Improved Construction or Arrangement of Shore Groynes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Construction or Arrangement of Shore Groynes.
I EDWARD CASE of The Hall, Dymchurch, Kent, Gentleman and Civil Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object constructing shore groynes from a combination of
upright or anglewise arranged timbers in couples with their lower ends set in concrete
beds preferably from about low water mark to the shore wall the spaces between the
upright or angle timbers having horizontal planks let in or slipped down to form
intermediate screens.
I have referred to timber but metal uprights and plates or a combination of metal
and wood may be employed.
To carry my invention into practice I prepare a series of planks with bolt holes
where necessary. Two of such planks I bolt together at top and bottom with distance
pieces between them. I dig a hole in the sand or earth at low water level or thereabouts
and set one or more of my coupled uprights in position at the same time I fill the hole
with concrete which surrounds and embeds the uprights. I then cover the concrete
with sand or earth to the ordinary level of the beach. I repeat this with a second
couple of uprights and concrete at the requisite distance nearer the sea or river wall
and set or slip my horizontal or screen planks in position and so work up to the wall in
stages. I purpose cutting a channel between each set of uprights so that the bottom
planks of the screens are embedded in the sand.
The horizontal planks need not be in contact at their edges but spaces may be left
where desired for the water to ooze through and if necessary the uprights can be set
anglewise to form sloping sides and any number of such with the screens can be so
arranged that with a broad base and a narrowed top, where they can be bolted, they
can resist the rolling action of the waves or swell of the water during rising tides or
from under currents.
Dated this 25th day of June 1896.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said E. Case.
Improved Construction or Arrangement of Shore Groynes.
I, EDWARD CASE, of The Hall, Dymchurch, Kent, Gentleman and Civil Engineer,
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:-
This invention has for object, constructing shore groynes from a combination of
upright or anglewise arranged timbers in couples with lower ends set in concrete beds.

page_text: preferably from about mean sea level to low water mark and land-wards from the same
point to the shore or sea wall, the spaces between the upright or angle timbers having
horizontal planks let in or slipped down to form intermediate screens.
I have referred to timber but metal uprights and plates, or a combination of metal
and wood may be employed.
To carry my invention into practice and as shown in the annexed drawings, I prepare
a series of baulks or planks A, A, with bolt holes B, B, Figures 1 and 2, where
necessary. Two of such planks A I bolt together at top and at bottom with distance
pieces C, D, between them, one C serving as a foot with ends projecting, and the other
for removal afterwards for reception of ends of topmost horizontal planks E, Figure 3,
which are dropped into position on edge to fill up the gap between two sets of uprights.
For placing these uprights in position, I dig a hole Fin the sand or earth G at intervals
starting preferably at mean sea level or low water level or thereabouts and set one or
more of my coupled uprights A in position, at the same time I fill or nearly fill
the hole with cement concrete H which surrounds and embeds the lower ends of the
uprights. I then cover the concrete with sand or earth to the ordinary level of the
beach G, I repeat this with a second couple of uprights and concrete at the requisite
distance nearer the sea or river wall, and set or slip my horizontal or screen planks E
in position and so work up to the wall J in stages. I purpose cutting a channel
between each set of uprights, so that the bottom horizontal planks of the screens are
embedded in the sand.
The horizontal planks need not be in contact along their longitudinal edges but
spaces may be left where desired for the water to ooze through, and if necessary the
uprights A can be set anglewise to form sloping sides, and any number of such with
the screens can be so arranged that with a broad base and a narrowed top where they
can be bolted, they can resist the rolling action of the waves or swell of the water
during rising tides, or from under currents.
At Figure 3, I show a short groyne or
sharp slope, while at Figure 4 I show a
comparatively shallow beach.
screen such as where the beach has a
long groyne or screen such as for a
The rapidity with which a groyne on my principle can be prepared and set in
position is marvelous as compared to the time occupied in digging, shoreing,
strutting, and then tying in position by angle set struts or props driven into the
beach at a distance from the groyne itself.
The ground line in Figure 4 shows the approximate level assumed by shingle,
sand, or the like next the shore, and according to the usual practice in making a
groyne the top is generally carried up to a uniform inclination as indicated by the
dotted line a, a, Figure 4, this indicating a useless waste of timber which my system
is intended to prevent.
It will be gathered from the foregoing that all my timber work can be prepared
on shore, so that it has only to be carted to the spot as each hole is dug and the
uprights be set in place gradually moving shore-wards or sea-wards according to the
desire of the contractor.
It is also to be noted that practically no plant or preparation other than the
above is necessary, so that at the shortest notice advantage can be taken of an
extraordinary low tide caused by favourable wind or otherwise to extend the groyne
sea-wards.
Little or no skilled labour will be.necessary as the central position for the digging
of the holes can be readily staked out for guiding the digging labourers who also
after inserting the uprights simply hold them vertically while the cement concrete
is shot in preferably from a cart to find its own packing, the action of the water
of the inflowing tide effecting the consolidation.
Should the sand or shingle be washed up to about the top of the groyne, said
groyne can be easily raised in height by securing fresh uprights to the existing
horizontal planks and then to insert fresh horizontal planks as before. This will
be understood by the dotted lines in Figure 3.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The construction of shore groynes in the manner described, by preparing braced
uprights, inserting them in holes, fixing them by cement concrete, and finally
screening the intermediate spaces by horizontal planks, or their equivalents as set
forth, the structure taking the form shown on the annexed drawings.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Edward Case.
The 25th day of March 1897.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Edward Case.