Improvements in the Construction of Roadways, Footpaths, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1899-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Roadways, Footpaths,
and the like.
I, JOSEPH MILLS, of Essex Works, Scotland Street, City of Sheffield, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of roadways, pave-
ments or footpaths, and the like, with the object of facilitating the laying down
of same, of removing of any portion of same, and of preventing the formation
of holes or depressions from the sinking of the foundation as is usual when
stones or wood blocks are laid separately.
I carry out my invention by constructing my slabs or blocks in trays, or plates
of steel, iron or the like with edges, within which I place the blocks of stone,
granite, wood or the like, cementing or pitching them together as the case may
be.
The blocks of stone or wood may be much shorter than those hitherto used,
as they will be supported upon the metal tray or plate.
I propose to use in each corner of such tray a removable block, and to provide
a hole in the metal tray, or equivalent means by which hooks or the like may
be attached thereto, to enable each block or tray to be lifted out of its place
when required.
The tray may be made from old ship plates of which there are large quantities,
the edges of which may be turned up, or angle iron may be used for the same
purpose.
Where the slabs so formed are used upon a timber foundation, such as landing
stages, piers and similar places, the corner holes can be used for screwing the
slabs down to the foundation.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Roadways, Footpaths,
and the like.
I, JOSEPH MILLS, of Essex Works, Scotland Street, City of Sheffield, Manut-
facturer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of roadways, pave-

page_text: ments or footpaths and like flooring, with the object of facilitating the laying
down of same, of removing any part of same, of preventing damp floors, and also
of preventing the formation of holes or depressions from the sinking of the founda-
tion as is the case when stones or wood blocks are laid separately.
My invention is illustrated in the annexed sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1, is a plan of a corner of the metallic tray which
Fig. 2, is a sectional edge view of same.
propose to use, and
Fig. 3, is a plan of a complete tray with a filling of blocks of wood, concrete
or other material.
Fig. 4, edge view of same, showing the means for lifting same.
I propose to construct trays of steel by preference, and to fill the trays with
the material or materials of which the roadway is to be made either in the form
of slabs or blocks, of concrete, wood, granite or other like material or combina-
tion, and small or large as desired.
I prefer to make the trays with the bottom plate B, in one piece, and to con-
struct the vertical edges of angle-iron A, rivetted to the bottom plate, the
corners C, being cast iron and similarly secured.
In each corner piece there is a screwthreaded hole H, to receive an eyebolt E,
to which a set of grappling chains may be hooked for lifting and carrying the
combined tray and slab to its position.
When the tray with its filling, forming the slab, is placed in position, the
eyebolts are removed and the corner spaces filled in, thus making a complete
slab with a metallic base impervious to wet, and perfectly level.
The blocks of wood or stone may be shorter than those commonly used in
road making, being supported upon the level metal base plate, and if preferred
the use of angle iron A, for the sides may be dispensed with by turning up the
edges of the plates.
Old ship plates of which there are very large quantities may be utilized for
this purpose, and when such slabs are used upon landing stages and similar
timber foundations, the corner holes can be used for fastening down screws.
In Fig. 3, I have shown a tray filled up with wooden blocks W, but with the
corners C, left open to give access to the eyebolt holes H, which are seen in
Fig. 4, with the lifting chains attached; the corners are afterwards filled up.
The foundation of the blocks being kept dry it follows that greater durability
will be the result, also when from any cause a slab so constructed becomes
faulty, the corner pieces can be removed the eyebolts inserted and by the appli-
cation of force the tray with its slab can be removed and another substituted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim, is:-
1A roadway, footpath, or flooring constructed of slabs of concrete, granite
blocks, wood blocks or their equivalents held together in metallic trays substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
2 In the construction of roads, footpaths, floors and the like, the use of
metallic trays of any desired size and shape, filled with concrete, blocks of
granite, wood, or other road making material in the manner hereinbefore
described and shown.
Dated the 19th day of Janv 1800
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.