Year: 1886

page_text: We WILLIAM DEACON CURZON, Manager, CHARLES ROWLAND WILLIAMS,
Engineer, and JOSEPH LISTER NICHOLS, Works Manager, all of No 5 Westminster
Chambers, Westminster in the county of Middlesex, 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 an improved. construction of permanent roadway or
street, and has for its object to provide a permanent and thoroughly strong
structure, forming supporting and carrying a continuous arched concrete and metal
roadway or street, which shall not be liable to settlement or depression of surface,
nor require the constant repairs and expenditure necessary for the proper main-
tenance of streets as usually constructed. The method of construction constituting
our invention hereinafter described is particularly applicable where new streets are
to be made, and especially when difficulty occurs in obtaining a solid foundation
for the roadway, and when heavy traffic is anticipated, as for example in the
neighbourhood of docks, brickworks and the like,
We will describe the improved method of construction aided by the drawings
annexed in which Figures 1 and 2 are cross and longitudinal sections respectively
of a roadway constructed according to our invention showing slight modifications
adapted to varying conditions met with or required: Figure 3 is a plan partly
showing finished surface and partly different arrangements of framing applicable
under varying conditions.
The ground is excavated and concrete abutments such as A A are formed at
intervals, being carried down to various depths in the usual manner until a good
foundation is secured: the distance apart of these abutments depends upon the
nature of the ground and the foundation, but from eight to ten feet clear is found
to be convenient. The abutments are connected together in the direction of the
length of the street and at or about the springing of the arch by metal rails or
joists B B, having their ends firmnly imbedded in the concrete. Or in cases where
bad or uncertain ground is met with the separate abutments A A may be joined so
as to form a continuous springing for the intermediate arches, or arches such as E E
figures 2 and 3 may be turned, or cast iron girders B fixed between them, but in
ordinary cases the arch of the intermediate roadway springs from the joists or
rails B B, or ground only. The earth upon which the arched roadway is to be

page_text: constructed is formed to the template of the soffit of the proposed arch, and well
consolidated. After the abutments and their connections are formed and the
concrete set, a frame work of metal joists, rails, or the like, is fixed in position
longitudinally and transversely. The number of joists required for the frame work
varies with the spans and conditions of foundation. They may be arranged simply
across the openings between the arches as at 0, 0, figures 2 and 3, or carried across
the arches as at CC, or having cross frames as shown at P P P, whereby great
strength is obtained. The roadway is formed by tipping concrete in situ so as to
form a solid continuous arch springing from the abutments and their intermediate
connections E E or B B, or from the earth when sufficiently solid, and strengthened
by the metal frame work. The upper, surface or extrados of this arch is formed to
carry the roadway with the usual fall of about 1 in 30 from the centre to the
kerbs, but the intrados or soffit is formed with a less radius so as to secure greater
strength at the haunches. In some cases an elliptical arch is preferable as shown
in figure 1. A subway may be formed for gas and water pipes, or the pipes may
be laid in a channel G or trough, and a course of blocks G fitted above them as
shown in figure 1, and provided with rings or suitable devices by which they may
be lifted out when required for inspection of the pipes. The footway kerbs HH
and channels J J may be formed either in the plastic concrete, or set in separate
blocks; gully holes and connections are provided and pipes L L, or apertures, are
left in the concrete for the reception of service pipes and house connections, and the
usual precautions are adopted for securing efficient drainage of the subsoil.
The surface of the roadway may be covered with asphalte, wood, or cement as
shown in figure 1 at M, or left in a finished state with or without grooves for
facilitating foothold if desired.
The advantages of the principle of street construction above described are
manifold; great economy results therefrom, a permanent and durable roadway
being ensured which is not liable to depression of surface or settlement, neither of
which can occur on account of the arched form, and strong supports and binders.
In addition no repairs are necessary, and the cost of scavengering is reduced to a
minimum. The finished surface (when not covered or paved) is not noisy or
slippery or dirty, and affords light traction and easy haulage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. The construction of permanent roadways substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. In the construction of streets and permanent roadways the combination with
abutments and arches formed at intervals, of a longitudinal and transverse metal
framing imbedded in concrete, the whole supporting and forming a continuous
arched concrete and metal roadway, substantially as and for the purposes; described
and illustrated.