Patent GB-596978-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in buildings constructed of pre-formed units
IPC: E04B2/56
Filed: 1944-12-12
Abstract: 596,978. Walls; floors and roofs. KING, A. C., and HOWSE, A. R. Dec. 12, 1944, Nos. 24869/44 and 6055/45. [Classes 20(iv) and 87(i)] Walls, floors, and roofs are formed of slabs or panels having projections adjacent two opposite margins and also intermediately thereof, together with uniting members which engage the adjacent marginal projections of contiguous slabs in one course to lock them together, and also engage the intermediate projections of slabs in adjacent courses so that the slabs in adjacent courses break joint with one another, the assembled uniting members forming hollow piers or joists as the case may be. The slabs and uniting members may be formed of metal, wood, earthenware, concrete, asbestos, plastics, compressed fibre, glass, or like materials. Fig. 1 shows one form of slab having marginal dovetail-like projections 13, 14 intermediate projections 15, 16 and stepped top and bottom edges 17, 18 for jointing with the slabs of adjacent courses. Fig. 13 shows a partlybuilt wall formed of such slabs 11a and of uniting members 21a of U-section, having the ends of the two limbs formed to engage the projections on the slabs. Half slabs 12b, having marginal projections only, are used at the end of alternate courses so that the slabs in adjacent courses break joint, and the members 21a engage the marginal projections of the slabs in one course, so locking them together, and the intermediate projections on the slabs of the course above or below. Half-height uniting members '22a are used at the base of the wall so that the uniting members break joint with the slabs. Angled corner slabs 28a, 28b and angled slabs 73a, 73b at door and window openings are provided with similar projections for engagement by the uniting members. The wall is erected on kerb blocks 101 covered with a dampcourse 103. The hollow piers formed by the uniting members 21a are filled with concrete reinforced by rods 105 attached to hooks 102 secured in the kerb blocks 101. Ward blocks 106 inserted in recesses in the members 21a, 22a serve for securing interior facing panels, expanded metal for plastering, skirtings, &c. The construction of a double wall, Fig. 14 (not shown), is also described, the uniting members being of the form shown in Fig. 7. These members comprise a body portion 51 and legs 54, 55, projections 52, 53 at the vertical edges of the body and 56, 57 on the legs engaging between them the projections on both the inner and outer slabs forming the double wall. Some or all of the cavities bounded by the outer and inner slabs or facing panels and the piers may be filled with concrete or heat or sound insulating material. The cavities may be divided by a bowed partition 143, Fig. 18, of paper, millboard &c. either sandwiched between the piers and the facing panels, or sprung in between the piers, and either or both compartments may be filled with insulating material. Many modifications of the uniting members are described. Fig. 25 shows a uniting member formed by a metal strap 191 passing round three sides of an I-section steel upright 190, and Fig. 27 one modification of the U-form uniting members for use in in double walls, in which a dovetail projection 196 on their rear faces engage the projections of the slabs 11 forming the inner skin. Fig. 29 shows I-section blocks 206 held in position by spacers 207 extending between the piers, which spacers may be separate from or integral with the blocks; alternatively, the pair of I-members may be connected by bolts. Several forms are described in which the projections on the slabs and the parts of the uniting members which engage them are formed of metal rods embedded in, and extending from them. Figs. 46, 47 show one such form, hooks 247 in the slabs 11 engaging rods 248 between the arms of the U-section block 249.