AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE AND OTHER TUNNELS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Felix Ernest Martin, Gentleman, and Louis
Gilbert Le Guay, Gentleman, both of Randan, in the Empire of
France, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE
AND OTHER TUNNELS."
Sealed the 4th February 1870, and dated the 12th August 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Felix Ernest
Martin and Louis Gilbert Le Guay at the Office of the Commis-
sioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 12th August 1869.
We, JEAN FELIX ERNEST MARTIN, Gentleman, and LOUIS GILBERT
LE GUAY, Gentleman, both of Randan, in the Empire of France, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED CON-
STRUCTION OF SUBMARINE AND OTHER TUNNELS," to be as follows, that is to
say:-
This Invention has for object the construction under water of a
tunnel constructed with a series of wooden or metal tubes encased
with concrete, and in which the line or way of communication is
made.

page_text: The space between the tubes
The whole thus forms a hollow
To carry out the Invention we lay from shore to shore two parallel
submerged cables; by means of these cables and between them we lower
frames of wood or metal, in the centre of which are placed the tubes
which together are to form the tunnel.
and the frames is filled with concrete.
mass connecting one shore to the other. It is kept firmly fixed by
means of masonry work. The water is exhausted from the tunnel,
which is then ready to receive the line or way. At the lowest parts
vertical tubes are constructed consolidated by conical masonry work to
serve for ventilation and drainage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jean Felix Ernest Martin and Louis Gilbert
Le Guay, in the Great Seal Patent Oflice on the 11th February
1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JEAN
FELIX ERNEST MARTIN, Gentleman, and LOUIS GILBERT LE GUAY,
Gentleman, both of Randan, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Jean Felix Ernest Martin and Louis Gilbert
Le Guay, Her special licence that we, the said Jean Felix Ernest
Martin and Louis Gilbert Le Guay, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Jean Felix Ernest Martin and
Louis Gilbert Le Guay, our 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
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 "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE AND
OTHER TUNNELS." upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Jean Felix Ernest Martin and Louis Gilbert Le Guay, our exe-
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe

page_text: 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 inune-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Jean Felix Ernest Martin and
Louis Gilbert Le Guay, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, reference being had to the Drawings hereto annexed, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say--
This Invention has for object the construction under water of a
tunnel constructed with a series of wood or metal tubes encased with
concrete, and in which a line or way is made for a railway for the
transit of passengers and goods. The tunnel may be laid on the bed
of a river, an arm of the sea, or a strait for connecting the two shores
together, and is adapted as a safe and expeditious means of communi-
cation by railway between France and England. The description herein-
after given applies more especially to this last application.
To make our Invention better understood we will now proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which
Sheet 1 is a general view, shewing the mode of carrying on the work.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, shews the top of the ventilating shaft; Figure 2,
Sheet 2, sectional view of the same; Figure 3, sectional view of the
tunnel and part of the shaft; and, Figure 4, view shewing the mode of
construction of the shaft.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 3, transverse, vertical, and horizontal
sections of the shaft respectively.
To carry out our Invention we propose laying at the bottom of the
channel in the direction to be determined upon by the soundings a
continuous series of uniform wood or metal tubes B large enough for
carrying on the required traffic by means of two parallel submerged
cables A, and when laid down covering them with concrete to a suflicient
thickness to resist the pressure of the water and prevent or render the
infiltration insignificant.
To lower the tubes to the bottom of the sea the two cables A are first
to be stretched parallel to each other from one shore to the other or from

page_text: point at the bottom of the sea to a ship on its surface, and kept at a
distance apart by the frames C, herein-after described. Each length of
tube is placed in the centre of a frame C, closed at its sides only, and
connected together chiefly at the lower part by cross pieces to keep the
sides separate.
Each tube is fixed in the centre of the frame by iron
supports. A given space, which is afterwards filled with concrete, must
be left between the tube and the frame, as shewn.
Each tube provided
The upper part of
with its frame forms a separate portion of tunnel.
each side of the frame is provided with two handles D, to which rings E
are fixed for sliding down the two directing parallel cables so as to allow
each piece or tube to slide between the two cables until it meets the
preceding length of tube and its frame at the bottom of the sea and to
which it will become juxtaposed. Each tube encased in its frame is
provided with two rings F, placed one at the front and the other at the
back of the upper part; to each of these rings is attached an auxiliary
cable M of sufficient length to extend from the surface of the sea to the
bottom. The two directing cables, which are submerged, can be raised
at will for the execution of the work. To submerge a length of tube B
and its frame C they are placed between the two directing cables A,
which are raised for that purpose, and which hold the length suspended
by means of the rings E, adjusted to the four handles D at the corners
of the frame. In this position the length is moved at will either forward
or backward by one or two ships drawing the two auxiliary cables M
fixed to the tube so that each length lowered is placed at the bottom of
the water in continuation of those previously placed, thus increasing in
length as successive tubes are added, and following the direction given
by the two directing cables, as represented in Sheet of the accom-
panying Drawings. This being done it is necessary to fill the space
between each tube, its frame, and the bottom of the sea with concrete D¹,
so that each tube may be encased with concrete to a thickness and
weight sufficient to resist the pressure of the water..
For this purpose
one of the guide cables used in lowering each length of tube and its
frame is provided with a free slipping noose or tackle, to which is
fixed a cord, the other extremity of which is attached to a box J for
lowering the concrete, this cord is of the required length, and will hold
the box near the auxiliary cable at the distance required to keep it
inside the frame. A cable K attached to the handle of the box. serves
for raising and lowering it, another cable attached underneath the box
itself serves to turn it over.

page_text: To prevent the concrete D' being washed away when it is turned out
of the box the latter is provided with an arm which by being extended
will deposit the concrete at the bottom of the frame. This operation
is to be continued until the frame forming a mould is full and the tube
enveloped all round with a covering as equal as possible, and of a
thickness of about nine or ten feet. The tube being finished and
covered with concrete would have an interior circumference of about
seventy-two feet, which will contain a square having sides about sixteen.
feet in length, giving a height and breadth sufficient for the passage of
a locomotive. The four segments of a circle left outside the square
will be utilized for lighting, telegraphy, the permanent way, and for
running off the water, as shewn at Figure 1, Sheet 3, and Figure 3,
Sheet 2.
To protect the block of concrete extending from shore to shore it is
covered with rubble masonry work L, which assuming an inclination of
about forty-five degrees on each side will give to the whole the form of
a triangular prism, the base of which will be double its height; thus the
tunnel would be of great solidity on the muddy bottom, without offering
any resistance to the movement of the water, and allowing the passage
of the trains in the interior tube in perfect security. A uniform tubular
block will have been thus formed offering the resistance of a rock, and
in the execution of which there will be no danger. "The water must
now be emptied from the tunnel and the latter cleared out.
At certain distances apart the tubes employed are furnished with a
bottom or partition firmly fixed, so that the whole tunnel may be divided
into separate compartments, and the clearing out may be successively
effected; thus accidents to the whole of the work which might be
occasioned by local fissures will be avoided. Each bottom or partition
will be furnished with, a valve, which being opened will allow, by running.
off a portion of the water, of ascertaining the state of separation of the
compartment to be emptied. Should a fissure or a break of continuity
occur the valve will be closed, and the position of the escape found out
by watching for the air bubbles produced, and on this defective part
fresh applications of concrete must be made until another trial has proved
that the infiltration has ceased.
As the water will flow into the deepest part of the passage it will be
necessary to erect near this point and in communication with it a blast
ventilating tower or shaft, in the interior of which a basin extending

page_text: downwards will serve as a receiver for the water. At this point where
the receiving basin is placed the bed supporting the tunnel should be
a little raised, care being taken to keep up the incline necessary for the
collection of the water. This shaft will be furnished with a spiral
staircase, in the cage of which will be placed the pipes of the pumps for
pumping out the water, as shewn in Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 2, of the
Drawings.
To erect the tower or shaft for drawing off the water and for venti-
lation, at the bottom of the sea and at the deepest part and downwards
relatively to the tunnel will be placed an iron frame, having two bars
crossing one another at the centre; these bars are furnished at their ends
and in the interior of the frame with rings, to which are fixed four
cables of sufficient length to extend to the surface. By means of these
cables is lowered a section of a series of four tubes placed one inside the
other concentrically and traversed and held by iron axes.
These axes
are furnished with rings, in which the cables are placed so as to insure
the direction of the section, as at Figure 4, Sheet 2. The first of these
tubes in the centre forms the empty nucleus, in which pass the pipes of
the
and by which the ventilation will be kept up. Between the
pumps,
first and second tubes concrete is massed forming a shaft from top to
bottoni. In the space between the second and third tubes the spiral
staircase is placed. Between the third and fourth tubes concrete is
massed forming an upright casing or column from the base to the
summit. The whole is surrounded and consolidated with masonry work
of the form of a truncated cone extending to a height sufficient to
protect it from the waves, as shewn at Figure 1, Sheet 2.
The upper
surface of this cone will receive the accessories of the apparatus for
draining and for ventilation. At the base of this cone, by the means
described for the construction of the tunnel, a mass of concrete pre-
viously formed will allow of erecting the gallery of communication with
the tower. If in the survey previously made depressions are found
masonry or concrete must be thrown down on these places in order to
obtain a bottom that can be levelled by means of iron harrows drawn by
ships. Obstacles may be avoided by means of slight curves. If the
immersion of the lengths of tube be commenced in the middle of the
distance to be crossed the first length will have to be heavily weighted,
or anchors must be applied to each side of the frame to fix the cables
and overcome their tension. During the suspension of the work the

page_text: auxiliary cables being numbered and connected two by two, are submerged
and raised when the work recommences.
The tunnel being formed, it will be of importance to erect at certain
distances iron supports firmly fixed to serve for receiving doors by which
communication could be stopped at any moment, and the water retained
in the damaged compartments which could be easily emptied after
repairs.
And having now described the nature of our Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, what we claim is,
Firstly. The construction of a tubular tunnel consisting of a hollow
block of concrete resting on the bottom of the sea or river and protected
by masonry work, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction of a tunnel by moulding it on lengths of
tube placed in frames and the employment for laying such tubes of
directing cables as herein-before described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Jean Felix Ernest Martin and
Louis Gilbert Le Guay, have hereto set our hands and seals,
this Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy.
J. F. E. MARTIN. (L.S.)
L. G. LE GUAY.
(L.S.)