, &c., to make the ingress and egress easy;
and by this means they can be inade available for carriage or railway
traffic by this very simple arrangement, and a pair of tubes, or one
of sufficient dimensions, can be used to accommodate the traffic both
ways, and in no case need the ordinary traffic of a river or canal be
interfered with. In case of a railway requiring to be carried under-
neath a river, &c. on this inverted curved tubular principle, the
carriages can all be sent through by means of their own impetus,
regulated of course by the guard's breaks, on the principle of the cen-
trifugal railway, as the impetus of the descent will provide ample
power to insure their ascent on the opposite side. The whole of the
methods laid down for constructing these tubular sub-road or sub-
aqueous traffic ways are quite new, and I therefore clain the said

page_text: principle of constructive use and application of such works as afore-
said wherever required or found applicable.
The next part of my Invention consists of a novel mode of con
structing foundations, piers, or walls, for the afore-mentioned struc-
tures, where such may be required, and which system I adopt as a
superior method of establishing foundations in general for every de-
scription of marine or other works, and especially where loose, soft,
and
or sandy beds have to be reclaimed or used for building upon,
particularly such as the reclamation of lands encroached upon by
the sea, forming foundations upon or reclaiming sand banks, con-
structing sea walls, docks, harbours, breakwaters, reservoirs, the
construction of railways over very loose boggy or mining districts,
&c., and which I accomplish by employing a series of chain work
(galvanized preferred) as the basis of the principle for the purpose
of interlacing and connecting the whole mass together, and in some
cases using drift stays where required. The principle of piling in
general is in my opinion very objectionable in many cases, as they
have a tendency to displace the surrounding earth to the extent of
space they themselves occupy, which will be fully corroborated on
reference to most of our bridges over the Thames and other works
of magnitude, where such have been constructed solely upon piles
for any lengthened period, and especially where operated upon by
tidal waters. Now, with a view to the establishment of firm foun-
dations, &c., upon soft loose carths, with a view to reclaim land
from the encroachments of the sea, such, for instance, as the Goodwin
Sunds, I propose to commence by preparing rude blocks of granite
or other durable material, and attach thereto galvanized chains or
chain rods, and having previously marked out with buoys or
otherwise the boundary of operations, I would commence by casting
overboard an immense number of such united chain blocks, on the
principle of chain shot, only with the chains at as great a length as
can possible be dropped on the stretch, and with a block at each
end, some as far on towards the interior as possible, and the other
end at or near the boundary of the buoys; and when a few thou-
sands of such chain blocks are distributed about with huge granite

page_text: blocks at their extremities aforesaid, and crossed over each other in
different directions, they will soon begin to accumulate and form a
marginal boundary, and as early as can be found practicable some
portion of such chains should be taken across the length and breadth
of the embankments, which with proper care can be accomplished in
fair weather, and in convenient lengths, in small boats, so as to float
over the sands at high water, and so joint them together by means
of common shackle joints or otherwise on the spot, for if only a few
such chains can be got across each way, they will serve the purpose
of attaching others to them, and so increase in strength by degrees,
as such blocks at the extremities will embed themselves in the sand
at a few feet below the low water mark, where the tides have not so
much action upon the sand as at the surface; and by continuing to
drop over board such chained blocks, with intervening distances of
chain, say from about five feet to five hundred feet each, according to
circumstances, in every possible direction, and filling in the intervals
also with bags of concrete, clay, &c., a margin will gradually become
formed all around the sands, and which will be connected across the
length and width by means of the longitudinal and transverse mains
which run across from out to out, so that in a short time the whole
of the interior sands will become impent, and cannot be carried
away by the influence of the tide, and especially when the exterior
margin is completely covered with a closely connected series of nett-
work, comprised of a series of extended chains attached to blocks of
any durable substance, and lying one within the other in every pos-
sible direction, and filled in with thousands of bags of lime, cement,
concrete, clay, stones, &c., so that a basis can thus be forined
whereupon to raise up a superstructure, and the entire land can be
reclaimed for useful purposes, as the marginal chain network
extremities will be completely connected together by means of the
extended chain blocks, which may, if required, be thrown over the
whole sands entirely, so as to form a ground work throughout the
whole surface of the land, in order to more securely combine the
whole land together for any future requirements; and upon this
same principle I also propose to form the external walls of battered

page_text: granite blocks, looped together with Lewis bolts if required, and
bedded in cement, concrete, clay, &c., where required, and filled in
with differential lengths of connected chain blocks, drift stays,
stones, &c., as above described. Thus it will be seen that the whole
mass of such reclaimed lands, &c. may gradually sink a few inches,
as the superincumbent weight of such stonework, &c. is formed
upon the external margin of such reclamations, but they could
never move or change their position in a body, as the mains going
through length and width of the Island where required, together with
the proposed mass of extended chained blocks for covering the
entire surface, will evidently retain all the sands and everything
within the area of these external walls, firmly connected as they
would be all around and all over the Island on this impregnable
and self-binding principle.
For sea walls, docks, harbours, breakwaters, reservoirs, light-
houses, fortifications, and all such works, the same principle extends,
to each of which I apply the same, and which simply consists of a
connection of the main stones, &c. together, either partially or
wholly across the whole extent of the walls or embankments, &c.
in any required direction; for instance, the Holmfrith Reservoir
fatality could not have happened had the embankınents been con-
nected together by a series of chains and blocks and drift stays
running all through the embankments, which would have connected
the whole, and can be so constructed that they should be capable of
resisting any amount of pressure that can be obtained against them,
or which may be required. For the construction of dock walls, &c.
on bad foundations, I would connect the stones by means of these
series of chains, and let one end thereof be carried inland for a
considerable distance, where the situation will permit it, and inter-
sect these by others of shorter lengths in every possible direction
until a substantial bed is obtained, using concrete, lime, cement, or
other such substance along with the same as may be required,
whereby an extraordinary solid marginal bed, foundation, or wall can
be formed, and which cannot be swept away in parts (as is some-
times the case in ordinary structures), in consequence of the inland

page_text: chain ties and blocks at their extremities, which are kept solidly
down in their places by the superincumbent mass of earthwork
or rubble, &c., which must afterwards be placed upon them by
the making good and raising up to a proper level such reclaimed
land, and which will be intersected all through generally to the
extent as may be deemed necessary by the afore-mentioned series of
chained or looped blocks of stone, granite, or other suitable
material for such purpose. For foundations of very heavy struc-
tures, such as bridges, public buildings, or other places where a
great strength is required, I employ and use concrete of the ordi-
nary description, but intersect the same in all possible directions with
chains, chain latticework, chain blocks, or linked blocks, either of
iron or stone, as aforesaid, whereby I should form a solid, thick, and
practicably inseparable mass as a foundation upon which to raise a
superstructure capable of sustaining almost any weight without
partial sinkings or depressions, as the whole superincumbent struc
ture may settle as a body, but could not possibly crack or give way
otherwise, as the structure would rest upon a bed almost equal to a
solid rock, and which could not readily be disturbed. For the
better security of foundations of railways, &c. in mining districts
which are occasionally subject to very serious sinkings in of the
earth in places where there have been mining excavations, pit
shafts, &c., and the coverings to the latter of which are sometimes
either very inadequate in point of strength, or else formed of
timber, and subject to decay; but from each of which causes I
have been an eye witness to several very alarming accidents, many
of which have been attended with a serious loss of life; and from
which cause also railways, as at present constructed through mining
districts, are at all times liable to such accidents as above men-
tioned, and some serious symptoms of which I personally witnessed
a short time ago whilst travelling on a railway in South Stafford-
shire. Now, with a view to render such railways more secure, I
adopt a series of strong chain net work, and continue the same
underneath the bed or sleepers of railway, both longitudinally and
transversely, and connect them together at the crossings; and such

page_text: chains to be of sufficient strength and so distributed apart that they
shall be fully able to sustain an entire train in the event of any
such sudden falling in of the carth beneath, as above alluded to, and
by which means many lives would doubtless be saved.
I claim as my Invention the general principles of constructing the
aforesaid works as hercin enumerated and set forth, either separately
or collectively, or any portion or portions thereof in combination
with each or any other, and also the use and application of the
above or any portion thereof to other useful purposes wherever
they are or may be found applicable, and with the within-named
materials respectively or such others as may be required.
In witness whercof, I, the said Samuel Perkes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.