US1193515A

US1193515A - Frank e

Info

Publication number: US1193515A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1916-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1933-08-08

Description

F. E. CLARK.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1915 1,193,515, Patwted Aug. 8,1916.

Til/E8858: IN VE/VTOI? g A TTOR/VEK FRANK E. CLARK, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Extent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Application filed March 8, 1915. Serial No. 12,754.

To all to 7mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of F airfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road Construction; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a ppertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved road construction composed of concrete blocks.

The object of my invention is to construct each block to conform to the predetermined pitch of the road bed. In other words, when the road bed is laid out at a certain given pitch, each particular block is constructed to occupy a certain place in the road bed so that, when the road bed is covered by the blocks, the pitch of the curved earth bed and the pitch of the overlying blocks will be the same.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 rep resents a cross section of a road bed covered with concrete blocks; Fig. 2 is an upper plan view of a series of concrete blocks showing the position they will occupy when the road bed is fully covered in width, the filling concrete being omitted from the recesses of the blocks of the upper half to expose the tie rods and connecting links; Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of a concrete block; and Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of a block.

The pitch of the road bed 1 having been established the different radii of the curve of the road bed can easily be determined and the abutting faces of the concrete blocks 9., 3, 1-, 5, G, 7 and 8 will be made to correspond thereto and thus form a close and compact concrete road bed from curb to curb. As the angle of the abutting faces of the blocks will vary in accordance with the position of the blocks on the road bed, it is evident, in order to form a curve to correspond to the established road bed, each block must occupy its own particular place to form a perfectly even concrete road bed. As herein shown, the rod is constructed on a curve representing an arc of a circle and the abutting faces a. represent or conform to the radial lines described from the center of the circle represented by the road bed 1 and consequently the blocks are all alike and can be placed in any position on the curve of the road bed.

9 are the curbs backed up by earth, as shown, so that, when tthe blocks are in place, they are fully supported at the curb.

Each block carries the tie rods 10 whose upturned ends form hooks which are embraced by the elastic or open spring links 11 which normally hold the blocks together and expand and contract with the expansion and contraction of the blocks from curb to curb. These upturned ends and links are located in the corner recesses 12 of the blocks, which recesses are filled with liquid concrete when the blocks are properly located on the road bed. In Fig. 2, the recesses in the two upper rows of blocks are represented as being still open, while those of the two lower rows are filled with concrete and that .portion of the concrete road bed is completed.

Each alternate row of blocks will be of full length and will fill the space from curb tocurb, and in laying them the crown blocks are first laid and the others filled in on each side thereof. The intermediate rows of blocks 13 will break joints with the former, which will leave a half block space next to the curbs to be filled in by the half or fractional blocks 14:.

To prevent the blocks creeping on a steep grade, the lugs 15 may be formed on their inner curved faces.

A concrete road bed of the above descrip tion is practically indestructible and can be laid as fast as the blocks can be handled, and as each block will be shaped to conform to its particular place in the road in accordance with the curve or pitch of the road bed, the pitch and curvature of the whole completed structure will be uniform throughout. Over this concrete road bed can be laid any asphalt road dressings desired, which top dressing, owing to the solid concrete foundation, can be much thinner than required for an earth road bed.

The important feature of this novel concrete road bed construction is that when properly laid, it will be fully supported and held in place by the curbs and notby the underlying earth, as this can be entirely removed without disturbing in the least. the overlying concrete arch-like construction which will preserve its shape and contour and load sustaining quality without any underlying support, any suitable fixed abutments or other supports for the curbs being provided for sustaining them in place.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. A road construction comprising concrete blocks, each block constructed to occupy a certain predetermined place to conform to a predetermined pitch of the road bed, said blocks having recesses, tie rods projecting within said recesses, open spring links connecting the tie rods of adjacent abutting blocks, said recesses adapted to be filled With cement when the blocks are laid and con nected together transversely of the road bed.

2. A road construction, comprising blocks having recesses at their upper corners, tie rods embedded in the blocks and having hook portions projecting into said recesses, links engaging the hook portions of said tie rods of adjacent abutting blocks to lock the blocks together, said links lying Within said recesses, and a concrete filling for said re- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the cesses concealing said hook portions and said links.

3. A road construction, comprising concrete blocks having recesses at their corners, tie rods embedded in said blocks and provided with hook portions projecting into said recesses, elastic links adapted to engage the hook portions of adjacent abutting blocks for locking the blocks together and permitting expansion and contraction of the road, and a concrete filling for said recesses concealing said hook portions and connecting links.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK E. CLARK.

Witnesses:

GEORGE N. SEARS, FRANK VIRELLI.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.