US92324A - Improved portable and convertible coffer-dam - Google Patents

Description

and behind us in wealth and constructive skill.

SAMUEL LEWlS, Oli WILLIAMSBRG, NEW YORK.

Lette/rs Patent No. 92,324, dated July 6, 1869.

IMPROVE!) :PORTABLEv .AND CONVERTIBLE COFFEE-DAM.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same. i

Tc all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL LEWIS, of Williamsburg, in the county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Portable and Gon- -vertible Coifer-Dam; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot' this specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved method of constructing coder-dams for building piers and other submarine structures, and iu making the same convertible into other forms, for raising sunken vessels; and

1t consists in forming the coffer-dam. in two or more sections, the sides of which are partitioned oiiinto water and air-tightcompartments, each section having a removable side, and all the sides being provided with suitable JLubes and other appliances for filling the compartments with either air or water at all times, whereby the sections may be submerged or floated, as may be desired.

It also consists in so constructing the coder-dam, that it may be made (with two of its sections) to enclose a sunken vessel, thereby affording means for raising the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The perishable and temporary character oi' the piers and docks along the water-'onts'oi our seaboard cities has long been the basis of disparaging comparison between ourI own ports and those of countries far below One cause of our backwardness in this respect has been the absence ot' any means of constructing more permanent works, unless at an expense entirely incommensurate with any anticipated advantages.

In. order to replace our present style of piers and docks by enduring and substantial structures o stone, a distinct coii'endam would be needed for each pier, the cost oi' constructing which, would, in many cases, exceed that of the pier itself, while the dam, excepting some portions of its material, perhaps, would be utterly useless in the erection of another pier.

In order to reduce this large'element of cost within such limits as no longer to deter practical minds from the contemplation ot' a change in our system of building piers and other structures requiring subaqueous foundations, the undersigned has devised the apparatus herein described, which is intended to obviate all the expenses lof dam-construction after the iirst outlay, however many piers soever it may be desired to build, thus reducing the cost of all such work by about onehali', and giving to New York and other of our ports a magnificent line oi' imperishable piers and wharves, at about the saine cost as that of our present miserable 'and decaying structures.

In this department of its uses, the apparatus herewith submitted is designed mainly as a portable means ot' erecting fortications, piers, and the foundations of bridges, whether abutting on the shore or in midstream, and generally as an inexpensive and ready way ot1 exposing the bed of a current or other water for any purpose whatever.

The other branch of service to which this apparatus is applicable, is the raising of sunken ships or other vessels from a depth of iifty to a hundred feet.

The special provisions for this work, and the manner ot' performing it, will be explained in their proper places. I t will suiiice to say here, that for such purposes the buoyant power of the sections is depended on, with certain exceptions, such as where a vessel lies in comparatively shallow water, and has been filled 'with sand or other drift, in which case it would be advisable to use the apparatus as a coii'er-dam, in order to get at the vessel and empty her hull either of said drift or cargo.

Figure 1 is a view of the dam in its working-position, with the outer skin of the lower section removed,

,to sho'w the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal bracing and timbering, to give strength and stability to the whole; the water-tight compartments into which each ofthe three sides of each section is divided; the manner ot' admitting and forcing out the water; the flappacking for the bottom of the darn; the round packing between the two sections; the supports by which the upper section rests on the lower; the weights for spreading the lower packing, and the ropes by which these are operated, Cto. 1

Figure 2 is au inside vertical view of the door, or removable side, as seen from the red line y gf,- iig. 3, the inner face of the lower door being shown removed, in order to exhibit the compartments, and the manner of filling them with water or air, as may be desired; the attachments for drawing said doors into their places, with the manner of fastening the supports, 85e.

Figure 3 is a plan or top view, showing, besides a number of parts already enumerated, the upper face of the sectious;vthe manner of fitting and fastening the door; the upper guides for the supports; the tubes for exhausting or filling the spaces between the outer and inner plates of the sections; the timber trimming by which the flap-packing is held in place, 85e.

The dam is constructed, as shown, of plate-iron, of suitable thickness, set apart in two vertical planes, 1 and 2, at suoli a distance as to give the desired-buoyancy, say from three to ten feet, and of such height and length as may be required for the particular work to be done.

Each section will be about fty by forty feet square, larger or smaller, according to the contemplated uses of the dam. The manner of bracing these large plates is shown in the lower section of the drawing, (marked :c a: in two lines thereof.)

The main plates are then sealed water-tight, by the horizontal plate 3 connecting their top and side edges, and by strong'timbers, 32, all around the bottom.

Ilhe two sections are alike `in general construction, only differing in the perforations in the upper section, for the passage of the staples 18, which clasp the supports 1T.

The upper section, as shown, is suiciently reduced in horizontal area to slide easily within the lower one.

The supports '17 are stout timbers, resting on the lower section, on which the upper section is suspended by the staples 1S and ythe plates 19, which latter are riv eted through the outer face of the section, and set into the recesses in the supports marked a a, a, according to the height at which it is desired that the inner section shall stand.

The staples 18 pass through tubes, which are expanded at their ends, and fit on the inner and outer plates in the same manner as a boiler-tube. The ends of said staples are secured by nuts 20, under each of which an appropriate packing is inserted.

Each side-of each section is divided into several airvtight compartments, as seen in the lower part of fic. 1, and 5 5 being stout timbers, vertically on a line with the supports 1T, as shown, and forming the partition between said compartments.

15 15 are the flanged edges of plates, similar to 51 and 51, iig. 2, which lie up to each upright timber fi-om the inner to the outer sheets 1 and 2, riveting through the saine. The object of these compartments is to render the sections self-buoying, whatever accident may happen to any one of saidY compartments.

Around the upper part ofthe inside of each section runs a tube, 1-1, lig. 1, the outer ends of which may be seen at 14* and 24.

These tubes are provided with cocks, 12, one for cach compartment. These cocks or valves are opened or closed by the rods 13 13, which are proposed to be operated from above by socket-wrenches, or in any other suitable way.

10 10 are the waste-openings, through which the water passes, as air is injected into the several spaces.

These openings are furnished with valves, l) 11, as

- shown, whieh'valves are operated by the rods 11 1l 11, in the manner just described.

Attached to the bottom of the lower section is the iiappacking 7 designed to exclude the water at that off to a proper distance as the lower section is sinking,

and the weights 8 8 keep the flap extended till the ordinaryballast or: sand-bag packing is let down upon it from above. The ropesV 9 9 are then brought home, and hitched to appropriate pins, 23, in theheads of the supports, or elsewhere.

rlhe ilap 7, attached to the removable side, fig. 3, it will be seen, laps over that connected with the main dam, thus compensatingfor the unavoidable break at two of the angles.

lVhen the dam is in the position seen in 1, it is as plain as itis inevitable that there will be some horizontal space between the upper and lower sections. The packing 16 is provided to close this space, and

' the weight of the external water is the power relied upon to press the tubing into water-tight contact with the two sections along its entirerlength.

In liv. 1, the cheeks 22, by which the doors are re tained in position till the outside pressure begins to operate, are secu to pass under their straps till they enter the straps c c on the main dani, fig. 3.

The parts 21, tiff. 3, are flat guides, for the supports 17, screwed on to the upper face of the upper section, as shown. i

Such is the construction of the dam, in its threesided form, the door or removable side being a single flat, and liable to a different behavior in the water, and being, moreover, differently fitted up, requires a separate description.

The upper and lower removable sides are seen n1 lig. 2, the latter, marked A, having its inner plate removed, in order to expose its peculiar system of compartments, cocks, and tubing, the method of lilling and exhausting the compartments, the means ot' placing the doors in working-position, and ot removing the same when desirable.l lhe view of these doors is from the red line y y, tig. 3.

33, 50, and 51, are metallic partitions or timber bulkheads, to divide the space into four compartments, two only oi' which, those ou the right-hand side, are shown complete. A,

Each of' these divisions is provided with a valve or cock, 37, 42, 43, and 44, operated by rods 38, 39, 48, and 49,

These valves connect with the air-pump, through the pipes 45, 46, 25, and 26, the latter being the mouth ot the pipe in the upp'er section, corresponding with `25 in the lower section.

41 is a valve, provided with its rod 40, and 35 is an elbowed tube, reaching nearly to the bottom ot' the compartment, and containing a valve, 34, in its horizontal length, operated by the rod 36, inthe manner before described. l

27 and 29 are rings or eyes, as seen in figs. 2 and 3, p

rlhe ro )e 2S fastened to the rin" 29 is seen drawn through 2T, and hitched on to the pin 23, as shown in iig. 2.

The opening marked 52, iu the lower left-hand square ot'A, is for the purpose of. letting in the water around the pier, when the work iscompleted. This opening is placed at sonic distance from the bottoni ot' the section, so as to keep the aperture above thc mud, sand, or weeds. .lhe valve in this opening is connected with its rod 47, and operated as before described. t

Having thus described the construction and parts of this dam, I will now proceed to explain the manner of placing it in position, and its operation.

rlhe sections having been prepared as above, the upper section, minus t-he supports 17, is inserted in the lower, and the door oi" thc latter drawn into its place by the ropes 31, running through eyes 30. similar to 27 and 29 in the upper section, and fastened by the checks 22, and, it' necessary, by a similar locking below.

The dam, with its sections thus put together, is then towed to the place where the building is to be done, and the exact line of submersion being ascertained, the structure is iixed in the proper position by lines from the shore, anchors, or otherwise.

The valves in both sections are then opened, with the exception of 52, when each lower valve admits the water into its own compartment, the air escaping through the upper valves at 14*, 24, and 26.

When both sections have received sufficient water to submerge them to the depth of the upper section, as seen in tig. 2, the valves in that section are closed, while those in the lower section are left open till its upper edge is level with the surface ot' the water, when its valves arev likewise closed, and the further sinking, for the time, stopped.

The supports 17 are then placed in position, and left so that they will slidel freely in the staples over the plate 19.

lVhen this has been done, and the packing 16 carefully and accurately placed, the valves of the lower section are again opened, and it is allowed to sink till it lies-on the bottom of the water.

yWhile this section is` sinking, the ropes 9 9 are taken to a distance, so asto keep the Hap-packing 7 extended, and to deposit the weights 8 8 at `as great a distance i'rem the dam asy the width oi' the packing will allow.

The ropes'are then brought home,"and made fast to their appropriate pins, and the ballast-packing, for the lower edge of the lower section, is let down and placed in the usual way.

When this has lbeen done, the supports are brought home, with their proper recess on the plate 19.

If the sinkage of the lower section has been such as to require the raising or lowering ofthe upper section, in order to bring a recess opposite the plate, that isetfected by the admission of a little more water,as. before, or -by the injection of a proper amount of air to give the requisite additional buoyancy. The nuts 20 are then screwed home, and the -dam is ready for pumping out.

The pumping is then commenced, and continued till the dam is empty, when the operations preliminary to building are begun.

` When the pier or other structure has reached above the high-water line, the valve 52 is opened, and the water rushes in from the outside till the space between the pier and the dam is filled.

The supports are then removed, the ballast cleared from the tlap, and the air-pump connected with 14* and 25. A

The valves of the lower section heilig. all open, and the air-pump set to work, the water is forced out of the section at 34v and 41, lig. 2, and at 10, 10, 10, fig. 1, till its-upper line emerges from the water, when its valves a-re all reclosed, and the like treatment applied to the upper section, till all the water it contained has been forced out, when it will float with its original draught. A

The remaining water in the lower section is then expelled, and the whole dam is in the condition in which 4it was iioated to its work.

The next operation is the detachment of the doors, (on the landward side,) which is effected by, simply withdrawing the chocks 22, and easing thc ropes 28 and 31, when the door will `float away by its own buoyancy.

1t is desirable that the door, thus leaving the dam, should retain an edgewise or vertical position in the water, both for the purposes of placing` it in workingposition, and for its removal and after-handling; otherwise a large amount of power would be required to raise and manipulate so large a slab in the water.'

It is with reference to this necessity' that the pecu-- liar system of compartments, tubing, 85e., of thisl side, has been adopted.

Thus, by filling or partly iilllng the lower compartments, A andB, iig. 2, a weight is given to the bottom, which maintains them in just the desired position for attachment or removal.

saam 3 When the doors have been thus floated off, the main dani is drawn away, either into a position ,for building another length to said pier, or to any other spot where it maybe designed to use it.

In the case of building additional lengths to the same pier, or a long dock or bulkhead, the doors may be used to close the spaces between the open ends of the main dani and the finished masonry, with two additional and appropriate slabs, where the work is in suoli a depth of water as to'require the use of both sections.

The joints of these attachments would be packed by the means already described, or in any other appropriate manner.

Vhen this apparatus is used for raising sunken vessomewhat modified.

For instance, the doors will be dispensed with, and two three-sided dams'let down, one at each'end of the vessel. These willbe connected by extension-flats or sections, compartmented, tubed, and-operated similarly to said doors, and of sutiicient length to enclose the'vessel when the sections are sunk around the wreck, andthe water driven out, as already described.

The buoyancyl of the exhausted sectionsthe wreck having been rinly connected with the dam-raises the vessel, so that she can be towed, along with the dam, into port; or, in the case oi' a vessel being sunk in shallow water, and iilled with drift, as before supposed, the dani would then be used, as in the case of building a p erpas already described, in order to get -at the wreck, and by clearing it of its contents, to put it in a condition in which it might be raised.

Having thus'described' my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentt 1. The portable and extensible coiier-dain, coustructed of double walls, laid ofi' into the water-tight and air-tight compartments, furnished with the tubes and valves, and brace and timbered as shown, all constructed and arranged as speciiied, and for the objects set forth.

2. The adjustable supports 17, for supporting the upper sections of the portable and extensible cotl'erdam, said sections heilig adapted to slide one within the other, as herein described, for the purpose speciiied.

3. rlhe removable side, with its special compartments, tubes, and valves, with the objects and for the purposes explained.

4. rlhe dam, constructed and arranged, in its several parts, as herein shown and described, for the purpose specified.

The above specification ot' my invention signed by me, this 25th day of November, 1868.

SAMUEL LEWIS.

Witnesses FRANK BLocKLnY, E. GREENE COLLINS.

sels or other bodies, its form and application will 'be i

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