IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING STREETS, ROADS, BRIDGES, SQUARES, PATHS, AND SUCH LIKE WAYS
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
Wood the younger, of the Wandsworth Road, in the Parish of Clapham,
in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland; bearing date at Westminster, the Seventh day of October, in the
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Thomas Wood the younger, Her especial licence that
I, the said Thomas Wood the younger, my exors, 'adñññors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Thomas Wood the younger, my exors, adiñors, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING STREETS,
ROADS, BRIDGES, SQUARES, PATHS, AND SUCH LIKE WAYS;" in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Thomas Wood the
younger, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in.
Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar. months. next

page_text: and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and
by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Wood the younger, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
described and ascertained by the Drawings in the margin hereof, and the
words following, that is to say :-
The blocks I use for paving are of two forms, viz., the section of the
pyramid having either a square base (Fig. A), or an elongated base (Fig. B),
and the double wedge cut from either a similar square base (Fig. C), or a
similar elongated base (Fig. D). I confine myself to no particular dimensions
for the blocks, neither to any particular angle, only the sections of pyramids
and the double wedges must all be cut at the same angle.
The most advantageous angles at which to cut or mould the blocks range
from 70 to 88 and 1/, degrees.
I do not confine myself to any particular substance or material for the
blocks. They may be of stone, wood, or any other substance or material
suitable for pavings.
The peculiar construction, combination, or arrangement I adopt, is as
follows: I dispose the block so that every other block, in one series of blocks,
is the section of the pyramid standing on its smaller end (Fig. E), and every
other block, in another series of blocks, is the section of the pyramid standing
on its base (Fig. F). The intervening blocks of both series (a, a, a, a, a,) aro
the double wedges, which, from their peculiar form, combine equally well with
the sections of pyramids, whether these latter be placed on their smaller end or
on their base; and a number of such alternate series of blocks being placed
across a road, all the blocks are made to lean and press on each other on all
sides, in mutual support (Fig. G). The half blocks b, b, b, b, b, are introduced
to break joint. . In putting down this pavement I leave those series of blocks
which have the bases of the sections of pyramids upwards a little elevated, say
half an inch, more or less, above the other series which have the bases of the
sections of pyramids downwards. When the whole space to be paved is
covered to the abutments (viz., curb stones, walls, or other usual and secure
boundaries) with blocks put closely together, as described above, I then drive
those series which were left elevated down to the general level, taking care,
moreover, to drive those blocks which are sections of pyramids with their bases
upwards last. In this manner I can wedge the road together with any degree

page_text: of intensity so as to prevent all displacement, and give it a complete firmness
and solidity even when put down on a foundation of mere shingle, gravel, or
sand. Those blocks, which are sections of pyramids with the bases upwards,
being drawn, the road is unlocked, and may be taken up in whole or in part.
I sometimes adopt modifications of the above construction of pavement.
The first modification (Fig. H) has the twofold advantage of affording a
secure foothold to horses, and of throwing the weight and pressure of the traffick
on those blocks which (being the sections of pyramids with the bases upwards)
when pressed or driven, tend to consolidate the road. This is effected by
making those blocks taller than the rest, say half an inch, more or less.
The second modification (Fig. 1) takes the weight and pressure of the traffic
off those blocks which, by their form and position, sustain the blocks around
them, and in consequence here again the very traffic tends to consolidate the
road. This is effected by making those blocks which are the sections of the
pyramids standing on their bases somewhat shorter than the rest, say half an
inch, more or less.
The third modification (Fig. K) has the twofold advantage of affording a
secure foothold to horses, especially on an inclined plane, and of throwing the
whole weight and pressure of the traffic on those blocks which (having the
larger surface upwards), on being pressed or driven, tend to consolidate
the road. This is effected by making those series somewhat taller than the
rest, say half an inch, more or less.
I sometimes make those series considerably taller, say from one inch to
three inches, more or less, and I then fill in the spaces c, c, c, c, between the
alternate series with concrete, or coal tar, asphalte, or other bituminous
substance, heated, and mixed with gravel, sand, or such like material.
I do not claim, as my Invention, the two forms of blocks which I have
described as above, and which I use in my method of paving, because they
are mathematical forms, and are known to scientific men in general. But
I claim, as my Invention, the peculiar combination, construction, or arrange-
ment of blocks of those forms which I have specified and described herein.
And I claim likewise, as my Invention, the modifications of that peculiar
combination, construction, or arrangement, which modifications I have also
specified and described herein.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wood the younger, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of March, in the year One
thousand eight hundred and forty-one.
THO. WOOD, Jun. (L.B.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirtieth day of March, in the
year of our Lord 1841, the aforesaid Thomas Wood the younger camio
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and spe-
cified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Second day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-one..