IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF ASPHALTE, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND FOOTPATHS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Benjamin George Bennett, of No. 92,
Nichols' Square, Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, and James Charles Watt, of No. 216, Lancaster Road,
Notting Hill, in the said County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF ASPHALTE, AND IN
THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND FOOTPATHS
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st January 1873, and dated the 30th July 1872. ·
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Benjamin
George Bennett and James Charles Watt at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 30th July
1872.
.
WC, WILLIAM BENJAMIN GEORGE BENNETT, of No. 92, Nichols'
Square, Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, and
JAMES CHARLES WATT, of No. 216, Lancaster Road, Notting Hill,
in the said County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF
ASPHALTE, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND
FOOTPATHS AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
66
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the treatment of
asphalte, and in the application thereof in combination with other sub-
stances to roads, pavements, and other purposes.

page_text: .
The asphalte used for the purposes of this Invention may be of any
suitable description, and after being melted and the necessary degree of
heat obtained is mixed with turnings, filings, chippings, or particles of
hard lead, zinc, or other suitable metal or metals, or combinations of
metals, the metallic substance or substances being added in the pro-
portion of about one-third by measure thereof to about two-thirds of
the asphalte, and mixed with the latter whilst in a liquid state in pots
or cauldrons and well stirred. To this mixture bone dust and sulphate
of lime are added in such proportions as may be considered most.
suitable according to the climate of the locality in which the asphalte
is to be laid. The composition thus made may be used for roadways,
pavings, and other purposes, either in the ordinary way by being spread
over the substructure previously prepared to receive the same, or may
be made into blocks to be applied, as herein-after mentioned. In the
latter case a portion of the composition is poured into suitable moulds,
thus forming that portion which is to constitute the upper surface of the
roadway. The remainder of the blocks is composed of clean ballast,
gravel, or broken stone, which has been previously burnt in the usual
way, the same being prepared by mixing therewith sufficient tar and
pitch, and heating the same until sufficiently liquid and the necessary
degree of heat obtained. Ground gypsum, chalk, and grit are then
added thereto, and the whole mixed and poured into the moulds. The
blocks are then compressed and consolidated by means of hydraulic or
other suitable compressing power, and upon being removed from the
moulds the blocks will be ready for use."
In applying blocks thus prepared to the purposes of roadways the
substructure is prepared to receive the same, but as the methods of
preparing such substructures are well known to persons conversant with
such operations and do not form part of the present Invention, it is
unnecessary here to describe them. The blocks are laid upon the
concrete or other surface either diagonally or otherwise, the same
being bedded as may be required to ensure a solid and even bearing
surface. In cold, frosty, or wet weather, the blocks should be submitted
to such a degree of heat as will cause them to yield to any irregularity
in the surface of the substructure. It is desirable that the blocks should
be placed at the distance of about an inch from each other, which
operation is conveniently effected by placing wood screeds between the
blocks, the former being removed after the latter have been laid. The

page_text: blocks having been placed in the desired positions the spaces between
the same are filled in with liquid asphalte, whereby the blocks will be
united together and form one solid and compact mass, and ready to
receive the remaining part of the upper and finishing layer of prepared
asphalte, as herein-after mentioned. In cold or frosty weather hot irons
may be placed in the joints previous to running the asphalte into the
same, in order to ensure the union of the molten asphalte with the
blocks. When the blocks have been thus laid the metallic substanco
or substances combined with the upper surfaces will be found to present
inequalities which it is desirable should be filled in, and an even or
partially undulated surface produced. This is effected by pouring over
the surface molten asphalte to which bone dust, sulphate of lime, and
grit, in suitable proportions have been added until the-same reaches the
level of the raised parts produced by the metallic-substance or substances.
The asphalte thus placed upon the surface, and between the metallic
parts is to be "floated" off and well rolled with a roller adapted for the
purpose, at the same time adding the necessary quantity of grit.
In cases in which it is not desirable to employ the blocks formed and
Jaid as herein-before mentioned, the asphaltic metallic compound before
described may be laid upon the substructure, and the spaces between
such raised metallic parts filled in with asphalte as before described, and
floated and rolled or otherwise consolidated, as will be well understood.
It will be readily seen by persons conversant with the construction
of asphalte roads, that the metallic surface of the blocks, herein-before
mentioned, can be laid upon asphalte roadways already in existence,
and that the entire blocks containing the metallic parts can be laid upon
the surface of macadamised or paved roadways without disturbing the
same.
Roadways constructed in accordance with this Invention, present
great advantages over the asphaltic roadways previously adopted. The
compound surface formed by the admixture of asphalte with particles
of metal. and the other substances herein-before mentioned, affords a
secure foothold for the horses travelling over the same, whilst the labour
of traction is reduced, and the noise of transit greatly diminished.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Benjamin George Bennett and James
Charles Watt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th January
1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
BENJAMIN GEORGE BENNETT, of No. 92, Nichols' Square, Hackney
Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, and JAMES CHARLES
WATT, of No. 216, Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, in the said County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said William Benjamin George Bennett and
James Charles Watt, Her special licence that we, the said William
Benjamin George Bennett and James Charles Watt, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such other's as we, the said William
Benjamin George Bennett and James Charles Watt, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PREPARATION OF ASPHALTE, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO THE CON-
STRUCTION OF ROADS AND FOOTPATHS AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said William Benjamin George Bennett
and James Charles Watt, our exccutors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters' Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Benjamin George Bennett
and James Charles Watt, do hereby declare the nature of our said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
that is to say:-

page_text: Our said Invention consists in certain improvements in the treatment
of asphalte, and in the application thereof in combination with other
substances to roads, pavements, and other purposes.
The asphalte used for the purposes of our said Invention may be of
any suitable description, and after having been subjected, either in
liquid state or in powder, to the requisite degrce of heat, it is mixed
with turnings, filings, chippings, or particles of hard lead, zinc, or other
suitable metal or metals, or combinations of metals, the metallic sub-
stance or substances being added in the proportion of about one-third
by measure thereof to about two-thirds of the asphalte, and mixed with
the latter whilst in a heated state in pots or cauldrons, or otherwise, and
well stirred. To the mixture thus formed bone dust and sulphate of
lime are added in such proportions as may be considered most suitable,
according to the climate of the locality in which the asphalte is to be
laid. The composition thus made may be used for roadways, pavings,
and other purposes, either in the ordinary way by being spread over the
substructure previously prepared to receive the same, or may be made
into blocks to be applied as hercin-after mentioned. In the latter case
a portion of the composition is cast into suitable moulds, thus forming
that portion which is to constitute the upper surface of the roadway.
The remainder of the blocks is composed of clean ballast, gravel,
or broken stone, or clay, the same having been previously burnt in
the usual way, and being prepared by mixing therewith sufficient tar
and pitch, or English made asphalte, and heating the mixture until the.
same is sufficiently liquid, and the necessary degree of heat obtained.
Sulphate of lime, chalk, and grit are then added thereto, and the whole
mixed and poured into the moulds. The blocks are then compressed
and consolidated by means of hydraulic or other suitable compressing
machinery, and upon being removed from the moulds the blocks will be
ready for use.
In applying blocks thus prepared to the construction of roadways,
the substructure is prepared to receive the same; but as the methods
of preparing such substructures are well known to persons conversant
with operations such as road making, and do not form part of our said
Invention, it is unnecessary for us to describe them. The blocks are
laid upon the concrete or other surface of the substructure, cither
diagonally or otherwise, and are bedded as may be required to ensure
a solid and even bearing surface. In cold, frosty, or wet weather the
blocks should be submitted to such a degree of heat as will cause them

page_text: to yield to any irregularity in the surface of the substructure. It is
desirable that the blocks should be placed at the distance of about an
inch from each other, which operation is conveniently effected by placing
wood screeds between the blocks, the former being removed after the
latter have been laid. The blocks having been placed in the desired
position, the spaces between the same are filled in with liquid asphalte,
whereby the blocks will be united together and form one solid compact.
mass, and ready to receive the remaining part of the upper and finishing
layer of prepared asphalte, as herein-after mentioned. In cold or frosty
weather hot irons may be placed in the joints and on the surface of the
substructure previous to running the asphalte into and on to the same,
in order to ensure the union of the molten asphalte with the blocks.
When the blocks have been thus laid, the metallic substance or sub-
stances combined with the upper surfaces will be found to present in-
equalities, which it is desirable should be filled in and an even or
partially undulated surface produced. This result is effected by pouring
over the surface molten or powdered asphalte, to which bone dust,
sulphate of lime, and grit, in suitable proportions (as will be well
understood by persons conversant with such operations) have been
added until the same reaches the level of the raised parts produced
by the metallic substance or substances. The asphalte thus placed
upon the surface and between the metallic substance or substances is
"floated" off, and well rolled with a roller adapted for that purpose,
at the same time adding the necessary quantity of grit.
In cases in which it is not desirable to employ the blocks formed and
laid as herein-before mentioned, the asphaltic metallic compound before
described may be laid upon the substructure, and the spaces between
such raised metallic parts filled in with asphalte in the manner above
described, and "floated" and rolled or otherwise consolidated, as will
be well understood.
It will be readily seen by persons conversant with the construction
of asphalte roads, that the metallic surface of the blocks, herein-before
mentioned, can be laid upon asphalte roadways already in existence, and
that the entire blocks can be laid upon the surfaces of macadamised or
paved roadways without disturbing the same.
Roadways constructed in accordance with our said Invention present
great advantages over the asphalte roadways previously adopted. The
compound surface formed by the admixture of asphalte with particles or

page_text: piccès of metal and. the other substances herein-before mentioned, affords
a secure foothold for horses travelling over the same, whilst the labour
of traction is reduced, and the noise of transit greatly diminished.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of our said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would
observe in conclusion that what we consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to us by the said
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent are,—
Firstly. The preparation of asphalte, and the combination thereof
with suitable metal or metals and other substances, substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before described and set forth.
And secondly. The methods of applying asphalte prepared in accord-
ance with our said Invention, substantially as and for the purposes
hercin-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Benjamin George Bennett
and James Charles Watt, have hercunto set our hands and seals,
this Twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.