IMPROVED PAVEMENT FOR STREETS, ROADS, THOROUGHFARES. FOOTPATHS, PASSAGES, STAIRS, AND OTHER WAYS; ALSO FOR PLATFORMS, COVERINGS, ROOFS, OR OTHER PARTS OF BUILDINGS AND OTHER ERECTIONS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Little, of Adelphi Terrace, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Steel and Iron Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
PAVEMENT FOR STREETS, ROADS, THOROUGHFARES. FOOTPATHS, PASSAGES, STAIRS,
AND OTHER WAYS; ALSO FOR PLATFORMS, COVERINGS, ROOFS, OR OTHER PARTS
OF BUILDINGS AND OTHER ERECTIONS."
Sealed the 28th October 1864, and dated the 29th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Little at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th April 1864.
I, JOHN LITTLE, of Adelphi Terrace, Strand, in the County of Middlesex
Steel and Iron Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED PAVEMENT FOR STREETS, ROADS, THOROUGHFARES, FOOTPATHS,
PASSAGES, STAIRS, AND OTHER WAYS; ALSO FOR PLATFORMS. COVERINGS. Roors,
OR OTHER PARTS OF BUILDINGS AND OTHER ERECTIONS," to be as follows, that is
to say:
I propose to form open gratings, ribs, cells, or meshes, of steel or iron, or
of any other metal, with plain, rough, or serrated surfaces, in frames or other-
wise, and to fill in the spaces between the metal with wood, gravel,' asphalte,
or concrete, or any other suitable material or compound, and to bed the whole
upon wood or other substances in a solid or other condition, preference being,
given to steel frames as being of greater durability and forming a more p perfect
and retaining level.

page_text: The objects of this improved pavement are, 1st, greater durability; 2ndly,
a more perfect and retaining level; 3rdly, to render the roads cleaner; and,
lastly, to deaden the sound of the traffic.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Little in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LITTLE, of Adelphi Terrace, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Steel and
Iron Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the 27th year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Little, Her special license that I, the said John
Little, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Little, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVED
PAVEMENT FOR STREETS, ROADS, THOROUGHFARES. FOOTPATHS, PASSAGES, STAIRS.
AND OTHER WAYS; ALSO FOR PLATFORMS, COVERINGS, ROOFS. OR OTHER PARTS OF
BUILDINGS AND OTHER ERECTIONS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Little, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them,
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 John Little, 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 fol-
lowing statement, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in the formation of gratings, ribs, cells, or meshes,
of steel, iron, or any other metal, with plain, rough, serrated, or ornamental
surfaces, in duplicate and other frames, sectional parts, and the like, and

page_text: applying the same, (the open frames and spaces being filled in, lined, covered,.
or finished,as herein-after described, for open and covered public and private
roads and footways, platforms, and pavements; also for floors, roofs, ceilings,
and other parts of buildings. In applying the said metals to the centre parts
of streets and roads, that is to say, the part between the side pavements and
footways, I use open duplicate frames of steel, and fill in the spaces within
and between the said frames with wood, gravel, asphalte, or concrete, or other
suitable material or compound, and bed the whole upon wood sleepers or upon
wood and other substances, so as to form a solid, and as far as practicable, a
non-yielding bed or foundation for the metals., In the case of streets and
roads, where there is great and heavy traffic, I prefer to make the open frames
of cast steel on account of its greater durability, and Ialso prefer to make the
frames exact duplicates of each other, in order that they may be laid by the
workmen indiscriminately, both in the first instance and whenever it may be
found necessary to take up and relay the same for repairs of sewers, gas and
water pipes, and the like; and without restricting myself to shape and size,
I prefer square frames with three or four feet sides. The peculiarity in the
form of these frames is, that I make them with the frout and hind or transverse
ribs to extend wholly across, so as to meet the ends of the ribs of the
(duplicate) frames on each side, and I make the longitudinal ribs of less height
than the transverse ribs, so that they (the longitudinal ribs) do not extend to
or appear on the surface of the frame when laid. The frames are also made
with bottom flanges to spread the bearing upon the sleepers; these flanges are
flush with the ends of the transverse ribs, and extend over the same at the
sides, so that when laid there is a space between the fore rib of one frame and
the hind rib of the next. The ribs I have thus described are the "main ribs "
of the frame. In addition to the main ribs there are iutermediate transverse
ribs, the surfaces of which are level with the main transverse ribs; the inter-
mediate ribs have also bottom flanges when required. The spaces between
the ribs of the frames thus formed are fitted in with a concrete compound of
small gravel or finely-broken grauite bound together with the strongest obtain-
able cement and very coarse sand, with a greater or less quantity of iron filings
and aluminium; or the spaces may be filled in with wood or stone of the
proper quality, or with asphaltum, concrete, or any other simple or compound
materials which may be found suitable for the purpose. For the pavement
and footways I also prefer the square for the frames, but in these cases I
dispense with the wood sleepers for the bed or foundation and form a bed in
any of the ordinary ways. The foot pavement, platform, and floor frames are
made with a number of transverse or diagonal ribs, either entire or intersecting

page_text: each other, thus forming close cells or meshes open at the corners. The close
cells I propose to fill in with blocks or pieces of Bath stoue or other natural
or artificial stone, slate, brick, earthenware, stoneware, terra cotta, or other
similar solid substances, or with cement, concrete, or compound plastic sub-
stances capable of being. run, cast, moulded, or pressed into the cells or
meshes, and either moulded and hardened previously or therein, so that the
said frame, when thus made and fitted, shall produceslabs suitable for covering
or forming the surface of foot pavements, footways, platforms, and floors of
buildings, walls, or roofs. For common ceilings I propose to form light open
metal bearing frames in square or other shapes, and to cover or fill in the
frame spaces with a mesh formed of very thin sheets of metal, under a roller
or cutter, by which I perforate, stamp, or cut a number of transverse narrow
perforations, holes, or slits; I then stretch the sheet until the perforations open
and form a mesh, which I then either fasten to the frames or directly to the
ceiling joints by wire, staples, or other fastenings. This mesh I intend to cover
with any suitable plastering material; the open frames may be simply filled
with light panels of metal or any suitable material, plain or embossed, made
to fit into the same; and for the better class of ceilings I propose to form
self-supporting plain or ornamental panels and mouldings, formed wholly or
partly of metal, so as to fix directly to, the joists by screws or otherwise and
form a perfect ceiling. I propose to form these panels by dies and presses,
and the mouldings, which will form the frames or borders of the panels, as
also the cornice mouldings, door and window mouldings, architraves, by
passing sheets or strips of metal between suitably-formed rollers, and to affix
the same by screws, as before described; plugs or staple fastenings may be
used when required, but I prefer screws for the facility of removing any of
the work when necessary. The general forms and forms of laying and fixing
the frames, &c., are intended to be illustrated upon the accompanying Draw-
ings A and B, to which the following explanation refers.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a transverse section, and Fig. 2 a plan of part of a street,
and shews the mode of laying the plates in the carriageway; Fig. 3 shews the
same plates upon an enlarged scale in plan; and Figs. 4 and 5, the form of
the transverse and longitudinal ribs in section. The following reference applies
to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.
a, one of the skeleton frames, which are laid so as to break joint in the
manner shewn by the lines 1, 1, and 2,2; bare the transverse ribs; and c, the
open spaces. The transverse ribs run from side to side of the carriageway,

page_text: and at right angles, or nearly 'so, across the centre line of the road. In
practice I prefer to lay these plates with their sides flush with each other
longitudinally, and to make the ribs of the several plates, when laid, form a
series of parallel lines; this mode of laying the plates, however, is not abso-
lutely necessary, as they may, if desired, be formed with equidistant ribs and
be laid so as to break joint with the ends of the ribs meeting or not. The
essential feature in these frames is, that making the metal portion of the
surface of the road in transverse ribs, so as to afford the greatest contact
purchase for theiron-shod feet of the horses therewith. The importance of this
disposition of the rib will be understood by contrasting it with a diagonal
ribbed or studded surface; in the latter plan the wheels have a constant
tendency to wear off the angles, and the diagonal plates or studs thus form a
continuous or serrated trough, along which the horses feet constantly slide;
and so lose the required function for the draught, while constant slipping and
falling of the horses and straining of their hind legs results therefrom; while
in the right-angle rib the foot comes'fair against the rib and has no tendency
given to it by the form of the metal itself to slide laterally either way, and a
good foothold is the result, while there is not the same tendency to wear as in
the diagonal plan.
Fig: 6 shews the mode of forming and laying the frames for floors, plat-
forms, and footways. In this case I prefer to make the ribs diagonal to the
joints, and to make the metal edges all level at the surface and fill in the cells,
meshes, or interstices, with cut or moulded filling pieces of stone or any of the
substances herein enumerated.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan shewing the mode of forming the diagonal ribs
aud the bottoms; the lines 1, 1, and 2, 2, shew the joints of the four paving
frames a, b, c, and d. These cells or meshes may either have an entire or
perforated bottom web or flange, as shewn at 3; narrow side flanges, as shewn
at 4, 4, a circular perforation, as shewn at 5,5,5, be entirely open in the centre,
as shewn at 6, 6, or with corner flanges, as shewn at 7, 7, and further illus-
trated at Fig: 8, which shews the same in section taken through the line A,B,
Figure 7.
!
Drawing B. Tbis Drawing shews the ceiling and roof frames. Fig. 1,
a, b, c, d, shews a plan of the ceiling divided into two squares, as indicated by
the red lines 1, 1, &c., and subdivided, if necessary, as indicated by the lines
2, 2, &c., according as the size of the room and design and dimensions of the
ceiling frames and plates may require. In forming ceilings with these frames
and filling pieces no lathing or plastering is required, 'as the metal is fixed
directly to the joists and the joints covered by a running moulding, as shewn

page_text: at Figure 2, where a is a thin metal embossed filling plate fixed to the joists
by the screws 1,1, the joints 2, 2,&c., being covered by the light hollow metal
frames or running mouldings b. Where the ceiling is next to a roof, or where
no floor is required overhead, the light frames a, a, b, b, Fig. 3, are used, fixed
to a few supporting cross joists, or suspended from the roof supports at the
corners c, c, the filling pieces. d being then screwed to frames or otherwise
fastened therein.
Fig. 4 shews an enlarged section, in which a is a ceiling joist; b, the
marginal filling piece or plate; c, a sectional centre filling piece; and d, the
light hollow frame or running moulding.
Fig. 5 shews a light skeleton frame of metal which I propose to employ for
common ceilings, the interstices or cells being filled in either with metal or
other fillings, or covered with the meshes shewn at Figs. 6 and 7, and then
plastered in the usual way.
The mode in which I prefer these covering meshes is as follows:-I take a
thin plate of metal, as a, b, Fig. 6, of any required length, and pass it undera
perforator or cutter so as to perforate it with long narrow perforations or
cuts, 1, 1, 2, 2, &c. Having thus perforated or cut the plate, it is then
strained (upon a drum or otherwise) in the direction of its length, when cuts
will open and a network or mesh will be formed, as shewn at Fig. 7, the size
of the openings, which I intend to act as a keying for the plaster, being
increased or diminished by varying cutting straining operations as required.
Fig. 8 shews a skeleton metal frame which I intend to employ in the con-
struction or covering of roofs; the openings a, a, &c., may be filled in with
any suitable filling material, and the frames bolted together at the ends and
sides or laid with a lap in the usual way for roofs. I propose to either
galvanize the metal or otherwise prepare or treat it so as to counteract the
effects of oxidation from the weather; I further propose to employ duplicate
and other metal frames, formed as herein described or in a manner analogous
thereto, for walls, or buildings, and other erections. In this application of my
said Invention I propose to fill in the openings in the frames on one or both
sides either with plain or ornamental metal fillings similar to those described
under the head of ceilings, or with any suitable material or compound, the
latter being in a fluid, semifluid, plastic, or solid condition, the frames thus
formed and filled being placed and fixed vertically. By substituting these
frames for the ordinary partition walls, I not only dispense with all lath and
plaster, constantly liable to be broken into holes, but I thereby lessen the
liability to the destruction of the building by fire.
Having thus, described and explained the nature and. object of my said

page_text: Invention, and illustrated the manner in which the same may be carried into
effect, I hereby further declare that I do not thereby restrict myself to the
precise forms of open duplicate metal frames, and modes of laying and fixing
the same, shewn and described, as various modifications may be made in the
practical application thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Little, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourthday of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOHN (L.S.) LITTLE.