Improvements in Roads and Pavements and Paving Blocks therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 30th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 1st Nov., 1887
Improvements in Roads and Pavements and Paving Blocks
therefor.
I WILLIAM WHITE of The Great Western Works Abergavenny in the County of
Monmouth Architect do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to all descriptions of roads and pavements and has for its
objects the production and arrangement and utilization of strong impervious and
extremely durable paving therefor.
To carry out this my invention I first construct a compound paving block in the
following manner.
I make a flat block of concrete of a square or oblong or other shape and of any suitable
dimensions preferably in a mould and under pressure or otherwise and in and
through this block I form one or more apertures preferably larger on the one face
than on the other face thereof or of a somewhat dovetailed shape. I then make a
mould slightly smaller than but similar in plan to this block and of a suitable depth
whereon the concrete block is laid with the larger parts if any of the apertures
upperinost wherethrough I pour into the mould asphalte or any suitable composition
such for example as that described in the specification of my Patent No. 4065 dated
21st of September 1881 and when this asphalte or composition has set the compound
block can be removed from the mould and the two parts thereof will be firmly attached
together to further ensure which attachment it is very convenient to so form the
apertures in the concrete block as to correspond with or be near the corners or the
opposite sides of the asphalte or composition block or these apertures may be arranged
in other convenient manner.
Instead of forming as aforesaid this part of the compound block wholly of asphalte
or composition I may embed theréin one or more pieces of wood or other suitable
material in such wise that the picce or pieces of wood or material shall appear on the
outer surface of the compound block which can conveniently be effected by placing
the piece or pieces of wood or material in the bottom of the mould before the asphalte
or composition is poured in.

page_text: I arrange and utilize these blocks in and for the paving of roads and pavements in
the following manner.
When, the surface has been properly formed of gravel or other material and has
been duly levelled I lay these blocks thereon with the concrete part of each block
lowermost and contiguous to or touching the concrete parts of the adjacent blocks on
all sides. As the asphalte or composition part of each block is smaller in plan than
the concrete part a series of grooves is formed between the asphalte or composition
parts of the adjacent blocks when laid as aforesaid whereinto I pour asphalte or the
same or other composition whereby these blocks are firmly bound together and
the joints between the concrete parts of the blocks are completely covered and thus
the surface of the road or pavement is rendered impervious to moisture.
When desired to provide a good foothold for horses or otherwise the upper surface
of the material poured in between the blocks can be a little above or below the upper
surfaces of the adjacent blocks for which cause also the upper surfaces of the blocks
and more especially the asphalte or composition portions thereof can be roughened
or ribbed or grooved or otherwise treated as may be desired and I can also finish off
the whole surface of the road or pavement with gravel or granite chippings or
otherwise.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roads and Pavements and Paving Blocks
therefor.
I WILLIAM WHITE of The Great Western Works Abergavenny in the County of
Monmouth Architect do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to all descriptions of roads and pavements and has for its
objects the production and arrangement and utilization of strong impervious and
extremely durable paving therefor.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn one form of my paving blocks.
Figure 1 is a plan of the upper side of the block Figure 2 is a plan of the under
side thereof and Figure 3 is a section thereof taken at a b in Figure 1.
I make a flat block A of concrete which block A in plan view may be of a square
shape as shewn or may be of an oblong or any other desired shape and may be of any
suitable dimensions and is so formed preferably in a mould and either under pressure
or otherwise as may be desirable in each particular case having regard to the duty that
is expected from the block and in and through this block A I form one or more
apertures B preferably larger on the one face of the block A than on the other face
thereof or of a somewhat dovetailed shape. I them make a mould slightly smaller
than but similar in plan to this block A and of a suitable depth whereon the concrete
block A is laid with the larger parts if any of the apertures B uppermost and through
these apertures B I pour into the mould it may be solely asphalte or a composition of
asphalte pitch and sharp sand or clean ashes or clinkers or other suitable material or
as is perhaps preferable the composition described in the specification of my Patent
No. 4065 dated the 21st day of September 1881 in every case in a liquid state until
the mould and the apertures B are filled therewith and when this liquid asphalte or
composition has set the compound block can be removed from the mould and the
asphalte or composition block D is firmly attached to the concrete block A which
attachment is further assisted by the dovetailed parts of the block D which pass
through the apertures B for which cause also it is very convenient especially in the
square form of block shewn to so form as aforesaid four of these apertures B each of
which corresponds with or is near to one of the corners of the block D or a long
narrow aperture B' may be formed in a similar manner along or corresponding with
each of the opposite sides of the block D or the aperture or apertures may be formed
and arranged in other convenient manner having regard to the particular shape in
plan view in which the compound block is made.
Figure 4 is a plan of the upper side of the block with a modification and Figure 5
is a section thereof taken at cd in Figure 4.
According to this modification instead of forming as aforesaid this part D of the

page_text: compound block wholly of asphalte or composition I may embed therein one or more
pieces E of wood or other suitable material in such wise that the piece or pieces E
shall appear on the outer surface of the compound block which can conveniently be
effected by placing the piece or piecos E in the bottom of the mould before the
asphalte or composition is poured in as herein before described. These pieces E may
be of any desired shapes and sizes and may occupy such parts or proportions of the
outer surfaces of the block as I may deem expedient in each particular case that
shewn in the drawing wherein the outer surface is quartered being a very convenient
plan and one or more of the edges of each piece E can suitably be bevelled whereby
the piece will very securely be embedded in the block as is desired.
arrange and utilize these blocks in and for the paving of roads and pavements in
the following manner.
Figure 6 is a plan of a road or pavement covered with these blocks and Figure 7 is
a section of the same taken at ef in Figure 6.
When the surface F has been properly formed of gravel or other material and has
been duly levelled I lay these blocks thereon with the concrete part A of each block
lowermost and contiguous to or touching the concrete parts A of the adjacent blocks
on all sides.
As the asphalte or composition part D of each block is smaller in plan
than the concrete part A thereof a series of grooves H are formed between the asphalte
or composition parts D of the adjacent blocks when laid as aforesaid whereinto I
pour asphalte or the same or other similar composition while in a liquid state by the
which these blocks are firmly bound together and the joints between the concrete
parts A of the blocks are completely covered and thus the surface of the road or
pavement is rendered impervious to moisture.
When desired to provide a good foothold for horses or otherwise the upper surface
of the material poured in between the blocks can be a little above or below the
upper surfaces of the adjacent blocks for which cause also the upper surfaces of the
blocks and more especially the asphalte or composition portions thereof can be
roughened or ribbed or grooved or otherwise treated as may be desired and I can
also finish off the whole surface of the road or pavement with gravel or granite
chippings or otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1 claim is
1. The compound block made of concrete and asphalte or composition the two
parts being securely attached together substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The compound block made of concrete and asphalte or composition and wood
or other material all parts being securely attached together substantially as herein-
before described.
3. The method of laying or forming a road or pavement by these compound blocks
with asphalte or composition poured in between the same substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
Dated this 30th day of September 1887.