Improvements in Lining Tunnels and like Structures with Concrete.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 19th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Lining Tunnels and like Structures with
Concrete.
I, GEORGE BURT, of the Firm of John Mowlem & Co., of 19, Grosvenor Road,
in the City of Westminster, Contractors, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to applying concrete to the upper
surface of tunnels and like structures, which operation has hitherto been attended
with considerable difficulty and expense.
For the purpose of illustration I will describe my invention as used for applying
concrete to a tunnel formed of flanged segments or sections which are bolted
together.
Under the segment to which the concrete is to be applied I provide a box having
a movable bottom the surface of which corresponds in size and shape to the
surface of the segment to be covered. This box is advantageously held in position
by means of a stirrup adapted to hook on the bolts which connect the adjoining
segments with the one to be lined with concrete and is kept at the required position
above the stirrup by suitable means such as folding wedges.
The movable bottom of the box (which has previously been filled with concrete
to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the required lining) is now raised by
means of cams or by other suitable mechanical means so as to carry the concrete
up to and against the surface of the section to be lined and the bottom is fixed in
its raised position by means of cotters passed through slots in the stirrup, slots
being left in the side of the box through which the cotters also pass.
The box is now lowered ready to be moved forward to the next segment to be
lined the movable bottom being left in the position to which it has been raised
until the concrete lining is set.
Dated the 21st day of June 1895.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Lining Tunnels and like Structures with
Concrete.
I, GEORGE BURT, of the Firm of John Mowlem & Co., of 19, Grosvenor Road,
in the City of Westminster, Contractors, 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 the application of concrete or other lining material
to the upper surface of tunnels, covered ways and like structures, and more
particularly to tunnels formed of flanged segments or sections which are bolted
together, which operation has hitherto been attended with considerable difficulty
owing to the necessity for filling the spaces between the flanges from below.

page_text: According to my invention I provide under the segment to which the concrete is
to be applied a box having a movable bottom the surface of which corresponds
in size and shape to the surface of the segment to be covered. This box is
advantageously held in position by means of a stirrup adapted to hook on the bolts
which connect the adjoining segments with the one to be lined with concrete
and is kept at the required position above the stirrup by suitable means such as
wedges.
The movable bottom of the box is raised by means of cams or by other suitable
mechanical means and is fixed in its raised position by means of cotters passed
through slots in the stirrup, slots being left in the side of the box through which
the cotters also pass.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the box together with the cams for lifting the bottom,
the said bottom being removed:
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section shewing the box applied to the section to be
filled, the bottom in position and the levers for operating the cams:
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Figure 2.
a is the box which in the drawing is represented as being provided with a metal
lining b, and c is the bottom of the said box.
d, d are the cams or lever-arms by means of which the bottom is lifted, the said
arms being represented as mounted upon square shafts e, e journalled in suitable
bearings in the sides of the box and carrying at their outer or free ends rollers f, f
which bear against the underside of the bottom to lift the same.
9, 9, Figure 2,
are levers which are applied to the square shafts e, e and serve to operate the
cams d, d. h is the stirrup by means of which the box is supported, and i, i,
Figure 3, are the wedges (indicated by dotted lines) for supporting the bottom cin
its raised position.
jindicates the section to be filled, and k, k the bolts for uniting it to the adjacent
sections.
The mode of using my apparatus is as follows:-
The stirrup is placed upon two of the bolts k, k as shewn, and then the box a
(which has in it the required amount of material for filling the space in the
section to be lined) is placed in the said stirrup and wedged up therein by means
of wedges 1, 1; so that its upper edge bears against the flange of the segment;
the levers g, g are now applied to the shafts e, e and the cams d, d are moved from
the position shewn in the full lines in Figure 2 to the position shewn in dotted
lines, whereby the movable bottom c is lifted to force the concrete or other filling
material into the section. The wedges i, i are now introduced through the
holes, in the stirrup and the slots, in the box so that their ends project
beneath the plate c; the wedges 1, I can now be removed as also can the box a
which can then, after having another loose bottom introduced into it, be refilled
and be fixed within another stirrup. It will of course be understood that the
stirrup, movable bottom and wedges i, i are allowed to remain in position until
such time as the filling or lining material is properly set, when they can be
removed.
Although in the drawing I have represented the box as being supported by
means of a single stirrup, it will be obvious that two or more stirrups may be
employed.
It will also be obvious that, in cases where bolts are not available from which to
suspend the stirrup or stirrups, the box may be supported in any suitable manner
from beneath.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The application of concrete and other lining substances to the upper surfaces

page_text: of tunnels by placing such materials in a box having a movable bottom, which
bottom, after the box has been placed in position against the part of the tunnel to
be lined, is lifted by mechanical means in order to raise the material lying upon it
against the surface to be lined, substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for applying concrete or other lining material to the upper surface
of a tunnel, comprising a box provided with a movable bottom, with levers or cams
for lifting the said bottom and with a stirrup or stirrups adapted to be suspended
from bolts for supporting the said box, substantially as described.
3. The improved apparatus for lining the upper surfaces of tunnels with
concrete or other substance, constructed, arranged and operating substantially
in the manner bereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated the 19th day of March 1806
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.