IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF FIREPROOF HEARTHS AND OTHER FIREPROOF PARTS OF BUILDINGS
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
We ALFRED DISS of West Bergholt in the County of Essex, Builder and
Contractor and HARRY GOODEY of Colchester in the said County, Mason, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
AND MANUFACTURE OF FIREPROOF HEARTHS AND OTHER FIREPROOF PARTS OF
BUILDINGS," 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 peculiar construction and mode of manufacture of
fireproof hearths and other fireproof parts of buildings such for example as
chimney pieces, window heads, string courses, door jambs, frontice pieces, and the
like and consists in moulding such parts of buildings from a composition or
concrete composed of any suitable cement and aggregate properly mixed together
in any suitable or well known proportions said moulded concrete article being
strengthened (when found desirable) by metal bars of any desired shape or section
embedded therein, and ornamented in whole or in part on the outer or exposed
surface by glazed or unglazed tiles of any suitable design or material caused to
adhere to the concrete body the whole constituting an economical ornamental and
durable fireproof object or article suitable for use in various parts of buildings.
In carrying out our said invention we employ moulds of wood, metal, stone,
plaster of Paris, or other suitable materials which moulds may be made to any size
and shape or design according to the article required. For Hearths for example
the moulds may be provided or not with a sinking for a curb or fender. These
moulds may be made in one or in two or more parts so arranged as to be easily put
together and taken asunder after the Hearth or other object has been moulded so
as to readily release the article and enable the moulds to be used for a number of
times. Having prepared the moulds we cover the whole or part of the inside
thereof with any suitable anti-adhesive material or substance such for example as
Linseed or other oil so that the composition or concrete composing portions or the
whole of the Hearth, Chimney piece, Window head, or other like article or object
being moulded shall be easily removed from the mould without adhering thereto.
We then place in such parts of the mould as may be desirable or over the whole
surface thereof glazed or unglazed tiles of any shape size, design, or pattern,
moulded bricks Terra Cotta ware, Glass tiles, metal or other Castings, or a layer of
any suitable material serving to form a finished or ornamental surface to the
'

page_text: finished article when moulded the said Tiles when employed being placed in the
moulds with their ornamental surface downwards or in such other position, in
the moulds that when subsequently removed from the mould along with the main
body of the moulded article they form the outside surface thereof. We then make
a composition or concrete composed of any cement and aggregate usually employed E
for concrete and mix the same together in the ordinary way and we fill in the said
moulds with the said concrete or composition to any desired depth and embed (when
found desirable) in the said concrete or composition whilst in a wet state bars of
iron of T, L, or other suitable section and of any desired dimensions laid or disposed. -
in any position best adapted for imparting strength to the moulded article or object. 1
The article is then left in the mould for a sufficient time to become set when it can
be removed therefrom and is then ready for fixing, forming in the case of Hearths,
for example, a perfectly fireproof slab which can be fixed at small cost and without
the necessity for trimming out the joists or for the use of trimmer arches...
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a plan of our improved Hearth
manufactured in the manner described and provided with ornamental tiles embedded
therein as specified, and with a raised curb cast or moulded in one piece therewith.
Figure 2 shows a vertical transverse section of the same taken along the line A-A,
in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an elevation of a window head also moulded or cast in
the manner specified with ornamental tiles on the face thereof and Figure 4 is a
vertical transverse section of the same taken along the line B-B showing tiles on the .
Soffit as well as on the face. In these Figures a is the concrete moulded body. of
the article or object. b (figures 1 and 2) is the curb or fender moulded or cast in
one with the Hearth. cc (figures 3 and 4) are the ornamental tiles or other
ornamental facing for the exposed parts of the article or object on which the
concrete is cast in the moulds as herein before described, and d d are the
strengthening bars or ribs of metal or other suitable material embedded in the
concrete. The dotted lines in figure 1 show the direction in which we prefer to
dispose these strengthening bars in Hearths of our improved manufacture.
Having now particularly described and ascertained. the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. Hearths and other fireproof parts of buildings, such as chimney pieces,
window heads, string courses, door jambs, frontice pieces and the like composed of
moulded concrete or similar composition or cement faced over the whole or a
portion of the exposed surface with ornamental tiles or other ornamental facings
and strengthened or not as required by metal bars or rods embedded in the body of
the article substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The mode of manufacture of Hearths, Chimney pieces, Window heads, string
courses, door jambs, frontice pieces and other like fireproof parts of buildings, by
casting or moulding the said articles from concrete or similar composition or cement
in suitable moulds previously lined over the whole or a portion of those parts
corresponding to the outer or exposed surface of the moulded article with
ornamental tiles or other ornamental facings and finally embedding (when found
desirable) in the moulded concrete or composition whilst in a wet state strengthen-
ing bars of metal substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated thin fifth d
SM 1005
•