IMPROVEMENTS IN FORMING DRAINS AND INTRODUCING PIPES OR TUBES INTO THE EARTH
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Brannis Birch and Eugenius Birch,
both of Cannon Row, Parliament Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 7th May 1853, and dated the 30th November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Brannis Birch
and Eugenius Birch at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 30th November 1852.
We, JOHN BRANNIS BIRCH and EUGENIUS BIRCH, both of Cannon
Row, Parliament Street, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FORMING DRAINS AND INTRODUCING PIPES OR TUBES INTO THE EARTH" to
be as follows:-
This Invention consists of combining a screw with apparatus for
penetrating into the earth, and introducing therein tubes or pipes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said John Brannis Birch and Eugenius
Birch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc,
JOIN BRANNIS BIRCH and EUGENIUS BIRCHI, both of Cannon Row,
Parliament Street, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineers,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto us, the said John Brannis Birch and
Eugenius Birch, Her special licence that we, the said John Brannis
Birch and Eugenius Birch, our exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Brannis Birch and
Eugenius Birch, our 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 law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORMING DRAINS AND INTRODUCING
PIPES OR TUBES INTO THE EARTH," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said John Brannis Birch and Eugenius Birch, or one of
us, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under
the hand and scal of one of us, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what inanner the
sane was to bo 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 we, the said John Brannis Birch and
Eugenius Birch, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof
(that is to say):-

page_text: This Invention consists of combining a screw with apparatus for
penetrating into the earth, and introducing therein tubes or pipes.
And in order that our Invention inay be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the means
pursued by us.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, shews an arrangement of a machine; A, being the screw;
B, the shaft for turning the screw by means of the bevel wheels C.
At the junction of the screw and shaft, a shield D, is employed,.
which is so made as to allow the shaft and screw to turn round,
without its moving with it. A collar is also used at E, which slides
in the frame F, F (see Figure 2), and in which the shaft freely turns.
The pipes are kept in right position by being placed between the
shield and collar, and having leather washers G, at each end, and
being screwed up by the nut H. The screw is therefore turned
without giving a rotative motion to the pipe I. The clip or washer
K, is for the removing of the shafts for the insertion of another
length of pipe; this is done by unscrewing the nut H, and removing
the washer K, and sliding the shaft back. The shaft is made octa-
gonal in form, and passes through the axis of the wheel C, the
junction of the shafts or rods being made as shewn at L, or screwed,
as shewn at M, Figure 3. The operation of inserting the pipes or
tubes is performed by means of the capstan, as shewn in Figure 4,
having a shaft communicating its motion to the gearing and screw,
as before described; the angle of the machine being previously ad-
justed to the inclination required in the pipe, and motion to the
machinery is given by the capstan from the surface of the ground;
but this notion, it will be evident to mechanics, may be given in
various other ways. When the tube or pipe is inserted to the re-
quired length, an opening is made to reach the screw; and to remove
it to continue the operation, if necessary, to any further length, such
opening being a fresh starting point to work froin. Each junction
of pipe may be cemented, or screwed together, as shewn at O,
Figure 6, before being inserted. Figure 5, shews a mode of placing

page_text: drain pipes into cuttings, and through and at the back of retaining
walls. The screws in this instance may be formed for remaining in,
the rods being made with a key, as shewn at P, which enables them
to be re-drawn. After the pipes are inserted, the collar Q, is fitted
so as to slide in the frame, which prevents the pipes from turning
with the rods. The axis of the driving wheel R, is fitted so that
the square rods may slide through it. Figures 6, and 7, are a sec-
tion and end view of a machine for inserting pipes under rivers and
watercourses; the screw in this case may be made so as to allow the
soil to pass through the tube if necessary. The bevilled wheel and
axis U, turn in the frame V. The axis is made so as to allow the
octagon hollow shaft W, to slide freely in a longitudinal direction,
but it receives the rotary motion through the axis U. The tubes
or pipes are keyed to the hollow shaft W, and thus communicate the
motion to the screw T. The mode of inserting the pipes is similar
to that described in Figures 1, and 4. Figures 8, and 9, shew the
application of the screw for inserting tubes for various other pur-
poses, such as gas or water pipes, and others.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, we would have it understood that
we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein shown and
described, but what we claim is, the combination of apparatus
explained for penetrating the ground by the aid of a screw, and
introducing pipes or tubes as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eugenius Birch, have hereunto
set iny hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
FRED. HARRIS.
EUGENIUS BIRCH. (L.S.)