Improvements in Roadways and Pavements.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roadways and Pavements.
I, WILLIAM WATKIN JOSEPH of No. 2, Bank Buildings, St. Mary Street,
Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a more effective and better method of
constructing roadways and pavements, and to give a better foothold for horse and
foot traffic.
In ordinary wood pavements, it is usual to throw sand or other gritty material
on to the road so as to prevent it becoming slippery.
In my invention, I use ordinary wood blocks laid on concrete, or its equivalent,
and between each row thereof, or each of a series of rows, I insert a narrow slab of
sandstone, or any other stone or substance of a gritty nature, or any artificial
substance posessing this property and capable of being moulded into the form of a
slab.
The slabs of stone are built in with the wood blocks so that their edges shall be
level with the face of the roadway and form a common surface with the wearing
face of the wood blocks. The appearance, therefore, in plan would be a series of
narrow lines or strips running in any direction which might be considered most
desirable. The lines of stone may be worked in various patterns if necessary, or
in fact in any desired direction or form. In all cases the stone strips or slabs can be
inserted in alternate layers with the wood blocks or be separated by as many layers
of wood as may be deemed best in practice.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roadways and Pavements.
I, WILLIAM WATKIN JOSEPH, of No. 2 Bank Buildings, St. Mary Street,
Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a more effective and better method of
constructing roadways and pavements, and to give a better foothold for horse and
foot traffic.
In ordinary wood pavements, it is usual to throw sand or other gritty material on
to the road so as to prevent it becoming slippery.
In my invention, I use ordinary wood blocks laid on concrete, or its equivalent,
and between each row thereof, or each of a series of rows, I insert a narrow slab of
sandstone, or any other stone or substance of a gritty nature, or any artificial
substance possessing this property and capable of being moulded into the form of a
slab.
I find that artificial slabs made by compressing the following mixture give very
satisfactory results; sawdust, grit or crushed stone or its equivalent, and Portland
or other cement.
The slabs of stone are laid vertically, i.e., edge up, with the wood blocks in such
a way that their edges shall be level with the face of the roadway and form a
common surface with the wearing face of the wood blocks. The appearance,

page_text: therefore, in plan would be a series of narrow rows or strips running in any direction
which might be considered most desirable. The rows of stone may be worked in
various patterns if necessary, or in fact in any desired direction or form. In all
cases the stone strips or slabs can be inserted in alternate rows with the wood
blocks or be separated by as many rows of wood as may be deemed best in
practice.
It will be seen that as the surface of the road is worn down by the traffic the
worn sandstone or grit, is carried on to and imbedded in the wood, thereby
roughening it and so far improving it.
In the accompanying drawings
:-
Fig. 1 is a plan of a portion of a street laid with my improved pavement.
Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are plans illustrating four different methods of arranging the
lines of wood blocks and the interspacing lines of sandstone.
a, a are the side walks. bare the respective kerbs.
d is the concrete.
c is the road foundation.
e, e are lines of wood blocks. ff are the interspacing lines of
slabs of sandstone or other gritty stone natural or artificial.
It must be distinctly understood that my invention includes laying the lines of
wood blocks and sandstone slabs in any direction or in more than one direction in
the same roadway or side walk or pavement, as may be desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A pavement for a road, street or side walk, consisting of rows of wood blocks
alternated by rows of slabs of sandstone or equivalent gritty artificial or natural
stone at stated distances, as set forth.
2. Paving a road, a street or a sidewalk with rows of wood blocks and rows of
sandstone or equivalent gritty artificial or natural stone alternating said rows of
wood blocks at stated distances, as set forth.
3. The use in a wood pavement of rows of blocks of sandstone or equivalent
gritty natural or artificial stone, whereby the grit worn off the said stone will be
transferred to and embedded in the wood surface.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.