A MODE OR METHOD OF IMPROVING THE FOOTHOLD OF ROADS, STREETS, FOOTPATHS, AND OTHER WALKING SURFACES COMPOSED OF PLASTIC OR IMPRESSIBLE MATERIALS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN FREDRICK SANG of Gracechurch Street in the City of London Architect
and Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said invention for A MODE OR
METHOD OF IMPROVING THE FOOTHOLD OF ROADS, STREETS, FOOTPATHS, AND
OTHER WALKING SURFACES COMPOSED OF PLASTIC OR IMPRESSIBLE MATERIALS" to
be as follows:-
This invention consists in treating or preparing in situ the surfaces of roads
streets footpaths floors and the like composed of cement, concrete, asphalte, or
other like plastic or impressible materials, by forming indentations grooves or
recesses in the said surfaces either at the time of laying down or of repairing the
same or after they have been laid by the aid of rollers, rammers, or moulds,
provided with suitable projections on their acting faces. The said indentations
grooves or recesses may take the form of lines whether straight curved or
undulating disposed either longitudinally transversely or diagonally to the road-
way and crossing or intersecting each other or not as preferred or they may consist
of designs of various shapes indented in situ into the smooth surface of the road
foot-way or floor so as to improve the foothold without presenting any projections
or obstructions above the general level or surface thereof. The projections on the
faces of the tools or indenting appliances employed are by preference of a conical
or tapered form in transverse section so as to indent and leave the surface more
easily. In treating such surfaces as are composed of cement or concrete the
indenting tools or appliances may be used cold but when operating upon surfaces
of asphalte bitumen or other material rendered plastic or impressible by heat the
said indenting appliances should be used in a heated condition and with a view to
preventing the adhering of the cement asphalte or such like materials thereto a
thin layer or sprinkling of fine sand or sawdust may be applied to the surface
before it is indented.
.

page_text: I JOHN FREDRICK SANG of Gracechurch Street in the City of London Architect
and Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "A MODE OR
METHOD OF IMPROVING THE FOOTHOLD OF ROADS STREETS FOOTPATHS AND OTHER
WALKING SURFACES COMPOSED OF PLASTIC, OR IMPRESSIBLE MATERIALS and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by. the following statement:-
"
: This invention consists in treating or preparing the surfaces of roads, streets
footpaths, floors, and the like, composed of asphalt, cement, concrete or other like
plastic or impressible materials, by forming indentations grooves or recesses in the
said surfaces in situ either whilst in the process of being laid and levelled, or after
their completion or whilst undergoing repair by the aid of rollers, smoothing irons
rammers or stampers (heated or not as required) provided with suitable projections
or ribs on their acting faces and traversed to and fro over or brought down by a
succession of blows on the otherwise prepared and levelled surface of the road
footway or floor. The said indentations grooves or recesses produced in the
manner set forth by pressure or impact may be disposed in straight curved or
undulating lines running either longitudinally transversely or diagonally to the
roadway and crossing or intersecting each other or not as preferred or they may
consist of designs of various shapes indented in situ into the smooth and levelled
surface of the road footway or floor thereby improving the foothold thereof in a
simple efficient and expeditious manner without presenting any projections or
obstructions above the general level or surface of the road. The projections or
ribs on the faces of the indenting appliances employed are by preference of a
conical or tapered form in transverse section so as to indent and leave the surface
more easily. In treating such surfaces as are composed of cement or concrete the
indenting tools or appliances may be used cold but when operating upon surfaces
of asphalt bitumen or other material rendered plastic or impressible by heat the
said indenting appliances should be used in a heated condition and with a view to
preventing the adhering of the cement asphalt or such like materials thereto a
thin layer or sprinkling of fine sand or saw dust may be applied to the surface
before it is indented but in most cases this will not be necessary;
"
Where found desirable I may employ in connection with the indenting roller a
removeable "doctor or scraper adapted to, the annular projections on the said
roller for the purpose of keeping the surface clean.
Figure 1 of my drawings is a side elevation of an indenting roller suitable for
carrying out my said invention adapted for being heated and fitted with a
removeable "doctor" or scraper.
Figure 2 is a corresponding front view and partial section thereof the scraper
being hidden,

page_text: Figure 3 is a side elevation and Figure 4 a vertical transverse section of a
smoothing iron with suitable longitudinal projections or ribs on the face for
clearing out and smoothing or finishing if necessary the grooves formed by the
roller.
Figure 5 is an end view and Figure 6 a corresponding side elevation of a
travelling bearing or fulcrum which I prefer to adopt in practice for facilitating
the lifting of the roller out of the grooves and the shifting of its position laterally
at each end of its course (as for example at or near the kerbs or other part) in
order to enable it to produce a fresh set of grooves as hereinafter explained.
A is a metal roller of any desired weight provided with a handle B attached to
the main axle C for traversing the same. When required to be used in a heated
condition the said roller is formed with a series of chainbers or pockets D round:
its interior for the reception of removeable heaters E E which may be kept ready:
heated in a portable furnace such as is now employed for heating the smoothing
irons stampers or other like implements employed in preparing the surfaces of.
asphalt pavements. For convenience of handling, the heaters for the roller are
by preference formed with a hooked recess a (figure 2) at one or both ends into
which the hooked end of a bar is engaged for the purpose of withdrawing the
cooled heaters, transferring them to the fire and replacing them by others ready
heated. Buttons or catches a¹ may be fitted to the ends of the pockets or
recesses D or any other suitable contrivance may be adopted for preventing the
heaters from working out or becoming displaced when operating on sidelong or
sloping surfaces. F is a detachable frame supported by a small roller G said frame
being hooked to the projecting ends of the main axle C as shown so as to be
readily detached and replaced when required on withdrawing the pin b. This
frame carries a hinged scraper H held in contact with the surface of the roller A
by a spring or weighted arm I. The circumference of the roller A is provided at
suitable distances apart with a series of projections or ribs c c of a V shape in
transverse section and between these main circumferential projections other and
smaller ones may be provided as shown or the intermediate spaces may be left
sinooth if preferred. The edge of the before mentioned scraper should be made to
conform to the projections on the surface of the roller A. The roadway or other
walking surface having been laid and properly levelled as is well understood I pass
over it in any required direction the before mentioned or other equivalent roller
specially adapted for producing the required indentations or grooves in the said
surface and when the material employed is of a nature to be softened or rendered
impressible by heat such as asphalt I use the said roller in a heated condition. At
the end of each traverse I lift the roller clear of the grooves and then shift it
laterally by first bringing its handle down onto the travelling bearing or fulcrum K
(see figures 5 and 6) mounted on runners d d I then move the whole longitudinally
until the annular projection on one end of the roller coincides with the outer one
of the series of grooves produced during the previous traverse. The roller having
been thus shifted is rolled back again over the roadway producing a fresh series of
grooves guaging uniformly with the previous ones and so on until the whole surface
of the roadway has been thus indented with grooves. Before making the return
traverse of the roller the "Doctor" frame F is detached and coupled again in a
corresponding position to the opposite side of the roller so as always to follow in
the rear thereof. When found desirable the said grooves produced by the roller
may be cleared out smoothed and finished by sliding along them to and fro the
smoothing iron L rounded or curved at the front and rear (see figures 3 and 4) or
an equivalent tool of suitable weight provided with an actuating handle M and
having on its underface V or other shaped longitudinal projections or ribs c¹ c¹
corresponding in transverse section and guage to the annular projections c c on the
roller A.
I have not considered it necessary to illustrate the rammers or stampers provided
with indenting projections on their under faces for producing indentations of any
desired form or pattern in situ in the before mentioned surfaces with a view to

page_text: improving the foothold thereof as they will be readily understood without the aid
of Drawings.
:
said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I would observe in
conclusion that I am aware it has been proposed to improve the foothold of roads
streets footpaths floors and the like by cutting grooves in the surfaces thereof also
by laying such surfaces with blocks slabs tiles or metal plates already grooved for
the purpose and therefore I do not claim such methods as constituting any part of
my said invention:-I declare that what I claim is
The mode or method of treating the surfaces of roads streets footpaths floors
and other walking surfaces composed of plastic or impressible materials by
subjecting such surfaces whilst in the process of being laid and levelled or after
their completion or whilst undergoing repair to the action of indenting or
impressing rollers, smoothing irons, raumers or stampers (whether heated or not)
provided with projections or ribs on their acting faces suitable for producing
indentations grooves or recesses in the said surfaces in situ for the purpose of
improving the foothold thereof substantially as specified.
Dated this seventeenth day of April 1885.
EDWIN P. ALEXANDER,
Fel. Inst. P.A., Agent.