Patent GB-464815-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to library construction
IPC: E04B1/24
Filed: 1936-04-14
Abstract: 464,815. Floors for libraries ; metal structural elements; shelves. SNEAD & CO. April 14, 1936, No. 10731. Convention date, April 23, 1935. [Classes 20 (ii) and 20 (iv)] [Also in Group XIV] The floor of a library is supported on columns 9 regularly arranged in rows extending at right-angles to one another as shown in Fig. 2, and comprises a set of parallel metal members 12 extending between adjacent columns, and metal plates 11 which bridge the spaces between the members 12 and are secured together and to the metal members 12 to form a floor structure having openings 13 around the columns, means, which are adjustable in accordance with the clearance 14 existing between the columns and the adjacent parts of the floor structure, being provided to secure the structure to the columns. The metal members 12 are in the shape of a channel with the metal bent back at the side flanges 20 and outwardly at the top as shown in the lower part of Fig. 5 in order to form ledges 21 for supporting the floor plates 11 flush with the upper face of the members 12. The flanges 20 extend longitudinally beyond the ends of the body portions 18 of the members 12 to provide bifurcated end portions 19 which embrace the columns 9 with clearance 14 as shown in Fig. 4. The inner faces of the flanges 20 adjacent the end portions have inwardly-projecting bosses 28, Fig. 4, through which bolts 15 pass to secure the members 12 to the columns 9, the clearance between these members being taken up by washers. The bridging plates 11, which have flanges 16 extending at right-angles to the members 12, are bolted together and to the members 12. The plates 11 and members 12 may also be welded to the columns 9. The plates may be provided with hollow reinforcing members 17 of trough shape welded to the underside as shown in Fig. 1, and if used as conduits for electric wires, they may be arranged in line with corresponding members on the members 12. Each column 9 is enclosed by a casing 27 formed in two portions which have bent edge-portions 37 adapted to be engaged by a joint cover member 38 as shown in Fig. 4. The upper and lower ends of the casing 27 are adapted to be engaged by tabs which are bent respectively from the flanges 20 and upstanding lips of the members 12. The joints at the upper and lower ends of the casing 27 are covered by trim members. A shelf-supporting structure is arranged between adjacent columns as shown in Fig. 2 and comprises three spaced castings 40 which are suspended from the upper floor structure. Each casting is provided at the upper portion with a central hook 42, Fig. 1, adapted to engage holes 43 in the flanges 16 of the plates 11 and has aligning means in the form of set-screws 44 located in lugs 45 for reception in indents in the lower face of the plates 11. Angle-irons 47 extending between adjacent column casings are secured to the lower corners of the castings. The shelves 41 are adjustably positioned vertically of the castings by notches 50 provided in the vertical edges of the castings and by side lugs 51 at the centre portions of the side faces of the castings. End pins 52 are provided on the shelves 41 for engaging the notches 50. The shelves are supported on the casing 27 by providing the latter with notches 53 and lugs 54, Fig. 1, corresponding to the notches 50 and lugs 51. A suitable form of casing for this purpose is formed with its side walls vertically corrugated or ribbed to receive shelf-supporting strips and having notches for the shelves. A modified form of shelf-supporting structure provided around the cruciform-shaped columns 9a, Fig. 10, comprises a pair of castings 69 arranged on opposite sides of the column and connected by members 70 straddling the columns. The castings 69, which are suspended from the floor plates 63 at 73 and positioned by set-screws 74, are provided with shelf-supporting notches 71, and the members 70 have lugs 72. If desired, the castings may be steadied at the bottom by set-screws passing through lugs and engaging holes in the floor plates. In the modification shown in Fig. 9, a set of angle-irons 55 extends between, and is bolted to, the cruciform columns 9a by bolts 56, and washers 59 of the desired thickness are employed on the bolts 56 in accordance with the amount of clearance which exists between the angle-irons and the columns. Floor plates 60 having flanges 61 bridge the members 55 and are bolted thereto. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 also describes a floor structure comprising floor plates 63 which have peripheral flanges 64, 65, as shown in Fig. 10 (Cancelled), and are bolted to the columns by bolts 66, 67. Metal members 68 are employed between the sides and ends of adjacent floor plates. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.