IMPROVEMENTS IN PARING OR CORERING MC Dai C PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Chamberlin, junior, of Narborough, in the
County of Norfolk, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PARING OR CORERING MC Dai C
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Chamberlin.at the
Office of the, Commissioners of Patents, with, bis Petition, on the: 28th
January 1857.
I, HENRY CHAMBERLIN, junior, of Narborough, in the County of Norfolk,
Gentleman, do bereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PAVING OR COVERING THE SURFACES OF ROADS, STREETS OR WAYS," to be
as follows:-
.My. Invention of improvements; in paving or covering, roads, streets, or ways,
relates to the constructing and forming; surfaces of cast iron, offering a good
foothold for horses, and which shall be reversible when one side is worn out
or unfit for longer use, and at the same time permit a free passage for the water
and dirt to pass from the surface. It consists of a grated structure of iron,
which may be cast in pieces of any convenient size to suit the area of the
street, but the larger they are the better it will answer the purpose. The
meshes or openings in the grating may be about one and a half or two and a
half inches square; and the breadth of the ribs, say, about one inch. At the
crossings of the ribs I form parts raised above the general level of the ribs,
the surfaces of all the crossing ribs being on a uniform level. This grated.

page_text: structure must be of a depth to afford sufficient strength for the purpose
required. The surface of the ribs, as also the projections or raised parts at the
crossings are the same on the top and bottom of the structure. In order to
lighten the weight of the structure, the ribs may be thinner at the middle of
their depth if it is desirable to economise the metal; or, instead of making
them thinner towards the middle of their depth, the ribs may be altogether
thinner than the substance of metal at the crossings of the ribs.
By making both sides of these grated structures alike, when the one side
becomes worn out the grated plate may be reversed. Instead of the meshes or
openings being rectangular, and the crossings at right angles, the openings
may be five, six, or eight sided, or, of other suitable shape, with the crossings
or junction of the ribs accordingly, but in all cases with the raised parts or
projections before-mentioned. These grated structures should be laid on a
good hard sub-way, or even on the stone paved streets, taking care to bed
them properly. The large size of these structures prevent them tilting or
sinking under the weight of carriages, and they present a uniform surface,
affording good foothold for horses. The openings through them permit water
to pass freely, which may flow towards the street gully or drain on the sub-
way, and thus keep the surface always dry. Little dirt will arise from this
paving, but such as accumulates enters the meshes or openings of the grated
structure, and may be removed by lifting and cleansing them occasionally.
With rectangular openings, the ribs may run parallel and transverse to the
length of street, or may both be placed diagonally thereto. If in line with
and across the street, the tops of the cross ribs between the projections will
form a smooth surface on which the wheels of light vehicles may run, they
being received between the projections.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Chamberlin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
CHAMBERLIN, junior, of Narborough, in the County of Norfolk, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twonty-eighth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,

page_text: the said Henry Chamberlin, junior, Her special licence, that I; the said
Henry Chamberlin, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Henry Chamberlin, junior, my executors, administrators,
and assign, 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 PAVING OR COVERING THE SURFACES OF ROADS, STREETS, OR
WAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Chamberlin,
junior, my executors, or administrators, by an instrument in writing, under my
or 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 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 Henry Chamberlin, junior, 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 Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of improvements in paving or covering roads, streets, or ways,
relates to the constructing and forming surfaces of cast iron, offering a good
foothold for horses, and which shall be reversible when one side is worn out or
unfit for longer use, and at the same time permit a free passage for the water
and dirt to pass from the surface. It consists of a grated structure of iron,
which may be cast in pieces of any convenient size to suit the area of the
street, but the larger they are the better it will answer the purpose. The
meshes or openings in the grating may be about one and a half or two and a
half inches square, and the breadth of the ribs, say, about one inch. At the
crossings of the ribs I form parts, raised above the general level of the ribs,
the surfaces of all the crossing ribs being on a uniform level. This grated
structure must be of a depth to afford sufficient strength for the purpose
required; the surface of the ribs, as also the projections or raised parts at the
crossings, are the same on the top and bottom of the structure, to render them
reversible. In order to lighten the weight of the structure the ribs may be
thinner at the middle of their depth, if it is desirable to economise the metal;
or, instead of making them thinner towards the middle of their depth, the
ribs may be altogether thinner than the substance of metal at the crossings of
the ribs.

page_text: By making both sides of these grated structures alike, when the one side
becomes.worn out the grated plate may be reversed. Instead of the meshes or
openings being rectangular and the crossings at right angles, the openings may
be five, six, or eight sided, or of other suitable shape, with the crossings: or
junctions of the ribs accordingly; but in all cases with the raised parts or
projections before mentioned: These grated' structures should be laid on a
good hard subway, or even on the stone paved streets, taking care to bed them
properly. The large size of these structures prevents them tilting or sinking
under the weight of carriages, and they present a uniform surface; affording a
good foothold for horses. The openings through them permit water to pass
freely; which may flow towards the strect gully or drain on the subway; and
thus keep the surface always dry. Little dirt will arise from this paving;
but such as accumulates enters the meshes or openings of the grated
structure, and may be removed by lifting and cleansing them occasionally!
With rectangular openings the ribs may run parallel and transverse to the
length of street, or may both be placed diagonally thereto. . If, in line with
and across the street, the tops of the cross ribs between the projections: will
form a smooth surface, on which the wheels of light vehicles may run, they
being received between the projections; or raised, continuous rails may be
formed throughout the length of the streets so paved, on which vehicles may
travel.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS!
a, a, repre-
The numerals) 1, 2, 3, and 4;
extent of the pieces of the:
Figure 1 represents a portion of a street, paved or covered according to my
Invention, and Fig: 2 a transverse vertical section of the same.
sents the kerbs-on either side of the paved way.
placed at the corners of each piece, exhibit the
paving, which I prefer of large area, as better calculated to take a solid
bearing than smaller pieces: It consists of a series of cross bars. or ribs;
intersecting each other at right angles and forming an open grating, the whole
of which is cast in one piece!
- !
Figure 3 represents in plan a small portion of this grated paving or
covering of about the full size; while Fig.14-represents a vertical section of
the same: It will be observed that the surfaces of the ribs or barsiib, b;
are about one inch broad on either side; but that; in order to lighten the
structure; they are thinner at the middle of their'depth (at: the point b
At the points of intersection of the cross ribs or bars bb; raised surfaces. c, c;
are produced which rise, say; 'about half an inch above the general: levél:
of the grated structure, which raised projections produce a sufficient rough-

page_text: ness on the surface for the foothold of horses; while at the same time
the openings & between the bars b, b, are small enough to prevent a horse's
foot entering, or otherwise to interfere with the security of his footing:
The size of the opening d shown in Fig. 3 is not imperative, but may be of
any size best adapted for the purpose. I believe, however, that the size
represented will be found to be the best, as it will afford the foothold required,
while at the same time a smooth surface will be presented between the pro-
jections c, c, for the wheels of vehicles having a narrow tread, and' on which
such wheels may run, when the bars b, b, are laid parallel to the direction of
the length of the street. As before mentioned, both sides of the grated' plates
are alike, and are cast of a size adapted to the width of the street, froni kerb to
kerb. They may be laid on a subway, so that the surface inclines towards
the kerb, as usual, in which case the junctions between the parts should be so
made as to form good joints, and according to the inclination at which the
plates may be laid they may be further secured to each other by dowel pins,
or short bolts, which may be easily removed when it is required to take up
any portion of the paving; care should also be taken that the abutting edges
of the grated plates form a good junction, whichever side of tlie plate may be
uppermost, as also at its junction with the kerb. It may not, however, be
possible to comply with these conditions, and to invert the sanie grated plate
in the same position in streets raised in the crown, but may be easily effected
by shifting the plates to the opposite side of the street at the same time as
turning them. In order that the water shall run clear from the streets, the
escape gullies should be on the level of the subway, which should be hard and
solid, so that the projections c, c, resting on the subway will maintain a
passage for the water underneath the bars b, b, towards the gullies, or instead
of passing under the bars b, holes g may be formed through them at about the
middle of their depth, which will at all times maintain a free passage for the
water, although the entire lower surface of the grated plates are bedded
solid on the subway.
Figure 1 shows, in part, the ribs or bars b, b, running parallel and
transverse to the street, and also diagonally thereto, but I prefer the former,
as a smooth surface is, presented, on which narrow wheels may travel.
This figure also represents rail surfaces, e, c, formed throughout the length
of the surfaces, on which vehicles may travel, furnished with suitable flanges
to keep them on the track. These rails e, e, are cast in one piece with the
grated plates, and need to be very little above the level of the projections c, c.
In the structures having longitudinal ribs or bars, these rails may occupy
the position of one of such ribs.

page_text: Figure 5 represents a plan of a modification of the paving according to my
Invention, in which the ribs are not continuous and at right angles to each
other, but so arranged as to form a series of hexagonal openings f.
Figure 6 represents a plan of a small portion, of about the full size;
and Fig. 7, a vertical section of the same. This paving is formed in large
pieces, fitted and united together as before described; it is also furnished
with the projections c, c, on both sides, and at all the points of intersection of
the ribs b. In this case I have represented some of these projections hex-
agonal, some circular, & others hemispherical, to be used as found best
adapted for the foothold of horses, and generally for the purposes required.
All the other conditions of this paving are as before described, and need not be
repeated. Octagonal or other forms of grated openings may be adopted
instead of those herein-before mentioned.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into practical effect, I declare that what I claim as my Invention,
and desire to protect by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
"the construction and application of grated plates or structures as a covering
or paving for roads, streets, or ways," as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Chamberlin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
HENRY CHAMBERLIN.
(L.S.)