IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD BLOCK OR OTHER PAVEMENTS AND IN THE METHOD OF LAYING OR FIXING THE SAME
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Hughes of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD BLOCK OR OTHER PAVEMENTS
AND IN THE METHOD OF LAYING OR FIXING THE SAME.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Hughes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1882.
EDWARD HUGHES of Liverpool in the county of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
WOOD BLOCK OR OTHER PAVEMENTS AND IN THE METHOD OF LAYING OR FIXING
THE SAME M
ม
This invention consists in an improved form of wood or other. blocks, and a
method of effectually securing the same on concrete, brick or stone floors, by simply
bedding the same in mortar, pitch or cement, without any other fastening.
My object has been to produce a wood or other floor suitable for Railway
Stations, Schools, Churches or Warehouses, where a noiseless yet warm floor is
desirable, especially in the case of ground or basement rooms, where a thorough
ventilating space cannot be conveniently obtained, under ordinary sleeper joists and
boarded floors. The form of block may be square, rectangular or of any geometrical
or fancy shape and any thickness from 14 inches upwards, w
!
I usually prepare timber for this purpose in long lengths (cross cut afterwards)
and plane and rebate it on the bottom edges.by a planing or moulding machine,
the rebate is of such shape that when the edges of two blocks come together the
two rebates form a single dovetail. The dovetail thus formed, becomes entirely
filled with the material in which the blocks are laid forming with the bedding
material one compact hard mass, from which it is impossible for any block in the
floor to loosen itself. In some cases it is desirable to form blocks or tiles with &
single dovetail hollow in their base. In this case I perforate the block with a small
hole to let the air escape. This is not requisite with wood pavement as the joint
between the pieces acts as an air escape. .

page_text: By this method of securing the wood or other blocks, the joints may be made
perfectly close, there being no necessity for any grouting to assist in securing the
same the wood floors may be made of various kinds of wood and dressed off on
the surface for oil or wax polish, when not intended to be covered.
I have described the invention especially with a view to wood floorings as it is 5
to that material that it will be chiefly applied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd May 1883.
EDWARD HUGHES of Liverpool in the county of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WOOD-BLOCK OR OTHER PAVEMENTS, AND IN THE METHOD OF LAYING OR FIXING-
THE SAME,"
This invention consists in an improved form of wood or other blocks, and a
method of effectually securing the same on concrete, brick, or stone floors, by simply
bedding the same in mortar, pitch, or cement, without any other fastening.
My object has been to produce a wood or other floor suitable for Railway
Stations, Schools, Churches, or Warehouses, where a noiseless and warm floor is
desirable, especially in the case of ground or basement rooms, where a thorough
ventilating space cannot be conveniently obtained under ordinary sleeper joists and
boarded floors. The form of block may be square, rectangular, or of any geometrical
or fancy shape, and any thickness from 11 inches upwards.
;
I usually prepare timber for this purpose in long lengths (cross-cut afterwards),
and plane and rebate it on the bottom edges by a planing or moulding machine
the rebate is of such shape, that when the edges of two blocks come together, the
two rebates form a single dovetail. The dovetail thus formed, becomes entirely
filled with the material in which the blocks are laid, forming with the bedding
material one compact hard mass, from which it is impossible for any block in the
floor to loosen itself. In some cases it is desirable to form blocks or tiles with a
single dovetail hollow in their base. In this case I perforate the block with a small
hole to let the air escape. This is not requisite with wood pavement, as the joint
between the pieces acts as an air escape.
By this method of securing the wood or other blocks, the joints may be made
perfectly close, there being no necessity for any grouting to assist in securing the
same the wood floors may be made of various kinds of wood, and dressed off on
the surface for oil or wax polish, when not intended to be covered.
In the drawings
Fig. 1.-shows the most improved form of my invention in section.
Fig 2-a much less useful variation suitable in some cases, and
Fig. 3-view on a smaller scale in plan

page_text: In these A A are the wood or other blocks, B cement, C concrete or other
foundation below, D air-holes, sometimes used, but not absolutely necessary
Now I am well aware that tiles and wood blocks have been laid in cement
before now, that their backs have been grooved or roughened so as to hold to the
cement better, and that it has been proposed to make a cement tongue by grooving
out a mortice in each block, and grouting in cement so as to form a tongue pro-
jecting into each mortice, but I do not believe it has ever before been proposed to
embed the block in the cement in the manner described so as to form a cement
dovetail attached to the cement below, and formed in one with it, rigidly holding
the block down to the floor, and it is this method of laying wood block or other
pavements, and the manufacture of pavements so laid, that I wish to protect under
the Letters Patent.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Hughes have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty second day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
EDWARD HUGHES (L.S.)