Improvements in Paving Blocks for Roads, Footpaths, and other Surfaces.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr.. 1393-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Paving Blocks for Roads, Footpaths, and other
Surfaces.
I WILLIAM WHITE of The Great Western Works Abergavenny in the County
of Monmouth Architect do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide for use on roads footpaths and other
surfaces paving blocks that shall be very cheap in construction extremely durable
in wear and quite impervious to moisture in use while at the same time they shall
be very proper for walking on and shall afford an extremely good foothold for
animals.
To carry out this object I make in any convenient and usual manner a mould for
this block of any shape and size and of the desired proportions it being obvious
that when the block is to be laid where there is great and heavy traffic it will be
advisable to make the same thicker or deeper than it need be where there is little
and light traffic. In the bottom of this mould I strew or place a required quantity
of small rough and irregular pieces of stone it may be granite or of other suitable
material and at the desired elevation above the bottom of the mould I secure or
place a grating horizontally and parallel with the bottom of the mould or
thereabouts. The bars of this grating may be arranged either diagonally
or rectangularly and parallel with the sides of the mould and they may be made of
wood or metal or other suitable material. When these bars are made of wood or
the like they are preferably arranged and it may be secured in two tiers or levels
one over the other and in sectional shape may be square or oblong or otherwise but
when these bars are made of metal or the like they can most conveniently be cast
in one piece or all together in the same level and in sectional shape may be angled
or of an H or a V shape or otherwise. I then pour into the mould asphalte or a
composition of the same and pitch and sharp sand or ashes or clinkers or any other
suitable material or materials while in a liquid or semi-liquid state in such quantity
as to fill the mould up to the desired level and thus when this material or
composition has set and the block so produced has been removed from the mould
this block is of the desired thickness or depth and the grating is and must be
entirely and completely embedded in this block and covered by the material or
composition while the aforesaid pieces of stone or other material are embedded in
but not covered by or not to any great extent the material or composition at what
is or has been in the mould the lower surface of the block which surface will be the
upper surface of the block when the same is laid in position for use.
The desired number of these blocks so made as aforesaid are laid on a proper
surface or foundation where they are required to be used in any ordinary or other
manner and the interstices if any, between the adjacent blocks may be filled by
pouring thereinto the same or other suitable material or composition or otherwise
in any usual or convenient manner.
Any suitable grooves or ribs or excrescenses or similar devices may be formed in
or on the upper or other surfaces of the blocks when desired for the purpose of
affording a better foothold for animals or otherwise.
These blocks also so made as aforesaid may if desired be united in the process of
manufacture severally with separate blocks or bases of concrete or other suitable
material to act as separate foundations it may most conveniently be in the manner
described in the Specification of my Patent No. 424 of 1887.
Dated
2011 1
1
2002

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Paving Blocks for Roads, Footpaths, and other
Surfaces.
I WILLIAM WHITE of The Great Western Works Abergavenny in the County
of Monmouth Architect do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The object of this my invention is to provide for use on roads footpaths and
other surfaces such for example as stable and other yards and the like paving
blocks that shall be very simple and cheap in construction extremely durable and
lasting in wear and quite impervious to and impermeable by moisture of whatever
description although they can very easily and effectually be washed or otherwise
cleaned while at the same time they shall be very appropriate for walking on or
otherwise moving over and shall be non-injurious and comfortable to aud for the
feet whether of men or animals as also to and for the boots or shoes of the same if
any and shall afford an extremely good foothold especially for animals whereby
the slipping and stumbling and the falling that are now so very objectionably
prevalent will be if not entirely avoided at least greatly lessened in frequency. A
further advantage will also be obtained and secured in and by the use of these my
paving blocks in that while the whole surface that is created when they are
properly laid in position is extremely firm and quite sufficiently rigid for all
practical purposes still a certain amount of elasticity or resiliency will be or may
be felt and experienced when such surface is walked on or otherwise moved
over whereby the convenience and suitableness of these paving blocks are
manifestly enhanced. Another very great advantage will also be obtained and
secured in and by the use of these my paving blocks in that they can very easily
and quickly be laid in position and as easily and quickly be taken up when required
for any reason or purpose and be re-laid whereby the road or footpath or other
surface will not require to be closed against and to traffic for so long a period as is
now generally customary.
To carry out this object I proceed to create these my paving blocks in and
according to the following manner.
A mould is made for the block in any convenient and usual or other manner
and of any suitable metal or material which mould can be so made of any desired
or appropriate shape and size and of any desired or necessary depth and proportions
as it is evident that when the block that is to be created in and produced from and
by this mould is to be laid and used wheresoever there is or there is expected to
be great and heavy traffic it will generally be advisable even if not absolutely
requisite to make this block thicker and deeper than it need be when it is to be
laid and used wheresoever there is or there is expected to be only little and light
traffic.
In and over the bottom of the mould are strewn or scattered or otherwise placed
pieces of stone such for example as granite or of other suitable material which
pieces preferably are small and rough and irregular in shape and are so strewn or
scattered or placed in such quantity as may be desired or may be deemed expedient
having regard to the quantity and quality of the traffic that is to be accommodated
and for which this block is intended as it is evident that the greater and heavier
the traffic that is to be accommodated the more pieces of stone or other material
will commonly and preferably be required and used and vice versû. At the desired
elevation above the bottom of the mould it may very conveniently be at an

page_text: elevation of about two thirds of the entire height or depth of the mould above the
bottom thereof is placed and supported and if need be secured a grating in an
horizontal position parallel with the bottom of the mould or thereabouts and the
bars of this grating which may be so close together or so far apart as may be
desired can be arranged either rhombically or rhomboidally and diagonal to the
sides of the mould or rectangularly and parallel with such sides and these bars can
be made of wood or metal or other suitable material. When the bars of the grating
are made of wood or the like they are preferably so arranged as is hereinbefore
described and it may be secured together in two tiers or levels one being over the
other and in sectional shape may be square or oblong or semicircular or otherwise
and when the bars of the grating are made of metal or the like they can most
conveniently being so arranged as is hereinbefore described be cast in one piece or
all together in one and the same level and in sectional shape may be square or
oblong or the like or may be angled in any wise or of an L or a T or a V or an
H shape or otherwise. Asphalte or a composition of the same and pitch and sharp
sand or ashes or clinkers or any other suitable material or materials or composition
such as is or are or may be now or hereafter capable of and proper for being used
in this manner for paving can then be poured into the mould while in a liquid or
semi-liquid condition or can after having been placed in the mould while in some
other condition be brought or reduced into this liquid or semi-liquid condition
while in the mould by any appropriate means and in any convenient and usual or
other manner and in either case the material or composition when in the liquid or
semi-liquid condition is in such quantity and so much of the same is used as is
sufficient to fill this mould up to the desired level which in every case is above that
of the grating in such mould.
Therefore when the material or composition has set and the block so created and
produced in and by the mould has been removed therefrom and taken thereout this
block is of the desired and arranged for shape and size and thickness and depth
and proportions and the grating hereinbefore described is and must be entirely
and completely embedded in this block and covered by the material or composition
whereof it is made while the pieces of stone or other material herein before described
are also securely embedded in this block but are not covered by the material or
composition whereof it is made or are not to any great extent covered by the same
at what is or has been in the mould the lower surface of the block but which
surface is or will be when the block is properly laid in position for use the upper
surface thereof on and over which the traffic will pass.
The desired number of these blocks so created as herein before described are laid
in the due appropriate sequence and order on a surface or foundation properly
prepared therefor if necessary where they are required to be used in any ordinary
or other manner and the interstices if any between the adjacent blocks can be filled
by pouring thereinto preferably it may be the same material or composition as that
whereof the blocks are made or when desired any other suitable material or com-
position or otherwise in any convenient and usual or other manner.
Any ordinary and suitable grooves or ribs or excrescences or similar devices
may be formed in or on the upper or other surfaces of the blocks it can most con-
veniently be while the blocks are in the moulds by the same or otherwise and while
the material or composition whereof the blocks are made is in the liquid or semi-
liquid condition hereinbefore described when desired for the purpose of affording
a still better foothold for animals or of binding more securely the adjacent blocks
together or the blocks to the supporting surface or foundation or otherwise.
These blocks also so created and made as hereinbefore described can if desired
be severally united in the process of manufacture with separate blocks or bases of
concrete or other suitable material which could act as separate foundations in
manner it may most conveniently be as is described in the Specification of the
Patent granted unto me and dated the 11th day of January A.D. 1887 and
numbered 424 of 1887.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The paving blocks for roads footpaths and other surfaces created and made
-substantially as herein before described and set forth.
Dated this 26th day of Anril 1893.
HART & Co.,
186, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.