A NEW COMPOSITION APPLICABLE TO PAVING ROADS, STREETS, TERRACES, AND OTHER PLACES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE DIFFERENT PURPOSES OF BUILDING; AND ALSO IN THE APPARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAID COMPOSITION
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDRE
HAPPEY, of Basing Lane, in the City of London, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster on or about the
Twenty-fifth day of April, in the First year of the reign of Her present
Majesty Queen Victoria, Her said Majesty did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexandre Happey, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
for me, the said Alexandre Happey, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
and every of them, by myself or themselves, or by my or their deputy and
deputies, servants or agents, or such other as I, the said Alexandre Happey,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time, to time and at all times thereafter, during the term of
years therein expressed, to make, use, exercise, and vend, within England
and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, an Invention of "A NEW
COMPOSITION APPLICABLE TO PAVING ROADS, STREETS, TERRACES, AND OTHER PLACES,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE DIFFERENT PURPOSES OF BUILDING;
AND ALSO IN THE APPARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAID COMPOSITION," in such manner
as to me, the said Alexandre Happey, my executors, administrators, and.
assigns, or any of them; in my or their discretion should seem meet; in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso for making void the same if I

page_text: should not describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and cause the same to be inrolled
within six calendar months after the date of 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 THEREFORE KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso,
I, the said Alexandre Happey, do declare the nature of the said Invention to
consist,―
Firstly, in a mixture of certain well-known matters and substances whereby
a new composition, which I call "elastic bituminous mastic," is produced,
applicable to the formation of roads for horses and carriages, and of pavements
for public foot-paths, or for halls, yards, stables, and terraces, and like
purposes, and also in forming the roofs and coverings of buildings.
And secondly, in an apparatus for making and preparing the said "elastie
bituminous mastic."
And in further compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Alexandre
Happey, do now proceed to describe the manner in which the said Invention
is to be carried into effect and applied by the following description thereof
(that is to say):
Firstly, as regards the said new composition or "elastic bituminous mastie,"
all descriptions of tar may be employed, as resinous vegetable tar, natural
mineral tar, or the tar from coal, such as is produced or separated from coal
during the manufacture of coal gas for illumination, or for the production of
coke, or by any other means, and which tar I shall distinguish by the name of
coal tar; but when coal tar is employed it must be used in the state known as
'purified coal tar," that is to say, having had the volatile essential oil and
ammonia, which are mixed with it upon its first production from coal, separated
from it by the ordinary process of distillation. It is also necessary to state
that when "purified coal tar " is used, a certain proportion of vegetable or of
thin fluid mineral tar must be employed with it, as will be hereafter more
particularly specified. The other ingredients employed in making and
preparing this new composition or "elastic bituminous mastic," are mineral,
earthy, and stony matters or substances, and a quantity of fibrous or
filamentous vegetable or animal substances, which, as well as the proportions
in which they are to be respectively used, will be hereafter more particularly
set forth. I may add, that as purified coal tar is much cheaper than vegetable
and mineral tar, it is of course desirable to employ it in order to save expence.
As the "elastic bituminous mastic" is applicable to various purposes, the

page_text: several matters of which it is composed are employed in different proportions,
as may best serve the object in view in its application; I shall therefore
proceed to describe the several species of the "elastic bituminous mastic""
which I recommend, together with the particular subjects for which they are
best adapted respectively. For streets and roads for the passage of horses
and carriages, I use two sorts of the "elastic bituminous mastic." The one
which is used in the first layer or stratum, as will be hereafter more particu-
larly described, and which is the less flexible of the two sorts, is composed of
twenty parts in bulk of purified coal tar, with four parts of vegetable or
mineral tar, or twenty-four parts of vegetable or mineral tar if no coal tar be
used, twenty parts of chalk or clayey earth in fine powder, six parts of quick
lime in powder, twenty parts of fine sand, four parts of fibrous or filamentous
vegetable or animal matters, such as sawdust, hemp, chopped straw, or hay,
moss, the refuse of wool, horse or cow hair, cartilage, &c., and lastly, four
parts of coarse sand. This species of the mastic I shall distinguish No. 1 ;
the species of the mastic employed in the second instance in roads, &c., for
horses and carriages, and which is more flexible and elastic than No. 1, is
.composed of twenty parts of coal tar with ten parts of vegetable or mineral
tar, or thirty parts of vegetable or mineral tar where no coal tar is employed,
twenty-one parts of chalk or clayey earth in powder, twenty parts of fine sand,
eight parts of fibrous or filamentous vegetable or animal matters, and four
parts of coarse sand; this species of the mastic I designate as No. 2. For
pavements in the interior of houses, cellars, warehouses, garden walks, and in
general for foot pavements and places where horses and carriages do not pass,
the "mastic" is compounded with the same proportions as No. 1, except that
eight parts of coarse sand are used instead of four; this species of the
"mastic "I distinguish as No. 3. For docks, basins, and impermeable and
water-tight walls, the "mastic" herein-before described as No. 2 is to be
employed, using twenty-five parts of fine sand instead of twenty parts, and
entirely omitting the coarse sand; this species of the "mastic " I distinguish
as No. 4. For roofings of houses and buildings, the "elastic bituminous
mastic" is to be composed of three parts of coal tar, with one part and a half
of vegetable or mineral tar, or four parts and a half of vegetable or mineral
tar where no coal tar is used, two parts of chalk or clayey earth in powder,
two parts of fine sand, and two parts of fibrous or filamentous vegetablo or
animal matters; this species of the mastic I designate as No. 5. For roads
formed with pebbles, flints, stones, or the waste or refuse of hard bricks, broken
with uniformity, and for roads designated as macadamized roads, the "
"elastic

page_text: bituminous mastic" No. 2 is employed, with the addition of a thin bed or
layer of from one-twelfth, but not exceeding one-sixth part of an inch in
thickness, of very infusible iron ore, well separated from the earthy matter
adhering to it, and previously broken into very small pieces, which is to be
spread over the bed of "mastic" No. 2, and mixed with it as herein-after
particularly mentioned. This bed or layer of iron ore thus forms an ingredient
of this species of "elastic bituminous mastic," and which I designate as No. 6.
In every species of the "elastic bituminous mastic," it is to be observed that
it is absolutely essential that a proportion of fibrous or filamentous vegetable
or animal matters, such as have been above mentioned or alluded to, shall be
included. The object of the introduction of these fibrous or filamentous
vegetable or animal matters is to increase the adhesive nature of the whole
mass of the composition in all its parts, and to counteract the effects which
might arise from the brittleness of bituminous matter when in a solid state.
The proportions of the different ingredients will necessarily vary in some
degree according to circumstances, for some discretion and judgment must be
exercised, regard being bad to the original consistence of the tar to be
employed, and to the quality of the other matters of which the "mastic" is to
be composed, as well as with respect to the particular place or locality where
it is to be applied.
I now proceed to describe the mode of preparing the "elastic bituminous
mastic" in the apparatus which forms the second part of the said Invention, and
which will be hereafter particularly described, and the same course or order of
introducing the ingredients is applicable to all the several species of the mastic
above described. The tar to be employed is first introduced into the cauldron,
but where coal tar is used, only one-half of the designated quantity of vegetable
or mineral tar to be mixed with it is to be at first introduced; it is then
heated so as to render it very fluid, but it is not to be permitted to boil. The
prescribed quantity of chalk or clayey earth in powder is then introduced and
stirred about in the tar, and the heat is continued until it shall have acquired
such a consistence as if permitted to cool would resemble the consistence of
soft bees'-wax which a little experience will readily teach. The remainder of the
vegetable or mineral tar where coal tar is employed is now to be introduced
into the cauldron and stirred well about, after which the prescribed proportion
of fine sand is added, and a stronger heat is then applied, until the composition
shall have acquired a consistence adapted to the use to which the mastic is to
be applied. In the cases of the species No. 1 and No. 3, this is the proper
period for adding the designated quantity of quick lime in powder. The next

page_text: or animal matters.
addition to be made to any of the species of the "elastic bituminous mastic"
in a course of preparation is the quantity of fibrous or filamentous vegetable
The time for their introduction should be as nearly as
possible at the moment the "mastic" is about to be employed. The intro-
duction of these matters is to be effected by mixing them in the composition
and stirring up the whole mass well from the bottom and throughout, so as
well and thoroughly to dispense them through every part. The quantity or
proportion of these vegetable or animal matters is always, as is the case with
the other ingredients, a subject of some discretion, but great care should
always be taken that their amount should not in any perceptible degree affect
or alter the thickness or consistence of the composition; and care should also
be taken that the heat of the composition at the moment of introducing and
mixing with it these vegetable or animal matters shall not be so great or
intense as to incur the risk of destroying them, as it is essential that their
vegetable and animal properties should be preserved. Lastly, the coarse sand,
where it is to form a part of the mastic, as in No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, is to
be added at the moment of its application to the place where it is to be
employed. In cases where it is intended to whiten a coating or covering of
the "mastic," in order to lessen or counteract the effects of the rays of the
sun to which No. 2 and No. 5 are applicable, a thirtieth part at the most or
a fiftieth part at the least of tallow, as compared with the entire mass, is to be
mixed with the "mastic," after which chalk, whiting, or other fine powder is
to be added, as more particularly directed hereafter.
And, secondly, as regards the apparatus for making and preparing the said
"elastic bituminous mastic."
I now proceed to describe the said apparatus, having reference in this part
of the Specification to the Drawings hereunto annexed, in all the Figures, in
which the same letters designate the same parts of the apparatus, and which
Drawings are to be considered and taken to form part of this Specification
(that is to say) :-
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of the furnace and cauldron taken
in the line a, b, in Figures 3 and 4, so as to show the interior thereof, with the
pipe and other apparatus for disposing of the vapours which arise from the tar
&c. in the cauldron when subjected to heat; Figure 2 represents a front
view of the furnace and cauldron, to show more plainly the situation of the
last-mentioned pipe and apparatus for disposing of the vapours of the tar,
&c.; Figure 3 represents an elevation of the back or hinder part of the entire
apparatus, and exhibits the position and arrangement of the inclined plane

page_text: hereafter mentioned, and the register for regulating the issue of the "elastic
bituminous mastic" from the cauldron; Figure 4 is a plan of the cauldron
looking down from above, and shews the projection of the inclined plane from
the back of the cauldron, a side view of which is shewn in Figure 1. Annexed
to the Drawings, and forming part thereof, is a reference to the letters or the
several figures, specifying the several parts of the apparatus by name. This
apparatus might, if constructed sufficiently small and portable, be placed on
a carriage and taken to the place where the mastic is to be used, in which
case the bottom of the cauldron should be constructed in a sloping or inclined
direction to facilitate the emptying of the cauldron by the contrivance behind, as
shewn, in the above Figures; but in case where the apparatus is fixed or
built in masonry, as shewn in the sectional elevation, Figure 5, and plan view,
Figure 6, the contrivance behind for emptying it might be entirely omitted,
and the mode of spreading the mastic by the means hereafter specified (under
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11) resorted to instead. The cauldron I, I, used in
compounding and preparing the "elastic bituminous mastic,"
may be either
of wrought or cast iron; but when made of wrought iron, in order to moderate
the heat and prevent it from soon burning out, a moveable false bottom Q,
also of wrought iron, should be interposed between the cauldron and the
furnace F, which may be removed and replaced at pleasure. This false
bottom should have half an inch distance between it and the bottom of the
cauldron, and which interval is to be completely filled with fine sand. In
order to prevent any inconvenience either to the workmen employed in pre-
paring the "mastic" or to neighbouring dwellings from the vapours which
may exhale from the cauldron, there is placed over the cauldron a hood or
conical covering K, constructed of wrought iron or masonry, from the upper
part of which a pipe D, D, of a size proportioned to the capacity of the
cauldron, is carried on the outside of the cauldron and furnace downwards,
having an opening on one side G, by which a pipe E is conducted under the
furnace bars L of the fire, whereby the vapours above mentioned are conveyed
through the fire by the draught and are consumed and decomposed. As in
these vapours there is an admixture of essential oil, which is subject to inflame,
and might while in a state of vapour occasion explosion, a piece of wire gauze
is placed over the exit at G of the pipe E, which communicates under the
furnace bars, and the pipe D, D, from the hood is continued down lower,
where a small vessel H receives the essential oil when condensed. The
"mastic" when ready for use may be spread upon the road by means of the
arrangement in the rear of the cauldron, the whole apparatus being moved as

page_text: required along the road upon the carriage on which it is fixed or suspended;
the wheels of which carriage O, O, should have broad fellies; the mode of
dispersing or spreading the "mastic" is effected by means of the opening in
the rear for the whole breadth of the cauldron, which is covered with a thin
plate of wrought iron R, which forms the register of the apparatus, and is
intended to regulate the issue of the "mastic." This register is made to
slide up and down, being attached to the pieces M, M, in which there are
grooves moving upon the pins N, N; the raising or lowering of the register
R. may be effected by a screw or wheel attached to that part of the apparatus.
When the register R is opened the "mastic" will flow out of the cauldron
upon the iron plate V, V, which extends diagonally downwards from the back
of the apparatus in the nature of an inclined plane supported underneath by
the iron rods S, S, and reaches to within a short distance of the ground. For
the purpose of introducing the materials into the cauldron the top may be
made moveable, or if constructed with masonry with a door, as at U, Figure
4; and at the commencement of the process of preparing the "mastic," when
the furnace is first lighted, the cover of the cauldron is to be left a little open
and the ash-pit C is kept close shut, which causes the fire to draw down
through the pipe D, D, the air on the surface of the tar, and thereby
establishes a current from the top of the cauldron through D, D, and E,
whereby the vapours arising from the tar, &c. will be disposed of as abovo
mentioned.
Having thus described both parts of the Invention, I now proceed to explain
and describe the manner in which the several species of the "elastic bituminous
mastic are to be applied to the several purposes to which they are adapted,
and the previous or preliminary preparation of the ground intended to receive
them. Generally the gronnd upon which it is intended to spread the "elastic
bituminous mastic," ought first to be as strongly compressed and consolidated
as possible, which may be effected by passing over it a very strong and heavy
iron roller, or by ramming, or by any other known methed. If the ground
be naturally soft and humid, it will be adviseable to spread on it a layer of
coarse sand, or small or fine gravel, which is to be compressed by rolling,
and is then to be sprinkled sufficiently with a thin mortar, or cream of
lime, of the description calculated to harden under water, to give consistency
and firmness to the ground. Upon this layer thus formed or on the ground
thus compressed and consolidated, a complete and perfect pavement is to
be laid, consisting of stones wrought into parallelopipeds of as regular
a form as practicable, and of the same size and dimensions, and which may

page_text: be of the usual description for paving carriage roads, and for which
purpose all descriptions of stones in common use, granite, lava rocks, and,
in short, all kinds of stones of sufficient hardness to resist the pressure
of heavy weights, and also hard artificial stones or substances, such as
bricks or terra cotta, may be employed. These pavements of hard, natural,
or other stones of a durable quality, and capable of resistance, may be of less
size and thickness than the stones ordinarily used in pavements, because the
"elastic bituminous mastic" increases the capability for resistance. These
stones or other substances employed for the above pavement, are to be
placed longitudinally side by side on their edges, so as to present longitu-
dinal thickness to the surface and as close together as possible; if hard
bricks or artificial stones are employed, they should be disposed in the same
manner, that is, longitudinally edgeways. When stones and materials less
hard and capable of resistance are used, and when the road is not to be sub-
jected to the slipping of horses' feet, as in the case of roads intended for the
passage of steam or locomotive carriages, stones of much larger dimensions
than on common roads may be used; and an "elastic bituminous mastic" pave-
ment similar to a flag pavement is formed for the passage of the wheels. To
render the adherence of the stones of the pavement above described to each other
more certain, the upper half of the circumference of each stone, of the breadth
of two inches at least, is daubed or painted over with a coat of very fluid tar or
bitumen; and by means of a brush this coat of tar or bitumen may be applied
at pleasure round the paving stones, either before or after they are put into
their places. All dirt, mud, and dust, which may be found at this period of the
process, should be carefully cleared from the ground; when the pavement has
been thus carefully prepared, the stones lying as close to each other as possible,
the joints or intervals which are not filled up ought, at the time of placing
the stones, to be well filled with sand, to which is to be added a cream of
lime to give more solidity; and this may be effected by proceeding with both
the operations of covering the upper circumference of the stones with tar,
and imbedding the lower part in sand and cream of lime as the pave-
ment proceeds, for the sand and cream of lime are not intended to
reach higher between the stones than the commencement of the coating of
tar. If it be desired to give it greater power to resist extraordinary weights,
instead of the sand and cream of lime, the "elastic bituminous mastic,"
Number 1, should be substituted; when a portion of the pavement has been
thus disposed, the principal cavities or interstices which remain in the upper
part of the joints between the stones, are to be filled with small flat or smooth

page_text: stones in the form of wedges, which are to be driven with a hammer or
mallet, so as to enter and sink a little below the upper surface of the pave-
ment; then the "elastic bituminous mastic," Number 2, is to be poured very
hot into all the joints and cavities which remain, to fill them to the level of the
rest of the pavement, and so as that the upper surface of the pavement shall
be as level as its nature will permit; it is then to be covered with small or
fine gravel, which is made to sink into the "mastic," by being struck with
wooden mallets or rammers; and upon that is to be immediately strewed a
thin layer of sand. The upper surface of the pavement may remain bare,
or may be covered with a very thin coating of tar, and immediately with sand,
to render it impervious to water.
The operations above described are intended to apply to roads which are
to be entirely newly paved; but the same system may be applied to the
pavement of roads and streets already formed by using the materials of
which those roads and streets have been formed after they shall have been
properly and conveniently repaired. In such cases, it will be sufficient to
scrape the joints or intervals between the stones with iron hooks, and to rub
or brush them strongly, before the daubing or painting of the superior portion
of the circumference with the coat of fluid tar takes place; after which, the
operations herein-before directed in the case of entirely new pavements are to
be exactly followed. Roads formed of unhewn or unwrought stones, or round
pebbles, may receive the "elastic bituminous mastic" in the same manner as
roads having regular and rectangular pavement; but they require greater care
and attention, because it is difficult to cause the "mastic" to adhere strongly
to rounded or smooth surfaces, and because the joints or intervals between
the stones being very wide and open, the action of the wheels of carriages
and the feet of horses can more easily disturb and break up the "mastic."
To avoid this inconvenience, the most regular of the joints or intervals between
the stones are, in the first place, to be filled up with stones in the form of
wedges forced in with a mallet as already mentioned, and then small stakes
of hard wood are in like manner forced into the joints or intervals which are
irregular and open or extensive, and old iron nails or nails of cast-iron are
driven into the narrowest joints or intervals; by which means the adherence
of the bituminous "mastic" will be completely secured. The operations of
completing the work will then proceed exactly in the same manner as have
been already described.
When bricks are to be employed in the formation of roads, basins, docks,
walls, and other impermeable or water-tight constructions, they should be

page_text: :
steeped while very hot, and upon being removed from the oven or clamp, in
very hot vegetable or mineral tar, which has been some time exposed to beat
in a cauldron; when about to be used for basins, docks, walls, water-tight or
impermeable constructions, or foot pavements, the sides of the bricks should
be daubed or painted over with the "elastic bituminous mastic," No. 1; and
.when abont to be employed for paving roads or streets with the "elastic
bituminous mastic," No. 2, care being always taken, as in other pavements,
to thoroughly cover the surface of the joints or intervals with gravel or sand,
which is made to enter and sink by a mallett. Pebbled or flinty bituminous
roads are formed of pebbles, flints, or stones, or the waste or refuse of hard
bricks broken with uniformity, and which include those called macadamized
roads, and which materials are to be immediately covered and united together,
,first with a layer or stratum of the "elastic bituminous mastic," No. 1, and
afterwards with a stratum of No. 2 or No. 6; these rods are formed by first
spreading over the ground, which should be previously levelled and consoli-
dated, a bel of soft stones or similar materials two. inches thick, and over
them a bed of like thickness of hard stones, or other materials of about the
size of an egg, and which should be slightly pressed down to make them
more solid and regular; then the stratum of "mastic," No. 1, is poured on,
so as entirely to cover the stones or materials; this application of the "mastic"
may be made by the hand, using large flat ladles of wrought iron, or with
a small apparatus made on purpose, of which a Drawing and description is
given in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, which will be hereafter more particularly
described. When the bed of "mastic," No. 1, is spread, it is immediately
covered with hard stones or materials broken to about the size of a walnut,
which are struck with a rammer, in order to make them sink into the "mastic;"
⚫upon this is placed a thin bed or layer of the "mastic," No. 2, which, as before
mentioned, is the most flexible and elastic, and when the additional expence
will not form an objection, a thin bed or layer of very infusible iron ore, well
cleaned and separated from the earthy matter adhering to it, when found and
previously broken into very small pieces, should be spread over the bed of
"mastic," No. 2, of the thickness of from one-twelfth, but not exceeding one-
sixth of an inch, which is then to be forced by pressure into the "mastic,"
No. 2, thereby forming the "mastic," No. 6, herein-before mentioned; over
this is to be spread coarse gravel or stones, broken to about the size of a bean;
and, lastly, fine gravel or coarse sand is to be spread over the surface, and
the road compressed and consolidated together with a heavy iron roller.
Roads of any other description may in like manner be formed upon the

page_text: principles and directions above specified, by the intervention of the "elastic
bituminous mastic," which do not require to be specifically pointed out.
When it is intended to employ the "elastic bituminous mastic" in situations
where it will be exposed to motion or vibration, as, for example, in the
formation of ceilings and roofs, the first step necessary is to apply upon the
surface a coat of vegetable or mineral tar with a brush, and to spread over
that coat of tar pieces or strips of common or coarse linen, or cotton cloth,
or strong paper, in as long continuous pieces as possible, and then the cloth
or paper is to be slightly wetted, so that it may be stretched flat and without
wrinkles, and be protected from being scorched or burned by the appli-
cation of the hot "elastic bituminous mastic;" these pieces or strips of
cloth or paper are to be placed along, that is to say, from the top of the
roof to the bottom, and are to be fastened by means of strings of thread
tape, as well at the edges as in the middle of these pieces of cloth or paper,
and at the distance of not more than a foot from each other, and the
strings of thread tape are secured by nails at five or six inches distance
from each other. The "elastic bituminous mastic," No. 5, above described,
is then spread over the cloth or paper with a brush, over which is strewed hot
fine sand by means of a sieve or some such contrivance. When it is wished
to whiten a coating of the "mastic," as in the case of roofings and other
surfaces, a quantity of tallow is to added to the elastic bituminous mastic,
No. 5, in the proportion herein-before mentioned; and immediately after the
coating of "mastic" has been spread, and while very hot, hot chalk or
whiting, in fine powder, is to be sprinkled over, which becomes congealed or
fixed with the tallow on being applied, and should be rubbed smooth with the
hand. In this operation the tallow becoming melted by the heat of the
"mastic," and coming to the surface, the chalk or whiting will form with it
light insoluble trust, adhering closely to the "mastic," and being white will
reflect the rays of the sun, and cause a considerable reduction of temperature,
and continuing unchanged serves also to protect the "mastic" from the
influence of the atmosphere. Gutters may be forme:l at the edges of the roof
to carry off the rain, &c., by extending the pieces or strips of cloth or paper
covered with the "mastic," and doubling them to the extent of an inch under
'the caves of the building. For footways and the ground floors of warehouses,
or the floors of halls, cellars, and houses on the ground, the "elastic bituminous
mastic," No. 3, is employed. In these cases the ground is prepared by being
rammed or beaten, or rolled strongly, upon which a bed of gravel and small
stones is placed; it is then again to be rammed, or beaten or rolled, and a

page_text: covering or layer of fine dry sand is to be added, then upon the sand a very
thin layer or bed of the coarser parts of flax or hemp, or the waste or
ravellings of old rope is to be strued; the "elastic bituminous mastic," No. 3,
is then poured as if in a mould to the thickness varying from one-third of an
inch to an inch over a certain extent of the ground so prepared, and the like
ground is repeated until the whole extent is covered with the "mastic," and
each coat of "mastic," as it is placed on the ground, is then sprinkled with
fine gravel by means of a sieve or such like contrivance; this gravel may be
in its natural state, or blackened or coloured at pleasure, according to the
expence which is intended to be incurred, and it is made to penetrate the
"mastic" by beating and pressing it with small wooden hand beaters like
those used by plumbers, but flatter. The foot pavements may be constructed
plain and level, or they may have upon their surface shallow channels, which
by crossing each other form compartments, and present the appearance of a
regular flag pavement. These channels would receive the fluid mud which
would be occasioned by rain, and conduct it to the gutters or kennels, so as to
render the footway thus intersected more clean and convenient than plain
footpaths. These channels may be formed by ribbed iron frames, which are
indented by pressure into the coating of the "mastic," after it is spread upon
the ground, and while it still remains hot. The apparatus represented in the
Drawings, Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, consists of a strong barrel with thick
iron hoops, supported on a carriage with wheels or cylinders very broad, with
a contrivance at the back somewhat analogous to that already described for
spreading or dispersing the "mastic," but which is casier of transport than
the apparatus in which the "mastic" is prepared. The barrel, in order that
the "mastic" may remain sufficiently fluid for use a greater length of time,
should be made with an outer covering united to the inner by cross pieces of
wood, and the interval between the inner and the outer covering should be
filled with sawdust, moss, wool, cow hair, charcoal in powder, or any other
substance which will occasion a retention of the heat. Figure 7 and Figure 8
are sections of the barrel, shewing the outer covering, the inner barrel, the
cross pieces of wood, and the matters inserted between. Figure 8 also con-
tains a section of the outlet for the "mastic" behind; Figure 9 shews a trans-
verse elevation of the barrel with the outlet for the mastic, but without the
contrivance for spreading it. Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional represen-
tation of the barrel and apparatus for spreading the mastic complete; and
Figure 11 is a transverse view of the back of the barrel, with the apparatus
for spreading it. It will be seen that as the "mastic" issues from the outlet

page_text: E, which is regulated by the screw above, it passes into a sort of hopper F,
down an apron or inclined plane K, and is discharged from K upon the road.
The apparatus at the back of the barrel for spreading or dispersing the
bitumen consists of a carriage, Figures 10 and 11, B3, B, on wheels or cylinders
A, A, which are very broad, and cross pieces C and D, D, being much higher,
so as to tilt the barrel and cause it to be completely emptied. The carriage is
drawn forward by the hook I; the place of issue for the "mastic" is behind
the barrel at E, which is placed above a wooden hopper F, F, fixed on the
girders B, B, in which hopper there is an opening G, G, the extent of which
is regulated by a moveable board II, II. The barrel being upon its carriage,
and taken to the road which is to receive the "mastic," it is dragged by ropes
fastened on the hook I; the wheels or cylinders in revolving smooth and level
the road; then a man mounted on the after part of the barrel or carriage opens
the tube E, the "mastic" spreads itself into the hopper F, F, and issuing from
the opening G, spreads itself in a sheet, first upon the apron K, K, whose
purpose is to make it regular in its progress, and from thence upon the road.
Two men, who follow the apparatus, equalize the coat of mastic with hot
trowels. This last operation may also be done mechanically by means of a
large and thin plate of iron, Figures 10 and 11, S, S, fixed on a cross piece
of wood T, T, which is supported by two iron shanks or flat rods U, U, U,
which are attached to its sides, and also on the sides of the hopper F, F, by
means of studs M, M, placed in the grooves V, V, in which the studs move,
whereby the iron plate S, S, is made to rise and fall at will. This plate S, S,
receives an elastic pressure by means of two springs X, X, connected with a
screw Y, which are placed in the head of the cheek Z, Z, which regulates the
pressure at pleasure.
And whercas, as regards the first part of the said Invention, I do not claim
the use or employment of any of the materials separately, but I claim the
composition as above described, when fully prepared and ready for use; the
fibrous or filamentous vegetable and animal matters or substances above
mentioned being essential to the composition of every modification of the
"clastic bituminous mastic." And whereas, as regards the second part of the
said Invention I do not claim any part or portion of the apparatus singly for
making and preparing the said composition, but I claim the arrangement and
combination of the several parts and portions of the said apparatus when put
together; and such Invention, so as above described, consisting of two parts,
being to the best of my knowledge and belief entirely new and never before
used in that part of Her Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain called

page_text: England, Her Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do
hereby declare this to be my Specification of the said Invention, and that I do
verily believe this my said Specification doth comply in all respects fully and
without disguise, with the proviso in the said herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent contained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexandre Happey, have hereunto set my