IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF BITUMINOUS MASTIC OR CEMENT TO BE USED IN THE PAVING OF STREETS, FORMATION OF ROADS AND RAILWAYS, FOUNDATIONS or BUILDINGS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Rae, of Uphall, in the County of
Linlithgow, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PRODUCTION OF BITUMINOUS MASTIC OR CEMENT TO BE USED IN THE
PAVING OF STREETS, FORMATION OF ROADS AND RAILWAYS, FOUNDATIONS or
BUILDINGS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 3rd November 1874, and dated the 11th May 1874. .
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Rae at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th May 1874.
I, MARTIN RAE, of Uphall, in the County of Linlithgow, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF BITUMINOUS MASTIC OR CEMENT TO
BE USED IN THE PAVING OF STREETS, FORMATION OF ROADS AND RAILWAYS,
FOUNDATIONS OF BUILDINGS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
In carrying out my Invention I take the crude shale tar waste product
obtained in the distillation and refining of mineral oil from bituminous

page_text: shale, and having freed the tar from sulphuric and other acids by
steaming (or otherwise chemically heating), and washing in lime water,
run it into a still, evaporating pan, or other vessel, so that a portion of
the light oils and the water are distilled off or separated from the tar,
which changes its nature, and produces a more dense and tenacious
substance, which I denominate mastick.
The bituminous mastic or cement may also be prepared from coal tar,
videlicet, those tarry products which are obtained either in the produc-
tion of coal or illuminating gas, or in the production of what are known
as coal oils or paraffine oils, as described in my Patent No. 3308, 1872.
To the mastic thus obtained I add about 15 per cent. of clay or aluminous
earth, and about 35 per cent. of sand or grit. The product can then be
used for street paving, or in the formation of roads, tramways, and
railways, for the foundation of buildings, and for other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Martin Rac in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARTIN
RAE, of Uphall, in the County of Linlithgow, North Britain, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the 37th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Martin Rae, Her special license that I,
the said Martin Rae, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Martin Rae, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF BITUMINOUS MASTIC OR.
CEMENT TO BE USED IN THE PAVING OF STREETS, FORMATION OF ROADS AND
RAILWAYS, FOUNDATIONS OF BUILDINGS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the

page_text: condition (amongst others) that I, the said Martin Rae, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 Martin Rae, do hereby declaro
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in, and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
In carrying out my Invention I take the crude shale tar or waste
product obtained from the distillation and refining of mineral oil from
bituminous shale, and having firstly freed the tar from the sulphuric and
other acids which have been added by steaming (or otherwise chemically
treating) the same, and then washing with lime water, run it into a still,
evaporating pan, or other vessel, so that on the application of heat, a
portion of the light oils and the water are distilled off or separated from
the tar, which changes its nature, and produces a more dense and
tenacious substance, which I denominate "mastic."
The bituminous mastic or cement may also be prepared from coal tar,
viz., those tarry products which are obtained either in the production of
coal or illuminating gas, or in the production of what are known as coal
oils or paraffin oils, as described in my Letters Patent, No. 3308, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two. To the mastic thus obtained,
by preference when in a heated condition, I add about fifteen per cent.
of clay or aluminous earth, and about thirty-five per cent. of sand or
grit, and I effect the admixture and incorporation of the same in any
suitable apparatus or by any mechanical means.
Having thus obtained the desired product I employ the same either
for the following or for other purposes:-For the bedding, jointing, and
pointing of stones, blocks of wood, asphalte, or of concrete used for
street or other pavement; also for sanitary purposes, such as a covering
to the pavement or flooring of the basement of dwelling houses, or of
stables, cattle sheds, warehouses, workshops, slaughter houses, stables,
and so as to prevent the absorption of noxious matters; also for pointing,

page_text: backing, or filling up of foreshores, embankments, sea walls, breakwaters,
piers, and such like structures.
When employed for street pavement it is preferable that the pavement
blocks, whether of stone, asphalte, or wood, should be set on a bedding
of bituminous mastic, and jointed and pointed with the same, the inter-
stices between the blocks being first filled up with gravel or other
material, and then the bituminous mastic in a fluid condition poured
upon it, and made to enrich and consolidate the paving materials.
When employed for buildings the basement floors and rear of dwelling
houses should receive a superstratum of mastic of at least two inches in
thickness in order to prevent exhalations from damp subsoils.
For marine purposes the mastic may be admixed or incorporated with
chalk or with suitable ballast when such ingredients can be obtained
economically on the sea coast.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be carried into effect, I would state that I do not
confine myself to the exact proportions of the materials herein referred
to, as they may be varied in order to suit the several circumstances of
their application, nor do I claim the exclusive use of the materials of
which this bituminous mastic or mortar is composed, except when they
are used for the purposes herein described and set forth, but what I do
consider novel and therefore claim as my Invention is,―
First. The production of bituminous mastic from the tarry products
obtained from the distillation of shale or from other bituminous sub-
stances in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Second. In the production and application of the cements and of the
mastics, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Rae, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.