AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE and PreparatION OF ASPHALTE
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to André Bresson, Engineer, of 133, Jamaica Road,
Bermondsey, S.E., for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
MANUFACTURE and PreparatION OF ASPHALTE.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said André Bresson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th May 1873.
I, ANDRÉ BRESSON, Engineer, of 133, Jamaica Road, Bermondsey,,
S.E., do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVE-
MENT IN THE MANUFACTURE AND PREPARATION OF ASPHALTE," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in the production of a material imitating in
its application and effect the natural bituminous rocks, such as are
found in the Jura mountains, or any other of a similar nature, which
being ground into powder and heated to a certain degree can when laid
on proper foundations be compressed by means of hot iron rammers
until the mass consequent on its bituminous nature adheres, becoming.

page_text: homogene and solid. To obtain this end I employ a soft calcareous
stone, such as Portland, Bath, chalk, or any other of a like nature, either
singly or mixed. These stones I cause to be broken to about the size
of granite as used for macadamized road, say to cubes of about 2".
These cubes when cleared of dust are heated in a kiln or oven during a
period of about six hours in a temperature of about 250° centigrade,
and are then immersed in a cauldron containing a sufficient quantity of
mineral brai in a state of fusion at about 200° centigrade, at which
temperature it is to be maintained about six hours, during which period
the contents of the boiler or cauldron are to be continually stirred by
machinery moved by steam or other power.
The operation of heat on the stones or chalk while in the kiln or oven
will have succeeded in evaporating nearly all the humidity from those
substances, and being in this condition precipitated into the hot liquid
mineral brai, they will absorb the same with avidity to the extent of from
10 to 15 per cent., in which condition they are similar to the Jura asphaltic
rock, both in quality and effect. These pieces of stone or chalk after about
six hours saturation are withdrawn from the cauldron or boiler and suffered
to cool. When the heat has passed away these stones are reduced to
powder by ordinary means, which powder can be preserved indefinitely.
When this powder is to be applied it is heated in an oven or boiler to
about 200° centigrade, and is then conveyed to its destination in such a
manner as shall preserve its caloric so well as when applied in the
proper quantity on a prepared road, and then laid and compressed with
heated metal rammers; it will adhere, combine, and become a solid
body.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said André Bresson, Her special licence that I, the
said André Bresson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said André Bresson, my 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE
AND PREPARATION OF ASPHALTE," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said André Bresson, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly 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 André Bresson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, 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 :-
This Invention consists in the production of a material imitating in
its application and effect the natural bituminous rocks, such as are
found in the Yura mountains, or any other of a similar nature, which
being ground into powder and heated to a certain degree, can, when laid
on proper foundation, be compressed by means of hot iron rammers,
until the mass, consequent on its bituminous nature, adheres, becoming
homogene and solid, forming excellent roads. To obtain this end I
employ a soft calcareous stone, such as Portland, Bath, chalk, or any other
of a like nature, either singly or mixed. These stones I cause to be
broken to about the size of granite as used for macadamized roads, say
to cubes of about 2". These cubes when cleared of dust are heated in
a kiln or oven during a period of about six hours, in a temperature of
about 250° centigrade, and are then immersed in a cauldron containing a
sufficient quantity of refined mineral brai, in state of fusion at about

page_text: 200° centigrade, at which temperature it is to be maintained about six
hours, during which period the contents of the boiler or cauldron are to
be stirred by machinery moved by steam or other power.
-
The operation of heat on the stones or chalk while in the kiln or oven
will have succeeded in evaporating nearly all the humidity from those
substances, and being in this condition when precipitated into the hot
liquid refined mineral brai they will absorb the same with avidity to
the extent of from about 10 to 15 per cent., in which condition they
are similar to the Yara asphalte rock, both in quality and effect.
These pieces of stone after their saturation are withdrawn from the
boiler or cauldron and suffered to cool. When the heat has passed
away these stones are reduced to powder by ordinary means, which
powder can then be preserved indefinitely.
When this powder is to be applied it is heated in an oven or boiler to
about 150° centigrade, and is then conveyed to its destination in such a
manner as shall preserve its catoric so well as when applied in the proper
quantity on a prepared road or other foundation, and there laid and.
compressed with heated metal rammers; it will adhere, combine, and
become a solid body.
If desirable to produce a cheaper asphalte gas brai instead of mineral a
brai can be employed the same way.
In witness whereof, I, the said André Bresson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November, in the
year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
BRESSON ANDRÉ (T.&) C