IMPROVEMENTS IN TUNNELS AND SUBWAYS AND THEIR APPROACHES AND MACHINERY SAME. FOR EXTING
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edwards of Hanwood Bank Hanwood in the
County of Salop. for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN TUNNELS AND
SUBWAYS AND THEIR APPROACHES AND MACHINERY
SAME.
FOR EXECUTING THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th August 1883.
GEORGE EDWARDS of Hanwood Bank Hanwood in the County of Salop.-
IMPROVEMENTS IN TUNNELS AND SUBWAYS AND THEIR APPROACHES AND
MACHINERY FOR EXECUTING THE SAME
My invention consists of improvements in the means of constructing Tunnels
and Subways of Tubes and Masonry in or under water with approaches and
accessories in the manner of weighting and jointing and joining tubes to ordinary
masonry, and in the machinery for effecting the same
A chamber is constructed larger in the transverse section than the tube required
and is supported by framing or a traveller on wheels, rollers or slides against a
portion of the tube required to be extended. This chamber is forced forward by
means of screws or hydraulic or pneumatic pressure and the tube is constructed
within this chamber. When required to remove the ground or material in front
of the movable chamber it is affected by means of engines within the fixed tuba or
chamber which work the machinery and put in motion arms, cutters, levers,
scrapers, drills and puggers according to the nature of the ground which by these
instruments is loosened and agitated. This material is removed through simple or
compound pipes or channels through or into the chamber or fixed tube by the
pressure of the water under which the tunneling is being done sometimes aided by
pumps. These channels and pipes are furnished with sluices or valves. When the
chamber has been forced a sufficient distance a length of tube is added in parts
fastened together and to the fixed tube and jointed with bituminous substances,
fibre, wood or any suitable jointing material. In certain cases I close the end of
the fixed tube with a diaphragm or partition while the chamber is being moved

page_text: and the excavation in front is being effected, in which case the chamber traveller
and rollers are connected by means of one or more solid rams or hollow rams or
passages in which the engine shafts and dredging pipes may be placed and in
which workmen can pass to manholes and into the chamber. The spaces between
the chamber and tube, the diaphragm and rams and the shafts may be made water-
tight by means of stuffing boxes or any known suitable means, but I prefer to do
this by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic joint composed of indiarubber, leather,
canvas or any suitable material made or formed into the required shape and so
fastened to the chamber, diaphragm or box as to become inflated or pressed against
the tube ram or shaft when water or air is forced into the channel thus formed
and sometimes these joints are protected by sliding plates. I sometimes use an
automatic joint made of leather, canvas or other suitable substance placed over or
against the junction and this being forced against the crevices keeps out sand mud
and water. Air Compartments are constructed and arranged with valves for
balancing the chamber and machinery. In certain cases one or two of the chambers
before described are constructed in and about a sufficient length of tube with one
or more shafts or cylinders of communication and floated to the site and submerged
by letting in water through valves and pipes which also serve for emptying the
compartments of the tube for weighting and continuing the constructions. The
tunnel tube may be kept down by any suitable means but I prefer for that purpose
to line it or fill in certain parts of it with heavy slag cast into suitable blocks or
concreted or fixed with cement, mortar or a bituminous substance. The junction
of tube and masonry is effected by building the tube in the masonry and an
expansion joint is formed where required of a telescopic form with suitable packing
and in some cases clay and soil are used between the packings to silt up the
crevices at joint and junction and sometimes I prefer to use part of the chamber
as part of an expansion joint and junction with the masonry Tunnel. In other
cases the junction is made by running concrete about the chamber and end of the
tube and using sacks filled with sand or other suitable material without or in
connection with planks or iron plates to form a centre and to prevent waste of
concrete. In certain cases all the chamber or portions of the chamber partitioned
off from the rest are made open at the bottom and tunnels of masonry constructed
therein by workmen who enter under pneumatic pressure or with concrete run into
place through trapped or simple channels. In certain cases I construct in connec-
tion with the chamber dredging boxes or compartments with double doors or valves
into and through which compartments the loosened material is carried to the tube
or tunnel by means of scoop screw and other elevatora. I construct approaches to
these and other Tunnels and subways of a spiral volute form resembling excentric
amphitheatres of a shape to suit the site and surface available. The retaining
wall and road foundations of which are, when required made of waterproof concrete
or masonry puddled to tub off or stop water that may be found in the excavations
and where the upper entrance of the approach is liable to floods and it is not
desirable to raise. its level I provide it with flood gates and an auxiliary road
made to a level above that of the floods to be used specially when the flood gates
are closed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Edwards in the Patent Office on the 9th February 1884.
GEORGE EDWARDS of Hanwood Bank Hanwood in the County of Salop
IMPROVEMENTS
AND
IN TUNNELS
SUBWAYS AND THEIR APPROACHES AND
MACHINERY FOR EXECUTING THE SAME."
”
My invention consists of improvements in the means of constructing Tunnels and
subways of tubes and masonry in or under water with approaches and accessories, in
the manner of weighting and jointing and joining tubes to ordinary masonry and
in the machinery for effecting the same.
A chamber is constructed larger in transverse section than the tube required and
is supported by framing or a traveller on wheels, rollers, or slides against a portion
of the tube required to be extended. This chamber is forced forward by means of
screws or hydraulic or pneumatic pressure, and the tube is constructed within this
chamber. When required to remove the ground or material in front of the movable
chamber it is effected by means of engines within the fixed tube or chamber, which
work the machinery and put in motion, arms, cutters, levers, scrapers, drills and
puggers according to the nature of the ground which by these instruments is
loosened and agitated. This material is removed through simple or compound
pipes or channels through or into the chamber or fixed tube by the pressure of the
water under which the tunneling is being done, sometimes aided by pumps These
channels and pipes are furnished with sluices or valves. When the chamber has
been forced a sufficient distance a length of tube is added in parts fastened together
and to the fixed tube and jointed with bituminous substances, fibre wood or any
suitable jointing material. In certain cases I close the end of the fixed tube with
a diaphragm or partition while the chamber is being moved and the excavation in
front is being effected in which case the chamber, traveller and rollers are
connected by means of one or more solid rams or hollow rams or passages in which
the engine shafts and dredging pipes may be placed and in which workmen can
pass to man-holes and into the chamber. The spaces between the chamber and
tube, the diaphragm and rams and the shafts may be made watertight by means of
stuffing boxes or any known. suitable means, but I prefer to do this by means of a
bydraulic or pneumatic joint composed of india rubber, leather, canvas, or any
suitable material made or formed into the required shape and so fastened to the
chamber, diaphragm or box as to become inflated or pressed against the tube ram
or shaft when water or air is forced into the channel thus formed, and sometimes
these joints are protected by sliding plates. I sometimes use an automatic joint
made of leather, canvas, or other suitable substance placed over or against the
junction and this being forced against the crevices keeps out sand, mud, and water.
Air compartments are constructed and arranged with valves for balancing the
chamber and machinery. In certain cases one or two of the chambers before
described are constructed in and about a sufficient length of tube with one or more
shafts or cylinders of communication and these are floated to the site and submerged
by letting in water through valves and pipes which also serve for emptying the
compartments of the tube for weighting and continuing the constructions.-The
tunnel tube may be kept down by any suitable means but I prefer for that
purpose to line it or fill in certain parts of it with heavy slag cast into suitable
blocks or concreted or fixed with cement, mortar or a bituminous substance-The
junction of tube and masonry is effected by building the tube in the masonry and
an expansion joint is formed where required, of a telescopic form with suitable
packing and in some cases clay and soil are used between the packings to silt up
the crevices at joint and junction, and sometimes I prefer to use part of the
chamber as part of an expansion joint and junction with the masonry tunnel.-In
other cases the junction is made by running concrete about the chamber and end of
the tube and using sacks filled with sand or other suitable material without or in

page_text: conjunction with planks or iron plates to form a centre and to prevent waste of
concrete.
In certain cases all the chamber or portions of the chamber partitioned off from
the rest are made open at the bottom and tunnels of masonry constructed therein
by workmen who enter under pneumatic pressure or with concrete run into place
through trapped or simple channels, In certain cases I construct in connection
with the chamber dredging boxes or compartments with double doors or valves
into and through which compartments, the loosened material is carried to the tube
or tunnel by means of scoop, screw and other elevators I construct approaches to
these and other tunnels and subways of a spiral volute form resembling eccentric
amphitheatres of a shape to suit the site and surface available. The retaining
walls and road foundations of which are when required made of waterproof concrete
or masonry puddled to tub off or stop water that may be found in the excavations
and where the upper entrance of the approach is liable to floods and it is not
desirable to raise its level. I provide it with flood gates and an auxiliary road made to
a level above that of the floods to be used specially when the flood gates are closed.
Having now stated the nature of the said invention I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying drawings.
Fig: 1 is a section of a cofferdam and a masonry tunnel with a tube
and a working chamber, which working chamber will hereafter generally be
called the chamber;-Fig: 2 is a plan of the same: Fig: 3 is a section shewing the
means I employ in joining a tube to a masonry tunnel Fig: 4 is a section
through AA of the Fig: 3-Fig: 5 is a section of a tube adapted for a vehicular
subway Fig: 6 is a section of the tube lined throughout with masonry: Fig 7 is
an end elevation of the chamber Fig: 8 is a section through the tube the chamber
and the hollow rams or galleries; Fig 9. is a section through the dredging com-
partment Fig: 10 is an enlarged section of the joints I use for keeping out the
water; Figs 11. 12. 13 and 14 are sections of tubes adapted for railway and other
tunnels. Figa: 15 and 16 are sections of part of a tube or approach open at the
top. Fig: 17 is part section and part elevation. Fig: 18 is a plan, and Fig: 19 is
an end elevation of tubes, shafts, chamber pipes, and valves to illustrate the means
I employ in certain cases, for floating out sinking and joining and jointing tubes
together. Fig: 20 is an elevation shewing in what manner I join two chambers
together so as to effect a junction of the tube within them. Fig: 21 is an end
elevation of a chamber shewing position of excavators when joining two chambers
together: 22 is a diagram shewing in what manner I apply my invention in
connection with viaducts and open approaches Fig: 23 is a section of masonry
incline approaches Fig: 24 is a diagram shewing another form or disposition of
guides for the chamber and position of the diaphragm. Figs 25. 26. 27 are plans
and Fig: 28 is a section of my improved spiral volute approaches.
In certain cases I make a cofferdam A (Figs: 1 and 2) and within it I construct
a tube B, and build it into the masonry Tunnel B¹ with or without a telescopic
expansion joint not shewn-About the end of this tube B, I construct a working
chamber C. like the cap of a telescope, which chamber is guided and supported by
rollers or slippers H between the tube and chamber and a travelling frame at F
shewn only in diagram. The frame F and the chamber 0 are connected by means
of suitable framing or rams or hollow tubes or galleries G. G. In these galleries
are by preference placed the revolving and oscillating shafts D¹ whose bearings are
so arranged as to admit of the shafts being moved backward and forward when
required to remove the ground in front of the chamber
These shafts put in motion the excavators II' (Figs: 1. 2. 7 and 9) D diaphragm
shewing the end of the tube
At J. Figs 1 and 2 is a fulcrum frame (shewn only in diagram) on which are
attached suitable screws and rams to push forward the shield K (Figs 1. 2. and 9)
are dredging pipes with suitable valves not shown-V (Figs 1. 2. 3. and 9) are air
vessels to counteract the weight of the chamber and machinery. B₁ Fig: 1 is a

page_text: screen hinged at B¹¹ and resting by means of rollers or sliding plates on the ground
at B to protect the excavators L
When all is prepared as shewn by the figures. 1. 2. 7 and 9 the shafts D¹ and
excavators I. P. are put in motion by means of compressed air, engines or other
suitable motive power, placed by preference in the frame at F and at the same time
I cause the chamber to be advanced slowly by means of hydraulic rams or by
forcing water or air into the space C. or by screws, or both sarews and rams
combined having their fulcrum in the frame J and the interior of the tube B or the
diaphragm D
The rams and screws are so arranged as to allow the chamber to recede if
required.
By these means the ground or earth in front of the chamber is cut away and
puddled with water. Valves in the dredging pipes K are opened as required and
the mud sand and gravel are forced by the pressure of the surrounding water
through the pipes K into the well L from which the liquids and solids are raised
to the surface by means of pumps and elevators In certain cases I prefer for
additional security to close the top of the well L with doors lids or valves, and in
that case the pipes K. K¹ are when required used as syphons, and the speed
required for dredging through these pipes K K is obtained by means of pumps.
In other cases I make the pipes KK continuous, with boxes or tanks, at suitable
places to catch the solids, while the water is pumped directly through the pipes by
any suitable pumps. In some cases I force water or air into the dredging pipes K K'
to relieve them of obstruction.
In the gallery G are suitable trap doors through which workmen may pass under
pneumatic pressure to the chamber C and to a portion of the chamber partitioned
off for a dredging compartment at N (Figs: 1 and 9) for the purpose (among
others) of removing any accumulation of material that would not pass through
the dredging pipes, as also to relieve the months of the dredging pipes, and the
excavators, of impediments
V: (Figa 1. 2. 3. 9. and 10) are air compartments to balance the chamber and
machinery while the chamber contains water, and when the chamber is empty or
is being emptied its buoyancy or tendency to rise is counteracted by filling these
compartments with water and by putting suitable heavy material into the
galleries G G and any other suitable part of the chamber or framing
In the dredging compartment N (Figs 1. 7 and 9) are rocking levers I³ to stir up
the material near the mouths of the dredging pipes K. which levers are
sometimes replaced with scoops and elevators to raise the material to the
galleries G. G³ through which it is passed in wagons, skips pipes or otherwise into
the tunnel or the well L.
One shaft D¹ and one lever I, or any number of shafts and levers are used for
the excavation and their cutting edges are inade like knives, chisels, saws or any
shape suitable to the work they have to perform.
The chamber having been forced forward to the required distance, the frame F
is made fast to the inside of the tube B by means of suitable struts and the
5 joints at E are made watertight in the manner shewn in detail by the figure 10 and
more fully described hereafter. The water is then removed from the chamber C
the diaphragm D is pushed forward and another length of tube is constructed in
the working chamber, by joining and jointing or rivetting segments or plates
together; the diaphragm D is then placed over the end of the tube, the water is
Olet into the chamber Ŏ, and so on as before explained. But in certain cases I
leave the end of the tube open while forcing forward the chamber, in which case
the diaphragm and the hollow galleries G G may be dispensed with.
In other cases I make the chamber open at the lower part and in it construct a
tunnel of concrete or masonry, in which case workmen enter the chamber through
5 traps.in the diaphragm or the galleries above described and perform the work of
construction under pneumatic pressure, as well as remove or aid in removing the
material dredged in front of the chamber.

page_text: The diaphragm is sometimes placed within, instead of at the end of the tube, as
shewn by the diagram fig: 24 where B is the tube, D the diaphragm C. the
chamber, A is a hollow gallery or tube attached to the end of the chamber C, and
terminating in a hollow cylinder or gallery of communication A¹. This cylinder A¹
passes through stuffing boxes and watertight or airtight joints in the diaphragm D
and may be guided by rollers or slippers I.
The machinery for working the excavators (where required) is sometimes placed
in the gallery A, and the chamber is pushed forward by forcing air or water into
the chamber C or by means of screws or rams or both applied to the end of the
cylinder A¹.
Where dredging is required the whole or part of the compartment E¹ is open at.
the bottom and is accessable under pneumatic pressure to workmen and in some
cases I raise material by means of dredging chains and buckets or scoops from the
lower part of the dredging compartment E and shoot it through valves or traps E
into the gallery A (which is now as a dredging box) from which it is taken through
traps to the tunnel.
When one or more lengths of tube have been constructed in the manner described
above, the front of the cofferdam is removed and the tube is constructed length
after length till the chamber approaches its terminus as shewn (fig: 3) At Q a
flange and diaphragm or partition are built in the end of the masonry tunnel.-V is
the end of the chamber which after having been pushed forward, and the material
excavated to the end of the tunnel is drawn back to the position shewn and the
concrete R, is put in after which the buckled plates or planks S (Figs: 3. and 4)
are placed across the space Q, V¹ and the concrete T is put in. When the concrete
is hard I open the door P and remove the end of the shield V and the diaphragms
QQ and I build or make the junction in the space thus formed between V₁
and Q.
Sometimes I prefer to make this kind of junction by placing round the diaphragm
Qor round the end of the Chamber V a continuous or endless roll of oiled, greased
or tarred felt or canvas, or an india rubber tube with or without fibre in it, or a
joint similar to those marked C. C. Fig: 10) and then I bring V1 and Q together
squeezing between them the jointing material and so make a temporary joint
while the permanent junction between the tube and tunnel is made.
Sometimes I use part of the chamber thus built into the masonry as an expansion
joint for the tube by placing between the tube and chamber some suitable packing
or stuffing.
a. b. c (fig: 10) are channels formed in the chamber encircling and nearly
fitting round the tube H. a is fitted with suitable fibrous material to prevent
solid matter from passing to the joints boo and d. In b is a joint made of leather,
india rubber, canvas felt or any suitable material fastened to the chamber on one
side and left partly free on the other so that the surrounding water may force it to
the space between the chamber and tube and so close the aperture: In the channels
cc. I fasten to the sides continuous or endless belts tubes or girdles of india
rubber canvas felt or leather, or any combination of these substances in the
manner shewn ccc c¹ so as to form air-tight or watertight channels round the
tube These channels are connected by means of pipes with a tank of water
placed at an elevation superior to that of the surrounding water and in these pipes
are taps or valves-When I require to close one of these joints I open the tap or
valve in the pipe which connects it with the tank the water then enters the
channel c or at a greater pressure than that of the surrounding water and forces
the jointing material towards the apertures and closes the spaces between the
chamber and the tube Sometimes I force water or air into the channels c c¹ by
means of pumps instead of, or in connection with the tank above named, and in
certain cases I protect the jointing material with sliding plates of metal as shewn
d is a joint made of leather india rubber or other suitable material upon part of
which is pressed by means of screw or lever, a metallic belt d'.
Any of the joints a b c c and d described above are used when required

page_text: separately or combined, and with or without ordinary stuffing boxes for preventing
the passage of water between the chamber, and the tube on which it slides; between
the hollow or solid rams or galleries G GA¹ and the diaphragm D; between the
excavating shafts D¹ and the chamber through which they pass; for jointing and
joining tubes together as shewn K. K¹, (§gs. 17 & 18) for joining chamber and
matching cylinder and jointing them together as shewn at Fig: 20 and for making
any other joints in connexion with this my system of tunnelling.
I build or place in the tubes sufficient concrete or masonry to keep them from
floating, and sometimes I prefer to use for that purpose masonry made of furnace
slag cast into suitable blocks as shown in the lower parts of the tubes Figs: 5. 11
and 13. The Figs. 6. 12. and 14 shew how I sometimes line the tube throughouб
with strong waterproof concrete and masonry to serve as a permanent tunnel after
the corrosion of the tube in which it was built.
W. W. Fig: 20 are two chambers approaching each other; & is a matching
cylinder shewn as being lowered some of the jointing material described above is
placed on or against it or the shield. When lowered to the desired depth the arms
el guide and keep the cylinders in position and the chambers are forced towards
each other until they grip the cylinder and squeeze the jointing material so as to
form watertight joints between them.
In cases where machinery does not interfere I join the two chambers described
as above without the matching cylinder.
The junction of the two tubes to is then made in the working chamber thus
formed or the chambers and matching cylinder may be used as expansion joints
for the tubes W₁ to slide in.
T Figs 17 and 18 is part of a tube under water to which I join another
tube, T in the following manner, The Tube T¹ is constructed in a dock, or on
land and launched, rolled or otherwise put into the water. This tube is divided
into compartments T and has attached to it one or more shafts or cylinders of
communication 71 711 and the pipes and valves n p mo.
Part of the masonry or some ballast is put in the tube and the whole is floated
out to its intended site.
Water is now let into all the compartments by means of the valves m, and
pipes while the speed of influx is regulated by means of air pipes p and
valves o; the quantity or level of the water in each compartment is ascertained
by means of sounding floats in the pipes n' the valvės m being closed as shown
and the valves o being open.
When the tube becomes submerged its sudden descent is prevented by the
shafts which are, when required so closed as to prevent water from entering them.
The tube is guided by means of a chain or rope and mooring chains or cables
(not shown) to the seating plate q (Figs: 17. 18. and 19) and a seating of wood,
iron, stone, gravel, or any suitable material at r
Some of the jointing material described above, having been placed between the
ends of the tubes near k. k, the two tubes are drawn together by the chain / so as
to squeeze the jointing material between them. a tap or valve at 8 shewn by
dotted lines is now opened and water is let out of the compartment &¹ & when the
pressure of the surrounding water acting on the end of the tube T¹ forces and
keeps it close to the end of T
The compartment 8. 8 is now emptied and a permanent joint made between the
tubes by bolting or rivetting and the rest of the masonry is added.
The water may then be removed from the next compartment by ordinary pumps
but I prefer to remove it by forcing compressed air through the pipe p which
in its turn forces the water through the pipe n and valve m, or through the
pipes n n¹.
The valve m is lowered and raised by means of the rod m¹ or other suitable means.
Sometimes I lower or sink a portion of tunnel tube as described above with
one or more working chambers w (Figs: 17 and 18) upon it, and in the chambers
I construct other portions of the tube, length after length as described above,
:

page_text: The diagram (Fig: 22) shows how this my invention is sometimes applied in
connection with viaducts and caissons as approaches to the tunnels; a are piers
which support a part of the tube or caisson which is above the ground. 6 to a
is open at the top as shewn by fig: 15 c to d may be also open at the top as
shewn Fig: 16 or a closed tunnel as shewn by the dotted lines c to e-d to fis
a tunnel tube to g is an open caisson or a closed tube, and g to h is a caisson
as shewn at fig: 15 or a masonry incline as shewn by the section fig: 23.
The tubes and tunnels constructed in the manner described above may be of
any required size and section and they may be used as vehicular roadways,
footpaths, railway tunnels water and gas pipes and for any other purpose as
required.
a (figs: 26. 27. 28 and 29) are entrances to tubes, tunnels or subways from
which inclines of the required gradient and dimensions are made by the circuitous
routes a, b, c, d,f floodgates; g, h, i, (Fig: 26) are auxiliary road in which his
above flood level.
Having described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my invention is:-
Firstly The working chamber for the purpose of constructing therein tubes
and tunnels in and under water, comprising the air compartments and valves, the
rollers. guides and guiding frame, the fulcrum frame and the apparatus for moving
the same forward or backward, substantially as described. and shown on the
drawings
Secondly The diaphragm for closing the end of the tube placed upon the end
of or within the tube for the purpose of reducing the pressure of water on the
end of the chamber and as a fulcrum for aiding to move the chamber forward or
backward as described.
Thirdly. The joints for keeping out water, mud and sand as shewn at fig: 10
and described; also the adaptation of materials for joining tubes and chambers
together as described.
Fourthly. The dredging apparatus comprising rotary and oscillating shafts
levers and cutters, dredging pipes and valves in connection with a well as a
receptacle for solids, the syphon pipes and their receptacles for solids; the dredging
chambers with traps for ingress and egress of man and materials substantially as
described.
Fifthly. The adaptation of shafts or cylinders, water tight compartments, air
and waterpipes and valves to tubes for the purpose of floating, filling, lowering or
sinking, guiding emptying and applying or constructing the weighting and
masonry in the tube, as shewn and described.
Sixthly The adaptation and application of a matching cylinder or jointing
apparatus for joining chambers and tubes as shewn at Fig: 20 and described.
Sevently The adaptation of concrete or other jointing material in connection
with diaphragms and the chamber for joining tubes with ordinary masonry, as
shewn and described.
And lastly my improved volute approaches to tubes tunnels and subways as
described..
In witness whereof I the said George Edwards have hereunto set my hand
and seal the ninth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four