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PARKIN'S IMPROVEMENTS IN WOODEN PAVING.

[Patent dated April 9; Specification inrolled Oct. 9, 1839.]

We return to the specification of Mr. Parkin's patent, and now lay before our readers his "improvements in roads and ways", which consist, firstly, in paving them with blocks of wood having the grain inclined to the horizon in some angle, varying from about 45 degrees to about 70 degrees; the grain of all the blocks leaning in the same direction or towards the same point of the compass.

Second, paving with similar blocks, as in the first mode, but the alternate rows of blocks leaning towards the opposite points of the compass, each pair of opposite leaning blocks being sometimes held together by a dowell passing through the middle of both blocks.

Third, paving with blocks or planks of wood having the grain lying in any direction, in combination with nails thickly driven in their upper surfaces; the twofold object of the nails being to diminish wear and afford hold for the horse's feet, and prevent their slipping.

Fourth, paving with blocks or planks, having the grain lying, standing, or leaning in any direction, in combination with grooves cut in the sides of the blocks or planks, and in the placing of tongues or keys of any suitable material into each pair of meeting grooves, for the purpose of causing each block or plank reciprocally to support and be supported by the contiguous blocks or planks.

Fifth, paving with blocks, or pieces of wood of any convenient figure, with the grain either vertical or inclined, cemented together by filling the interstices between the blocks with a mixture of sand, pulverised chalk, brickdust, or other earthy matter, united with pitch or other bituminous substance, which mixture will melt by the application of heat, but remain firm at the highest summer temperature. In order to take up such blocks or batches of blocks, for laying gas or water-pipes, a lever of iron, having a wooden handle, is provided; the iron end being made hot is thrust down into the interstices to melt the cement and lift it out; several such levers being heated at one time may be used simultaneously or in rapid succession, so that a block or

* See No. 852, page 162, for Mr. Parkin's improvements in railway and other carriages.

batch of blocks, may be quickly sepa rated from those surrounding. A plough or coulter of iron or copper is also provided for the same purpose, kept hot by a fire made around it, while it is drawn along the interstices.

Sixth, paving with blocks of wood of any figure, with a layer of sand, ashes, or sawdust, saturated with tar or other bituminous substance, laid upon the natural ground for the blocks to rest on.

Seventh, Cutting furrows or grooves in any direction a few inches apart, across the upper surfaces of the blocks of wood used in paving, whether the grain be vertical or inclined to the horizon; but in case of small, blocks being used, the grooves, or furrows, are formed by the chamfering off the outer edge of the upper surfaces of the blocks; which furrows, and chamferings may be made deep and filled up with asphalte or other cement, or gravel and sand, in both cases the object being to prevent the horse's feet slipping.

Eighth, Laying down at the sides of streets, concave plates of cast-iron, nailed or screwed down upon longitudinal bearers of wood sunk at a proper depth below the road way.

The manner in which these various improvements are carried into effect is shown by the annexed figures, and by the following explanation of the same:

Figure 1 represents a view of a row of blocks of wood, with the grain inclining to the horizon; fig. 2, two blocks inclined in a similar manner; fig. 3, elevation of a pair of blocks leaning in opposite directions, and dowelled together; fiig. 4, plan of the same; fig. 5, plan of a plank thickly studded with nails; fig. 6, transverse section of two such planks tongued together; fig. 7, view of part of a row of blocks stretching across a street and appearing rectangular, the leaning being towards the length of the street; fig. 8, a pair of upright blocks in combination, with grooves for the reception of tongues between them and the contiguous blocks. 1, in figures 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8. represents grooves for the reception of tongues; m, in figures 2, 5, 6 and 7, represents tongues laid in some of the grooves; n, in figures 1, 8 and 9, shows grooves or notches in the upper surfaces of the blocks; p, similar grooves formed by chamfering off the edges of the blocks; q, in figure 1,

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HODGSON'S PATENT IMRROVEMENTS IN PAVING AND BUILDING.

blocks of wood having the grain inclined to the horizon from about 45 degrees to about 70 degrees; and the dowelling of the blocks together in pairs when standing. He thirdly claims the right of paving with pieces of wood having the grain vertical, horizontal, or inclined, in combination with a great number of nails driven into their upper surfaces to diminish the wear, and to afford a hold for the horse's feet. Fourth, the making of grooves in the sides of blocks or planks, and in the placing of tongues, or keys of any suitable material into the pair of meeting grooves for preventing either of two contiguous blocks or planks held by one common tongue or key from sinking or rising above the other. Fifth, the cementing blocks, or pieces of wood together, by filling up the interstices between them with a mixture of earthy matter, united with pitch, or other bituminous substance which will melt with heat, and yet remain firm at the highest summer temperature; and of using a hot iron lever, and a hot iron or copper plough, or coulter attached to a truck, to melt the cement out of the interstices between the blocks, when it is required to take them up for the laying or repairing of water and gas pipes. Sixth, laying upon the natural ground or foundation of the road, a layer of sand, ashes, or sawdust saturated with tar, or other bituminous substance for the blocks to rest upon. Seventh, making grooves, or furrows in upper surfaces of wooden pavement, whether the grain be placed in an inclined, or in a vertical position. And eighth, the laying down concave iron plates upon longitudinal bearers of wood for forming the gutters of streets in conbination with any kind of pavement.

HODGSON'S PATENT IMPROVEMENTS
IN PAVING AND BUILDING.
[Patent dated June 27th. Specification inrolled
December 27th, 1839.

This invention is founded upon a new principle of construction which the patentee states has been discovered by a "foreigner residing abroad," (Count de Lisle we believe) and communicated to him, and which he styles the "stereotomy of the cube." It consists in dividing a cube into pieces, thus: - He first divides the cube into two equal parts, by cutting it down the line a b, fig. 2; then

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of one of these halves of a cube he cuts off the upper corner from c to d, and the upper corner from c to e; of the other half he cuts off the lower corners from f to g, and from ƒ to h. There will thus remain of the cube two isosecles triangles -the exact measure of the angles of which is 63 degrees, 26 minutes, 5 seconds, and 8 tenths. These two triangles being placed with their flat sides to each other, and with their bases reversely to each other, and supposing them to be joined by their flat faces, will form a block of the form of which fig. 1 is a side elevation, and fig. 2 a plan. The shape of the surfaces of junction of the two triangles is that of a diamond-as at i, fig. 1.

He further dissects the cube in a second manner, founded upon the same principle, thus:-The cube is divided into two equal parts as at first (ab, fig. 4). The upper corner of one of these halves is cut off from c to d, fig. 3, and the lower corner of the same half from e to ƒ; of the other half of the cube, the upper corner is also cut off from to g, and the under corner from htof. Thus there is left of the cube two parallelopipeds inclining in opposite directions, and when put with their flat surfaces together, forming a block of the shape shown by figs. 3 and 4, which are a plan and section thereof; the surfaces of junction being the same as in the first case, that is, diamond shaped; and the acute angles of the same measure as before mentioned.

By means of a number of blocks shaped in this manner, a substitute for the arch is formed-having the advantage of being horizontal. The patentee

also states that it will be stronger, inasmuch as every block or division of the structure is brought into action in supporting the whole, and not the key stoneonly, as in an arch.

The blocks or pieces may be formed. of any material; either stone, brickearth, iron, or wood. When of brickearth they may be cast in moulds; if in iron, they may be merely frames, as shown in fig. 5, and rivetted or bolted together.

For the purposes of paving, wooden blocks are made of the form shown in figures 3 and 4; the parallelopipeds being joined together by a pin at i, fig. 3.

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