Improvements in Fire-proof Construction for Buildings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-proof Construction for Buildings.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street, Strand, W.C., Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication to me from abroad by Godfrey Fugman, of Cleveland,
Ohio, United States of America, Architect, 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 improvements in fire-proof construction for buildings,
and more especially to partitions or walls for buildings.
The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved metallic body
for a partition a body that is strong and durable, and inexpensive in construction,
that requires little labor in its erection; that does not require studding, posts or
uprights for supporting it, and that requires comparatively little plaster in
plastering the body and forms a very adequate support for the plaster.
With this object in view the invention consists in certain features of con-
struction hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of the improved body
for a portion of a partition or wall, and a portion of the body is plastered upon
opposite sides. Fig. II is a side elevation of a portion of the body. Fig. III
is a vertical section on line III-III, Fig. I looking in the direction of the
arrow. Fig. IV shows a portion of the metallic sheet or blank employed in
making the body.
The improved metallic body, that, as already indicated, is more especially
designed for use in constructing partitions or walls for buildings, is made from
a metallic sheet shown in Fig. IV. This sheet is provided with any suitable
number of rows of preferably parallel slits a extending transversely of the
respective row. Adjacent rows of slits are arranged in very close proximity
to each other so as to leave a very narrow plain or unslitted portion a¹ between
adjacent rows of slits. The portion of the sheet, between adjacent slits of each
row of slits, is bent laterally in any approved manner and semi-circularly or
approximately semi-circularly, so as to form a semi-circular or approximately
semi-circular wing, and the portions between the slits of each row of slits are
bent, preferably, alternately, in opposite directions so as to form two rows of
wings, a² and a³, upon opposite sides, respectively, of the body, and so that
the wings of each of the said rows shall alternate with the wings of the other
row.
The slits of each row of slits are arranged, preferably, only a short distance
apart so as to result in the formation of a partition or wall having lateral wings
or arches that are narrow in a vertical direction.
The drawings show a full-sized body suitable for the formation of a com-
paratively thin partition. If a thicker partition is required the slits should be
made longer and a larger blank should be employed so that the wings or arches
shall be wider from end to end.
I would remark, also, that the wings of each row of wings upon each side
of the body are arranged, preferably, so as to alternate with the wings of the
adjacent row or rows of wings upon the same side of the body.

page_text: In the improved body, it will be observed that each wing in each row of wings
upon each side of the body is contiguous endwise with a wing or wings upon the
opposite side of the body and that there is no break or offset between the said
contiguous wings. Any break or offset between the said wings would materially
weaken the partition, and the great importance of having each wing upon each
side of the body, terminate endwise directly in a wing or wings upon the opposite
side of the body is, therefore, obvious. The narrow unslitted portions a' between
the rows of slits in the blank are, when the winged body is formed, out of their
original plane and are arranged at right angles or approximately at right angles
to the said original plane, as shown very clearly in Fig. III, and this is an
important factor in strengthening the body.
I have observed, also, that the circular form of the wings is remarkable, as, to
its capacity for strength and rigidity.
A portion of the body illustrated in Fig. 1 is plastered at b, upon opposite
sides, and it will be observed that the vertically narrow wings of the improved
body form a very adequate support for the plaster.
The circular form of the wings reduces the plastering receiving spaces between
adjacent rows of wings upon each side of the body to a minimum, and any con-
struction that will unnecessarily enlarge the said spaces will result in a waste
of plaster.
In erecting the improved partition or wall no studding, posts or upright supports
are needed. The body is, of course, fastened in any approved manner at the
top and bottom, to the floors or floor-supports above and below, respectively.
It is obvious that the unslitted portions a a¹ at opposite ends, respectively, of
a wing are, by the peculiar formation and arrangement of the wings hereinbefore
described, turned in opposite directions, respectively, so that the metallic con-
nection between adjacent ends of adjacent reversely arranged wings, may be still
further reduced or almost eliminated, by a resulting elongation of the slits
between which the said wings are formed, but this reduction of the integralism
between the said wings does not reduce the strength of the body that, instead
is materially improved in strength by the elimination of a break or offset between
the said wings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
"
1. A body for partitions or walls, made from a metallic sheet that is provided
with slightly separated rows of parallel slits arranged a short distance apart,
and has the portions between the slits bent laterally into a semi-circular or
approximately semi-circular form, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A metallic body for partitions or walls provided with slightly separated
rows of laterally-projecting wings formed a short distance apart upon each side
of the body and having wings in each row of wings arranged alternately and
having the wings in each row of wings alternating with wings of the adjacent row
or rows of wings upon the same side of the body, substantially as shown, for the
purpose specified.
";
3. A metallic body of the character indicated having upright rows of laterally
projecting wings or members upon each side of the body, the wings of each
row alternating with the wings of the opposite row and alternating with the
wings of the adjacent row or rows upon the same side of the body, and each
wing of each row of wings terminating endwise in a wing or wings upon the
body's opposite side without the formation of any break or offset between the
said wings, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.
4. A metallic body of the character indicated, made from a metallic sheet
having slightly separated rows of slits a arranged transversely of the respective
row, which sheet has the portions between the slits of each row of slits bent or
bowed laterally so as to form two rows of wings a³ and a³ arranged upon opposite

page_text: sides, respectively, of the body, the wings of each row of wings alternating with
the wings of the opposite row and alternating with the wings of the adjacent row
or rows of wings upon the same side of the body, and the unslitted portions a¹
between the rows of wings being bent or turned into a position at right angles or
approximately at right angles to the plane of the original sheet, substantially
as shown, for the purpose specified.
1000