IMPROVEMENTS IN GROUND OR EARTH SCREWS
Year: 1870

page_text: Westminster,
LETTERS PATENT to George Wells, of North Street,.
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GROUND OR EARTH SCREWS."
Sealed the 11th November 1870, and dated the 13th September 1870.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Wells at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 13th September 1870, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WELLS, of North Street, Westminster, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GROUND OR EARTH SCREWS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant
unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the
first and true Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Wells, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,

page_text: many
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:-
:―
This Invention consists in the formation of a screw pile adapted
for boring through either hard or soft soils, a small cutting thread
being used for rock and other hard soils, and a broad flange or thread
being screwed over the first or cutting thread for sand and other soft
soils.
In the accompanying Drawings Figs. 1 to 8 illustrate modifications of
my Invention as applied-to-a-solid-wrought-iron pile; Figs. 9, 10,
11, and 12 represent a cast thread applied to a solid pile; Figs. 13,
14, and 15 represent another modification of a solid wrought-iron
pile and Figs. 16 to 21 represent modifications of a hollow cast-iron
pile..
One form of my Invention, as represented in Figs. 1 to 5, Sheet 1,
and 6, 7, & 8, Sheet 2, consists of a solid wrought-iron pile a, with a
square or V thread 6 of any suitable pitch and diameter turned, forged,
or otherwise formed thereon, the plug b¹ or solid portion on which the
thread is formed slightly tapering towards the lower end, as shewn in
the Drawing, and having firmly fixed by means of a socket c and pin d
at the base of the pile below the thread an augur point or drill e, to
enable the pile to be more easily inserted into its bearings. For boring
in soft soils I screw over the thread 6 before mentioned a broad circular
flange or thread f, of any suitable diameter and of the same pitch. This
said flange or thread f is not fastened or secured to the pile a by any
of the usual methods, for, by reason of the taper in the plug b¹ of the
screw 6 before mentioned, it is impossible for the flange or thread ƒ to
work round or pass further up the pile a or beyond the thread b, and the
augur point e prevents the said flanged thread from screwing off when
the pile is withdrawn.
According to another modification of my Invention, represented in
Figs. 9 to 12, I fix by any well-known means on to a solid iron
or wooden pile a cast-iron boss h, with a square or V thread i, the
plug or solid portion on which the thread is formed slightly tapering
towards the lower end, as shewn in the Drawing, and below this thread I
fix on to the said pile by any well-known means an augur point or
drill j. For boring in soft soils the screwed circular flange or dise k

page_text: is passed over the thread i, as explained in the first modification of this
Invention.
According to another modification of my Invention, shewn in Figs.
13, 14, and 15, I use a solid wrought-iron pile having a longer and
more tapering plug and screw than those before described, by which
means the augur point is not required. For soft soils the screwed
disc m is passed over the thread, as before described, a pin being driven
through the pile below the disc to prevent the loosening thereof when the
pile is withdrawn.
According to another modification of my Invention I use a hollow
cast-iron pile n, the tapering plug with the V or square thread o being
cast thereon, and for soft soils the circular disc or flange p is screwed
on to this thread, as before described. If desirable the augur point or
drill may be used with this form of pile also.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of my Invention I
wish it to be understood that I do not claim the use of either a wrought,
cast-iron, or other metal disc or flange, but what I do claim is, the
screwing of the said disc or flange, of any suitable diameter, on to the
tapering plug or solid portion of the screw at the end of the piles, so that
the said circular disc or flange requires no pin, bolt, or other fastening,
and cannot by any possibility turn on the pile or become loose when
being screwed into the ground, as the tightness of the flange is
in direct proportion to the resistance offered to the passage of the pile.
By this means also various diameters of flanges or discs may be used on
one pile.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wells, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of