1839.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



451 



THE FLEXIBLE WATER MAIN. 



Fig. 1. 

 Section of the River Clyde. 



^\•ell. Fun- 

 nel. 



_^^,.^^:jr!|^^^ 



''^*S^---»=iar 





Fig. 2 



Fig. 3. 



Fig. 4. 



Fig. 5. 



Fisr. 6. 



A, iron pipe. 



B, limber frame. C, canvass. D, joint. E. iron hinge. 

 F, iron straps. G, bearers. 



THE FLEXIBLE WATER MAIN, 



Contrived by the late Mr. Watt, for the Glasgow Water-work Com- 

 pany. By John Robison, Esq, F.R.S.E. 



(From the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, I'ol. III.) 

 The Glasgow Water-work Company derive their supply of water 

 from a well and tunnel formed in a stratum of sand on the left bank of 

 the Clyde, which affords a natural filter for the water of the river. 

 As the city lies on the right bank, the conveyance of the filtered water 

 across the stream was a problem of some difficulty. The fertile genius 

 of Jir. Watt, however, enabled him to solve it. 



He suggested that a flexible iron main should be drawn across the 

 bed of the river, through which pumping engines on the north side 

 should raise the water from the well on the south side. In executing 

 this plan, the well and tunnel were dug in the sand near the water's 

 edge. Tlie well is 10 feet in diameter, and its bottom is 12 feet under 

 the ordinary surface of the river ; the feeding tunnel is 3 feet wide, 

 iuid G feet high, and extends for a considerable distance into tlie sand- 

 bank; the well has a wooden platform bottom: its sides, and those of 

 the tunnel are built of granite, put together without mortar, and backed 

 with gravel, to prevent the influx of sand. The south end of the 

 suction pipe (or main) is turned down into the well to a sufficient 

 depth. That part of it which lies in the bed of the river, is formed of 

 pieces 9 feet long, (exclusive of joints,) and 15 inches interior di- 

 ameter. Fart of the joints are formed in the usual way, but others 

 are something like what is called "ball and socket," or "universal 

 joints." The whole is laid on strong frames made of parallel logs ; 

 these frames are joined by strong iron hinges, having their pivots in 



horizontal lines at right angles to the axes of the pipes, and passing 

 through the centres of spheres, of which the zones of the sockets are 

 portions. The flexible joints are at the extremities of the frames. 

 This will be easily understood from the figures. 



The frames and pipes were put together in succession on the south 

 side of the river, and (the open or north end being plugged,) were 

 hauled into and across the bed, in a trench prepared for tliem. The 

 machinery for hauling them was of course on the north side ; the ope- 

 ration was aided and directed by pontoons, &c. The moveable joints 

 of the pipes, and hinges of the frames, allowed them to assume the 

 form of the bed. 



Upon the plugged end emerging from the water on the north side, 

 it was immediately opened and connected with the main leading to 

 the pumps, to secure it against accidents from floods. There is a con- 

 trivance for removing any sand which may accumulate in the pipe. 

 That part which is under water is covered over with stones and gravel, 

 to protect it from injury from passing vessels. 



Fig. 1 is a section giving a general view of the relative situations 

 of the well, and the main through the river leading to the pumps. 



Fig- 2, a vertical section through the pipe at one of the flexible 

 joints. 



Fig. 3, a corresponding outside view. 



Fig. 4, ditto plan. 



Fig. 5, a cross section of stock-joint and hinge. 



Fig. 6, ditto of the pipe and frame. 



The demand for water having increased beyond expectation since 

 1810, (when this work was completed,) a second main of 18 inches 

 diameter, similar in all other respects to the first, has been since 

 added. 



