IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOF COMPOUNDS FOR COVERING ROADWAYS, FOOTPATHS, FLOORS, OR OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Macintosh, of North Bank, Regent's Park,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOF COMPOUNDS FOR COVERING ROADWAYS,
FOOTPATHS, FLOORS, OR OTHER SURFACES."
Sealed the 3rd April 1872, and dated the 7th November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Macintosh at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1871.
I, JOHN MACINTOSH, of North Bank, Regent's Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOF COMPOUNDS FOR COVERING ROAD-
WAYS, FOOTPATHS, FLOORS, OR OTHER SURFACES," to be as follows :—
My improved compounds consist of pitch, asphalte, or bitumen freed
as much as possible from grit or carthy matters, and mixed with woody
fibrous substances reduced to fragments or particles, the fibrous sub-
stances being carefully dried and put into a vessel containing the
bituminous substances in a hot fluid state; when thoroughly mixed

page_text: it becomes a plastic homogeneous mass, in which state it may be put
on the roads, or be formed into slabs, blocks, or planks, and when
cold will be found much harder and more durable than wood in its
natural state.
It will be readily understood that wood freed from sap or moisture
and impregnated with bitumen, which prevents decomposition in the
woody fibres, produces a cheap compound of light specific gravity,
admirably adapted for covering roads in lieu of sawing wood into blocks
as heretofore. In some cases, rags, cotton waste, jute, hemp, or other
fibrous materials may be added to increase the fibrous texture of the 1
compound.
For some purposes coarse cloths saturated with the compound may
be cemented together and formed into slabs, and be used as a covering
for roads or other surfaces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Macintosh in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MACINTOSH, of North Bank, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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 seventy-one, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Macintosh, Her special licence that I,
the said John Macintosh, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Macintosh, 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 “IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOF COMPOUNDS
FOR COVERING ROADWAYS,. FOOTPATHS, FLOORS, OR OTHER SURFACES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Macintosh, my
executors: or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or

page_text: . 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
Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
}
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Macintosh, do hereby
declare 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, reference being had to the Drawing here-
uinto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say:
My improved compounds consist of pitch, asphalt, or bitumen freed
as much as possible from grit or earthy matters, and mixed with woody
fibrous substances reduced to fragments or particles, the fibrous sub-
stances being carefully dried and put into a vessel containing the
bituminous substances in a hot fluid state. When thoroughly mixed
it becomes a plastic homogenous mass, in which state it may be put
on to roads or be formed into slabs, blocks, or planks, and when cold
will be found much harder and more durable than wood in its natural
state.
It will be readily understood that wood freed from sap or moisture
and impregnated with bitumen, which prevents decomposition in the
woody fibres, produces a cheap compound of light specific gravity,
admirably adapted for covering roads in lieu of sawing wood into blocks
as heretofore. In some cases rags, cotton waste, jute, hemp, or other
fibrous materials may be added to increase the fibrous texture of the
compound.
For some purposes coarse cloths saturated with the compound may
be cemented' together and formed into slabs, and be used as a covering
for roads or other surfaces.
In making compounds in accordance with my Invention I employ
my preference soft gas tar pitch liquified in a heated cauldron in com-
bination with dried woody fibrous substances, the whole being well
mixed until it becomes a tough plastic homogeneous mass ready to
lay on roads or other surfaces, in which state it can be pressed and
levelled in like manner to other asphalted roads or surfaces.
I would remark that the component parts of my improved compound

page_text: differ essentially from other asphalts in use, which contain or are com-
bined with limestone, iron ore, iron filings, grit, sand, or other carthy
or mineral matters, which substances either oxidize or become soluble
as the surface covered therewith is exposed to wear by water and traffic,
and as the bitumen has no affinity for mineral or metallic substances
such compounds are readily disintegrated by water and friction.
Now woody or other vegetable fibrous substances being perfectly
insoluble in water, although they soften and sometimes decay, are when
combined with pitch, asphalt, or bitumen (in accordance with my
Invention) perfectly preserved from decomposition, thus forming an
insoluble compound, suitable for covering roads and other surfaces.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, what I claim is,
the making of waterproof compounds for covering roadsways, footpaths,
floors, or other surfaces, by combining pitch, asphalt, or bitumen with
dried woody fibrous substances reduced to fragments or particles, or
with other fibrous materials or fabrics, substantially in the manner
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Macintosh, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
J. G. TONGue,
Patent Agent,
JOHN MACINTOSH. (L.s.)
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lanc, W.C.