Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1888
Specification Accepted, 21st Dec., 1888
Germany, Architect.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
To render water- and fire-proof a floor which rests on beams, up to the present time
it has been necessary to form a cement floor over a strong groove and tongue-jointed
floor over which previously a layer of sand of several centimeters in thickness had
been laid. This sand was necessary because the cement would not bind with the
wood and further to keep the damp cement away from the wood and thus prevent
any warping thereof which would have affected the cement flooring.
This construction is found to have many disadvantages among which the following
may be mentioned. In consequence of the thick layer of sand the cement floor has a
hollow support and therefore emits a disagreeable hollow sound; during the con-
struction of the cement floor the sand is liable to be shifted so that the cement in
some places almost rests on the wood and in others it is very thin in consequence
of an increased thickness of sand below such part and it does not therefore at such
thinned part offer sufficient resistance and soon cracks and thus questions the
property of being waterproof.
To prevent this, the cement floor is made of extraordinary thickness, thus placing
a great additional weight on the beams.
The principal disadvantage however is that the layer of sand must be wetted very
much before the thick layer of wet cement is placed upon it. The water then enters
the joints of the wooden flooring and this and subsequently the beams on which it
rests rot because the water cannot evaporate through the cement.

page_text: It has hitherto also been found impossible to fix wooden flooring on the top of the
cement in a practicable and durable manner.
The present invention has for its object to obviate the above enumerated disadvan-
tages and relates essentially to the construction of a suitable cement flooring connected
with its support by a waterproof and fireproof binding material. The supporting
surface may be of wood, iron or other material and is in the accompanying drawings
principally represented as consisting of laths of triangular section. In this construc-
tion the coment may be applied comparatively dry or wet, because of the waterproof
material between it and the supporting surface. This intermediate material consists
of an insoluble and fireproof glue or cement preferably covered with some textile
fabric which may be sprinkled with sand to produce a rough surface for the better
adhesion of the cement floor.
If the floor is to have a certain elasticity the intermediate layer of glue or cement
may be combined with a layer of ground cork.
If an ordinary floor is to be constructed as represented in figs. 3 and 4 the trian-
gular laths a are placed on or fastened to the beams and are then covered with a
layer b of the insoluble glue or cement (marine glue or other suitable material) which
is sprinkled with sand.
This covering
prevents any moisture from reaching the wood (which will there-
fore not warp) and connects the cement floor with the laths, as the cement would
otherwise not adhere to the wood.
Triangular laths are preferably used because they will permit the cement to be rammed
into the grooves formed by the laths in a comparatively dry state instead of being
run in in a wet state, in this manner the excessive dampness is avoided and the floor
will dry very soon.
The hollowness of the floor is also avoided as the cement d rests directly on the
layer of waterproof glue or equivalent b.
The laths may also if desired be coated with a layer of the waterproof material and
sprinkled with sand before they are laid down on the beams.
Fig. 4, is a plan of the laths before being covered with the cement floor.
Figs. 1, 2. 6. 7. 8. 9. 16. 17. 20. 22. and 24 represent the construction of more
elaborate and elegant floors on the same principle.
In fig. 1, the triangular laths a are placed across the beams as usual and covered
with a layer of insoluble glue, cement or equivalent sprinkled with sand or covered
with a sheet of suitable textile fabric. Between these laths are fitted the blocks a¹
preferably as shown in plan in Fig. 2, the layer b connecting these blocks to the
faths.
Figs. 6 and 7 show in section and plan respectively the same construction with an
intermediate strong layer d of cement which is connected with the laths a and
blocks a¹ by means of the layers b of insoluble glue or equivalent.
The blocks a¹ are not quite triangular in section, two angles being cut away as
represented so that the blocks offer sufficient thickness of wood for planing after
they are laid down.
Figs. 8 and 9 represent in section and plan repectively another manner of laying
down the blocks at the joints between the blocks being made as represented in a³
or a³.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent a flooring consisting of a support formed of laths a of
triangular section onto which are placed blocks A of the form-represented. The laths
and the blocks are connected by a layer b of insoluble cement and preferably a layer
of textile fabric is placed between the blocks, but the blocks may also be laid down
without the textile fabric. This construction is very suitable for paving archways
courtyards, streets squares and the like. The said blocks, after being covered with
the waterproof cement may also be laid on the naked ground or other suitable
support.
Fig. 16, represents a construction in which an ordinary board flooring is placed on
the cement-flooring. To give the floor the necessary elasticity the cement d is first
coated with a waterproof material and on this is placed the layer of material for

page_text: connecting the cement and the boards, which material is mixed with ground cork,
and onto this are placed the boards a¹. The material mixed with the ground cork
may also be placed directly on the cement floor.
Fig. 17, represents the same construction with a double layer of laths of triangular
section instead of the simple board flooring.
Fig. 18, represents a construction in which the double lath floor a a¹ serves as
support for the cement floor. To strengthen this construction iron bands may be
introduced, which may be arranged either under or between the laths or in the middle
of the cement-floor. The introduction of iron bands is also preferable in the case of
an asphalte floor supported by artificial stone or artificial stone combined with laths.
Fig. 19, represents a construction in which bars or slabs of cement h are placed
across the beams and these slabs or bars may be formed with openings for the passage
of wire, or the cement may be prepared with pieces of wire to increase its bearing
capacity. On the beams are further placed two triangular laths a coated with the textile
covering and connecting layer, between these laths a is fitted a triangular lath a¹.
If the cement slabs or bars are to be used without a support of wood, iron bands are
fastened at suitable distances across the beams.
If the cement floor is to be run in, asphalte board, (cardboard made or saturated
with asphalte) or the equivalent thereof is placed on the iron bands. The laths a
indicate in this case the required height of the cement layer.
Fig. 20, represents a construction in which only single laths a arranged at distances
from each other form the support of the floor, these laths are provided with the textile
covering and the insoluble connecting layer b. Between the cement floor d and the
floor proper is a ventilating space which may be filled in with any suitable material
if desired. The floor f rests on the laths a which are placed on the cement directly
above the beams B.
In this manner no
weight rests on the cement floor which therefore can be con-
structed comparatively thin especially when strengthened with iron bands or wire.
In Fig. 21, the triangular laths a are placed loosely on the ledges y fastened to the
beams B, and overlap the beams and join in the centre thereof. The whole of the
laths are coated with the insoluble connecting layer.
On this support is placed the cement floor d as indicated in Fig. 22, and on this the
wooden floor a connected with the cement by the layer b.
Fig. 12, represents the construction of fire and damp proof wall facing. In this
instance the laths a are hollow and not of wood but of a fire proof material and
coated with the connecting layer b for the better binding of the cement or mortar
plastering d. The laths are screwed or nailed on the boarding at r and the hollow
spaces & are filled with mineral wool, or other non-conducting material.
Figs. 25 and 26 represent the construction of a ceiling on the same principle. To
the underside of the beams are fastened artificial stones m and under these are
fastened the triangular laths a in such a manner that they leave a space between
them. These laths are covered with the connecting layer and on and between them is
placed the cement, a board placed underneath the laths prevents the cement from
falling down so that it completely fills the spaces between the laths. The cement is
supported by the laths and the projecting edges of the artificial stones m.
The following will make an excellent cement: 45% fine gypsum, 45% coarse
gypsum, 5% powdered slag, and 5% powdered chalk, treated with an alum solution
acidulated with 25% sulphuric acid and a gypsum solution acidulated with 0.05% of
sulphuric acid. Metal bands may be introduced in the cement layer and it may be
covered with textile fabric.
The following construction is also very good: the joints between the laths a are
filled in with the insoluble connecting material 6 (Fig. 24) and the spaces between the
laths are then filled with alternate layers of clay and powdered gypsum over this is
placed a layer of sand which is rammed down.and on this is laid a layer of gypsum
over which may be placed a wooden flooring after laying down a layer of ground
cork.
When a gypsum layer is being laid it is preferable to beat the layer with large flat

page_text: beaters during or after the setting and until the water comes to the surface, and after-
wards the layer is smoothed with trowels.
Fig. 23 represents a floor in which a simple board flooring is used instead of the
triangular laths.
Figs. 27-38 represent constructions of ceilings in which the triangular laths a are
made of some fire proof material in which a number of wires i are introduced to
increase the bearing capacity.
These wires would also prevent the ceiling from breaking down, even though the
laths should be destroyed through excessive heat.
Figs. 27-31 represent two modifications of this construction.
In Fig. 27 the laths a join in the middle of the beams M and are supported by iron
bandsk fastened to the beams by means of nails or screws b. The spaces between
the laths are filled in and the underside of the laths covered with a layer of cement m.
In fig. 28, band or hoop iron or wire n' is stretched underneath the beams M
and under this are placed fireproof slabs o. Under these slabs is again stretched band
or hoop iron or wire n' and under this are placed the laths a and filled in and
covered with cement m. On the band or hoop iron or wire n' is placed another layer
of laths a' the grooves between which are filled in with cement and thus an air
space is produced. Instead of the band or hoop iron or wire n', angle iron p may
be fastened to the beams and the laths a¹ placed on these.
In the first instance the laths a and a¹ are arranged cross wise, Figs. 28 and 30
while with the angle iron they are arranged in the same direction, Figs. 28 and 31.
Fig. 29 represents a plan of the laths a and band or hoop iron and Fig. 32 cross
sections of the laths on a larger scale showing the wires i.
Fig. 33 represents a construction of a ceiling in which the laths a are joined to
form slabs which are fastened to the fireproof insulating pieces o after a layer of
elastic asphalte board has been placed under the insulating pieces o.
The spaces
between the laths are then filled in with fireproof material and under this is placed the
cement.
The laths may be of any desired section.
Fig. 34 represents a longitudinal section of this construction.
Fig. 35 shows the laths in underside plan before the filling in of the cement.
Fig. 36 represents three different constructions of the slabs. Fig. 36 is a slab
consisting of laths a with the asphalte layer u, Fig. 36 the same with wire intro-
duced and Fig. 36° is a plate consisting of a series of wires and the asphalte layer.
Figs. 37 and 38 represent the laths a in the form of tubes either placed close
together or a little distance apart and the intervening spaces then filled in and the
underside of the whole covered with cement in the manner described above.
The slabs are fastened to the beams and the fireproof material filled in the joints
between the laths or wires and then the cement is laid on and supported by the
apparatus represented in Figs. 39-40 consisting of the plate N and the hinged or
pivotted legs O.
Figs. 43-56 represent a floor constructed of slabs placed on the beams. These
slabs P also consist of jointed laths a the spaces between which are filled in with fire
proof material. Fig. 43 shows such a floor in plan and Fig. 44 in section.
Figs. 45-47 represent different forms of the laths a and figs. 48-50 represent
laths of square section formed with grooves which form channels when the laths are
jointed together. These are coated at top and bottom with the fire and waterproof
material and then a cement or other floor may be placed thereon.
Fig. 51 shows a simple wooden board floor w (instead of the laths) over which is
placed a layer of cement and over this is laid a second wooden board floor w¹.
Figs. 52-54 represent different modes of joining the boards w.
Figs. 55-58 represent slabs formed of square laths a either formed with or forming
when joined, circular or dovetail grooves which are filled with the fire and water-
proof material. On or under these is then placed cross wise another layer of laths.
Figs. 59-63 represent different modifications of plates constructed with laths.
The plates P are joined by placing wooden tongues between them and covering

page_text: the tongues with a layer of the reproof and waterproof material on wien is placed
another wooden tongue.
Figs. 64-66 represent the employment of this construction for roofing purposes,
and this construction has the advantage of being cheap and more durable than the
other constructions and that it is proof against sparks or burning material which might
fall on it.
The laths a are placed on the rafters N and the spaces between them are filled in
with the fire- and water-proof material, on this may be placed another layer of fire-
proof roofing felt or equivalent and may be sprinkled with sand.
The laths may be formed like the teeth of a saw if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. Water- and fire-proof flooring, ceiling, coverings for walls and roofing con-
sisting of laths of triangular or other section or of simple boards coated with an
insoluble cement with or without a coating of rough textile fabric or sand, the said
cement insulating the laths from inoisture and heat and also connecting the laths with
any layer of wood or cement which may be placed on it, substantially as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In the construction of wooden floors supported on wooden beams or the like
the covering of a layer of triangular laths with a fire- and waterproof cement and a
sheet of rough textile fabric and filling the spaces or grooves between these laths
with similar inverted laths, the said layer of cement also serving as a connecting
medium substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In the construction of wooden floors on wooden supports a layer of triangular
laths covered with a layer of fire- and waterproof cement and the grooves or spaces
between which are filled in and covered with blocks which are connected to the
laths by the said cement and between which blocks also a layer of the said cement
may be placed substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 of
the accompanying drawings.
4. A fire- and waterproof floor consisting of a support of triangular laths covered
with an insoluble cement and textile fabric and the grooves between which are
filled in and covered with a layer of water- and fire-proof cement or
substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
mortar
5. A fire and waterproof floor consisting of a supporting layer of triangular laths
and an upper layer of triangular laths with an intermediate layer of fire- and
waterproof cement or mortar the three layers being connected together by means of
insoluble cement or equivalent substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
6. A fire and waterproof floor as described in claim 5, for the upper layer of laths
of which is substituted a simple wooden board floor substantially as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. The construction of elastic combined wood and cement floors by means of
the addition of a binding layer mixed with ground cork substantially as herein
described.
8. A combined wood and cement floor having a hollow intermediate space,
consisting of two or more laths placed on the cement above each beam and to which
laths the flooring is fastened, the laths being covered with insoluble cement and textile
fabric, and the space between the wooden and the cement floors being either left free
or filled in with any suitable material substantially as and for the purpose described
and represented in Fig. 20 of the accompanying drawings.
9. Ceilings constructed of laths covered or not with insoluble glue, artificial stone
and a layer of cement substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. A covering for walls or iron structures, consisting of hollow laths made of a
suitable fire proof material, the outer surfaces of which are covered with insoluble

page_text: cement or textile fabric for connecting or binding the outside layer of cement
and the hollow laths being filled with some non-conducting material substantially as
herein specified.
11. A combined wood and cement floor in which the joints between the laths are
filled in with insoluble glue or equivalent, and the triangular spaces between the laths
are filled in with alternate layers of clay and powdered gypsum or sand covered with
a binding layer and a gypsum floor with or without textile fabric substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. The construction of slabs for floors of 45% finely powdered gypsum, 54% of
coarse gypsum, 5% of powdered slag, 5% of powdered chalk, treated with an
alum solution acidulated with 25% of sulphuric acid, and a gypsum solution
acidulated with 0.05% of sulphuric acid, and with or without metal bands or wire or
textile fabric, substantially as herein specified.
13. The construction of a self supporting ceiling or floor by mixing with the
cement short pieces of wire or pieces of metal of other form or long pieces of wire
or band or hoop iron or other suitably shaped metal pieces substantially as specified
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
14. The construction of floors of plates such as P consisting of triangular or other
laths and a fire- and waterproof cement substantially as herein specified.
15. The construction of ceilings of fire- and water-proof laths provided with interior
wires and fastened underneath the beams by means of pieces of band or hoop iron
and the intervening grooves or spaces between which are filled in with fire-proof
mortar or cement substantially as herein specified and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
16. The construction of ceilings. of laths such as described in claim 15, fastened to
the beams by band or hoop iron in combination with artificial stones such as o and the
grooves or spaces between which are filled in with fireproof cement, and a second
layer of laths arranged above the first one, the grooves or spaces between which are
also filled in with fire-proof cement, and leaving between the layers a space to
prevent transmission of heat, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
17. A ceiling constructed in two layers so that an air space is formed between them
to prevent the transmission of heat from one to the other substantially as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
18. The construction of ceilings of slabs formed of laths which recede a little on
one side while the other side overlaps for the purpose of producing a good joint the
whole covered with an elastic layer of waterproof asphalte paper or board substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
19. The construction of floors of slabs consisting of a layer of laths covered with another
layer arranged cross-wise, the intervening spaces between them being filled in with
fire- and waterproof cement substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
20. The construction of roofs of laths the grooves or spaces between which are
filled in with fire- and water-proof material covered with a layer of sand or of
cement and sand, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 20th of T... 1000