AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CLEARING, DEEPENING,, OR ENLARGING RIVERS OR CREEKS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Philip Tregaskis, of Perranarworthal, Corn-
wall, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CLEARING, DEEPENING,,
OR ENLARGING RIVERS OR CREEKS."
Sealed the 6th October 1866, and dated the 9th April 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Philip Tregaskis
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th April 1866.
I, THOMAS PHILIP TREGASKIS, of Perranarworthal, Cornwall, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CLEAR-
ING, DEEPENING, OR ENLARGING RIVERS OR CREEKS," to be as follows:-
I propose in carrying out this Invention that a series of frames or boxes be
used (in a manner as shall be herein-after explained) of the following con-
struction :-Pieces of plank or any other suitable material are to be fastened
together firmly so as to form (by preference) a triangular frame or box,
having two sides of the same (or nearly the same) length, and much greater
in length than the base or third side; and for convenience (in fixing them)
one of the long sides of the triangular frame or box may project beyond the
base or third side; the planks to be in such a position that their edges lie on
the surface of the ground, mud, gravel, sand, or bed of the channel on which
they are placed, and that their sides form, as it were, vertical (or otherwise
as convenient) partitions or walls. It is evident that a frame or box of any

page_text: other shape might be employed, a triangular frame being chosen for its
simplicity and cheapness.
Let the figure a, b, c, d, on the Drawing (No. 1) represent the upper edges
of the frame or box. The two sides a, b, a, c, represent the two sides of the
triangular part of the frame, which are longer than the third side b, c. The
corresponding lower edges of the frame rest on the ground, mud, gravel, sand,
or bed of the channel, as the case may be. In fixing the frames or boxes let
the space between the lines z, y, x, w, on the accompanying Drawing (No. 1)
represent a river or channel, and represent mud, or gravel, or sand
禁毒
to be removed. Let z, x, be some upper part of the river or channel, and y, w,
points further down the channel, and let the water be flowing down the
channel between the points 2, x, towards y, w.
Then if the frames or boxes
be placed obliquely (by preference) across the channel, as represented in the
Drawing, so that the frame or box a, b, c, d, has one of its extremities d at or
near the x, w, edge of the mud, or gravel, or sand
and the other
extremity somewhere in the channel, as represented. Bars or stakes may be
driven into the ground (say) one within the triangular part (a, b, c,) of the
frame at or near the apex a, and another outside the triangular part of the
frame, and within the angle b, c, d, at or near the point c. This being done
the frame a, b, c, d, will be fixed. Another frame e, f, g, h, may next be fixed
in a similar manner, and should be placed in such a position that the
extremity a of the fixed frame a, b, c, d, might rest within the angle f, g, h, of
the frame e, f, g, h, at or near the point 9. The extremity a will by this
arrangement perform the part of a bar or stake, and maintain the base of the
frame e, f, g, h, in its proper position; or bars or stakes may be driven at
or near the extremities of the series of frames or boxes, at or near the points
and c, and the other ends or extremities of the intermediate frames might be
fastened together by means of bolts, clasps, or hinges, or other suitable means
(as convenient). A continued series of frames or boxes having been fixed
after this manner obliquely across the channel, it is evident that the vertical
walls or partitions d-a, h—e, k-i, of the several frames or boxes will inter-
.cept the flowing of the water from the upper part (z, x,) to the lower part
(y, w,) of the channel, and divert the running stream into a narrow gut at a
point where the concentrated force is required, and the mud
above,
below, and about (or about) the extremity d of the series of frames or boxes being
agitated by spades, rakes, or any other suitable apparatus, will enable the water
to find its way in the direction of the arrows shown on the Drawing (No. 1),
carrying away with it the agitated mud held in mechanical solution by the water.
...

page_text: It is the nature and object of my Invention to produce an easy and efficient
means of intercepting or rather of diverting the running stream in rivers
or other places by means of simple contrivances, such, for example, as those
which I have here described, and of concentrating the stream or flow of water
on any particular point or points (as may be deemed necessary), and of
agitating the mud, or gravel, or sand, or other substance required to be
removed, so that it may be carried away either by being held in mechanical
solution or by the increased force of the concentrated stream or streams of
water; for it is also evident that the same process of concentrating the water
might be carried into operation at both sides of the channel or river, or at
several places at the same time, provided the water be in sufficient abundance,
and the frames or boxes might be arranged accordingly, viz., two or more
series or sets of frames or boxes might be placed so as to diverge from a certain
point m, or points m, m, (as represented in the accompanying Drawing No. 2)
in a channel or river wheresoever required. Or the frames might be continued
in one or more straight lines across the channel, or wheresoever required, so
that the entire current of water may in both of these instances be concentrated
either at one or several places at one and the same time, depending in a great
measure on the supply of water, but partly on the nature of the substance
required to be removed.
And I would further suggest as a modification that those portions of the
frames or boxes facing the z, x, or upper part of the river or channel (or other
partitions similar to them) might be used in some cases for the purpose of
diverting the water, forming, as it were, a mere partition or set of partitions
or walls to be supported in a manner similar to one of those which have been
here described, viz., by bars or stakes, clasps, bolts, or hinges, or by means of
any ordinary support placed behind the partitions for the purpose of main-
taining them in their several positions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Philip Tregaskis in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th October 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
PHILIP TREGASKIS, of Perranarworthal, in the County of Cornwall, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord

page_text: 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 Thomas Philip Tregaskis, Her special licence that I, the said
Thomas Philip Tregaskis, my executors, administrators, and assigus, or such
others as I, the said Thomas Philip Tregaskis, 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
Jawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CLEARING, DEEPENING, OR ENLARGING RIVERS OR
CREEKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Philip
Tregaskis, 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 Thomas Philip Tregaskis, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, that is to say :-
I propose in carrying out this Invention to use a series of frames or boxes
-of simple construction such as the following:-Pieces of plank or thin iron
plates, or any other suitable material are to be firmly fastened together, so as
to form (by preference) a triangular frame or box, having two sides of the
same or nearly the same length, and much greater in length than the base or
third side, and one of the long sides of the triangular frame or box is to
project beyond the base or third side. The triangular frame or box is to be
so placed that the lower edges of its three sides may lie on the surface of the
ground, mud, gravel, sand, or on the bed of the river or creek, and the sides
to form as it were vertical (or otherwise as convenient) partitions or walls.
: In order that I may describe the shape or configuration of the aforesaid
triangular frame or box more in detail, and also the manner in which a series
of the said frames or boxes is to be or may be rendered practically useful, I
have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the said Drawings with figures and letters of reference corresponding
with those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
In the annexed Drawing Figure 1 represents the upper edges of a triangular

page_text: frame or box. The two sides a, b, a, c, represent the two sides of the
triangular part of the frame or box, which are longer than the third side b, c,
and c, d, represents the projection of one of the long sides a, c, beyond the base
or third side b, c. The corresponding lower edges of the frame rest on the
ground, mud, gravel, sand, or on the bed of the river or creek, as the case may
require. It will be evident that frames or boxes of any other shape might be
employed, and that a triangular shape is chosen on account of its strength
and easy adaptation. Figure 2 represents the position in which the frames or
boxes are to be or may be placed, and the lines z, y, x, w, represent a river
or channel; v, v, represent mud or other substance to be removed; z, x,
is
some upper part of the river or channel, and y, w, are points further down the
channel. The water is supposed to be flowing down the channel between the
points z, x, towards y, w, and the frames or boxes are (to suit convenience)
put obliquely across the channel. The frame or box a, b, c, d, has in this case
one of its extremities & at or near the x, w, edge of the mud or other substance
to be removed v, v, and the other extremity a is made to rest on the bed of
the channel. The frame e, f, g, h, is placed so that the extremity a of the
frame a, b, c, d, rests within the angle-f, g, h, of the frame e, f, g, h, at 'or
near the point g; and the frame i, j, k, l, is placed so that the extremity è of
the frame e, f, g, h, rests within the angle j, k, l, of the frame i, j, k, l, at or
near the point k. It will be evident that if the frames or boxes are made
sufficiently heavy they will remain in the positions in which they are placed:
But in case they are required of lighter construction they may be fixed or
stayed by any such auxiliary means as may be deemed suitable. If bars or
stakes be found most convenient I suggest that a bar or stake be driven into
the ground at near the apex of the triangular part of each of the frames.
The apex or extremity a of the frame a, b, c, d, would by such an arrangement
perform the part of a bar or stake, and maintain the base of the frame e, f, g, h,
in its proper position, and the extremity e of the frame e, f, g, h, would simi-
larly support the base of the frame i, j, k, l. A continued series of frames or
boxes having been fixed after this manner, obliquely or otherwise, across the
channel, it is evident that the vertical walls or partitions d-a, h-e, l-i, of the
several frames or boxes will intercept the flowing of the water from the upper
part z, a, to the lower part y, w, of the channel, and divert the running stream
into a narrow gut at the point d, where the concentrated force is required.
The mud or other substance v, v, about or near the extremity d of the series
of frames or boxes is to be agitated by spades, rakes, scrapers, or other
suitable apparatus or machinery to enable the water to find its way in the
direction of the arrows shown on the Drawing, and to carry away with it the

page_text: agitated mud or other substance held in mechanical solution by the water.
It will be evident that where the water is in sufficient abundance it may be
concentrated at both sides of a river or creek, or at several places at the same
time, and the frames or boxes may be arranged accordingly.. Figure 3 repre-
sents two series or sets of frames or boxes placed so as to diverge from
a certain point m in a river or creek. Figure 4 represents several
series or sets of frames or boxes placed so as to diverge from certain points
n, n, in a river or creek. Where the river is narrow a less number of
frames or boxes will be required, and in some cases even one will be found
sufficient.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, represent various modifications of the shape of the
frames or boxes, and I would suggest as a further modification of shape that
partitions similar to those portions of the frames or boxes facing the upper or
z, x, part of the river might sometimes be employed, and in such cases they
may be supported in their positions by any suitable means.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, and
also the manner in which it is to be or may be carried into practical effect,
I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention the improved
method of clearing, deepening, or enlarging rivers or creeks, as above
described, and as shown in the Drawings annexed, or any mere modification
or imitation thereof, and especially I claim diverting the running stream in
rivers or creeks by simple contrivances, such as those herein described,
thereby concentrating the force of the water on any particular point or points
wherever required for the purpose of removing mud or other substances which
may be held or caused to be held in mechanical solution by the water.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Philip Tregaskis, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
THOMAS PHILIP TREGASKIS. (LS.)