IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF ROADWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cornelius Bremerkamp, of No. 197, New Cross Road, in
the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF ROADWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
Sealed the 8th April 1879, and dated the 17th October 1878.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cornelius Bremerkamp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1878.
CORNELIUS BREMERKAMP, of No. 197, New Cross Road, in the County of Surrey.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
I propose to give greater durability to and to facilitate the laying of a roadway
with blocks of wood, by bolting or otherwise attaching to each block a plate of
iron, so that when the block is laid upon the concrete or other foundation this
plate, which will be of equal depth with the block, will be at a right angle to the
curb, and the plates of each block form a line of metal extending completely across
the road.
In laying my road way I propose, firstly, to take the dimensions of the way to be
laid, to make my blocks of such sizes as may be required, each having its plate
attached to it, and if desirable a piece of wood fixed to the under side, to come
between the block and the concrete or other foundation.
Thus there will be no fitting upon the spot, it being only necessary to drop each
block into its place, the plated side of each block coming against a wooden side of
the blocks in the previously laid row, only the row of blocks completing the road
requiring to be plated on both sides.
In applying these blocks to a tramway, my metal plates may be used as guage
bars or tie bars, as well as forming a durable roadway for the horses, and in this

page_text: case the advantage of no fitting being required upon the spot is of special
importance.
I propose to bolt my plates to the wooden blocks at or near the centre, so that
they will not interfere with the reversing of the block when one face is worn, and
this turning of the block inay be effected with the greatest facility, the metal plate
at once giving a proper bearing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Cornelius Bremerkamp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
April 1879.
CORNELIUS BREMERKAMP, of No. 197, New Cross Road, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
The object of my Invention is to give greater durability to a roadway paved with
wood in blocks, and to facilitate the construction of the roadway by a combination
of materials and a method of construction permitting the preparation of the pave-
ment in such a manner that it will only be necessary to take the dimensions of the
way to be laid, to combine the whole of the parts of the paving in the yard or
workshop, carry them to the spot where they are to be put down, and to lay the
paving without any fitting of the pieces on the spot, whereby a number of incon-
veniences will be avoided, and especially that of the long diversion of the traffic
necessitated for the laying of a wooden paving in the ordinary way, that is to say,
combining and fitting all the blocks upon the spot.
For paving an ordinary roadway, my system consists especially in the combination
of the wooden blocks with plates of iron, so that there will be a plate of iron
between each series of wooden blocks, and thus I form slabs of wood and iron.
It may be found preferable to make these slabs of fixed dimensions, a square
yard, for example, and to complete the way by wooden blocks of suitable dimensions,
to exactly fill the spaces left between the curb stones and the slabs already placed
on the roadway, but the slabs may be combined in dimensions regulated by the
breadth of the roadway which they are to form.
Boards may be attached to the base of the slabs to come upon the concrete or other
foundation of the way, or these slabs may be laid upon planks or upon the ground
itself when properly levelled. This levelling of the ground will be the only prepa-
ration required to be made upon the spot, all the slabs forming the paving being laid
the one by the side of the other, and formning a continuous roadway of wood and
iron, without any fitting or work upon the spot other than the simple laying, all the
work having been previously executed elsewhere.
I prefer to pass the rods or bolts, by which I tie the blocks of wood and the plates
of metal together through the centre of the blocks, in order that the slab may be
turned when one of its faces is worn, and the plates will be of a breadth equal to
or a little less than the height of the blocks, so as to be level, or nearly so, with the
blocks when the slab is reversed. I prefer to make the slabs with plates of

page_text: wrought or of strong sheet iron, but they may be made of cast iron, and the blocks
be of pine or any other suitable wood, creosoted or otherwise prepared to resist
humidity.
Where roads cross each other I may place short plates of iron at right angles to
the plates above mentioned, so as to present an iron surface, as well as a wooden
one, to the wheels of vehicles crossing in any direction.
In roadways over which the traffic is very slight I might possibly form my slabs
without metal plates between each series of blocks of wood, simply tying the blocks
together by rods or bolts through the centre, using outer metal plates only, or I
might dispense with these outer plates.
For a tramway I use,
in addition to the slabs constructed as above explained, a
tie bar, cross piece, or sleeper, having at each end a vertical flange, and at a certain
distance therefrom a socket or chain, to receive the longitudinal sleepers and the
rails, the proper guage of the tramway being thus perfectly maintained. The slabs,
composed of iron and wood, are laid between the flanges at each end of this tie bar,
rod, or sleeper, and in the spaces between the two sockets or chairs. I place one
of these bars between each of my slabs or composite blocks, or at such distances
apart as I may in practice find most desirable. This tie bar or sleeper may be of
cast or of wrought iron, as may be preferred, or I may make it of wood or of a
combination of wood and iron, or of any suitable material and dimensions.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I have illustrated on the .
accompanying Sheet of Drawing its application both to the paving of an ordinary
roadway and to the laying of a tramway.
Figure 1 being a plan view, showing the general construction of an ordinary slab.
Figure 2, a similar view, but illustrating a suitable arrangement when the blocks
are laid with a "half lap."
Figure 3, a transverse section through Figure 1, and
Figure 4, a transverse section through Figure 2.
Figure 5 represents an iron plate suitable for the arrangement shown, Figure 1,
and
Figure 6, an iron plate suitable for the arrangement shown, Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a general plan of a portion of an ordinary tram road, showing the
position of the slabs and tie bars or cross sleepers, and
Figure S represents a transverse section through the same.
Figure 9 is a plan of a curved road, illustrating the manner in which the slabs
are constructed and arranged to suit the requisite curve.
Figure 10 is a detail of a tie bar or transverse sleeper, and
Figure 11, a plan and end view of a slab suitable for the outer way of an ordinary
tram road.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts in each of the Figures respec-
tively.
A, A, indicating the blocks of wood.
B, B, the iron plates.
C, C, the bolts, rods, or rivets uniting the blocks and plates.
D, D, the tie bars or transverse sleepers.
E, E, the longitudinal sleepers for rails.
F, F, the tram rails.
G, key or centre for curved blocks or slabs.
I do not limit myself to the number or exact position of the bars D, nor of the
bolts or fastenings C, C, although I deem it preferable that they should pass through
the centre of each block of wood; I may vary the shape of my blocks and of my
slabs to suit crossings and the points of tram roads, and to meet any requirements,
and I desire it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein-before set forth, and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, as
such may be varied while retaining the characteristic features of my Invention.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed,-

page_text: I claim as of my Invention, and as secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly. The combination of the wooden blocks A, A, with the iron plates B, B,
substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet
of Drawing, to form the paving of an ordinary roadway.
Secondly. The blocks of wood A, A, and iron plates B, B, in combination with the
tie bars or transverse sleepers D), to form a tram road, substantially as herein-before
described, and shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cornelius Bremerkamp, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-ninc.
C. BREMERKAMP. (L.S.)