Improvements in Methods of Retaining Tidal Waters, Especially Applicable for Sandy Sea Beaches, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1887
Complete Left, 5th Mar., 1888
• Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
Improvements in Methods of Retaining Tidal Waters, Especially
Applicable for Sandy Sea Beaches, and in Apparatus therefor.
ENOOH LIGHTOWLER No. 133 Lord Street Southport in the County of Lancaster
Draper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My present Invention partially an improvement in one dated May 13th 1887 and
numbered 7022 briefly consists as follows
I construct a breakwater preferably in the form of a hollow cylinder, and of Port-
land Cement Concrete, but I do not confine myself to the use of this material.
The hollow and internal part of this cylindrical breakwater I utilise as a silt or sand
depositing canal or for the purpose of providing an accumulation of still water, so
that any suspended silt sand and pebbles carried into it, by the sea water would become
deposited therein, and from which they can be afterwards removed by flushing or by
manual labour.
The former, or flushing clearance action, I effect as follows; at the termination of
the breakwater and at the end most appropriate, I provide a connection between the
depositing canal and the deep sea channel; 1 also provide a sluice valve or other
suitable description of valve, to retain or allow the escape of the water in the depositing
canal.
After the ebb tide has completely receded-I simply open the aforesaid valve, and
the water accumulated in the silt depositing canal washes the silt deposited therein
into the sea.
Through the side of the culvert or cylindrical breakwater I provide inlets for the
sea water, and at such a height or level, as that there shall always be maintained in the
depositing canal a sufficient depth of water for the
Invention.
purpose of my
The mouth of the inlet openings I prefer to make so as to point upwards, in order
to reduce the velocity of the water in its passage through the side of the breakwater,
and prevent its disturbance of the desirable quiescent condition of the water in the
depositing canal, or I may pierce the side of the culvert next the sea into numerous and
small inlet openings at such a distance above the level of the shore as will allow of the
accumulation or retention of a sufficient depth of water on the shore or land side of
breakwater wall when the tide ebbs or recedes.

page_text: The top of breakwater wall over the cylindrical structure I may form so as to act as
a promenade or carriage drive.
The shore side or the land side of breakwater I may provide with corresponding
outlets to those of the sea side wall of breakwater, and placed at alternate positions in
plan.
Or I may abstract the water in depositing canal from the surface, so as to prevent
the removal of the silt, floating objects or organic and suspended matter by means of
numerous syphons and conduits by which the water can be carried to various positions
in the intervening space between the breakwater and land edge of shore.
I prefer to construct the breakwater in a position identical with the line of extremo
limit of ebb tide.
When the tide flows through the orifices in breakwater and afterwards accumulates
first in the depositing canal and then quietly flows either by the orifices in inner side
wall of breakwater or by the syphon conduits into the intervening space between
breakwater wall and the edge of land, until it forms a lake; the whole of the water
thus accumulated cannot escape when the tide ebbs, except by the opening of the
valve in depositing canal, the water stored up below the level of the inlet orifices in
walls of breakwater connects the low tide expanse of sea water with the edge of the
sea water when at high tide.
This artificial lake can be thoroughly well and uniformily flushed by opening the
valve at the end of depositing canal, during. low tide intervals.
In another modification of my Invention I construct the depositing canal on the
inside of the solidly built dwarf breakwater wall, pierced with numerous inlets which
I make in plan of such a shape that the force of the water is broken, and it flows
quitely into the depositing canal.
I may provide valves for these openings through breakwater in order to retain tidal
water, such openings I may also provide with double grids or gratings to prevent the
ingress of organisims and silt through them.
I abstract the water from depositing canal by means of syphon conduits which I
may protect with grids.
In this latter modification I may make the inside wall of depositing. canal slightly
.higher than the top of inlet openings through sea side wall of breakwater.
It will be seen that my Invention is especially appropriate and applicable-and is
principally intended for sea side resorts that have almost lost their sea scape attractions
or from which the sea has seriously receded leaving in its place extensive and arrid
tracks of sand-or sandy beaches, The stored up or retained tidal water resulting
from the use of my Invention-would connect the low tide water with the Esplanades
or promenades of such resorts-and this would greatly increase their attractions.
Dated this Second day of June-1887.

page_text: Improvements in Methods of Retaining Tidal Waters, Especially
Applicable for Sandy Sea Beaches, and in Apparatus therefor.
I, ENOCH LIGHTOWLER of 133 Lord Street, Southport, in the County of Lancaster,
Draper, 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 :-
My present Invention relates to improved means of retaining the tidal waters on
sandy sea beaches, so as to form thereby a tideless lake. It is partially an improve-
ment on an invention described by me in a Specification, dated May 13th, 1887, and
numbered 7022.
It consists briefly as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in
which Fig. 1 shows, by way of illustration, how the invention may be applied to the
beach at Southport.
Figures 2 & 3 are transverse sections, shewing two forms of breakwater, applicable
for carrying, say, an 18 feet and a 6 feet roadway respectively.
I construct a breakwater, preferably in the form of a hollow tube B of a cylindrical
or other suitable shape, and of Portland Cement concrete, but I do not confine myself
to the use of this material, as many similar materials might be used. The hollow and
internal part of this tubular breakwater I utilise as a silt or sand depositing canal, or
for the purpose of providing an accumulation of still water, so that any suspended silt,
sand and pebbles, carried into it by the sea water, would become deposited therein,
and from which they can be afterwards removed by flushing, or by manual labour.
The former, or flushing action, 1 effect as follows: At the termination of the
breakwater, or at other appropriate point or points, I provide a connection C
between the depositing canal and the deep sea channel. I also provide a sluice
valve D, or other suitable description of valve, to retain or allow the escape of the
water in the depositing canal B.
After the ehh tide has completely receded, I simply open the aforesaid valve, and
the water accumulated in the silt depositing canal washes the silt deposited therein
into the sea. The bottom of the canal B has preferably a slight fall towards the sluice
or sluices D.
Through the side of the culvert or tubular breakwater B, I provide inlets E for the
sea water, at such a height or level, as shall always ensure the maintenance, in the
depositing canal, of a sufficient depth of water for the purpose of my Invention.
The mouth of the inlet openings EI prefer to make so as to point upwards, in
order to reduce the velocity of the water in its passage through the side of the break-
water and prevent its interference with the desirable quiescent condition of the water
in the depositing canal. Or I may pierce the side of the culvert next the sea with
numerous and small inlet openings at such a distance above the level of the shore as
will allow of the accumulation or retention of a sufficient depth of water on the shore

page_text: or land side of the breakwater when the tide ebbs or recedes. The top B¹ of the
breakwater over the tubular structure I may form so as to act as a promenade or
carriage drive.
The shore or land side of the breakwater I may provide with outlets, corresponding
to those of the sea side wall of the breakwater and placed at alternate positions in
plan. These outlets may be at a lower level than the inlets E. 1 prefer however
to abstract the water in the depositing canal from near the surface, by means of
numerous syphons or conduits F, as shown on the drawings. By this means I prevent
the removal of the silt, floating objects or organic and suspended matter, and the
conduits can be so constructed as to carry the water to various positions in the
intervening space between the breakwater and the land edge of the shore.
prefer to construct the breakwater in a position identical with the low water mark,
and I extend it landwards, where necessary, beyond high water mark. When the
tide rises, it flows through the orifices E in the breakwater, accumulates first in the
depositing canal and then quietly flows, either by the orifices in the inner side wall of
the breakwater, or by the syphon conduits F, into the intervening spaco between the
breakwater and the land edge of the shore, until it forms a lake G. None of the
water thus accumulated can escape when the tide ebbs except by opening the valve or
valves D in the depositing canal B. The water stored up below the level of the inlet
orifices in the walls of the breakwater, connects the low tide expanse of sea water
within the breakwater with the edge of the sea water G₁ when at high tide.
As an additional means of securing the quiescence of the water within the depositing
canal, I constret a shallow channel E' in the front of the breakwater, and at. about
the level of the openings E. The outer edge of this channel projects, preferably,
slightly above high water mark. This channel receives a portion of the deposited
sand etc.
This artificial lake can be thoroughly and uniformly flushed by opening the valve or
valves D of the depositing canal. during low tide intervals, and by opening a sluice or
sluices H, covering the upper ends of a channel or channels I.
The depositing canal is preferably provided with one or more vent openings J,
placed about the highest point of the chamber.
These perinit of the escape of the air as the water rises within the canal.
In the drawings the breakwater is shown made of three varieties of concrete,
according to the strains to which the various parts would be subjected. This is
however not absolutely essential as it might be constructed of the same material
thoroughout.
In another modification of my Invention I construct the depositing canal on the
inside of the solidly built dwarf breakwater wall, pierced with numerous inlets, which
I make or plan of such a shape that the force of the water is broken, and it flows
quietly into the depositing canal..
I may provide valves for these openings through the breakwater in order to retain the
tidal water. Such openings I may also provide with double grids or gratings to
prevent the ingress of organic matter and silt through them.
I may abstract the water from the depositing canal by means of syphon conduits,
which I may protect with grids.
In this latter modification I may make the inside wall of the depositing canal
slightly higher than the top of the inlet openings through the sea side wall of the
break water.
It will be seen that my Invention is especially appropriate and applicable, and is
principally intended for, sea-side resorts, especially for those that have almost lost
their sea-side attractions, or those from which the sea has greatly receded, leaving in
its place extensive and arrid tracts of sand or sandy beaches. The stored up or retained
tidal water, resulting from the use of my Invention, would connect the low tide water
with the esplanades or promenades of such resorts, and this would greatly increase
their attractions.
My improved breakwater is also applicable as a main sewer or for flushing or other
purposes.

page_text: 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. As a means of retaining the tidal waters on sandy sea beaches, a tubular break-
water, provided on its sea face at or about high water level with downwardly pro-.
jecting inlet openings leading from a shallow depositing channel, and on its land face
at or about the same level with syphon like outlets, whereby the sand and other matter
carried up by the tide is deposited in still water within the breakwater, while the said
water is syphoned over and forms a tideless lake on the land side of the breakwater,
substantially as described.
2nd. In combination with the tubular breakwater constituting a depositing canal
in connection with a tideless lake, such as G, the conduits C and I with their sluicing
devices D and H, whereby the said canal or lake may be flushed when required,
substantially as described.
3rd. The tubular breakwater, substantially as described, for retaining tidal waters
or for other purposes.
D
1
C
1 1000