Improvements in the Construction of Sewers.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Dec., 188
Improvements in the Construction of Sewers.
I, ISAAC THOMAS HAWKINS of Clarence Villa Bognor Road, Chichester, in the
County of Sussex Sanitary Inspector and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Tho object of my invention is to construct sewers that shall be strong lighter
than cast iron sewers, not so liable to fracture; capable of being safely made of
larger diameters, and of being easily constructed owing to portability of the parts;
also of being constructed in less time than brick sewers; besides affording
facilities for the connection of house drains; and for having the lower portion
(that is likely to be wetted by the fluid or sewage matter) laid for a considerable
length, before the upper part is placed on or closed in, thus leaving the sewer
open to inspection; and for being supported at intervals, where circumstances
would render it costly or impracticable to afford a bed or bearing throughout the
length of sewer.
For this purpose I construct my improved sewers of flanged steel or iron
plates arranged to be connected together in such a
manner as to "break
joint," and provide them when necessary with tension rods affording additional
support.
In carrying out my invention, any convenient form of cross section of sewer
may be adopted, such as egg shaped or circular; and the number of flanged plates
used to form the perimeter will depend upon the form and diameter of the sewer,
the sewer being so built that no two joints shall be opposite each other; and where
a joint abuts a webb or fishplate is or may be bolted on opposite, to strengthen,
both for compressive and tensile strains. . Plates for tensile strain may be thicker
than those for compressive strain.
Some of the plates are provided with suitable openings for the connection of
house drains or other minor tributary drains.
The plates may be protected from rust or corrosion by suitable means such as
either the Bower Barff process or Angus Smith's solution, or porcelain enamel.
Dated this 15th day of May 1888.
ISAAC THOMAS HAWKINS.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Sewers.
1, ISAAC THOMAS HAWKINS, of Clarence Villa, Bognor Road, Chichester, in the
County of Sussex, Sanitary Inspector and Surveyor, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to construct sewers that shall be strong, lighter
than cast iron sewers; not as liable to fracture; capable of being safely made of
larger diameters and of being easily constructed owing to portability of the parts.
Sewers according to my invention are also constructed in less time than brick
sewers and afford better facilities for the connection of house drains.
The lower portion (that is likely to be wetted by the fluid or sewage matter)
can be laid for a considerable length, before the upper part is placed on or closed
in, thus leaving the sewer open to inspection. Such sewers can be supported at
intervals, where circumstances would render it costly or impracticable to afford a
bed or bearing throughout the length of sewer and are specially adapted to
districts where loose soil or quicksand prevails.
I construct my improved sewers of flanged steel or iron plates arranged to be
connected together in such a manner as to break joint" and when necessary I
afford additional support by such means as tension or truss rods, flitches or girders,
the two latter being bolted between the bottom web when great tensile strength
is required. These girders, or their bottom members may be made hollow to act
as subsoil drains, thereby serving the double purpose of subsoil drains and
stiffening pieces to the sewer making the sewer very rigid and of great strength.
In carrying out my invention any convenient form of cross section of sewer may
be adopted, such as egg shaped or circular; and the number of flanged plates
used to form the perimeter will depend upon the form and diameter of the sewer,
the sewer being so built that no two joints shall be opposite each other; and
where a joint abuts a web, a fish plate is or may be, bolted on opposite to
strengthen the joint both for compressive and tensile strains. Plates for tensile
strain may be thicker than those for compressive strain. Some of the plates are
provided with suitable openings for the connection of house drains or for storm
overflows, which are so constructed that they cannot become back watered unless
the sewer is under pressure. Sewers constructed according to this invention are
also well adapted for the conveyance of water above ground, or as an aqueduct,
as the supports may be from 20 to 50 feet apart owing to the peculiar build and
rigidity of the pipe. The plates may be protected from rust
suitable means such as either the Bower Barff process, or Angus Smith's solution,
or corrosion by
or porcelain enamel.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings Fig. 1 shews several
typical sections and constructions of sewers according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a sewer according to my invention provided with inlets
for house drains and storm overflows. The portion of the sewer shewn to the left of

page_text: the figure is supposed to be laid in the usual manner in the ground, wie Ge
to the right is shewn carried on concrete piers, the ground being treacherous or
unstable.
Fig. 3 is an ond view of the left hand portion of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the right hand portion of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a plan.
Fig. 6 is a side view of a sewer according to this invention fitted with truss or
tension rods to increase its strength, considered as a beam.
Fig. 7 is a side view of a sewer according to this invention fitted with a flitch or
plate girder; and
Fig. 8 is an end view of the same.
Figs. 9 and 10 shew in end and side view a sewer of large dimensions, and of
construction similar to that shewn at A (Fig. 1).
Figs. 11 and 12 shew the same form of sewer with a box girder. This girder is
placed under the sewer to support and strengthen it.
Fig. 13 is a side view and Figs. 14 and 15 end views of a sewer strengthened by a
tubular girder which acts also as a subsoil drain.
In fig. 1 A represents a sewer which is formed in section of five plates stamped
or pressed to the requisite shape, and having their edges turned back to form flanges.
By means of these flanges the plates are bolted or rivetted together the whole forming
a sewer of exceedingly great strength. This construction is suitable for sewers
whose transverse diameter is greater than throe feet. B represents a sewer similarly
forined but having four plates; this construction is suitable for sewers whose trans-
verse diameters is from two to three feet. C represents a sewer similarly formed of
three plates; this construction is suitable for sewers with a transverse diameter less
than two feet. D and E shew two forms of circular sewers, the latter being specially
adapted as a subsoil drain. In place of the flanges being formed by bending over
the edges of the plates, they may be bolted or rivetted thereto.
The sewer shewn in Figs. 2. 3. 4 and 5 is of the form B (Fig. 1), F Faro the
plates, I. I inlets for house drains, S storm overflows, and G. G concrete piers carrying
the sewer.
The transverse joints at the top and the bottom of the sewer are arranged
to break bond. The inlets and outlets are separate castings bolted to special plates
prepared with openings in them. It is convenient to make these plates about one
third of the usual length of the other plates, and to connect to each a filling up length
the two together being equal in length to the ordinary plate.
The sewer shewn in Fig. 6 is similar to that shewn in Figs. 2. 3. 4 and 5 with the
addition of the truss or tension rods H H and struts J. J. "These rods or struts serve
to strengthen the sewer, and to enable the piers G. G to be placed farther apart than
they otherwise could be. In lieu of these rods and struts the same effect may be
gained by using their equivalent such as flitches, beams, or girders.
In figs. 7 and 8 a flitch or plate K is shewn fixed between the flanges of the two
lower plates of the sewer and having two angle irons L L rivetted to its lower edge.
This construction is not readily applicable to a sewer of the construction shewn at A
(Fig. 1) and is replaced by a box girder (Figs. 11 and 12) the two side plates K of
which, are placed so as to support the flanges of the side and bottom plates F. The
plates KK are joined at their lower edges by a plate M. and angle irons L L. Cross
stays N are fixed between the plates K.
The sewer shewn in Figs. 13. 14 and 15 is of the form B (Fig. 1) and has below
it a tubular girder of the form E. The two are connected by a Hitch plate, which is
bolted or rivetted between the plates both of the sewer and the drain. The object of
the tube E is primarily to strengthen the sewer and to enable the piers to be placed
at considerable distances apart. It also serves as a subsoil drain for which purpose
its upper part is provided with a series of openings for the entrance of subsoil
water.
Metal sewers constructed in sections with longitudinal ribs or flanges in the manner
herein before described may be made of much thinner section, than metal serves of
equal strength made with welded or rivetted lap joints.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A metal sewer formed of plates- bent or stamped to the required form with
longitudinal and circumferential flanges bolted or rivetted together in the form of a
pipe substantially in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to and
illustrated in the drawings annexed whether with or without a strengthening truss
or trusses applied at the bottom of the said pipe.
The manufacture and use of metal sewers as hereinabove described, with reference
respectively to and illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive in Fig. 6 in Figs. 7 and 8 in
Figs. 11 and 12 and in Figs. 13 to 15 inclusive of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 13th day of November 1888.
I. T. HAWKINS.