IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING BREAKWATERS, PIERS, SEA WALLS, AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Price Prichard Baly, of 4, Robert Street, Adelphi,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING BREAKWATERS, PIERS, SEA WALLS, AND
OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 9th October 1863, and dated the 11th April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Price Prichard Baly
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th April 1863.
I, PRICE PRICHARD BALY, of 4, Robert Street, Adelphi, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING BREAKWATERS, PIERS, SEA WALLS, AND
OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing breakwaters,
piers, sea walls, and other similar structures.
In constructing breakwaters, piers, and other similar structures having two
parallel or nearly parallel faces, or faces inclined to one another, I employ at
intervals transverse frames, constructed of cast or wrought iron bars or rods
or plates; these frames are, by preference, triangular in form, and are, if
necessary, strengthened interiorly by other bars or rods or plates, dividing the
frame up into a number of small triangles; the base of the frames is suitably

page_text: secured to the bottom, or is supported thereon or upon screw or other piles, or
chairs or shoes of iron, wood, or stone, upon a bank of stone or other made
foundation, or the frames and the plating attached to them (which will be
herein-after described) may be supported by the plating resting upon the
ground or upon a made foundation. To the sides of the frames cast or
wrought iron plates are fixed to form the two parallel or nearly parallel faces
or faces inclined to one another of the structure; these plates are corrugated
or arranged in ridge and furrow; the corrugations or ridges run horizontally
in, and they serve to give great rigidity to the structure in this direction.
These corrugated plates, or plates arranged in ridge and furrow, may be of
wrought or cast iron, and be connected together and to the frames by bolts and
nuts, screws, rivets, clips, or in any other suitable manner. In joining the
plates together endways it is preferred to make those of one row break joint
with those of the next row. In a direction at right angles to the corrugations
or ridges a certain amount of stiffness is given by the transverse frames before
mentioned, and these are assisted by means of bars placed on the exterior of
the plating, at distances apart equal to the distances between the transverse
frames. These bars are placed opposite and parallel to the sides of the frames,
and are securely fixed to the top of each corrugation or ridge of the plating
which it crosses, as is also the exterior bar of the frame above described.
Thus it will be seen that the side of the transverse frame acting with the cor-
rugated or ridged plating attached to it and with the exterior bar parallel
thereto, form together a framed girder of great strength. In order to give
additional stiffness to the corrugated or ridged plates, pairs of bars or single
bars may be made to cross and he fixed to the corrugations or ridges upon the
exterior and interior of the plating, and intermediate between the frames above
described.
It is not essential that the transverse frames should be of triangular form;
in cases where an extensive surface is required at the top rectangular frames
may be employed.
In some cases when the triangular frame is used it will not be necessary to
construct the transverse frames with the interior triangular framing, as
described, but sufficient strength will be obtained by connecting the opposite
sides of each frame together by a bar or chain at or near the base. The cor-
rugating or ridge and furrow plating need not completely enclose the sides of
the structure, but may, when desired, have openings through them, or the
horizontal (or more or less approximately horizontal) portion of each ridge o
step may be omitted,

page_text: In some cases I arrange the corrugations or ridges to run vertically in place
of horizontally, and in this case stiffness in a direction at right angles to the
corrugations or ridges is obtained by bars applied both externally and internally,
and so as to cross the corrugations or ridges, to each of which they are securely
attached, so that the external and internal bars, together with the corrugated or
ridged plating, form girders, which give the rigidity required; when the corru-
gations or ridges are placed vertically, the ends of the plates may rest upon the
ground or upon a mado foundation, or the plates may be driven into the ground
as piles. The corrugations or ridges of the plating may be made to run in an
inclined direction, but this is not generally so convenient. The interior of the
structure may, when desired, be filled or partly filled with masonry, or con-
crete, or broken stone, chalk, or shingle, or other suitable material, alone or
mixed with iron ore, forge scales, slag from blast furnaces, pouzzolana, or other
binding materials, and in filling the inside of the structure with any of these
materials it is convenient to use the transverse frames to support the necessary
staging.
The upper parts of the structures formed as above explained may have plat-
forms, or stagings, or ways formed thereon of masonry, iron, wood, or any other
suitable materials, or they may have masonry or concrete walls built thereon.
The structure may, if desired, be faced with masonry or with concrete
blocks.
In constructing sea walls and similar structures having only one face, I
employ corrugated or ridge and furrow plating, supported on frames securely
fixed to the land, and strengthened by bars running across the ridges and
furrows, as already explained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Price Prichard Baly in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PRICE
PRICHARD BALY, of 4, Robert Street, Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,

page_text: the said Price Prichard Baly, Her special licence that I, the said Price
Prichard Baly, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Price Prichard Baly, 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 "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING BREAKWATERS, PIERS, SEA WALLS, AND OTHER
SIMILAR STRUCTURES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Price Prichard Baly, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu-
larly 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 Price Prichard Baly, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention bas for its object improvements in constructing breakwaters,
piers, sea walls, and other similar structures.
In constructing breakwaters, piers, and other similar structures having two
parallel or nearly parallel faces, or faces inclined to one another, I employ at
intervals transverse frames constructed of cast or wrought iron bars or rods or
plates; these frames are, by preference, triangular in form, and are, if neces-
sary, strengthened interiorly by other bars or rods or plates, dividing the frame
up into a number of small triangles. The base of the frames is suitably
secured to the bottom, or is supported thereon, or upon screw or other piles or
chairs or shoes of iron, wood, or stone, upon a bank of stone or other made
foundation, or the frames and plating attached to them (which will be herein-
after described), may be supported by the plating resting upon the ground or
upon a made foundation. To the sides of the frames cast or wrought iron
plates are fixed to form the two parallel or nearly parallel faces, or faces
inclined to one another, of the structure; these plates are corrugated or
arranged in ridge and furrow; the corrugations or ridges run horizontally in, s
and they serve to give great rigidity to the structure in this direction. These
corrugated plates, or plates arranged in ridge and furrow, may be of wrought or
cast iron, and be connected together and to the frames by bolts and nuts,

page_text: screws, rivets, clips, or in any other suitable manner. In joining the plates
together endways it is preferred to make those of one row break joint with
those of the next row. In a direction at right angles to the corrugations or
ridges a certain amount of stiffness is given by the transverse frames before
mentioned, and these are assisted by means of bars placed on the exterior of
the plating, at distances apart equal to the distances between the transverse
franes; these bars are placed opposito and parallel to the sides of the frames,
and are securely fixed to the top of each corrugation or ridge of the plating,
which they cross, as are also the exterior bars of the transverse frames above
described. Thus it will be seen that the side of the transverse frame acting
with the corrugated or ridged plating attached to it and with the exterior bar
parallel thereto, form together a framed girder of great strength. In order
to give additional stiffness to the corrugated or ridged plates, pairs of bars or
single bars may be made to cross and be fixed to the corrugations or ridges
upon the exterior and interior of the plating and intermediate between the
frames above described.
It is not essential that the transverse frames should be of triangular form;
in cases where an extensivo surface is required at the top rectangular frames
may be employed.
.
In some cases when the triangular frame is used it will not be necessary to
construct the transverse frames with the interior triangular framing as
described, but sufficient strength will be obtained by connecting the opposite
sides of each frame together by a bar or chain at or near the base. The
corrugated or ridge and furrow plating need not completely enclose the sides of
the structure, but the sides may, when desired, have openings through them,
or the horizontal (or more or less approximately horizontal) portion of each
ridge or step may be omitted.
I some cases I arrange the corrugations or ridges to run vertically in place
of horizontally, and in this case stiffness in a direction at right angles to the
corrugations or ridges is obtained by bars applied both externally and inter-
nally, and so as to cross the corrugations or ridges, to each of which they are
securely attached, so that the external and internal bars, together with the
corrugated or ridged plating, form girders which give the rigidity required.
When the corrugations or ridges are placed vertically the ends of the plates
may rest upon the ground or upon a made foundation, or the plates may be
driven into the ground as piles.
The corrugations or ridges of the plating may be made to run in an inclined
direction, but this is not generally so convenient. The interior of the structurė

page_text: may,
when desired, be filled or partly filled with masonry or concrete, or
broken stone, chalk, or shingle, or other suitable material, alone or mixed
with iron ore, forge scales, slag from blast furnaces, pozzuolana, or other
binding materials, and in filling the inside of the structure with any of these
materials it is convenient to use the transverse frames to support the necessary
staging.
The upper parts of the structures formed as above explained may have plat-
forms, or stagings, or ways formed thereon of masonry, iron, wood, or any other
suitable materials, or they may have masonry or concrete walls built
thereon. The structure may, if desired, be faced with masonry or with
concrete blocks.
In constructing sea walls and similar structures having only one face, I
employ corrugated or ridge and furrow plating supported on frames securely
fixed to the land, and strengthened by bars running across the ridges and
furrows, as already explained.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section of a breakwater constructed according to
my Invention; Figure 2 shows part of the outside elevation thereof; and
Figure 8 shows part of a plan of the same.
The transverse section of the iron framework in this construction is tri-
angular, braced and framed internally, and so divided into several triangles.
The sectional forms of breakwaters, sea walls, and other like structures may
be greatly varied, and such is the case in respect to the manner in which the
transverse frames are braced and connected together internally. In some
cases the one or both of the faces of the structure may be upright, or more
or less curved or hollow, depending on the nature of the particular structure,
and the end intended to be accomplished. Whatever be the sectional forms
or the modes of bracing the parts constituting each tranverse frame together,
each transverse frame is to be formed of wrought or cast iron, or of wrought
and cast iron combined. The transverse frames are to be combined lon-
gitudinally by suitable plating arranged and fixed in the form of steps
or corrugations, or ridge and furrow, so as to obtain as much stiffness
and strength as may be for the quantity of plating used; and the trans-
verse frames may be also further stayed or connected together longitudinally
of the work by diagonal or other stays or braces. The base of a break-

page_text: water, or sea wall, or other like structure, when constructed according to
my Invention, may be fixed and supported on screw or other piles, or on
made foundations, or in fact on any suitable foundation. In Figure 1 the
transverse frames of the structure are shewn to be supported on iron piles,
and the interior of the transverse frames and the spaces between them are
shown to be filled with broken stones resting on a foundation extending
beyond the base of the transverse frames, which foundation is also formed by
an accumulation of broken stones. When desired, other matters may be used
for filling the interior of the structure, or the interior may be left more, or
less unfilled.
a, a, are two bars inclined to each other, which are connected and framed
together at their upper ends, and also at their lower ends, as shown. Tho
triangular frame thus formed is further braced or tied together by several ties
or internal braces, as is shown, but the manner in which each transverse frame
is formed may be greatly varied, whether cast iron or wrought iron be
employed, or a combination of wrought and cast iron. In the arrangement
or construction shown, the bars of the transverse frame are of wrought iron,
and the mode shown of putting and connecting the parts together is what is
preferred. b, b, is the outer plating of wrought or cast iron, which is in the
form of steps or corrugations, or ridge and furrows; c, c, are outer bars
opposite to and parallel with the bars a, a; these outer bars are fixed by
screw bolts and nuts to the outermost bends or ridges of the corrugated
plating, or they may be fixed thereto in any suitable manner. The bars a are
also fixed to the innermost bends or ridges in a similar, or it may be in. a
different manner to that in which the bars c are fixed to the plating. When
desired, such outer bars c or inner bars a may be braced or tied together at
intervals either diagonally or otherwise. The plating may be close plating, or
more or less perforated or open, or it may be of latticework. By the means
above described, the structure, whether for a breakwater, or sea wall, or other
like structure, will be a strong framed girder constituting what may be called
the backbone of the work, which is to be made more or less solid by being filled
more or less, as above mentioned. The upper parts of such structures may
be finished by stonework, as shown, or otherwise, and may have wooden or
other staging applied when desired. The work may also be faced with stone,
as is represented in red lines in Figure 1 or not.
Figure 4 shows part of a transverse framing on a larger scale, the plating
b, b, being of cast iron, as shown at Figures 5, 6, and 7. By these Figures
the manner in which it is preferred to combine and connect the parts together

page_text: when using cast iron plating is shown, and the same will very readily be
understood. In this arrangement the plating b, b, is cast in the form of steps
or of a corrugated form, but the form of the plates and the section of cor-
rugations employed may be greatly varied, or flat plates of cast iron or other
suitable material may be used and put together, and connected with the
transverse frames in the forms of corrugations or steps or otherwise in any
suitable manner. It will be evident that by thus using tranverse frames com-
bined together longitudinally of the work by outer plating with or without
bracing or tics, they will, whether the plating be close or more or less
perforated or open, tend to support broken stones or other filling materials
at an angle at which they would not otherwise stand, and thus reduce the
quantity of material requisite in constructing a particular work, and when
masonry or other building materials are more or less used internally of the
structure the framed girder of iron will give great additional strength to such
structures.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 show parts of a transverse frame when using flat plates
of wrought iron, or it might be of other suitable material for the outer plating,
and also the means preferred of connecting such plates to the inner and outer
bars a and c, but the form of the plates 6, 6, and the manner of fixing them
to the bars a and c, may be varied; and in place of the plating being close it
may be more or less perforated or open.
Figure 11 shows a diagram of a breakwater constructed on a foundation
made of stones. At the sea front the plating is shown to be close, whilst the
plating at the other face between the inner and outer bars a and c is open at
the upper part of each step or bend. In this diagram the inner bars a are
only shown to be connected at top and bottom, but this may be varied by
using more or less internal bracing or connecting bars depending on the
strength desired to be obtained in respect to each transverse frame.
Figure 12 shows a diagram of another structure where one face is shown
to be upright and the other inclined; here again it may be remarked that the
transverse frames may have more or less internal bracing or tie bars, as the
particular work may require.
Figure 13 shows a diagram of another work, where the two faces are both
upright. The upper parts and the lower parts of the outer bars c in this
Figure are shown somewhat hollow or curved. The transverse frames in this
as in other similar structures may be braced or tied more or less internally, as
may be required, to obtain the requisite strength. It is generally preferred
that the corrugations or steps or ridges of the outer plating should be hori-

page_text: zontal, but the bends, corrugations, or ridges of the plating may be arranged
to be in a direction from the top to the bottom of the structure, or the ridges
or corrugations may be inclined.
In the various Drawings the structures are all shown to have two plated
faces, but in the construction of sea walls and other like structures, where
only one face is required, the plating will be only applied to one side of the
structure, and the transverse frames will be securely fixed to the land in any
convenient manner, and according to the nature of the land and the structure
required.
In witness whereof, I, the said Price Prichard Baly, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
P. PRICHARD BALY. (L.B.)