CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING AND COVERING STREETS, ROADS, AND OTHER in WAYS
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
GEARY, of Hamilton Place, King's Cross, in the County of Middlesex,
Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-nine, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Stephen Geary, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her
especial licence,full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,the said Stephen
Geary, my exors, admors, or assigns, or such others as I, the said Stephen
Geary, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
that part of Her said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
called England, Her Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, an. Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING AND COVERING STREETS, ROADS, AND OTHER
in
WAYS," being the communication of a certain foreigner residing abroad;
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Stephen
Geary, shall cause a particular description of the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, by an instrument.in
writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court.
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of

page_text: the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Stephen Geary,do hereby declare that the nature of the said invented improve-
ments, communicated to me by a certain foreigner residing abroad, consists in
forming the pavements of streets, roads, court yards, stable yards, and other
public and private places and ways of blocks, composed either wholly of wood
or other suitable material, or partly of wood and partly of the bituminous
concrete herein-after described or other suitable material, or of blocks wholly
of wood or of other suitable material superposed on blocks consisting wholly
of the said bituminous concrete or other suitable material, and which blocks
howsoever composed are so shaped, formed, and connected that they shall
mutually sustain and support one another; and I declare that the manner in
which the said invented improvements are to be performed is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the illustrative Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the indicial
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:―
The said improved pavements may be of any of the forms represented in the
Drawings hereunto annexed,numbered from I. to XVIII. inclusive. In Num-
ber I. the blocks are superficially of a square form, but are dovetailed laterally
into each other, while at the front and back they are connected by rabbit or
by tennon and mortice joints to the blocksnext adjoining, wherebyeveryblock
and every row of blocks at once supports and is supported by those adjoining
it, and a pavement of great solidity and uniformity is obtained. The Figures
a, b, c, show how the blocks are to be cut so as to dovetail laterally into one
another; d, d, are half blocks which are placed at the outer ends of each row
of blocks, and left plain on their outer sides, in order that they may be brought
up flush with the curb stones; e represents the manner of rabbetting such
blocks; and f, the tenon and mortice plan of connection. A ground plan of
a pavement of this description with rabbet joints is shewn in Figure g. In
Number II. paving the blocks are also superficially of a square form, but the
centre block (a) of each course or row of blocks has two triangular projecting
sides similar to the block a of Number I., while the blocks on each side are
indented so as to correspond with the face or side of the centre block next to
them, whereby the blocks of each half course fit exactly into one another, and
the centre or key block serves to bind the whole together. In front and at
back the mutual support may be effected by rabbet or tenon and mortice
joints, as before explained, and again shewn in the sectional Figures d and e,
The end blocks of each row must of course be half blocks left plain on the

page_text: outer sides, as explained in the description of Number I. (an observation
which applies equally to most of the other varieties of paving herein-after
described.)
Number III. exhibits a plan of paving in which the centre block (a) of
each course is made of a pyramidal form, and the side blocks b, c, are of an
oblong shape, each hevilled to correspond with the face of the pyramid next
to it. The two larger sides of these oblong blocks being cut plain, and the two
opposite or smaller sides locking into the next adjoining courses by means of
rabbet or tenon and mortice joints, as before explained. Number IV. is the
same as Number III., with this difference, that the oblong side blocks instead
of being cut plain on the two larger sides are rabbitted on these sides and
tennoned and morticed on the two others. Number V. paving is composed
of square blocks, connected by means of rabbet or tennon and mortice joints
on two or more sides, as shewn in describing Number I. Number VI. paving
is composed of pyramidal blocks placed alternately with their apexes upwards
and downwards, and connected end wise either by means of rabbet or tenon
and mortice joints. Number VIII. is the same as Number VI., with this
difference only, that the blocks are wedge-shaped instead of being pyramidal.
Number VIII. paving is composed of blocks of a wedge shape but bevilled on
two sides, which are left plain, while the other sides are rabbeted, tennoned,
or morticed, according as either mode of connection is adopted.
Number IX. paving is composed of blocks of the form of a double wedge,
the two side faces of which are inclined or bevelled inwards, and the front and
back faces are inclined or bevelled outwards, each pair of faces being exactly
of the same shape and dimensions. The blocks are to be laid as shewn in the
ground plan (A,) that is to say, cross jointed, the long ends crossing the short
ends and the short ends crossing the long ends alternately. Small apertures
are left by this mode of paving between the blocks, but these may be readily
filled up with pins or with shingle, sand, bituminous concrete, or any other
suitable material.
In Number X. square blocks are employed with the two lateral faces plain,
and the opposite or end pieces rabbeted or tennoned and morticed halfway up
from the bottom, and this paving is laid with broken joints, as shewn in the
plan A. Number XI. paving is composed of blocks each of which consists of
two wedged-shaped pieces of exactly the same size and form, which are joined
(as it were) back to back, but each with its base opposite to the apex of the
other, so that when any number of blocks of this form are placed side by side
they interlock one with the other. Number XII. paving is formed of blocks
double rabbeted on each side the shaded portions; a and b are those which

page_text: are cut away; and the portions c and d those which project and take into
corresponding recesses in the opposite or next adjoining blocks.
Number XIII. paving is formed of blocks of an improved hexagonal shape,
that is to say, of blocks with six equal sides, but having on one of the sides a
projecting tenon, and on the side opposite a corresponding groove or mortice,
so that two, three, or any number of these blocks may lock fast into one
another, as shewn in the ground plan A. The tenons should be made some-
what less than the mortices, so as to allow of a little occasional expansion or
contraction. Instead of tenon and mortice joints these blocks may be con-
nected together by rabbet joints, and instead of the joints reaching from the
top to the bottom of the blocks they may be limited to the lower half of the
blocks, or to any lesser portion than the whole which may be found sufficient
to lock them firmly together. Number XIV. paving is composed of two
layers of triangular-shaped blocks, every pair of blocks of the upper layer being
placed with their bases towards each other and laid across the joints of the
under layer. These blocks may be also connected together at the sides by
pinning, or dowelling, or by rabbet, or tenon and mortice joints.
In Number XV. the blocks are octagonal, and the spaces left between each
set of four blocks are filled up with small square pieces (a), exceeding in length
the octagon blocks by from half an inch to an inch, and secured at that
relative altitude by tennon and mortice, as before directed. A pavement of this
description will be found particularly suitable for all steep inclines, the small
projecting square pieces affording an excellent hold to the feet of horses, and
not materially obstructing the passage of carriage wheels. Number XVI. is
a compound system of paving, which consists, firstly, of a substratum or foun-
dation of slabs formed of the bituminous concrete herein-after described, or of
asphalte, artificial granite, or any other efficient substitute, which slabs vary
from one to three feet in breadth and from three to four inches in depth, and
are made to interlock and mutually support each other by under bevilling and
rabbetting, in the manner shewn in the Drawing; and, secondly, of an upper
layer of blocks, of any of the forms herein-before described. Number XVII.
is a compound system, similar to that last described; but for the greater con-
venience of taking up the substratum of blocks occasionally, they are made to
run lengthwise in the ordinary direction of the water and gas pipes. Number
XVIII. is another variety of double paving, in which the blocks of the sub-
stratum are shaped and laid after the manner of Number XVI. paving. In
each of the three cases last described the under stratum must have a key slab,
bevelled on each side.
And having now described the forms of the various sorts of pavements

page_text: invented and communicated as aforesaid, I declare that the blocks of which
these pavements are composed mayconsist of anydurable material, as woodor
stone, or partly of wood and partly of bituminous concrete compounded and
united to the bottom of the wood, in manner to be herein-after explained,
excepting always,the blocks of the under strata describe in Numbers XVI.,
XVII., and XVIII., which are to consist wholly of bituminous concrete;
asphalte, or other like material; but that wherever the mode prescribed for con-
necting the blocks together so that theyshallmutually supporteachotherissuch
as to involve considerable cutting, as in the case of Numbers XII. and XIII.,
the plan of forming them partlyof wood and partly of the bituminous concrete
is to be preferred, inasmuchas the bituminous concrete may be cast in moulds
'of any required form, and by limiting the rabbets, tenons, mortices, or other
projections and indentations to the lower or concrete portion of the block
(which will be generally found sufficient), the trouble and expence of cutting
may be wholly avoided. Where wood is the material used, either singly or in
combination with the bituminous concrete, it must be invariably placed with
the fibreupwards or inclining upwards. The sort of bituminous concrete which
is found to combine most readily and firmly with wood is composed of sand,
pitch,and chalk,in the proportions of about twenty-five pounds of pitch to fifty
pounds of sand and twenty-five pounds of chalk. The pitch is first thrown
into a cauldron or other vessel placed over a strong fire, and when thoroughly
melted the sand and chalk are added, and the whole well mixed up together.
The mixture is then poured into iron moulds, and as soon as each mould is
nearly filled, the corresponding half block. of wood is dropped in upon it, or
the process may be reversed by dropping the wooden block first into the
mould, and then pouring the hot mixture upon it. The moulds are then left
to cool, after which the wood and concrete are found to be so firmly combined
that it is with difficulty they can again be severed. For the sake of furnishing
a surer footing for horses, one, two, or more of the sides of the upper surface
of each block, of any of the forms before described, may be chamfered off at
the edges to the depth of about half an inch, but none of the blocks should be
so chamfered all round, as it is essential to the solidity of pavements of this
description that each block should on two, three, or more of its sides or faces
be brought up flush with the blocks adjoining it. For example, in the case
of Number XIII. paving with the improved hexagonal blocks, two of the
faces only sbould be chamfered off, as shewn at Number XIII. a, b,. of the
Drawings hereunto annexed, which will produce a continuous zig-zag line
across any piece of pavement so formed.
In what I have hitherto said of my said patented improvements. I have

page_text: confined myself to their application to ordinary roads, ways, and places; but
I further declare that blocks formed and combined in several of the modes
herein-before exemplified may be also employed with advantage in the con-
struction of iron railways, tramways, bridges, and other roadway structures.
And first,as regards iron railways, Number XIX. of the Drawings hereunto
annexed shews a method of forming a continuous line of sleepers for iron rails
formed of interlocked wooden blocks, placed with the fibre upwards, and
resting on transverse sleepers of solid timber inserted at distances of from ten
to twenty feet, and running under and beyond the continuous longitudinal
line of blocks. The blocks used for the continuous longitudinal line may be
of any of the forms herein-before described which have two of their sides
plain, the rabbit or tenon and mortice joints being confined to the sides or
ends, where they abut upon one another, but the double-wedged block
No. XI. is particularly adapted for this purpose. Each transverse sleeper
should be bevelled off at the top, as shewn in the Drawing B, and secured by
pins to the continuous longitudinal line. Where the railway consists of a
double line of rails the transverse sleepers should be of length enough to pass
under both lines. The iron rails are to be laid upon the continuous line of
blocks and secured to them by bolts or screws.
Next, as to tramways, whether composed of blocks of wood, or stone,
or any other suitable material, it is recommended that they should be con-
.structed after the same manner as the iron railways, namely, with continuous
vertical and interlocking sleepers resting on transverse binders, and that the
Espaces or horsepaths between the lines of rails should be filled
with granite
chips, coarse shingle, or other suitable material.
up
And finally, as to bridges and other roadway structures, I have given in the
Figures marked Number I. A., and Number XII. A., of the Drawings here-
unto annexed, elevations, of two entire courses of blocks of the forms of those
employed in Number I. paving, and Number XII. paving, both herein-before
described, and which I consider to be the forms best adapted to the con-
struction of bridges and other roadway structures.
And having now fully described the said improvements, communicated
to me by a foreigner residing abroad, I declare that what I claim as new
are,-
Firstly, the various forms of blocks herein-before described and represented
in the Drawings hereunto annexed, and numbered I. to XVIII. inclusive,
whether the said blocks are composed of wood, stone, or any other single
material, or of any combination of two or more different materials, and
whether applied to common roads and ways or to railways and tramways.

page_text: And secondly, the particular description of block, herein-before described
composed partly of wood and partly of bituminous concrete, or any efficien
substitute for such concrete.
And such the said improvements invented by a foreigner residing abroad,
and communicated to me as aforesaid, being to the best of my knowledge and
belief entirely new, and never before used within that part of Her said
Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England,
Her Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, I hereby declare this to be
my Specification of the same, and that I do verily believe this my said
Specification doth comply fully and in all respects without reserve or disguise
with the proviso in the said herein before in part recited Letters Patent
contained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Geary, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, One thousand eight