IMPROVE- MENTS IN CONSTRUCTING AND LAYING CONCRETE PAVEMENTS AND IN THE TREATMENT OF CONCRETE BLOCKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Ettlinger at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1876. A communication from
abroad by John Shillinger, of New York, United States of America.
WILLIAM ETTLINGER, of 115, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Merchant. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CONSTRUCTING AND LAYING CONCRETE PAVEMENTS AND IN THE TREATMENT
OF CONCRETE BLOCKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES." A. communication from abroad
by John Shillinger, of New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates in the first place to an improved concrete pavement which
is laid in detached blocks or sections.
The blocks or sections are formed on the spot out of a plastic mass composed of
Portland cement, sand, gravel, or other suitable material and water, in different
proportions. The joints are produced by interposing temporarily or permanently
between the blocks or sections while they are in process of formation strips of
tar paper or an equivalent material, or by cutting pavements laid in continuous
sheets into detached blocks or sections, by means of a tool or instrument, so as to
produce joints for the purpose to prevent cracking.
For producing the joints by theinterposition of tar paper or an equivalent material,
the plastic mass is laid or spread on the foundation or bed of the pavement, either
in moulds or between moveable joists of the proper dimensions, so as to form the
edges of the concrete blocks, one block being formed after the other. When the
first block has set the joist is removed from the edge of this block where the next
block is to be formed, and is replaced by a strip of tar paper or an equivalent
material along this edge, and the plastic composition for the next block is placed
against the tar paper, and the formation of the next new block is proceeded with
in the same manner until the pavement is completed. The paper when placed
against the block first formed does not adhere thereto, and it or its equivalent can
be taken out.
For producing the joints in pavements laid in continuous sheets, marks are made
on the sheet where the joints are to be produced, and the cutting as required is
effected by means of any instrument or tool, either through the entire thickness of
the sheet of concrete or through a part of it. In the latter case the breaking or
cracking will occur where the line is cut into, whenever contraction takes place or
the pavement is taken up.
The advantages of forming joints instead of cutting out-of sheets are:-That the
detached blocks or sections cannot break or crack in consequence of contraction or
of the settling of the foundation. That cach section can be taken up and relaid
without disturbing the adjoining sections in caso excavations are to be made, or
[Price 2.1

page_text: gas or water pipes laid. That the tar paper when left permanently in the joints
renders the same watertight, and yet allows the several blocks to heave separately.
That the sections can be made of different colors. This improved pavement is to
be used for constructing streets, side walks, areas, floors, and other purposes.
If the soil is elevated, excavations have to be made and must be rammed if it
is loose.
The rammed soil is to be covered with a layer of coal ashes or other suitable
material at least six inches thick. If the soil consists of sand no other covering
is required. A thickness of four inches of the pavement for side walks is generally
sufficient and consists of two layers. The bottom course is generally made three
inches thick of a mass composed of three parts clean, sharp, coarse sand, and one
part of Portland cement, throughly mixed, and so much water that when the
course is laid and rammed only little water appears on the surface.
The top
course is generally laid one inch thick, of a mass composed of one part sand,
one part best Portland cement thoroughly mixed, and a little more water than for
the bottom course, so that it is plastic enough for working with a trowel on
the top of the bottom course to make it firmly adhere thereto. The surface has
then to be more or less smoothed by means of a trowel. In from three to four days
the pavement will have enough hardened for use.
The most convenient size of the blocks is three feet by four feet. The plastic
mass can be colored in imitation of blue and brown stone.
And this Invention relates in the second place to the application of steain to
blocks of concrete whether plain or ornamental for the purpose of hardening them
with rapidity. The application of steam is effected by passing the freshly made
blocks into a steam chamber.
After these articles have been formed in moulds and have sufficiently set they
are introduced into a steam chamber, which is then to be tightly closed and charged
with steam, the temperature to be kept up is from 75 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the factory in divided into two or more steam chambers the moulded articles can
remain on tho spot where they were formed, and when the chamber is filled with
these articles it is to be closed and charged with steam as above stated, and the
same proceeding will be commenced in the next steam chamber.
The crystallization of the constituent parts of concrete and the hardening of the
blocks are hereby accelerated and the same become ready for use in a short time.
Blocks so treated can be used for building purposes.