US602023A - Dustless road - Google Patents

Description

.l (No Model.)

P. W. MATTERN.

DUSTLESS B OAD, RAILWAY ROADVBED, am. No. 602,023. Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

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NITED r STATES FREDERICK W. MATTERN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE DUSTLESS ROADBED COMPANY, OF

CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

DUsTLEss ROAD, RAILWAY ROAD-BED, sw.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,023, dated April 5, 1898.

Application filed December 5, 1896. Serial No. 615.008. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. MAT- TERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dustless Roads, Railway Road-Beds, and Race- Courses, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of my invention is to construct or manufacture roads, railway roadbeds, and race-courses which shall be free from dust and from which dust cannot be raised by the wind created by'moving trains or the passage thereover of animals and vehicles.

Other objects of the invention ar'e to construct satisfactory roads and road-beds at comparatively slight expense, to protect them from washing during heavy rains, to prevent them from becoming muddy, to prevent the growth of vegetation thereon, and to darken the color of roads which reflect the light and are thus annoying to the eyes.

Another object of the invention is to produce wagon-roads having the elasticity of the natural dirt-roads, thus affording ease and comfort to the horses feet, while at the same time all discomfort and inconvenience from dust are avoided. In addition to the comfort derived by travelers on dustless roadsV the protection from dust lafforded to orchardists,

' vineyardists, and others whose growing crops lie along the sides of roads or railways is of great value.

In carrying out my invention I treat the surface ofthe road or railway road-bed with mineral or other suitable oil, which is heavy and but slightly volatile. I have used in some instances a crude oil of heavy specific gravity and high test mixed with maltha. The manner of treatment will depend upon the nature of the surface to be treated. The oil Will readily enter sand, cinder, gravel, or other loose absorbent material; but mechanical means are usually necessary toincorporate it thoroughly with fine dust, upon which it tends to stand in globules.

The accompanying drawing shows a verti- I will-now describe a method of putting my 4 invention into practice on a well-traveled road. When by the traffic thereon the surface of the road has become covered to the depth of from one-half inch to three inches with dust, maltha and crude oil of heavy specic gravity and high test are mixed together and the mixture is applied in parallel lines crosswise of the road, about six inches apart, in' quantities sufficient to moisten the 'dust on the road. Where the dust is one-half inch deep, I would use about seven and onehalf gallons of the compound to a square rod. This is done while the dust is dry, and the dust is then thoroughly raked overl until the compound is fully incorporated with all the dust on top of the solid hard-pan or subbody B of the road. The roadis then sprinkled with sufficient water to aid in packing the loose surface, which is then rolled to make the saine compact, after which the road is ready for travel. The road thus formed will serve Vthe purposes of my invention for ordinary country travel. I/Vhere heavier traffic occurs, cinders or oxid of iron or other mineral dust, or both, may be placed on the natural road as atop coating and then be saturated with the maltha and oil` or substitute therefor in the same manner as where the natural dust of the road is used. v

For railroads the material can be mixed before it is applied tothe road-bed. It is found, however, that where railway road-beds are constructed of sand, gravel, cinder, or other material of an absorbent nature the oil may be applied by simply sprinkling it on the sur- `face of the road-bed. The amount of oil necessary to `eiectively keep down the dust will depend to a certain extent on the nature of the material of which the road-bed is constructed.

I am aware that Water has been sprinkled upon streets and highways for the purpose of preventing dust; but the water does not form a permanent mixture or composition with the material of the street or highway, its eiect being of a temporary nature. On the other hand, I form a :fixed or permanent composition ot' oil and the fine material of the road or road-bed, differing in its nature, as well as in its objects and effects, from the water-sprinkled surface. In fact, one -of'the objects of the invention is to throw off water in order to aid in the preservation of the road or f road-bed. The mixture of oil and fine material', produced does not bake or become hard; but 1 the oil retains its moist condition, and when l Y used on railway road-beds the ballast can be I In the following claims I shall use the term 2. A road having a covering consisting of ilne earthy or mineral matter and heavy oil and maltha incorporated therewith, substantially as described.

3. A railway road-bed of fine material, such as gravel, sand, or cinder, having-its surface treated with heavy oil as and for the purpose set forth.

FREDERICK WV. MATTERN.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. TowNsnNn, ALFRED I. TowNsEND.

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