IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF Asphalte and BITUMINOUS ROADWAYS AND FOOTWAYS." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Jeffrey Bennett, of Langbourn Chambers,
Fenchurch Street, Civil Engineer, and Nicholas, Rowe, of the
Asphalte Works, Whitepost Lane, Victoria Park, both in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF Asphalte and BITUMINOUS ROADWAYS AND FOOTWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Jeffrey Bennett
and Nicholas Rowe at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 18th October 1871.
We, JOSEPH JEFFREY BENNETT, of Langbourn Chambers, Fenchurch
5 Street, Civil Engineer, and NICHOLAS ROWE, of the Asphalte Works,
Whitepost Lane, Victoria Park, both in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
-

page_text: THE CONSTRUCTION OF ASPHALTE AND BITUMINOUS ROADWAYS AND FOOTWAYS," to
be as follows :—
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
roadways and pathways in which asphalte is used, whereby a more solid
foundation will be afforded and a surface produced preventing the
slipping of horses and forming a non-conductor of sound, the cost of the
road being considerably less than that of any other asphalte road yet
executed, and its construction being effected in less time and with less
inconvenience to the public than other asphalte roads.
We
propose to form the foundation at the requisite level or gradient, 1
and with the proper curvature for the cross section, and then to roll
the same with a steam road roller until an even surface and a solid
foundation is obtained and made suitable in all respects to receive the
next layer of concrete or other materials to be used.
We then propose to apply to such foundation a surface of concrete
either of Portland cement, blue lias, lime, stone lime, or any other
suitable material, laid to such thickness or depth as the nature of
the soil may require, well mixed and thrown in from a stage, and
rolled with a steam roller if required; and the surface, if not rolled, to
be roughly but evenly shaped to the proper level, gradient, and cur-
vature of cross section in order to receive the next layer of tar concrete,
which consists of about three inches in thickness (more or less) of cold
tar concrete, which has been previously and properly prepared at any
convenient place from the works, that made and used by Nicholas Rowe,
of Whitepost Lane, Victoria Park, preferred, but other concrete of a
similar mixture and material may be used.
The top surface is to be raked over and evenly formed to the levels,
gradient, and curvature of the cross section, and then to be well rolled
with a hot steam road roller until thoroughly heated and consolidated by
such system of rolling, the top surface being ultimately left one inch.
(more or less) below the intended road surface, which is to be accurately
prepared to receive a series of lead rings and asphalte; or if the tar
concrete is put on hot, it can be rolled as above described with the steam

page_text: Finally, the asphaltes are to be applied to the surface thus produced
to the extent of one inch (more or less) in thickness as follows:-Upon
the rolled surface of the tar concrete, and at every nine inches from
centre to centre or otherwise, we lay a ring of lead four and a half
inches diameter, one inch deep, and one-eighth of an inch thick, slightly
dovetailed; but other sizes, shape or form, thickness or depth may be
-used. Then the asphalte is to be run into the same in liquid or
otherwise, and floated off with wooden floats or heated iron rammers, so
as to leave the asphalte level with the top of the rings, which con-
sequently act as screeds for the whole surface, binding it and holding it
firmly together, and forming a true and even thickness, a non-slippery
surface, as well as a non-conductor of sound; but in case it should be
desirable to dispense with the lead rings, the asphalte for the top surface
can be used in the ordinary.
The foundation for the footpath is to be formed and rolled in the same
manner as specified for the roadways, and the tar concrete laid upon the
same and well and smoothly rolled with a hot roller or steam road roller,
at the same time adding marble or gypsum spar or granite to the
surface.
The application of the lead rings to the surface of tar concrete not
only binds and strengthens the final layer of asphalte, but tends most
materially to increase the durability of the roadway; for inasmuch as
lead is not destroyed by atmospheric influence, and does not become
oxidized, it retains its properties and. bulk (in such respects) throughout
the period of wear and tear, whereas iron decays from causes other
than wear; and moreover lead does not become chipped or broken by
pressure, so that the rings or other forms of lead would expand or
become thicker at their edges, and consequently would during wear tend
to bind the asphalte more firmly than when first laid down. A most
secure foothold for horses would ensue, load being the only metal
suitable for such purposes, and for the prevention of noise, such as the
use of iron would produce.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Jeffrey Bennett and Nicholas Rowe in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th April 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
JEFFREY BENNETT, of Langbourn Chambers, Fenchurch Street, Civil
Engineer, and NICHOLAS ROWE, of the Asphalte Works, Whitepost Lane,
Victoria Park, both in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Joseph Jeffrey Bennett and Nicholas
Rowe, Her special licence that we, the said Joseph Jeffrey Bennett and
Nicholas Rowe, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said Joseph Jeffrey Bennett and Nicholas Rowe, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, 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, excrcise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN 'THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ASPHALTE AND BITUMINOUS ROADWAYS AND FOOTWAYS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Joseph Jeffrey Bennett and
Nicholas Rowe, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, 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 we, the said Joseph Jeffrey Bennett and
Nicholas Rowe, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
roadways and pathways in which asphalte is used, whereby a moro solid

page_text: foundation will be afforded and a surface produced preventing the
slipping of horses and forming a non-conductor of sound, the cost of the
road being considerably less than that of any other asphalte road yet
executed, and its construction being effected in less time and with less
inconvenience to the public than other asphalte roads.
We form the foundation at the requisite level or gradient, and with
the proper curvature for the cross section, and then roll the same with a
road roller until an even surface and, a solid foundation is obtained and
made suitable in all respects to receive the next layer of concrete or
other materials to be used.
We then apply to such foundation a 'surface of concrete, either of
Portland cement, blue lias, lime, stone lime, or any other similar
suitable material, laid to such thickness or depth as the nature of the
soil may require, well mixed and thrown in from a stage, and rolled with
a roller if required; and the surface, if not rolled, to be roughly but
evenly shaped to the proper level, gradient, and curvature of cross
section in order to receive the next layer of tar concrete, which consists
of about three inches in thickness (more or less) of hot tar concrete,
which has been previously and properly prepared at any convenient
place from the works, that made and used by Nicholas Rowe, of White-
post Lane, Victoria Park, preferred, but other concrete of a similar
mixture and material may be used.
The top surface is to be raked over and evenly formed to the levels,
gradient, and curvatures of the cross section, and then to be well rolled
with a road roller until thoroughly consolidated by such system of
rolling, the top surface being ultimately left one inch (more or less)
below the intended road surface, which is to be accurately prepared
to receive a series of lead rings and ásphalte:
-
Finally, the asphaltes are to be applied to the surface thus pro-
duced to the extent of one inch (more or less) in thickness as follows:
Upon the rolled surface of the tar concrete, and at every nine inches
from centre to centre or otherwise, we lay a ring of lead 4 inches
diameter, one inch deep, and one-eighth of an inch thick, slightly dove-
tailed; but other sizes, shape or form, thickness or depth may be used.

page_text: Then the asphalte is to be run into the same in liquid or otherwise, and
floated off with wooden floats or heated iron rammers, so as to leave
the asphalte level with the top of the rings, which consequently act as
screeds for the whole surface, binding it and holding it firmly together,
and forming a true and even thickness, a non-slippery surface, as well as 5
a non-conductor of sound; but in case it should be desirable to dispenso
with the lead rings, the asphalte for the top surface can be used in the
The foundation for the footpath is to be formed and rolled in the same
manner as specified for the roadways, and the tar concrete laid upon the
same, and well and smoothly rolled with a road roller, at the same time
adding marble or gypsum spar or granite to the surface.
The application of the lead rings to the surface of tar concrete not
only binds and strengthens the final layer of asphalte, but tends most
materially to increase the durability of the roadway; for inasmuch as
lead is not destroyed by atmospheric influence, and does not become
oxidized, it retains its properties and bulk (in such respects) throughout
the period of wear and tear, whereas iron decays from causes other
than wear; and moreover lead does not become chipped or broken by
pressure, so that the rings or other forms of lead would expand or
become thicker at their edges, and consequently would during wear tend
to bind the asphalte more firmly than when first laid down. A most
secure foothold for horses would ensue, lead being the only metal
suitable for such purposes, and for the prevention of noise, such as the
use of iron would produce.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we would remark that.
we do not restrict ourselves to the precise details of preparation and
construction of roadways and footways as described, as it is obvious that
some slight variations or modifications may be made as experience will
suggest; but what we claim and desire to be secured to us by the hicrein
in part recited Letters Patent are, the " Improvements in the Con-
struction of Asphalte and Bituminous Roadways and Footways," by
preparing suitable foundations of concrete or other such materials, and
of tar concrete, aided by rolling with road rollers or other means; and

page_text: by the final application of asphaltes alone or with the addition of lead
rings, all substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Jeffrey Bennett. and
Nicholas Rowe, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-two.
'Witness,
JOSEPH JEFFREY BENNETT. (L.S.)
NICHOLAS ROWE.
(L.S.)
0 ALEX. C. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.