IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR COVERING OF ROADS AND WAYS, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Henson Henson, of Watford, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR
COVERING OF ROADS AND WAYS, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF MATERIALS
THEREFOR."
Sealed the 30th July 1878, and dated the 5th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Henson Henson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1878.
•
HENRY HENSON HENSON, of Watford, in the County of Middlesex. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR COVERING OF ROADS AND WAYS, AND IN THE
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS THEREFOR.”
رو
My Invention relates chiefly to street paving, and consists in the employment in
combination with wood or other suitable materials of certain fabrics, such, for
example, as cocoa-nut fibre, matting, canvas, and the like, treated in the manner
herein-after described.
In carrying out my Invention I render one or both of the surfaces of the fabric
selected for use impervious to air and water, and more or less elastic and inde-
structible by the employment of mineral pitch, distilled tar, or bituminous
materials, either alone or in combination with other materials.
The material or materials may be applied to the fabric at any convenient stage
of its manufacture, or to the surface or surfaces of the same after it has been manu-
factured by the process of rolling, absorption, or otherwise; or in lieu of employing
the materials or compounds before mentioned, I may subject the fabric to a process
of tanning, or I may coat or otherwise treat the fabric with boiled oil, with a
mixture of lamp-black and the like, or with the refuse of certain manufactures;
such, for example, as that obtained from the manufacture of floor cloths of any
description. With the fabric so prepared I cover the entire, surface of the sub-
stratum for the reception of the blocks of wood or other material employed in

page_text: paving, and I also interpose strips of the said fabric between the rows of blocks,
which, when composed of wood, I arrange with the grain in a vertical direction.
.
By the treatment to which the fabric is subjected it has imparted to it qualities
which in a high degree tend to act as a preservative to the wood or other materials
used in contact with it, whereby such materials are rendered more durable, whilst
at the same time the road or way is safe, clean, surface waterproof, and compara-
tively noiseless, and possesses properties promotive of sanitary objects generally.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Henson Henson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st July 1878.
HENRY HENSON HENSON, of Watford, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR COVERING OF ROADS AND WAYS, AND IN THE
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS THEREFOR."
My said Invention relates chiefly to street paving, and consists in the employ-
nent in combination with wood or other suitable materials of certain fabrics, such,
for example, as cocoa-nut fibre, matting, canvas, and the like, treated in the manner
herein-after described.
In carrying out my said Invention I render one or both of the surfaces of the
fabric selected for use impervious to air and water, and more or less elastic and
indestructible by the employment of mineral pitch, distilled tar, or bituminous
materials, either alone or in combination with other materials.
The material or materials may be applied to the fabric at any convenient stage
of its manufacture, or to the surface or surfaces of the same after it has been
manufactured by the process of rolling, absorption, or otherwise; or in lieu of
employing the materials or compounds before mentioned, I may subject the fabric
to a process of tanning, or I may coat or otherwise treat the fabric with boiled oil,
with a mixture of lamp-black and the like, or with the refuse of certain manufac-
tures, such, for example, as that obtained from the manufacture of floor cloths of any
description in proportions suited to the nature of the fabric, and of the blocks
employed, as will be well understood by persons conversant with the character of
such fabrics and materials, and with the construction of roads and ways of this
description. With the fabric so prepared I cover the entire surface of the sub-
stratum for the reception of the blocks of wood or other material employed in
paving, and I also interpose strips of the said fabric between the blocks which,
when composed of wood, I arrange with the grain in a vertical direction.
By the treatment to which the fabric is subjected it has imparted to it qualities
which in a high degree tend to act as a preservative to the wood or other materials
used in contact with it, whereby such materials are rendered more durable, whilst
at the same time the road or way is safe, clean, surface waterproof, and com-
paratively noiseless; and possesses properties promotive of sanitary objects
generally.

page_text: The annexed Drawing is a perspective view illustrating one mode of constructing
a road or way according to my said Invention.
A is the foundation or substracum of the road or way; B are the paving blocks,
which may be of wood or suitable materials; C is the fabric consisting of cocoa-nut
fibre matting, canvas, or the like, coated, impregnated, or treated in the manner
herein-before described. With the fabric so treated I cover the foundation or sub-
stratum A, and on it I lay the paving blocks B; and I also interpose strips of the
said fabric between the blocks, that is to say, in the joints of the blocks, either
transversely or longitudinally, or in both directions, as shewn in the Drawing.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and a mode in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I do not claim the use of pitch, tar, or bituminous
or other like materials interposed between the substratum of a road or way and the
paving blocks and in the interstices between the several blocks, as I am aware that
that arrangement has been previously proposed, nor do I claim generally as forming
part of my present Invention the use of a waterproof yielding fabric interposed in
a like manner, as the same forms in part the subject matter of former Letters Patent
granted to me, dated the Seventeenth February, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-five, No. 575, but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the employment of cocoa-nut fibre matting, canvas, and other like fabrics,
coated, impregnated, or treated in the manner herein-before referred to and inter-
posed between the foundation or substratum of a road or way and the superin-
cumbent paving blocks, and also placed in the interstices or joints between the
said paving blocks substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Henson Henson, have to this my Speci-
fication, set my hand and seal this Thirtieth day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY H. HENSON. (L.S.)