IMPROVEMENTS IN PILES FOR FOUNDATIONS, AND IN PIERS FOR BRIDGES AND OTHER BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles de Bergue, of Strangeways' Works, Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PILES FOR FOUNDATIONS, AND IN PIERS FOR BRIDGES AND
OTHER BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 29th December 1863, and dated the 10th July 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles de Bergue at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th July 1863.
I, CHARLES DE BERGUE, of Strangeways' Works, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS, IN PILES FOR FOUNDATIONS, AND IN PIERS FOR BRIDGES AND
OTHER BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in constructing iron cylindrical or other shaped piles
(cast iron being preferred) of a series, of lengths, capable of being united to
form a long continuous pile by turning the ends to fit square against each
other or at right angles to the length, and either by enclosing the ends in a
belt or ring, or socket screwed to receive the ends, and forming or fitting to
them screws to fit the socket, or by connecting them by screwing them toge-
ther, without an external or projecting socket, one into the other, or both on
to a connecting tube or piece screwed externally, or otherwise than by flanges
(as the main object is to use hollow lengths of a diameter too small to admit
access internally for bolting together; and in combining a series of so con-

page_text: structed piles into a foundation, or pier, or substructure; and if continued
into a superstructure, by capping, bracing ties, or other framing or means of
union. The intention is, that the bottom length is to be pointed, and that the
pile, either in two or more lengths, is to be driven by means of a heavy ram
with a small lift, so as to produce an effect assimilating to pressure rather
than a sharp blow, and using a temporary capping of metal or wood or other
materials, either separately or in combination, the capping being removed and
transferred to the top of each length as it is successively added. If any
inequality of level of top surface of a series of such piles should occur from
difficulty of driving to an uniform level, then special top lengths may be
employed. When belts, rings, or sockets are used they may be projecting, or
partially or completely countersunk. Where the ground is soft, and to this
case the Invention is more particularly applicable, the piles should be hollow
for substructure, but for the superstructure may be either hollow or solid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles de Bergue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
DE BERGUE, of Strangeways' Works, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles de Bergue, Her special licence that I, the said Charles de Bergue,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
de Bergu, 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 PILES FOR FOUNDA
TIONS, AND IN PIERS FOR BRIDGES AND OTHER BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES," upon the
condition (among others) that I, the said Charles de Bergue, 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

page_text: t
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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles de Bergue, 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
thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to-the figures
and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in constructing iron cylindrical or other shaped piles
(cast iron being preferred) of a series of lengths, capable of being united to
form a long continuous pile by turning the ends to fit square against each
other or at right angles to the length, and either by enclosing the ends in a
belt or ring, or socket screwed to receive the ends, and forming or fitting to
them screws to fit the socket, or by connecting them by screwing them toge-
ther, without an external or projecting socket, one into the other, or both on
to a connecting tube or piece, screwed externally or otherwise than by flanges
(as the main object is to use hollow lengths of a diameter too small to admit
access, internally for bolting together); and in combining a series of so con-
structed piles into a foundation, or pier, or substructure; and if continued into
a superstructure, by capping, bracing ties, or other framing or means of
union. The intention is, that the bottom length is to be pointed, and that tho
pile, either in two or more lengths, is to be driven by means of a heavy ram
with a small lift, so as to produce an effect assimilating. to pressure rather
than a sharp blow, and using a temporary capping of metal or wood or other
materials, either separately or in combination, the capping being removed
and transferred to the top of each length as it is successively added. If any
inequality of level of top surface of a series of such piles should occur from
difficulty of driving to an uniform level, then special top lengths may be
employed. When belts, rings, or sockets are used they may be projecting, or
partially or completely countersunk. Where the ground is soft,. and to this.
case the Invention is more particularly applicable, the piles should be hollow.
for substructure, but for the superstructure may be either. hollow or solid.
The Drawing No. 1 illustrates. the construction of the improved piles, and
more particularly in respect of the various modes of jointing or fitting the
several lengths together at their ends. In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, a represents
the end of one length, and 6 the end of another length fitted and connected to
it. In Figures 1 and 2 the ends are shewn as enclosed in a belt or ring, or
collar or socket c, and screwed therein, the former Figure representing this
belt as projecting, and the latter as completely countersunk, so as to present
an externally flush surface. It may, if desired, be only partially countersunk.

page_text: In Figure 3 the ends are shewn as screwed together by a malé and female
screw (one to each), the joint being formed without a belt. In Figure 4 the
ends of both are formed with female screws and screwed on to a short length
of connecting tube d, with male or external screw thereon. Figure 5 shews
the pointed end of the bottom length of a pile, and Figure 6 the temporary
capping e to be used for driving. In all the Figures the surfaces marked
X, X, are those which are turned to fit square against each other, and in all
cases the belts and fittings should be so made that these surfaces (on a and b
respectively) may be brought closely and accurately in contact. The piles are
shewn as of cast iron, which is preferred, and the parts where the screws and
fittings are made and attached are thickened out to give the necessary strength.
The temporary cast-iron head or capping for driving (see Figure 6) is intended
for the construction of pile shewn in Figure 1, and should be modified as
requisite for the other cases; and in any case a wrought-iron capping may be
substituted, or a combination of either with wood may be used, if preferred,
the surfaces in contact with each other being accurately fitted together.
The Drawing No. 2 illustrates the combination of a series of my improved
piles to form a foundation or pier, including substructure and superstructure,
Figures 7 and 8 being side and end views respectively. The example given
is suitable for carrying a bridge. In the superstructure the screwed belts or
collars are employed for the further purpose of fitting or connecting the
bracing ties or framing which unite a series of piles together. h, h, represents
diagonal vertical bracing; i, i, horizontal strutting; and k, k, capping, girders,
and framing at top of the foundation or pier so constructed.
The details of some of these parts and of the fittings are exemplified more
particularly in the Drawing No. 3, but the precise construction may be varied
to suit circumstances or as may be preferred. c is the belt with female screw
screwed on to the pile, either at a joint between two lengths (or, if preferred,
the belt may be placed otherwise than at a joint, the pile being thickened out
and screwed to receive it). In Figures 9 and 10 a wrought-iron belt or collar
is shewn to which vertical angle irons p, p, are screwed to form horns or
projections, and between each pair a plate q is interposed and bolted thereto,
the plate being bent to the required angle for receiving the ends of the angle
iron diagonal bracing h, h, rivetted thereto. In Figures 11 and 12 a cast-iron
belt or collar is shewn cast with flat seatings for receiving the cast-iron horns
s, s, (one to each), the surfaces of both being properly faced for firmly bolting
together. These horns are shaped for receiving a horizontal wrought-iron
strutting t (consisting of ordinary railway bars) and a T-iron diagonal bracing
h, h, the several parts being bolted together. In accordance with either of

page_text: the two lastly described Figures the bracing and strutting may be fitted with
a facility and precision which cannot be attained where lugs or projections on
the piles are depended upon for securing them, because, in the operation of
screwing or sinking the piles, they would frequently fail to come to the
required positions with that accuracy which can be ensured by the arrange-
ment described, the collars admitting of the most complete adjustment by
turning or screwing them round upon the pile until the desired position is
attained, the exact position of the bolt holes in the bracing and strutting may
then be marked, and the holes may be punched or drilled in the position so
marked. Also, the piles or tubes can be cast with more than the usual
soundness and economy owing to the absence of lugs and projections on their
surface, which enables the moulding of them to be effected by machinery, and
consequently the core to be preserved perfectly central during casting.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles de Bergue, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.