Year: 1887

page_text: i GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the General Patent Office No. 4 South Street,
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (A communication from abroad by Richard James Harris Saunders
from Lisbon) to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved method of constructing concrete works in
water whereby I can construct a pier or breakwater of any size or shape on any
foundation so that when it is complete it shall be one solid mass.
For this purpose I prepare frames of steel, iron or wood, or a combination of two
or more of them to the form of the proposed section of the pier or breakwater of
sufficient strength for handling and with an arrangement of angle irons to form
grooves-having set up two or more frames in place I keep them at proper distances
by tie rods and struts and a timber or iron road laid on the top forming a complete
staging, gantry or scaffolding. I proceed to set up any convenient number of
frames and having filled in the spaces between them by carefully lowering properly
prepared steel, iron or wood shutters of convenient height or width. I proceed
to fill in the box thus prepared with properly mixed concrete conveyed dry
through canvas shoots or otherwise to the required position at the bottom of the
prepared box. I then proceed by setting up additional frames, put in the bottom
shutters and fill in with concrete with all convenient speed.
So soon as the first layer of concrete is sufficiently set to bear the weight of a

page_text: second layer I carefully lower a second set of shutters and fill in with concrete
as before adding to the length and height as required until completion of works.
After the concrete is set the shutters can be removed and re-used; the exposed
parts of the frames will form convenient means for fixing fender piles and other
conveniences for the use of the pier or breakwater as landing places, or the exposed
parts may be altogether removed as found desirable.
I also propose to fill in the core of the pier or breakwater with any available
material and thus save a very large proportion of concrete without increasing the bulk
of the structure or reducing its stability.

page_text: An Improved Method of Constructing Harbours, Piers, Breakwaters,
and the like.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the General Patent Office, No. 4, South
Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (A communication from abroad by Richard James Harris
Saunders from Lisbon) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described
My invention consists of an improved method of constructing concrete works in
water by means of which I can construct a Pier or Breakwater of any size or shape
on any foundation, so that when complete it shall be a solid mass.
I prepare frames of steel, iron or wood, or a combination of two or more of them,
corresponding with the form of the proposed section of the pier or breakwater.
Having set up any convenient number of frames in place, and secured them in
position, supporting them if necessary at proper distances by rods or struts and
placing a timber or iron road if required on the top so as to form a complete staging
or scaffolding, I lower properly prepared steel, iron or wood shutters of convenient
height, and fill in the box thereby formed with concrete by any of the usual modes of
placing concrete.
As soon as the first layer of concrete is sufficiently set to bear the weight of a
second I lower a second set of shutters, or lift the shutters already used to a
convenient height for putting in a second layer of concrete and proceed in the same
way until the breakwater is constructed to its full height. So soon as the concrete is
sufficiently set I remove so many of the frames as are no longer required to protect
the concrete and set them up again in extension of the works; and I continue to do
this as may be convenient until the breakwater is complete.
To stop the end of the pier or breakwater or to form an abutment at either end of
the work I fix a convenient number of grooved standards, vertically or to any
required angle, and lower shutters as before described. It is obvious that the frames
can be removed without disturbing the concrete.
I can fill in the centre of the pier or breakwater with any available materials and
thus save a large proportion of concrete, and that without increasing the bulk of the
structure or reducing its stability.
I can also take advantage of any reef or series of rocks on or near the line of the
works by building the breakwater on them.
The accompanying drawings will illustrate the way in which my invention may be
carried into effect :-
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a plan and shews three frames a in place with the standards b, b
at the end to form an abutment, the said frames being supported in their relative
positions by rods and struts c, d.
Figure 2, Sheet 2, is a transverse section and shews a complete frame with

page_text: longitudinal distance adjusting bars e and a transverse distance bar fat or near the
bottom of the frame. This bar may be removed as soon as sufficient concrete has
been placed against the moveable shutters to keep them securely fixed.
Figure 3, sheet 3, is a side elevation of two bays, shewing the fourth frame a being
lowered into its place and the distance adjustment bars e in use and the construction
of the franes into staging g or gantries is shewn. This Figure also shows the
standards of the frame a provided with feet (which are used when the framing is
erected on soft foundations such as sand, mud and the like), and the movable shutters i
provided with rings by means of which the said shutters may be raised and lowered,
the said shutters sliding in grooves in the frames.
If necessary I use hard wood or other suitable wedges for keeping the shutters in
position. These wedges are placed inside the grooves in which the shutters slide, and
they can be removed before the said shutters are displaced.
In adjusting the frames where there are inequalities of ground
propose if
necessary to adopt screws for the purpose of shortening or lengthening the
diagonal braces as shown in Sheet 4, Figure 4, or the screws may be introduced
where the ties cross as shown in Figure 5 on Sheet 4.
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:-
The improved method and apparatus for constructing harbours, piers and
breakwaters substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.