IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD PAVEMENT
Year: 1878

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"
LETTERS PATENT to Carl Kesseler, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the
Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor, for the Invention
IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD PAVEMENT." A communication from Carl
Rabitz, Builder and Contractor, of Berlin, in Prussia, in the Empire of
Germany.
Sealed the 28th February 1879, and dated the 3rd September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Kesseler at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1878.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD PAVEMENT." [A
communication from Carl Rabitz, Builder and Contractor, of Berlin, in Prussia,
in the Empire of Germany.]
The wooden pavement, as herein described, and as represented in the adjoined
Drawings, differs from others of similar construction, particularly in the com-
bination of several blocks being put together so as to form one board while single
and separate blocks are not used; the pavement is consequently formed by means
of the so-composed boards.
The manner of composing the boards requires that the ground or subsoil forming
the bed of the pavement be composed and formed in a peculiar manner, which is as
follows:-
I. The Ground or Subsoil of the Pavement-After the earth has been dug to the
required depth the ground is levelled and firmly rammed, single layers of slaty
slabs, as found in the limestone quarry (limestones slabs, rubble or chips, or fine
limestone waste, or fillings) are then laid out, till a height of about 35 to 45
centimeters is reached; each layer is well damped and firmly rammed. The
surface of this bed is well levelled and centred to the rise the pavement shall
receive.

page_text: In countries where such material cannot be obtained the bed is formed of very
coarse gravel (broken stones, rubble, or the chipping of stones), which can also
entirely or partly be replaced by small pieces of old bricks; it is then mixed
with the road mud or clay bottom, in such a proportion that after having
been rammed forms a very firm material which the water cannot penetrate.
The bed formed as above described has the advantage of being cheaper and more
elastic than concrete beds.
II. The Wood Pavement.-The wood pavement is made of different kinds of
wood, but those possessing the finest grains, and not tending to become rotten are
used in preference. Woods, as the pitch pine and yellow pine imported from
America, and the American cypress tree, are the most suitable, they are cut in
blocks, as shown in the adjoined Drawing, and are sufficiently worked true to be
formed into hoards. The surface is always cross-grained, and the fibres always
run vertically. All the edges of the blocks which form the surface are faced, ns
shown by (a), or the longitudinal edges are only faced, as shown in (b); those
blocks are impregnated by substances preventing them from rotting, but if the
quality of the wood does not require it this need not be done. Those blocks are
combined so as to form a board (c), either in their raw conditions or after having
been cooked in asphalte (mineral tar) by means of a bituminous cement, which
preserves a certain degree of elasticity even in cold weather. The edges of those
boards form either straight lines (d) or teeth (6), which by being joined form cross
joints in the pavement, but nover longitudinal ones. The single blocks can
besides be secured by wooden nails; the best kind would be acacia nails, as used
for shipbuilding.
In special cases, to hold the whole pavement firmly together, the boards can be
provided with side grooves, in which flat rods, if wood or iron (tongues) are passed.
After the single blocks have been formed into boards, curved and joined together
by means of the bituminous cement, which is laid on while hot, and with great
pressure, the bottom surface of the boards is also coated with the aforesaid cement,
and is further covered with asphalt cardboard. According to circumstances deals
are also nailed over to prevent it from rotting; those boards are then ready for
paving.
III. Mode of Paving.-The row of boards are laid on the bed without any
intermediate substance connecting them. The bed being composed, as described in
chapter I., must be well levelled, nevertheless, the bedding can take place in a thin
layer of asphalt or clay. If the border deals form a sufficient resisting abutement
each row of boards is firmly secured by end pieces, which are driven between the
latter and the borders; but if necessary, a longitudinal framework composed of
angle irons, which are connected together by rods, are laid in the transverse joints
of the pavement. The grooves made by paving are filled up with the same cernent
as that used to join the blocks into boards. The end joints or grooves formed by
the pavement, either with the border deals or with the iron framing, are filled up
with sheets of cork or felt; they are afterwards impregnated with bituminous
cement or calked, as it is done by the shipbuilders, with impregnated tow. This is
dono in order to prevent a too great swelling of the wood, which is not to be
feared, but which might happen. If the roads are large several of these com-
pensating joints can be made; any uneveness of the pavement is regulated after
the boards have been laid, and is made firm by passing rollers over it. This
wooden pavement possesses, besides its comparative cheapness, a great durability,
and can also be easily repaired, The boards can easily be taken off, and quickly
replaced if pipes have to be laid.
The subsoil which is impenetrable prevents the penetration of the moisture at
the cabstands, as this pavement does not contain the tenth part of grooves of the
stone or the ordinary wooden pavement.
In regard to the sanitary conditions this construction is therefore also preferable.
Having thus herein described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner

page_text: of performing the same, it will be understood that the improvements upon which
the claims are principally based, consists,-
1. In the manner of preparing the ground, subsoil, or bed, for wooden pavement,
and the material herein used as above described.
2. In the forming, combining, or composition of boards from wooden blocks of
any shape and form for paving roads, yards, or other places, in the manner above
described, and as represented in the adjoined Drawings.
3. In the laying or placing of boards, and in the manner of joining them to
a solid pavement, as herein-before described, and represented in the adjoined
Drawings.
purpose
4. In the use of compensating grooves for the wood pavement to the
above stated, and in the manner as herein-before described and represented in the
adjoined Drawings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Kesseler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st March
1879.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD PAVEMENT." A
communication from Carl Rabitz, Builder and Contractor, of Berlin, in Prussia,
in the Empiró of Germany.
This wooden pavement, as herein described, and as represented in the adjoined
Drawings, differs from others of similar construction, particularly in the com-
bination of several blocks, being put together so as to form one board, while single.
and separate blocks are not used; the pavement is consequently formed by means
of the so-composed boards.
The manner of composing the boards requires that the ground or subsoil forming
the bed of the pavement be composed and formed in a peculiar manner, as
follows:-
I. The Ground or Subsoil of the Pavement.-After the earth has been dug to
the required depth the ground is levelled and firmly rammed, single layers of slaty
slabs, as found in the limestone quarrys (limestone slabs, rubble, or chips, or fine
limestone waste or fillings) are then laid out, till a height of 35 to 45 centimeters
is reached; each layer is well damped, and firmly rammed. The surface of this
bed is well levelled and centred to the rise the pavement shall receive.
In countries where such material cannot be obtained the bed is formed with very
coarse gravel (broken stones, rubble, or the chipping of stones), which can also be
entirely or partly replaced by small pieces of old bricks; it is then mixed with
the road mud or clay bottom, in such a proportion that after having been rammed
it forms a very firm material which the water cannot penetrate.
The bed formed as above described has the advantage of being cheaper and more
elastic than concrete beds.
JI. The Wood Pavement.-The wood pavement is made of different kinds of
wood, but those possessing the finest grains and not tending to become rotten are
used in preference. Woods, as the pitch pine and yellow pine imported from
America, and the American cypress tree, are the most suitable, they are cut in
blocks, as shown in the adjoined Drawings, and are sufficiently worked true to be
formed into boards. The surface is always cross grained, and the fibres always run
vertically. All the edges of the blocks which form the surface are faced, as shown:
by a, or the longitudinal edges are only faced, as shown in b; those blocks are
impregnated by substances preventing them from rotting, but if the quality of the
wood does not require it this need not be done. Those blocks are combined so as
to form a board c, either in their raw conditions, or after having been cooked in
asphalte (mineral tar) by means of a bituminous cement, which preserves a certain
degree of elasticity, even in cold weather. The edges of those boards form either
straight lines d or teeth e, which by being joined form cross joints in the pavement,
but never longitudinal ones. The single blocks can besides be secured by wooden
nails, the best kind would be acacia nails, as used for shipbuilding.
In special cases to hold the whole pavement firmly together the boards can be
provided with side grooves, in which flat rods of wood or iron (tongues) are passed.
After the single blocks have been formed into boards, curved, and joined together
by means of the bituminous cement, which is laid on while hot, and with great
pressure, the bottom surface of the board is also coated with the aforesaid cement,
and is further covered with asphalt cardboard. According to circumstances deals
are also nailed over to prevent it from rotting; those boards are then ready for
paving.
III. Mode of Paving.-The row of boards are laid on the bed without any
intermediate substance connecting them. The bed being composed as described in

page_text: chapter I. must be woll levelled, nevertheless the bedding can take place in a thin
layer of asphalt or clay. If the border deals form a sufficient resisting abutement
cach row of boards is firmly secured by end pieces, which are driven between the
latter and the borders, but if necessary a longitudinal framework composed of anglo
irons, which are connected together by rods, are laid in the transverse joints of the
pavements. The grooves made by paving are filled up with the same cement as
that used to join the blocks into boards; the end joints or grooves formed by the
pavement, either with the border deals or with the iron framing, are filled up with
sheets of cork or felt, they are afterwards impregnated with bituminous cement or
calked, as it is done by shipbuilders, with impregnated tow. This is done in order
to prevent a too great swelling of the wood, which is not to be feared, but which
may happen. If the roads are large several of these compensating joints can be
made; any uneveness of the pavement is regulated after the boards have been laid,
and it is made firm by passing rollers over it. This wooden pavement possesses,
besides its comparative cheapness, a great durability, and can also be easily
repaired; the boards can easily be taken off, and quickly replaced if pipes have to
be laid.
The subsoil, which is impenetrable, prevents the penetration of the moisture at
the cabstands, as this pavement does not contain the tenth part of grooves of the
stone or the ordinary wooden pavement.
In regard to the sanitary conditions this construction is therefore also preferable.
Having thus herein described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, it will be understood that the improvements upon which the
claims are principally based, consists,―
1. In the manner of preparing the ground, subsoil, or bed, for wooden pavement,
and the material herein used, as above described.
2. In the forming, combining, or composition of boards from wooden blocks of
any shape and form, for paving roads, yards, or other places, in the manner above
described, and as represented in the adjoined Drawings.
3. In the laying or placing of boards, and in the manner of joining them to
a solid pavement, as herein-before described, and represented in the adjoined
Drawings.
4. In the use of compensating grooves for the wood pavement to the purpose
above stated, and in the manner as herein-before described, and represented in tho
adjoined Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Kesseler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
CARL KESSELER. (L.S.)