IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING BLOCKS OR SLABS OF WOOD, AND IN THE MEANS OF FIXING THE SAME
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery:
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention,
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING BLOCKS OR SLABS OF WOOD, AND IN THE
MEANS OF FIXING THE SAME." -A communication from abroad by:
Alexandre Trenaunay,, Contractor, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin,.
Paris.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville.
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his.
Petition, on the 2nd December 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the.
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING BLOCKS OR SLABS OF WOOD, AND.
IN THE MEANS OF FIXING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture and application of mineral-
ized wood blocks or slabs for paving purposes.
The Invention comprises, 1st, mineralizing the wood paving blocks;
2ndly, an improved concrete; 3rdly, an improved waterproof coating;

page_text: 4thly, an improved adhesive mastic; 5thly, an improved mineral glue;
and, 6thly, an improved solid glue.
The paving blocks are made of red pine or of beech wood; the depth of
the blocks shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings to be used
for paving yards and stables, being about five inches by from six to seven
inches square. The blacks shown in Figure 2 to be used for paving
public roads are made of a depth of about six and a half inches, by
from six to nine inches square. The blocks are cut across the grain
of the wood at an angle of forty-five degrees, as seen in the Drawings.
After this has been done I proceed to mineralize the blocks in the
manner herein-after described, and when they have thereby become
solidified I cover the lower half of the block with a waterproof coating,
which is in its turn coated with coarse river sand, whereby I am enabled
to fix these wood blocks as readily as those made of stone, and they
may be transported from place to place.
I prepare the ground to be paved with the improved blocks by
levelling and rolling, and then apply a layer of compressed concrete
of about two and a half inches for yards, stabling, or footways, and of
about four inches for roads, according to the form to be given to the
same. By means of this concrete I prevent the damp rising from the
soil and form a very firm foundation for the paving. This being done I
lay down the blocks in the following manner:-The blocks shown in
Figure 1, which are particularly applicable for paving stables, are placed
in rows across the part to be paved leaving a space of about three-eighths
of an inch all round each block for an adhesive mastic to be introduced
for uniting the blocks, or they may be laid without mastic when used
for paving courtyards and similar purposes. The blocks shown in
Figure 2 used for paving roads are to be placed in an inclined position
in rows across the street with a space of about three-eighths of an inch
between each block for the introduction of the adhesive mastic or con-
crete before mentioned. In this manner a uniform surface may be
obtained of sufficient firmness for all purposes. In order to obtain a
firm footing for horses and prevent slipping the blocks are bevilled off
round their top edges, as scen. The blocks or slabs when applied for
paving out-door footways are made of red pine or beech wood mineralized
the same as the blocks before described. In Figure 1 these footways
are made in squares of four blocks each, about five inches square,
forming, when combined, a square of from ten to eleven inches, and a
little over three inches in thickness. The wood blocks are cut at an

page_text: angle of 45 degrees, and they are united in. squares in the manner
described by means of mineral glue for resisting heat and moisture. The
blocks or slabs used for paving interiors are made of pine, elm, or birch,
and are not mineralized. The squares are composed of nine blocks about
three inches each way united by means of hard glue, and forming squares
of from nine to ten. inches. and about three inches in thickness. The.
blocks for outdoor footways are placed in rows and united by a joint of
adhesive mastic or concrete of about one quarter of an inch in width. The
slabs for interiors are laid in rows with or without joints. The foundation.
for the footway paving is prepared in the same way as for roadways.
These materials are mixed together in an iron vessel and then boiled.
The several kinds of blocks are then placed on an iron grating about two
inches above the bottom of the vessel, and after being treated for a
sufficient length of time the blocks become mineralized, and are then
removed and placed in a drying apparatus for the purpose of hardening..
The concrete before mentioned is composed of-
Coarse river sand..
Lime from gas works
Hydraulic lime
Pulverized brick
Dried and pulverized clay
-
45 parts
-
20 parts
-
10 parts
-
10 parts
-
15 parts
100 parts.
These products are placed in an ordinary mortar mixing apparatus.
and ground up, triturated, and mixed together, after which the resulting
compound of concrete is applied on the ground in squares of about a
yard at a time, and well rammed and rolled so as to form a firm and
impervious foundation.

page_text: The mineralized wood paving blocks and slabs are represented in the
accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 showing a transverse section of a
portion of a road and footway constructed according to these improve-
ments; Figure 2 is a similar section looking in the opposite direction;
and Figure 3 a plan of same; Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section
of the roadway; Figure 5, a similar section of the footway; Figure 6
shows an under side plan of one of the slabs for footways; Figure 7, a
top plan of the slab; Figure 8 shows a vertical elevation of a paving
block placed transversely to the roadway; Figure 9, an end view of same,
while Figure 10 shows a plan of the block. Similar letters apply to all
the Figures.
C, kerb; D, base of paving blocks; E, compressed concrete founda-
tion; F, soil; G, bevilled edge of blocks; H, grooves in footway slabs ; I.,
Figure 6, ribs on base of footway slabs; J, joints between blocks or slabs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th May 1969.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her
special licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING BLOCKS OR SLABS OF WOOD, AND
IN THE MEANS OF FIXING THE SAME," a communication to me from abroad
by Alexandre Trenaunay, Contractor, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin,

page_text: Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, 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 Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention; and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture and application of
mineralized wood blocks or slabs for paving purposes.
The Invention comprises, 1st, mineralizing the wood paving blocks;
2ndly, an improved concrete; 3rdly, an improved waterproof coating;
4thly, an improved adhesive mastic; 5thly, an improved mineral glue;
and, 6thly, an improved solid glue.
The paving blocks are made of red pine or of beech wood, the depth
of the blocks shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings to be
used for paving yards and stables being about five inches by from six to
seven inches square. The blocks shown in Figure 2 to be used for
paving public roads are made of a depth of about six and a half inches
by from six to nine inches square. The blocks are cut across the grain
of the wood at an angle of forty-five degrees, as seen in the Drawings.
After this has been done I proceed to mineralize the blocks in the
manner herein-after described, and when they have thereby become
solidified, I cover the lower half of the block with a waterproof coating,
which is in its turn coated with coarse river sand, whereby I am enabled
to fix these wood blocks as readily as those made of stone, and in this
condition they may be transported from place to place.
I prepare the ground to be paved with the improved blocks by levelling
and rolling, and then applying a layer of compressed concrete of about
two and a half inches for yards, stabling, or footways, and of about
four inches for roads according to the form to be given to the same. By
means of this concrete I prevent the damp rising from the soil and form
a very firm foundation for the paving. This being done I lay down the

page_text: blocks in the following manner :-The blocks shown in Figure 1, which
are particularly applicable for paving stables, are placed in rows across
the part to be paved, leaving a space of about three-eighths of an inch
all round each block for an adhesive mastic to be introduced for uniting
the blocks, or they may be laid without mastic when used for paving
courtyards and similar purposes.
In
The blocks shown in Figure 2 used for paving roads are to be placed
in an inclined position in rows across the street with a space of about
three-eighths of an inch between each block for the introduction of the
In this manner a
adhesive mastic or concrete before mentioned.
uniform surface may be obtained of sufficient firmness for all purposes.
In order to obtain a firm footing for horses and prevent slipping the
The blocks or
blocks are bevilled off round their top edges as seen.
slabs when applied for paving out-door footways are made of red pine or
beech wood mineralized the same as the blocks before described.
Figure 1 the footways are made in squares of four blocks, each about
five inches square, forming when combined a square of from ten to
eleven inches, and a little over three inches in thickness. The wood
blocks are cut at an angle of forty-five degrees, and they are united in
squares in the manner described by means of mineral glue for resisting
heat and moisture. The blocks or slabs used for paving interiors are
made of pine, elm, or birch, and are not mineralized. The squares are
composed of nine blocks, about three inches each way, united by means
of hard glue, and forming squares of from nine to ten inches and about
three inches in thickness. The blocks for out-door footways are placed
in rows and united by a joint of adhesive mastic or concrete of about
one quarter of an inch in width. The slabs for interiors are laid in rows
with or without joints. The foundation for the footway paving is pre-
pared in the same way as for roadways.
The mineralizing composition before mentioned is composed as
follows:-
Hydrocarburet of resin
Boiled linseed oil containing litharage
Pure wood tar
Napthaline
40 parts
15 parts
-
20 parts
15 parts
10 parts

page_text: These products are placed in an ordinary mortar mixing apparatus,
and ground up, triturated, and mixed together, after which the resulting
compound of concrete is applied on the ground in squares of about a
yard at a time, and well rammed and rolled so as to form a firm and
impervious foundation.
The improved waterproof coating before mentioned is composed of-
Coal tar
45 parts
Resinous pitch
Baked clay
Pulverized lime
Plumbago
Sand
.
-
. . 10 parts
-
25 parts
-
5 parts
-
5 parts
-
10 parts
100 parts.
These materials are placed in an iron vessel, and boiled and stirred until
perfectly homogeneous.
The improved adhesive mastic before mentioned is composed of-
Pitch from peat
Yellow galipot
Whiting
Pulverized pumicestone
Oxide of manganese
40 parts
-
15 parts
25 parts
-
10 parts
-
10 parts
100 parts.

page_text: The mineralized wood paving blocks and slabs are represented in the
accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 showing a transverse section of a portion
of a road and foot way constructed according to these improvements;
Figure 2 is a similar section looking in the opposite direction, and
Figure 3, a plan of same; Figure 4, shows a longitudinal section of the
roadway; Figure 5, a similar section of the footway; Figure 6, shows an
under side plan of one of the slabs for footways; Figure 7, a top plan of
the slab; Figure 8, shows a vertical elevation of a paving block placed
transversely to the roadway; Figure 9, an end view of same; while
Figure 10, shows a plan of the block. Similar letters apply to all the
Figures.
C, kerb; D, base of paving blocks; E, compressed concrete foundation;
F, soil; B, bevilled edge of blocks; H, grooves in footway slabs; I,
Figure 6, ribs on base of footway slabs; J, joints between blocks or
slabs.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
improvements in wood paving blocks or slabs, as herein-before described

page_text: and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, as also the means of
fixing the same. The Invention comprising,-
1st. Mineralizing the wood blocks constructed according to these
improvements by means of the chemical composition herein-before
specified,
2ndly. The improved composition or compressed concrete prepared in
the manner herein-before described to be employed to form a bed or base
for the paving blocks.
3rdly. The improved waterproof coating for application to the lower
part of the wood blocks, whereby they may be fixed as readily as stone
blocks.
4thly. The improved adhesive mastic for making the joints of the
blocks after placing them in position.
5thly. The improved mineral glue for uniting the wood blocks or
slabs, as described.
6thly. The improved solid glue prepared as and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London,
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)