IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF IRON AND OF WOOD COMBINED WITH IRON SUBSTANCES TO BUILDINGS AND OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Melville, of Porchester Terrace, in the
County of Middlesex, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE APPLICATION OF IRON AND OF WOOD COMBINED WITH IRON OR
Scaled the 12th January 1859, and dated the 6th November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Melville
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th November 1852.
1, JOHN MELVILLE, of Porchester Terrace, in the County of Middle-
sex, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF IRON AND OF WOOD COMBINED WITH
IRON OR OTHER SUBSTANCES TO BUILDINGS AND OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS" to be
as follows:
The first improvement consists of certain modes of constructing
girders and beams of sheet iron, so as to obtain in a simple manner
great stiffness with a small weight of material. One mode of construc-
tion consists in forming the girders of two rectangular trays, the one

page_text: fitting into the other as shewn in Fig. 1, and rivetted or bolted together
laterally or vertically, and so placed in the building that the double
thickness of metal shall form the upper and under side of the girder
(supposing it having to support a vertical strain).
Another mode of construction consists in forming the girder as a
tube of a cylindrical or curvilinear form in its transverse section, and
placing within it a plate of iron in the direction of its longest diameter,
and extending throughout its length, the plate being supported at short
distances by ribs or discs conforming to the shape of the interior of the
tube as shewn in Fig. 2. Fig. 3, represents a girder composed of a
combination of wood and iron; a, being a plate of iron, and b, b, two
planks placed one on each side of it, and cemented to it under strong
pressure, by interposing between the surfaces a thin stratum of Bastenne
pitch or other suitable cements or mastics.
The last improvement consists in cementing together, under strong
pressure, thin layers of planks with a sheet of paper, canvas, or other
textile fabric interposed between each layer. This combination of
materials will be found extremely useful for floors, partitions, and the
like, as also for trunks, boxes, and various other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Melville in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN MELVILLE, of Rochester Terrace, in the County of Middlesex,
Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent. bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign. did. for Herself. Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Melville. Her special licence
that I, the said John Melville, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I. the said John Melville, my executors, ad-

page_text: ministrators, 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
APPLICATION OF IRON AND OF WOOD COMBINED WITH IRON OR OTHER SUB-
STANCES TO BUILDINGS AND OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that 1, the said John Melville, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, 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 John Melville, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My first improvement consists in certain modes of constructing
girders and beams of sheet iron, so as to obtain in a simple manner
great stiffness with a small weight of material. One mode of construc-
tion consists in forming the girders of two sheets of iron with the edges
at top and bottom bent to stand at right angles to the other part,
forming a kind of rectangular trays, the one fitting into the other, and
bolted or otherwise secured together, and so placed in the building
that the double thickness of metal shall form the upper and under side
of the girder (supposing it to have to support a vertical strain.
Figures 1, and 2, represent this construction in its simplest form;
Figure 1, being a longitudinal section, and Figure 2, a transverse sec-
tion, of a girder constructed upon this plan. a, and b, are the two trays
of sheet iron held together by bolts c, c, at intervals; the but ends of
the outer and inner trays being arranged so as to form break joints.
A superior arrangement is shewn in Figures 8, and 4, a plate of east
or wrought iron d, being inserted between the top of the inner and
outer trays in order to resist the strain, which it has been shewn by
experiment is greatest on the top side of the girder. Rings of metal or

page_text: dises of wood e, e, conforming to the shape of the interior, are likewise
introduced at intervals, and the trays are hooped together by hoops f. f.
at the joints and at other intervals.
In cases where great strength is required to resist a vertical strain,
I place vertically in the centre of the inner tray a plate of wrought or
cast iron y, of the depth of the tray, and extending the whole length of
the girder, with rings of metal or dises of wood h, placed at intervals
between it and the inside of the trays, to retain it in its position as
shown in Figures 3, and 6.
To resist a great lateral strain, 1 employ a similar arrangement,
except that the sheet of iron g, is of the width of the interior of the
girder, and is placed horizontally, and is retained in its position by
metallic rings or dises of metal or wood h, placed at intervals above
and below it, as shewn in Figures 7, and 8.
It is obvious that this arrangement of girders may be strengthened
in any desired degree by multiplying the trays which are placed one
within the other, and by arranging the vertical and horizontal plates
described in such a manner as to meet the strains required to be
resisted.
Another mode of constructing girders consists in making them of
metallic tubes of a cylindrical or other curvilinear section, and placing
within them a plate of iron g, in the direction of the longest diameter
of the tube, and extending throughout its length, the plate being sup-
ported at short distances by ribs or dises of wood or metal h, as shewn
in Figures 9, and 10.
Figure 11, represents a girder composed of a combination of planks
of wood of any required thickness and dimensions with a plate of iron.
, being a plate of iron; b. b, two planks placed, one on each side of it,
and cemented to it under strong pressure, by interposing between the
surfaces a thin stratum of Bastenne pitch, or other suitable cements or
masties made therewith.
The last improvement consists in cementing together, under strong
pressure, with Bastenne pitch or mastic made therewith, thin layers of
plank with sheets of paper, canvas, felt, or other fabrics interposed
between each layer. This combination of materials may be found very

page_text: useful in the construction of ships, vessels, and their equipments, and
for floors, partitions, and the like, as also for trunks, boxes, and various
other purposes.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I claim in respect thereof,-
First, the constructing of beams and girders in the form of metallic
trays, placed one within the other, and secured together with hoops,
bolts, or rivets, as herein-before described.
Second, the constructing of beams of tubes of any convenient curvi-
linear section, strengthened in the manuer herein-before described.
Third, the formation of beams or girders of planks of wood of any
desired thickness with plates of iron interposed between each, and
cemented together (under strong pressure) with Bastenne pitch or
nastic made therewith.
Lastly, the cementing together, under strong pressure, with Bastenne
pitch or a mastic made therewith, of layers of plank with felt, paper,
canvas, or other fabric, interposed between each layer.
year of our
In witness whereof, I, the said John Melville, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the;
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
JAMES MURDOCH.
J. MELVILLE. (L.S.)