Improvements in Roofing-tiles,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roofing-tiles,
I, HENDRIK LUDELING, of Loebach-Sikaping, Residence Padangsche Boven-
landen, Sumatra's Westkust, Dutch East Indies, Gentleman, 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 a new construction of roofing or pan-tiles and has for
its object the arrangement of air-passages in the tiles whereby an effective
circulation of air is obtained therein as well as a better connection of the tiles to
each other. The air enters at the lower end into passages formed over the whole
breadth between the upper and under sides of the tile and escapes at the upper
end, upon which rests the tile above.
The underside of the tile is thus protected from the heat of the sun, since
the tile is cooled by the air flowing through it.
The interconnection of the tiles placed loosely on each other, both with the
ones by the side and also with the ones above, is such that neither the outer
air, dust nor rain-water can penetrate through the roof.
Since the tiles are perfectly watertight, and only become hot at the upper
side subjected to the heat of the sun, the said tiles are especially suited for
tropical and sub-tropical countries.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of three tiles resting one on the other.
Figure 2 is a plan of the centre one of these three tiles, and
Figure 3 is a view, partly in front elevation and partly in transverse section
on the line x, x, Figure 2, showing four tiles laid one upon another.
In each tile are arranged two longitudinal passages A. These passages open
at or near the short edges of the tile and are formed by the longitudinal edges
thereof and by a central partition B between the upper and under sides of
the tile.
The passages A are provided at the upper end of the tile with openings a,
Figures 1 and 2, and there is arranged, at this end, a transverse fillet C half-
round at the top, which terminates the passages A and forms the bearing or
support for the tile lying above.. Each tile is provided at the underside of the
other or lower end with a corresponding half-round groove C₁ and the tiles are
provided on the underside, in the middle of the upper short edge, with a pro-
jection D whereby they are suspended from the laths of the frame of the roof.
The upper side of the tiles is depressed or sunk and the underside is cut off
obliquely at the lower end which extends over the openings a of the next lower
tile, so that a narrow opening or slit is formed between the sunk upper side of
each tile and the inclined underside of the next higher tile.
It will, therefore, be seen that the passages A at the lower end are freely open
and the air entering there can escape freely at the upper end through the open-
ings a. (See the bent arrows in Figure 1.)

page_text: The wind which strikes the roof will enter the passages A of the tiles at the
lower end and escape at the upper end and thus keep the tiles cool, whilst, as
shown in the drawing, the water flowing down cannot get into the said passages.
The lateral interconnection of the adjacent tiles also differs from that generally
employed, and, for this reason, I have been obliged to retain the usual weight
and the ordinary breadth of the tiles.
In the right hand longitudinal edge is formed a half-round longitudinal
groove N which is open at the top and extends up to half the thickness of the
tile along the whole length thereof; and at the left-hand longitudinal edge, the
tile is provided with a strip or flange E flush with the upper side, which flange
bears on its underside a half-round fillet n and at the upper end only extends to
the opening a, Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Figure 2, the transverse fillet C
at the right-hand edge only extends up to the groove N.
By means of the fillet n resting in the groove N, the tiles close perfectly
tightly together at the longitudinal edges; only a small part of the water which
falls on the joint 6 will pass into the groove N and in order to isolate this, a space
is left between the groove and the fillet, their semi-circles being drawn with
different radii. The groove N is in connection through five or any other suit-
able number of apertures with a longitudinal passage F through which any
water entering the groove may run off so that it will be discharged onto the tile
lying next below.
For economy in material, the lower lateral edges of the tile are bevelled off.
The tiles are made of Portland cement and sand mixed in suitable proportions and
can be manufactured by machinery in stone-presses.
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 claim is:-
First. A roofing-tile provided with air-passages separated by a central partition
between the upper and under sides of the tile, which passages are open at the lower
end and have an opening at their upper end overlapped by the tile next above,
which rests by means of a groove on a transverse fillet in such a manner that a
narrow opening or slit is formed between the sunk upper side of one tile and the
bevelled-off under-side of the next tile above, substantially as, and for the pur-
poses, herein before described.
Second. A tile having a groove along one longitudinal edge thereof and a
fillet along the other on the underside of a flange or strip which is flush with
the upper surface of the tile, an open space being left between the said groove and
fillet and a special discharge-passage provided beneath the groove, which passage
is in communication through apertures with the said groove and extends to the
lower end of the tile, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
Third. The improved roofing-tile constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 15th day
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.