IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF BUILDINGS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lewis Hornblower, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Architect, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF BUILDINGS."
Sealed the 12th May 1874, and dated the 15th November 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lewis Hornblower at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th November 1873.
I, LEWIS HORNBLOWER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF BUILDINGS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates principally, although not exclusively, to im-
provements on and in connection with that system of constructing walls,
partitions, floors, and roofs of dwelling houses and other buildings in
which iron or steel, hollow earthenware, and concrete or cement are
employed in combination, and for which system Her Majesty was pleased

page_text: to grant me Her Letters Patent, No. 2848, of the year 1871; and such
improvements consist,―
First. As means for protecting metal girders, joists, rafters, pillars,
and other carrying and supporting agents from fire, I enclose them in
hollow earthenware or clay pipes or tiles, preferably made in lengths
and jointed together, and I fill the space in the hollow earthenware
around the metal agent with concrete, cement, or other non-conducting
substance. In some cases, say for walls and roofs, the concrete, cement,
or non-conducting substance may be dispensed with.
Second. As means for ensuring strength and lightness more particu-
larly in the floors and roofs of buildings constructed with hollow
earthenware and concrete or cement, either with or without metal, I
form the hollow earthenware pipes in such manner that they fit one
against the other wedge-like and have their upper surfaces so shaped or
curved with relation to each other that they provide the advantages of
an arch.
Third. As means for ensuring strength and lightness in floors and
roofs I construct them of alternate lengths of metal enclosed in hollow
earthenware under the above first head of my Invention, and hollow
earthenware either filled with concrete, cement, or other non-conducting
material, or having the inner space left free.
Fourth. As means for strengthening floors and roofs constructed under
the above third head I form the hollow earthenware of a wedge or
stepped form in transverse section, and provide corresponding steps or
abutting pieces on the earthenware enclosing the metal joist or rafter.
Fifth. As means for further strengthening floors and roofs constructed
under the above third and fourth heads I curve the upper surface of the
hollow earthenware lengths so as to secure the advantages of an arch.
Sixth. As means for ensuring adhesion of the outer coating of cement
or plaster to walls, partitions, floors, and roofs constructed as described
under the above four heads or any of them, I form the outer surfaces of
the hollow earthenware with dovetail grooves and key projections.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Lewis Hornblower in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LEWIS
HORNBLOWER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Architect,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Lewis Hornblower, Her special
license that I, the said Lewis Hornblower, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Lewis Hornblower, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF BUILDINGS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Lewis Hornblower, my executors, or administra-
tors, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Lewis Hornblower, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
My Invention relates principally, although not exclusively, to im-
provements on and in connection with that system of constructing walls,
partitions, floors, and roofs of dwelling houses and other buildings in
which iron or steel, hollow earthenware, and concrete or cement are

page_text: employed in combination, and for which system Her Majesty was
pleased to grant me Her Letters Patent, No. 2848, of the year 1871, and
such improvements consist,―
First. As means for protecting metal girders, joists, rafters, pillars,
and other carrying and supporting agents from fire I enclose them in
hollow earthenware or clay pipes or tiles, preferably made in lengths
and jointed together, and I fill the space around the metal agent in the
hollow earthenware with concrete, cement, or other non-conducting
substance. In some cases, say for walls and roofs, the concrete, cement,
or non-conducting substance may be dispensed with.
Second. As means for ensuring strength and lightness more particu-
larly in the floors and roofs of buildings constructed with hollow
earthenware and concrete or cement, either with or without metal, I
form the hollow earthenware pipes in such manner that they fit one
against the other wedge-like, and have their upper surfaces so shaped or
curved with relation to each other that they provide the advantages of
an arch.
Third. As means for ensuring strength and lightness in floors and
roofs I construct them of alternate lengths of metal enclosed in hollow
earthenware under the above first head of my Invention, and hollow
earthenware either filled with concrete, cement, or other non-conducting
material, or having the inner space left free.
Fourth. As means for strengthening floors and roofs constructed under
the above third head I form the hollow earthenware of a wedge or
stepped form in transverse section, and provide corresponding steps or 2
abutting pieces on the earthenware enclosing the metal joist or rafter.
Fifth. As means for further strengthening floors and roofs constructed
under the above third and fourth heads I curve the upper surface of the
hollow earthenware lengths so as to secure the advantages of an arch.
Sixth. As means for ensuring adhesion of the outer coating of cement 3
or plaster to walls, partitions, floors, and roofs constructed as described
under the above five heads or any of them, I form the outer surfaces of
the hollow earthenware with dovetail grooves and key projections.
DESCRIPTION
AM

page_text: fourth, and sixth parts thereof. a, metal girders enclosed in hollow
earthenware b; c, conorete or cement filling between the girder and the
earthenware. Between each length of earthenware enclosed girder
hollow earthenware tubes 61 are fitted wedge-like and so formed and
placed in relation to each other as to provide the advantages of an arch.
To further strengthen the said flooring the hollow earthenware 6' has
steps or projections & fitting into and resting upon steps or projections ď¹
on the girder tile b. The upper and lower surfaces of the earthenware
tubes or tiles b, b', are formed with dovetail grooves and key projections
68 to ensure the adhesion of the upper and lower coating of concrete,
cement, or plaster e. The intermediate tiles or tubes 6¹ in this example
are not charged with concrete or cement; the said intermediate tiles, in
combination with the girder tiles, provide an uniform upper and lower
surface.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of flooring similar to that described
under Fig. 1 and illustrating the same parts of my Invention, the main
difference being that the intermediate tiles 6¹ of Fig. 2 are narrower than
the tiles 6¹ of Fig. 1, thus allowing the girder enclosing tiles and girders
to be placed closer together so as to sustain a greater load. a, girder;
b, tiles; c, concrete filling; 6¹, intermediate tiles; d, d, projections;
e, top and bottom coating.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of flooring similar to Fig. 1 and illus-
trating the same parts of my Invention. In this modification the girder
tile is enlarged so as to receive a deeper girder and allow of a thicker
coating of concrete or cement above the intermediate tile so as better to
resist concussion. In this view the letters denote similar parts to those
described under Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of flooring illustrating all the six parts
of my Invention. This modification is similar to Fig. 3, excepting that
the upper surface of the intermediate tile 6' is arched to afford additional
strength. In this view the same letters denote similar parts to those
above described.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of flooring illustrating the first, third,
fifth, and sixth parts of my Invention. This modification is only suitable
for roofing or light flooring. Instead of a girder, as before described, a
tie rod or bar a¹ is used embedded in concrete or cement c and surrounded
by the tile 6; 6¹, intermediate tiles with arched upper surface; e, concrete
surrounding and binding together the tiles 6 and 6'; f, plaster ceiling.

page_text: Fig. 6 is a transverse section of flooring illustrating the first and sixth
parts of my Invention. This modification provides additional security
from fire by the use of the air chamber 62 beneath the girder a, and is
specially adapted for warehouse floors; b, girder tiles with air chamber
6ª; e, concrete; f, plaster; 9, heating or ventilating tubes with 5
gratings g¹.
Fig. 7 is a transverse section of flooring constructed in accordance
with the first and sixth parts of my Invention. In this modification a is
the girder; b, 68, enclosing tile and air chamber; c, concrete filling;
h, perforated tile resting on lower flange of girder tile to form a 1
continuous horizontal ceiling; i, tile resting on upper step_of girder
tile and covered with concrete e; j, timber joists resting in groove in
tile 6; k, flooring boards; f, plaster.
Fig. 8 is a transverse section of flooring in which the girder enclosing
tile is formed in two parts. a, girders; b, enclosing tile; c, concrete 1
filling; h, ceiling tile; j, joists resting on tile b and concrete c; k,
flooring boards; f, plaster.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a girder tile adapted for heavy floors,
and coffered or pannelled ceilings instead of furring down with timber
to form the said panels; 7, line of ceiling.
Fig. 10 is a view in transverse section of a fireproofed box girder.
a, girder; b, surrounding tiles made in pieces; c, concrete filling; bª, air
chamber. The girder shown in Fig. 10 is suitable for carrying any of
the above described floors.
2
The flooring described under Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 can be used either 2
as walls, partitions, or roofs. The unfilled spaces in the intermediate
tiles and between and beneath the girders can be used for heating or
ventilating.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and particu-
larized the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself 3
to the precise details illustrated and described, as various modifications
can be made without departing from my Invention; what I do claim
is,—
First. Enclosing metal girders, joists, rafters, pillars, and other
carrying and supporting agents in hollow earthenware or clay pipes or 3

page_text: tiles, either with or without concrete or cement filling, substantially as
described for the purposes set forth.
Second. Shaping and curving hollow earthenware tiles in such manner
that they fit together wedge-like to form an arch, substantially as
described for the purposes set forth.
Third. Fitting hollow earthenware tiles alternately with and without
an enclosed girder, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. Forming tiles of a wedge or stepped form, substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. Curving the upper surfaces of hollow tiles, substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. Forming tiles with dovetails and projections, substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lewis Hornblower, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
In the presence of
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
LEWIS HORNBLOWER. (L.S.)