IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING AND IN TILES THEREFOR.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Alfred Barlow, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard,
London, Patent Agent and Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROOFING AND IN TILES THEREFOR.' A communication from abroad by Jacob
"
Hilgers, of Rheinbrohl, Rheinpreussen, Germany.
Sealed the 16th August 1878, and dated the 19th February 1878
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Alfred Barlow at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th February 1878.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING AND IN TILES THEREFOR." A com-
munication from abroad by Jacob Hilgers, of Rheinbrohl, Rheinpreussen, Germany.
This Invention relates to roofing or covering over buildings with metal or glass,
and consists in the metal or glass roofing plates formed and framed in a peculiar
manner and laid on one upon another, and thus fastened to the wooden framework
or scantlings.
In carrying this Invention into practice the roofing is preferably to be effected with
galvanized iron plate or sheet iron, but may however be executed in other metal or
in glass. Galvanized iron plate or sheet iron is however to be preferred, and
especially galvanized zinced sheet iron, as the atmosphere has no influence thereon,
and if fire breaks out in the building there is no danger of melting, nor can any
other highly heated substances, not even molten metal, do it any injury.
Inclinations or pitches of not less than 20 degrees are to be recommended in this
new system of roofing, so that the rain water may not enter or work through where the
plates or tiles touch one another, although there is generally space enough left for
the expansion and contraction of the roofing when under the influence of the
changes in temperature of the weather.
In this new system called "Hilger's roofing" specially made sheet metal or
glass plates or tiles are used instead of the ordinary sheets or tiles, which are simply
laid one upon another to overlap.

page_text: The tile which covers over or lays upon the other has at the lower end an
obtuse, angular, stamped, or upward pressed bend, the border or edge of the sheet
however lays flat on the said tile. The latter is at the upper end slightly bent
upwards.
The water which may be driven into the border line, notwithstanding that the
tiles are laid and secured firmly one upon another, finds by means of the upward
bend a free channel or space, whereby the effect of capilliary attraction is minimised.
In the line where the border of the covering sheet or plate is bent upwards and
the other plate touches, said border offers an efficient impediment against the entry
of water, when, which seldom or never happens, the whole space between the two
tiles should be filled with water, and this is one of the essential characteristics of
this Invention. The extent to which the single tiles have to cover one another is
dependent on the pitch or inclination of the roof.
A further characteristic peculiarity of this Invention for roofing will be noticed
in the following:-All the metal and glass plates or tiles heretofore in use have
only two rolls or cushions, that is, one on each side, and consequently it is necessary
that at every covering over place where four plates, sheets, or tiles come together,
four positions or parts of the tiles are laid one upon another, and this is repeated
all over the roof. These improved tiles however have three cushions which allows
of the covering over of the plates being dispensed with. The middle one divides
the tile or sheet in two fields or planes; in each of these fields is a raised part, or an
elevation impressed which adds to the firmness of the sheet and gives a pleasing
appearance to the roofing. According to this system of roofing the lower and first
position or row is executed with whole tiles, the second with half ones with two
cushions, and then continued with tiles having three cushions. The next or third
laying or position commences again with whole ones, and the fourth with half ones,
and so on alternately. In consequence of this method the lowest first laying or
position is at the covering places properly protected, and covered over through the
middle of the whole tile, so that in the whole roofing at the covering over places,
only three sheet layings occur, and the two end cushions of each over covered lower
laying are in this manner regularly over covered by a locked middle cushion.
The problem to allow to the single tiles or plates the requisite liberty for
expansion and contraction, a liberty which is absolutely necessary in metal roofing
in consequence of the change in the atmospheric temperature, especially with
wooden scantlings, is solved in the following manner :-The tiles are only fastened at
the lower broad edge; the upper broad edge is kept fast by the tile which covers it.
In this manner there is no impediment in the extension of each tile in the length,
neither do they become loosened through the expansion and contraction, because
no alteration takes place in the laying or the position of the tiles one against another.
The alterations in the direction of the breadth are taken up through the cushions
which are pressed on to the adjacent tiles and thus rendered harmless.
Respecting the fastening of the tiles on the wood scantlings, which is one of the
most important items in roofing, and the manner in which this is executed with
these tiles in metal and glass, is one of the most important peculiarities and original
parts of this Invention.
Metal and glass tiles have hitherto been fastened to the wood by wood screws.
This method is, if not thoroughly, properly, and conscientiously executed, not at all
to be recommended, the more so as having been completed, nobody is able to
examine if the work has been done properly or not.
It is a well-known fact that a wood screw is only of use if the diameter of the
solid part of the screw and the bored hole correspond, and that only the worm
thread enters into the wood; if, however, the hole be too wide, then the screw
therein is of no use, and it is known by experience that the carpenter, to save
trouble, is inclined to knock such screws into the hole instead of screwing
them in.
To avoid all this and to ensure proper fixing, nails with peculiar heads are used;
these nails have a large round head extending over the cushion, under which a sheet

page_text: of lead is laid. The head has a sharp border which pierces by the hammering into
the lead sheet from above, and against which the border of the hole in the tile
presses from below into the lead. The part of the lead sheet which extends over is
pressed by the head of the nail towards the cushion of the tile, in consequence of
which the hole of the nail is completely closed. The putting in of the nails is
simple; of course the nail is hammered in. The lower part of the nail, which
extends through the wood, is taken hold on to by nippers or pincers, and the point
hammered down at right angles. After this the nail at the point where it extends
out from the wood is knocked so as to bend it over and bring the point of the nail
to touch the wood.
Any further strokes are for the purpose of driving the point of the nail so bent
into the wood and effectually clinch it, whereby the head of the nail is further
drawn down into position.
During the bending process the nail is firmly held by the pincers. In this way
the proper fastening or securing of each nail can be examined, and it can be easily
ascertained if everything has been properly worked and executed; and it is
impossible that the tiles can become loosened, everying depending on the firmness
of the nail.
Further, it is of importance to notice that through the firm holding of the nails
by the pincers held below, and especially through the driving of the point of the
nail into the wood, the fashioned or shaped borders laying one upon another, the
covering tiles are pressed together and thus increase the closeness of the same; and
further, that the whole roofing process, because the tiles are supplied by the manu-
facturers with impressed nail holes, is such easy and simple work that experienced
men are not necessary to do the work.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Alfred Barlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
August 1878.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING AND IN TILES THEREFOR." A com-
munication from abroad by Jacob Hilgers, of Rheinbrohl, Rheinpreussen, Germany.
This Invention relates to roofing or coverings for buildings with metal, glass, or
enamelled metal (iron) roofings, and consists in metal or glass plates formed and
framed in a peculiar manner, and laid or put one upon another, and then fastened
on the wood, or framework, or scantlings.
In carrying this Invention into practice the roofing is preferably to be effected by
or with galvanized iron plates, or enamelled iron, but may be executed in other
metal, or in glass. Galvanized iron plate, or sheet iron galvanized with zinc is
preferred, as the atmosphere has no influence thereon, and if fire breaks out in the
building there is no danger of melting, nor can any other highly heated substance,
not even melted metal, do it any injury.
Inclinations or pitches of not less than 20 degrees are to be recommended in this
new system of roof covering, so that the rain water may not enter or work through
where the plates or sheets touch one another, although there is generally space
enough left for the expansion and contraction of the roofing when under the
influences of the changes of temperature of the weather.
In this new system, so called "Hilger's roofing," specially made sheets (metal or
glass), plates, or tiles are used, marked a, b, c, on the accompanying Sheet of
illustrative Drawings, instead of the ordinary sheets or tiles, which are simply laid
one upon another so as to overlap.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the roof.
Fig. 2, a cross section of the roof transversely of the rafters.
Fig. 3, a cross section of the roofing plates with pressed rolls or beads longi-
tudinally thereof.
Fig. 4, a longitudinal section of the rolls or beads of the roofing plates where they
are put together.
Fig. 5 represents how the nails are drawn and turned for fastening through by
means of pincers or nippers.
Fig. 6, a view showing detail of nail fastening.
The tile plate which covers over or lays upon the other has at the lower edge e,
Fig. 4, an obtuse, angular, stamped, or pressed upward bend g; the border or edge
of the sheet lays flat on the tile. This latter is at its upper end f slightly bent
upward.
Any water which may be driven into the border line at e, notwithstanding that
the tiles are laid firmly one upon another, finds through the upward bend g a free
hollow or empty space, whereby the effect of capillary attraction is minimized or
neutralized.
At the line f where the border of the covering sheet or plate is a little bent
upwards, and the other or covering plate touches this borders, offers a sufficient
impediment against the entry of water, when, which seldom or never takes place,
the whole space between the two tiles or plates should become filled with water,
and this one of the essential characteristics of this Invention. To what extent
therefore the single tiles have to cover one another is dependant on the pitch or
inclination of the roof, high pitched roofs requiring less overlaying than flatter
roofs.
A further characteristic of this Invention for roofing is the following:-All metal
and glass plates or tiles heretofore in use have only two beads, rolls, or cushions, that
is, one on each side, and consequently it is necessary that at every overlaying place
where four plates, sheets, or tiles come together, four positions or parts of the tiles
are laid one upon another, and this is repeated all over the roof. These improved

page_text: tiles however have three cushions or beads a, b, c, Fig. 1, which allows of the over-
laying of the tiles being dispensed with. The middle bead b divides the tile or
sheet into two fields; iu each of these fields is a "raising" or an elevation m provided;
which adds to the firmness of the sheet and gives an ornamental appearance to the
roofing; g is the upward bend at the lower edge of the tile plates before mentioned.
According to this system of roofing the lower and first site or position is laid or
executed with whole tiles, the second with half ones with two beads or cushions. The
third laying or position commences again with whole tiles or plates, and the next
with half ones, and so on alternately. In consequence of this method, the lowest
first laying or position is at the covering or overlaying places properly protected.
and covered over through the middle bead 6 of the whole tile, so that in the whole
roofing at the covering over places only three sheet overlayings occur, and the two
end beads of each over covered lower laying are in this manner regularly over
covered by a locked middle cushion.
The problem to allow to the single tiles or plates the requisite liberty for
expansion and contraction, a liberty which is absolutely necessary in metal roofing
in consequence of the change in atinospheric temperature, especially with wooden
scantlings, is solved in the following manner :-The tiles are only fastened at the
lower broad edge, the upper broad edge being kept fast by the tile which covers it.
In this way there is no impediment to the extension of each tile in the length,
neither do they become loosened by expanson and contraction, because no alteration
takes place in the laying, or the position of the tiles one against another.
Alterations in the direction of the breadth of the tiles are taken up or compen-
sated through the beads or cushions which are pressed on to the adjacent tiles and
thus rendered harmless.
The fastening of the tile plates on the wood scantlings or rafters, which is one of
the most important items in roofing, and the manner in which this is executed with
these improved tile plates in metal and glass, is one of the most important
pecularities and original parts of this Invention.
Metal and glass tiles have hitherto been fastened to the wood by wood screw,
but this method is, if not thoroughly, properly, and conscientiously executed, not at
all to be recommended, the more so as when completed no one is able to examine if
the work has been properly done or not.
It is a well-known fact that a wood screw is only of use if the diameter of the
solid part of the screw and the bored hole correspond, and that only the word
thread enters into the wood. If the hole however be too wide, then the screw
therein is of no use, and it is known by experience the carpenter, to save time,
is inclined to knock such screws into the hole instead of screwing them in.
To avoid all this and ensure proper fixing, nails with peculiar heads are made
and employed; these nails have a large round head, see Fig. 6, extending down
over the bead or cushion of the tile plates, and between which and the nail head is
placed a leaden washer. The head of the nail has a sharp outer edge or downward
turned border, which by the hammering home of the nail becomes embedded in the
leaden washer from above, and the impressed hole in the tile plate presses up
against the under side of the washer, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6, thus completely
closing the nail hole. The putting in of the nail is readily effected; it is hammered
in until the head is tight down over the leaden washer, and the point extends out
through the wood scantling or rafters. The end of the nail which extends out
below is now to be taken hold on to by the nippers, shown in Fig. 5, and the point
knocked over upon it as at a, a, Fig. 4; and then after removing the nippers the
nail is further hammered over, as shown in Fig. 6, from c, d, and thus bring the
point of the nail to touch the wood.
Any further strokes are for the purpose of driving the point of the nail so
bent over into the wood, whereby the head of the nail is drawn further down
into position in consequence of the greater distance from y to d than there is
from x to d.

page_text: The nail is firmly held by the nippers whilst being knocked over.
In this way
the proper fastening or securing of each nail can be examined, and it can be readily
ascertained if everything has been properly worked and executed, and it is im-
possible that the tiles can become loosened, everything depending on the firmness
of the fastening of the nail.
Further, it is of importance to notice that through the firm holding of the nail
by the nippers, and further, the driving in of the point of the nail into the wood,
the fashioned or shaped beads or bends of the covering plates laying one upon
another are pressed tightly together without possibility of shifting or leakage.
Again the tile plates are supplied by the manufacturers with nail holes impressed
therein, so the laying of the roof is extremely easy and simple work, so that
experienced men are not even necessary to do the work.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention in such
wise that the same may be carried into practical effect, I claim,―
First. The improvements in roofing and in tiles therefor, of metal, or specially
zinced sheet iron, or of glass secured on wood framing, as herein set forth and
shown by the Drawings.
Sécond. The metal or glass tile plates with three impressed cushions or beads
a, b, c, as herein described and shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings.
Third. The impressed piece or part g at the lower edge of each plate which
interrupts capillary attraction, or collects the watter driven in by wind, as described
and shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the Drawings.
Fourth. The upward bent upper edge f of each plate, as described, and illustrated
in Fig. 4.
Fifth. The nail with the hollow round head with sharp border or edge in con-
nection with the lead washer, and the impressed hole from below in the beads or
cushions of the tile plates as described, and for the purpose of nailing the tile plates
on the wood framing, the point of which nail is turned down and held by the
nippers, and driven into the wood below to secure and draw the nail, as herein
described, and shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawings.
In witnes whereof, I, the said Walter Alfred Barlow, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
In the presence of
R. GUY,
His Clerk,
6. St. Paul's,
London,
E.C.
WALTER A. BARLOW. (L.S.)