AN IMPROVED COMPOUND AND METHOD OF PRE- PARING THE SAME FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STREET PAVEMENTS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMPOUND AND METHOD OF PRE-
PARING THE SAME FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STREET PAVEMENTS, AND FOR
OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."-A communication from abroad by Chester
W. M. Smith, of San Francisco, California, United States of
America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 9th July 1872, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.

page_text: WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
COMPOUND AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STREET
PAVEMENTS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," and have petitioned Her Majesty
to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that
it has been communicated to me from abroad by Chester W. M.
Smith, of San Francisco, California, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:—
The main object of this Invention is to provide an improved pavement
for streets that will be impervious to the influence of the weather and
of great durability.
It is a well-known fact that many of the devices for street paving are
ineffectual from various causes, among which are the following, namely,
in wood, such as shrinking and swelling, and rapid decay of the blocks,
which no previous preparation has yet been found to prevent.
In composition pavements the defects have in a measure been over-
come, yet the slackening of the substances by the action of the elements
and the constant wear cause it soon to crumble. But in the use of my
improved pavement these objections are overcome.
I use asphaltum or a bituminous substance and pulp made from wood,
the union of these substances being such that the compound will not be
affected by heat or cold, or easily worn out.
In the first place I pulp the wood or cut it into sawdust.
The dust or pulp so formed is placed in a kettle or cauldron of boiling
asphaltum or cement; I prefer asphaltum, or a substance having similar
properties; it must be thoroughly incorporated by boiling; then the
product is pressed into blocks of the desired dimensions by hydraulic
pressure or otherwise, and laid down after the manner of constructing
other pavements with blocks of composition or wood. It may be found
necessary and economical to add to the mass a small proportion of
pulverized rock, or calcareous or other like substance, which will impart
weight to the block. Sufficient asphaltum should be employed to form

page_text: a plastic and yielding mass for pressing into blocks.
sleeper for railways may be formed of this composition.
A very good tie or
Having thus fully described the said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim, -
First. The pulp made from wood, combined with a bituminous,
pitchy, or tarry substance for street pavements, substantially as herein-
described.
Second. The combination of pulped or ground wood with earthy,
calcareous, bituminous, pitchy, and tarry substances, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my band and seal, this Ninth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
CHAS. J. GOOCHI.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)