Simplex Concrete Piling Co. v. MacArthur Concrete Pile & Foundation Co.
Simplex Concrete Piling Co. v. MacArthur Concrete Pile & Foundation Co.
Opinion of the Court
This suit has been brought by The Simplex Concrete Piling Company and the Simplex Foundation Company against the MacArthur Concrete Pile & Foundation Company for alleged infringement of letters patent of the United States No. 733,288, granted July 7, 1903, to Frank Shuman, for improvements in removable piles for forming concrete piling, and of letters patent No. 739,268, granted September 15, 1903, to the same patentee for improvements in processes of making concrete piles. The complainants are the present owner and the licensee respectively of the two patents in suit, and no question is raised as to their title to maintain this suit. It appears that the subject-matter of both patents was disclosed in the original application, serial No. 138,921 of January 13, 1903; but in that year during the pendency of the proceedings, in conformity to the rule of the patent office that “claims for a machine and the process in the performance of which the machine- is used, must be presented in separate applications,” such applications were filed on which the two patents respectively were granted. In the description of patent No. 733,288 Shuman says:
“My invention relates to that method of forming piles of concreto or cement which consists in first driving- a pile into the ground, then withdrawing said pile, and then filling the-opening formed thereby with concrete or cement in plastic or fluid form, which when it sets forms the permanent pile. One object of my Invention is to provide for driving or withdrawing the removable pile with the exercise of much less power than is required when piles of this class as heretofore constructed are used, a further object being to render said removable pile available for under-water work or for use in unstable ground, another object being to so construct the pile that it will con*108 sist of but few parts, all of which can be easily made so strong as to effectually resist the shocks or strains to which they are subjected, in use, and a still further object being to provide at the bottom of the opening formed by the removable pile a base for the permanent cement or concrete pile. * * * For the purpose of forming in the ground openings for the reception of concrete or cement to constitute permanent piling the use of an ordinary wooden or metal preparatory pile of cylindrical form or tapering inwardly from top to bottom is objectionable for the reason that the frictional hold of the earth upon the sides of the pile is such that the pile cannot be driven beyond a limited distance without the exercise of destructive force and cannot be withdrawn after being driven without the exercise of still greater force, the frictional hold of the earth upon the pile being now assisted by atmospheric pressure, owing to the fact that the withdrawal of the pile tends to create a partial vacuum in the opening left thereby. For this reason various forms of collapsible piles have been proposed; but such piles, owing to their sectional character are necessarily limited in strength and, moreover, do not overcome the objection of resistance due to the frictional hold of the. earth thereupon while they are being driven. When the pile tapers inwardly from- top to bottom, there is the same resistance to the driving of the pile, and the resistance to the withdrawal of the pile is also Excessive, because, owing to the atmospheric pressure the earth is caused to firmly cling to the pile, so as to increase the difficulty of starting the same. Hence its movement is retarded for some, time after i£ is started. In carrying out my invention, therefore, I provide the pile with an enlarged point, so as tov displace the earth laterally at and near the point of the pile to a greater extent than the diameter of said pile, thereby freeing the pile, except as to a limited area at and near the point, from' frictional contact with the walls of the opening formed thereby, thus facilitating the driving of the pile and practically removing any limit in the depth to which the pile can be driven. To facilitate the withdrawal of the, pile, I make this enlarged point detachable therefrom. Hence the withdrawal of said pile can be effected without frictional contact of the walls of the opening to any material extent with the sides of the pile. The point, which remains at the bottom of the opening, forms an acceptable base or foundation for the permanent pile of cement or concrete. In underwater work or when working in unstable ground I provide the preparatory pile with a coffer-dam for preventing access of water or silt to- the opening formed by said preparatory pile in the firm ground beneath or for preventing the caving in of the walls of the opening when the latter is being formed in unstable ground. * * * If the point is attached to the pile, the casing 11 will be sufficiently large to permit of the withdrawal of said point through the same. * * * In case the ground is in the nature of quicksand or such as to preclude the opening from retaining its shape after the pile has been pulled out the casing 11 may be of the full length of the pile and riveted or otherwise firmly fastened to the point and permitted to remain in the opening with said point when -the pile is withdrawn, the casing being preferably slightly less in diameter than the greatest diameter of the point. * * * Another method of forming openings under water consists in forming a temporary water-tight joint between the hollow pile 1 and the detachable point S and, after the latter has been driven to the proper depth, pouring the concrete into the hollow pile and withdrawing the latter, either slowly or a little at a time, the temporary water-tight joint being broken on the withdrawal of the pile, so that the concrete can escape into the opening above the point as shown in Fig. 10, the concrete gradually displacing the water in the opening from the bottom of the same to the top. The concrete is introduced into the hollow pile at such a rate as always 'to maintain a head of concrete •at the bottom' of the same. This system of filling can also be adopted in cases where the nature of the ground is unstable, so as not to sustain the shape of the opening if the pile is wholly removed before introducing the concrete, or, as shown in Fig. 11, it can be employed in cases, where the long coffer-dam casing 11 is used, the concrete being filled into the latter slowly or intermittently and the coffer-dam casing being withdrawn slowly or intermittently so as to form the pile from the bottom to the top.”
“5. As í¡ device for forming in the ground an opening for the subsequent reception of concrete or otner fluid or plastic material, a removable preparatory pile baving a coffer-dam detachably secured thereto in such manner that the two can be driven together and the pile can be afterwards withdrawn, leaving the coffer-dam in the opening, substantially as specified.”
"0. ks a device for forming in the ground an opening for the subsequent reception of concrete or other fluid or plastic material, a removable pile having an enlarged point and a casing serving aa a coffer-dam, substantially as specified.”
In the description of the process patent No. 739,268 nothing material to the decision of this suit is disclosed which is not in substance contained or shown in the descriptive portion of the apparatus patent No. 733,288. The claims in suit of the process patent are Nos. 1, 3, 9 and 10, reading as follows:
“1. The method of forming concrete piles, which consists in forming a. preparatory pilc»w’ith a coffer-dam around the same, sinking said pile and cofferdam into position to form a hole, withdrawing the pile, and then filling the hole with concrete and permitting the latter to set, substantially as specified.”
“3. The method of forming concrete piles, which consists in forming a preparatory pile with an enlarged point and a surrounding coffer-dam, sinking said pile and eoffei--dam into position to form a hole, withdrawing the pile, and then filling the hole'with concrete and permitting the latter to set, substantially as specified.”
“0. The method of forming concrete piles, which consists in forming a preparatory pile with surrounding coffer-dam, sinking said pile and coffer-dam into position to form a hole, withdrawing the pile, then Ailing the hole with concrete and contemporaneously withdrawing the coffer-dam as the concrete accumulates therein, and then permitting the concrete to set, substantially as specified.
‘TO. The method of forming concrete piles which consists in forming a preparatory pile with an enlarged point and surrounding coffer-dam, sinking the said pile and coffer-dam into position to form a hole, withdrawing the pile, then filling the hole with concrete and contemporaneously withdrawing the coffer-dam as the concrete accumulates therein, and then permitting the concrete to set, substantially as specified.”
All the claims in suit under both of the patents, whether relating to apparatus or to process, have to do with a removable preparatory-pile in combination with a coffer-dam. The body of the pile is cylindrical and may be hollow or solid, and is provided with an enlarged point somewhat greater in diameter than the body of the pile. The greater diameter of the point is intended and operates to minimize the frictional contact of the pile with the walls of the opening formed by the driving of it. The point of the pile is “detachable therefrom,” but remains attached or is detached according to the exigency of the circumstances. 'While having a greater diameter than the body of the pile, the point may under the true construction of the patents have a diameter either less or greater than the interior diameter of the coffer-dam. If it is greater than such interior diameter it is of course impossible to withdraw the pile through the coffer-dam without detaching the point. If it be less than such interior diameter, the pile may be withdrawn through ihe coffer-dam without detachment of the point. If the point be detached from the body of the pile to .per
“Fig. 1 represents the preparatory pile, which, as shown, is in the form of a metal tube, although it may be a solid pile of wood or metal, if desired, this pile being provided at the top with a suitable driving-head 2, and at the bottom with a point 3, which in the present instance is detachable from the pile,” etc.
The context as well as necessary construction require that the words “is detachable” be read “is to be detached,” and not “may be detached.” But while the point is to be detached “in the present instance,” namely, where, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the point is too large to pass through the coffer-dam, there is no suggestion that the point must be detached where it is small enough to pass through the coffer-dam, or the coffer-dam is large enough to allow it to pass through it. The use of the words “in the present instance” negatives the idea that the point of the pile is to be detached where the pile is to be withdrawn with its point through the coffer-dam. In both of the patents the patentee has clearly shown his intention and understanding that the preparatory pile may be removed through the cofferdam while the point remains attached to the body of the pile. In the description of patent No. 733,288 he says:
“If the point is attached to the pile, the casing 11 will be sufficiently large to permit of the withdrawal of said point through the same,” etc.
And in the description of patent No. 739,268 he reiterates-:
“If the point is attached to the pile, the casing 11 will be sufficiently large to permit the withdrawal of said point with the pile,” etc.
There is ho uncertainty in the instruction of the patents in suit on this subject. The patentee virtually says:
“Here are three figures showing a coffer-dam and a preparatory pile, with a point too large to pass through the coffer-dam. The point is therefore to be detached before withdrawing the body of the pile. But enlarge the cofferdam shown in the figures and you may withdraw the pile with its point attached.”
There was no necessity for further drawings to illustrate the plain and unmistakable teaching of the patents in this connection. Each of the several claims in suit under both patents refers to a removable pile and a coffer-dam through which the pile is to be removed or withdrawn. Every preparatory pile is provided with a point greater in
The defendant sets up by way of alleged anticipation certain prior patents and publications; but I do not find that any of the claims in suit have been anticipated. What has been termed the British Journal or Clere Method, set forth in the Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1894, substantially differs from the claims of the patent in suit both in apparatus and process. The apparatus there described discloses a pile body referred to as a “dolly.” The dolly is inserted in a casing or coffer-dam, the lower end of which is detachably connected with a point having within it a hollow or depression filled or approximately filled with sand, the point with its hollow or depression being termed a “shoe.” The shoe is too large in diame
“In case the ground is in the nature of quick-sand or such as to preclude the opening from retaining its shape after the pile has been pulled out the casing 11 may be of the full length of the pile and riveted or otherwise firmly fastened to the point and permitted to remain in the opening with said point when the pile is withdrawn,” etc.
The description of patent No. 739,268 contains a substantially similar statement. In apparatus conforming to the above statements,, however, the pile is driven into the ground not through the instrumen
Equally irrelevant is the British patent of 1864 to John Potter. No coii'er-dam is disclosed. The following statement in the provisional specification sufficiently indicates the inapplicability of that patent loth e subject-matter of the claims in suit:
“The tube being driven into the earth (with the point foremost) a sufficient depth, the tube is filled with the composition, the tube being then withdrawn, the loose tip is left in the earth, and the hole as the tube is withdrawn becomes filled with the composition, which being wetted hardens in the usual r.umner. In certain cases, however, instead of extracting the tube X leave it in the earth,” etc.
The United States patent No. 589,026, granted to Alfred A. Raymond in August, 1897, has, so far as I can see, no relevancy whatever to the case under consideration.
The defendant contends that the prior art was such as to negative patentable invention on the part of Shuman, and refers to sundry prior patents and devices, among which are patents relating to the sinking of well-tubes and piles for divers other purposes. But the matters thus disclosed are not sufficient, I think, to overcome the prima facie presumption of validity of the claims in suit arising from the grant of letters patent. The various methods and apparatus are either not in the same art or differ in essential particulars from the apparatus and process of the patents in suit.
On the question of infringement there is a serious contention between counsel. There is no uncertainty as to the character of the alleged infringing apparatus and process or as to their use by the defendant. The defendant has admitted on the record for the purposes of this suit that subsequent to the issue of the letters patent Nos. 733,288 aud 739,268, and since the Simplex Foundation Company became the licensee of the Simplex Concrete Piling Company, and within six years prior to the filing of the bill of complaint, it, the defendant, without the license or consent of the complainants, or either of them, used in Philadelphia and elsewhere in the United States the alleged infringing process and apparatus, such apparatus being illustrated in “Exhibit Defendant’s Structure.” In this structure there was a hollow steel core having a permanently attached steel point closing its lower end, a permanently attached steel head closing its upper end, and a permanently attached external steel band, an outer steel casing sixteen inches in diameter and three-eighths of an inch thick, with reinforcing outer steel bands at the top and bottom respectively on the outer steel casing. The core was smaller in diameter than the interior of the casing, but was a longer pipe than the casing, the enlarged head of the core engaging the top of the casing, and its lower
“The core was fitted into the casing and both were driven in the ground together to the desired depth for the length of the concrete pile to be formed: the core was then pulled out and w'et concrete was dropped into the opening, the core was then used as a rammer, and subsequently the casing was filled to the top with wet concrete, and the casing was then removed slowly and evenly, the concrete falling into position and filling out the thin space formerly occupied by the casing.”
In this apparatus used by the defendant the steel casing, indifferently called the “outer steel casing” and the “casing,” is a coffer-dam. The hollow steel core with its permanently attached steel point and with its steel head is a preparatory removable pile. The permanently attached steel band around the core a short distance above its point, with the portion of the core below it, together with the steel point, forms or is the equivalent of an enlarged point, and being of slightly less diameter than the interior of the coffer-dam is withdrawn with the core or preparatory pile through tire coffer-dam. The apparatus so used, by the defendant was, though differing somewhat in form, essentially the same as 'that of the “Continental System” employed by the Cranford Paving Companjq a licensee of the Simplex Concrete Piling Company in 1908 at Continental, Missouri. The apparatus so used at Continental, and the manner in which it was used constitute, I think, an embodiment of the subject-matter of the claims in suit. The defendant’s apparatus includes a “removable preparatory pile having a coffer-dam detachably secured thereto in such manner that the two can' be driven together and the pile can be afterward withdrawn, leaving the coffer-dam in the opening,” as set forth in claim 5 of patent No. 733,288. It also includes a “removable pile having an enlarged point and a casing serving as a coffer-dam,” as set forth in claim 9 of the same patent. The enlargement of the point as has alréady been stated is an enlargment relatively to the diameter of the body of the pile, such enlargement, however, being slightly within the limits of the diameter of the interior of the casing or coffer-dam. The method of using the apparatus complained of includes, “forming a preparatory pile with a coffer-dam around the same, sinking said pile and coffer-dam into position to form a hole, withdrawing the pile, and then filling the hole with concrete and permitting the latter to set” as set forth in claim 1 of patent No. 739,268. It also includes “forming a preparatory pile with an enlarged point and a surrounding coffer-dam, sinking said pile and coffer-dam into position to form a hole, withdrawing the pile and then filling the hole with concrete and permitting the latter to set” as set forth in claim 3 of the same patent. It also includes “forming a preparatory pile with surrounding-coffer-dam, sinking said pile and coffer-dam into position to form a hole, withdrawing the pile, then filling the hole with concrete and contemporaneously withdrawing the coffer-dam as the concrete accumulates therein, and then permitting the concrete to set,” as set forth in
On the whole I have reached the conclusion that the claims in suit of patents Nos. 733,288 and 739,268 are valid and have been infringed by the defendant. An interlocutory decree in accordance with this opinion may be prepared and submitted.
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Reference
- Full Case Name
- SIMPLEX CONCRETE PILING CO. v. MacARTHUR CONCRETE PILE & FOUNDATION CO.
- Status
- Published