IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF HYDRAULIC POWER FOR DREDGING PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF HYDRAULIC POWER FOR
DREDGING PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR" A communication from
abroad by William Henry Newton, of Chicago, Illinois, United States of
America.
Scaled the 28th October 1876, and dated the 29th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lako at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th April 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE APPLICATION
OF HYDRAULIC POWER FOR DREDGING PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR."
A communication.
The principle involved in this Invention is the combined action of two or more
hydraulic currents to excavate and dredge simultaneously, excavating by jets of
water discharged under high pressure through suitable nozzles against and under-
neath the face of the material or deposit to be removed. The jet is used exclusively
to excavate and float the material, undermining it by excavating, and disintegrating
the mass through the impact and force of the discharging jet directly with the
deposit, floating and temporarily suspending the excavated material in the sur-
rounding volume of water by the reaction of the currents produced by the
discharging jets simultaneously, sucking into the mouth of a suction or vacuum
pump pipe the whole volume of suspended material, elevating it within the action
of the force pump to give the whole volume the required velocity to dischargo it
through pipes at any desired height or distance. By giving the jet a rotary motion
around its own axis increased efficiency is obtained. A transverse and longitudinal
movement is imparted to the traversing dredge on the surface of still water, or to
the submerged dredge on the bottom in places where violent or rapid oscillations
of the surface prevent the operation of the traversing dredge.
The mouth piece of the suction pipe for the surface traversing dredge is made
roversible, combining with its action a reversible discharging jet, thereby securing
uniform action of the excavating jets in advance of the mouth of the suction
pipe. The velocity of the excavating jets will depend upon the character of the
material to be excavated, and is entirely practicable up to two hundred and fifty
[Price 6d]

page_text: feet per second. The minimum velocity of the volume through the suction pump
is about thirty-two feet per second. By using the vacuum pump masses sixteen to
eighteen inches in diameter will readily pass the pump, and by applying the
suction and excavating pipes directly to the removal of surrounding disintegrable
material large boulders may be sunk below the required depth of the channel.
to the speed of excavating much depends on the consistency of the material
operated on.
As
The mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing results comprises a suitable hull,
a boiler of proper capacity, centrifugal pump and engine attached, or a vacuum
pump supply and discharge pipes for pump, a force pump for excavating by jet
discharges, and steam engine to operate the pump independently. Also capstans
and cables for controlling the position of the hull, a shield attached to and sur-
rounding the suction dredge pipe near the top of the material to be dredged of
such area that by its resistance to sudden vertical movements the effect of the
wave or other violent motion is obviated and the plane of dredging is uniform.
The submerged induction pipe may be curved and extend over the hull at any
placo by being provided with suitable sleeve joints, and the distance which its
mouth shall extend below the surface may be controlled by any suitable elevating
apparatus; but I prefer to place said pipe between the cylinders of a vacuum pump,
and make it in two or more parts, telescopic in form, and to hang it vertically and
elevate one or more of these parts by any suitable apparatus, or lower them to
reach the bed to be excavated, suitable appliances being used to prevent the
oscillation of the pipe if desired. The dredge is placed over the point and on the
line of the material to be removed and parallel to it, in which position it is properly
anchored. The suction dredge pipe is then lowered to the deposit to be removed.
The jet pipe is to be put in operation simultaneously with the suction pipe, and
the suspended material will be elevated, and it may be conveyed into a scow or
other desired place.
In a modification of this Invention I employ a submerged hull or traversing
dredge, the hull is arranged by means of a water compartment to be sunk to the
water bed, and will there perform (by means of my improved mechanism and
appliances) the same function as when the hull floats upon the water. Air pipes
and smoke pipes attached to the hull project above the surface of the water, so
that men may work on the hull without inconvenience and smoke or steam inay
freely escape. The hull is sunk by admitting water into the aforesaid compartment
by a suitable gate or valve, and it is removed from the said compartment by means
of the pump which throws the jet of water, or the vacuum may be used for this
purpose.
.
An important feature in the submerged dredge consists in air chambers
with communicating pipes, whereby by means of a suitable pump I am enabled to
convey compressed air from one part of the hull to another part and elevate any
part of the hull desired to bring the excavating and dredging pipes properly to the
material to be removed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th October
1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE APPLICATION
OF HYDRAULIC POWER FOR DREDGING PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR."
A communication from abroad by William Henry Newton, of Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America.
The principle involved in this Invention is the combined action of two or more
hydraulic currents to excavate and dredge simultaneously, excavating by jets of
water discharged under high pressure through suitable nozzles against and under-

page_text: neath the face of the material or deposit to be removed. Tho jet is used exclusively
to excavate and float the material, undermining it by excavating and disentegrating
the mass through the impact and force of the discharging jet directly with the
deposit floating, and temporarily suspending the excavated material in the
surrounding volume of water by the reaction of the currents produced by the dis-
charging jets simultaneously sucking into the mouth of a suction or vacuum pump
pipe the wholo volume of suspended material, clevating it within the action of the
force pump to give the whole volume the required velocity to discharge it through
pipes at any desired height or distance. By giving the jet a rotary motion around
its own axis increased efficiency is obtained. A tinusverse and longitudinal move-
ment is imparted to the traversing dredgo on the surface of still water, or to the
submerged dredge on the bottom in places where violent or rapid oscillations of
the surface prevent the operation of the traversing dredge.
The mouth piece of the suction pipe for the surface traversing dredge is made
reversible, combining with its action a reversible discharging jet, thereby securing
uniform action of the excavating jets in advance of the mouth of the suction pipe.
The velocity of the excavating jet's discharge will depend upon the character of
the material to be excavated, and is entirely practicable up to two hundred and
fifty feet per second. The minimum velocity of the volume through the suction
pump is about thirty-two feet per second. By using the vacuum pump masses
sixteen to eighteen inches in diameter will readily pass the pump, and by applying
the suction and excavating pipes directly to the removal of surrounding disintegrable
material large boulders may be sunk below the required depth of the channel.
As to the speed of excavating much depends on the consistency of the material
operated on.
The mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing results comprises a suitable
hull, a boiler of proper capacity, a centrifugal pump and engine attached, or a
vacuum pump, supply and discharge pipes for pump, a force pump for excavating
by jet discharges, and a steam engino to operate the pump independently. Also
capstans and cables for controlling the position of the hull, a shield attached to
and surrounding the suction dredge pipe near the top of the material to be
dredged of such area that by its resistance to sudden vertical movements the effect of
the wave or other violent motion is obviated, and the plane of dredging is uniform.
The submerged induction pipe may be curved and extend over the hull at any
place by being provided with suitable sleeve joints, and the distance which its
mouth sball extend below the surface may be controlled by any suitable elevating
apparatus; but I prefer to place said pipe between the cylinders of a vacuum pump,
and make it in two or more parts telescopic in form, and to hang it vertically and
clevate one or more of these parts by any suitable apparatus or lower them to reach
the bed to be excavated, suitable appliances being used to prevent the oscillation of
the pipe if desired. The dredge is placed over the point and on the line of tho
material to be removed and parallel to it, in which position it is properly anchored.
The suction dredge pipo is then lowered to the deposit to be removed. The jet
pipe is to be put in operation simultaneously with the suction pipe, and the sus-
pended material will be elevated, and it may bo conveyed into a scow or other
desired place.
In a modification of this Invention may employ a submerged hull or traversing
dredge, the hull is arranged by means of a water compartment to be sunk to the
water bed, and will thero perform (by means of my improved mechanism and
appliances) the same function as when the hull floats upon the water. Air pipes
and smoke pipes attached to the hull project above the surface of the water, so that
men may work on the hull without inconvenienco and smoke or steam may freely
escape. The hull is sunk by admitting water into the aforesaid compartment by
a suitable gate or valve, and it is removed from the said compartment by means of
tho pump which throws the jet of water, or the vacuum may be used for this
purpose.
An important feature in the submerged dredge consists in air chambers

page_text: with communicating pipes whereby by means of a suitable pump I am enabled to
convey compressed air from one part of the hull to another part and elevate any
part of the hull desired to bring the excavating and dredging pipes properly to the
material to be removed.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shown machinery or apparatus employed
in practising my Invention.
Figure 1 is a side clevation of my improved apparatus taken transversely to a
boat or scow. Figure 2 is a top view or plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan of one balance valve, and its shaft drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 4 is a plan of the cylinder for enclosing the balance valve removed from
its case.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved apparatus showing
a transverse section of a boat or scow with the valves removed.
Figure 6 is a plan of the valve cylinder drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of one balance valve in its cylinder, showing
also the exterior case also drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of the force pipe nozzle drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 9 is a transverse section of the telescopic suction pipe shewn in Figure 5.
Figure 10 is a view of one of the rubber ring rollers.
Figure 11 is a transverse section on the line Z, Z, of Figure 7.
Figure 12 an elevation of the elliptical spring.
Figure 13 is a vertical section of an apparatus equivalent to the valve device
shewn in Figure 5.
Figure 14 shews the suction pipe provided with a reversible hood and ejection
pipes.
A represents the cylinders of a vacuum pump which are provided with check valves
K, K, Figure 5, placed on the inner inclined ends of horizontal sleeve pipes J, which
communicate with the cylinders and with a suction pipe N, c. The discharge pipes
at the bottom of the cylinders are shown at a, a, and they communicate with a valve
box d, in which the valves are hung to close the ends of the pipes a, as indicated by
dotted lines 9, Figure 2. The discharge pipe leading from valve box d is made
flexible by joints, as shown in Figure 2, or otherwise, so as to convey the material
excavated to any place desired.
The balance valves consist of two hollow cylinders 10 arranged to turn in stationary
cylinders I. On the periphery of these cylinders are formed ribs, 1, 3, 4, 5, between
which are countersunk spaces 2, Figures 4, 6, 7, 11, and there are near their ends
annular chambers 7, 8, for the passage of steam from the balance valve in one cylinder
and the passage of water in the other. Each cylinder 1 has four ports n, and each
balance valve 10 has two ports 6, and the cylinders I have each a port for the
induction of steam or water, and in the ends of cylinders 10 are ports 15 that steam
or water may pass through to the ends of cylinders I and balance them, as shown
in Figures 7 and 11, and to admit water or steam to the interior of the valves.
The operation of the valve 10 and the cylinders I is such that the two ports G
are brought opposite to two of the four ports n in the cylinder I to make a discharge,
there being four discharges at each revolution of the valve 10.
The object of the recesses 2, channels 7 and S, and ribs 1, 3, 4, 5, on cylinders I,
is to direct the discharge of the ports n alternately into one or the other of the vacuum
cylinders A, as the case may require, to attain a perfect vacuum by an alternate jet
of steam and water into the cylinders.
B represents a water pipe communicating with one cylinder A and with one valve
10, the water pipe for communicating with the other valve and cylinder being shewn
at B, the steam pipes communicating with the cylinders and valves being shewn at
C, C¹.
The cylinders I are enclosed in steam-tight cases e, e, which are coupled together
at 12, Figure 2. The valves 10 are fast to shaft y, and to the latter are fixed gear

page_text: A
wheels F, F, which mesh into each other. A lever G is fitted to turn on the shaft g,
and to it is pivoted a dog H with projecting ends to engage the gear wheel F¹.
rod W connects the lever G with an elbow lever V, which is pivoted to a bridge U
fastened to the sleeves J. The lower end of this lever is connected to the piston rod
of a force pump X so as to have an oscillating motion, by means of which the lever
G is made to oscillate and carry the dog H to turn the gear wheel F' and thus
rotate the valves 10, to take and dischargo water or steam as may bo required.
The lever W is adjustable on lever V by a sleeve and set screw D', Figure 1,
so that the length of time for opening the ports n, 6, may be controlled by the
operator.
By changing the relative position of the cogs of one gear wheel on the other the
time for producing a vacuum may be varied.
The water pipe 14 for condensing purposes communicates with the force pump X
and valve 10 by means of a port i, Figure 6. The steam pipe E comes from the
boiler and communicates with the other valvo 10 by means of a port similar to the
port i. The volume of condensing water may be varied by the pressure in pump X,
and the volume of steam in the cylinders may be controlled by a globe valve or other
well-known means.
The suction pipe consists of a double elbow L, M, Figures 1 and 5, arranged to
rotate in sleeve J. The smaller part N of the suction pipe is inserted in the sleeve
part M of this elbow and extends into a larger telescopic pipe C, and between the
two pipes are placed one or more rubber ring rollers O to make an air-tight connection,
obviate friction, and prevent wear from sediment.
Projecting out from the sleeve M and from the larger pipe care arms a¹, b¹, on
which are placed elliptical springs c', c', which allow section c to move freely on
section N, and the pipe c to accommodate itself to the different depths of water,
to the oscillation of the surface of water, and to the rocking of the boat.
R, Q, represent ejection pipes which take their water from the force pump X to
disintegrate the earth. The nozzle is provided with a central helical twisted plate
T, Figure 8, to give the water a rotary motion around its own axis to disintegrate
the earth.
The apparatus can be applied to the bow of a river or channel boat, and the
cjecting pipes may be operated by the boiler supply engine, and the vacuum pumps
operated by steam from the boiler so as to remove sand bars which would otherwise
obstruct navigation. In such case the ejection and suction pipes would hang over
the rail of a boat instead of passing through a well hole.
As an equivalent for the valves 10 and cylinders I the devices shewn in Figure
13 may be attached to the cylinders A, and in their ends may be fitted a double
piston 26 carrying an arm 23 which operates a valve 25 (in a steam chest 22) with
two ports communicating with pipes 24, so as to alternately open the ports to admit
steam to the cylinders A to produce a vacuum automatically, the arm 23 having a
reciprocating movement given to it by piston 26, a pipe 21 communicating with a
steam boiler and the steam chest 22 provides means for conducting steam to the
vacuum pumps.
For many earths a guido is required, and to this end I employ a double ended
scoop-shaped hood 27, which is jointed to the opposite sides of the pipe c, as shown
in Figure 14. To this hood, attached on either side, is an arm 29, the upper end
of which is pivoted to sleeves 32, an ejection pipe 28 is also arranged on both sides
of the pipes c and hood 27, and is jointed to the pipes 14.
A bar 30 is rigidly secured to the pipe c, and through its ends runs a cable or rope
33 to which is attached the upper ends of the arms 29 so that by drawing on the
cable the position of the hood 27 and pipes 28 may be reversed and thrown to the
opposite side of the pipe c for clovating earth from another direction, as shown
by dotted lines 31, Figure 14. Theso devices I consider important and very material
in excavating.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my

page_text: foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim―
First. The action of hydraulic jets through one or more nozzles combined with
the action of a suction vacuum or centrifugal pump for excavating, disintegrating,
floating, and temporarily suspending the deposit or material to be dredged at any
required depth, by pressing against the face of the material to be dredged, under-
mining it, then floating the excavated material to the mouth piece of the said
vacuum or centrifugal pump, whereby the whole volume of suspended material is
elevated to the chamber of a lifting or force pump which discharges it through pipes
as above set forth.
Second. A transverse longitudinal or circular movement of the dredge boat
produced by the means above set forth for the purpose specified.
Third. Pressing the nozzle of the hydraulic jets and the mouth piece of the suction
pipe (either separately or in combination) continuously against the face of the
material to be excavated as fast as the material is removed by the suction pipe by a
simultaneous movement of the dredge boat, thereby preventing a current into the
suction pipe that does not convey excavated material as above set forth.
Fourth. The simultaneous change of direction of the excavating jets discharge
and suction pipe inouth to correspond with the change of direction in the movement
of the dredge boat, thereby securing a continuous excavating and dredging whether
the boat be standing or moving as above set forth.
Fifth. The simultaneous operation and controlling of the reversible excavating
jet discharge and the mouth piece of the suction pipe from the deck of the dredge
boat as above set forth.
Sixth. Rotating the excavating jet around its own axis by means of a helical
plate passing through the axis of the contracted vein in the nozzle as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Seventh. Traversing the dredge boat by means of the action of the suction pipe,
as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The combination in a dredging apparatus of the vacuum pump with the
force pump and valves and cylinders as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The suction pipe provided with sleeves or sleeve joints to operate between
the vacuum pumps, and with its sections provided with springs and with the rubber
ring rollers as above described and for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. The ejection pipe nozzles for dredging in combination with the helical a
plate as above set forth."
Eleventh. The reversible nozzle and hood combined with operating attachments
as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Twelfth. The combination of the vacuum pumps, force pump, valves, cylinders,
sleeves, suction pipe, connecting rod, elbow lever, and elbow, as above described and 4
for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, J, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. ROB. LAKE. (LS.)