Improvements in or applicable to the Drainage of Marsh Lands
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 1st Jan., 1898
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to the Drainage of Marsh Lands.”
I, PATRICK HANLEY of 35, Manor Street, Waterford, Ireland, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My application for Letters Patent has reference to an invention for effecting the
better drainage of marsh lands and particularly such lands as are liable to tidal
overflow.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a sufficient wall or barrier across
the end of the marsh nearest to the point at which the tide water reaches it. In
this wall is inserted an apparatus in the form of a pipe or conduit having a funnel-
shaped upper end arranged in or near the said wall of sufficient width to easily
admit of the whole stream of the effluent from the marsh so that the entire flow
therefrom can pass through the said funnel-shaped aperture.
The pipe or conduit slopes downwards and the fall and increase of pressure
caused by the narrowing of the conduit, causes the effluent to accumulate sufficient
force to open a trap door placed at a convenient point towards the lower end of
the said conduit. The trap is automatically closed by the incoming tide which is
thereby prevented from flowing back up the conduit, whilst the impetus of the
outflow is sufficient to carry the water flowing through, up to the level of the bed
of the stream outside.
By this means the drainage of the marsh is efficiently provided for and the
inflow of the tide prevented, whilst the marsh water is discharged into the bed of
the tidal stream or other exit, and delivered sufficiently far from the marsh to
ensure it being removed by the ordinary tidal action.
The details of the invention are obviously capable of variation according to the
precise circumstances of each case and the apparatus may be combined with known
devices of various kinds for assisting the end in view.
In the experimental apparatus as at present constructed I have provided for a
fall of about four feet. The funnel-shaped conduit which forms the sloping part
of the apparatus is affixed to the delivery pipe at an angle of approximately forty
five degrees and its section at the inlet is about four times that of the delivery
pipe. The swing valve which prevents the return of the water or the inrush of the
tide may be suitably counterbalanced so as to offer but little resistance to the out-
flowing water. The inlet is preferably provided with a grating or the like for the
purpose of preventing substances passing down the tube which might choke or
interfere with the working of the valve. The conformation of the pipe above
described is intended to give considerable power of suction to the descending
column of liquid aided by the weight of the said column and the absolute quantity
of the discharge may also be regulated by means of the swing valve in the
pipe being arranged to control the outlet area according to the total amount of
water that is required to pass through. The training wall into which the

page_text: apparatus is preferably inserted is of sufficient height and strength to prevent the
tidal water from flowing beyond it.
Dated this 5th day of March 1807
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.
322, High Holborn, London, W.C. Patent Agents for the Applicant.
лашакатом мания.
I, PATRICK HANLEY of 35, Manor Street, Waterford, Ireland, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement.-
My application for Letters Patent has reference to an invention for effecting the
better drainage of marsh lands and particularly such lands as are liable to tidal
overflow.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a sufficient wall or barrier across
the end of the marsh nearest to the point at which the tide water reaches it. In
this wall is inserted an apparatus in the form of a pipe or conduit having a funnel-
shaped upper end arranged in or near the said wall of sufficient width to easily
admit of the whole stream of the effluent from the marsh so that the entire flow
therefrom can pass through the said funnel shaped aperture.
The pipe or conduit slopes downwards and the fall and increase of pressure
caused by the narrowing of the conduit, causes the effluent to accumulate sufficient
force to open a trap door placed at a convenient point towards the lower end of
the said conduit. The trap is automatically closed by the incoming tide which is
thereby prevented from flowing back up the conduit, whilst the impetus of the
outflow is sufficient to carry the water flowing through up to the level of the bed
of the stream outside.
By this means the drainage of the marsh is efficiently provided for and the
inflow of the tide prevented, whilst the marsh water is discharged into the bed of
the tidal stream or other exit, and delivered sufficiently far from the marsh to
ensure it being removed by the ordinary tidal action.
The details of the invention are obviously capable of variation according to the
precise circumstances of each case and the apparatus may be combined with known
devices of various kinds for assisting the end in view.
In the experimental apparatus as at present constructed I have provided for a
fall of about four feet. The funnel-shaped conduit which forms the sloping part
of the apparatus is affixed to the delivery pipe at an angle of approximately forty
five degrees and its section at the inlet is about four times that of the delivery
pipe. The swing valve which prevents the return of the water or the inrush of the
tide may be suitably counterbalanced so as to offer but little resistance to the out-
flowing water. The inlet is preferably provided with a grating or the like for the
purpose of preventing substances passing down the tube which might choke or
interfere with the working of the valve. The conformation of the pipe above
described is intended to give considerable power of suction to the descending
column of liquid aided by the weight of the said column and the absolute quantity
of the discharge may also be regulated by means of the swing valve in the
pipe being arranged to control the outlet area according to the total amount of
water that is required to pass through. The training wall into which the
apparatus is preferably inserted is of sufficient height and strength to prevent the
tidal water from owing beyond it.

page_text: Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a perspective view, and
Figure 2 shews my apparatus in section when applied to a marsh dyke or the like.
The apparatus A is built into a training wall of the marsh or the like at a suitable
point within reach of the tide water: the inlet B is provided with a grating or a
series of bars such as bbb both for the purpose of strengthening the construction
and of preventing substances from passing down it which may choke the apparatus.
The funnel-shaped upper apparatus A connects below to an exit or delivery pipe C
shewn in the diagram as of rectangular section, but which may obviously be of
any other convenient section and of size proportioned to the amount of water to be
disharged through it. At a convenient point in the said tube C, such for instance
as the point e, there is fixed a hinged valve f (shewn dotted in the drawing) or
equivalent device arranged to deliver the effluent when the same has sufficiently
accumulated in the apparatus whilst it is closed by the force of the incoming tide,
and prevents the same from obtaining access to the interior of the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is.
1. The improved method of draining tidal marshes and the like, substantially as
herein before set forth.
2. The improved apparatus for draining tidal marches and the like consisting
essentially of a funnel-shaped delivery vessel having its widest aperture towards
the marsh and sloping downward at a given angle through the dyke or training
wall of the said marsh, and connecting below to a pipe or tube of suitable dimen-
sions provided with means for preventing the return flow of the tide into the said
apparatus substantially as described.
3. The improved apparatus for draining marsh land consisting essentially of
the funnel A with bars or grating b, discharge pipe C, and swing valve f, sub-
stantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.
Patent Agents for the Applicant
Of London, Liverpool. Manchester and Birmingham.