AN IMPROVED GUTTER AND KERB FOR ROADS AND 433 STREETS."
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Cotsell, of Brompton, in the County of Kent,
.for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED GUTTER AND KERB FOR ROADS AND
433
STREETS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Cotsell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1855.-
I, GEORGE COTSELL,. do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention.for.
AN IMPROVED GUTTER AND KERB FOR ROADS AND STREETS" to be as follows:
The ordinary method of getting rid of the surface drainage of. roads or
streets consists in constructing an open gutter along each side of the road
or street, next to the footway, which gutter conducts the surface water to a
grating, through which it enters the sewer. The wheels of vehicles are con-
stantly getting into the gutter and splashing the muddy water and filth in all
directions. Moreover, when a wheel gets. into the gutter it is difficult to get
it out again, and the,wheel is strained by the gutter, while the gutter is worn
or rendered uneven by the wheel. I avoid these defects in the following
manner: I construct a tube of cast iron of a modified rectangular or other
suitable section, which forms both the kerb of the footway and the gutter. The
bottom of this tube, is sunk below the level of, the roadway, and a number of
apertures or perforations are made in the exposed part of the side of the tube,

page_text: acting as a grating the entire length of the gutter or tube. The surface water
thus flows off the road through the apertures, and falls at once into the tube,
which conveys it along until it arrives at an aperture in the bottom of the tube,
whence it passes into the sewer. This aperture may be provided with a basin
or trap to prevent the escape of offensive gases from the sewer. The surface
water is thus removed from the road and carried out of sight as soon as it
reaches the kerb. The top of the tube is made with grooves or roughnesses
to prevent the feet of foot passengers from slipping upon it, and it is provided
with moveable panels at intervals for the purpose of cleaning or flushing it
occasionally. The apertures or gratings in the side of the tube, moreover,
prevent the entrance of solid matters. The tubes are cast in lengths, either
straight or curved, which may be united by bevilled edges fitted together, or
by triangular wedge-shaped tongues entering corresponding recesses, and
secured by wooden pins or by other fastenings. I construct the tube with a
beading or projection above the grating or apertures at the side to protect
them and the foot passengers from injury, by keeping the wheels of the
carriages at a distance from the top of the kerb or tube. I connect transverse
tubes with the aforesaid tubes for conveying into them the surface drainage
from courts or alleys. In some cases I construct gratings in the tops of the
tubes covered by hinged or moveable panels, so that refuse water may be
thrown into them if required. The lamp posts may be placed in the footway
by the side of the kerb, as commonly practised, or they may be placed upon
the kerb itself, so as to economize space.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Cotsell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th May 1856..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
COTSELL, of Brompton, in the County of Kent, 'send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our. Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Cotsell, Her special licence that I, the said George Cotsell, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Cotsell, 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

page_text: 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 "AN IMPROVED GUTTER AND KERB FOR
ROADS AND STREETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Cotsell, 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 George Cotsell, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and to
the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
The ordinary method of getting rid of the surface drainage of roads or
streets consists in constructing an open gutter along each side of the road
or street next to the footway, which gutter conducts the surface water to a:
grating, through which it enters the sewer. The wheels of vehicles are con-
stantly getting into the gutter and splashing the muddy water and filth in all
directions. Moreover, when a wheel.gets into the gutter it is difficult to get
it out again, and the wheel is strained by the gutter, while the gutter is worn:
or rendered uneven by the wheel. I avoid these defects in the following
manner.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is an elevation, and Figure 2 is a
plan of a cast-iron gutter and kerb constructed according to my Invention;
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same, together with a portion of the road:
and pathway.
'
A is the upper surface of the kerb, which is roughened by grooves. to.
afford a better hold for the feet of the foot passengers; B is a beading or pro-
jection at the side, the upper part of which is bevilled or sloped, as shewn in
Figure 3; C is a grating or series of apertures extending down to the level of
the roadway D, or a little below it; E is the pathway. The water flows off:
the roadway D through the apertures C into the gutter, and is delivered.
into the sewer through an aperture in the bottom of the gutter. The grating
prevents the entrance of sticks and cabbage stalks, and large solid substances,
which would otherwise be liable to choke up and obstruct the gutter. The..
obstruction of a few of the apertures of the grating is of no consequence,;
as the water finds a free passage through the others.
...
"
.

page_text: .
The form of the grating and the number and dimensions of the apertures
ádmit of variation. Thus Figure 4 is an elevation of a gutter and kerb, with
a different form of grating. In like manner the top of the kerb - may be made
with grooves or recesses of various forms. Thus Figure 5 is a plan, shewing
an arrangement of circular, cavities in the top of the kerb; Figure 6 is a
section of a gutter, with the flag stones O carried over the top, which is made
.lower. than that shewn in Figure 3. The other parts are similar to those
similarly marked in Figure 3. For the corners of streets, the gutter and kerb
may be made of a curved form, as shewn in plan in Figure 7. F is an
opening in the upper surface of the kerb, for the purpose of cleaning or flush-
ing it occasionally. It is closed by a lid or panel, which may be secured by a
lock or bolt. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of gutter and kerb
with a branch gutter G entering it. This is applicable in the case of courts
and alleys which open upon the pathway. The top of the branch gutter may
be made with gratings at intervals or throughout its length; or a portion of
the pavement of the court may be sloped down to the side of the gutter, as
shewn in the section; Figure 9. The water 'can thus enter the apertures at the
side of the gutter.
.
.J
Figure 10 shows an arrangement of a gutter kerb, with a'grating H with
hinged doors or lids. The lids may be opened when required for pouring dirty
water or other liquids 'into the gutter, and may then be closed again. The
grating H prevents the 'entrance of large solid substances.
Figure 11 is a perspective view, shewing the aperture I in the under side
of the gutter, which communicates with the sewer by means of a socket ör pipe
K, which has a bevilled flange at its upper end, and is 'dropped through the
aperture I, which is bevilled to receive the flange: The pipe K is introduced.
through an opening in the top of the kerb, which is closed-by'a lid'; 'this
opening also facilitates the cleaning out of the pipe K, should it become
obstructed. This pipe may be trapped 'to prevent the escape' of foul air from
the sewer.
Figure 12 shews a portion of a lamp post, with its base adapted for being
bolted to the kerb. The lamp posts and the ordinary posts may be fixed in
the same manner. The compound gutter kerb is cast in convenient lengths,
either straight or curved, as required; and their ends are united by bevilling
their edges, so that one fits into the other, or in any other suitable manner.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of a gutter kerb, with two triangular 'wedge-
shaped tongues L, L, which enter corresponding recesses in the next length of
gutter 'kerb, as shewn at M, M, in Figure 14. A wooden or iron pin, or screw,
or rivet may be passed through holes in the 'tongues and in the recesses, so

page_text: as to prevent the pipes from separating. This, however, is not absolutely
necessary, as the gutter kerb will be kept in its place by being bedded in the
ground like the ordinary kerbstones. The form and material of which the
compound gutter and kerb is made may be varied, but in all cases it is to have
a lateral grating or a series of apertures in the side for the admission of the
water and surface drainage, and for preventing the entrance of large solid
substances which might obstruct the pipe. It may be flushed occasionally by
pouring water in at the openings at the top or through the lateral openings.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is, the
constructing a gutter and kerb of a hollow box or pipe, with a lateral grating or
series of apertures for the admission of the water and surface drainage, and for
preventing the entrance of large solid substances, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Cotsell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
HENRY JOHN SMITH,
Brompton, Kent.
GEO. COTSELL. (L.S.)