Buildings and other Structures.
Year: 1889

page_text: Buildings and other Structures.
I, CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN, of Eldora, Iowa in the United States of America,
Manufacturer of Porous Terra Cotta, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to render the wooden or iron posts, and columns of
buildings and other structures fire-proof in a cheap durable and effective manner; and
to this end my invention consists in surrounding or encasing the same with a cover
or jacket of terra-cotta lumber or a porous burned-brick material constructed as
hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this Specification, Figure 1
represents a cross-section of a tubular iron post or column encased in accordance with
my invention. Figure 2 is an elevation of a column, such as shewn in Figure 1; and
Figure 3 illustrates a modification of my invention.
The terra cotta lumber which I employ as a casing for the posts and columns is
made, in accordance with the specifications of British Letters Patent Nos. 463481 and
No. 1557986. This material by reason of its cellular structure, has been found to be
an excellent non-conductor of heat, and to remain unharmed or intact when subjected,
while hot, to the action of water. I do not, however, desire to limit myself strictly to
the use of said material as any porous burned brick material possessing substantially
The material is
the same characteristics is within the scope of my invention.
preferably worked into the forms desired by the use of edged tools; but said forms
may also be produced by moulding the material, instead of by cutting or sawing.
In the drawings Figure 1 is shewn a tubular iron post or column, as encased by a
covering or jacket of terra cotta lumber composed of two parts B. C. This covering
is from one and one half to three or four inches in thickness, according to the
circumstances of the particular case. The said two parts are produced from a tubular

page_text: moulded piece of the material of any convenient length by sawing the same on the
lines indicated in the drawings. The inner ends of said lines, if the casing is to fit
closely or nearly so, to the post or column, are at or near the ends of a diameter of
said tubular piece and from these points the lines or cuts extend outwardly at an
angle to each other, substantially as shown, so that the smaller piece C, shall have a
wedge-like form and fit the inclined sides of the larger piece B. If the
casing is to stand at some distance from the post or column, the cuts may
be nearer together, relatively considered, but must be at such distance from each
other that the larger piece may be passed around the column. As the casing is
placed around posts and columns after the same have been erected, it is essential in
all cases that the opening in the larger piece be equal to or larger than the external
diameter of the post or column.
In covering a post with the blocks B C a block B is passed around the post at the
base thereof and a block, C, laid in place against block B and united thereto by mortar
joints D and nails E and this operation is repeated for the succeeding courses of
blocks until the post or column is entirely covered. The heads of the nails or spikes
are preferably countersunk into the material, and a finish of stucco H, is subsequently
applied to the latter, which will also serve to conceal the nails. It is preferred to
make mortar joints, for. said joints replace the material lost in cutting or sawing,
and thus said joints serve to secure an even outer surface; but they are not essential
to hold the blocks in place as the nails or spikes will suffice for that purpose..
The blocks B, C, may be moulded in the form shewn ; but this does not give as
satisfactory results as sawing the same from a piece in cylindrical form.
In the modification illustrated in Figure 3.the casing is likewise composed of two
parts, the said parts B C, being rabbeted at their adjoining portions on the outside
and inside, respectively, so as to fit together as shewn. The parts are separately
moulded in this form, and then fastened together before being dried and placed in the
kiln, so as to prevent warping of the parts, which are united by mortar joints and
nails, as in Figure 1. By these constructions a post or column may be quickly
encased, with a fire proof covering consisting of a few pieces, the whole of which is
held in place by a few nails and a few mortar joints.
The fireproof covering or jacket herein described may also be used to encase steam
and other pipes as well as posts and columns.
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 I am aware that it is
not broadly new to encase a column by a porous terra cotta material and this I do
not claim; but what I claim is :-
1. A post or column surrounded by a covering of terra cotta lumber or its equivalent
constructed of two parts, of the form substantially as described and united by nails
passing from one part into the other, substantially as described.
2 A post or column surrounded by a covering of terra cotta lumber or its equivalent
constructed of two parts, of the form substantially as described united by nails
passing from one part into the other and a covering of stucco over all, substantially
as described.
3. A post or column surrounded by a covering of terra cotta lumber or its equivalent,
constructed of two parts, one of which has a wedge like form and is secured to the
other, substantially as described.
4. A post or column surrounded by a covering of terra cotta lumber or its equivalent
constructed of two parts, the smaller of which has a wedge like form, and the larger
an opening sufficiently large to permit it to be passed around a post and fitted to
receive the smaller part, the said parts being nailed together, substantially as
described.
5. A post or column surrounded by a covering of terra cotta lamber or its equivalent
constructed of two parts, one of which has a wedge like form and is nailed to the
other and a finish of stucco over all substantially as described.

page_text: 6. A sectional fire proof covering for posts and columns, consisting of two pieces of
terra cotta lumber or its equivalent one of which has a wedge like form and the other
a form to fit therewith, substantially as described.
7. A sectional fire-proof covering for posts and columns, consisting of two pieces
of terra cotta lumber or its equivalent, the smaller of which has a wedge like form
and the larger a form to correspond therowith, substantially as described.
73
Dated is for day of repruary 1009.
C. C. GILMAN.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents.