Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sep., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
I ALEXANDER MCLEAN of Stonor Road, West Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce an artificial York stone for paving and
other purposes.
The inferior qualities of York Stone laminate readily, and they are therefore
practically useless for commercial purposes.
York Stone is admirably adapted for paving purposes on account of its non-slipping
properties, but the cost of the best class, which laminates with greater difficulty, is
prohibitive.
In getting out the best quality, there is a considerable amount of refuse or inferior
quality, which forms a waste product, and my invention consists in making use of this
waste product in the manufacture of paving stones which will not laminate, but which
will also have the non-slipping qualities so desirable.
In carrying out my invention, I take the inferior qualities of York Stone, and grind
them up to a fine powder. I next mix the ground stone with Portland Cement or
other suitable material, to make a concrete, and I subject the mixture to great pressure
in porous moulds in a manner now well understood.
The fine grinding is absolutely necessary, because the York Stone, being compara-
tively soft, any lumps would quickly wear away, and be kicked-up with traffic, leaving
pits or holes to retain water.
By grinding up the inferior quality and refuse, I can make an artificial York
Stone paving having all the good properties of the best quality at about one half the
price.
1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
I ALEXANDER MCLEAN of Stonor Road, West Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
When a natural stone is used for paving the side walks of streets, the stone
employed is that known as "Flagstone," "Flags" or "Paving."
This stone is generally of the sandstone order, but its peculiarity is, that it is
composed of thin laminae.

page_text: This stone is chosen on account of its non-slipping properties, but it has the
disadvantage of laminating more or less readily under the influence of the weather.
"Flagstone" is obtained from various localities, but the best known of these stones is
that which goes by the name of York Stone, and it is the most generally used for the
purpose above mentioned.
The quality of the "Flagstone" in a quarry may vary considerably, the inferior
qualities, which laminate very readily, in most cases, predominating. As a
consequence, the cost of the best quality, which laminates with greater difficulty,
comes out so high as to be almost prohibitive for general use..
In squaring, dressing, shaping, fettling, and working the best quality of this stone
to make paving slabs, a large quantity of waste is necessarily produced, while the
inferior. qualities and what is known as "Flag Rock," which are practically useless for
commercial purposes, may also be considered as waste products.
Now, the object of the present invention is to produce an artificial stone from these
waste products, for paving and other purposes, which will have all the advantages of
the natural stone, without the disadvantage of laminating.
In carrying out my invention, I take the waste products above named, and grind
them up to a fine powder.
I next nix the ground stone with Portland cement, or other suitable binding
material, in varying quantities, according to the quality of the product desired, and
make it into a concrete, with the addition of water in the usual way. The concrete is
then put into "porous" moulds of suitable and convenient size and shape, and subjected
to great pressure, as is now well understood.
It is unnecessary to specify here the proportions of the materials employed, as
these may vary according to circumstances, say from 1 and 1 to 3 or 4 and ř.
The fine grinding is, however, absolutely necessary, because sandstone being
comparatively soft, any lumps appearing on the face of the slabs would, with the
traffic, wear rapidly away or be kicked out, leaving pits or holes which would present
an unsightly appearance and retain moisture, which would be detrimental.
By the means described above, I can make an artificial paving, or "Flagstone,"
having all the good properties of the best quality "flags," and at about one half the
cost.
I would here remark that though the present invention chiefly refers to paving
stones, I do not intend to confine myself to these, as slabs or blocks for building,
sanitary, and other purposes, may also be produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The production of artificial "Flagstone" as herein described.
2. The use, in the production of slabs or blocks of artificial stone, of waste "Flag-
stone," in the manner herein described.
Dated this 2nd dort of June 1905
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.