Improved Means and Apparatus for Disturbing and Distributing Mud and other Precipitants in Tidal Rivers and Places.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1892-Accepted. 3rd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Disturbing and Distributing
Mud and other Precipitants in Tidal Rivers and Places.
We, CHARLES THOMAS CROWDEN, of Vulcan Works, Northampton, Engineer,
nd FREDERICK MARTEN HALE, of 9 Moorfields, City of London, Secretary, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object, the disturbance of silt or mud, and like debris at
the bed of a tidal river, or stream, or in lay-byes next to or adjoining a tidal
stream, so that the water becomes turbid, the agitation of the water and the dis-
semination of the muddy particles causing it to enter the stream and be carried
suspended in the water to distances according to specific gravity and then to pre-
cipitate or deposit themselves over large areas.
The invention is particularly applicable for breakwaters, graving and other
docks, basins, and side places at which ships and vessels are berthed, and alongside
which a line of rails can be laid for the mechanism to be moved about as desired,
so that the bed can be operated upon in stages and so be thoroughly cleansed, or
the deposit reduced to such an extent as to remove bars, and other impediments
which are formed by the silting up action of under currents.
For the purpose of our invention, we employ water under powerful pump pressure
ejected from nozzles submarine monitors suspended from and moving slowly, close
to the bed of dock, or other place. The nozzles are in connection with flexible
hose, preferably of the sphincter grip armoured kind and hanging from a swinging
crane jib, cantilever, or other appliance projecting from a locomotive trolly and
carrying boilers, powerful steam pumping machinery and operating gear counter
balanced by a weight or tank for feeding steam boilers, said appliances surrounding
a column with wheel race for a free all round motion when desired.
The locomotive trolly on which the column and mechanism are carried can be
clipped to the rails if required while the engine is at work, and to enable varying
depths of water to be dealt with, the sphincter grip armoured flexible hose can be
carried by hydraulic reel, and led over guide rollers on the jib, the distance to
which the travelling carriage can be moved being controlled by an endless chain
from the locomotive trolly by steam gearing.
Dated this 24th day of October 1891.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Charles Thomas Crowden and Frederick Marten Hale.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Disturbing and Distributing
Mud and other Precipitants in Tidal Rivers and Places.
We, CHARLES THOMAS CROWDEN, Vulcan Works, Northampton, Engineer,
and FREDERICK MARTEN HALE, 9 Moorfields, City of London, Secretary, 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, the disturbance of silt or mud and like debris at
the bed of a tidal river, or stream, or in lay-byes next to or adjoining a tidal
stream, so that the water becomes turbid, the agitation of the water and the dis-
semination of the muddy particles causing it to enter the stream and be carried
D

page_text: suspended in the water to distances according to specific gravity and then to pre-
cipitate or deposit themselves over large areas.
The invention is particularly applicable for breakwaters, graving and other
docks, basins, and side places at which ships and vessels are berthed, and alongside
which a line of rails can be laid for the mechanism to be moved about as desired,
so that the bed can be operated upon in stages and so be thoroughly cleansed, or
the deposit reduced to such an extent as to remove bars and other impediments
which are formed by the silting up action of under currents.
For the purpose of our invention, and as represented in the annexed drawings,
we employ water under powerful pump pressure ejected from nozzles suspended
from and moved slowly close to the bed of dock or other place. The nozzles A, A,
are in connection with flexible hose B, preferably of the sphincter grip armoured
kind, and hanging from a swinging crane jib, canti-lever C, or other appliance pro-
jecting from a locomotive trolly D, and carrying boilers, powerful steam pumping
machinery, and operating gear counter-balanced by a tank E for feeding steam
boilers, or weight, said appliances surrounding a column F with wheel race for a
free all round motion when desired.
The locomotive trolly D on which the column F and mechanism are carried can
be clipped to the rails if required while the engine is at work, and to enable
varying depths of water to be dealt with, the sphincter grip armoured flexible hose
can be carried by hydraulic reel and led over guide rollers G on the jib C, the
distance to which the travelling carriage H can be moved being controlled by an
endless chain I from the locomotive trolly by steam gearing.
J is the suction hose provided with a screen or rose K at its lower end.
We arrange a weight L at the end of the ejection hose, and according to the
position desired for the nozzles to occupy, either for depth or nearness to the dock
side, the regulation is accomplished from the trolly.
We purpose setting the tank counter balance E above the level of an ordinary
locomotive so that a free movement can be had under for moving goods on the
dock without interference with ordinary wharf duties, such as loading and unloading
vessels or vehicles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is: :-
The combination or arrangement of apparatus as above set forth and shown, by
which a continuous action can be effected for disturbing mud and other precipitants
from rivers docks, basins, and like places adjoining a tidal river for distribution by
the flowing water thereof.
ine 23rd day of July 1892.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Charles Thomas Crowden and Frederick Marten Hale.