MACHINES FOR THE FORMING AND REPAIRING OF ROADS, WHICH I CALL TECTONODES
Year: 1763

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
LORD, of Nether Knutsford, in the County Palatine of Chester, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Eleventh day of April, in the Third year of His reign, did give
and grant unto me, the said Robert Lord, His especial liceuce that I, the said
Robert Lord, during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might use, exercise, and vend within England, Wales, and Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "MACHINES FOR THE FORMING AND REPAIRING
OF ROADS, WHICH I CALL TECTONODES;" in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a provisoe obliging me, the said Robert Lord, under my hand and
seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and how the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within four kalendar months after the date of the said
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had),
may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said provisoc, I, the said

page_text: Robert Lord, do hereby declare that my said Invention of Machines for the
Forming and Repairing Roades called Tectonodes, is described in the Plans
thereof hereunto annexed.
AND BE IT REMEMBRED, that on the same Twenty-sixth day of July,
in the year abovesaid, the said Robert Lord came before our said Lord the
King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the above Instrument of Specifi-
cation and Plans thereof hereunto annexed, and all and every thing therein
contained & specified, in form above written. And also the Specification
aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of the Statute made in the
sixth year of the reign of the late King and Queen William and Mary of
England, and so forth.
Inrolled the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year above written.
PARTICULAR DESCRIPTIONS & DIRECTIONS for the making of TECTONODES,
mentioned in certain Letters Patent, which His most Excellent Majesty
King George the Third condescended, on the Eleventh day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred & sixty-three, to grant
unto Robert Lord. They are four in number, and are distinguished by the
Letters A, B, C, and D, as below:-
V
a
For Tectonode A.-Provide two streight planks of oak or other proper
wood, (to be the sides of the machine), each about seventeen feet long, one
inch and three quarters thick, and six inches broad. Having placed these
upon their edges so as that two of their ends touch each other, and the other
two ends be about four yards distant from each other, in this
form. By plates of iron, or other ways, fasten together the two
ends which touch each other, and then, by proper timber braces,
three inches square or more, fix the sides so as that they will keep their form
or position with respect to each other, tho' with much force anything presseth
between them tending to widen the angle at a, or to throw the ends b, c, at a
greater distance from each other. The number of braces which I have used
is three, one being fixed about a foot from the end of each plank, near band c;
another parallel to the former, but about six foot backward; and the hinder-

page_text: most parallel to the other two, but about four foot nearer the angle at a than
the last mentioned. But my meaning will more fully appear by by
viewing this Figure, in which the dotted lines represent the braces.
d
a
The ends b, c, I call the forepart of the tectonode, (and having fitted
the braces) in the foremost brace b, c, fix firm by mortice and tennant two
upright pieces of oak or other good timber, of the same strength at least
with the braces, and about thirty inches long, each at the distance of about
twenty inches from the middle of the brace. These uprights must be each
sufficiently strengthened by proper spurs on cach side, and also by stays, one
end of which must be morticed into the middle brace, & the other end into
its corresponding upright, near its top, so as that the uprights may always
preserve their perpendicular position, tho' four or five horses draw the tecto-
node forward or sideways, as occasion may require, when it is to be used,
then cut off the upper corner of the foremost part of each plank, and on the
end of them so cut put a cap or socket of iron, well steeled, properly
fastened by pins & screws. These sockets must be formed with an
elge & with a sharp point shooting forward from their lower side for
the more easy piercing of the materials of which roads may consist when
the machine is drawn forwards. After this, provide iron plates, about
six inches broad and ten feet long, and on one edge about a quarter of
an inch thick, gradually made thinner to the other edge which must be
as thin as may be; lay these plates to the caps or sockets, and fasten
them to the inner sides of the planks before-mentioned, one to the inner
side of one plank, the other to the inner side of the other by mails or
iron pins and screws, so as that the thicker edge of the said plates sl...ll lyc
about half an inch below the lower edge of the plank to which they may be
fixed. Having done this, with an adze or other tool cut off so much of the
inner and lower edge of each plank as is not covered with the iron plates, that
when the tectonode is drawn forward the escape of what hath been scraped up
by the iron plates may be best favored. What I call the frame of the
tectonode being thus finished, procure two wheels of a proper heighth, and fix
them on an iron axletree, so as that the inner ends of the two naves shall run
on the outside of the stays, which at one end are fastened near the top of the
uprights, and at the other to the middle brace d, e, and are intended to
preserve the uprights in their erect position when the horses draw from them.
The purport of these wheels is to regulate the scraping of the iron plates, and
their axletree must, by pins and screws, be fastened to and under each of the
last-mentioned stays. In each of these stays there must be six or seven

page_text: perpendicular holes at equal distances thro' any corresponding ones of which
the pins aforesaid may be occasionally put, that thereby the wheels may be
made to run at a nearer or greater distance from the foremost brace. As the
stays are placed sloping, if the wheels are of a proper heighth, and the axle-
tree pin be in the set of holes which are nearest to the foremost brace, when
the tectonode lies upon a plane they will hang suspended from the stays; on
the other hand, if they are fixed in the set of holes nearest to the middle brace,
the tectonode frame will rest upon and be supported by their axletree; con-
sequently if the axletree, with its wheels, be fixed in the hindmost set of
holes, and horses draw the machine forward along a road which lies flat, it will
leave it in that form; on the other hand, if they are fixed in the foremest set,
and the machine be drawn along a flat road, it will make the road raised in its
centre or middle, for the materials scraped up by the forepart of the iron
plates will be forced towards the angle at a till it hath an opportunity of
escaping behind the iron plates, where the inner and lower edge of each plank
had been cut off, as before directed. I call this part of the tectonode, where
the edges are cut off, its tail. Upon the ends of the two planks where the
angle is formed, fix fast an upright piece of wood, to which, and to the hind-
most brace f, g, (so as that the hindmost wheel frame, hereafter mentioned,
may have liberty to rise and fall), fasten a long stiff rail or pole, so as that its
hindmost end may be of a proper heighth for the person to handle who is to
attend when the machine is used. By this tail or pole the tectonode is to be
in some measure guided, and its tail kept in that part of the road which is
intended to lye the highest. This rail I call the rudder. I have mentioned a
A
hindmost wheel frame. This is to be made of wood, in form of the
Figure in margin here, from A to B being somewhat longer than the
distance between the brace f, g, and the angle at a; and by a strong
hinge the end A is to be fixed to the middle of the brace f, g, so as
that the end B may be raised or lowered as there may be occasion. In
the open part of the frame fix a wheel, whose axis must be parallel to the
brace f, g, and of such a size as that when the end B is depressed so as to lye
upon the angle at a, its lowest part will be three or four inches below the under
edge of the machine's tail. In the end B bore a horizontal hole, and also in
the upright piece of wood last mentioned several such holes, so as that an iron
pin put thro' the first-named hole may occasionally shoot into any of the
last-mentioned ones. By this means the hindmost wheel may be placed higher
or lower, as the road is to be made more or less ridged. The more the end B
is depressed the less will the road be ridged, and the higher it is raised the

page_text: more will it be ridged. I add that 'tis necessary that the several braces of
this tectonode be fixed as near to the upper edge of the planks as may be, that
they may not hinder the free passage of what shall be scraped up by the iron
plates towards the place appointed for favoring its escape. And to prevent the
under edge of the planks and iron plates from pressing outward when the
tectonode is worked, thro' holes made in them near their under edge, put at
proper distances iron rods, cottered on the outside of the planks, & each
well fastened at their other end to one of the most convenient braces. Also
the heads of the pins by which the socket and iron plates are fastened to the
planks should be flat, and lye on the inside of the tectonode frame. And that
the foremost brace in particular may not touch with its middle the centre or
highest part of the road, 'tis advisable that it be made of a curved or arched
piece of timber, the concave side of which must be put downward. It may,
moreover, be some improvement in the fixture of the pair of wheels, perhaps, if
their axletree be the same as above described, but (instead of being fastened
by pins and screws to the sloping stays of the front uprights), fastened to two
levers, one end of each which must by a strong hinge be fixed to the brace d, e,
on the inner side of each stay, so that the other end of these levers, reaching
forward beyond the front uprights (with the wheels connected with the said
levers), may be raised or lowered at pleasure. They may be kept at the
heighth desired by a pin shooting thro' a horizontal hole in their foremost end,
continued thro' corresponding and similar holes of different heights made in
the front uprights, & thus may they be raised or depressed as occasion may
require. One advantage of so fixing them is, that if a road is to be made
sloping only one way, by raising that end of the axletree which lies on that
side of the road which should be lowest, the road will assume the desired form
by drawing the tectonode along it. The tectonode may be drawn by horses
yoked to the higher end of the uprights erected on the foremost brace; or to
the upper end of the said uprights a pair of wagon shafts may be fixed, &
the horses yoked thereto, which last I judge preferable. I add also, that if
proper arched braces cannot be met with, streight ones may be used; for if
upon the upper edges of those parts of the sides in which the arched ones
would have been inserted pieces of plank be fixed very firm, and mortices be
made in those pieces, the tenants of the braces may with equal convenience be
fastened in these mortices, as may be seen in perspective view of tectonode
A, hereto annexed.
Tectonode B. This machine is the same with tectonode A, from its front
to a few inches behind its brace d, e; it then differs in a few particulars, as,

page_text: Then
first, instead of the tail forming an angle of about forty-five degrees, it consists
of a loose wood frame in a semicircular form, on the inner side of which is
fixed by nails, or pins and screws, an iron plate (as in the forepart), whose
lower edge shall be about half an inch below the said frame. This semi-
circular frame must be of such a size as that the two ends of it may
somewhat more than enclose the hindmost end of the forepart.
lay the fore part and this plated frame upon a plane, the ends of
the frame enclosing the ends of the fore part, as in margin here,
after which, make a horizontal hole thro' each hindmost end of the
plated planks, and make also corresponding horizontal holes thro
each end of the semicircular frame; thro' the two holes on the right hand
put an iron pin, cottered on the outside, and thro' those on the left put also
such a pin so cottered, on which pins the semicircular frame may move as on
a centre, and nothing will be wanting to complete the tectonode but its rudder,
which must be similar to that of tectonode A, only fastened properly to the
two braces, so as that a man attending may manage the tectonode by it when
drawn along the road, as before directed. This machine will lay the materials
of the road flatter in the centre than tectonode A.
Tectonode C.-This machine consists of a side plated, having a cap or
socket of iron on its forepart, as tectonode A, thro' which side is obliquely
put, by mortice and tenant, one end of a rail made of oak or other good wood,
about five feet long, and three inches square, (forming the same angle with the
side here, which is formed between the braces and the sides in tectonode A),
and well fastened there. On the other end of the rail is fixed a wheel, about
sixteen inches high, to turn on the said rail as its axis, and prevent the rail
from touching the road. On this rail also must be fixed uprights (as in tec-
tonode A, from which the horses are to draw), properly stayed and spurred.
And in this rail, about four inches from the wheel, nearer the plated side, by
mortice and tenant, so fasten at right angles with the rail a stay of three
inches square, as that it may extend to the plated side aforesaid, and be
fastened upon its upper edge.
Parallel to this last-mentioned stay, in the
same way fix another stay, about thirty-six inches nearer the side than the
former, so as that it may likewise extend to and be fastened upon the side,
which done, this machine is finished, except that it will be necessary to have the
ends of a few iron rods put at proper distances thro' the side near its under
edge, and there cottered, their opposite ends being fastened to the most com-
modious parts of the stays aforesaid, that the under edge of the side may
not be forced out of its proper position when tho machine is working, &

page_text: except that a rudder must necessarily be fixt to the machine if it be used
single. But I should choose to use a pair of them at the same time whose
sides should be made in different directions, as may be
seen in the opposite margin, and coupled together by
chains or ropes, (which are represented by the dotted
lines), so as to keep them at any desired distance from each
D
other. When the machines thus coupled are drawn forward, if the chains are
sufficiently long, the materials of a road, however wide, may be fetched from its
sides towards its centre, and the chains being shortened every succeeding time
the machines are drawn over it till their tails or hindmost parts meet, a road
may be made to slope on each hand from its centre or middle, tho' it be twelve
yards wide or more. In describing this tectonode C, I forgot to say, that the
rail mentioned to be put obliquely thro' the side, must be so put near the
upper edge of the side at about the distance of a foot from its foremost end a,
and that its side may be longer or shorter in proportion to the number of
horses which are intended to draw. My own is fourteen foot nearly, and drawn
by two horses.
If a pair of these tectonodes, same in length with mine, are
coupled, they will require two horses to each tectonode. With respect to the
several tectonodes mentioned, be it observed, that they may be made larger or
smaller, proper regard being had to the proportion of their respective parts.
Tectonode D.-Provide a pair of wheels of about the same height as com-
mon cart wheels, fixed with an axletree upon the outer or convex edge of their
fellies, not more than three inches and a half broad. Then procure a streight
piece of ash or other tough wood about one yard long, four inches broad, and
on one edge three inches thick, gradually becoming thinner to the other edge,
which must not be more than half an inch thick. This being procured, cover
the whole of it except the thickest edge with a thin iron plate, and nail it to
the wood. Having done this, (the cased wood resting upon its thinner edge
fasten perpendicularly into its thicker edge two square pieces of iron, not less
than half an inch square, whose length above the wood, when so fastened, shall
be about equal to the distance between the convex and concave edges of the
fellies aforesaid, and each at such a distance from the middle of the cased wood
as that their sides nearest to each other shall be equal to the breadth of the
fellies on their convex edge. Having finished this, which I call a cutter, make
seven others in like manner, four of which are to be fixed at equal distances
upon the circumferences of the two wheels, so as that when the wheels are
turned upon a rutted road they may cut its ruts at right angles. My method
of fixing these cutters is the following:-Having made an horizontal hole in
each of the perpendicular square pieces of iron near their upper ends, and each

page_text: in the same direction, so as that when the sides of a felly are enclosed by two
of these pieces of iron, a round iron cotter may be put thro' each of the
said holes, and also thro' the concave edge of the felly (which must be
bored so as that it may likewise admit the cotter). I put in such cotter
and rivet it, whereby the cutter is fixed so as to remain in the place in-
tended for it. It is advisable to have that part of the broader edge of the
cutter, against which the wheel will press when the cutter lies under it,
plated with iron to prevent its wearing too fast by frequent pressure against it.
The design of this part of the tectonode is to cut the ruts on each side, that
when water, in a rainy season, is lodged in them, it may flow out at the little
drains made by it, when the wheels furnished, as directed, are drawn along
the road. If common shafts were to be fastened to the axletree from which
the horses are to draw, they would obstruct the turning of the wheels; 'tis
necessary, therefore, to have the shafts made in some such form as the Figures
in margin here, where a, b, represents the axletree, into which
is fixed, by mortice and tenant, a square piece of wood d, c, its
length exceeding half the height of the wheels, by six or seven
inches, to the end of which at d are fixed the shafts e, f, g, h. The
piece c, d, must have wood or iron stays, expresssed by the
dotted lines, least its tenant break, of which there may otherwise
be danger when the horses drawing are to turn back. To the back part of
the axletree may a roller of large diameter be fixed, in length nearly equal to
the breadth of the horse's path, and so when the wheels are drawn forward,
not only will much of the water in the horse-path, by means of this roller, be
driven into the ruts, from whence it may pass thro' the drains made by the
cutters aforesaid, but the footsteps of the horses will be mostly flattened, and
water consequently be in some measure deprived of a lodging place for the
future. If, on account of the hardness of the road, the cutters should not
make the drains sufficiently deep, the axletree may be loaded till the purpose
of this machine shall be answered.
ROB LORD.
ROB LORD.