IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET AND OTHER PAVING
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Ambrose Brydges, of the Firm of Brydges & Co.,
Engineers & Patent Solicitors, of 73, Königgraetzer Strasse, in the City of
Berlin and German Empire, and 6, St. Leonard's Terrace, Upton, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET
AND OTHER PAVING." A communication by Count L. von Hegnenberg, of
Alt Hegnenberg, in the Kingdom of Bavaria & German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1881.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES, of the Firm of Brydges & Co., Engineers & Patent
Solicitors, of 73, Königgraetzer Strasse, in the City of Berlin and German Empire,
and 6, St. Leonard's Terrace, Upton, in the County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS
IN STREET AND OTHER PAVING." [A communication by Count L. von Hegnenberg,
of Alt Hegnenberg, in the Kingdom of Bavaria & German Empire.]
"
This Invention relates to improvements in street and other paving, and consists
of a combination of wood and asphalte.
The asphalte paving at present in use becomes in wet and occasionally also in
dry weather so slippery that it is very difficult for horses to keep their footing,
and in consequence many valuable horses are injured not only by falling but by
straining their sinews and by sprains; moreover a very considerable blockage of
the traffic is frequently caused.
These disadvantages are entirely overcome by employing this improved paving,
which consists of a combination of blocks of cross grain wood and asphalt.
As a foundation for this improved paving the customary layer of concrete or a
layer of planks may be employed. The said blocks of cross grain wood are placed
on the concrete or plank foundation, and a thin narrow board is fastened to the
said foundation between each two rows of small blocks of cross grain pine or other
suitable wood, so that the said rows of blocks are kept firmly in position.
The grooves or spaces between each two rows of wooden blocks is now filled in
with hot asphalt. In order to render the asphalt firmer small stones or rough
gravel can be pressed or stamped into the same, or such said stones or gravel can

page_text: be mixed with the hot asphalt; but in all cases this is to be done so that the said
stones or gravel shall be at such distance beneath the upper surface that the said
upper surface shall consist of pure asphalt.
The alternate rows of asphalt and wooden blocks are so narrow that a horse
driven or ridden over such said paving must come in contact with both rows either
with the front or rear part of the horse shoe, so as always to have a firm hold on
the wooden blocks.
In this manner a perfectly safe durable paving is obtained, as the hard asphalt
prevents the wood from being too quickly worn away.
It is not necessary that the said blocks be laid straight across the roadway, as
the same can be laid diagonally or in any other suitable manner without departing
from the tenor of my said Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th August 1881.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES, of the Firm of Brydges & Co., Engineers and Patent
Solicitors, of 73, Königgraetzer Strasse, in the City of Berlin and German Empire,
and 6, St. Leonard's Terrace, Upton, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STREET AND OTHER PAVING." A communication by Count L. von Hegnenberg,
of Alt Hegnenberg, in the Kingdom of Bavaria and German Empire.
This Invention relates to street and other paving, and consists of a combination
of wood and asphalt.
The asphalt paving at present in use is in wet and also dry weather so smooth
that it is very difficult for the horses to keep their footing, in consequence of which
many valuable horses are spoiled not only by falling but by straining their sinews,
by sprains, etc.; and furthermore a very considerable hemming of the traffic is
caused.
These disadvantages are entirely overcome by employing my improved paving,
consisting of a combination of blocks of cross-grain wood and asphalt.
Fig. 1 is a top view or plan of a piece of my improved pavement.
Fig. 2 is a like piece of my said improved pavement shewn in profile.
As a foundation I either employ the customary concrete or a layer of planks "a."
The said blocks of cross grain wood "b" are placed on the concrete or plank
foundation a, and a thin narrow board c fastened to the said foundation a between
each two rows of cross grain pine or other suitable wood b, b, so that the said rows
of blocks b, b, are kept firmly in position. The grooves or spaces between each
two rows of wooden blocks b, b, are now filled out with hot hard asphalt d.
In order to render the asphalt d firmer small stones or rough gravel can be
pressed or stamped into the same, or such said stones or gravel can be mixed with

page_text: the melted asphalt d, but in all cases so that the said stones or gravel lie at such
distance beneath the upper surface that the said upper surface consists of pure
asphalt. The rows of asphalt d and wooden blocks b, b, which are laid alternately
are so narrow that a horse driven or ridden over such said paving must come in
contact with both rows either with the front or rear part of the horse-shoe, so as
always to have a firm hold on the wooden blocks.
In this manner a perfectly safe durable paving is obtained, as the hard asphalt
prevents the wood from being too quickly worn away.
It is not necessary that the said blocks be laid straight across the roadway, as
the same can be laid in diagonal or any other suitable manner without departing
from the tenor of my said Invention.
Having now fully described the said Invention and the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I claim,-
The combination of the planking, concrete, or other suitable foundation a with
the blocks b of cross-grain wood, the laths or strips of wood c and the rows or
strips d, of asphalt or asphalt and gravel or small stones, substantially as described
in the foregoing Specification and shewn in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of August, in the year of
our Lord 1881.
Witnesses,
JOHN O. TONKIN,
GUST. HUSSMANN.
EDWIN A. BRYDGES. (L.S.)