Improvements relating to Wood-block Paving for Roadways, Streets, and Thoroughfares, applicable also to other purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Wood-block Paving for Roadways, Streets,
and Thoroughfares, applicable also to other purposes.
I, WILLIAM DUFFY of 114 Vauxhall Walk, London, S.E., Wood Block Flooring
and Paving Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to flooring of two kinds, namely that intended for indoor
use, such as the floors of churches, halls, offices and the like, and that intended for
public thoroughfares such as bridges, sidewalks, roadways and similar uses.
My system of preparing the flooring and laying it in place is identical in most
respects for both indoor and outdoor purposes, but there are some differences in
detail which I will explain further on.
The chief peculiarity of my improved flooring lies in the mode of connecting the
blocks of which it is composed. These blocks are rectangular and mostly oblong in
shape although cubes or triangles may be employed to fill up vacant spaces when
necessary. For indoor work the wood is mostly cut lengthwise with the grain,
but for outdoor work the wood is usually cut across the grain, although it can of
course be cut in either way in both cases. For outdoor use it is moreover generally
cut thicker, and is often creosoted before being laid. For indoors the blocks are
usually laid close together while for outdoors they are sometimes kept slightly
apart and the interstices are filled with cement or asphalte, in which small stones are
sometimes mixed.
The connection between the blocks is formed by means of dowel pins of the form
hereinafter described, a special feature distinctive of which consists in their having
a swell or boss at or about the centre.
In the case of flooring blocks laid close together, this swell is entirely let into
suitable recesses in the blocks, but in the outdoor flooring the swell is only
partially recessed in the block and the depth of the cavity formed to receive the
swell forms a guide or gauge for regulating the distance between the blocks, or this
distance may be kept by a projecting ridge on the swell.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which Fig. 1 shows one system of laying my wood block paving for outdoor
use, the interstices between each block being filled in with cement, concrete or
asphalte.
Fig. 2 shows a method used for indoor purposes in which the blocks are brought
close together with or without cement.
Fig. 3 shows a series of blocks slabbed together. Here the blocks overlap each
other and the irregular ends show the mode of forming the joint with the next
slab or block.
Fig. 4 shows a slab of blocks of an irregular square outline, the joints with
adjoining blocks being arranged step-fashion, so that straight lines of juncture are
avoided.
Fig. 5 shows an enlarged side elevation of one of my improved dowels with a
drum-shaped central swell or collar and having a projecting ridge or annulus a²,
around the drum, as shewn, to form a stop to keep the blocks apart.
Fig. 6 shows another form of dowel b, with swell b¹, of conical section. The
swell in this case may be truncated if desired, or any other preferred outline of
swell may be used. The use of these swelled dowels ensures far greater strength
'

page_text: and evenness in withstanding vertical pressure or jar. These dowels may be made
of wood, metal or any other suitable material.
With a view to increase the solidity and stability of my improved flooring
especially for outdoor application, 1 may introduce into the sub-stratum or sub-
structure of the flooring, bonding blocks of any suitable material and configuration,
to which the slabs of my improved flooring blocks are secured, say in the manner
as shewn in Fig. 7, in which. view e, represents the wood fastening screw and d, the
foundation block. These foundation blocks are usually square, but can be of any
preferred form.
Fig. 8 shows a sectional elevation of. two blocks, in the case of outdoor applica-
tion with dowel in position.
a, is the dowel with swell a', and annulus a², f, is the bed of concrete.
layer of pitch or cement.
g, is the
Fig. 9 shows the mode of laying the blocks in parallel lines, each block
overlapping its neighbour so as to make the transverse joints irregular.
Each block has six socket holes, three of which are fitted with dowels and three
are left empty to receive the dowels on adjoining blocks.
In Fig. 10 the mode of joining is what is termed "herringbone" pattern. In
this case only four holes are employed, two being left empty to serve as sockets
and two being fitted with dowels.
k, k, are the fitted dowels.
use.
1,1, are holes used as sockets. m, m, are holes not in
These holes are shewn in dotted lines.
It will be understood from Figs. 3 and 4 that my system of connecting the
blocks by specially formed dowels.enables them to be accurately fitted together in
the factory, and conveyed to the place where they are to be laid in slabs containing
many square feet. This is a great advantage because it ensures their being laid
perfectly even and with great rapidity when the floor has been prepared to receive
them.
For indoor work of thin substance such as is often used when the wear is light,
I sometimes employ a plain round pin as a dowel. lu that case my special inode of
setting the dowels prevents any tendency on the part of the blocks to come apart.
This is, shewn in Figs. 9 and 10 and consists in inserting the dowels so that when
the blocks are in place, they lie at right angles to each other, and there is thus an
angular grip on each block, whereby it is almost impossible for any blocks to
become displaced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. In wood block flooring and paving, the system of connecting the blocks by
means of dowels or pins with central swells or bosses, the blocks having formed
therein socket holes and enlarged countersunk recesses at the points of entrance, to
engage with said swells or bosses; and the dowels being so laid or set, as to cause
an angular grip on the flooring or paving blocks, as herein. described. and set forth.
2. The system of laying the blocks referred to in the preceding claim in slabs
or prepared groups of blocks, such slabs having irregular lines of juncture, as
therein described and set forth.
Dated this 21st day of February 1895.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.