AN IMPROVED IRON WHEELWAY FOR STREETS AND ROADS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Horridge, of Birkenhead, in the County of
Chester, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED IRON WHEELWAY
FOR STREETS AND ROADS."
Sealed the 29th June 1860, and dated the 3rd January 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Horridge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd January 1860.
I, JOHN HORRIDGE, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED IRON
WHEELWAY FOR STREETS AND ROADS," to be as follows (that is to say)':
The principle and novelty of. this Invention is the fact that spheres touch
only at a point. The improved wheelway will form the arch of a circle, of so
large a radius that whilst it compels the wheel rolling along and over it to a
linear friction, it will permit it to roll in a straight direction. To construct a
wheelway according to this Invention, take an iron plate of the requisite width;
bend this plate to the desired convexity by passing it sideways between bending
rollers in like manner as plates are bent by builders of iron ships, or bend the
plate by passing it lengthways in the manufacture of the plate between a con-
cave and a convex roller. On to each corner of the plate weld a láppet of iron
with a hole punched through it or a staple. The lappet or the staple bend
downwards at a right angle with the cord of the arch of the iron plate, so that
when the convex plate is placed on the coping (hereafter described); the holes
of the lappet or the staple will fall opposite to horizontal holes cast or bored
through the coping of brick or stone. Then by inserting an iron screw, pin, or
bolt with a cotter through the lappet holes or the staples, and through the
coping brick or stone, and the opposite lappet or staples, the iron convex plato

page_text: will be tied firmly to the coping by screwing a nut tightly on the screwed end
of the horizontal pin, or by a bolt with a cotter in place of a screw. Perpen-
dicular pins may be used to tie down the plate to the coping by casting or
boring in the bricks or stones of the coping perpendicular holes, and then
dropping the screw pins through holes punched in the plate, and through the
coping, and securing the pins by nuts screwed on the pins underneath the
coping, or by a cotter or other mechanical arrangement; the holes in the bricks
will be formed by inserting a pin into the casting mould, and withdrawing it
when the casting leaves the mould.
Form the coping and build it, using any variety of lime thought proper.
Build it on a wall, casting the bricks and hewing the stones to the same con-
vexity along their upper edges across the coping as is the convexity of the iron
wheelway plate, which will be placed on the coping.
The coping will be built sunk in the ground in the street or road, so that
the edges of the wheelway convex plate, when placed upon it, will.be level
with the surface of the road or street.
Secure a solid foundation in the trench which is dug to receive the coping
by using for such foundation, where required, concrete, stone, bricks, or flags.
When the coping with the wheelway is constructed, pave the road or street
firmly to it.
Make the wheelway plates suitable for turns by curving them hot, by the
hammer on a curved anvil. Cast iron may be used as well as rolled, by casting
the wheelway in suitable moulds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Horridge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd July 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, JOHN
HORRIDGE, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Horridge, Her special licence that I, the said John
Horridge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Horridge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter-

page_text: 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 "AN IMPROVED IRON
WHEELWAY FOR STREETS AND ROADS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Horridge, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands; and seals, should particu-
larly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, 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 I, the said John Horridge, do hereby declare tho
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
The principle and novelty of this my said Invention is founded on the fact
that spheres touch only at a point. My improved wheel way I form by the
arch of a circle of so large a radius that, whilst it compels the wheel rolling
along and over it to a linear friction, it will permit it to roll in a straight
direction. To construct a wheelway .according to this my said Invention, take
an iron plate of the requisite width, bend this plate to the desired convexity,
by passing it sideways between bending rollers in like manner as plates are
bent by builders of iron ships, or bend the plate by passing it lengthways in the
manufacture of the plate between a concave and a convex roller. On to each
corner of the plate I weld a lappet of iron with a hole punched through it, or
a staple. The lappet or the staple bend downwards at a right angle with the
cord of the arch of the iron plate, so that when the convex plate is placed on
the coping (hereafter described) the holes of the lappet or the staple will fall.
opposite to horizontal holes cast or bored through the coping of brick or stone.
Then by inserting. an iron screw, pin, or bolt, with a cotter hole through the
lappet holes, or the staples, and through the coping, brick or stone, and the
opposite lappet or staple, the iron convex plate will be tied firmly to the coping
by screwing a nut tightly on the screwed end of the horizontal pin, or by a
bolt with a cotter in place of a screw. Perpendicular pins may be used to tie
down the plate to the coping by casting or boring in the bricks or stones of the
coping perpendicular holes, and then dropping screw pins through the holes
punched in the plate and through the coping, and securing the pins by nuts
screwed on the pins underneath the coping, or by a cotter, or other mechanical
arrangement; the holes in the bricks will be formed by inserting a pin into
the casting mould, and withdrawing it when the casting leaves the mould.

page_text: I form the coping, and in building it use any variety of lime thought proper.
I build it on a wall, casting the bricks and hewing the stones to the same
convexity along their upper edges across the coping as is the convexity of the
iron wheelway plate which will be placed on the coping; or I form the coping
of wood or other suitable material or combination of materials.
The coping is built sunk in the ground in the street or road, so that the
edges of the wheelway convex plate, when placed upon it, will be level with
the surface of the road or street.
To secure a solid foundation in the trench which is dug to receive the coping,
I use for such foundation, where required, concrete, stone, bricks, flags, wood,
or other suitable material or combination of materials. When the coping
with the wheelway is constructed, I make the road or street firmly to it.
I make the wheelway plates suitable for turns by curving them hot by the
hammer on a curved anvil. Cast as well as rolled iron may be used, by casting
the wheelway in suitable moulds.
My wheelway, being formed for common carriages, the wheels of which will
be apart according to a generally adopted gauge, it will be understood, that in.
describing one wheelway, I describe also the fellow wheelway, which will be
parallel to it.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and how, I believe, the same may be best performed, I wish it to
be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-before
described and set forth, as it will be readily seen the same may be considerably
varied without departing from the Invention; but what I do claim is the con-
struction and use of iron wheelways having convex surfaces for the wheels to
roll upon, substantially and in the manner herein-before described, or any mere
modification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Horridge, have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street, Liverpool.
JOHN (L.s.) HORRIDGE.