CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNDING AND CON- STRUCTING WALLS, PIERS, AND BREAKWATERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER STRUCTURES
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHANIEL
BEARDMORE, of No. 13, Great College Street, in the City of Westminster, Civil.
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Third day of July, in the twelfth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Nathaniel Beardmore, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Nathaniel Beardmore, my exors, adiñors, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said Nathaniel Beardmore, my exors,
adiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark,
and Man, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNDING AND CON-
STRUCTING WALLS, PIERS, AND BREAKWATERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER STRUCTURES;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso obliging me, the said Nathaniel Beardmore, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High

page_text: Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Nathaniel Beardmore, do hereby declare that the nature of my said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):-
"
My Invention of "Certain Improvements in Founding and Constructing
Walls, Piers, and Breakwaters, Parts of which Improvements are applicable
"to other Structures," is designed to facilitate the erection and construction of
submarine works in cases wherein it is required to obtain a good foundation
and solid superstructure of brickwork or masonry and other materials intended
to form the substance of such works. For this purpose I employ a caisson or
enclosure formed or constructed to float with a portion of the structure
built therein to the spot where the wall, pier, or breakwater is to be placed,
and to constitute a part of the permanent work, which may be proceeded with
to completion with more expedition and convenience and less liability to
damage than is usually experienced in such structures.
Such being the
object of this part of my Invention, I am enabled by the combination and
arrangements herein-after described to dispense with the necessity of any
separate floating vessel or body to be afterwards detached, and also to ensure
a greater stability in the work in the early stages of its progress, and to
protect it from injury while it is being proceeded with. The object of my
Invention is further to adapt and apply a part of the above-mentioned improve-
ments to the construction of floors and foundations. The caisson or enclosure
employed for the founding and constructing of walls, piers, and breakwaters
consists of wrought-iron plate, bottom, sides, and ends, and occasional transverse
bulkheads, strengthened by ribs, and firmly connected together so as to withstand
pressure in every direction, for floating the walls and other materials from the
place of construction to the site of the proposed work, the whole being so
bonded together as to constitute one entire frame of great strength, solidity,
and power of resisting strains. The bottom of the caisson is formed of boiler
plates rivetted together so as to form one uniform sheet, to which is connected
by angle irons firmly rivetted thereto a series of vertical plates, extending the
whole width of the caisson. To the upper part of these vertical plates a
second set of angle irons are rivetted so to as to cause a ledge or shoulder to
project therefrom on each side, by which cells are formed, to be afterwards

page_text: filled in with concrete, brickwork; masonry; or other material fit to resist the
displacement of the plates, such concrete or other material being pressed or
built and well grouted close against the plates and into the angles, the
combination thus forming a solid foundation and uniform mass to receive the
superincumbent structure. The sides and water-tight transverse bulk heads
are formed of boiler plates rivetted together and strengthened by vertical
and horizontal ribs or frames of ordinary angle and T-iron, the whole being
united to the bottom by means of strong angle irons and knees or strengthening
pieces, and the sides throughout being braced together by means of iron plates,
and beams of iron and timber, so as to form one combined structure. During
or after the construction of the framework of the caisson, which may be done
in any convenient harbour or sheltered place, the sides, ends, and bulk heads
are to be stayed by strong walls built within the sides longitudinally and
transversely, and bounded with the ribs, beams,' and tie plates, to give general
stiffness. At this stage the caisson may be floated to the site, and there sunk,
when it will at once constitute a solid foundation and material part of the
permanent work.
The part of my Invention applicable to floors and foundations consists in
applying arrangements of plates, and filling in of the cells or spaces formed by
them, similar to those already described for the bottom of the caisson, to the
construction of flooring, such as floors of warehouses or other buildings, and the
bottoms of locks, and other cases where great strength may be required.
I proceed now to describe more particularly the manner in which my Inven-
tion is to be carried into effect, referring in illustration thereof to the accom-
panying Drawing and to the several figures and letters marked thereon (that is
to say):-
Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of the caisson, representing the general
arrangement of its parts, and mode of combining them with its skeleton walls,
and part of the complete pier or breakwater. Figures 2 and 3 are longitu-
dinal sections on the lines A, B, C, D, and E, F, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a
plan or horizontal section of the caisson at various levels. In these several
Figures, portions of the detail are omitted for the sake of perspicuity. Fig. 5
is a general elevation and sectional view, and Fig. 6 is a general plan on a
smaller scale, shewing the form of the iron shell, the position of the bulk heads
and skeleton walls, and the manner in which two caissons are brought together
to form a pier or breakwater. a, a is the base plate of the caisson; b, b, are
the vertical transverse plates, firmly rivetted to the bottom plates by angle
irons c, c; and d; d are the upper angle irons, rivetted to the vertical plates so
as to form projections for the purpose of retaining in the spaces e, e, concrete,

page_text: brickwork, or other similar material, as shewn in Figures 2 and 3. At f, f
Fig. 1, are shewn keelsons, and at 9, 9, are angle or T-irons, all of which are
to run longitudinally riveted to the angle irons d,d, running transversely to give
strength to the floor. These keelsons and angle or T-irons may be used in
greater or less number, as may be found necessary. h, h are the outer sides
of the caisson; j,j, the inner plating dividing the whole structure into three
longitudinal divisions, whereof the centre division is to form the heart or
core of the ultimate structure or permanent work, and the outside divisions
are to form the permanent walls enclosed between the double sides h, h,
and j, j. Water-tight bulkheads constructed similarly to the sides are to be
placed transversely, as shewn at m, m. k, k, are skeleton walls, which are
shewn in all the Figures colored red. In Fig. 6 they are represented
generally as they would be arranged, so as to give stiffness to the caisson, both
transversely and longitudinally, and to its double sides h, h, by means of
contreforts 1, 1, 1, at short intervals. At n, n, are angle and T-irons, which
are used vertically as frames or ribs, forming with the plate iron rivetted
thereto the sides and bulkheads of the caisson. y, y, are knees or angle plates
for securing the bottom to the sides. o, o, are horizontal ribs of angle or
T-iron, and p, p, are T-shaped ribs to be firmly-rivetted to the side plating
and the vertical frames, so as to give the most complete stiffness and strength
to the structure. q, q, Figures 1, 3, and 4, are tie plates, and r, r, are beams
for tying the sides together and efficiently binding the walls and concrete.
At s, 8, are indicated transverse beams for tyeing and stiffening the central
compartment of the caisson, and at t, t, are diagonal and vertical struts, and
at u, v, longitudinal beams, bolted together at their several junctions, and
firmly connected to the sides by plates rivetted and bolted to them, or by other
means, as shewn at w, w, Figures 1, 2, and 4, the whole system of bracing
being designed to enable the caisson to resist strains in every direction. It
will be seen, on reference to Fig. 2, that the transverse tie beams 8, s, are of
timber and iron ranged alternately, so that the timbers being principally used
as stays against pressure from without, they may be removed at pleasure when
the caisson is fixed, and used for the scaffolding and railways required in the
construction of the work, or for any other purposes. It is manifest that the
particular arrangement and number of the braces, beams, and ties may be
varied according to circumstances, and will have to be adapted to the par-
ticular requirements of each case. The depth and width of the caisson and
the slope of the sides must likewise be adapted to the depth of water, rise of
tide, and other features at the site of the intended work, and with reference
to the nature of the bottom, which, if necessary, will have to be previously.

page_text: levelled by dredging or other suitable means. The bottom of the caisson may
likewise be adjusted in some degree in its form and relative angle with the
sides to the slope or nature of the ground on which it is to be sunk. The
kind and form of wrought-iron plates, angle irons, and T-shaped iron, and
the mode of rivetting, and generally the manner of constructing the iron floors,
beams, braces, knees, scarfs, and plating, and other details in the machinery
and implements for rivetting and securing the whole in a workmanlike
manner, are to be similar to the various modes adopted by boiler makers and
iron ship builders.
I proceed now to explain the manner in which the wall, pier, or breakwater
is to be completed within or under the protection of the above-described
caisson. In the first instance the cells e, e, of the bottom are to be filled in
with concrete of strong materials, or brickwork, or masonry, or any other
strong and cementing materials. The walls and contreforts are then to be
built (before the caisson is floated to its destination), according to the general
arrangement shewn in red at k and 1, to as great a height as the draught of
water will permit, taking care that they are built up uniformly, and adjusted so
as to give balance and stability to the caisson, and that in all cases the central
wall is built up to the first tier of beams.
In some cases it may be found desirable to introduce hollow work into these
walls, for the sake of lightness. The outer, central, and cross walls k, k, may
be built of any strong and durable kind of masonry or brickwork, set in good
cement or hydraulic mortar; but I should particularly recommend good brick-
work set in Portland cement mixed with a due proportion of sand, hoop iron
being inserted frequently, and attached to the caisson frames by bending into
holes which should be made for this purpose. The outside walls, for from five
to ten feet below the level of low water, should be formed with good stone
masonry, as within this space the exterior iron shell may be subject to decay.
During the construction of the foregoing works, it will be necessary to provide
proper bilge pumps and water ways from every compartment of the caisson,
with engines for effectually keeping out water, and likewise valves for admis-
sion of water. The caisson is now to be towed to its place of destination, and
there sunk, by admitting water, or loading the central division with stone or
shingle. The spaces at x, x, Figures 4 and 6, are then to be filled up with
thoroughly good concrete, made of bydraulic lime and shingle or such like
material. A good concrete for using generally for the purposes of my Inven-
tion may be made of about eight parts of clean gravel or shingle and one
part of Portland cement. The sides j,j, Figures 1 and 2, are made to extend
above high-water mark, so as to enclose a space, which may be kept dry by

page_text: pumping while the timbers are removed. This will afford the facility of at once
constructing a barrier to the sea sufficient until the outer walls are complete,
by filling the central division with any cheap material of a hard nature; but
I should recommend concrete to be used, especially in the upper part, this
concrete to be thrown down in layers of not more than three feet in one week;
and I should prefer the caisson to be kept free from water while this is done.
The outer walls may now be completed with masonry of granite or other stone
well dowelled, and bonded by iron straps attached to the frames of the caisson,
and the whole finished off, as shewn at Figures 1 and 5, or in any other
manner usually practised, by means of railways, traversing frames, cranes, or
other machinery which may be erected on the beams of the caisson. If any
portion of the wall has to be completed below low-water mark, it must be
done by diving bell or divers, as customary in such cases. I propose that
caissons and constructions of this my Invention should be formed in lengths
of from three hundred to eight hundred feet in length, or even more, if
convenient places can be got wherein to build them; but they should have
water-tight bulk heads at intervals of from eighty to one hundred and
fifty feet, with walls of brickwork against them, in the manner represented
at Figures 2, 3, and 4. A succession of theso caissons may be laid end to
end, as shewn at Figures 5 and 6, to form a pier or breakwater of any
length, and the spaces left between two caissons may be left open, or bridged
over, or filled in with masonary, as may be found most suitable. For
greater stability of the whole work, it may be desirable to throw in rock
or other cheap material against the sides of the caisson (as shewn at Fig. 9),
but it will be unnecessary to deposit such above the level of the lowest water.
The modified form of caisson, represented generally at Figures 7 and 8,
and in transverse section at Fig. 9, is intended to be employed for works on
a smaller scale. In this instance the form of wall built previously to the
vessel or structure being floated to its destination is likewise shewn colored
red, and the upper works are to be proceeded with under cover of the sides,
after it has been settled in the place which it is permanently to occupy. The
general arrangement and construction of this caisson, as to its essential
features, is similar to that above described; but the staying and bracing must
be of great strength, as the caisson is of weaker form, and will have to bo
kept empty for longer periods.
I proceed now to describe more particularly the part of my Invention which
refers to the adaptation and application of iron plates and filling, arranged
similarly to the bottom of the above-described caisson, to the purpose of forming
a floor or foundation for buildings. Fig. 10 is a transverse section of a portion

page_text: irons c, c.
of the flooring, and Fig. 11 is a side view of the same, shewing the manner
in which it is inserted into the side wall of the building. a is the horizontal
base plate. b, b, the vertical transverse plates, rivetted to the former by angle
Double angle irons d, d, are to be rivetted to the upper part of
the plates b. e is the concrete, brickwork, cement. or other material, as
herein-before described, placed so as to fill up the space between the plates b,
and effectually prevent their displacement. By this arrangement great
strength for sustaining weight is given to the flooring with comparately thin
plates b, b, and a, a. f, f, are earthenware pipes or hollow work of any
suitable kind introduced in order to lessen the weight of the floor, or the
filling material may be arched, as shewn by the dotted lines 1, l. It will be
seen that in the Figures there is shewn by dotted lines at 9, 9, an extension of
the plates b. This arrangement is intended to give additional strength when
necessary with the same weight of concrete.
In Fig. 12 is represented another form of base plate a, or support for the
concrete e. It consists of an arch plate which is kept in place by means of
screw bolts and nuts h, h, without necessarily being rivetted to the bottom
angle irons. By this arrangement the plate a can be easily drawn into an
elliptical form, as represented in the Figure, so as to save weight; and when
the concrete or cement is set the whole becomes suspended and firmly united
to the sides of the vertical plates by the combined effect of the bolts h, h,
and the arch plate a. It will be seen also that hollow pipes can be introduced
in order to lessen weight; and tie bars, as shewn at k, or in any other suitable
manner, may be placed from beam to beam at intervals.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be perfermod, I wish it to be understood that I do
not claim the use of caissons generally in building walls, piers, or breakwaters,
or floating parts of such structures to and sinking them at the site of tho
proposed works; but what I claim as the Invention intended to be secured by
the said Letters Patent is as follows:-
First, I claim the founding walls, piers, and breakwaters upon a base con-
sisting of a combination of wrought-iron plates and solid filling, arranged as
above described.
Secondly, I claim the founding and constructing walls, piers, and break-
waters by means of a caisson with a bottom and double sides of wrought-
iron plates, combined and arranged as above described in reference to
Figures 1 to 6.
Thirdly, I claim the founding and constructing walls, piers, and break-
waters by building a portion of such structures within and together with a

page_text: caisson of wrought-iron plates, arranged and combined as above described, so
as to float such portion of the structure, and when sunk to form a part of the
permanent work.
Fourthly, I claim the constructing floors and foundations by means of
wrought-iron plates and suitable filling, combined and arranged as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathaniel Beardmore, havo hercunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.