An Improved System of Constructing Concrete Foundations in Deep Water for Wharves, Docks, Embankments, Sea-walls, Piers, Jetties, Breakwaters, and like Structures, and of Con- structing, Locating, and Bonding Concrete Blocks in other Structures.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
An Improved System of Constructing Concrete Foundations in
Deep Water for Wharves, Docks, Embankments, Sea-walls,
Piers, Jetties, Breakwaters, and like Structures, and of Con-
structing, Locating, and Bonding Concrete Blocks in other
Structures.
I, BEAUMONT HILL JONES, of Rose Glen, New Road, Dartmouth, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved system of constructing concrete foundations
in deep water for wharves, docks, embankments, sea-walls, piers, jetties, breakwaters
and like structures, and of constructing, locating and bonding concrete blocks in
other structures; the main object of the invention being to facilitate the location of
the blocks of concrete in the desired relation to each other, and to bond them
together in both the desired superposed and lateral relations and to stop the joints in
a better and more effective manner than is done at present, and, to this end, the
invention is characterized by the improvements hereinafter described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which;
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, represents an elevation of two superposed concrete blocks formed
and adapted in accordance with the present improvements; Fig. 2 represents a
sectional plan; Fig. 3 represents a sectional elevation on A-B, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 repre-
sents a half plan at bottom of one of the bottom or foundation blocks of Fig. 3;
and Fig. 5 represents a sectional elevation on E-F, Fig. 4;
Figs. 6, to 10, Sheet 2, represent like views to Figs. 1, to 5, respectively, of a
modification;
Figs. 11, to 14, Sheet 3, represent like views to Figs. 1, to 4, respectively, of
another modification; and Fig. 15, represents a half sectional elevation on G-H,
Fig. 12;
Fig. 16, Sheet 4, is a sectional plan, on an elarged scale, illustrating the means
used to facilitate the location of the blocks and to hold them in the desired relation;
Figs. 17, and 18, are sectional plans; and Fig. 19, is a sectional elevation on I-J,
Fig. 18.
Like reference letters indicate like parts wherever repeated on the drawings.
a, represents the concrete blocks, which may be formed of any required size and
shape as most suitable for the particular use to which they are to be applied. The
invention is characterized by providing the blocks, a, during the process of building,
casting or moulding the same, with projecting wrought iron connecting guides, b,
(vide Fig. 16), extending from end to end of each block, and as regards those of
laterally adjacent blocks, being opposite to and adapted to engage with each other

page_text: and to hold such blocks in close connection for being bonded together and
subsequently; and also by the means hereinafter described of bonding the blocks
together.
Each block is also made with recesses or spaces, c, which may serve simply as
bonding recesses, or also either for stopping the vertical and horizontal joints between
the blocks, or for stopping the horizontal joints therebetween; those of each block
being either superficial or external of the block in which event they serve both for
bonding and for stopping the vertical and horizontal joints, or being made through
the block and independent in which event they serve simply for honding, or through
the block and communicating in which event they serve both for bonding and for
stopping the horizontal joints. Each block is also made, at its top and bottom ends
(excepting the bottom or foundation blocks which are only so made at their top ends)
with recesses or spaces, d, serving for stopping the horizontal joints between the
blocks and which may communicate with the recesses, c, at the sides of the block
when the recesses, c, are external, or at the ends thereof when the recesses, c, are
made through the block, or with independent recesses, e, serving for stopping the
vertical joints between the blocks when the recesses, c, are made through the block
and independent. Each block is also made with external recesses or spaces, e for
stopping the vertical joints, when the recesses, c, are not external, and which serve to
connect the recesses, d, when the latter are not connected by the recesses, c. Each
bottom or foundation block is also hollowed out at its bottom, f, to enable a filling,
g, of concrete or other suitable material, by which the blocks, a, are secured together,
to spread itself over the rock or foundation, h, on which the structure is erected and
to accommodate itself to any irregularities thereof and to form a solid base to the
block, while being protected by the encasing block bottom from the wash of the
water.
In Sheet 1, of the drawings, the recesses c are shown of a dove-tailed formation made
externally of the block and opposite each other both laterally and endwise as regards
adjacent blocks, and those, d, at the horizontal joints of the blocks are shown of a
semi-diamond shape. When these blocks are placed in the desired superposed
relation (vide Fig. 3), and located by the connections, b, (vide Fig. 2) they are
bonded or tied together by a filling, g, of concrete or the like emptied into the
recesses, c, and which firstly spreads out into the enlarged bottom recesses, f, of the
foundation blocks and under the edges thereof where not resting on the rock or
foundation, h, spreading thereover and forming a solid bed thereon, and then, as it
rises in the recesses, c, bonding the blocks together and stopping the vertical joints,
and, as it reaches the recesses, d, filling thereinto and stopping the horizontal joints,
and rising as high up as may be required, whereby all said recesses and joints are
filled up and stopped and the whole is bonded together and secured in one solid
mass.
In Sheet 2, the connecting recesses, c, are shown as made through the blocks and
independently of each other and of the horizontal joint recesses, d, which latter are
connected by external vertical-joint recesses, e. When these blocks are placed in the
desired superposed relation and located as aforesaid by the connections, b, they are
bonded together by a filling, g, emptied into the recesses, c, e, and which obtains
access to and fills the recesses, f, from the recesses, c, and to the recesses, d, from the
recesses, e, thereby also stopping both the horizontal and vertical joints.
In Sheet 3, the invention is shown as applied to blocks for forming concrete
cylinders when required for the inspection of the water bottom, the blocks being
shown as made of a hollowed formation at i, the hollow of each bottom block being
expanded at f, in like manner and with the like object as herein before described, and
with recesses, c, at the corner portions of the block which communicate with each
other at the horizontal joints by cross recesses, d, made in the ends of the blocks, and
with independent vertical-joint-stopping recesses, e. When these blocks are placed
and located as aforesaid, they are bonded together by concrete emptied into the
recesses c, e, and which obtains access to the joint-recesses, d, through the recesses, c,
and by concrete emptied through the hollowed parts, i, of the blocks into the expanded

page_text: bases, f, of the bottom blocks, and fills as high up the hollows, i, as may be
required.
Fig. 17, (Sheet 4,) represents a method of connecting two rows, j, k, of foundation
blocks, (the blocks of each of which rows are connected as herein before described
with reference to Sheet 2,) when the intermediate space between such rows is
required to be filled in solid with concrete. In this method, opposite blocks, a, of
the two rows have dove-tailed recesses, c*, nade in their ends and are united by a
connecting block, a*, having recesses, l, adapted to engage with the sides of the
opposite blocks, a, and to leave a space, m, between the end of each recess, l, and
the end of the opposite block, a, and dovetailed recesses, c* *, opposite those, c*,
of the blocks, a, and the whole is secured in a solid mass by a filling of concrete, g*,
emptied into the recesses, c*, c* and spaces, m.
'
In the preceding modifications, the connecting guides, b, by which the blocks are
located, are shown as respectively separate and separately applied to the blocks, but
(vide Figs. 18, and 19,) those of each block may be connected in opposite pairs by
cross tie pieces, b*, hooked thereinto or otherwise suitably connected thereto, or may
be otherwise connected together in any convenient manner, while being moulded so as
to be embedded in the material of the block.
In all of the foregoing cases where extra vertical tie is required beyond that given
by the concrete filling, g, steel or angle iron tie rods, bars or the like of any suitable
configuration (not represented) may be inserted in the recesses, c, serving to receive
the concrete filling, g, so as to be embedded in the material of such filling.
In the application of the improved system to foundations in water, the concrete
blocks are preferably placed in position at a slight inward batter or inclination for
the purpose of causing all the vertical joint parts to tend to lie as close together as
possible before receiving the filling.
The before described improved system of constructing concrete blocks, may also,
with advantage, be applied to the construction of bridges as it will avoid the use of
centreing.
It may further be mentioned that, when necessary for the purpose of forming a
good tie or bond for inside masonry or concrete backing, dove-tailed or other suitably
shaped concrete projections, n, can be cast on or projecting iron tie pieces, n*, can
be built in the blocks, (vide Fig. 2,) while being moulded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein before described improved system of constructing concrete founda-
tions for wharves, docks, embankments, sea-walls, piers, jetties, breakwaters and like
structures, and of constructing other structures, the same consisting in moulding
the blocks with projecting connecting guides, (such as b,) extending from end to end
of each block, and, as regards those of laterally adjacent blocks, being opposite to and
adapted to engage with each other and to hold such blocks in close connection for
being bonded together and subsequently, and in forming the blocks with bonding
recesses (such as e) and with joint stopping recesses (such as d, e,), and the bottom or
foundation blocks with spreading recesses (such as f,) and in bonding all together in
a solid mass and stopping the joints by a filling or fillings of concrete emptied into
the recesses or vertical hollows of the blocks, both with and without metal tie rods,
bars or the like embedded in the filling, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The arrangement and modification herein before described with reference to
Sheet, 1, of the drawings.
3. The arrangement and modification herein before described with reference
to Sheet 2, of the drawings.
4. The arrangement and modification herein before described with reference to
Sheet 3, of the drawings.
5. The method and means of connecting two rows of concrete blocks hereinbefore
described with reference to Fig. 17, of the drawings.

page_text: 6. Moulding concrete blocks for use in constructing concrete structures with pro-
jecting guides (such as b.) extending from end to end of the block and adapted to
engage with those of and to hold laterally adjacent blocks in close connection,
substantially as herein before described with reference to Fig. 16, of the drawings.
7. The arrangement and modification herein before described with reference to 5
Figs. 18, and 19 of the drawings.
C
1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.