AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING WOOD PAVEMENTS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Doctor of Laws, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING WOOD
PAVEMENTS."-
-A communication from abroad by Edward P. Morong,
of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
5
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 11th December 1872, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton Build-
ings, London, Doctor of Laws, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED

page_text: tioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad
by Edward P. Morong, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing
forming part of this Specification.
This Invention relates to a method of laying pavements, whereby
time, labour, and expense are saved, and the pavement is rendered more
easy to take up and replace in case of repair of the substructure of the
streets, and is more solid and durable.
The pavement is of that class in which rectangular blocks separated
by narrow channels packed with pebbles or gravel form the wearing
part of the pavement; and the principal novelty in this method is the
"puddling" or softening of the earth foundation of the pavement after
the blocks are laid, and the channels partly packed with pebbles or
gravel before ramming. No flooring of wood or other material need be
prepared for this pavement, but the blocks are laid directly on the graded
bed and then partially embedded in the earth foundation while it is in a
puddled or muddy condition.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a street in which a pavement is being
laid in accordance with this improved method.
Figure 2 is a section of the pavement upon a line corresponding with
the direction of the street.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
The gravel or earth road bed A is first graded to the form required,
and to a proper height to allow for the depth of the blocks when
rammed. Upon this graded earth foundation the blocks B are set in the
usual way. Upon the upper edges of the set blocks is hung a parting

page_text: strip C by a bracket c projecting from one side. This parting strip is
shallower than the blocks, and is to be removed as the work progresses.
A second row of blocks is laid against the parting strip, and on the
removal of the parting strip a channel 6 will remain between the two
rows of blocks. This channel is next filled about two-thirds full
with pebbles or gravel D poured in from a shovel or scoop. The nozzle
of a hose pipe or watering pot E is next introduced to the partially filled
channel and sufficient water allowed to flow through among the pebble
packing to saturate the earth foundation or render it puddled or muddy.
The pebbles are then rammed by the aid of an iron blade F, and sub-
sequently the blocks are rammed into the foundation while it is still
puddled or muddy. The channels are now filled with pebbles or gravel,
and the whole pavement covered with gravel or sand in the usual way.
I prefer at this stage to give a second ramming, but it is not absolutely
necessary to do so.
"9"
In consolidating a road bed or "form" preparatory to setting pave-
ment it has not been unusual to sprinkle the soil with water and then
roll or ram the earth so as to get a hard foundation; and after the blocks
have been set and covered with a thin final sand dressing, water has been
applied to wash the sand into the interstices between the blocks. But
these uses of water differ from mine; I desire the road bed to be in
shape, but not hard when the blocks are set. I fill the channels with
pebbles and the blocks are thus braced on all sides and hold their position.
I then soften the road bed with a profusion of water conducted and
directed into the channels themselves, and I ram the pebbles so that
they wedge against the blocks, and form rude ratchets or pawls to hold,
and brace the rows of blocks against each other as the blocks are
rammed down. I then ram the blocks well into the muddy bed where
they all set when left alone, each like a post in its post hole, while the
mud also rises among the pebbles and interstices of the blocks, forming
a sort of natural conglomerate in the channels.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The method of puddling the foundation bed of wood pavements,
and of giving to the latter a firm bearing by applying water to the said

page_text: foundation after the blocks have been laid in position and the channels
partly filled with pebbles or gravel, and afterward ramming the said
filling and blocks, substantially as specified.
Second. The parting strip constructed as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set 5
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
JAMES EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)