Improvements in Roofing Tiles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roofing Tiles.
I, CHARLES MAJOR of Bridgewater in the County of Somerset Brick and Tile
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the classes of roofing tiles constructed with interlocking
ribs and recesses described in the Specifications annexed to Letters Patent
No. 174982 and No. 292183 granted to me and dated respectively 12th April 1882
and 12th June 1883.
According to my present invention the tiles are provided at the upper end of
their upper side or face with three transverse ribs or ridges and at the under
side of their lower ends with two ribs or ridges which enter the recesses
between the ribs on the upper side of the tile next below it. The tiles described
in my said former Specification No. 292183 are provided with one rib at the lower
end of the underside and with two ribs at the upper end of the upper side but by
means of the extra ribs provided according to my present invention moisture and
snow or wind are more effectually excluded and the tiles are more securely locked
together.
The escape of moisture from between the ribs is provided for by forming an
opening in the middle or intermediate rib on the upper side of the tile and by
providing two openings arranged one at each end of the lower rib. To preclude
the entrance of wind or water through the latter openings they are protected by
short ribs extending for a suitable distance in front of them being preferably
curved downwards so as to facilitate the flow of the water descending from the
tile next above. Or the ribs may be continued without any opening from one side
of the tile nearly to the other side where they are provided with an opening through
which any water present in the recess escapes into the longitudinal recess provided
at the side of the tile for the reception of the rib on the side of the adjacent tile.
In this case suitably inclined chaunels are formed in the transverse recesses for the
passage of the water which is ultimately discharged on to the tile next below and
when combined with tiles having two or more longitudinal curls or ridges passages
for the escape of the water are formed through the ridge or ridges at the upper
end of the tile.
The lower ribs on the face of the tile are bevelled on the upper side but the
lower side preferably projects at about right angles from the surface of the tile in
order to present more effectual resistance to the passage of wind rain or snow that
might otherwise be blown upwards between the adjacent surfaces of the tiles.
In order to prevent wind water or snow from passing through the openings at
the ends of the rolls or curls in the tiles I provide blocks or stops extending half
way across (or thereabouts) the lower ends of the concave sides of the curls and
corresponding blocks or stops are provided on the convex sides of the ridges or
curls at the upper ends of the tiles which blocks or stops form part of the ribs
hereinbefore described. These blocks or stops at the middle part of the upper end
of the tiles fill up the openings in the roll at the side of the tile next above when
the tiles are arranged so as to break joint and the sides of the tiles at the part
lying under the roll of the adjacent tile are notched or recessed so as to interlock
with the ribs on the projecting blocks or stops.
Dated this 17th day of August 1802
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: I, CHARLES MAJOR of Bridgewater, in the County of Somerset, Brick and Tile
Manufacturer 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 relates to what are known as Bridgewater tiles and has reference
more particularly to the roofing tiles constructed with interlocking ribs and
recesses described in the Specification to Letters Patent granted me and dated
respectively 12th April 1882 No. 1749 and 12th June 1883 No. 2921.
According to my present invention the tiles are each provided at the upper end
of its upper side or face with three transverse ribs or ridges and at the under side
of its lower end with two ribs or ridges which latter when the tiles are placed in
position on a roof enter the recesses between the ribs on the upper side of the tiles
next below it. The tiles described in my said former Specification No. 29218 are
provided with one rib at the lower end of the underside and with two ribs at the
upper end of the upper side but by means of the extra ribs provided according to
my present invention moisture and snow or wind are more effectually excluded and
the tiles are more securely locked together.
The escape of moisture from between the ribs is provided for by forming
openings in the middle or intermediate rib on the upper side of the tile and similar
openings in the lower rib arranged out of line with those in the middle rib. To
preclude the entrance of wind or water through the latter openings they are
protected by projections or short ribs extending for a suitable distance in front of
them and preferably inclined or curved downwards so as to facilitate the flow of the
water. Or the ribs may be continued without any opening from one side of the tile
to nearly the other side where they are provided with an opening through which
any water present in the recess escapes into a longitudinal recess provided at the
side of the tile for the reception of the rib on the side of the adjacent tile. In this
case suitably inclined channels are formed in the transverse recesses for the
passage of the water which is ultimately discharged on to the tile next below and
when combined with tiles having two or more longitudinal curls or ridges passages
for the escape of the water are formed through the ridge or ridges at the upper end
of the tile.
The lower ribs on the face of the tile are bevilled but the lower side preferably
projects at about right angles from the surface of the tile in order to present more
effectual resistance to the passage of wind rain or snow that might otherwise be
blown upwards between the adjacent surfaces of the tiles.
In order to prevent wind water or snow from passing through the openings at the
ends of the ridges or curls in the tiles I provide blocks or stops extending half way
across (or thereabouts) the lower ends of the concave sides of the curls and corre-
sponding blocks or stops are provided on the upper ends of the convex sides of the
ridges or curls. These blocks or stops at the middle part of the upper end of the
tiles fill up the openings in the roll at the side of the tile next above when the tiles
are arranged so as to break joint and the sides of the tiles at the part lying under
the curl of the adjacent tile are notched or recessed so as to interlock with the ribs
on the projecting blocks or stops.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1 and 2-represent respectively the upper and under faces of an angularly
triple channelled tile constructed according to my invention and

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 represent in front elevation and vertical section respectively
several of these tiles placed in position on a roof.
Figures 5 and 6 represent respectively the upper and under faces of a similar tile
showing a modification in the form of the transverse ribs and in the arrangements of
the channels for carrying off the water and
Figure 7 shows in longitudinal section several of these tiles placed in position on
a roof.
Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views similar to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 showing my
improvements in what is known as a "double Roman tile" and
Figure 12 is a view of the upper face of a similar tile showing a modified
arrangement of the passages for the escape of water.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, on the upper end of the upper face of each tile are
formed three transverse ribs or ridges A A² and A' and on the lower end of the
underface of each tile are formed two transverse ribs or ridges B and B². When
the tiles are placed in position on a roof the ribs or ridges B B2 enter the
recesses C C between the ribs A A2 A3 of the adjacent lower tiles whilst the
middle rib A2 on the said lower tiles enters the recess C3 between the ribs B B* on
underface of the adjacent upper tile. The middle rib A2 has notches or openings a³
therein for the escape of any water that may collect in the recess C similar notches
or openings a³ being also provided in the lower rib A³ the notches or openings a²
being out of line or breaking joint with the notches as which latter notches are
situated at the bottom of the channels or corrugations of the tile so that water will
pass freely from the recesses C C² onto the tiles below and thence off the roof.
Opposite the notches or openings a³ are projections & which prevent snow wind or
rain from passing through these notches or openings to beneath the tiles. The
ribs A A2 A3 and also the ribs B B² extend from one longitudinal edge of the tile
to within a short distance from the opposite edge, at which latter part there is
formed in the upper face a longitudinal recess or channel C with which the
channels C C communicate. When the tiles are placed in position on a roof the
contiguous longitudinal edge of the adjacent side tile is placed in the recess C
the upper end of which is made wider than the other portion to receive the flat
part de formed on the upper end of the contiguous edge of the said adjacent side
tile so that any water that may pass through the junctions of the contiguous side
tiles will enter the recesses or channels C and pass away at the lower end thereof.
Flat parts are formed at the upper end of each longitudinal channel in the tile
the said flat parts extending from the upper edge of the tile to the bottom rib or
projection A³ to receive the flat parts d³ formed on the ribs B B2 on the underside
of the next row of tiles above so that the joints between the tiles of each horizontal
row may be arranged to break joint at either channel with the joints between the
tiles in the next row both above and below.
Projecting from the under face at the upper end of each tile are lugs or
projections D which when the tiles are placed in position on a roof engage the
laths or battens E as shown in Figure 4 so as to retain the tiles in position.
Instead of the channels in the tile being of angular form as shown they may be
curved.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the rib A on the upper
end of the upper face of the tile is made to project above the face to a greater
height than the ribs A2 A³ so as to insure increased security against the
admission of wind rain or snow to beneath the tiles above. The upper rib B*
on the under side of the tile is also inade to project from the under face of the
tile to about the same extent as the rib A so as to effectually engage the
rib A on the adjacent tile below when the tiles are placed in position on
roof. In consequence of the increased height of the ribs A and C the tiles
are raised at their lower ends from the surface of tiles below which they
overlap, to a greater extent than is the case with the arrangement illustrated
in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and in order to reduce the apparent increased thickness
of the tile and also to equalise the general thickness of the clay to prevent
a

page_text: damage in the manufacture by unequal contraction the lower part of the upper
face of the tile is stepped as shewn at F. The openings or notches in the
transverse ribs or ridges A' A³ hereinbefore described may in some cases be
omitted and the said ribs or ridges be made continuous from one edge to near
the opposite edge of the tile. In Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 which illustrate
Roman tile with two curls or ridges G the notches or openings in the transverse
ribs AA are dispensed with, any water that may collect in the recesses C C
between the ribs A A2 A3 in this case passing into the longitudinal channel or
recess C₁ which receives the edge of the adjacent side tile when placed in position
on a roof.
&
The ribs or ridges A A² A³ extend round the upper ends of the curls or
ridges G portions of which are cut away or formed where the recesses C C
are situated, so as to permit of the free passage of water from the recesses
into the channel or recess C and in order to facilitate the escape of the water,
these recesses C C are deepened at their lower edges as shewn at c¹ Fig. 8.
The lowermost rib A³ is bevelled or rounded outwards and downwards as shewn,
so as to cast off the water which may flow from the tiles above and thus prevent
the water from entering between the said rib and the lower edge of the upper tiles.
Similar curved or bevelled ribs or fillets may be provided at the junctions of the
curls G with the face or flat part of the tile as shewn at g.
In the lowermost row of tile shewn in Figure 10 and also in Figure 12 the tiles
are provided with notches or opening in the transverse ribs A2 A3 for the escape
of water from the recesses C C² the openings in the rib A³ being shielded or
protected against the entrance of rain snow or wind by curved projections d which
deflect downwards over the surface of the tile any rain coming into contact
therewith.
As a further security against the entrance of wind rain or snow to beneath the
tiles a block or stop 3 extends partly across the lower end of the concave side
of the curl or ridge G which is at the edge of the tile, and the upper end of
the convex side of the coil or ridge G which is in the middle of the tile is
cut away or formed to receive the block 2 so that when the tiles are placed
in position with the tiles breaking joint the ends of the curls are closed so that
no water can have access to beneath the curls.
In the lower end of one edge of each tile are notches f with which engage the
ribs A and A2 on the adjacent tile below when placed in position on the roof as
shown at the upper left hand corner of Figure 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A roofing tile such as is known as a triple channelled tile having on the upper
end of its upper face three transverse ribs or ridges, and on the lower end of the
under face two transverse ribs or ridges which latter when the tiles are placed in
position on a roof enter the spaces or recesses between the ribs or ridges on the
upper face of the tiles next below the tiles being capable of being arranged to
break joint at either of the channels with the adjacent rows of tiles above and
below substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. A roofing tile such as is known as a triple channelled tile having on the upper
end of the upper face three transverse ribs or ridges and on the lower end of the
under face two transverse ribs or ridges, the two lower ridges on the upper face
having notches or openings therein for the escape of water from the spaces or
recesses between the ribs or ridges the openings in the lowermost ridge being
shielded so as to prevent the entrance of water to beneath the tiles above when
placed in position on a roof substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
3. A roofing tile such as is known as a double Roman tile having on the upper

page_text: end of the upper face three transverse ribs or ridges and on the lower end of the
under face two transverse ribs or ridges the spaces or recesses between the ribs or
ridges on the upper face communicating with a longitudinal recess formed near one
edge of the tile in which longitudinal recess is placed one edge of a contiguous side
tile when the tiles are placed in position on a roof the upper end of the curl in the
centre of the tile being formed to receive a projection or projections formed on the
lower end of the concave side of the outside curl of the adjacent tile above.
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. A roofing tile such as is known as a double Roman tile having on the upper
end of the upper face three transverse ribs or ridges the lowermost rib or ridge
having notches or openings therein for the escape of water from the spaces or
recesses between the said ribs or ridges the said opening or notches being
shielded or protected by projections (d) to prevent rain passing through
these notches or openings to beneath the tiles when placed in position on a
roof substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4
and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A roofing tile such as is known as a double Roman tile having on the upper
end of the upper face three transverse ribs or ridges the central and lowermost ribs
or ridges having notches or openings therein, for the escape of water from the
spaces or recesses between the ribs or ridges, the notches or openings in the lower-
most rib being shielded or protected against the entrance of rain or snow there-
through to the spaces or recesses, by downwardly curved ribs substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying
drawings.
6. Roofing tiles constructed substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated respectively in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, Figures 5, 6 and 7, Figures 8, 9,
10 and 11, and Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of April 1894
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.