IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PAVING BLOCKS FOR ROADWAYS AND SIMILAR PLACES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Taylor, of 37, Albert Square, Clapham Road, in the
County of Surrey, Architect, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PAVING BLOCKS FOR ROADWAYS AND SIMILAR PLACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Taylor at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th March 1881.
JOHN TAYLOR, of 37, Albert Square, Clapham Road, in the County of Surrey,
Architect. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PAVING BLOCKS FOR
ROADWAYS AND SIMILAR PLACES."
The object of my Invention consists in fitting or securing to wood blocks piece
or pieces or stud or studs made of metal or other material, so arranged and applied
that the wood block is prevented wearing away, as the present blocks do, and a
better foothold is given to the horses and other animals and pedestrians travelling
over the paving. Further, when applied where tramways are laid down, the
excessive wear by ordinary vehicles, which causes crevices to be quickly formed
between the rail and the paving, as also near them ruts by which skidding and
other dangers arise, are overcome. In carrying out my Invention, I adopt mainly
the following arrangements:-
A piece of iron or stud, either wrought, cast, or chilled, or of steel or other
suitable metal or material (by preference of a dovetailed shape), is inserted into a
recess or mortise of a like shape formed in the upper part of the end or ends of a
wood block or sett, having the grain vertical. This recess is preferably slightly
narrower than the stud, so that when it is driven therein it is forced between the
fibres of the wood, and is securely retained in the block.
The pieces or studs may be even with the upper surface of the wood block, or
raised slightly above it, as may be necessary to give foothold to horses, but not so
as to produce inconvenience in traffic. The exposed end of the piece or stud which
is even or flush with the end of the block will, when laid, abut against the end of
the adjoining block. The pieces or studs may have sinkings formed in them to a
part of their depth.

page_text: The wood blocks provided with the pieces or studs as described, are laid in
courses (by preference transversely to the traffic), breaking joint as may be
desirable. When the blocks are used for paving tramways, the ends of the above
When the blocks are
mentioned pieces or studs abut against the sides of the rails.
longer than can be protected by the said pieces or studs, and in other parts where
necessary, a stud or piece of like material, usually, though not of necessity, circular
in shape, and flat at top and bottom, with grooves or indents round the lower part,
is driven into a hole or sinking made in the surface of the wood slightly smaller
than the stud, so that the fibres of the wood are forced into the grooves or indents
which securely retain it. Sometimes the dovetailed pieces may be driven perpen-
dicularly into the block. No extra labour is required in laying these blocks, and
any blocks can as readily be taken up and replaced as the usual blocks. The said
pieces or studs it is evident can be applied to treads, steps, or curbs, and other
purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th September
1881.
JOHN TAYLOR; of 37, Albert Square, Clapham Road, in the County of Surrey,
Architect. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PAVING-BLOCKS FOR
ROADWAYS AND SIMILAR PLACES."
My Invention consists in fitting or securing to wood paving blocks a piece or
pieces, or a stud or studs made of metal or other suitable material, so arranged and
applied that the wood block is prevented from wearing away as the present blocks
do, and a better foothold is given to the horses and other animals and pedestrians
travelling over the paving. Further, when applied where tramways are laid down;
the excessive wear by ordinary vehicles (which causes crevices to be quickly formed
between the rail and the paving, as also near them ruts by which skidding and
other dangers arise) is overcome. In carrying out my Invention, I adopt mainly
the following arrangements:-A piece or stud of iron, either wrought, cast, or
chilled, or of steel or other suitable metal or material (by preference of a dovetailed
or inverted T shape), is inserted into a recess or mortise of a like shape formed in
the upper part of the end or ends of a wood block or sett having the grain vertical.
This recess is preferably slightly narrower than the stud, so that when the stud is
driven therein it is forced between the fibres of the wood, and is securely retained
in the block. The pieces or studs may be even with the upper surface of the wood
block, or they may be raised slightly above it, as may be necessary to give foothold
to horses, but not so as to produce inconvenience in traffic. The exposed end of
the piece or stud will, when the block is laid, abut against the end of the adjoining
block: The pieces or studs may have sinkings formed in them to a part of their
depth. The wood blocks provided with the pieces or studs as described, are laid
.

page_text: in courses (by preference transversely to the traffic), breaking joint as may be
desirable. When the blocks are used for paving tramways, the ends of the above
mentioned pieces or studs abut against the sides of the rails. When the blocks are
longer than can be protected by the said pieces or studs, and otherwise where
necessary, a stud or piece of like material, usually, though not of necessity, circular
in shape, and flat at top and bottom, with grooves or indents round the lower part,
is driven into a hole or sinking made in the surface of the wood, slightly smaller
than the stud, so that the fibres of the wood are forced into the grooves or indents
which securely retain it. No extra labour is required in laying blocks provided
with my improvements, and any block can as readily be taken up and replaced as
the usual blocks. The said pieces or studs it is evident can be applied to treads of
steps or curbs, and to other purposes, but as I do not find such application answer
in practice, I make no claim to it.
But to make my Invention better understood I will now proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front
view, Figure 2 a back view, Figure 3 a side elevation, and Figure 4 a plan of a
suitable construction of stud or piece to be applied to wood paving blocks according
to my Invention; Figure 5 is a plan of the underside of the same; Figure 6 is an
end view and Figure 7 a section of part of a wood paving block shewing the recess
or mortise for receiving my improved stud or piece; Figure 8 is a plan shewing a
number of my improved paving blocks as they appear when laid; Figure 9 is an
isometrical view of the same; Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of part of a long
paving block shewing one of the additional studs driven into the surface thereof,
and Figure 11 plan of the same. All the Figures except Figures 8 and 9 are
drawn full size, Figure 8 being drawn one eighth full size, and Figure 9 one fourth
full size. Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
A represents my improved stud for wood paving blocks, such stud being of what
may be termed an inverted T shape, and preferably made of chilled iron; the
bottom flange a is of wedge form, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, and extends back-
wards, terminating in two prongs b, b, for the purpose hereinafter described; the
bottom flange a, as shewn in Figure 3, stands at an angle to the upper surface of
the stud, so that when the stud is driven into the wood block the stud will be flush
at the top with the end of the block, but the bottom (as shewn in Figure 9) will
project so as to butt against the iron tramrail or the end of the adjoining block.
This also gives the gauge necessary for the cross joint, and at the same time obviates
any defects from the swelling of the wood.
The recess or mortise in the woodblock B for receiving the herein before described
stud is shewn at c, Figures 6 and 7, and is made by any suitable revolving tool or
cutter; the recess or mortise is bored out to a depth equal to the length of the
bottom flange a of the stud, less that of the prongs b, b, and the sides of the bottom
part of the recess or mortise are rounded, so that when the stud is driven in it is
forced between the fibres of the block B, and on reaching the bottom of the recess
or mortise the prongs b, b, are driven into the solid wood (as shewn by the dotted
lines, Figure 7), whereby the stud is firmly and securely retained in the block B.
The improved blocks B are laid in the ordinary manner, as will be readily under-
stood by reference to Figures 8 and 9, and when used for paving tramways the
ends of the studs A, A, abut against the sides of the rails d, as shewn in Figure 8.
It is to be observed that a wheel of an average diameter of, say, three feet,
running in a direction parallel with the rails cannot injuriously wear down the
wood blocks at C, Figure 8, without first wearing down the studs, and that as the
distance between the first row of studs next the rail and the second row in the rear
thereof is only an inch and a quarter, so no wheel an inch and a quarter wide or
more can pass over any part of the surface of the wood without passing over the
chilled iron studs, thus the whole surface is protected.
When however the blocks B are longer than can be protected by the studs A. as
herein before described, and otherwise where necessary, I employ a stud or piece,
shewn in Figures 10 and 11; this stud or piece is also formed by preference of

page_text: chilled iron, and of cylindrical form at e, with a flat and preferably rectangular head
or top f; the top may however be of circular or other shape. The cylindrical.
portion e of the stud or piece is formed with a number of parallel grooves or indents
round it as shewn, so that when driven into a hole or sinking made in the surface
of the wood block B and slightly smaller than the stud, the fibres of the wood are
forced into the said grooves or indents, thereby securely retaining the studs.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, as it will be obvious that the form of the studs may be
varied without departing from. the peculiar character of my Invention, but what I
do claim is,―
Firstly. The peculiar construction and application to wood paving blocks of a
piece or stud, such as A, of suitable metal, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein before described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The peculiar construction and application to wood paving blocks of a
piece or stud, such as e, f, of suitable metal, substantially in the manner and for
the purposes hereinbefore described and represented in Figures 10 and 11 of the
accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The manufacture and use of wood paving blocks provided with studs
or pieces of metal inserted therein, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Taylor, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.