IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIERS, JETTIES, DOCKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
** IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIERS, JETTIES, DOCKS, AND OTHER
SIMILAR STRUCTURES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
"A com-
munication from abroad by Charles Richard, of 17, Boulevart
Saint Martin, Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th September 1870.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIERS, JETTIES, DOCKS,
AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," com-
municated to me from abroad by Charles Richard, of 17, Boulevart
Saint Martin, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
دو
According to this Invention piers, jetties, docks, and other similar
structures are constructed of beton or French plastic concrete held in

page_text: and protected by caissons which are best made of galvanized sheet iron
or iron plate, and which are placed and fitted, connected or hooked
together one in front of the other, and reach up to or above high
water level. Between each caisson and the next one is a partition which
forms one side of the caisson and carries angle pieces for connecting the
caissons together. S shaped or such-like clamps or binders on or in the
partition fasten the beton of every two adjoining caissons together. The
sides of the whole structure are held together by cross stays and struts,
which may be fixed by nuts at one end and carry mooring rings at the
other. The caissons_are_conveyed_on_trucks running on a railway to
the beton cylinders, and are filled with beton, and then moved on to the
crabs or lowering machine, and then submerged one before the other, the
angle pieces acting as guides.
An improved caisson is made with hinged doors opened by a lever or
rod worked by pulling a chain and working the forked bolts which
engage studs or catches on the doors, and these are opened together by
means of a cranked axle connected with the lever or rod. A bed or
layer may be laid at the bottom of the caissons by filling canvas bags
with beton and submerging them. The moisture may run off from the
caissons through holes therein.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th March 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the
said Michael Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Michael Henry, 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

page_text: "
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 PIERS,
JETTIES, DOCKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Charles Richard,
of 17, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Michael Henry, 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 Michael Henry, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, as communicated to me, that is to
say:―
According to this Invention piers, jetties, docks, and other similar
structures are constructed of "beton" (the name usually applied to French
plastic concrete) held in and protected by caissons which are best made
of galvanized sheet iron or iron plate, and which are placed and fitted,
connected or hooked together one in front of the other, and which reach
up to or above high water level. Between each caisson and the next
one is a partition which forms one side of the caisson and carries angle
pieces for connecting the caissons together. S shaped or such-like clamps
or binders on or in the partition fasten the beton of every two adjoining
caissons together. The sides of the whole structure are held together by
cross stays and struts, which may be fixed by nuts at one end and carry
mooring rings at the other. The caissons are conveyed on trucks
running on a railway to the beton holders or cylinders, and are filled
with beton, and then moved on to the cranes or lowering machines,
and then submerged one before the other, the angle pieces acting as
guides.
An improved caisson for the purposes of this Invention is made with
hinged doors opened by a lever or rod worked by pulling a chain" and
actuating two forked bolts which engage studs or catches on the doors,
which are opened simultaneously by means of a crank on the lever or

page_text: filling canvas bags with beton and submerging them. The milk-like
calcareous moisture of the beton may run off from the caissons through
holes therein.
I now proceed to describe in what manner the Invention may be
carried into effect, illustrating it for instance applied to a pier, though it
may be applied in similar manner to other structures.
The caissons are made of galvanized sheet iron, one is placed in front
of the other, and so on till the required length and form of pier or
structure are obtained. The caissons reach to high water mark. Each
caisson is separated from the next by a partition which forms the fourth
side of the caisson to be submerged, and also receives angle ties which
connect the caissons together. S shaped clanips are placed in these
partitions to bind the beton in the caissons together and strengthen the
whole. The inner and outer sides of the structure below the sea level
are held together by stays and by cross struts which are fixed in place
by nuts on the outer side or wall of the pier, and they have mooring:
rings fastened to them on the inner side or wall. The platform which
holds the beton on the top of the pier is removed each time a fresh
caisson is to be lowered in place and moved forward. Satisfactory
dimensions or proportions for the base of piers in many cases are 30 feet
at the inner or land end and 40 feet at the outer end or pier head, 24 feet
breadth at top, height for deep water 60 feet, and 21 feet above water
mark including the parapet. When a caisson has been floated in front
of the preceding full caisson it will sink to a certain depth by its own
weight and will consequently be closed water-tight at bottom, and
the water can only penetrate by the angle ties, which also serve as
guideways to guide the caissons in their descent. The caissons should
project about from 4 feet to 6 feet above high water mark. This will
prevent any
disturbance inside the caisson and the beton will be sunk
in still water and no upward pressure need be apprehended. To prevent
the bottom layers of beton from being crushed down by the superin-
cumbent weight of the upper masses of beton it is best to make the
bottom (or first laid) layers of beton having more active qualities than
that used for the upper mass.
A railway with up and down line is laid down from the workshops
where the parts of the pier are being made to the pier in course of con
struction. Wagons carrying the caissons run on these rails, and are

page_text: brought under the cylinders or vessels containing beton, which is then
introduced into the caisson. Each caisson is filled up to about 15 feet
of its height, the charged caissons are then run under two̟ cranes, moved
gradually forward on the rails to the end of each section of the pier as
constructed, that is to say, as soon as one block or caisson is laid down
the cranes are run to the outer edge ready for the next. By means of
these cranes the caissons charged with the beton are lowered into place,
cach caisson in front of the one lowered previously. The caisson is made
of galvanized sheet iron strengthened by angle pieces which serve as
guideways for each caisson as it is lowered into place.
The improved caisson has hinged shutters or doors on the outer side,
which are opened by a lever or rod having at one end a chain which is
pulled by the attendant so as to work the lever or rod and open the
shutters. The lever moves two forked bolts which clutch studs fixed to
the shutters. In order that both bolts may work together the lever
is connected with a spindle which has a crank at one end to move the
other bolt. The caisson is easily guided and controlled in its descent by
an attendant who stands by a break ready to apply it when necessary.
Four men stand at the winch handles and have just to give a slight lift
at the beginning to clear the detent from the ratchet wheel. The
caisson is then allowed to descend gently until it touches the bottom or
bed on which it is to rest. When the caisson has to be lifted out of the
water for purposes of repair it is raised about 7 or 8 inches to allow of
the doors being opened so as to eject the beton, and the empty caisson is
then drawn up.
Special care should be taken to prevent the beton from becoming
diluted or liquefied and to guard against the milky calcareous moisture
which will be formed even in the most carefully arranged constructions.
One mode of getting rid of this liquid is by making holes in the caissons
for it to run off as the beton descends, the beton being run in with an
inclination towards these holes. Or pumps made according to Testu's
Invention may be used to express the liquid. The pressure of the water
will drive the liquid through the holes. ⚫
The improved mode of construction herein described may be applied
with special advantage to the construction of floating docks.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-

page_text: First. The construction of piers, jetties, docks, and other similar
structures, substantially as described.
Second. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting
the improved caisson employed in such construction, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of March, in the year One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
E. EDMONDS,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)