US258025A - Levee - Google Patents

Description

`(No Mom.)

J. W. CRUMP.

LEVER.

Patented May 16, 18.8.2.

INVBNTOR I v WITNESSES Q. mm

N. PETER; Phmmmgnpher. wmngwn. n c.

` UNITED" STATESV PATENT (Diarios,

JOHN W. onUMP, or WEs'r'PoINT, MISSISSIPPI.

LEVEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 258,025, dated May 16, 1882, Application led April 3, 18821 (No model.) l

To all whom fit may concern Be it known that I, JOHN W. GRUMP, of West Point, county of Clay, and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Levees; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view ot' my improved levee, showing itin process ot' construction 5 and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the top portion of one section of the continuous frame-work for supporting the levee, showing the manner of using arms l to stop acrevasse.

The object ot my invention is to increase the strength and durability of that class of levees provided with a continuous fence or wall extending longitudinally through the levee; and

2o to this end my invention consists, first, in the employment ot' two or more fences or walls passing longitudinally through the levee and parallel with each other, the rear fence or Wall being highest and the fences or walls in front of it each diminishing in height toward the river-front, thereby forming one or more intervalsv or troughs filled with earth between the fences or walls for receiving the downward pressure ofthe water acting on the levee,

forcing the earth ot' the levee more thoroughly into said intervals or troughs, thus preventing Vthe sloughing of the levee and strengthening it by the weight of the water upon it, closing hles or cracks therein by forcing the deposit 3 5 into said iuterstices,and preventing or greatly diminishing the liability to the formation of crevasses by eifectually keying it into the intervals or troughs. It is well known,"also, that the action ot' the water upon a levee has a 4o tendency towear away or hatten the riverfront ot' the levee. Walls above V4described serious injury to the levee is prevented.

My invention further consists ot devices to preventA andrcpair crevasses in a levee, as

hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, a a repre sent the usual muckditches made along the line the levee is to occupy, near its center, and

5o serving as keys'to hold the earth ofthe levee.

b b are piles driven into the earth by pile- By the employment ofthe drivers' or other suitable means, along the back shoulders, @,of the muckditches a. To

the piles b b are secured, by suitable means,

Vbeing of less height than the one in rear of it.

In lieu of the wooden boards @,boards made of terracotta provided with nail-holes at their ends, or metallic or any other suitable material, may he employed, or two or more brick walls may be used. Suitable braces, c e, are employed to support the fences or walls. The back or outer fence or wallextends nearly to the crown or roadway of the levee, `and each adjacent fence or'wall diminishes in height toward the river-front, so that the fences or walls are arranged like stair-steps. The dirt to form the levee is then thrown over the fences or walls, so as to thoroughly cover them and the piles to prevent decay, and the levee formed in the usual manner. The piles b are taperedA at their upper ends, and each opposite pair ot' inner piles is provided with iight and left shoulders 71, 7L, having holes t' i at their lower ends to receive the heut ends of angular arms l l, pivoted in the holes t', and provided with eyes m at their upper ends, which may be perforated or serrated on their outer edges. The

angular arms l ordinarily are inclined. to the piles, and are covered by the levee, excepting their eyes m, which lie above the levee, so as to be exposed to view; and short blocks may be passed through the eyes ofthe arms to pre vent their being forced into the ground.

In case the levee is threatened or danger of a crevasse is apprehended the arms l l are raised at the point threatened to a vertical position, and are lirmly supported in their raised position by the shoulders h h in the upper ends of the piles, and the raised arms will act as supports for a plank or planks resting against them to resist waves and prevent the washing of the crown of the levee.

' [n case a crevasse is formed in the crown ot' the levee the felices or walls of the levee will prevent the deepening of the crevasse to the bottom of thc levee, thereby. giving ample time for the repair of the levee, which is accomplished by connecting the raised arms l by ropes, chains, or other connections, forming a net-work to prevent the escape of sand-bags or other material thrown into the crevasse for the purpose of closing the same.

The pile and arm devices just described may be applied to levees of the ordinary construction (threatened With a crevasse or not).by driving piles with shoulders and arms at their upper ends into the levee, as described in my improved construction.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A levee with two or more continuous parallel walls, the rear wall being highest und' the others diminishing successively in height toward the river-front, all the Walls resting on the ground under the levee and covered by it, substantially as described,`and for the purpose'set forth.

and left shoulders h h, of the pivoted angular arms l l, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

JNO. W. CRUM P.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, OHAs. A. PETTIT.

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