AN IMPROVED STREET PAVEMENT
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake; of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED STREET PAVEMENT." A communication from abroad by William
Talcott Crim, of Beloit, Wisconsin, United States of America, Gentleman.
Sealed the 23rd March 1877, and dated the 19th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED STREET PAVEMENT."
A communication.
My Invention relates to the construction of a pavement formed of sections or a
series of sections of closely fitting blocks of suitable timber, and of such vertical
length, size, and form, as may be found best adapted for forming a strong continuous
street pavement of even surface, the same being made into a compact solid mass by
cementing together the vertical sides of cach subdivision, section or block, which
operation is accomplished by the employment of a cement compounded of plaster of
Paris and common glue combined in suitable proportions, by means of which the
whole structure is made equivalent to a solid mass and rendered entirely impervious
to water.
This pavement is intended to be laid upon a suitably prepared surface of earth,
gravel, broken stone, or concrete, without a prepared floor of boards or the like.
But the chief and most important feature of my Invention consists in the employ-
ment of metal bolts or plugs, which render the face of the pavement practically
indestructible from ordinary wear, and at the same time give it a surface sufficiently
rough to prevent the sliding of wheels thereon and enough roughness of roadway
surface to effectually prevent the slipping of horses or other animals, or pedestrians
thereon when the street may be sloppy, and it will afford a safe footing to shod
horses should the pavement be covered with frozen sleet.
The upper ends or faces of the paving sections or blocks are perforated with
auger holes in rows or lines across the entire street so near together that when filled
with metal plugs or bolts, having their heads projecting slightly above the surface
D

page_text: of the wooden block, the tire of any vehicle cannot touch the surface of the wooden
blocks.
These bolts or plugs may be of iron, cast on chills, or of steel, or other suitable
metal. They must fit tightly in the said auger holes, and when properly arranged will
present a surface which will be practically level and cause little or no jolting; the
chilled surfaces of the metal thus presented will be durable, and may be used upon
several relays of wooden blocks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th April
1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED STREET PAVEMENT." A com-
munication from abroad by William Talcott Crim, of Beloit, Wisconsin, United
States of America, Gentleman.
My Invention relates to the construction of a pavement formed of sections or a
series of sections of closely fitting blocks of suitable timber, and of such form and
dimensions as may be found best adapted for forming a strong continuous street
pavement of even surface, the same being made into a compact solid mass by
cementing together the vertical sides of each subdivision, section, or block, by the
employment of a cement compounded of plaster of Paris and common glue combined
in suitable proportions, which renders the whole structure equivalent to a solid mass
and entirely impervious to water.
..
This pavement is intended to be laid upon a suitably prepared surface of earth,
gravel, broken stone, or concrete, without a prepared floor of boards or the like.
But the most important feature of the said Invention consists in the employment
of metal bolts or plugs, which render the face of the pavement practically
indestructible from ordinary wear, and at the same time give it a surface sufficiently
rough to prevent the sliding of wheels of vehicles thereon and enough roughness of
roadway surface to effectually prevent the slipping of horses or other animals, or
pedestrians thereon, when the street is in a slippery condition, and it will afford
à safe footing to shod horses should the pavement be covered with frozen sleet
or ice.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion or section of the said improved
pavement; Figure 2 is a top view of a subdivision of the section shown in
Figure 1; Figure 3 shows one of the metal plugs or bolts used in the construction
of the same; Figure 4 is a vertical section of the part shown in Figure 2.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents a complete section of my improved pavement provided with metal
plugs or bolts B; A', A', are the subdivisions of the said section, the metal plugs or
bolts B are fitted into the face of the paving sections in the manner shown in
Figure 4.
The upper ends or faces of the paving sections or blocks A are perforated with
auger holes in rows or lines across the entire street, say about three-quarters of an
inch in diameter, two inches deep, and so near together that when filled with the
metal plugs or bolts having their heads projecting about one-eighth or one-quarter
of an inch above the surface of the wooden blocks, the wheels of vehicles passing
over the pavement cannot touch the surface of the said wooden blocks.
These bolts or plugs B may be of iron, cast on chills, or of steel or other suitablo
metal. They must fit tightly in the said auger holes, and when properly arranged
will present a surface which will be practically level and cause little or no jolting;

page_text: the chilled surfaces of the metal thus presented will be very durable, and may be
used upon several relays or sets of wooden blocks.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, a pavement formed of blocks of wood provided with metal plugs or
bolts, and united by cement composed of plaster of Paris and glue, substantially as
above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)