IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SAND BARS AND OTHER SUBMARINE OBSTRUCTIONS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ROY STONE of the City and State of New York United States of America,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRAULIC APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SAND BARS AND OTHER SUBMARINE
OBSTRUCTIONS" to be as follows:-
Bars in rivers and harbors are sometimes formed by freshets and high tides, and
become so hard and compact that the ordinary current does not wash them away:
In most cases, however, the current is sufficient to carry away the sand or other
material if loosened up, and to deposit the same in deep water, or in other places
where the current runs less rapidly.
Devices have been proposed for stirring up sand bars and similar obstructions,
but they are liable to become entangled in snags and not to cut the channel to a
uniform depth.
I make use of a submarine plough composed of one or more jet pipes at the
lower end of an inclined drag that is moved along gradually and will rise as it
passes over an obstruction. Water is forced through the jet pipes and cuts away
the sand, and produces a current of water that conveys the sand into the main
current or stream so that it is washed away: and I use downwardly or horizontal
jets to ensure uniformity in the depth of the cut and to prevent the excavating
apparatus rising on the sand as it is moved along over the bar.
This apparatus is to be placed upon a vessel or scow and drawn or propelled
across the sand bar, flat or other obstruction to be removed. The furrowing of
the surface by the action of the jets of water is continued until the tide or current
has conveyed away the materials that are thrown up into it by the jets, and the
required depth is obtained.
The vessel is to be provided with the necessary engine and pumps for forcing a
powerful current of water through the pipe or hose leading to the excavating
apparatus.
The submarine ploughing device is hollow, so that the water from the pipe or
hose passes through the same, and there are one or more jet tubes that point
upwardly at an angle of about 45° and diverge laterally, and there is a web of
metal that occupies a forward inclined position and serves as a fender to cause the

page_text: plough to rise and pass over any ordinary obstruction, such as a stone or snag as
the vessel and apparatus are moved along in the direction of the current.
The water pipe is preferable of metal and provided with a swivel joint at the
upper end, but the plough may be at the end of inclined drag bars or beams and
the water supplied by flexible pipes.
Where a metallic joint is used it is preferable to employ a horizontal pipe to the
end of which the quarter circle elbow is screwed, and to this elbow a short pipe is
fastened, and at the lower end there is a screw thread receiving the bend at the
upper end of the water pipe.
When in use the excavating apparatus may rise or fall as it will swing upon the
end of the horizontal pipe and the parts may also turn upon the screw threaded
end of the pipe so that the tube and plough may swing around to an angle to the
vessel instead of being in line with the same; this will prevent the tube becoming
bent or injured.
A V-shaped shield fastened upon the front edge of the water pipe lessens the
resistance or action of the water as the pipe is moved along through the same.
There is a chain for raising and lowering the excavating apparatus. This chain
is connected at one end to the water pipe and the other end passes to any suitable
hoisting drum.
A jet opening or tube is provided and it is preferably between the other two jet
tubes and supplied with water from a branch pipe that passes from the main water
pipe down the front edge of the plough. The jet may issue horizontally or at a
downward inclination and project from the lowest part of the water tube or be
supplied by the branch tube as desired. The end of the horizontal nozzle should
be slightly to the rear of the front edge of the web.
When in use the water issuing from the jet tubes at an upward inclination cuts
away the sand bar or similar obstruction and also sets up an induced circulation in
the water and the earthy matters are carried up into the stream or current of the
river or harbor, and taken away thereby into deeper water, or to places where the
current is not so rapid and where portions of such earthy matters subside.
The other jets loosen the earth in a downward or horizontal direction and ensure
uniformity of depth.
If this apparatus is placed upon a suitable vessel and kept in active operation
the vessel may be permitted to float down stream with the current as the action of
the loosening jets is so very rapid that they will usually plough up the channel as
rapidly as the boat is moving.
Where the bottom is a muddy deposit the jets may be projected more nearly
horizontally and diverge at both sides.
There may be a beam or frame and its plough and jet tubes at each side of the
vessel.
I usually prefer to make use of the branch or divided pipe in the plough, one
tube going down nearly vertical to the lower jet; the other terminating in a curve
behind the other two jets so as to supply the water to them with uniformity.
Dated this Eighth day of April 1884.

page_text: I, ROY STONE of the City and State of New York, United States of America,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRAULIC APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SAND BARS AND OTHER SUBMARINE
OBSTRUCTIONS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
Bars in rivers and harbors are sometimes formed by freshets and high tides and
become so hard and compact that the ordinary current does not wash them away.-
In most cases, however, the current is sufficient to carry away the sand or other
material if loosened up, and to deposit the same in deep water or in other places
where the current runs less rapidly.
Devices have been proposed for stirring up sand bars and similar obstructions
but they are liable to become entangled in snags and not to cut the channel to a
uniform depth.
I make use of a submarine plow composed of one or more jet pipes at the lower
end of an inclined drag that is moved along gradually and will rise as it passes over
an obstruction.
Water is forced through the jet pipes and cuts away the sand and produces
a current of water that conveys the sand into the main current or stream so that
it is washed away; and I use downwardly or horizontal jets to ensure uniformity
in the depth of the cut and to prevent the excavating apparatus rising on the sand
as it is moved along over the bar.
"
This apparatus is to be placed upon a vessel or
"
SCOW and drawn or propelled⚫
across the sand bar, flat or other obstruction to be removed. The furrowing of the_
surface by the action of the jets of water is continued until the tide or current has
conveyed away the materials that are thrown up into it by the jets and the required
depth is obtained.

page_text: may rise or fall as it will swing upon the end of the horizontal pipe a. and the
parts may also turn upon the screw threaded end of the pipe c. so that the tube and
plow may swing around to an angle to the vessel instead of being in line with the
same; this will prevent the tube becoming bent or injured.
A V shaped shield n. fastened upon the front edge of the pipe B. lessens the
resistance or action of the water as the pipe is moved along through the same.
There is a chain at t. for raising and lowering the excavating apparatus.
This chain is connected at one end to the pipe B' and the other end passes to
any suitable hoisting drum. A jet opening or tube is provided at i. and it is
preferably between the two tubes d. d. and supplied with water from the branch
pipe 7. that passes from the pipe B' down the front edge of the plow. The jet
may issue horizontally or at a downward inclination and project from the lowest
The end of
part of the tube B¹ or be supplied by the branch tube l, as desired.
the horizontal nozzle should be slightly to the rear of the front edge of the web.
When in use the water issuing from the jet tubes d. at an upward inclination
cuts away the sand bar or similar obstruction and also sets up an induced circulation
in the water and the earthy matters are carried up into the stream or current of the
river or harbor and taken away thereby into deeper water or to places where the
current is not so rapid and where portions of such earthy matters subside.
The jets at i. loosen the earth in a downward or horizontal direction and ensure
uniformity of depth.
If this apparatus is placed upon a suitable vessel and kept in active operation
the vessel may be permitted to float down stream with the current as the action of
the loosening jets is so very rapid that they will usually plow up the channel as
rapidly as the boat is moving.
Where the bottom is a muddy deposit the jets may be projected more nearly
horizontal and diverge at both sides.
There may be a beam or frame and its plow and jet tubes at each side of the
vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The combination with the vessel or float and an inclined connection or
drag of a curved water pipe at the lower end terminating in the jet tube d. having
an upward inclination and acting to project the solid materials upwardly into the
current in the river, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a hydraulic excavating apparatus, the pipe B₁ the jet tubes d. d.
having an upward inclination and a jet tube i. between the tubes d. substantially
as set forth.
Third. The combination in a hydraulic plow of a pipe through which water is
forced, jet nozzles for the issuing water at upward and downward inclinations to
loosen and raise the solid materials into the current of the river, and a web e. at the
front of the water pipe to cause the plow to rise and pass over any obstruction that
is not removed by the water, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a hydraulic excavating apparatus, the pipe B₁ web e. jet tubes d.
branch pipe . and connections to the scow and to the water pumps, substantially as
set forth.
A
TRAT
1
רד A
1001