IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING ROADS, STREETS, AND FOOTWAYS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND PAVING OF TRAMROADS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Charles Hill, of Stevenage, in the County
of Herts, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING
ROADS, STREETS, AND FOOTWAYS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND PAVING OF
TRAMROADS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Charles Hill
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th July 1872.
I, HENRY CHARLES HILL, of Stevenage, in the County of Herts,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN PAVING ROADS, STREETS, AND FOOTWAYS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION
AND PAVING OF TRAMROADS," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention has reference to the paving of roadways,
streets, and footpaths with wood alone, and with wood and metal com-
bined, or with wood, metal, and stone.
In constructing wood pavement formed of separate cubes or blocks I
find it most economical to cut the blocks from planks or deals, or from
baulk timber, the width of the plank or deal forming the length of the

page_text: ·
paving block. I then prepare the blocks by desiccating or drying them
in an air chamber, and I afterwards saturate them, under pressure or
otherwise, with some preservative compound, or solution, or preparation
to preserve them from the effects of oxidation.
-
By preference I employ for this purpose solution of silicates, with or
without tungstate or a base of tungstate, or otherwise I use phosphates,
or any solution by which combination the soluble silicates are trans-
formed into an insoluble silicate; or I use sulphates, or sulphides, or other
preserving agents for the purpose of filling up and solidifying the cellular
tissues and fibres of the wood, and preserve it from dry rot and decay,
and which also render it non-inflammable; and I employ for the same
purpose a solution of india-rubber, or a solution of india-rubber mixed
with tar, and steep the wood in a solution of glue or size, and afterwards
subject it to a tanning process by steeping it in a pit filled with tanning
solutions, by which the fibres are hardened and consolidated. This mode
of treating wood for paving purposes is equally well adapted for the
sleepers for tramroads. The blocks prepared in this manner are placed
in situ with caulking strips of wood in the form of guide rails between
each row or series of paving blocks. The channels or spaces thus formed
between each row or series of blocks is then filled up with artificial stone,
asphalte, or mixed material which gives a better foothold for horses than
the ordinary wood pavement, and I may employ for the same purpose
rings or strips of lead or other metal.
In some instances I employ asphalte or other bituminous substance
mixed with sand or finely washed ballast, and made thoroughly hot, both
as a foundation for the wood blocks, and for filling up the interstices
between the rows of blocks, and I fill up the interstices and make a
solid uniform level surface after the blocks have been laid down upon a
surface of artificial stone, or asphalte, or asphalte and ballast, and having
the caulking strips forming the guide rails, as herein-before described.
I sometimes use wood sleepers or boards for the under surface or
foundation for the blocks, which sleepers or boards I lay upon or imbed
in asphalte, or artificial stone, or in asphalte and ballast; or the founda-
tion may be made of fine shingle or river sand, on which the sleepers or
boards are placed, the spaces being filled up with the same materials
made thoroughly level, on which are placed the cubes or blocks of
paving.

page_text: To provide for heavy' traffic I place wood sleepers close together.
parallel to each other, and when necessary a second layer or series of
sleepers is placed transversely thereon, and the first or bottom series.of
sleepers being set apart from each other there is formed a kind of lattice-
work, the spaces between being filled with asphalte, artificial stone,
shingle, ballast, or sand, the whole being made level for the reception of
the cubes or paving blocks.
.
"or
Another part of my Invention under this head consists of coupling or
connecting two or more cubes or blocks together, which admits of more
work being done in the contractor's yard, and consequently saves time
in laying pavement in the streets, which I call my duplex paving. The
blocks to be connected together are cut from the with of the plank
which forms the length of the cube, the grain of the wood being placed
on end, or in a vertical direction. and they are "grooved" or
"channelled " for tongueing on one or both of their opposite broad sides
longitudinally; or instead of this mode of coupling I sometimes couple
the blocks by means of metal tongues and clamps, and square shouldered
iron staples driven in across the blocks firmly. When the blocks are
coupled by tongueing and grooving the grooves are formed across the
grain lengthwise, and so are tongued or dovetailed.
Another mode consists of forming what I term a sectional wood pave-
ment consisting of a series of blocks in a frame or framework, either
tongued or grooved together, or clamped or dovetailed, the bars and
rails of the frame, whether of wood or metal, forming the tongues of the
grooved or channelled blocks, by which means the paving blocks are
fastened and held firmly together in rows. Any number or series of
blocks convenient in size for practical purposes may thus be fixed in one
frame simply by tongueing and grooving. I construct the frames with
an under layer of boards or strips of wood attached to the frame and
blocks on their under sides or resting surface, to secure a solid and
additional support to the superstructure. This form of pavement admits
of repairs being done without disturbing more of the roadway than the
particular part where the injury has occurred; and in using this block
wood pavement I provide a foothold for horses by leaving a space
between each row of paving blocks, which forms a channel or groove,
and I effect this either by chamfering the surface edges of the paving.
blocks, or by placing the caulking strips of wood of proper thickness
and width between each row and series of blocks, the caulking strips

page_text: resting on the same foundation as the paving blocks, and such caulking
pieces serving as guide rails for securing the paving blocks in a
rectangular position. I obtain the same effect by employing, when
tongueing and grooving, a series of tongues made in a T shape, or in the
form of a +, the horizontal section of the T or + fitting into the grooves
formed on the blocks. The vertical section of the T or + shaped tongue
being of the size and thickness required for forming the space of the
caulking piece between each row a series of blocks, by which means
the blocks are held firmly together in a rectangular position, the
interstices being filled up and made solid with the artificial stone,
asphalte, or ballast.
In order to give elasticity to the wood pavement, and to deaden sound,
I sometimes place between the wood sleepers or boards, and the cubes or
blocks, strips or pieces of india-rubber, felt, cork, or other elastic
material or soft fibre as a spring or elastic packing, and I also employ
layers of sawdust or of sand between the sleepers and the paving blocks,
or between the boards and the foundation.
Another part of my Invention relates to the construction of a founda-
tion for wood paving, or for wood and iron paving, and consists of the
use of artificial stone, or of asphalte combined with concrete, or Portland,
or other cement, with shingle or sand mixed with soluble silicate
solutions, and of the use of carbonate or sulphate of lime, gypsum, or
other sulphates and sulphides which form a hard foundation upon which
the sleepers or blocks may rest, or wherein they may be embedded.
Another part of my Invention relates to the construction of metal
paving, called composite pavement, and to wood, metal, and stone
paving combined, which mode of paving is well adapted for tram roads
or ways. It consists of the use of layers of wood and iron, one over the
other, and of intermixed rows of wood and iron, for example, one metal
block is placed between two wood blocks, or vice versa, one wood block
between two metal blocks.
My Invention relates also to the construction of metal blocks for
paving purposes. I make the paving or tread blocks tubular, cellular,
and hollow, or of solid cast iron or wrought iron, and of iron and steel
combined, fluted or indented on their surface. When made of cast iron
I have the frame or plates cast of the design required, with perforations,
grooves, and shoulders or key pieces by which the blocks are dovetailed.

page_text: I sometimes insert strips or rings of lead or other metal in between
these blocks. These metal cubes or blocks are placed in metal frames,
the bars or rails. of which form tongues also for holding the blocks in a
rectangular position, as in the case of the wood paving herein-before
described.
The second part of my Invention relates to the construction of tram-
roads. I construct tramways in sections laid transversely across the
roadway, and of varying levels. I usually construct the wheel-section
entirely of metal blocks or plates; but sometimes of metal blocks or
plates combined with wood, or composed entirely of wood, the section for
horse traffic or tread of the improved paving, herein-before described, of
wood blocks, or of wood and iron combined; the framework of the paving
blocks forms the bearing surface and rail of the tramway, dispensing
with the use of the ordinary rail; and sometimes I employ stone, wood,
or metal curbs or blocks placed so as to form guide rails longitudinally
of the tramway, or the tram wheel section may be grooved or channelled,
countersunk in the blocks. In this mode of forming a tramway, the
surface of the horseway or tread is slightly elevated above the tramway
carriage section, with a gentle gradient from the centre, and of the
width of the tram carriage. The carriage wheel section surface, paved
with wood and metal blocks, is on a level with the ordinary roadway,
and may be so constructed that the tram cars may run thereon on the
same level as the common carriages run, the horse tread section
forming a guide rail to assist in keeping the car in position.
"
Another mode consists of constructing the carriage wheel section
either of hard wood or asphalte paving with a combined wood and metal
or stone and wood paving for the horse traffic, so that tram cars may be
run on this system without the use of countersunk rails.
30.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Charles Hill in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
CHARLES HILL, of Stevenage, in the County of Herts, Engineer, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Charles Hill, Her special
license that I, the said Henry Charles Hill, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Charles
Hill, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PAVING ROADS, STREETS, AND FOOTWAYS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND
PAVING OF TRAMROADS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henry Charles Hill, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Charles Hill, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :—
The first part of my Invention has reference to the paving of roadways,
streets, and footpaths, with wood alone, and with wood and metal
combined, or with wood, metal, and stone.
In constructing wood pavement formed of separate cubes or blocks I
find it most economical to cut the blocks from planks or deals, or from
baulk timber the width of the plank or deal forming the length of the
paving block. I then prepare the blocks by dessicating or drying them
in an air chamber, and I afterwards pickle or saturate them under
pressure or otherwise with some imperishable or preservative compound
or solution or preparation to preserve them from the effects of oxidation.
By preference I employ for this purpose solutions of silicates with or
without tungstate or its solutions, or base of tungstate or otherwise. I
use phosphates or any other solution or soluble solutions of phosphates,

page_text: barytas, by which combination the soluble silicates are transformed into
an insoluble silicate, or I use sulphates or sulphites, any of the chlorides,
or other preserving agents for the purpose of filling up and solidifying the
cellular tissues and fibres of the wood, and preserve it from dry rote and
decay, which also render it non-inflammable; and I employ for the same
purpose a solution of india-rubber or a solution of india-rubber mixed with
tar, and also steep the wood in a solution of glue or size chemically pre-
pared, and afterwards subject it to a tanning process by steeping it in a
pit filled with tanning solutions, by which the fibres are hardened and
consolidated. This mode of treating wood for paving purposes is equally
well adapted for the sleepers for tramroads. The wood blocks treated and
prepared in this manner are placed in situ with caulking strips of wood
in the form of guide rails between each row or series of paving blocks.
The channels or spaces thus formed between each row or series of blocks
is then filled up with artificial stone, asphalte, or mixed material, which
gives a better foothold for horses than the ordinary wood pavement, and I
may employ for the same purpose rings or strips of lead or other metal.
In some instances I employ asphalte or other bituminous substance
mixed with sand or finely washed ballast, and made thoroughly hot,
both as a foundation for the wood blocks and for fitting up the interstices
between the rows of blocks; and I fill up the interstices and make a
solid uniform level surface after the blocks have been laid down upon a
surface of artice stone or asphalte, or asphalte and-ballast, and having
the caulking strips forming the guide rails, as herein-before described.
I sometimes use wood sleepers or boards for the under surface or
foundation. for the blocks, which sleepers or boards I lay upon or imbed
in asphalte or artice stone or in asphalte and ballast, or the foundation
may be made of fine shingle or river sand, on which the sleepers or
boards are placed, the space being filled up with the same materials
made thoroughly level, on which are placed the cubes or blocks of
paving.
To provide for heavy traffic I place wood sleepers close together,
parallel to each other, and when necessary, a second layer or series of
sleepers is placed transversely thereon, and so arranged and set apart for
each cable or block to have equal support or bearing surface throughout,
and for an economical foundation or under lay, the first or bottom series
of sleepers being set apart from each other, there is formed a kind of
lattice work, the spaces between being filled with asphalte, artificial

page_text: stone, shingle, ballast, or sand, the whole being made level for the
reception of the cubes or paving blocks.
Another improved mode or form of wood paving in the construction
of roads and carriage ways by dividing the roads into sections and em-
ploying two or more sets of wood blocks, for instance, for the side a
sections of the road for heavy traffic, I prefer to employ hard wood
blocks, by preference elm blocks, and for the centre of the roadway for
light traffic, to be constructed of the improved blocks, laid on a suitable
foundation, as herein-before described, thus securing a more durable and
economical paving.
I prefer to employ the wood blocks cut on their ends horizontally
of the shape and form as to dovetail or fit into each other at their
ends, as shewn in the Drawings. I claim to use in my improved wood
paving this system of block fitting into each other, whereby they are
held firmly together, thus securing a better foothold for inclines and
heavy traffic; these may be prepared, as herein-before described, for the
preservation of the wood.
Another part of my Invention under this head consists of coupling
or connecting two or more tubes or blocks together, which admits of
more work being done in the contractor's yard, and consequently saves
time in laying pavement in the streets, which I call my duplex pave-
ment. The blocks to be connected together are cut from the width
of the plank which forms the length of the cube, the grain of the wood
being placed on end or in a vertical direction, and they are grooved
or channelled for tongueing on one or both of their opposite broad
sides longitudinally; or instead of this mode of coupling I sometimes
couple the blocks by means of metal tongues and clamps, and square
shouldered iron staples driven in across the blocks firmly. When the
blocks are coupled by tongueing and grooving, the grooves are formed
across the grain lengthwise, and so are tongued or dovetailed.
Another mode consists of forming what I term a sectional wood
pavement, consisting of a series of blocks in a frame or framework
either tongued or grooved together, or clamped or dovetailed, the bars
or rails of the frame whether of wood or metal forming the tongue
of the grooved or channelled blocks, by which means the paving blocks
are fastened and held firmly together in rows; any number or series
of blocks convenient in size for practical purposes may thus be fixed

page_text: in one frame simply by tongueing or grooving. I construct the frames
with an under layer of boards or strips of wood attached to the frame,
and blocks on their under sides or resting surface to secure a solid and
additional support to the superstructure. This form of pavement admits
of repairs being done without disturbing more of the roadway than the
particular part where the injury has occured; and in using this block
wood pavement I provide a foothold for horses by leaving a space
between each row of paving blocks which forms a channel or groove,
and I effect this either by chamfering the surface edges of the paving
blocks, or by placing the caulking strips of wood of proper thickness
and width between each row and series of blocks, the caulking strips
resting on the same foundation as the paving blocks, and such caulking
pieces serving as guide rails for securing the paving blocks in a
rectangular position. I obtain the saine effect by by employing, when
tongueing and grooving, a series of tongues made in a T shape, or in
the form of a +, the horizontal section of the T or + fitting into the
grooves formed on the blocks. The vertical section of the T or +
shaped tongue being of the size and thickness required for forming
the space of the caulking piece between each row or series of blocks,
by which means the blocks are held firmly together in a rectangular
position, the interstices being fitted up and made solid with artificial
stone, asphalte, or tar ballast.
In order to give elasticity to the wood pavement and to deaden sound
I sometimes place between the wood sleepers or boards and the cubes
or blocks, strips or pieces of india-rubber, felt, cork, or other elastic
material or soft fabric as a spring or elastic packing, and I also employ
layers of sawdust or of sand between the sleepers and the paving blocks,
or between the boards and the foundation.
Another part of my Invention relates to the construction of a foun-
dation for wood paving, or for wood and iron paving, and consists of the
use of artificial stone, or of asphalte combined with concrete, or Port-
land or other cement, with shingle or sand mixed with sololuble silicate
solutions, and of the use of carbonate or sulphate of lime, gypsum,
or other sulphates and sulphites which form a hard foundation, upon
which the sleepers or blocks may rest, or wherein they may be embedded.
Another part of my Invention relates to the construction of wood and
metal paving, called composite pavement, and to wood, metal, and stone

page_text: paving combined, which mode of paving is well adapted for tram roads
or ways. It consists of the use of layers of wood and iron, one over the
other, and of intermixed rows of wood and iron. For example, one
. metal block is placed between two wood blocks, or vice versa, one wood
block between two metal blocks.
My Invention relates also to the construction of metal blocks for
paving purposes. I make the paving or tread blocks tubular, cellular,
and hollow, or of solid cast iron or wrought iron, and of iron and steel
combined, fluted or indented on their surface. When made of cast iron
I have the frame or plates cast of the design required, with perforations,
grooves, and shoulders or key, with the tread surface plates, studs, or
metal pieces grooved, fluted, or otherwise indented on their surface for a
better foothold, being made to fit the metal blocks or case. Those
wearing surface plates are firmly secured by means of a pin or keypiece;
and also I employ another form of securing these tread surface plates or
pieces by means of a dovetail, or V, or other shaped slide and slot piece.
The tread plates or pieces are formed with a dovetail or V shape slot
piece to slide and fit into a cone responding groove or slot in or upon the
metal block or case. The tread plate studs or metal slips can be made
of any shape or design to insure a safe foothold, and being easier of
repair and removal, without disturbing the blocks or foundations. I
employ pieces by which the blocks are dovetailed.
I sometimes insert strips or rings of lead or other metal in between
these blocks. These metal cubes or blocks are placed in metal frames,
the bars or rails of which form tongues also for holding the blocks in a
rectangular position, as in the case of the wood paving herein-before
described.
•
The second part of my Invention relates to the construction of tram-
roads. I construct tramways in sections laid transversely across the
roadway, and of varying levels. I usually construct the wheel section
entirely of metal blocks or plates, but sometimes of metal blocks or
plates combined with wood, or composed entirely of wood; the section
for horse traffic or tread of the improved paving, herein-before described,
of wood blocks, or of wood and iron combined. The framework or metal
tie bars of the paving blocks, which may be either of wood or metal or
both combined, forms the bearing surface and rail of the tramway,
dispensing with the use of the ordinary rail; and sometimes I employ wood

page_text: or metal cubes or blocks or series of wood or metal blocks grooved
transversly or across the blocks centrally for the tram wheel to run in,
inserted or countersunk. I employ a metal tie tail or bar placed so as
to form guide rails longitudinally of the tramway, or the tram wheel
section may be grooved or channelled countersunk in the blocks. In
this mode of forming a tramway the surface of the horseway or tread is
slightly elevated above the tramway carriage section, with a gentle
gradient from the centre and of the width of the tram carriage. The
carriage wheel section surface paved with wood and metal blocks is on
a level with the ordinary roadway, and may be constructed that the tram
cars may run thereon on the same level as the common carriages
run, the horse tread section forming a guide rail to assist in keeping
the car in position.
Another mode consists of constructing the carriage wheel section
either of hard wood or asphalte paving, with a combined wood and metal
or stone and wood paving for the horse traffic, so that tram cars may be
run on this system without the use of countersunk.
In lieu of rails, where rails are now employed, I use an improved form
of tramways, the rail being formed of a flat bar of iron grooved its whole
length, or formed of a plain solid bar of iron of the substance of the
present form of tram rails, with the edge of the bar or rail made square
on the inside of the rail for the flange of the wheel to butt against.
When flanged wheels are used, the off or outside section or edge of the
rail being. bevelled about a third or more of its width from the centre
of the rail to its edge, pierced with countersunk holes for spiking or
fastening the rail; and I use several novel forms of rails for tramways,
with a view to economy and to diminishing friction.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Charles Hill, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.