Improvements in Culverts.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1899-Accepted, 15th July, 1899
Improvements in Culverts.
I, WILLIAM ALBERT NICHOLS, Lawyer, of No. 308, Lancaster Avenue, in the
City of St. Davids, County of Delaware, and State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, 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:-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in portable
culverts adapted for use between railway tracks, roadways, etc., and it is the
object of the invention to provide an efficient and durable culvert which will
retain the position in which it is laid without the necessity of a specially pre-
pared foundation and one which will effectually convey and carry off water
and other material without becoming clogged either at its mouth or interiorly.
With this object in view, the invention consists of a culvert constructed in the
novel manner hereinafter more particularly described.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in
which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a culvert adapted for use beneath railway
tracks, roadways, etc., the culvert being partially embedded in the ground.
Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of one end of the culvert.
Figure 3 is a side view thereof; and
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, A, designates the culvert con-
structed preferably of metal and made or cast in a single piece as shown. The
culvert A comprises a main body or conduit portion 1, which, in cross section,
is formed with a slightly concave bottom and with straight sides which converge
upwardly and terminate in a rounding or slightly rounding top, or the top
may be flat with rounded edges.
As thus constructed, the top and sides of the body constitute an arch, render-
ing the culvert capable of sustaining severe weights or strains to which they
are sometimes subjected, and the bottom or base of the culvert being broad,
there is little liability of its settling under such weights, and therefore a specially
constructed foundation is not required. The inner, bottom, and side, walls of the
culvert are smooth throughout its length thereby furnishing a clear runway
inside for the passage of the water and other material, free from the obstruction
which would result from inwardly projecting portions, and by reason of the
bottom of the culvert being slightly concave, the tendency of sand or other
material is to fail to the transverse center or lowest part of the bottom, where
it can be more readily washed away.
In some instances, it may be desirable to connect sewer, drain or other pipes
to empty into the culvert, and in order that this may be effected, openings 2
are formed in the sides of the culvert near the top thereof, through which
openings, sewer, drain or other pipes (not shown) may be fitted or extended.
In some instances these openings may be formed in the top of the culvert, or
they may be formed in the sides near the bottom thereof, as desired. When

page_text: the culvert is to be laid immediately beneath railway tracks, it is formed at or
near its top with separated transverse grooved bearings 4 into the grooves of
which the rails of a track may be laid, the bearings constituting seats for the
rails and serving to maintain them against lateral displacement and in proper
relative position.
Intermediate the rail bearings 4 the culvert is formed with a transverse
conduit 6, of suitable shape in cross-section, which conduit extends from one
side of the culvert to the other; and in the top of the culvert is formed a
transverse slot 6 through which communication may be had with the conduit.
When the culvert is to be employed in connection with electric or cable rail-
ways, the conduit 6 forms a continuation of the conduit of such railways through
which the cable or electric conductor thereof may be extended. Of course where
the culvert is not to be so employed, the conduit 6 and rail bearings 4 may be
dispensed with.
At one or both of its ends the body portion 1 is provided with a transverse
flange 8, which projects above the top of the said body portion. Forming con-
tinuations of the side walls of the main body are wings B, which wings diverge
outwardly and constitute a flaring mouth at the end of the culvert. The wings B
may be of any suitable shape and length, but preferably they are triangular
in side elevation, and their upper edges incline downwardly from the top of
the flange & to the outer ends of the wings, while their lower edges are horizontal
and extend below the bottom of the body portion. At points adjacent the mouth
of the body portion 1, the wings B are slightly curved and from this point the
remaining surface is preferably formed flat.
Extending from one wing to the other and from near the lower edges of said
wings upwards to the bottom of the passage of the culvert is a base plate 9 at
the outer edge of which is a downwardly projecting flange 10. While in the
case of culverts of small size, it is preferred to form the wings B and base-plate 9
integral with the side walls and bottom of the culvert, it will be obvious that in
culverts of larger size they may be formed separate from the main body of the
culvert and secured thereto by riveting or otherwise.
In practice the culvert is embedded in an embankment or roadway with its
ends opening upon opposite sides thereof, the lower edges of the wings B and
flange 10 entering the ground and preventing the earth beneath the culvert
from being washed away, while the wings B and flange 8 prevent the earth at
the top and sides of the culvert from dropping before the mouth thereof.
Moreover, it will be obvious that the earth being packed up behind the wings B,
the wings serve as anchors and hold the culvert securely against shifting.
Heretofore, while it has been customary to provide the ends of culverts with
wings, such wings have been constructed and arranged to leave abrupt surfaces
and corners intermediate their outer ends, and the mouth of the culvert and
these surfaces serve to obstruct the free passage of material, such as brush-wood,
carried with the water, and the corners become filled with debris, and consequently
the mouth of the culvert soon becomes choked up and proper drainage is pre-
vented. As thus constructed, however, the wings and base plate present con-
tinuous unbroken surfaces to the water and other material and as they gradually
converge to the side walls and bottom of the culvert, the material is guided
directly into the end of the main body. It has also been customary to construct
culverts in longitudinal sections adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured
together, but unless the joints between the sections were made water-tight, water
from the interior of the culvert will leak through the longitudinal joints
between the sections, to the exterior of the culvert washing the earth from the
sides and bottom thereof, thereby impairing its foundation, causing it to settle
and resulting in a depression in the road-bed. By forming the culvert free of
Jongitudinal joints, it will be obvious that no leakage can take place and the
above disadvantage is overcome in consequence.
When culverts. of great length are required, it would be difficult to form them

page_text: in a single piece and accordingly the body of the culvert may be made in two
or more sections which may be joined at their ends in any suitable manner,
forming a vertical joint, each of the sections, however, is formed free of longi-
tudinal seams.
In some instances, it may be desirable to impart additional strength to the side
walls of wings of the culvert and this may be accomplished by forming the side
walls or wings with strengthening ribs 15, as shown.
It will be obvious from the above that an exceedingly simple, yet strong
culvert or conducting main is produced capable of withstanding heavy weights
and strains and one which when placed in position furnishes a ready means for
the passage of water and its contained debris.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A culvert comprising a main body portion, outwardly flaring wings extend-
ing from one or both of the ends of said body portion and forming continuations
of the side walls thereof, and flanges extending from the top and bottom walls
of the body portion, substantially as described.
2. A culvert formed in a single piece comprising a main body portion and
outwardly diverging wings at one or both of its ends, the interior surfaces of
the body portion and wings being smooth and unbroken throughout their length,
substantially as described."
3. A culvert formed with a concave bottom, upwardly converging sides, a top,
and having at one or both of its ends top and bottom flanges and diverging side
wings, substantially as described.
4. A culvert formed with a top, bottom and connecting side walls and provided
at its top with separated grooved bearings each formed with continuous parallel
Hanges, substantially as described.
5. A culvert formed at one or both of its ends with a base plate inclined
upwardly to the bottom of the main body of the culvert, substantially as described.
6. A culvert formed with tip, bottom and connecting side walls and being
provided intermediate its length with a transverse conduit, substantially as
described.
7. A culvert, drain or conducting main formed with upwardly converging side
walls and with a concave bottom, substantially as described.
8. A culvert provided at its end with outwardly diverging side wings and with
a bottom plate connecting the side wings and inclined upwardly to the bottom of
the main body of the culvert, substantially as described.
Dated the 20th dov of Vow $77 1900
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.