Improved Fire-proof Flooring, Roofing, Beams, Bressummers, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fire-proof Flooring, Roofing, Beams, Bressummers, and
the like.
I, FREDERICK BLIGH BOND, of 36 Corn Street, Bristol, 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 consists in fire-proof flooring, roofing, beams, bressummers and
the like.
According to this invention, floors, roofs, beams, bressummers and the like are
composed of specially made slabs of terra-cotta, artificial stone, fire-clay, slate,
slag, or other similar suitable material possessing a high degree of rigidity and
resistance to strains. The slabs are arranged in horizontal layers piled so as to
present no continuous straight joints either vertically or horizontally. The upper
or lower or both the upper and lower faces of the slabs may be ridged and
grooved. The layers of slabs, arranged as stated, are united by calcareous or
other cement, or fine concrete, charged, while in a liquid state, into apertures
provided for the purpose in the slabs which are so disposed that holes vertically
continuous through the pile are presented at suitable intervals therein. In the
columns of cement or concrete thus formed are inserted, while the cement or
concrete is still in a liquid state, pins or dowels of slate, terra-cotta, or other
suitable substance. They are centrally or approximately centrally placed in the
columns of cement or concrete. They displace some of it, and the displaced
cement or concrete is thereby distributed laterally between the layers of slabs and
effects cohesion of the layers together as a united body.
In practice, the lowermost layer of slabs would be preferably jointed with
cement in the process of laying.
:
Superposed on the combined layers of slabs is a covering of concrete or similar
substance.
It is to be understood that during the process of laying, the floor, roof or other
structure is formed on a temporary platform or stage which is subsequently
removed.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 represents, in isometrical projection, part of a fire-proof floor or roof
constructed in accordance with one arrangement comprised in this invention. The
necessary top covering of concrete or similar substance is not shown.
In this arrangement the slabs a are rectangular and of the pattern known as
'double-square.' The slabs are of terra-cotta, slate, fire-clay, artificial stone, or
other similar suitable material possessing a high degree of rigidity and resistance
to strains. They are laid in "herring bone" pattern; a mode of disposition which
presents no continuous straight joints either vertically or horizontally. The floor
or roof is shown as having two layers only of slabs, but it is to be understood that
the number of layers will vary with the size of the floor, roof, beam or the like,
and with the duty required of the same. Part of the upper layer is omitted from
Fig. 1 so as to expose the lower layer to view and show the relative positions of
the slabs.
In the slabs a are holes a' situated at determined positions, so that when the
slabs are piled, vertically continuous holes are presented at intervals therein.

page_text: The apertures a¹ are preferably of conical form, but they may be cylindrical or
of other convenient and suitable shape.
Into the holes a¹ is charged cement or fine concrete, and while the columns of
cement thus formed are still in a liquid state, pegs or dowels b of slate, terra-cotta,
or other suitable substance, are inserted in the holes a'.
At Fig. 4 is shown a section with the dowels b in position. At Fig. 5 is
represented a section without dowels. The dowels 6 displace some of the cement
in the holes a¹ and cause it to be distributed laterally between the layers of slabs a
which are thereby united to form a compact and virtually homogeneous body.
The necessary top covering a³ of concrete or other suitable material is shown at
Figs. 4 and 5.
At Fig. 6 is illustrated part of a floor or roof in which slabs c of hexagonal
pattern are employed. They are, like those in Fig. 1, laid so as to avoid the
occurrence of continuous straight joints and to afford continuous cavities c¹ for the
cement. A single hexagonal slab is shown in plan at Fig. 7.
Fig. 8 is an illustration of a single layer of slabs d suitable for employment in
the construction of flooring, roofing, beams and the like in accordance with this
invention. These slabs not only have holes d¹ for cement and dowels, but they are
shaped to present dovetailed recesses d' at their sides and ends so that when laid in
proper juxtaposition the recesses in one slab coincide with those in the adjacent
slabs, thereby forming, when charged with cement, keys uniting the slabs. It is
also to be understood that the layers of slabs are so disposed relatively as to break
joint and so that the holes formed by the recesses dare, like the holes d', vertically
continuous.
The holes d² are, similarly to the holes d', filled with cement, and, if desired, have
dowels also inserted in the cement charged into them. At Fig. 9 is shown, in plan,
a single slab having dove-tailed recesses at the sides and ends. In this slab the
holes in the body thereof are square or rectangular.
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 illustrate further patterns of slabs suitable for employment
in the construction of fire-proof flooring, roofing, beams and the like in accordance
with this invention.
They are intended to be laid in such manner as not to present continuous straight
joints either vertically or horizontally.
Dowels need not be inserted in all the holes shown in these patterns, but in as
many as may be desired.
At Fig. 13 is represented a perspective view of part of a beam, bressummer or
lintel. Fig. 14 is a cross section of such a beam.
The figures illustrate one method of construction comprised in this invention.
The slabs e bave holes e and recesses 2 into which cement is charged; dowels
being inserted in such of the holes and recesses as may be desirable or necessary.
In Figs. 13 and 14 part of the necessary top covering fof concrete, or other suitable
material, is shown. At Fig. 15 is shown an alternative pattern of slab adapted
either for beams and the like, or for floors roofs and the like.
A floor, roof, bressummer, beam, lintel, or the like, constructed and arranged in
accordance with this invention constitutes a virtually homogeneous body possessing
a high degree of resistance to chemical or physical change by the action of fire,
water, air and frost. The construction is economical in character easy to lay and
is well adapted for large square spans.
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 :-
1. Flooring, roofing, bressummers, beams, lintels and the like; cousisting of
perforated or perforated and recessed slabs, tiles or blocks of terra-cotta, artificial
stone, fire-clay, slate, slag or other like or analogous material, piled in layers so
arranged as to present no continuous straight joints vertically or horizontally, and
consolidated and keyed together by cement, concrete, or other suitable adhesive

page_text: substance, charged into the said perforations or recesses, or into some of them: the
whole being surmounted by a covering of concrete or like material, substantially as
hereinabove described.
2. In flooring, roofing, bressummers, beams, lintels and the like constructed and
arranged as in Claim 1 above; dowels or pins of terra-cotta, slate or other suitable
material; said dowels or pins being inserted in the columns or rivets of cement or
concrete in the perforations or recesses in the slabs, or in some of them, while the
said columns or rivets are still in a fluid condition, substantially as hereinabove
described with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1895.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.