IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COFFERDAMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry King, of No. 20, Chester Place, Kennington
Road, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF COFFERDAMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry King at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th March
1866.
I, HENRY KING, of No. 20, Chester Place, Kennington Road, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COFFERDAMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in improvements in the .construction of cofferdams,
of which the following is a description illustrated by the Drawings hereunto
annexed, of which the same letters of reference denote the same parts in each
Figure.
The object of my Invention is to effect a great saving upon the present
mode of constructing cofferdams.
1st, my first improvement consists in the driving of piles diagonally to the
angle of 30 degrees, or any other angle, which in practice may be found most
suitable, thus imparting great solidity and strength' to the structure and
effecting a saving in the present method, which is by driving two rows of piles"

page_text: in a straight line with a space between, and filling in this space between the
two rows of piles with clay, which I propose by this improvement to avoid.
This improvement is shewn in the plan Fig. 1 of the Drawings annexed.
2nd, the object of my second improvement consists in covering the diagonal
piles described in the 1st improvement on the outside with sheets of zinc,
lead, or copper, or any other suitable metal for making it impervious to water;
but in practice I prefer lead, as it is cheaper and more durable. A sufficient
length of these sheets of zinc, lead, or copper. must be left at the bottom for
curling cutwards. The joints of these sheets of zinc, lead, or copper may be
fastened by soldering in the usual way, or by clip joints with vulcanized india-
rubber inserted between, and "a"wood fillet covering the "said clip joints well
spiked to the diagonal piles. This mode. of securing the joints is shewn in
Fig. 2 of the Drawings annexed.
3rd, my third improvement consists in dredging outside the diagonal piles
to a sufficient depth and width, as in practice may be found necessary, and
filling in the same with well-punned clay. The length of zinc, lead, or copper,
or other suitable metal covering the diagonal piles described. in. the preceding.
improvement will be curled into the body of well punned clay, as shewn in
Fig. 8 of the Drawings annexed.
4th, my fourth improvement consists in securing and fastening longitudinal
connecting timbers from point to point of external angles of the digonal piles.
These longitudinal connecting timbers are fastened and secured in their places
by strong wrought-iron bolts passing through them and between two hori-
zontal timbers, and through the longitudinal connecting timbers at the back,
and secured to a dolphin forming a truss to each bay of the cofferdam.
These longitudinal connecting timbers may be two, three, or more in number,
and. placed, at such distances, apart, as in practice may be found most suitable..
These longitudinal connecting timbers are shewn in the plan Fig. 1 of the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
The following is a description and reference to the Drawings hereunto
annexed illustrating the improvements of my Invention herein-before
described.
Fig. 1 is a plan shewing the construction of a cofferdam with piles driven
diagonally at an angle of 30 degrees, and the longitudinal connecting timbers;
Fig. 2 is the clip joint fastening the sheets of zinc, lead, or copper to the
diagonal piles; Fig. 3 is a section shewing the bottom of the sheets of zinc,
lead, or copper covering the diagonal piles curling into the punned clay.
(a, a,) diagonal piles; (b, b,) sheets of zinc, lead, or copper covering the
diagonal. piles; (c) clip. joint; (d).vulcanized india-rubber inserted between

page_text: the clip joint; (e, e,) wood fillet covering the clip joint; (f) well punned
clay; (g) bottom of the sheets of zinc, lead, or copper, curling into the
punned clay; (h, h,) longitudinal connecting timbers; (i, i,), wrought-iron
bolt securing and fastening longitudinal connecting timbers; (j,j,) hori-
zontal timbers, between which the wrought-iron bolt passes, thereby forming a
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry King in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
September 1866.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
KING, of No. 20, Chester Place, Kennington Road, Lambeth, in the County
of-Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
-Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of March, 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 Henry King, Her special licence that I, the said Henry King,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry King, 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
THE CONSTRUCTION OF COFFERDAMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said. Henry King, 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 Henry King, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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 Drawings hereunto annexed, that is
to say:-
My Invention consists in the following improvements in the construction of

page_text: cofferdams for the purpose of shutting out water, building quays or embank-
(ments, or any other purpose to which cofferdams are applicable.
1
The objects of my Invention are the construction of cofferdams of great
strength and to effect a saving in the present mode of construction. .:
1st, the first improvement consists in driving a single row of piles
diagonally to the angle of 30 degrees, or any other angle which in practice
may be found most suitable. By this method it is considered the cofferdam will
be of sufficient strength and will effect a great saving in the present method,
which is by driving two rows of piles in a straight line with a space between,
and filling in this space (between the two rows of piles) with clay, which by
*this improvement I propose to avoid. Walings are fastened on these diagonal
piles both back and front and opposite each other, as at present practised in
the construction of. cofferdams. These walings may be two, three, or more
in number and placed at such distances apart as may be found most expedient,
and may be fastened by bolts passing through them and the piles. The piles
may be driven 'in by any of the known ways, as at present practised, to the
depth required. This improvement is shewn in the plan and elevation, Figs.
1 & 2, of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
2nd, the object of the second improvement consists in covering the diagonal
piles described in the foregoing first improvement on the outside, that is, the
sido facing the water, with sheets of zinc, lead or copper, or any other suitable
metal for making it impervious to water; but in practice I prefer lead, as it
is cheaper and more durable. A sufficient length of these sheets of zinc, lead,
or copper must be left at the bottom, which will be curled outwards. These
sheets of zinc, lead, or copper may be fastened at the joints by soldering in the
usual way or by clip joints with vulcanized india-rubber inserted between, and
a wood fillet covering the said clip joints well spiked to the diagonal piles.
This mode of securing the joints is shewn in Fig. 3 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed. This improvement of covering the front of the diagonal piles with
sheets of zinc, lead, or copper is also applicable to the present mode of
constructing cofferdams.
3rd, the third improvement cousists in dredging outside the diagonal piles
to a sufficient depth and width as in practice may be found necessary, and
filling in the same with well-punned clay. The bottom of the sheets of zinc,
lead, or copper, or other suitable metal covering the diagonal piles described
in the preceding improvement will be curled into the body of the well punned
clay, as shewn in Fig. 4 of the Drawings annexed. In practice it may be
found necessary to drive a single and straight row of short piles immediately
outside the part dredged out to prevent the earth folding into the excavation

page_text: made for the punned clay, and may be withdrawn after the insertion of the
clay. This improvement of inserting the punned clay in front of the diagonal
piles is also applicable to the present method of constructing cofferdams.
4th, the fourth improvement consists in securing and fastening longitudinal
connecting timbers from point to point of the external angles of the diagonal
piles. These longitudinal connecting timbers are fastened and secured in
their places by strong wrought-irou bolts passing through them and between
two horizontal timbers and through the longitudinal connecting timbers at the
back, and secured to dolphins, forming a truss to each bay of the cofferdam.
These longitudinal connecting timbers may be two, three, or more in number,
and placed at such distances apart as in practice may be found most suitable
or necessary. This improvement is shewn in the plan & elevation, Figs.
1 & 2, of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
⚫ I intend to use and apply any of the aforesaid improvements or parts thereof
comprised in my aforesaid Invention which may be applicable to the present
mode, of constructing cofferdams.
...The following is a mode in which I propose to apply my Invention in
.combination with straight half timber or sheet piling:-I first drive the piles,
as before described, in a diagonal direction, but propose leaving out a portion
of these diagonal piles which come between the points of the angles, and fitting
into these open spaces cross braces bolted to the piles against which they..
pitch, and supported with cletes or abutting pieces at the top and bottom.
The walings, as before described, are now fastened to the diagonal piles and
cross braces with bolts. The longitudinal connecting timbers are fitted and
fastened to their places. I now propose to drive a straight row of half timber
or sheet piling on the outside of the diagonal piles and laying against the longi-
_tudinal connecting timbers to which they or any of then may be fastened. I
cover the face of this row of sheet piling with sheets of zinc, lead, or copper,
as described in improvement No. 2, and introduce the punned clay into the
excavation previously made, as before mentioned and described in improve-
ment No. 3. If this row of half timber or sheet piling is properly prepared
with straight sawn joints it will not be necessary to dredge into the bed of
the river for the insertion of the punned clay more than two or three
feet deep, but the punned clay may be banked up to any height required, into
which the bottom of the lead or other metal is curled, thereby sealing it or
making it water-tight. At each point of the diagonal piles and opposite such
point at the back or front, as the case may be, and outside the half timber or
sheet piling in front, and outside the longitudinal connecting timbers at the
back, I drive two or more vertical piles close to each other, through which a

page_text: •
bolt, called the king bolt, passes between two horizontal timbers, thereby
I forming the truss to each bay. This mode of applying my Invention in com-
bination with half timber, straight, or sheet piling is illustrated and shewn in
Figs. 5 & 6 of the accompanying Drawings. I intend to support the whole
structure with timbers and struts, and by such other means as may be found
necessary or expedient, and similar in manner to the present method of sup-
porting cofferdams, and if necessary weighting the same with pig iron or any
other heavy materials.
The following is a description and reference to the Drawings hereunto
annexed illustrating the improvements of my Invention, each letter of reference
<denoting the same parts.
:
Fig. 1 is a plan shewing the construction of a cofferdam with diagonal
piles driven at an angle of 30 degrees and the longitudinal connecting timbers;
Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is. a plan shewing the clip joint
-fastening the sheets of zinc, lead, or copper covering the face of the piles;
Fig. 4 is a section of Figs. 1 & 2 shewing the bottom of the sheets of zinc,
lead, or copper curling into the punned clay; Fig. 5 is a plan shewing the
:construction of a cofferdam with part diagonal piles in combination with half
timber or sheet piling; Fig. 6, elevation of the same; Fig. 7, section of
Figs. 5 & 6.
(a, a) diagonal piles; (b, b,) longitudinal connecting timbers; (c, c,)
-walings; (d, d,) sheets of zinc, lead, or copper; (e,) clip joint with vulcanized
india-rubber inserted between; (f.) wood fillet covering the clip joint;
-(9), punned clay; (h) bottom of the sheets of zinc, lead, or copper curling
into the punned clay; (i, i,) wrought-iron bolts securing and fastening the
-longitudinal connecting timbers; (k, k,) horizontal timbers through which the
wrought-iron bolt (i, i) passes; (, ) dolphins to which the wrought-iron
bolts (i,i,) are secured; (m, m,) open spaces coming between the points of
the diagonal piles (a, a,); (n, n,) cross braces fitted into the open spaces
'm, m; (o,) cletes supporting cross braces; (p,p,) vertical piles; (9, 2.) :
supports to the cofferdam.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood, and I hereby declare,
that I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly, the construction of cofferdams with a single row of diagonal piles.
Secondly, the covering of the face of cofferdams with sheets of zinc, lead, or
copper, or any other suitable metal, and curling the same into puuned clay.
Thirdly, the dredging outside of cofferdams into the bed of the river and
-inserting therein and banking up to any height required punned clay.

page_text: Fourthly, the application of longitudinal connecting timbers secured and
fastened to the points diagonal piles.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry King, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six..
HENRY KING. (L.B.)