Improvements in the Method of Constructing Buildings and Works in Alluvial Soils.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Constructing Buildings and Works
in Alluvial Soils.
I GEORGE HENRY LEANE of No. 21 Queen Annes Gate Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My improvements comprise the method I use in making and sinking Docks,
Fortifications and other structures or works in soil of an alluvial character consisting
of silt or other mobile detritus, I make my structure of plates of Iron or other metal,
fastened together or to transverse girders, with rivets or bolts, or I make it of Concrete,
Artificial Stone, natural Stone, brick or other suitable material joined by hydraulic
lime mortar, cement or other plastic material as may be preferred or where
necessary.
Within the Concrete, or Artificial Stone where such is used, I embed a metallic
structure of netting or of trellis work in order to impart tenacity and transverse
strength to the mass. I form the base of the structure either flat or in the form of
an inverted dish with a cutting rim on the prepared surface of the silt or other
detritus in which it is to be sunk and over the site it is intended to occupy and in
it are formed holes or perforations of sizes varying with the nature of the soil upon
which it is intended to superpose the work, which soil I subsequently withdraw by
suction through the holes aforesaid, using for that purpose centrifugal or other
convenient pumping machinery, and when necessary stirrers to break up the material
and render it more fit for withdrawal, in order to facilitate the removal of the silt or
other material from under the structure by pumping thus allowing it to gradually sink
by its own weight, as the sinking proceeds work being added to-Where necessary
I flood the upper surface of the work with water which flowing through some of
the aforesaid holes softens and loosens the silt which is then drawn up through
holes which are in communication with the pumps and thus during the sinking of
the structure I avoid consolidating the material beneath by drawing the water out
of it. In order to reduce the friction of the sides of the structure against the soil
during its descent, I force water through holes left for that purpose, or through
external pipes sunk with the work.
•

page_text: When the work has reached the required depth 1 pump the structure dry and
withdraw as much water as possible to consolidate the bearing strata and
any cavities thus caused below the bottom of the structure I fill up by forcing
concrete or cement through the aforesaid holes therein and I finish the work on
the upper surface with a layer of concrete or cement where necessary.
My invention applies to Docks, Harbours, Structures and Foundations of all
descriptions In some cases it may be found of advantage to completely finish or
nearly finish the structure, before floating it to the required site and then to sink it to
the necessary depth bodily.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Constructing Buildings and Works
in Alluvial Soils.
GEORGE HENRY LEANE, of No. 21 Queen Annes Gate Westminster in the County
of Middlesex Civil Engineer 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 :-
My improvements comprise the methods I use in making and sinking docks,
Fortifications and other structures or works in soil consisting of Silt or other
mobile detritus. I make my structure of plates of iron or other metal fastened together
or to transverse girders, with rivets or bolts, or I make it of concrete, artificial stone,
natural stone, brick or other suitable material joined by hydraulic lime mortar, cement
or other material as may be preferred.
Within the concrete or artificial stone where such is used, I embed a metallic
structure of trellis work or net work in order to impart tenacity and transverse
strength to the mass.- form the base of the structure either flat or in the form of
an inverted dish with a cutting rim on the prepared surface of the silt or other detritus
in which it is to be sunk and over the site it is intended to occupy and in it are
formed holes or perforations of sizes varying with the nature of the soil upon which
it is intended to superpose the work, which soil I subsequently withdraw by suction
or dredging through the holes aforesaid using for that purpose pumping or other
convenient elevating machinery, and where necessary stirrers to break up the material
and render it "more fit for withdrawal, thus allowing it to gradually sink by its own
weight, and as the sinking proceeds the work is being added too.

page_text: Where necessary I flood the upper surface of the work with water which
flowing through some of the aforesaid holes softens and loosens the silt which is then
drawn up through holes which are in communication with the pumps or other
machinery and thus during the sinking of the structure I avoid consolidating the
material beneath. In order to reduce the friction of the sides of the structure against
the soil during its descent, water may be forced through holes left for that purpose, or
through external pipes sunk with the work. When the work has reached the required
depth I pump the structure dry and withdraw as much water as possible to consolidate
the bearing strata, and any cavities thus caused below the bottom of the structure
I fill up by forcing concrete or cement through the aforesaid holes therein and I
finish the work on the upper surface with a layer of concrete or cement where
necessary.
My invention applies to docks, harbours structures and foundations of all descriptions
where laid in soil of an alluvial character.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
That by my process docks or other works may be constructed and sunk, either
entire or in sections with but little preliminary excavation in places where it may
be extremely difficult to do so by any other means and by the insertion of the
metallic netting or trellis work I prevent the disruption of the mass owing to unequal
sinking during construction.
1 1000