IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION & LAYING OF WOOD PAVEMENT, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS EMBRACE A NEW METHOD OF CON- STRUCTING & LAYING TRAM RAILS
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Robinson at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 27th March 1877.
SAMUEL ROBINSON, of Westland Row, Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland,
Builder and Contractor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION & LAYING OF
WOOD PAVEMENT, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS EMBRACE A NEW METHOD OF CON-
STRUCTING & LAYING TRAM RAILS."
My said Invention relates to improvements in the mode of constructing and
laying wood pavement, also to an improved method of constructing and laying rails
for tram cars.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention I form groups or clusters of blocks
of wood, the blocks being dowelled or pinned together, leaving spaces between each
block and those adjacent thereto to receive concrete, which latter may be composed
of any suitable materials.
The group or cluster of blocks may be made of any desired shape or diagram,
such as octagon, hexagon, or otherwise, and such group or cluster may be bound
with rings or bands of iron, or other suitable metal, for the purpose of holding
together and firmly securing the series of blocks composing the cluster or group.
To construct one of these pieces of flooring, or in other words groups or clusters
of blocks, say of an octagon form, a mould or pattern is provided the shape of the
piece of flooring to be produced; the blocks being cut to the size required are placed
on their grain ends, and are connected by dowels; a space is left between each
block and those adjacent to it, into which a temporary slip is introduced for the
purpose of preserving the necessary space to be subsequently occupied by concrete.
When the piece is ready the slips are withdrawn and concrete filled into the spaces
round each block, the group being surrounded by the mould or pattern above
referred to to resist the pressure during the operation of filling. The pieces being
thus prepared, two rings or bands suitably formed are caused to encircle the group
of blocks, with allowance for contraction to admit of the bands being put on hot, so
that in cooling the said bands will tighten and bind firmly and securely together
the several blocks composing the group or piece of pavement. These bands or
rings are placed equidistant from the upper and lower surfaces of the piece of pave-
ment, so that their outer surfaces will come opposite or rather in contact with those
of the rings or bands of the neighbouring pieces of pavement when laid in position.

page_text: Between these bands, and also between each piece of pavement or group of blocks,
a key or wedge is inserted horizontally, which serves to cause an equal and general
distribution of bearing over the entire surface of the pavement or roadway on the
principle of an arch. This pavement can be readily taken up for the purpose of
niaking excavations or repairing sewers or gas pipes without interfering with its
stability. This pavement may also, when worn on the upper surface, be reversed,
that is, the under side may be turned uppermost.
The second part of my Invention consists in an improved system of constructing
and laying tram rails in connection with my improved plan of pavement. I propose
to construct the rails for tram cars much lighter than those already in use, and I
place the same with their bearing parts resting on the upper surface of the wood
pavement above described, the fillet or longitudinal projecting part below the groove
of the rails fitting into spaces between the blocks.
The rails are secured by means of screw bolts passing vertically through the
rails, which are caught in a suitable plate placed underneath the pavement; thus the
rail is firmly bound to the pavement and there is no possibility of any spring
occurring; and in consequence of the bearing being spread over a large portion of
pavement (in the bound clusters above described), and the pieces being knit or
keyed together so that one aids in strengthening the other, there can be no sub-
siding in any individual spot; and further, on account of the rails being laid
almost on a level with the general surface of the pavement they must necessarily
wear down equally, thereby obviating the inequality so. frequently occurring
between the upper surface of the rail and the adjoining road surface, a defect which
is so pregnant of danger and so injurious to passing vehicles.
Owing to the nature of this pavement it need have very little convexity, thus it
will be agreeable to walk and drive upon; nor need there be any special laying for
crossings, which may be readily formed in any convenient geometrical manner to
indicate where the crossing lics.