US764429A - Dam and method of constructing same. - Google Patents

Description

No. 764,429. PATBNTED JULY 5 1904. l

` J. A. GO'PPLE.

DAMAND METHOD 0F GONSTRUCTING SAME.

APPLIGAATIDN YILED APB.. 25, 1903.

@Hbf/wap) JAMES A. COPPLE, OF

Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEGOMPTON, KANSAS.

DAM AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent N0. 764,429, dated July `5, 1904.

Application filed April 25, 1903.

To all, whom 2215` may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES A. COPPLE, a citizen of the United States, residing atLeconpton, in the county of Douglas and State of Kan-` sas, have invented` new andluseful I mprovements in Dams and Methods of Constructing Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention. relates to new and useful improvements in dams and method of constructing same; and its object is to provide a darn of this character which may be quickly constructed without the use of coifer-dams.

A further object of the invention is to provide a series of columns adapted to be firmly anchored to the bed of the body of water in which the dam is located, said columns being spaced apart at suitable intervals.

Another object is to arrange sheathing upon the inner surfaces of .and connecting the columns forclosing the spaces between and bracing said columns.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in providing' a series of columns, preferably arranged in a curve,

and each of which is constructed by first driving piles into the bottom of the body of water and inclosing the same in a preferably sheet-metal casing, which is subsequently filled with concrete, cement, or other suitable material. The upstream sides of these columns are then secured to sheet-metal sheathing which serves to close the spaces between the columns and to brace said columns against lateral tilting. A head strip or cap is also arranged upon the columns and is provided with a series of apertures located at points between said columns, whereby water will be free to flow downward in front of the sheathing at points between the columns, and thereby prevent the formation of a vacuum.

The invention also consists in providing novel means for preventing the bed of the body of water from being washed away at points in front of the dam.

Theiinvention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying draw- 'against lateral tilting.

Serial No. 154,335. (No model.)

ings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of adam constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof from the downstream side; and Fig. 3 isan enlarged section through the dam, one of the sheathing-plates being' shown partly in elevation.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference,'1 l are piles driven into the bed of the body of water in which the dam is located, and these piles are arranged in series, each of which is inclosed by a cylindrical sheet-metal casing 2, the lower end of which is forced into the bed. Thiscasing is filled with'concrete, cement, or other suitable non-resilient material 3 to form a solid column, and the columns formed in this manner are preferably arrangcd in a curve, as illustrated in Fig. l, in order to produce an arched dam. Sheet-metal sheathing 4 is secured to the upstream faces of the columns by means of rivets A, bolts, or any other suitable devices, and this sheathing serves to close the spaces between the columns and brace said columns formed in any suitable manner, is located at the upstream side of the dam and extends to the top thereof, and a cap 6, preferably formed -of sheet-metal plates, is secured in any suitable manner to the tops of the columns, and these portions of the cap, which extend over the spaces 7, formed between the columns, are recessed, as shown at 8, and provided with apertures 9, whereby water is permitted to flow downward into the spaces 7. Where the water-bed is sandy, 1 can, if desired, prevent the same from being' washed away at the downstream side of the dam by covering the same with wire-netting 11 and covering said netting with stones l0. Another wire-netting' 112L is secured to the netting ll and is placed over the stones 10 and held in position thereon by means of additional stones l2. It will be seen that these stones will be bound firmly together by the netting Aand will receive the impact of the water and prevent sand thereunder from beingl washed away.

It will be understood that when a large An inclined Hoor 5,`

body of water iiows over the dam any air which may be located between the columns and in front of the sheathing 4 will be carried outward by the suction created, and ordinarily vacuums would thus be formed between the columns which would tend to weaken the dam and perhaps cause its collapse. By forming apertures in the cap 6 water is permitted to flow down into the spaces formed between the columns, and the formation of these vacuums is thus prevented. The sheathing 4, in addition to its function as y a brace for the column, prevents the passage between the columns of any water which may leak through the inclined floor 5.

A dam of the construction shown and described in this application is extremely simple and inexpensive and can be quickly placedhin a desired position within a body of water without the use of coffer-dams. It is especially adapted for use in the development of water-power, impounding water for irrigating purposes and dikes, levees, &c.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacriticing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. The herein-described method of constructing dams consisting in driving series of piles, inclosing each series by a casing, filling the casing with concrete or other non-resilientl material and "connecting the upstream faces of the casings by a sheathing.

2. The herein described method of constructing dams consisting in driving series of piles into the bed of a body of water, inclosing each series of piles with a cylindrical casing, lling said casing with solid material, connecting the upstream faces of the casings with sheathing, and placing a cap upon and across the spaces formed between the casings, said cap having apertures to permit water to iiow into the spaces between the casings.

3. The hereindescribed method of constructing dams consisting in driving series of piles into the bed of a body of water at intervals, inclosing each series of piles in a hollow metallic casing, filling said casing with solid material, connecting the upstream faces of the casing with sheathing, placing a cap upon and across the spaces between the casings, said cap having apertures for permitting water to flow downward into the said spaces, and placing a stone bed at the downstream side of the casings and binding the stones of said bed together with netting.

4. Ina dam, the combination with series of piles; of a casing inclosing and extending upward from each series of piles, solid material within each casing, whereby a solid column is formed, sheathing connected to the upstream faces of the casings, a cap extending over the upper ends of the casings, and means for admitting water to the spaces formed between the casings to prevent the formation of a vacuum.

5. In a dam, the combination with series of piles; ofa cylindrical metallic casing upon each series of piles, a solid. material within each of said casings, whereby a solid column is formed, sheathing connecting the upstream faces of the casings to prevent the passage of water therebetween, a cap extending over the upper ends of the casings and having apertures therein at points between the casings, a stone bed at the downstream side of the casings, and netting for binding said stones.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. COPPLE.

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