AN IMPROVED MODE OF CONSTRUCTING SUBMARINE WORKS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Robert Winder, of Dover, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF CONSTRUCTING
SUBMARINE WORKS."
Sealed the 31st July 1857, and dated the 11th April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Robert Winder
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th April 1857.
. I, THOMAS ROBERT WINDER, of Dover, in the County of Kent, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE
OF CONSTRUCTING SUBMARINE WORKS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a mode of simplifying the construction and the
placing of large blocks of concrete or masonry to form the foundation or under
works of piers, harbours, and other like structures. To attain this end I form
a floating caisson of plates of cast iron bolted together, and I bring this floating
vessel over the spot which is intended to receive a large block of concrete or
masonry. Having moored or otherwise secured this floating vessel in place I
discharge concrete therein, or build up brick or stone work therein, as required,
and by the accumulation of such building materials I sink the vessel to a given
depth in the water. I next add plates of iron to the upper part of the vessel
to increase its capacity, and raise its upper edge considerably above the water.
[Price 8d.]

page_text: When this is effected I continue to throw in concrete or build np masonry
therein, repeating the building up of the iron casing as the vessel sinks by the
accumulanting weight. placed in it. By this means I am enabled to form a
solid pier cased with cast iron, which will imbed itself in the ground, and
require no underground works to ensure its stability. its own weight being
sufficient to prevent displacement by the action of the sea, and the casing
of cast iron preventing the water from abrading the surface of the concrete.
In like manner proceed with block after block when a continuous wall is
required, causing the floating vessels which contain the concrete to sink
gradually in their place by reason of the accumulating weight of their load.
In some instances it may be advisable to form a sea way through a sub-
marine erection. When this is required, instead of depositing the blocks side
by side, as when making solid work, I set them apart, so as to form piers,
which stand up, say, a little above low-water mark. then above this level I
bridge over the spaces and continue the work solid to the height required.
When building upon loose uneven ground, I prefer before sinking the
caissons filled with concrete or masonry, to sink first a tube (of somewhat
larger arc than the caisson) on to the spot destined to receive the block; I
then by the aid of a driver excavate the earth from within the tube until
solid ground is reached, and thereby sink the tube into the ground. The
loaded caisson may then be sunk in the tube, and to insure its proper adjust-
ment the tube may be fitted with inclined filling pieces, which will act as
guides, and guide the descending caisson into the required position. The
outer tube, being composed of plates of cast iron bolted together, may then be
removed and employed again in like manner. Submarine walls and piers
constructed of concrete as above explained may retain their metal covering, or
the covering may be safely removed below low-water mark and employed on
other parts of the work.
From the above explanation it will be understood that great facilities are
provided by this Invention for the erection of submarine works, for not only is
the labor of floating blocks from the shore to their destination avoided, but also
blocks of any given size and weight may be made and sunk with a degree of
precision than cannot be attained when sinking blocks of considerably less
weight than I contemplate employing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said. Thomas Robert Winder in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th October 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ROBERT WINDER, of Dover, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Palent, bearing date the Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Iler heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Robert Winder, Iler special license that I, the said Thomas
Robert Winder, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Thomas Robert Winder, 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 Ax
IMPROVED MODE OF CONSTRUCTING SUBMARINE WORKS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Robert Winder, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Robert Winder, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention, of "An Improved Mode of Constructing Submarine Works,"
relates to a mode of simplifying the construction and the placing of large
blocks of concrete or masonry to form the foundation or under works of piers,
harbours, and other like submarine structures. To attain this end I form a
floating caisson of plates of cast or wrought iron bolted or rivetted logether,
and this floating vessel (which is open at the upper part) I bring over the
spot which is intended to receive a large block of concrete or masonry. Having
moored or otherwise secured this floating vessel in the required place, 1
discharge concrete therein, or build up brick or stone work therein, as
required, and by the accumulation of such building materials in the vessel the

page_text: latter is sunk to a given depth in the water. I next build up the sides of
the vessel by adding plates of iron to the upper part of the vessel, and thereby
increase its capacity and depth, the upper edge of the vessel being raised con-
siderably above the surface of the water. When this is effected I continue to
throw in concrete, or build up masonry within the vessel, repeating the building
up of the outer iron casing as the vessel sinks by the accumulating weight
placed in it. In this way the caisson or vessel is charged with masonry or
concrete until it sinks to the bottom, where it will by its own weight remain
fixed and immoveable, and form a secure artificial foundation for any
subsequent superstructure, or the superstructure may be formed by continuing
the building up of the vessel or caisson. By this means 1 am enabled to form
a solid pier of blocks cased with cast iron, which will imbed themselves in the
ground, and require no underground works to ensure the stability of the
structure, its own weight being sufficient to prevent displacement by the action
of the sea, and the casing of the cast iron will prevent the water from abrading
the surface of the concrete. In like manner 1 proceed to construct and
deposit block after block when a continuous wall is required, causing the
floating vessels which contain the concrete to sink gradually in their place by
reason of the accumulating weight of their load. In some instances it may
be advisable to form a sea way through a submarine erection, and when this is
required, instead of depositing the blocks side by side, as when making solid
work, I set them apart, so as to form piers which stand up, say, a little above
low-water mark, then above this level I bridge over the spaces and continue
the work solid to the height required. When building upon loose uneven
ground. I prefer, before sinking the caissons filled with concrete or masonry, to
sink first a tube or casing, of somewhat larger area than the caisson, on to the
spot destined to receive the block, and which tube or casing will act as a kind
of shield or kerb; I then by the aid of a diver and bell excavate the earth
from within the tube or casing until solid ground is reached, and thereby sink
the tube or casing into the ground. The loaded caisson built up in the manner
just described may then be sunk in the tube or casing, and to insure its proper
adjustment the tube or casing may be fitted with inclined filling pieces, which
will act as guides, and guide the descending caisson into the required position.
The outer tube or casing, being composed of plates of cast or wrought iron
bolted or otherwise securely fastened together, may then be removed and
employed again in like manner. If it be considered desirable, submarine walls
and piers constructed in the manner above explained may retain their metal
covering or shield, and the space between the outer casing or shield and the
caissons within may be filled in with concrete, or if desired both the coverings

page_text: the work.
From the above explanation it will be understood that great facilities are
provided by this Invention for the erection of submarine works, for not only
is the labor of floating blocks from the shore to their destination avoided, but
also blocks of any given size and weight may be made and sunk with a degree
of precision that cannot be attained when sinking blocks of considerably less
weight than contemplate employing.
In order, however. that my Invention may be clearly understood, I have in
the accompanying Drawings shewn various views of the mode in which 1
propose to carry out the object of my improvements.
Fig. 1. Sheet 1. is a sectional view of one of my caissons in the course of
construction. a, a, is the outer casing, made of sheets or plates of iron, bolted
or otherwise fastened together by their flanges or otherwise, so as to form a
vessel open at top; b, b, is the masonry or brickwork which is being built up
inside, a vacant space c being left in the middle to give buoyancy to the vessel
while its construction is proceeding. It will be seen that the weight of the
masonry inside has sunk the edge of the vessel to within a yard or so of the
surface of the water, and an additional row of iron plates is therefore being
secured on the top edge of the vessel. so as to increase its height and capacity,
and when this has been completed the masonry work will he proceeded with
as before. The building up of the vessel in this manner will be carried on
until the bottom reaches the ground and becomes firmly embedded therein.
when the vacant space will be filled in with concrete or rubble masonry.
Fig. 2, Sheet I.. represents a modification of the above. In this instance
the outer casing is made of sheet or plate iron, as before, but the interior is
filled with concrete; a vacant space is, however, left in the centre of the vessel
by placing a second cylindrical or other conveniently shaped vessel within the
first, so as to render the vessel buoyant until it reaches its seat at bottom
Fig. 2 also represents a number of these caissons or vessels sunk in their place.
so as to form a foundation for a pier or breakwater. It will be understood
that as the bottom of the sea will be somewhat uneven, the upper level of the
caissons will not be quite uniform, nor will they, in fact, be square with each
other. This, however, will not be a matter of much importance, as the irregu-
larity of the surface will serve as a key for the masonry of the superstructure,
ns shewn in Fig. 2.
In constructing piers, harbours, walls, or any structure projecting out from
the land into the sea, it will be-evident that instead of mooring the caissons or
vessels while they are being constructed and filled with masonry, they may be

page_text: supported by cranes, or secured to crabs fixed upon the finished part of the
structure.
In Sheet III. I have shewn various views of different plans for construct-
ing these caissons or vessels inside a projecting shield, kerb. or outer vessel;
this contrivance will be found to be very useful under certain circumstances.
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the simplest form of protecting shield or
casing; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same. a. a, represents the inner
vessel; b, b. the masonry or brickwork within it; and c, c, the vacant spaces
which are subsequently filled up with rubble, masonry, or concrete, as before
explained; d, d, is the outer casing, constructed in the same manner as the
inner one, but open at bottom, so that its lower edges may rest upon the
ground and sink into it if the ground is soft. By mooring this vessel and
sinking it on the desired spot, divers may be allowed to descend to the bottom
and prepare the ground for the reception of the vessel or caisson which is to
be constructed and sunk therein, after which the outer vessel may be raised
and used for the next caisson.
Fig. 5, Sheet I., is a plan view of part of a pier with a protecting kerb in
front of the end. The principal object of this kerb is to obtain still water to
work in, and to prevent any excavation that may have been made from being
filled up by the current, and as the work progresses the kerb is lifted up and
moved forward for the same purpose, to facilitate which object the protecting
shield or kerb is made hollow, as shewn in the Drawing, so that the hollow
space may be filled with air in order to make the vessel buoyant.
Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views of modifications of Figures 3 and 4. In
Fig. 6 the casing is made double and hollow, like the open protecting shield or
kerb to the pier shewn in Fig. 5, and is closed at bottom, so as to form an air
and water-tight casing. The inner side of the vessel is sloped inwardly, so that
when the vessel is made buoyant it may the more easily disengage itself from
the ground. When the vessel is sunk, the interior or jacket is filled with
water, but when it is desired to raise the vessel the water is pumped out, and
the vessel by being rendered buoyant may be easily lifted from its seat and
raised to the surface and advanced forward to obtain further room or space lo
work in. In Fig. 7 the casing is also made hollow, but is open at the bottom,
and the inner side is not inclined inwards, as in Fig. 6. When it is desired
to sink the vessel in the sand or soil at bottom, the water is pumped out of
the hollow jacket, and the superincumbent pressure will force the vessel down
into the sand, which will rise into the hollow space, as shewn in the Figure.
In Fig. 7 the caisson is represented as filled with concrete or rubble masonry
with a hollow space in the centre.

page_text: Fig. 8, Sheet I.; represents a mode of constructing a foundation for a
lighthouse on a sandbank, such as the Goodwin Sands. A protecting shield is
first constructed and sunk through the sand into the solid rock, in which it is
imbedded any convenient depth, say, from ten to twenty feet. A vacant space
having been thus prepared, an inner vessel or caisson is built up with sheets
or plates of iron, such as those shewn in Figures 9, Sheet III., and masonry
is built up therein until the vessel is sunk to its proper depth. The light-
house is then built up thereon, and the space between the caisson and the
outer casing or protecting shield is filled in with concrete, as shewn in the
Drawing. Sometimes it may be deemed expedient to sink the block or foun-
dation; when it is built to only part of its intended height, and afterwards at
some future time to raise it to the surface of the water. for the purpose of
continuing the construction. It may also be found desirable to build a column
or pier in layers, in which event I propose to surround the caisson with a
hollow water-tight ring or chamber of such capacity that when filled with
air it will float the piece back again to the surface after being sunk. This con-
trivance will be understood upon referring to Fig. 10. When no excavations
are necessary the outer hollow kerb alone will float the block.
In stormy
weather, as at the equinoxes, the work might be sunk out of the action of the
waves and afterwards raised and continued at pleasure.
Having now described my improved mode of constructing submarine works,
and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect. I would
observe that I am aware that caissons or artificial blocks of masonry for sub-
marine structures have been heretofore constructed, and when filled with
concrete or masonry have been floated to their destination and then sunk in
their proper place, and I am also aware that casings made of sheet iron have
been used for facilitating diving operations for the preparation of foundations,
I do not, therefore, mean or intend to lay claim to the exclusive use of such
contrivances for facilitating the construction of submarine works: but that
which I consider to be new in my improved mode of constructing submarine
works, and therefore desire to claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid, is-
First, the mode herein described and shewn of constructing submarine
works. I claim particularly the building or constructing the caissons or vessels
a, a, and the masonry or materials within simultaneously, so as thereby to
gradually sink the caisson or vessel at the intended place, by the accumulating
weight of the caisson and its contents.
I claim, secondly, the mode above set forth of constructing. the hollow

page_text: casing or protecting shield or kerb, and also the use or application of the same
for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Robert Winder, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Eighth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
THOMAS ROBERT WINDER: . (L.S.)