CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMATION OF WOODEN BLOCKS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PAVEMENTS THEREWITH, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Mansfield Lloyd, of Nine Elms, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMATION OF
WOODEN BLOCKS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PAVEMENTS THEREWITH, AND
IN THE MACHINERY AND MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Sealed the 23rd May 1879, and dated the 27th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Mansfield Lloyd
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1878.
CHARLES MANSFIELD LLOYD, of Nine Elms, in the County of Surrey. "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMATION OF WOODEN BLOCKS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF PAVEMENTS THEREWITH, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND MEANS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR.
39
The object of this Invention is the construction of a wooden pavement or roadway
for vehicular traffic which will form a uniform permanent structure of great
durability and compactness, not liable to shrink or get loose, and thoroughly
impervious to damp and the action of the weather.
First. The improvements relate to the formation or shape of the wood blocks
employed in the construction of the roadway, and the mechanism for cutting
same.
Second. To the laying down and construction of the pavement or roadway by
means of such blocks in combination with granular substances.
The improvements may be thus described:-
The length or lengths of timber from which the peculiar form of block is cut is
somewhat similar to the lengths of timber out of which the brick like blocks are
formed now employed in the construction of ordinary wood pavements, but in lieu
of cutting such lengths of wood into plain oblong blocks I provide them with
grooves, one on each of their longitudinal sides.
I effect the severing of the block and the cutting of the grooves in the same
simultaneously by means of circular saws, one secured upon its spindle in a vertical
direction and two others slanting. The spindles to which these saws are secured

page_text: revolve in bearings fixed to a table or bench, one being placed above and the other
below the table or bed upon which the length of wood to be cut is supported.
The lower spindle is provided with two saws, the outer one of which is vertical
and adjustable as to its distance from the fence plate, determining the length of
block to be cut, and the other is skewed or placed at an angle which is adjustable
upon its spindle, as is also a similar saw on the upper spindle. The angular position
of these saws together with their distance apart, which is also adjustable, determine
the depth and width of the grooves to be cut in the sides of the block.
When these saws are adjusted and in a position for work, the length of wood to
be cut into blocks is placed against the fence plate of the bench, and as it is
successively brought into contact with the saws it is not only cut up into uniform
sized blocks but each block as it is being cut simultaneously receives the before
mentioned grooves in its sides.
.
The sliding rest carrying the wood is connected by a rod to one end of a lever
provided with a long slot from its fulcrum up to a point where it is connected with
the rod of the table or rest supporting the wood to be cut. Into this slot a crank
pin is inserted which, as it revolves, slides therein and gives to the lever a throw
equal to the traverse of the table or rest presenting the wood to the saws when
being cut into blocks. The peculiarity of the motion thus obtained gives to the
table a comparative rest or dwell whilst the crank pin is ascending during a portion
of its revolution, at which time the length of wood is pushed forward against the
fence plate, the crank pin is then near its top centre and is transmitting to the
table its quickest forward motion or feed, forcing the wood against the saw; but
immediately the saw has entered the wood and the crank pin has passed its top
centre, the feed gradually reduces itself, as the friction of the wood against the saw
is increased until the block is severed therefrom, at which time the crank pin is
approaching its bottom centre nearest to the fulcrum of the slotted lever, its con-
tinued revolution past this point gives a quick return or traverse of the table back
to its first position, when it again partially dwells as before mentioned, the length
of wood is again pushed forward, at which time, and as the crank pin revolves the
same operating of cutting the block is repeated.
Secondly. When constructing the roadway with these blocks I proceed as
follows:--
.The substratum or bed of the roadway upon which the blocks are to be laid I
prepare out of the maiden soil, or if concrete floated in cement, or planks of timber
placed in layers one over the other, as is usual and well known; in any case, I give
the substratum the right curvature or contour before I commence placing therein.
the upper pavement.
Upon the substratum so formed I place the block of wood either in a longitu-
dinal, transverse, or diagonal direction to the line of road, and in a position which
will bring their grooved surfaces opposite to each other so as to present, when laid,
continuous grooves, channels, or key ways between the substratum and the upper
surfaces forming the roadway.
When the blocks are so set, the keyed recesses or channels and spaces between
each layer or set of blocks I fill in with granular concrete or small stone which have
been previously washed and thoroughly cleaned.
Into the spaces or channels when so filled, Portland or other cement is poured,
which fills in the interstices formed by the small stones or concrete; this cement
when set firmly knits together in a compact mass the entire layers of wooden
blocks, which present an even uniform upper surface which will resist proportion-
ately and throughout its outer surface the load or weight pressing upon it; the
cement, concrete, and wooden blocks when set form a solid structure which resists
the action of damp and so prevents the absorbtion of water, which keeps the
substratum hard and dry, the whole presenting when set a pavement which is solid,
durable, and permanent.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by Samuel Sealy Allin, of Nine Elms, in the County of Surrey, one of the
Executors named in the last Will and Testament of Charles Mansfield Lloyd,
late of Nine Elms, in the County of Surrey, deceased, in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 27th May 1879.
"
"
SAMUEL SEALY ALLIN, of Nine Elms, in the County of Surrey, one of the
Executors named in the last Will and Testament of Charles Mansfield Lloyd, late
of Nine Elms, in the County of Surrey, deceased. CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE FORMATION OF WOODEN BLOCKS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PAVEMENTS
THEREWITH, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
"
The object of this Invention is the construction of a wooden pavement or roadway
for vehicular traffic which will form a uniform permanent structure of great
durability and compactness, not liable to shrink or get loose, and thoroughly
impervious to damp and the action of the weather.
First. The Invention relates to the formation or shape of the wood blocks
employed in the construction of the roadway and the mechanism for cutting
same, and,
Second. To the laying down and construction of the pavement or roadway
by means of such blocks in combination with granular substances and cement.
In order that the Invention may be well understood and explained in detail
there is hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of about one inch
and a half to the foot, similar letters of reference being marked on corresponding
11 1
TR
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the improved arrangement of machine
employed for severing the blocks of wood from a plank of timber presented to its
action, and simultaneously cutting key grooves in such blocks. Fig. 2 represents
a side elevation of the same, in which is also shewn the driving arrangement for
giving motion to the cutters or saws, and to the carriage or table supporting and
presenting the plank of timber (out of which the blocks are formed) to the action
of the cutters. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of a portion of a roadway
composed of the said key grooved wooden blocks and concrete. These blocks are
made in various sizes to suit the purposes for which they are subsequently
intended.
In Figs. 1 and 2, a is a length of plank or timber (by preference pitch pine) from
which the wooden blocks are cut; these blocks are in size and shape somewhat
similar to the brick like blocks now used in the construction of wood pavements,
with this exception, that the blocks cut by this machine are formed with longi-
tudinal key grooves on each of their sides. The severing of the block from the
plank of timber and cutting the key grooves in its sides are simultaneously effected
by means of the saws b, c, and d. The set of shouldering and skewed saws bare
secured to and driven by the top spindle e, and are designed for cutting the groove
in the upper surface of the block, whilst the set of shouldering and skewed saws c
secured to and driven by the under spindle fare designed for cutting the groove in
the under surface of the block. The under spindle f is also provided with the cross
cut saw d which severs the block from the length or plank of timber.
The whole of these saws are adjustable on their spindles, in order that their positions
and distances from each other and the fence plate g may be determined in accordance
with the size of block it is intended the saws shall groove and cut. The top
spindle e supporting the upper grooving saws b is adjusted to the thickness of the
plank of timber to be operated on by the screw and wheel h.
When the saws are adjusted and secured in position for work, the length or plank

page_text: of timber to be cut into blocks is placed with its end against the fence plate g on
the saw bench i, at which time the machine is started by the handle k, the action
of which causes the said length or plank of timber as it is successively presented to
the action of the saws (in manner hereinafter described) to be cut up into key
grooved blocks, similar in form to those shewn at Figs. 3 and 4. The carriage or
table m is mounted on wheels which run on rails n. This carriage is designed to
support the timber plank out of which the key grooved blocks are formed, and is
connected by the rod o with one end of the oscillating lever p; this lever is pro-
vided with a slot into which a sliding block actuated by the pin of the crank q is
inserted. The crank q receives its motion from the pulley r, which as it revolves
gives to the lever pa throw equal to the traverse of the carriage or table m
presenting the timber to the saws; the said traverse is regulated in extent according
to the width of plank to be cut by means of the handle s, the turning of which
extends or diminishes the throw of the crank pin.
The peculiarity of the motion transmitted to the carriage m through the medium
of the revolving crank q and oscillating lever p is such that the said carriage has a
comparative rest or dwell whilst the crank pin is ascending during a portion of its
revolution, at which time the length of plank is pushed forward against the fence
plate g, the crank pin is then advancing to its top centre, and whilst passing same
transmits to the carriage its quickest forward motion or feed, forcing the wood
against the saws; but immediately the saws have entred the wood the crank pin
having passed its top centre is now descending, which gradually reduces the speed
of traverse given to the carriage as the friction of the wood against the saws is
increased until the block is finally severed, at which time the crank pin is approach-
ing its bottom centre nearest to the fulcrum t of the oscillating lever p; its continued.
revolution past this point gives a quick return or traverse to the carriage m back to
its first position, when, during the partial dwell, the length of timber is again
pushed forward against the fence plate, and the operation of severing and grooving
the block is again repeated.
I would here remark that when dealing with heavy wood it will be more con-
venient to construct the machine in such a manner that the saws and not the table
supporting the timber shall traverse. According to this arrangement, the frame
supporting the saws shall be actuated to slide in manner similar to the sliding table
herein referred to in the previous arrangement. The tension of the straps driving
the saws during the time they are traversing I propose to maintain by mounting
the pullies driving such saws in bearings carried on one end of a radial arm
depending from the shaft upon which the main driving pulley is keyed. The
distance of the vibrating pullies driving the saws of the sliding saw bench is
uniformly maintained by means of rods or fixed connections interposed between the
said bench and the lower end of the radial arm.
Secondly. The formation or construction of the roadway will be understood on
reference to Figs. 3 and 4, which represent respectively a portion of the roadway in
transverse and longitudinal sections.
The substratium or bed u of the roadway upon which the blocks are to be laid I
prepare out of the maiden soil or of concretegrout, which, after its upper surface
has received its proper curvature or contour, I place thereon, and at slight distances
apart the key grooved wooden blocks v, either in a longitudinal, transverse, or
diagonal direction to the line of road and in a position which will bring their
grooved surfaces opposite each other, so as to present, when laid, continuous grooves,
channels, or keyways between the substratum and the upper surface forming the
roadway.
When the blocks are so set, the keyed recesses or channels and spaces between
each layer or set of blocks is filled in with fluid concrete grout, which settles and
fills in the key grooves and interstices between the blocks and so knits together in
one compact mass the entire layers of wooden blocks, which then present an even,
uniform upper surface and a solid structure which resists the action of damp and so
prevents the absorbtion of water, thus keeping the under bed or substratum hard

page_text: and dry, the whole presenting, when set, a pavement which is solid, durable, and
permanent.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the means
adopted for performing the same, it is to be distinctly understood in conclusion that
what is claimed as new and as of this Invention is,―
First. The novel arrangement, construction, and combination of parts composing
the machine for cutting key grooved wood blocks in the manner and for the
purpose as herein substantially described and set forth in the Drawings annexed,
and,
Second. The novel formation and construction of roadways or pavements with
the herein-mentioned key grooved wood blocks in combination with concrete grout,
in the manner as herein substantially described, and set forth in the Drawings
annexed.
In witness whereof, I; the said Samuel Sealy Allin, one of the Executors
appointed under the last Will and Testament of the Inventor and Patentee,
Charles Mansfield Lloyd, now deceased, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this the Twenty seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord 1879.
Witness,
0
THOS. WRIGLEY,
75, Chancery Lane,
W.C.
S. S. ALLIN. (L.S.)