AN IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE OR STEAM ROAD ROLLERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Holloway, of Rydal House, Portinscale Road,
Putney, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE OR STEAM ROAD
ROLLERS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Holloway at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th July 1880.
WILLIAM HOLLOWAY, of Rydal House, Portinscale Road, Putney.
IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE OR STEAM ROAD ROLLERS."
°
"AN
To fix one or two water tanks to the road roller, either horse or steam power,
thus combining the water cart & road roller in one. The tank or tanks may
be of any convenient shape, & would be provided with round-way two-inch
stop-cocks to be turned on or off by a lever placed near the driver.
The water would be applied to the road in front of & towards the roller.
The tanks need not be filled till the final process of binding or rolling, as the
additional weight of the water might cause the work of rolling the rough stones
to a smooth surface to be heavier than necessary.
The advantages of the above improvement would be as follows:-
1. The water would be applied to the road immediately in front of the roller,
thus enabling it to bind the road much better than when applied in the usual
way by a water cart at some distance in front, the water in the latter case having
time to run off the road or escape between the stones.
2. The smooth surface of the gravel would not be liable to be disturbed by
the feet of the horse drawing the water cart.
3. The roads would be made quicker, & the expense of the separate water cart
would be saved.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Holloway in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
January 1881.
WILLIAM HOLLOWAY, of Rydal House, Portinscale Road, Putney, S.W.
IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE OR STEAM ROAD-ROLLERS."
•
SAN
To fix one or two water tanks to the road roller, either horse or steam power,
thus combining the water cart and road roller in one. The tank or tanks may bo of
any convenient shape, and would be provided with two-inch pipes for the conveyance
of the water, similar to those of the water cart. As the steam roller moves
forwards and backwards.it would require one pipe at each end, and in addition to 1
this it would be highly necessary to have one pipe over the centre of each roller;_.
this will prevent the roller lifting the gravel, and cause the road to bind more
effectually.
The water would be applied to the road in front of and towards the roller. The
pipe over the centre would apply the water to the top of the roller.
Each pipe would be provided with a two-inch round-way stop cock to be turned
on or off instantly by a lever placed near the driver; the levers being so arranged
that the stop cocks may be turned on separately or combined if necessary.
The horse power roller would be provided with a water tank and two-inch pipes to
convoy the water, one in front, which would apply the water in front of and
towards-the roller, so as not to throw it against the horses' legs, the other applying
the water to the top of the roller to prevent it lifting the gravel, and causing_tho
latter to bind more freely. The pipes would be provided with two-inch round-way
stop cocks, each of which would be turned on or off instantly by a lever placed near
the driver.
My method of making roads preparatory to the binding process is as follows :—
First. To pick up the road to the depth of from six to nine inches, and then to
sift the gravel, &c., picked up, first through an one inch mesh siove, and then
through a half inch mesh sieve. The material which passes through tho sieves
would be used for binding the road.
The road will be made, first, with a layer of about six inches of the sifted stone,
and then with a surface coat of newly-broken sifted granite, about four inches in
depth, thus providing a depth of from ten to twelve inches of sifted stone. The
newly-broken stones being of a more angular form would bind and produce a smooth
surface. The road being thus formed of about ten or twelve inches of sifted stone,
would be pliable and yielding to the impression of the roller, would have a smooth
surface. This part of the rolling would be done before the water tanks were filled,
as water is not required till the final process of binding. The gravel being rolled
to a smooth surface, the rolling will be much lighter, so that the additional weight
of the water will not be likely to injure the engine or the horses.
A thin coat of coarse siftings will now be laid and rolled in to fill the crevices,
and then a coat of fine siftings will be spread over the surface of the road, and the
water tanks being now filled, the combined steain roller and water cart will movo
slowly forwards and backwards, rolling the fine siftings into mud, thoroughly
binding the gravel, and producing a smooth and solid surface.
The advantages of the above method of road making are,―
1st. The gravel being sifted the roads will be much cleaner.
2nd. The roads will be smooth and even and will not wear in holos.
3rd. They will be very durable and remain good for years.
4

page_text: 4th. The saving in expense will be great, and when this method is properly
carried out, it will make one of the best gravelled roads yet produced.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Holloway, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM HOLLOWAY. (L.S.)