IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBULAR STRUCTURES FOR COM- MUNICATION UNDER WATER
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Nathan Maynard, of the Crumlin Viaduct
Works, Crumlin, near Newport, in the County of Monmouth, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBULAR STRUCTURES FOR COM-
MUNICATION UNDER WATER."
Sealed the 14th March 1876, and dated the 13th October 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Nathan
Maynard at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 13th October 1875.
I, HENRY NATHAN MAYNARD, of the Crumlin Viaduct Works,
Crumlin, near Newport, in the County of Monmouth, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBULAR STRUCTURES
FOR COMMUNICATION UNDER WATER," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in constructing tubular structures under water
for railways and other purposes of communication as follows:-I
construct separate lengths of wrought-iron tubes or cylinders, cach
length consisting of an inner shell of sufficient diameter for the passage

page_text: of a railway train or of foot passengers through the same, surrounding
which is an outer shell of such a diameter as to leave an annular space
between it and the inner shell, which space is closed in in a water-tight
manner at the ends of the length of tubular structure by strong plates
connecting the two shells, and the ends of the inner shell are also
temporarily closed by removeable bulkheads. If requisite I further-
more connect the inner and outer shells together by means of one or
more longitudinal webs or bulkheads situated in the annular space at
or near the undermost part thereof. Upon the uppermost part of tho
outer shell at the end or ends thereof I fix a vertical tube communicating
with the said annular space in order to gain access thereto for filling it
in with concrete, brickwork, or other suitable material.
For bringing two or more such lengths of the tubular structure into
the required positions under water and fixing them together end to end
in a water-tight manner for forming the required continuous tubular
structure, I fix in the first instance vertical guide frames in the bed of
the sea, river, or other water at points corresponding with the points of
junction of two lengths of the tubular structure, such guide frames
consisting by preference of screw piles passing through sleeves braced
together and constructed as described in the Specification to Letters
Patent granted to me, bearing date the 30th December 1869, No. 3764.
The one length of tubular structure is then floated into its place between
the guides, the lower portion of its annular space having previously been
filled in sufficiently with concrete or brickwork to sink the tube to a
certain extent into the water. When in its place between the guides
the tube is caused to sink down to the bed of the sea by filling in the
annular space of the tube with concrete or brickwork through the
before-mentioned vertical tubes, which as the tubular structure sinks
are lengthened by fixing on other lengths of tubes. To enable the
length of tubular structure to be sunk with accuracy into the required
position between the guides I sometimes fix at the ends of the outer
shell guide rollers which work against vertical rails or guide flanges
formed or fixed on the guide frames. The one length of tubular
structure having been sunk on to the ground or on to cradles a second
length is floated in like manner between the guide frames, so as when
lowered to have its end surface within a very short distance (say one
inch) from the end surface of the first length, and the accurate juxta-
position of the two meeting end surfaces may be furthermore insured by

page_text: forming horns or slotted projections on the end of the first length,
which horns widen out at their upper ends and serve to receive pro-
jecting studs upon the end of the second length. When the second
length is sunk in position the two lengths are fixed together in a water-
tight manner, firstly, by the insertion of a water-tight packing, such as
india-rubber, between the two end surfaces; and, secondly, by screws
passing through the end surface of the first length and screwing into
corresponding threaded holes in the end surface of the second length, so
that as the screws are screwed up the second length is drawn home
towards the end surface of the first length so as to compress the water-
tight packing between the two end surfaces. The before-mentioned
bulkheads in the ends of the inner tube are then removed, and the
joint between the tubes is made good from the inside cither by caulking
with cement or by covering the joint internally by means of a segmental
shield secured to both inner tubes.
When the entire tubular structure has been completed the upper
parts of the guide frames are removed, as are also the tubes through
which the filling in of the annular space is effected, and the openings in
the outer shell for such tubes are closed.
Instead of using guide frames, as above described, for guiding the
lengths of tube into position, this may be effected by simple guide rods
or chains attached at their lower ends to the length of tube already
submerged, over which guide rods or chains pass eyes attached to the
end of the next length of tube to be sunk.
Also instead of sinking each length of tube separately and bolting
them together under water several lengths may be bolted or rivetted
together while floating in the water and be sunk altogether, and when a
considerable length of the tubing has been thus laid it would possess
sufficient flexibility to allow the outer end thercof to be brought up to
the surface of the water so that the other lengths of tubing might
be consecutively rivetted or bolted to it above water, the tubing being
allowed to sink as its length is increased. In this case the before
described inner tube might be dispensed with, and the brickwork lining
to the outer tube be built up inside from the shore end.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Henry Nathan Maynard in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
NATHAN MAYNARD, of the Crumlin Viaduct Works, Crumlin, near
Newport, in the County of Monmouth, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs
and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Nathan
Maynard, Her special license that I, the said Henry Nathan Maynard,
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henry Nathan Maynard, 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
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 TUBULAR STRUCTURES FOr
COMMUNICATION under Water,” upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Henry Nathan Maynard, 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 Henry Nathan Maynard, 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 thercof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in constructing tubular structures under water
for railways and other purposes of communication as follows:-I con-

page_text: struct separate lengths of wrought-iron tubes or cylinders, each length
consisting of an inner shell of sufficient diameter for the passage of a
railway train or of foot passengers through the same, surrounding which
is an outer shell of such a diameter as to leave an annular space between
it and the inner shell, which space is closed in a water-tight manner at
the ends of the length of tubular structure by strong plates connecting
the two shells, and the ends of the inner shells are also temporarily
closed by removeable bulkheads. If requisite I furthermore connect the
inner and outer shells together by means of one or more longitudinal
webs or bulkheads situated in the annular space at or near the undermost
part thereof. Upon the uppermost part of the outer shell, at the end
or ends thereof, I fix a vertical tube, communicating with the said
annular space in order to gain access thereto for filling it with concrete,
brickwork, or other suitable material.
For bringing two or more such lengths of the tubular structure into
the required positions under water, and fixing them together, end to end,
in a water-tight manner for forming the required continuous tubular
structure, I fix in the first instance vertical guide frames in the bed of
the sea, river, or other water at points corresponding with the points of
junction of two lengths of the tubular structure, such guide frames
consisting by preference of screw piles passing through sleeves braced
together, and constructed as described in the Specification to Letters
Patent granted to me, bearing date the 30th December 1869, No. 3764.
The one length of tubular structure is then floated into its place between
the guides, the lower. portion of its annular space having previously
been filled in sufficiently with concrete or brickwork to sink the tube to
a certain depth into the water. When in its place between the guides
the tube is caused to sink down to the bed of the sea by filling in the
annular space of the tube with concrete or brickwork through the
before-mentioned vertical tubes, which as the tubular structure sinks are
lengthened by fixing on other lengths of tubes. To enable the length
of tubular structure to be sunk with accuracy into the required position
between the guides I sometimes fix at the ends of the outer shell guide
rollers which work against vertical rails or guide flanges formed or
fixed on the guide frames. The one length of the tubular structure
having been sunk on to the ground, or on to cradles, a second length is
floated in like manner between the guide frames, so as when lowered to
have its end surface within a very short distance (say, one inch) from

page_text: the end surface of the first length; and the accurate juxtaposition of the
two meeting end surfaces may be furthermore insured by forming horns
or slotted projections on the end of the first length, which horns widen
out at their upper ends, and serve to receive projecting studs upon the
end of the second length. When the second length is sunk in position
the two lengths are fixed together in a water-tight manner, firstly, by
the insertion of a water-tight packing, such as india-rubber, between the
two end surfaces; and secondly, by screws passing through the end
surface of the first length and screwing into corresponding threaded
holes in the end surface of the second length, so that as the screws are
screwed up the second length is drawn home towards the end surface of
the first length, so as to compress the water-tight packing between the
two end surfaces. The before-mentioned bulkheads in the ends of the
inner tube are then removed, and the joint between the tubes is made
good from the inside, either by caulking with cement, or by means of
covering the joint internally by means of a segmental shield secured to
both inner tubes.

page_text: Fig. 1 represents part of a transverse section of a
course with a tubular structure according to my Invention partly placed
on its bed, and a length of the structure in the act of being lowered to
its place.
Fig. 2 represents to an enlarged scale a part transverse section of the
tubular structure as it rests on its cradle with the guide frames for
lowering the successive lengths of tube to their respective positions,
Fig. 3 being a part side view, and Fig. 4 a part plan of the tubular
structure at the junction of two of its adjoining lengths.
The tubular structure is made in separate lengths A, A, of wrought-
iron tubes or cylinders, having an inner shell a of sufficient diameter for
the passage of a railway train or of other vehicles or foot passengers, as
the case may be, and an outer shell 6 of such diameter as to leave
between it and the inner shell an annular space D to be filled with
brickwork, masonry, or concrete.
The ends of the annular space of each length of tube are closed
tightly by strong plates c connecting the inner and outer shells, as
shewn in Fig. 5, which is a part longitudinal section to an enlarged
scale of the ends of the annular spaces B in two adjoining lengths of tube
at their junction, shewing the mode of securing these lengths together
after they have been laid in position. The inner and outer shells are
also throughout their length, or at various parts of their length, con-
nected together by longitudinal webs or diagonal tics; the latter mode
5 of connecting them is shewn by the lines d in Fig. 2.
0
Near to the end of each length of tube on its upper side is fixed a
vertical pipe or funnel C giving access to the annular space B, the said
vertical tube being carried sufficiently high to have its mouth above the
surface of the water.
For the purpose of laying and joining the successive lengths of tube
I first fix in the bed of the channel or watercourse vertical guide
These
frames E at intervals corresponding to the lengths of tube.
guide frames are formed of screw piles passing through sleeves or
tubular pieces braced together so as to form a latticework, such as has
Ď sometimes been employed in constructing piers for viaducts.
The

page_text: lower parts of the guide frames may have attached to them cradles, as
shewn at F, at the desired level for the reception of the lengths of tube,
one length of tube having partitions or bulkheads temporarily fixed at
its ends to close them tightly against access of water, and having the
lower portion of its annular casing B filled in with brickwork or concrete
forming ballast sufficient to sink the tube to a certain extent in the
water, is floated to its place between two pairs of the guide frames E,
and is then sunk farther by the introduction of additional concrete or
brickwork through the vertical pipe C, which are lengthened upwards,
so that as the tube sinks their mouths are always kept above water.
The tubular length may be guided in the descent by rollers G upon it
running along rails or straight paths formed on the frames E. When
one length has thus been sunk into its place upon the bed or on its
cradles another length is in like manner floated into position and sunk
so that its end comes very close to the end of the length previously
sunk. At the end of the one length there is provided a ring b¹ of soft
or yielding packing material, such as caoutchouc, and a number of
screws are inserted before submersion through holes provided with cup
leathers drilled near the other edge of the annular space. At the end
of the other length there are corresponding holes tapped with a serew
thread and coned at the mouth, but these holes do not pass quite
through the end plate, but terminate in pockets i. When the second
length has taken its position close up to the first length workmen
entering the annular space B push forward the screws h, which are
guided by the conical mouths of the holes facing them so as to enter the
screwed parts of these holes, and then by screwing them up the
packing is compressed so as to form a temporary water-tight joint
at the junction of the two lengths. The workmen then drill other
holes in the plates c and insert and tighten bolts and nuts by which
the two lengths of tube are firmly secured together. After this the
workmen fill in completely the brickwork or concrete in the annular
spaces, and then all the upper portion of the guide frames E and the
vertical pipes C can be removed. And also workmen inside the inner
casing remove the partitions K and further close the junction of the
tube lengths by caulking between the end plates c or covering the
crevice between them by an internal lining.
In some cases the guide frames E may be dispensed with, the suc-

page_text: I will describe referring to Fig. 1, and to the enlarged views, Fig. 6,
which is a transverse section, Fig. 7 a part plan, and Fig. 8 a part side
view of the ends of two tube lengths at these junctions.
One of the lengths A' having been lowered to its place without the
use of the guide frames E has near its end saddle pieces M, to which
are attached two chains or rods m extending upwards to reach above
the surface of the water. The next length of tube A² has at its end
two projecting horns N, having eyes, through which are passed the
chains or rods m which serve to guide this next length of tube as it is
lowered, the saddle pieces M receiving the horns N, which settling in
their hollows bring the two tube ends into correspondence. The fixing
of the ends together is then proceeded with, as already described.
The tube lengths as they are laid and jointed together may be securely
stayed in position by screw piles P passed from the interior in an oblique
direction through holes provided with stuffing boxes, which holes can be
cased over internally after the piles are screwed fully out.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I claim,—
First. The method of laying tubular structures under water by floating
out lengths or sections thereof into position, and then sinking them by
the introduction of brickwork or other material into an annular space
between an inner and outer shell of the tubular structure, access being
gained to such annular space through vertical tubes that are extended
in length as the tubular structure sinks, substantially as herein
5 described.
Second. The method of guiding the tubular sections as they sink into
proper position by means of guide frames on the bed of the waterway,
substantially as herein described.
Third. The method of guiding the tubular sections as they sink into
0 proper position by attaching to the section previously sunk guide chains
or rods, along which slide eyes connected to the section to be sunk,
substantially as herein described.
Fourth. Providing the one tubular section with saddle pieces at its
end for the reception of projecting fingers on the meeting end of the
5 next section, substantially as and for the purposes described.

page_text: Fifth. The method of joining together two tubular sections under
water by introducing from the annular space of the section already laid
screw bolts into trumpet-mouthed holes in the next section, such holes
being closed against the ingress of water on the inside, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Nathan Maynard, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
HENRY NATHAN MAYNARD. (L.S.)