Improvements in Block Paving.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
Improvements in Block Paving.
I, HENRY DANIEL BLAKE, of 203 Barry Road, East Dulwich in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This my invention relates to a novel and improved system of asphalte paving, and
it consists of asphalte blocks, or blocks of similar compositions formed with automatic
locking joints, and applicable for paving public roads, highways footpaths, public
drives, arcades, carriage entrances, etc., etc.; and possesses the advantage of being
impervious, resisting, silent, and at the same time elegant, characteristic and less
slipery than other asphalte paving. Moreover my improved blocks are portable, and
can be quickly and easily laid by inexperienced workmen, without the use of any
special tools or machinery.
The especial characteristic of this system of asphalte block paving consists in
forming laterally around the blocks a kind of groove or slot, which, (when the blocks
are laid in place upon the roads or ground,) enables them to be keyed together in one
piece, by the introduction into the joints of a suitable cement, mortar, or other
suitable plastic material which conforms itself to the grooves or slots and unites all
the blocks, the one with the other on all sides.
In preference the blocks made in accordance with this invention are formed of
two layers of asphalte, of bitumen, or of other convenient materials, the one side,
viz. that which is directly in contact with the earth, foundation or bed, is formed
of more economical materials, such as a mixture of asphalte and sand, or asphalte,
either foreign or British with fine gravel artificial bitumen, etc. etc.: the other or
upper surface, viz. :-that bearing the friction and shocks produced by the trafic
is composed of material of better quality, such as pure rock asphalte, or asphalte
slightly admixed with sand; or of British asphalte in all cases, it is necessary
that the two sides or surfaces should be composed of materials which readily
solidifies.
I now proceed more fully to describe my said invention, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings and to the figures and letters of reference marked
thereon like letters referring to like parts throughout.
·
Fig. 1. is a vertical section of a road-way constructed in accordance with this
invention; and Fig. 2. is a plan thereof. Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sections through
my improved blocks, and showing various grooves or slots, making joints, which I
may conveniently employ. Fig. 7. is a perspective elevation of one of my improved
paving blocks, and Fig. 8. shows one of the keys formed by the cement or mortar, or
other plastic material.
Each paving-block is formed of two surfaces or beds as aforedescribed; the lower
surface of an economical substance which can be conveniently impregnated with
sand or gravel;-in reality a sort of bituminous mortar: and the upper surface b, of
pure natural rock asphalte or asphalte slightly mixed with fine gritted sand.
Each paving-block is formed entirely around its sides with a slot or groove c
produced in the moulding, and taking one of the various forms represented in
Figs. 3 to 6.
The road-bed or foundation d is composed-as heretofore-of cement, mortar or
like and similar substances; and in the joints between the blocks is poured mortar
cement or other suitable material g which forms when hard a kind of key, represented
in part in Fig. 8, and whereby the paving blocks are locked together with great
solidity.

page_text: It is preferable to give to two or more of the lower edges of the blocks a slight
inclination as shown at e, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7, to facilitate the laying of them in
place, and to ensure the regular distance between them for the insertion of the
mortar cement or other suitable material g. If desired this said inclination may
extend entirely around the lower edge of the blocks. The blocks may however take
the form shown in Fig. 6. in which the inclination of the lower edges is dispensed
with, but in this case it is necessary to use a distance-piece or template, when laying
the blocks, in order to ensure the proper distance between the blocks for the cement
mortar or other suitable material g.
The spaces between the blocks parallel to the length of the street may in certain
cases be smaller than upon those sides at right angles thereto: the blocks being
laid preferably with their length at right angles to the width of the road, as is usual.
In block paving as now employed, it is usual to use half blocks to break the joints
when commencing to lay a second course. Now by this my invention I make blocks
equal in length to one block and a half, which obviates the necessity of halving the
blocks as is now the practice.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Paving blocks, moulded or otherwise formed for the most part of asphalte :
half of said paving blocks being composed of natural rock asphalte, and the lower half
being composed of natural rock asphalte impregnated with sand or gravel, a groove
formed horizontally around or partially around the blocks, and two or more of the
lower edges formed with an inclination as shown, all substantially as and for the
purposes herein before set forth and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed,
2. Paving blocks, moulded or otherwise formed for the most of natural rock
asphalte the upper half of said paving blocks being composed of natural rock
asphalte, slightly impregnated with gritted sand, and the lower half of said blocks
composed of natural rock asphalte impregnated with gritted sand and fine gravel,
a groove formed entirely around or around two sides of the said blocks, and an
inclination extending entirely around, or formed upon two lower edges of the said
blocks, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. Paving blocks moulded or otherwise formed of asphalte; the upper half of said
paving blocks being composed of natural rock asphalte, or natural rock asphalte
slightly impregnated with gritted sand, and the lower half of said blocks composed
of British asphalte, a groove formed entirely around, or upon two sides of the said
blocks, and an inclination extending entirely around, or formed upon two lower
edges of said paving blocks, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set
forth and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
4. Paving blocks moulded or otherwise formed of asphalte; the upper half of said
paving blocks being composed of British asphalte or similar composition of fine quality,
and the lower half of said blocks being composed of British asphalte of coarser quality,
a groove formed entirely around or upon two sides of said blocks, and an inclination
extending entirely around or formed upon two of the lower edges of the said paving
blocks, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 26th dor of October 1800
HENRY DANIEL BLAKE.
By his Agents, Horn & Son.