AN IMPROVED PAVING FOR ROADS, WAYS, AND OTHER PLACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Dennison, of King Street, Cheapside, in
the City of London, Architect, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PAVING
FOR ROADS, WAYS, AND OTHER PLACES."
led the 1st September 1876, and dated the 17th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Dennison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th March 1876.
Architect.
JOHN WILLIAM DENNISON, of King Street, Cheapside, in the City of London,
"AN IMPROVED PAVING FOR ROADS, WAYS, AND OTHER PLACES."
This Invention relates to a new or improved combination of wood blocks of an
improved double wedged form with iron key blocks of a double wedged and serrated
form, and bitumen or similar plastic and cementing material, whereby extreme
durability and resistance to heavy traffic is secured with a safer and surer foothold
for horses, and a comparative noiselessness than has hitherto been devised for road-
ways. For this purpose I employ an ordinary wood paving block, say, seven inches
deep by nine inches long, and three inches wide or thereabouts, tapered from near the
centre towards the upper and lower surfaces, so that both upper and lower surfaces
are reduced to nine inches by two inches or thereabouts, whilst its sectional area
(taken horizontally) across the centre remains nine inches by two inclics or
thereabouts.
A key block is employed advantageously made of cast iron or other metal of
similar depth to the wood block, say, seven inches or thereabouts, and of suitable
size, say, 18 inches long, and, say, half an inch thick or thereabouts, with small
wedged-shaped projections cast alternately on each side with the thin edges towards
the centre, so that the upper and lower surfaces or edges of the metal koy blocks
present an irregular serrated surface, say, about half an inch wider on either side
than the iron block is thick in centre, and with perforations near the contre to admit
the binding material grouted in between the wedges on surface.
The wood blocks and iron blocks are then laid in alternative rows in the ordinary
way on a good solid bed of concrete or other material, and grouted in with bitumi-
nous or other binding substance, and whilst my improved paving affords the
advantages of extreme durability, secure foothold, and comparative noiselessness,
thus combining in a practical way small independent blocks of iron with small
independent blocks of wood so doubly interlocked the one with the other that

page_text: increased pressure and wear and tear will tend only to compress them into ono
immoveable mass. Tho upper and lower edges of the blocks are similar and
reversible.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John William Dennison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
September 1876.
«<
JOHN WILLIAM DENNISON, of King Street, Cheapside, in the City of London,
Architect. AN IMPROVED PAVING FOR ROADS, WAYS, AND OTHER PLACES."
This Invention relates to a new or improved combination of wood blocks of an
improved double wedged form with iron key blocks of a double wedged and serrated
form, and bitumen or similar plastic or other cementing material, whereby extreme
durability and resistance to heavy traffic is secured, with a safer and surer foothold
for horses (and a comparative noiselessness) than has hitherto been devised for
roadways. For this purpose employ an ordinary wood paving block, say, six
inches deep by nine inches long, and three inches wide or thereabouts, but tapered
on both sides from or near the centre towards the upper and lower surfaces, so that
both upper and lower surfaces are reduced to nine inches by two inches or there-
abouts, whilst its sectional area (taken horizontally) across the centre remains nine
inches by three inches or thereabouts.
A key block is employed advantageously made of cast iron or other metal of
similar depth to the said wood block, say, six inches or thereabouts, and of suitable
size, say, 18 inches long, and say, half an inch thick or thereabouts, with sinall
wedge shaped projections cast alternately on each side with the thin edges towards
the centre, so that the upper and lower surfaces or edges of the metal key blocks
present an irregular serrated surface, say, about half an inch wider on either side
than the iron block is thick in centre, and with perforations near the centre to admit
the binding material grouted in between the wedges on surface.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Drawings hercunto annexed show different views of
an iron key block of suitable form for carrying out my improvements, the upper
and lower edges of which are similar and reversible.
The wood blocks a and iron blocks bare laid, as shown by Figures 5 and 6, in
alternate rows across the road in the ordinary way on a good solid bed of concrete
or other material, and grouted in with bituminous or other binding substance, and
whilst my improved paving affords the advantages of impermeability, extreme
durability, secure foothold, and comparative noiselessness, it combines in a practical
way small independent blocks of iron b with small independent blocks of wood a so
doubly interlocked the one with the other that increased pressure and wear and
tear will tend only to compress them into one immoveable mass.
By this improved arrangement and combination of wood and metal blocks it will
be found that the metal will take the wear from the wood, and will itself become
firmly embedded between the blocks of wood, and thereby prevented from sinking
into the concrete bed, and so that the two materials will mutually support and
maintain and preserve each other, and distribute the pressure of heavy racking
traffic in a manner bitherto unattained.
Having now particularly described and set forth the nature of my said Invention
and the manner of its application, I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details shewn in the Drawings, as variations may be made
therefrom without affecting the broad principle or main features thereof; thus, the
metal blocks may be without the serrations on surface, and less in depth, length, and
thickness, and the wood greater in width and in long lengths instead of short blocks,
and the provision for and the cementing or grouting material in some cases dispensed
with, as shown in Figure 7; but what I claim as my Invention is, the use and
application of wood of the improved doubled wedged convex section in combination

page_text: with small independent, portable, and easily laid key blocks of metal of double
concave section laid and interlocked together, substantially in the manner herein-
before described and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Dennson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
W.C.
JOHN W. DENNISON. (LS.)