An Improved Method of Building Watertight Tunnels, Tanks, Cavities, and other like Structures, and for Curing or Stopping of Leaky Tunnels, Tanks, and other like Structures.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 3rd July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Building Watertight Tunnels, Tanks,
Cavities, and other like Structures, and for Curing or Stopping
of Leaky Tunnels, Tanks, and other like Structures.
I JOHN EVANS HUMPHRIS of Thame in the County of Oxford Engineer & c.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improved means of building watertight tunnels
and other like structures by an economical and simple system of keeping the
Portland or other cement mixtures perfectly free from contact with any additional
liquid under any circumstances whatever, after being once properly prepared,
during progress of works, setting &c. for upon this almost entirly depends the
Το
complete cohesion solidity and security of the whole in each case for ever.
ensure this result I proceed in the following manner as regards tunnels (which
almost embraces the details applicable to the purposes named) as the nature of the
strata may permit in addition to the boring for the tunnel a culvert or drain below
invert may be required instead of using pipes within tunnel to carry off any
water flowing into the heading, then line the bore and culvert in the usual way
with 2, 3, or more rings of brickwork set in blue lias lime or any suitable material
that will set or grow firm in water then move centers forward and commence
lining with a watertight cylinder formed of any suitable material, within this
cylinder centers are fixed and brickwork in cement is built to support this
continuous cylinder which must be capable of resisting the percolating pressure or
force of water and preferably formed of thin malleable steel or iron plates coated
with tar, galvanized or tinned, securely joined in any suitable manner, by the edges
of each plate being turned up for rivetting, preferably to form a ribbon, by
progressively joining them end to end by rivetting or otherwise to form an helical
coil, having all the joins preferably flat to avoid risk of cracks by turned edges
corners &c. thereby also saving encroachments by grooves formed in the back of
brickwork built within cylinder. If a culvert is formed, then the plates over it
may be provided with a special screw choke valve or plug way for pipes to reach
culvert and when pumping ceases, these will be necessary to prevent a rush of
water on withdrawal of the pipes.
In repairing or cureing leaky tunnels and the like I proceed by first placeing a
cylinder and build within as above described for new work, or secondly if the
diameter of the tunnel be to limited, cut away part of old rings of brickwork &c.
well caulking the joints thus opened to prevent flooding, then place the cylinder,
brickwork &c. or thirdly cut away to obtain width and graduate to base and crown
forming an oval, the altitude from tread of rail would only be reduced by the
thickness of the new rings &c., the ballast space being reduced also. By this
plan, the work may be carried out in sections by companies of workmen (where
time is important) and the joins or unions of cylinder may be formed anywhere, by
a special plate scheme, a sectional view of which somewhat resembles the Roman
block letter Z the oblique middle or ends of each section may be slightly corrugated
to allow for pressing back, for building over. To ensure perfect cohesion of
brickwork, simple but special conditions must be observed.
Dated this Third day of July 1894.

page_text: An Improved Method of Building Watertight Tunnels, Tanks,
Cavities, and other like Structures, and for Curing or Stopping
of Leaky Tunnels, Tanks, and other like Structures.
I JOHN EVANS HUMPHRIS of Thame in the County of Oxford, Engineer &c.
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 present invention relates to improved means of building watertight tunnels
and other like structures by an economical and simple system of keeping the
Portland or other cement perfectly free from contact with any additional liquid
under any circumstances whatever after being once properly prepared & during
progress of works and setting for upon this almost entirly depends the complete
cohesion solidity and security of the whole for ever.
To insure this result, I proceed in the following manner as regards tunnels
which almost embraces, the main details applicable to all the other purposes
named.
As the nature of the strata, may permit in addition to the boreing for the tunnel
a culvert on or below the invert of same may be carried out at the same time to
carry off any water flowing into it.
Then line the bore and the culvert in the usual way with 2, 3, or more rings of
brickwork set in blue lias lime or any suitable material that will harden and grow
firm under water, sufficient to carry the earth, (or if practical introduce a water-
tight cylinder at once and build brick and cement work within same this is a
doubtful process,) move centres forward and commence lining with a complete
watertight cylinder, formed of any suitable material, within which, a suitable
number of rings of brick & cement work is built to support the cylinder this
forming the tunnel face proper, at the back of cylinder a filling or caulking may be
inserted between that and the brickwork first built, as a continuous water check,
or at intervals it can be adopted as may be necessary, this cylinder may be
preferably formed of thin maleable iron or steel plates generally throughout the
tunnel except in passing a severe inflow or percolation of water where it may be
desirable to have stouter segments, that when pumping ceases at the finish of the
works the cylinder will be strong enough to resist the strain when well supported
by the brick & cement rings within.
These plates may be coated with tar, galvanized or by any suitable system so
that they last until the cement work is grown perfectly firm by time. The joins
may be made with turned up edges and rivetted but preferably flat joins similar to
gas holder joints, thus economizing space which will be especially necessary in
curing any old leaky tunnels and thereby avoiding the risk of cracks at sides and
corners in bending the metal.
The cylinder may be made either by segments going round in direct circumference
of tunnel and meet at, any part, or the segment sheets may be joined end to end
by flat rivetting as a ribband and placed as an helical or spiral coil, which will
allow greater facilities in execution, where a meeting or union junction may be
required, a special union plate scheme, as shown on plan herewith A A' being the
ends of cylinder and B the connecting plate, No. 1 open and No. 2 is closed may be
used a sectioual view of which resembles the Roman block letter Z, while the
rivetting of the junction takes place No. 1, this will press back and take less room.
No. 2 closed A A' & B C and C¹ are the rivets flat or round.
It might be convenient to have suction valves to admit pump pipes placed in

page_text: the segment sheets, in close proximity to the heading in those sheets covering the
invert to admit direct communication with the culvert below; for extra pumping
purposes in case of need, in any locality if necessary close to the heading where
water may be troublesome, these should be provided with special screw choke
valves, to close readily on withdrawal of the pipes, as the work progresses thus
saving any severe rush of water.
To insure the perfect solidity of the brick & cement rings within cylinder, some
simple, but special conditions should be observed; viz. all the bricks non-porous
should come direct from the kiln preferably Staffordshire quality not weathered
by any means as they would be liable to a slight growth of moss, or lichen, scarcely
to be seen by the naked eye, yet sufficient to allow slight percolation through
every joint thus encumbered in years bence when the cylinder is gone.
And for economy in cement and strength of work the bricks preferred are those
moulded to a voussoir pattern.
As regards tanks, cavities, and the like round, square, convex concave or any
shape such as gas holder tanks, rain water tanks, dry docks, and the like.
In dealing with these two first. I excavate the earth in the usual way to the
depth required, and if the water is troublesome, by the aid of pumps.
I introduce a strong frameing of metal or wood preferably wood which is
covered outside or otherwise with a complete watertight metal cylinder with its
cutting edge below frame rivetted to an inner plate nearly V shape with the
outside in a line or beyond the perpendicular line of cylinder to insure ease of
descent the inner plate to bottom caseing which is formed in any suitable manner
preferably concave or dishing, in this bottom screw pipe choke valves may be
introduced (unless pumping is carried on outside,) so that pumping may be
maintained until excavations allow the cylinder to reach its position when the
bottom may be introduced, and the cement brick work following on and when this
work is fairly set these pipes may be withdrawn the choke of water is complete
the final finish of cement concrete, or brickwork over same may be done the
filling also to produce a flat floor or cone according to circumstances may
be done.
As relates to building dry docks, and the like in forming which after securing
the proposed entrance to same against tides, land springs, and the like intro-
ducing and maintaining pumps within (through pipe valves) or without or both
by sinking shafts or wells. I excavate in the usual way according to the nature
of the strata forming foundations, walls, steps, and the like by masonry, and the
like, and cover the bottom, sides, and steps, with a metal waterproof lining, but
preferably this lining may rest on and against green wood boards nearly up to the
spring level where they never will decay then build on this with cement concrete,
brick, or stonework, to the required shape and dimensions, keeping the work free
from liquid until firmly set.
In repairing a leaky dock remove all the steps, bottom, and the like put in
waterproof metal lining and rebuild same.
Or if dimensions will allow case the whole by putting the waterproof metal
lining on old work and build new work over same and protect from liquid until
firmly set.
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 :-
:-
1st. The combined principle of protecting the cement work from moisture with
thin cylinders, linings, plates, and the like, while the cement work, concrete brick
or stone and the like, is supporting the cylinders, linings, plates, and the like each
aiding each to produce a strong watertight check.
2nd. The mode of keeping the cement when once properly mixed and used in
work absolutely free from contact with any additional liquid under any circumstances
whatever until it is grown perfectly firm.

page_text: 3rd. The mode of forming watertight junctions of sections of cylinders, linings,
and bottoms either concave, flat, or convex faces as described according to
plans No. 1 & 2 or shown by the letter Z section.
01
1005