Improvements relating to Wood-block Paving for Roadways, Streets, and Thoroughfares, applicable also to other purposes
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Wood-block Paving for Roadways, Streets,
and Thoroughfares, applicable also to other purposes.
I, WILLIAM DUFFY of 114 Vauxhall Walk, London, S.E. Wood Block
Flooring and Paving Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention in its primary application is devised as an improved paving or
covering for roadways, especially those used for, or over which passes, vehicular
traffic and with a view to provide a secure foothold for horses, mules &c. as also to
serve as a preventative means against their slipping as occurs especially in wet weather
on ordinary wood, or asphalte paving, involving so much suffering to the animals
and loss to their owners, consequent upon frequent accidents arising from said
causes, accompanied also with the serious drawback of the resultant impeding of
traffic.
In carrying out my invention the wood blocks or briquettes have formed therein,
on each side, a recess or cavity of any suitable configuration in cross section and at
a suitable position in the depth of the block. Into these recesses are inserted pins
or plugs of a shape in cross section corresponding with that of the recesses in the
adjacent blocks or briquettes. Said pins or plugs above referred to, are formed
with a central collar serving as a "distance piece" against which the contiguous
blocks take a bearing and leaving an interstitial space which may be filled up with,
or have "grouted" therein, concrete and cement, and asphalted on top. In some
cases also, strips of resilient material such as india rubber might be introduced as a
topping" to the interstitial spaces aforesaid, between each block.
66
The foundation, substratum or bedding, may be of any of the kinds usually
adopted in the cases of wood block paved roadways or thoroughfares.
"
or
A further advantage arising from the use of my invention, consists in the
important feature of a resultant structural formation thoroughly well keyed or
bonded together and thus effectually overcoming the objectionable "sagging,
sinking of the roadway, presenting irregularities of surface, as occurs frequently in
ordinary wood block paved roadways and involving the occurrence of accidents and
attendant impeding of traffic, all of which will now be obviated by means of my
invention.
It will be self-evident also, that although I have described my invention in
connection with wood block paving for roadways; still, my improvements can be
availed of with advantage in other cases, say for footways, yards and other places,
both for outdoor and indoor applications.
Dahi Dighth day of Ail 1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Wood-block Paving for Roadways, Streets,
and Thoroughfares, applicable also to other purposes.
I, WILLIAM DUFFY, of 114 Vauxhall Walk, London, S.E. Wood Block
Flooring and Paving Manufacturer, 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 in its primary application is devised as an improved paving or
covering for roadways, especially those used for, or over which passes, vehicular
traffic and with a view to provide a secure foothold for horses, mules &c.; as also
to serve as a preventative means against their slipping as occurs especially in wet
weather on ordinary wood, or asphalte paving, involving so much suffering to the
animals and loss to their owners, consequent upon frequent accidents arising from
said causes, accompanied also with the serious drawback of the resultant impeding
of traffic.
In carrying out my invention the wood blocks or briquettes have formed therein
on each side, a recess or cavity of any suitable configuration in cross section, and
at a suitable position in the depth of the block. Into these recesses are inserted
pins or plugs of a shape in cross section corresponding with that of the recesses in
the adjacent blocks or briquettes. Said pins or plugs, above referred to, are formed
with a central collar serving as a "distance piece" against which the contiguous
blocks take a bearing and leaving an interstitial space which may be filled up with,
or have "grouted" therein, concrete and cement or be asphalted. In some cases
also, resilient material m might be introduced as a "topping to the interstitial
spaces aforesaid between each block, as shewn in diagram Fig. 6, thus serving
further to ensure a secure foothold for horses &c.
"
The foundation, substratum or bedding may be of any of the kinds usually
adopted in the cases of wood block paved roadways or thoroughfares.
In order that my invention may the better be understood, I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts throughout the several views.
Figure 1, is a plan of a portion of a wood paved roadway, including the
improvements according to my invention.
Figure 2, is a longitudinal sectional view of same.
Figure 3, is a detached view, showing the improved bonding pin or dowel, in
accordance with my present invention.
Figures 4 and 5 are a transverse section, and an end view respectively of one of
the paving blocks, having formed therein recesses which may be of any desired
shape in cross section, for the reception of the improved bonding pin or dowel, one
of which is shown to an enlarged scale at Figure 3.
According to my invention I form a recess r in the two sides and ends of each
wooden block b; and I insert in the corresponding recesses r of each two adjacent
blocks the ends of a bonding pin or dowel p furnished with a collar c the sides of
which latter will bear, when the pin is in position in the blocks, against the sides or
walls of the latter thus forming an intersticial space s between each two adjoining
blocks, and around the four sides thereof. The blocks bare laid in the ordinary
manner on a foundational bed C, g; and, the intersticial spaces s aforesaid are filled
up with cement, asphalte or the like, so as to bind and consolidate in conjunction
with the bonding pin p, the transverse and longitudinal rows of wooden blocks b.
It will be self-evident also, that although I have described my invention in
connection with wood block paving for roadways; still, my improvements can be
availed of with advantage in other cases in constructing paving say for footways,
yards and other places, both for outdoor and indoor applications.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
First. The means and method for laying and constructing wood block paving,
substantially as herein described and shown.
Second. In the construction of wood block paving the use of the improved
bonding pin or dowel p, of any desired shape in cross section with shoulder c, as
and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third. The improved wood block paving hereinabove described.
Dated this
dow of Tonuers 1002
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.