An Improved Fire-proof Floor for Buildings and other Structures.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire-proof Floor for Buildings and other Structures.
I, ALEXANDER HUNTER CRAWFORD, of 39, York Place, Edinburgh, Architect,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to fire-proof flooring for buildings and other structures.
The flooring consists of concrete and fire clay or other tubes which are arranged
between and (or) below steel or iron joists. The tubes are fixed in position
without the aid of supporting scaffolding being temporarily supported and
adjusted by means of cement or other wedges.
The tubes may be made of any desired length and be adjustable in width.
Dated this 25th day of March 1898.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow,
Agent.
I, ALEXANDER HUNTER CRAWFORD, of 39, York Place, Edinburgh, Architect,
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:-
This invention relates to fire resisting or fire-proof flooring for buildings and
other structures.
The flooring consists of fireclay or other tubes, or hollow blocks as they are
sometimes termed, having their centre compartments so shaped that, when being
made, they can be adjusted in width. These tubes are fixed between and below
steel or iron joists by means of cement, fire-clay, or other like fire resisting wedges
and concrete, in such a manner that the joists are wholly embedded in the con-
crete or left with an air space below the bottom flange. The tubes are fixed in
position without the aid of supporting scaffolding or centering and are sustained
and the levels adjusted by the wedges until grouted at the sides with concrete.
By using tubes slightly cut at the ends cross ventilation can be established
below the joists.

page_text: my and invention may be property understood I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. I is a cross section of a floor showing the tubes and joists in position.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken at the line A, A, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of another floor which is not quite so deep as the
floor Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line B-B Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a section of flooring.
Fig. 6 is a section of flooring in which the metal joists are wholly encased in
concrete.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate the same parts.
a are walls, b are the fireclay tubes, c are the metal joists, d is concrete, e are
cement or fireclay wedges, f are the usual dovetail key-grooves made on the
undersides of the tubes in order to retain the plaster 9 in position, h are air
врасеѕ.
The tubes 6 are made of fireclay of the section shown, i.e. with a flat under-
side and an arched upper side the centre part of which is flat as shown at 61
(Figs. 1, 3 and 6). As will be seen each tube is divided by the partitions 6
into three compartments the centre one of which is more or less rectangular in
shape. The tubes, which are preferably made about two feet in width and
eighteen inches in length, are inserted between the steel joists c from below
and the small wedges are slipped in at the ends in order to hold the tubes in
position and these wedges are also useful for adjusting the level of the tubes so
that a true surface can be obtained for the ceiling. The spaces between the sides
of the tubes and the steel joists are then grouted with concrete and the whole
thereafter covered on top with concrete to a level surface.
As will be seen each side of each tube b has a broad projecting flange kat
the bottom and a narrower projecting flange at the top so that when the con-
crete sets in the spaces between the tubes and these flanges and round the joists
the tubes are solidly keyed or locked in position. The wedges are not removed
but the concrete is allowed to set about them so that the whole floor becomes
practically one solid structure.
The wedges e are clearly shown on the drawings and, as will be seen, there
are two at each side of each joist. One wedge, of each pair, fits into the space
between the flanges of the tube and practically forms a key between which and
the joists the other wedge is inserted.
In Figs. 1 and 2 an air space h is shown as being left below each joist, the
tubes being channeled for the purpose. In Fig. 6 the channels are not made
in the tubes the grouting being allowed to fill up the space at the bottom of the
joist so as to more thoroughly protect it against fire.
As shown in Fig. 2 the ends of the tubes can be cut away at i so as to form
channels for cross ventilation.
As the centre compartment of each tube is level at both the top and bottom
the dies for making the tubes of varying widths are more easily made because
the side compartments remain the same whilst the centre compartment alone
requires to be, as required, reduced or extended when being manufactured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I, declare that what
I consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. A fire resisting floor wherein the tubes are temporarily supported and
adjusted in position between and below the joists by means of cement, fireclay,
or such like fire 'resisting wedges and permanently supported by means of the
concrete, which is allowed to set about the wedges, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings annexed.

page_text: 2. The general arrangement and combination of the parts constituting the tre
resisting Hoor all substantially as herein before described and shown on the
drawings annexed.
1
December 1898
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow,
Agent.