IM- PROVEMENTS IN BRIDGES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County.
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BRIDGES."-A communication from abroad by Rembrandt
aled the 12th June 1866, and dated the 6th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
January 1866.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in constructing the arches of bridges of a series of
cast or wrought iron bars substantially in the manner herein-after described.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use the Invention, I will
proceed to describe its construction, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings which forms a part of this Specification.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bridge constructed according to these im-
provements; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of an arch of a bridge
illustrating these improvements; Fig. 3 is a side sectional elevation of the
same; Fig. 4 is a plan view of three lines of the iron boxes as arranged together

page_text: longitudinally for use; similar letters of reference indicate like parts. The
arch of the bridge I make of a series of open or partly open wrought or cast
iron boxes A made to the curve of the arch and the ends of the boxes on a
line of the radius rector of the arch as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. These
boxes are combined together in one or more lines with bands or cross ties or
rods B of wrought iron and tightening wedges C, and the boxes are so
arranged as to break joints with each other, as shown in Fig. 2. Instead
of the wedges and rods here shown any other suitable system of bolting or
attachment may be employed. After the bridge is set up and fastened by
keying or wedging as described I fill the iron boxes with concrete or masonry;
which strengthens the boxes, keeps the sides from deflecting out of line,
makes the whole arch of the bridge solid, adds strength to the structure, and
prevents the access of moisture to the interior of the boxes and ties. The
buttresses D of the bridge I make in the ordinary way of stonework. The
superstructure E may be built to suit the taste of the builder or as the intended
practical use of the bridge may require. Any number of boxes may be
combined together, and their size, form, and thickness may be varied accord-
ing to the size and strength required in the bridge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself; Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
executors; administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDGES," a
communication to me from abroad by Rembrandt Lockwood, of New York,

page_text: United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists in constructing the arches of bridges of a series of
cast or wrought iron boxes substantially in the manner herein-after described.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use this Invention, I will
proceed to describe its construction, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing which forms a part of this Specification.
24373
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bridge constructed according to this
improvement; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of an arch of a bridge
illustrating this improvement; Figure 3 is a side sectional elevation of the
same; Figure 4 is a plan view of three lines of the iron boxes as arranged
together longitudinally for use; similar letters of reference indicate like parts.
The arch of the bridge I make of a series of open or partly open wrought or
cast iron boxes A made to the curve of the arch, and the ends of the boxes
on a line of the radius rector of the arch, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
These boxes are combined together in one or more lines with bands or cross
ties or rods B of wrought iron and tightening wedges C, and the boxes are
so arranged as to break joints with each other, as shown in Figure 2. Instead
of the wedges and rods here shown any other suitable system of bolting or
attachment may be employed. After the bridge is set up and fastened by
keying or wedging as described 1 fill the iron boxes with concrete or masonry,
which strengthens the boxes, keeps the sides from deflecting out of line, makes
the whole arch of the bridge solid, adds strength to the structure, and prevents
the access of moisture to the interior of the boxes and ties.
of the bridge I make in the ordinary way of stonework.
E may be built to suit the taste of the builder, or as the intended practical
use of the bridge may require. Any number of boxes may be combined
together, and their size, form, and thickness may be varied according to the
size and strength required in the bridge.
The buttresses D
The superstructure

page_text: Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of perform-
ing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to le protected by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the construction of the arches of bridges of iron boxes, substantially
as herein described.
Secondly, the employment of bands, ties, or rods, in combination with the
boxes to unite the boxes, substantially as described.
Thirdly, the combination of the boxes with each other so as to break joints
substantially as described.
Fourthly, the employment within the boxes of a filling of concrete or masonry
to solidify and strengthen the boxes, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)