IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING IRON AND CAST-IRON DWELLING HOUSES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Tronchon, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris,
(France,) and of 4, South Street, Finsbury, Merchant, for the Invention
Sealed the 5th March 1861, and dated the 15th September 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Tronchon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
September 1860.
I, ALFRED TRONCHON, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris (France,) and of
4, South Street, Finsbury, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING IRON AND CAST-IRON
DWELLING HOUSES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in a new mode of constructing iron houses, and is as
follows:-I employ cases about 20 inches high, in the form of a rectangular
parallelogram, of cast iron, and hollow, varying in length according to the
height and dimensions of the house to be built. These cases are made without
a bottom, and are united together by any suitable means. The cases are
superposed like freestones, and may be plain or ornamented, as required. The
large openings are formed by cases supported by internal framework, and
these cases compose the thickness of the wall.
To avoid the too great
expansion of the iron by heat, and also its sonorousness, the spaces between
the sides of the cases are filled with earth, sand, or other like substance.

page_text: The internal walls and partitions may be formed of two plates of metal
placed parallell, and strongly joined together. The openings are formed with
metal frames or cases made with rabbets.
The floors are made of T-formed iron, adjusted to the cast-iron frames by
bearings, so as to press on each of the two sides of the same case. To form
floors of large dimensions they are supported transversally by double frames
concealed in the thickness of the ceiling, and which may, if thought necessary,
be supported at their extremities on iron or cast-iron pillars placed in the
interior of the walls. The T-iron is adjusted to the middle of the framework.
frames for one-sided and sharp angular roofs, which I
cover with zinc or galvanized sheet iron.
I also employ these
The various parts for composing the house are coated with substances to
protect them from oxidation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Tronchon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th March 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
TRONCHON, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris, France, and of 4, South Street,
Finsbury, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Tronchon, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred
Tronchon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alfred Tronchon, 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 of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING IRON AND CAST-IRON DWELLING HOUSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Tronchon, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under mine, 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

page_text: six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Tronchon, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawing hereto annexed, and
to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to a new mode of constructing iron houses, and
consists in employing cases about 20 inches in height, in the form of a hollow
rectangular parallelogram of cast iron, corresponding to walls of 20, 16, or
8 inches in thickness, according to the height and size of the house to be
constructed. These cases are without a bottom, and are united together by
adjustments of great simplicity. The cases are superposed like freestones,
and may be plain or ornamented, as required. The large openings are formed
by cases supported by internal frames, and these cases form the thickness of
the walls. To avoid the too great expansion of the iron by heat, and also its
sonorousness, the spaces between the sides of the cases are filled with earth,
sand, or other suitable substances. I employ cases of three different
dimensions; about 40 inches long for the greater part of the building, some
80 inches long for the openings, and cases 20 inches long to form the angles
of the walls, and complete the general dimensions.
The internal walls and partitions may be formed of two metal plates placed
parallel, and strongly joined together. The openings are furnished with metal
frames or casings having rabbits formed in them.
The floors are made of T-form iron pieces, adjusted to the cast-iron frames
by bearings, so as to be supported on each of the two sides of the same
case. To form floors of large dimensions, they are supported transversally by
double frames concealed in the thickness of the ceiling, and which may, if
thought necessary, be supported at their extremities on wrought or cast-iron
pillars placed in the interior of the walls. The T-iron pieces are adjusted to
the middle of the frame. This mode of connection is capable of supporting
the weight of the partitions and the materials forming the upper stories.
I also employ these frames for making one-sided and sharp angular roofs.
which I cover with zinc or galvanised sheet. iron, thus forming a roof of a
much lighter weight than that of ordinary wooden roofs now in use.
The conduits for the water, water-closets, and chimneys are formed of cast-
iron pipes, which pass through the interior of the walls, and which may be set
up and taken down for repairs with facility.
All the parts employed for this new. mode of construction are previously

page_text: coated inside and out with substances capable of preserving them from
oxidation.
To render my Invention better understood, I will now proceed to describe
one of the applications of this new mode of construction, reference being had
to the accompanying Drawing.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of an iron house; Figure 2 is a
horizontal section on the level of the ground floor; and Figure 3 is a section
through the first floor; Figure 4 is a section of: a vertical side, which shows
that at the continuation of the first floor the walls diminish in breadth.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 show four bottomless cases. of different dimensions,
but of similar shape, for forming the walls. The case a, Figure. 5, is formed
with two sides a³, with raised edges of about. 2. inches in height, in order
that the second superposed case can completely enclose the first case. One
of the sides a¹ is furnished with a groove or opening to receive a bolt forming
part of another case, and fitting in it, as seen in plan, Figure 9. The case 6,
Figure 6, has its exterior sides of different heights; they form steps, so that
the front of the second case may be placed on the sides of the first, and the
back of the first on the second. The case c, Figure 7, is furnished with pegs
or pins to be inserted in holes made at the lower part of each case, to form
an adjustment. The cases d, Figure 8, are 6 feet 8 inches in length, and
serve to form the top and bottom of windows and doors. The part d¹ of this
case is movable, so as to enable it to be fixed to the lower or upper part,
according as the case is required for the top or bottom of the opening of a
door or window.
Figure 9 shows, in plan, the junction of three cases. The cases. e are
20 inches in length, and form another kind of case as to the, dimensions.
They serve to form the angles, and complete the necessary models for the
construction of the walls. In general the cases for the upper stories diminish
gradually in width. The walls, which are 16 or 20 inches in width at their
base may be no more than 12 or even 8 for very elevated floors.
The plates f. and g, Figure 10, are made of cast iron, and of a thickness of
about 2 inches; they may be employed for the partitions. The plates f
should be 40 inches square. At the four angles f¹ they should have a
moulding in the form of a corner, and in the middle of one side an adjust-
ment of a T-form, in order that the extremity of one plate may receive the
side of the T in the groove, and form adjustment. The T.should exceed the
edge of the plate to adjust it to. the corner of the nearest plates. The uniting
plates g, of 20 inches to the square, with others. of 8 inches to the square,
serve to complete the different dimensions required for the construction of

page_text: the house. These plates are furnished with corners; they may have the
T-pieces, or the latter may be connected according to the requirements of the
adjustment.
Figures 11 and 12 show a longitudinal part and a transverse section of a
double frame, which may be employed for supporting the floors and the ceilings.
The double iron pieces T may pass through the first side of a case, and be
fixed on the second side by means of feet cast on it.
The different means described and represented may be combined with any
kind of adjustment capable of producing the desired result.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details of construction herein laid down, as the same may be
varied without departing the principle of my Invention; but what I claim
as new, and intend to be protected, is,―
First, the general arrangement and construction of iron houses as herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly, the construction and employment of cast-iron cases for the con-
struction of houses as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Tronchon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
TRONCHON, FILS. (L.S.)