IMPROVEMENTS IN THE - CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, PAVEMENTS AND SIMILAR WAYS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I ERNEST HILL of Nether Edge, Sheffield in the county of York Chaser do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
- CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, PAVEMENTS AND SIMILAR WAYS to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the construction of roadways and other like
surfaces of great durability, and which while possessing generally the quality of
asphalte surfaces, will also provide a good foothold for animals.
My invention consists in the adaptation and use of separate and independent
metallic studs, (preferably made of chilled cast iron,) in contradistinction to a
number of such studs cast or otherwise connected so as to form a block or strip;
in combination with wood blocks and asphaltc.
In carrying out my invention, I preferably use a foundation of concrete of
requisite thickness and upon this foundation I apply a thin layer of soft asphalto,
and upon this bed I place at suitable distances apart the iron studs before
mentioned. Each stud is formed with four combined upright ribs rising from a
base plate, the top or bearing surface being in the shape of a cross, and they are so
placed that the ribs of each one shall be exactly opposite the corresponding rib of
ench adjacent stud; and into each of the square spaces, the corners of which are
formed by the ribs of four studs, is placed a suitable block of wood, which is driven
down to the bases of the studs, by this arrangement the whole are wedged firmly
together, and the interstices are finally filled with melted pitch, asphalte or coal
tar, making the whole a combined mass, and rendering it impervious to water.
The wood blocks may be of sulficient height to form a large portion of the surface
of the roadway, or they may be sunk below the level of the studs in which case a
layor of asphalte will bo run all over the top to the height or thereabouts of the
tops of the studs. A finished roadway will thus consist of a bearing surface of
Wood, or asphalte, or a combination of wood and asphalte, or other suitable
material, provided with metallic studs, each standing upon its own base, and
esting upon a concrete foundation.

page_text: I ERNEST HILL of Nether Edge, Sheffield in the County of York Chaser
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, PAVEMENTS, AND SIMILAR WAYS and in what manner
the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say :-
My invention has for its object the construction of roadways and other like
surfaces of great durability, and which while posessing the general qualities of
asphalte surfaces, will provide a better foothold for horses and other animals ;
and in order that my invention may be clearly defined and fully understood,
I annex a sheet of drawings to which I shall refer, the same letters of reference
indicating the same parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1. is an elevation and p'an of a metallic pillar or stud.
Fig 2. represents the method of laying the studs.
Fig 3. represents the surface of the roadway, with the woodblocks in position,
before the application of the asphalte.
Fig.
represent the finished surface of the road.
Fig 5. is a section of the complete road.
Fig 6. represents a modification of my invention, both in the shape of the stud
and the arrangement of the wood blocks.
My invention consists in the adaptation and use of separate and independent
metallic pillars or studs, (which are preferably made of cast iron and chilled,) in
contradistinction to clusters or numbers of such studs cast so as to form blocks or
strips of connected studs, in connection or combination with wood blocks and
asphalte.
In carrying out my invention I preferably use a foundation of concrete, upon
which I spread a thin layer of soft asphalte A and upon this layer at suitable
distances apart I place the iron studs B, beforenamed.
Each stud is made with four combined upright ribs C, rising from a baseplate D,
the top or bearing surface E, being in the shape of a cross-(but I do not bind
myself to this exact configuration, as these ribs may be used as shown in Fig G.
These studs are so placed that the ribs of each stud shall be exactly opposite the
ribs of other studs; and into each of the square spaces, the corners of which are
formed by the ribs of four studs, I place a block of suitable wood F, and drive it
down to the base of the studs By this arrangement the studs and the woodblocks
are firmly held in position, the interstices being filled with asphalte, melted pitch,
or coaltar, see G, Fig. 3.
If the surface of the roadway is required to be of asphalte, I use woodblocks that
are sink below the level of the top of the studs, as in Fig. 5, and run a layer of
asphalte over the top, to the height or thereabouts of the studs, see II, Figs 4 & 5.
If however the surface is to be wood, then I use blocks of wood of equal height
or thereabouts to the studs, filling up the spaces G with pitch or similar substances,
so as to render the surface impervious to water.
A finished roadway made according to my invention will thus consist of a
surface of wood or of asphalte, or of a combination of wood and asphalte (or other
similar suitable material) having metallic studs level with, or slightly projecting
from the surface, each stud standing separately upon its own base, and resting upon
a concrete foundation.

page_text: 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
I claim is,
1 The construction of Roads, Pavements and similar ways as herein before
described and illustrated.
2nd In the construction of Roads, Footpaths and similar ways the use of separate
pillars or studs preferably made of cast iron and chilled, in combination with wood
blocks, as hereindescribed.
ROB. F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.