US1572197A - Series of sewers or conduits - Google Patents

Description

1,572,197 Feb' 9 1926' w. c.. FERGUSON SERIES OF' SEWERS OR CONDUITS Filed April 14. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f S"\"I\` f mi wn 1p,

TrOEN/sms Feb. 9', 1926. 1 1,572,197 A w. c. FERGUSON f SERIES 0F sEwERs 0R GONDUITS Filed April 14. 1922 z sheets-shan 2' 27V VEN Toe #Trae/v5 YS Y sewers.

Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. FERGUSON, 0F SvTLLOUKIS, MISSOURI.

SERIES OF SEWERS OR CONDUITS.

Application filed April 14, 1922. Serial No. 552,579.

To ZZ eli/01m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, lViLLiAM C. FERGUSON,l

a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Series of Sewers oi' Conduite, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the Slll'le.

This invention relates to sewers, conduits and other tubular structures ot the kind that comprise Va double circular wall whose inner portion is composed of segmental blocks or tile. In building double wall structures ot the general type referred to in which the outer and innei` portions ot the wall are composed of outer and inner segmental blocks or tile arranged in interlocking rela- -tion it is now the universal custointo vary the dimensions of. both the inner and outer blocks when the diameter of theI structure is to be varied. For example, it the conduit to be constructed is to have a diameter ot 72 inches, it is the practice to use inner blocks having an inside width of 11.01 inches and outer blocks having an Vinside width of 11.40 inches, and if the conduit to be constructed is to have a diameter of 54 inches, it is. the practice to use inner blocks having an inside width of 10.28 inches and outer blocks having an inside width of 10.72 inches. Also in structures where the inner portion of the circular wall is composed ot segmental tile and the outer portion of the wall is constructed ot diierent material it is the custom to use diiierent sized blocks or liners for diiterent sized Accordingly, the cost of building sewers and conduits of the general type above referred to is increased considerably by reason of the large number of dies that. are required to L-form the different sized blocks or tiley and by reason ot the large stock ot' blocks ortile it is necessary to keep on hand to supply orders Jfor sewers of conventional sizes ranging from 30 inches to 72 inches in diameter, with a variation of 3 inches between the ditferent sizes. Moreover, the above method of constructing sewcan beused only in the construction of a sewer ot that diameter, or approximately that diameter.

The present almost .universal practice in sewer construction is for the use of sizes' varying trom each next size larger or smallf.

er by 3 inches, and one object of this in; vention is to provide a method ,of construct.- ing a double lwall sewer or conduit, by which the addition of one unit to a standard `size sewer will give the next standard size sewer without the necessity of providing specially designed blocks torthe different sizes. Y

Another object is to provide a method of constructing double wall sewers, conduits and the `like which reduces the number of variable elements on such structures, 0r, in other words, reduces the number ofditferent sized blocks that are required in the e011-,

struction of a series of sewers of conventional diameters, say,rtor example, lifteen sewers ranging from 30 inches to 72 inches in ameter. l

Another object is to provide a method of constructing double wall sewers or conduits that permits great iiexibility in'construction, so that when greater loads are encountered, the required strength may be obtained simply by a' different arrangement of the various units, thus overcoming the necessity.l of re-designing the individual units to meet each different condition. f

And still another object is to provide an inner block or tile for sewers yor conduits which is soproportioned and designedthat it is capable of being usedwith all of thel various sizes of sewers which are now standard, namely, sewers in which the variation in diameter between the different sizes is 3 inches. f

To this end I have devised a method of constructing a series ot double wall sewers or conduits of different diameters, that is characterized by using a universal inner block or tile ot standard shape and dimensions for all sewers oit' the series.v

Figure 1 otv the drawings is a diagrami matic view, illustrating my invention applied to a double wall sewer or conduit whoseV inner and outer portions are composed ot segmental tile; and Figures 2, 3,4 and 5 are sectional views, illustrating the construction of the universal inner blocks and the different sized outer blocks used in the :construction ot the ditferent sized sewers that make up thecomand an outer portion that surrounds said inner tile. In the form of: my invention herein ilflustratedthe outer -portion of the wall is composed of outer segmental blocks arranged in interlocking relation with ,the

innerblocks with the joints and spaces. between said blocks lled with mortar, cement or the-like. I wish itftol be understood, however-, that' it is' immaterial, so far as my broad idea is concerned, how the outerl portion of the wall of the sewer is constructed,

selon-g as thenimier yportion of the wall is constructed of universal segmental blocks orf standard dimensions that are capable of usewith-any ofthe various sized sewers of the entire series The inner blocksrA used in all of the fifteen ditlerent sized conduits of.' the series are of the same shape and dimensions, and therefore, will? be referred to as universal inner blocks. In a structure of the particular` type herein shown the outer blocks used in the different sized conduits are-vof different dimensions, however, andi constitute set or group of different sized blocks. For example, one outer block B1 of the set `or group, having. certain dimensions, can be used to construct conduits rangingin diameter from 30 inches as a mini-mum to 42 inches as an ordinary maximum, another outer blocl; Bfof the set, having different.,dii'nensions, can be used to construct conduitshaving diametersranging and vary-` I block B?" having different dimensions, can.

be used to form conduits ranging and varying indiameter by 3 inches from an ordinary minimum; diameter of 5l linches to an ordinary maximum diameter of inches, and another outer block 'B3 ofthe set having different dimensions, can` be used to construct conduits having an ordinary minimumdiameter of 60 inches andl varying by 3f inches up to an ordinary maximum diameter of 72 inches, l i

I'V'hile thel outer blocks yconstitnti-ng the set differ in dimensions, they Vare of the samer general design, in that each is provided on. its inner side with a lonfgitudinalily-disposed: center groove A1 that is` adapted toreceive long-itudinally-extending side ribsQ on two adjacent inn-er blocks A, the spaces and joints between the co-operating surfaces of the inner and outer blocks-'of the structure being filled with cement, mortar or other suitable material. IVhatever type of structure the universalinner'blocks A are used `with, each o-f said blocks A must be of a certain width, it must bek provided with a concaved inner surface 3 of a certain curvature and it must-*be provided with longitudinal side edges i that are disposed in a certainrelation tothe inner surface 3 of the block. f In order that the blocks A will be universal. for all-sizes of sewers usedl in common practice,the three elements above mentioned must bev governed by certain principles. rlihus, the width of the face 3 of each of the inner blocks A must besuch that when twenty-four of' such `block-s are assembled around a circular form, they will form a cylindrical shell having a diameter of 72 inches g1 when twenty-three ofL said inneir blocks are assembled around a circular form,

they will. form a cylindrical shell hai/ing diameter of 69l inches etc., the elimination orsubstraction of one inner block decreasing they diameter of the .conduit-or structure by 3 inches.. Accordingly, thev width ofthe face of the universal inner bl'ocl: 'A between the longitudinal side edges t must bey theoretically three times. pi or 914248 inches,A

butinasrnuclr as there is lalways a. vari-ation inthe shrinkage of the clay material from which the blocks are `usually formed, a certain allowance must be made sov that in actual practice theV width of the universal block-A between the side edges 4 of same will be three times pi, minus'a unit which is' equal to the extreme variation of the shrinkage of material used inthe construction-of the) block.

Another important :point in the design of. the universal block A is the angle of the side edges 4 of said block, it being necessary to have said side edges disposed at such ali-angle.v withrelation. to th'exinner surface 3 of the block that irrespective of the' size of the conduitV in which the blockis used, it fwilili not. arch at its outer edge,y and thus crea-te ainunstable arch structure.r The engineering requirements withL respect to `the,

edges 4 in their relation to the edges of ani adjacentblock is that under all conditionsy the opposed edges must either be parallelor so disposed with relation to eaclr other .th-at they will arch at' their. inner elementtudinal` side edges oftwo adjacent inner bloe-ltsqwilll be substantially wedge-shaped,

Wil

with the inner elements of the edge a forming the apex of the wedge. This can be accomplished conveniently by providing the universal block Arwith longitudinal side edges 4f that are parallel, or approximately parallel, to the radius of the largest conduit of the series, as shown in Figure 5.

Another important characteristic of the universal block A is the radius of its inner face 3. y Preferably, the radius o-f said face is as near as possible to the mean between the two extreme sizes for which the block is to serve. There is a certain deformation during the process of burning or firing blocks of this general shape. Some blocks will become flatter than they originally were and some will warp and have a greater curvature than they had when they came out of the dies. As a result of this phenomenon, hy assorting the blocks and using those which have taken on the greatest curvature for building the smaller sizes of conduits, using those which have not become distorted in burning to build the middle sizes and using those that have become flattened to build the larger sizes, a very much better finished structure will result than is possible with the present method, where it is necessary to use each block in a particular sized conduit, even where that block is either more dish-shaped orflattened more than is desired.

lVhen the outer portion of thewall of the structure is composed of segmental outer blocks or tile, as herein illustrated, there are two things which are important to the flexibility of construction and to the strength of the structure. There may be as many sizes of these outer blocks as the local conditions make necessary. ln Figure l of the drawings I have shown four different sizes of outer blocks that are adapted to be used in the construction of fifteen sewers or conduits having different diameters. @ne important characteristic of said outer blocks is that they must be of such dimensions that when they are assembled the spaces between the` longitudinal side edges of same will be wider than the spaces between the longitudinal side edges 4e of the inner blocks A, thereby pern'iitting interchangeability and insuring the inner blocks A arching before the outer blocks arch, in case the form is removed before the mortar or concrete between the blocks has set, and consequently, eliminating the possibility of some of the inner blocks at the top side of the structure dropping out of position, as might occur if the outer blocks arched before the inner blocks. To state it in another way, it is essential that the outer blocks B, B', B2 and B3 be of such width with relation to the width of the inner blocks A that the inner blocks A- will arch or come together immediately upon the removal of the form on which thev inner blocks are laid up, and thus sustain `the weight of the outer blocks at the top side of the structure, it being the usual custom to remove the form before the mortar or concrete i has set.

W'hen the outer blocks are made in the form of hollow tile provided with longitudinally-extending webs 5, it is preferable to thicken or increase the cross-sectional area of said webs adjacent the inner and outer ends of same, as indicated by the reference character 5 in Figures 3, 4 and 5, as this practice by simply arranging the units in' 'different ways. For instance, a 57 inch sewer would ordinarily be built from inner blocks A and outer blocks B2. If, however, the sewer is to be built ina location where it is subjected to greater loads than a 57 inch sewer is usually subjected to, the strength of the sewer can easily be increased by usingI outer blocks B3 in place of the blocks B2, it being noted that the sets or groups of outer blocks B, B', B2 and B3 are of gradually in creasing thickness. On the other hand, if as in drainage work, the load towhich the sewer will be subjected will be exceptionally light, the sewer can be constructed from inner blocks A and outer blocks B, thus effecting a considerable saving in the costof construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let.- ters Patent is:

l. A method of constructing double wall sewers or conduits whose diameters vary in a. certain ratio, characterized by forming the inner portions of the walls of the sewers from universal blocks of standard dimensions and forming the outer portions of said walls from outer blocks that vary in thickness according to the diameter of the sewer being constructed, and increasing the number of inner blocks and the number of outer blocks by one when a sewer of the next largerysize is being constructed.

2. A system of constructing a series of double wall sewers or conduits whose diameters vary in a certain ratio, characterized by forming the inner portion of the wall of each conduit of. the series from universal segmental blocks of standard dimensions and forming the outer portions of the y the.E external 3 leadi; mpesed: 0n the conduit.

A' conduit' orl sewer." formmg one.v O- a..

by: three inches-5. said conduit! having 'w douofriL s mentali n'uer blocks propovti(medz so as t Vbe capable ofuse inzthe eonstl'uctn .off Y cendmts 'of 21;.: dlffelfent. size andwhose nuten 10 portion; is constr-ueted's of" segmental 'Guten blocks; ofi a `fheknessidifferent from; the thickness of: :the outer'bloeksused in; ne cond vuit off a materially: dfe-Ient size;

WILLIAM- C. E-ERGUSQN.

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