An Improved Block or Cube for Wood Pavements.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Block or Cube for Wood Pavements.
ELIZEBETH BYNE EDWARDS of Mediow, Blue Mountains in the Colony of
New South Wales wife of William Henry Edwards Contractor do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for An Improved Block or Cube for Wood Pavement
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 more particularly to those pavements in which wooden
blocks are regularly laid upon concrete or other substratum so as to form a uniform
surface and by it roadways may be constructed under more favorable conditions
than hitherto possible with regard to stability, sanitation and economy.
Pavements formed as above mentioned when the blocks are side by side and in
contact one with another do not provide sufficient foothold for draught animals
passing over them and are generally of a slippery nature more especially in damp
or wet weather and it has hitherto been necessary to leave a space or groove
between each block or each row of blocks which spaces are filled or rammed with
grouting of cement, asphalt or bitumen.
Now by my invention the blocks are laid side by side and in contact one with
another and at the same time, spaces or grooves are provided in the body of the
block to obviate the slipperiness of the surface of the pavement.
The improvement of wood pavements consists essentially in cutting dovetail
groove or space in the body of the blocks or cubes in one or more parts of which
such pavements are formed:-In the drawing herewith attached I show a part
sectional elevation of a roadway constructed of my improved blocks or cubes.
Figure 1, Sheet 1. showing the dovetail groove or space being marked "C" and
the block being marked "A" and being shown say of the proportion I prefer.
Figures 2 and 3 Sheet 1. show face or top of blocks "A" being the wood
and "C" the filling. These dovetail grooves or spaces are or may be cut out by a
planing machine a circular saw or by any other suitable wood-working machine
and may be of many other various shapes as herein described and illustrated in the
drawing.
These dovetail grooves cubes or blocks being preferably laid side by side and in
contact one with another.
The channels or grooves "C" are filled with cement grouting, tar or other
bituminous liquid or compound which percolates into the groove or space in the
blocks as herein described and as seen in the drawing.
It will be seen that the grooves or spaces being cut out of the body or face of
the blocks will retain the filling notwithstanding the climatic changes and being
filled with grouting or other suitable substances will give a good foothold for
draught animals and making a wood pavement suitable for roads and street
crossings.
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
An improved block or cube of wood having a groove or space cut or worked out
of the body or face of such block or cube. Such space or groove to be filled with
coment crouting anhalt or other suitable filling or compound and when laid side

page_text: by side in contact one with another will form a non-slipping surface to wood
pavements or street crossings as herein described or explained.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of May One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-five.
ELIZEBETH BYNE EDWARDS.