IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING QUAYS, JETTIES, PIERS, SEA WALLS, AND BREAKWATERS, IN THE FORMATION OF RESERVOIRS, DOCKS, BASINS, COAST HARBOURS, HARBOURS OF REFUGE, LIGHTHOUSES, AND SEA BATTERIES; APPLICABLE ALSO FOR THE RECLAMATION OF LAND, AND FOR THE BUILDING OF BRIDGES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Buss, of 56, High Street, Shoreditch, in the
County of Middlesex, M.D., for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONSTRUCTING QUAYS, JETTIES, PIERS, SEA WALLS, AND BREAKWATERS, IN
THE FORMATION OF RESERVOIRS, DOCKS, BASINS, COAST HARBOURS, HARBOURS
OF REFUGE, LIGHTHOUSES, AND SEA BATTERIES; APPLICABLE ALSO FOR THE
RECLAMATION OF LAND, AND FOR THE BUILDING OF BRIDGES."
Sealed the 28th June 1867, and dated the 11th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Buss at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th January
1867.
I, HENRY BUSS, of 56, High Street, Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex,
M.D., do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CONSTRUCTING QUAYS, JETTIES, PIERS, SEA WALLS, AND BREAKWATERS, IN THE
FORMATION OF RESERVOIRS, DOCKS, BASINS, COAST HARBOURS, HARBOURS OF
REFUGE, LIGHTHOUSES, AND SEA BATTERIES; APPLICABLE ALSO FOR THE RE-
CLAMATION OF LAND, AND FOR THE BUILDING OF BRIDGES," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists in the erecting in a suitable dock of a framework of
iron efficiently supported by internal framing, and covered externally on every
side but the top with sheets of iron, so rivetted to the said framework as to
form a water-tight vessel. The precise shape of such vessel will vary
according to the structure it is designed to erect.

page_text: When a jetty, pier, breakwater, or sea battery is intended the transverse
section of such water-tight vessel will be of a pyramid form truncated at the
apex, of the full height and width of the intended structure, and in lengths
varying according to need from 100 to 1,000 feet; the ends thereof will be
square, oblique, circular, or of any other suitable form. Each pyramid vessel
when completed will be floated from the dock into the open water, and be so
weighted with blocks of stone, rubble, or concrete as to sink it to a convenient
depth; next it will be towed to its destination, and have as much water
admitted as will compel it to sink down to its suitably prepared bed; now
being settled down in position sufficient blocks of stone, rubble, or concrete
will be introduced to prevent by their own weight the pyramid being lifted up
at high water; the contained water will now be withdrawn, and provision
being made in the internal framing, each pyramid segment will be immovably
fixed to its sea or river bed by piles, iron bolts, screws, or otherwise being
driven through the bottom into its bed and into the ends of the next segments;
finally, concrete will be poured in as quickly as possible until each pyramid
is filled therewith. Whenever desirable to have a platform wider than the
truncated top of pyramid for the loading and unloading of vessels for railway
and other purposes provision to be made for stepping and securing upright or
inclined iron standards to support framing of the additional width of platform
required. In this way an entire pier or the segment of a pier of any height
and width, and also of any length that dock accommodation can provide, may
by employing these pyramid vessels be made like a solid rock to grow wherever
desired. During the time that the first pyramid will occupy to fill up at its
final resting place the second will be in course of erection at the dock; this
when completed, floated off, weighted, joined to the end of its predecessor and
sunk will be finally filled up as before, and so on for any desired length.
Coast Harbours.-In like manner a second pier may be extended from the
shore, and when it is desirable to enclose the waters between such piers by
a breakwater beyond their sea ends another series of pyramids of larger
dimensions (because in deeper water) may be built, floated out, and sunk
as before.
Harbours of Refuge.-In the case of a "harbour of refuge " to be formed
in (say) 12 fathom water the same simple principle will prevail, the thickness
of the ironwork increasing somewhat for the augmented size. For such a
harbour of refuge in this depth of water a section of such a pyramid will give an
equilateral triangle of 100 feet in height, the base line would be 100 feet; this
would require for putting together a dock of at least 100 feet wide and 1,000
feet long each pyramid would, therefore, be 100 feet high by 1,000 feet in

page_text: length. When ready it would be floated off and weighted as before, next
water would be let into this and so sink it till it rested on the sea bed; now
sufficient stones or other material would be introduced so as to keep it down
and dispense with the water, this being pumped out, workmen could descend
to its bottom, and by driving piles or otherwise through the bottom so render
it permanently fixed; this over, it is to be filled up as before explained. By
the time that this concrete is hardened there would have been created a solid
rock 100 feet wide at base, 100 feet high, and 1,000 feet long, leaving about
20 feet exposed above high-water mark (that is, in twelve-fathom water). Any
number of such pyramids might be applied to form any number of -segments
that might be deemed desirable for such a "harbour of refuge." Each
pyramid might in the same way consist of 2, 3, or 4 sections for greater
depths of water, so long as the principle of the pyramid were adhered to of
making the base line equal in length to the perpendicular line.
Reclaiming Land.-Whenever shores are to be reclaimed from seas or tidal
rivers half pyramids would be used, the oblique side seaward, the perpendicular
side towards the shore, because when the water has been excluded the half
pyramid sea wall placed (say) at low-water mark can be more conveniently.
widened by driving piles in the rock of the shore, or by building arches,, and.
the intervals being filled up with masonry, rubbish, or concrete in the way.
that is usual with engineers.. In land reclamation the advantage of this
pyramid plan is evident when it is recollected that the chief. difficulty in all.
existing plans is their slowness of progress, enabling the storms of. winter.
frequently to undo and destroy the whole work of the previous summer..
Reservoirs in which large collections of water are confined within these
solid pyramid blocks of iron and concrete are to be provided with. proper..
culverts for carrying off water where required.
Bridges. Narrow seas, such as the "Firth of Forth," the "English Channel,"
and others, may by the adoption of this simple plan of pyramids be bridged.
across by sinking a. series of such pyramids at long intervals and using them
as piers to sustain the ends of long girder or suspension bridges to span over
from pier to pier such intervals of water.
This Invention claims consideration for its greater simplicity, expedition.
cheapness, and durability in effecting the end proposed than by any other plans
hitherto made known.
Simplicity. By erecting piers under convenient instead of inconvenient
circumstances, and by depositing them bodily in deep water where required.
Expedition. In the facility with which they can succeed each other in
being put together, transported, filled, and sunk..

page_text: Cheapness. In the saving of the enormous time usually occupied in
sinking caissons for foundations, driving piles, and adjusting masonry by
⚫divers.
Durability. In the pyramid form with its broad base affording the greatest
amount of stability, whilst its converging sides covered smoothly and closely
with the iron plating offer the least possible resistence for the waves to
struggle with and pull to pieces, for by the time when the action of the sea
water shall have so eroded the iron plating as to permit of its penetration the
concrete will have become so completely set and bound together (assisted as
it would be by the internal iron rods and framing) that it will be even then
more defiant of the sea than the present mode of building such structures
with separate blocks of masonry.
Sea Batteries.-Such solid rocks as these concrete sea walls would become
if placed at suitable spots around our coast, and armed with batteries of
heavy orduance, would form not only outworks of great defence for harbours,
but would likewise constitute harbours of refuge for ships in distress, and
bear infinitely more pummelling with heavy shot than if constructed in the
ordinary way with masonry..
Lighthouses. For such purposes as the erections of signals or lighthouses
in deep water these water-tight vessels might be more conveniently shaped
like a cone, broad at the base and truncated at the top, the columns of
masonry or iron being built thereon when the concrete had sufliciently
hardened.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Buss in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
Buss, of 56, High Street, Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex, M.D.,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Buss,, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Buss,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Buss, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time

page_text: 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
CONSTRUCTING QUAYS, JETTIES, PIERS, SEA WALLS, AND BREAKWATERS, IN THE
FORMATION OF RESERVOIRS, DOCKS, BASINS, COAST HARROURS, HARBOURS OF
REFUGE, LIGHTHOUSES, AND SEA BATTERIES; APPLICABLE ALSO FOR THE RE
CLAMATION OF LAND, AND FOR THE BUILDING OF BRIDGES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Buss, my executors or admini-
strators, 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 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 Henry Buss, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per;
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in the erecting in a suitable dock of a framework
of iron efficiently supported by internal framing and covered externally on
every side but the top with sheets of iron so rivetted to the said framework as
to form a water-tight vessel. The precise shape of such vessel will vary
according to the structure it is designed to erect.
When a jetty, pier, breakwater, or sea battery is intended, the transverse
section of such watertight vessel will be of a pyramid form truncated at the apex
of the full height and width of the intended structure, and in lengths varying
according to need from 100 feet to 1,000 feet; the ends thereof will be square,
oblique, circular, or of any other suitable form. The framing of the bottom will
vary according to the nature of the bed on which it is to rest; the entire iron
jacket internally and externally will be coated with an incorrodable marine
paint. Each pyramid vessel when completed will be floated from the dock
into the open water, and be so weighted with blocks of stone, rubble, or
concrete as to sink it to a convenient depth; next it will be towed to its
destination and have as much water admitted as will compel it to sink down
to its suitably prepared bed; now being settled down in position sufficient
blocks of stone, rubble, or concrete will be introduced so as to prevent by their
own weight the pyramid being lifted up at high water; the contained water
will now be withdrawn, and provision being made in the internal framing
each pyramid segment will when deemed necessary be immoveably fixed to its

page_text: sea or river bed by piles, iron bolts, screws, or otherwise being driven through
the bottom into its bed and also into the end of the next segment; finally,
concrete will be poured in as quickly as possible until each pyramid is filled
therewith. In some cases it will be more expedient when the pyramid vessel
has arrived at its destination to sink it at once by filling it up with concrete
instead of overweighting by the introduction of water, as above. Whenever
desirable to have a platform wider than the truncated top of pyramid for the
loading and unloading of vessels for railway and other purposes provision is
to be made for stepping and securing upright or inclined iron standards to
support framing of the additional width of platform required. In this way an
entire pier or the segment of a pier of any height and width, and also of any
length that dock accommodation can provide, may by employing these pyramid
vessels be made like a solid rock to grow wherever desired. During the time
that the first pyramid will occupy to fill up at its final resting place the
second will be in course of erection at the dock; this when completed, floated
off, weighted, sunk, and joined to the end of its predecessor will be finally
filled up as before, and so on for any desired length for a pier or jetty.
Coast Harbours.-In like manner a second pier may be extended from the
shore, and when it is desirable to enclose the waters between such piers by a
breakwater placed beyond their sea ends another series of pyramids of larger
dimensions (because in deeper water) may be built, floated out, sunk, and
filled up, as before described.
Harbours of Refuge.-In the case of a "harbour of refuge," to be formed
in, say 12 fathom water, the same simple principle will prevail, the thickness
of the ironwork increasing somewhat for the augmented size. For such a
harbour of refuge in this depth of water a section of such a pyramid will give
an equilateral triangle of 100 feet in height; the transverse base line would
be 100 feet; this would require for putting together a dock of at least
100 feet wide and from 500 to 1,000 feet long; each pyramid would therefore
be 100 feet high by, say, 1,000 feet in length; when ready it would be floated
off and weighted as before, uext water would be let into this and so sink it
till it rested on the sea bed; now sufficient stones or other material would
be introduced so as to keep it down and dispense with the water; this being
pumped out work men could if necessary descend to its bottom, and by driving
piles or otherwise through the bottom so render it permanently fixed; this
over it is to be filled up as before explained. By the time that this concrete
hardened there would have been created a solid rock 100 feet wide at base,
100 feet high, and 1,000 feet long, leaving about 20 feet exposed above high-
water mark (that is, in 12-fathom water). Any number of such pyramids

page_text: might be applied to form any number of segments that might be deemed
desirable for such a "harbour of refuge;" each pyramid might in the same
way consist of two, three, or four sections for greater depths of water, so long
as the principle of the pyramid were adhered to of making the base line equal
in length to the total perpendicular line.
Reclaiming Land.-Whenever shores are to be reclaimed from seas or tidal
rivers half pyramids would be used, the oblique side seaward, the perpendicular
side towards the shore, because when the water has been excluded the half
pyramid sea wall placed, say, at low-water mark, can be more conveniently
widened by driving piles into the rock of the shore, or by building arches,
and the intervals being filled up with masonry, rubbish, or concrete in the way
that is usual with engineers. In land reclamation the advantage of this
pyramid plan is evident, when it is recollected that the chief difficulty in all
existing plans is their slowness of progress, euabling the storms of winter
frequently to undo and destroy the whole work of the previous summer.
Reservoirs. If in future such large collections of water were confined
within these solid pyramid blocks of iron and concrete provided with proper
culverts for carrying off water where required all chance of another "Holmfirth"
catastrophe would be avoided.
"the
Bridges. It is obvious how narrow seas, as the "Firth of Forth,"
English Channel," and the like, might by the adoption of this simple plan
of colossal water-tight vessels be bridged across by sinking a series of such
vessels at long intervals, and using them as foundations for piers to sustain
the ends of long girder or suspension bridges to span over from pier to pier
such intervals of water.
This Invention claims consideration for its greater simplicity, expedition,
cheapness, and durability in effecting the end proposed than by any other plan
hitherto made known.
Simplicity. By erecting piers, breakwaters, and the aforesaid structures
under convenient instead of inconvenient circumstances, and by depositing
them bodily in deep water where required.
Expedition. In the facility with which they can succeed each other in
being put together, transported, filled, and sunk.
Cheapness. In the saving of the enormous time usually occupied in
sinking caissons for foundations, driving piles, adjusting masonry by divers,
and the like.
Durability. In the fact of the pyramid form with its broad base affording
the greatest amount of stability, whilst its converging sides covered smoothly
and closely with the iron plating offer the least possible resistance for the

page_text: waves to struggle with and pull to pieces, for by the time when the action of
the sea water shall have so eroded the iron plating as to permit of its
penetration the concrete will have become so completely set and bound
together (assisted as it would be by the internal iron rods and framing) that
it will be even then more defiant of the sea than the present mode of building
such structures with separate blocks of masonry.
Sea Batteries. Such solid rocks as these pyramid concrete sea walls would
become if placed at suitable spots around our coast, and armed with batteries
of heavy ordnance, would form not only outworks of great defence for
harbours and towns, but would likewise constitute "harbours of refuge " for
ships in distress, and besides would bear infinitely more pummelling with
heavy shot than if constructed in the ordinary way with separate blocks of
masonry.
Lighthouses. For such purposes as the erection of signals or lighthouses
in deep water, these water-tight vessels might be more conveniently shaped
like a cone, broad at the base and truncated at the top; the columns of
masonary or iron being built on their suminits.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
illustrating the application of the pyramid principle.
Sheet I., Figure 1, represents a pyramid vessel intended for a breakwater
to enclose the sea for a coast harbour; it is seen floated out of dock into
open water; supposed dimensions, 60 ft. at base, 50 ft. high, and (say)
500 feet long.
Figure 2 is an ideal view of a coast harbour with the sea ends of two piers
and a breakwater beyond, consisting of four middle segments and two terminal
ones obliquely placed, all formed of the above pyramid vessels.
Figure 3 shows a transverse section of a pyramid segment resting on
its sea bed, and filled with concrete; it is supposed to be sunk for a
harbour of refuge in (say) 12 fathoms water, so that its base would be
100 feet wide, its height 100 feet, leaving upwards of 20 feet above high-
water mark.
Figure 4 is a similar section to the last; it is intended to retain the waters
of a basin or reservoir with appropriate culverts for letting off the water from
the higher to the lower level.
Sheet 2, Figure 5 represents two iron concrete vessels sunk in deep water
as foundations for supporting columns of iron or masonry to serve as piers for
carrying the ends of bridges.
Figure 6 shows a signal or lighthonse constructed on the summit of a

page_text: water-tight vessel converted into a solid rock of concrete; the plan of base
either square, oval, or circular.
Figure 7 exbibits an ideal perspective view of a sea wall composed of half
pyramids placed at low-water mark; also of a portion of coast harbour with
distant pier and part of breakwater in fore ground.
Figure 8 depicts the land reclaimed between the sea wall A and base of
cliff B, and available for streets, squares, or docks.
Figure 9 shows an arrangement of three pyramid iron vessels filled with
concrete to be sunk at spots where sea defences are desirable, and converted
into batteries; they would also afford refuge for ships in bad weather; of
course, when preferred these sea batteries might be formed square, circular,
lunetted, or of any other shape.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Buss, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-seven.
HENRY BUSS. (L.S.)