Improvements in and relating to Road Paving.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Loft 14th Nov. 1200 Accanted 16th Don 1800
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION!
Improvements in and relating to Road Paving.
We, WILLIAM PURDY, of 74, Cocker Street, Blackpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Builder's Manager, and HINDLEY AND COMPANY, LIMITED, of 4, Corpora-
tion Street, in the City of Manchester, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows:-
Our invention refers to the construction of road pavement with blocks of
special shape, and material or materials.
The materials employed are cement and fine dust granite, mixed as may be
desired, by machinery or otherwise.
In order to explain the special shape or design of our improved paving blocks,
we will suppose the dimensions of the same to 6" x 6" × 12".
If the block is placed on one side, and we suppose one half the length of the
block to be depressed (say 1" to 24") below the other half, we shall have a
block composed apparently of two 6" cube blocks; one of the blocks being set
back 1" to 2" parallel to one pair of opposite sides.
If the block be placed vertically, or on end, we shall, on one side have a
projecting ledge 1" to 2 inches wide facing upwards; and on the opposite side
a similar one facing downwards.
Now in laying the pavement, the blocks are laid, so that the downwardly
facing ledge of one block rests upon the upwardly facing ledge of the adjacent
block.
At the sides of the roadway pavement larger blocks, of the shape usually
termed, skew-back (ie. with one of the sides inclined instead of forming a ledge),
are used, so that they may serve as abutments for the end blocks of the cross
rows of blocks, which may be arranged to cross the roadway either straight
across from side to side, or diagonally.
It will be evident that as above described, the upwardly and downwardly
facing projections or ledges are respectively on opposite sides of the block, whilst
the other two sides are straight. A second or rather a modified shape of the
block which we also propose to use, is obtained if we consider the rectangular
block (say 6" x 6" x 12") placed resting on one corner or edge and one half of
the block depressed from 1" to 24 inches in the direction of the diagonal. This
will give a block composed most apparently of two equal cubical blocks, the
one of which is moved 11" to 2" with respect to the other parallel to one of the
diagonals. When placed on end, the block will exhibit on each of two adja-
cent sides an upwardly facing projection or ledge, and on each of the two oppo-
site adjacent sides a downwardly facing ledge. When laid in the road, each
block therefore will offer a ledge or support on two adjoining sides, to two adja-
cent blocks, and will rest by means of the two opposite adjoining sides on the
other two adjacent blocks. The larger side blocks are correspondingly altered
to suit.
It will be evident that owing to their shape, a pressure on any one block is
not transferred merely to the bed immediately beneath and covered by the

page_text: block, but, that owing to the interlocking of the blocks, such pressure is trans-
nitted to and borne by some of the adjacent blocks, and either distributed over
a larger area of the bed, or also transmitted to the side abutment blocks. Thus
one block cannot settle below the level of the adjacent blocks, and the un-
evenness of the road is practically limited to that due to uneven wear; which is
at all times very slight compared to that due to uneven settling.
In order to ensure a better foothold, the ends of the blocks, which form the
wearing surface may be grooved, and the edge of the same bevelled off, forming
rectangular or diamond shaped grooving on the surface of the pavement.
Dated this 14th day of February 1899.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicants.
We, WILLIAM PURDY, of 74, Cocker Street, Blackpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Builder's Manager, and HINDLEY AND COMPANY, LIMITED, of 4, Corpora-
tion Street, in the City of Manchester, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention refers to the construction of road pavement with blocks of
special shape, and material or materials.
The materials employed are cement and fine dust granite, mixed as may be
desired, by machinery or otherwise.
In order to explain the special shape or design of our improved paving blocks,
we will suppose the dimensions of the same to 6" x 6" x 12".
If the block is placed on one side, and we suppose one half the length of the
block to be depressed (say 1" to 2") below the other half, we shall have a
block composed apparently of two 6" cube blocks; one of the blocks being set
back 1" to 2" parallel to one pair of opposite sides.
If the block be placed vertically, or on end, we shall, on one side have a
projecting ledge 14" to 2 inches wide facing upwards; and on the opposite side
a similar one facing downwards.
Now in laying the pavement, the blocks are laid, so that the downwardly
facing ledge of one block rests upon the upwardly facing ledge of the adjacent
block.
<6
At the sides of the roadway pavement larger blocks, of the shape usually
termed skew-back," (i.c. with one of the sides inclined instead of forming a ledge),
are used, so that they may serve as abutments for the end blocks of the cross
rows of blocks, which may be arranged to cross the roadway either straight
across from side to side, or diagonally.
It will be evident that as above described, the upwardly and downwardly
facing projections or ledges are respectively on opposite sides of the block, whilst
the other two sides are straight. A second or rather a modified shape of the
block which we propose to use, is obtained if we consider the rectangular
block (say 6" x 6" x 12") placed resting on one corner or edge and one half of
the block depressed from 1 to 21 in the direction of the diagonal. This
will give a block composed most apparently of two equal cubical blocks, the
one of which is moved 14 to 24" with respect to the other parallel to one of the
diagonals. When placed on end, the block will exhibit on each of two adja-
cent side an upwardly facing projection or ledge, and on each of the two oppo:

page_text: site adjacent sides a downwardly facing ledge. When laid in the road, cach
block therefore will offer a ledge or support on two adjoining sides, or two adja-
cent blocks and will rest by means of the two opposite adjoining sides on the
other two adjacent blocks. The larger side blocks are correspondingly altered
to suit.
And in order that our invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, may be more readily and clearly understood, we have anenxed
hereto the accompanying sheet of drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective of a paving block 6 formed according to our invention,
having the upper half of the block set back (respectively forward) parallel to
one pair of opposite faces, so as to leave an upwardly facing ledge a at one side
and a downwardly facing ledge a¹ on the opposite side.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of one half of a roadway constructed in accordance
with our invention, from which it will be seen that the downwardly facing
ledge of one block rests upon the upwardly facing ledge a of one of the
adjoining blocks.
Fig. is a corresponding section of the roadway close to the opposite causeway.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the skew-back blocks next the cause-
way, and shewn in section in Figs. 2 and 3.
Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the end blocks m and ", see Figs. 2
and 3, at opposite sides of the roadway, where the laying of the pavement is
commenced from the side shewn in Fig. 3. By using a Tee shaped block in-
verted for the middle block, the laying of the roadway can be commenced at
the centre, and carried on simultaneously towards opposite sides of the roadway,
in which case Figs. 2 and 4 are respectively cross sections of opposite halves
of the roadway.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a block in which the upper half is set back
parallel to the diagonal line ehk, so that an upwardly facing ledge i is formed
on two adjacent sides and a downwardly facing ledge on the two opposite adja-
cent sides. The side blocks m and are correspondingly shaped to suit, as
illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7.
When a portion of the roadway requires to be taken up for repairs, it can
afterwards be relaid in the same manner as when first laid down, with the ex-
ception of the last block or two, which are made without one or both of the ledge
portions, a separate packing piece or pieces being inserted to replace these.
The blocks may be laid in rows running straight across, or diagonally across
the roadway.
It will be evident that owing to the shape of the individual blocks, a pressure
on any one block is not transferred merely to the bed beneath and covered by
the block, but that owing to the interlocking of the blocks, such pressure
is transmitted to and borne by some of the adjacent blocks, and either distri-
buted over a larger area of the bed, or also transmitted to the side abutment
blocks. Thus one block cannot settle below the level of the adjacent block and
the unevenness of the road is practically limited to that due to uneven wear;
which is at all times very slight compared to that due to uneven settling.
In order to ensure a better foothold, the ends of the blocks, (which form the
wearing surface), may be grooved, and the edge of the same bevelled off, forming
rectangular or diamond shaped grooving on the surface of the pavement.
The paving blocks may be of wood, or artificial stone, or any other suitable
material which will permit of the blocks being readily cut or moulded to shape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
-
1. The use for the construction of road pavements of blocks having one half
of the block set back with respect to the other half parallel to one pair of oppo-
site faces so as to form an upwardly facing and a downwardly facing ledge on

page_text: opposite sides of the block respectively substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The use for the construction of road pavements of blocks having one half
of the block set back with respect to the other parallel to a horizontal diagonal
line of the block substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illus-
trated in Fig. 8.
3. In combination with the subject matter of Claims 1 and 2 the use of skew-
back blocks c and end blocks m and n substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth and illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The construction of road pavement substantially as herein set forth and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of November 1899.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicants.