Improvements in and connected with Girders.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Girders.
We, HAROLD FOSTER BLADEN, and GEORGE MOORE HORSFIELD both of
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Iron and Steel Merchants, and JOHN BURDON of
Muirmadkin, Bellshill, Engineer, 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 the class of girders generally used in buildings for
supporting floor and ceiling joists.
And in order that our said invention may be properly understood we have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a side view of our improved girder.
Fig. 2 shows an end of a joist.
Fig. 3 shows in plan and Fig. 4 in side view a key or wedge arrangement for the
girder.
Fig. 5 shows in plan, Fig. 6 in side view, and Fig. 7 in section another key or
wedge arrangement.
Fig. 9) and
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 show different methods of finishing the ends of a girder.
Fig. 13 is a plan, Fig. 14 a side view, and Fig. 15 a view taken on the line -
Fig. 14, showing another form of key or wedge arrangement.
Fig. 8 shows in end view (the T bars being sectioned on the line z z
Fig. 9 in side view a form of shoe.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate the same or similar parts.
The girder consists of top and bottom members a, b formed of T bars which are
connected together by two sets of vertical web plates c, d, (see also Fig. 7) rivetted
in place by the sets of rivets e, f. The joists g at their lower sides rest on the
lower member b, and, at their upper sides, they are checked out as at h Fig. 2, so
as to fit into and lie flush with the top member a. i represents in dotted lines a
supporting pillar and j a portion of a stone or brick wall.
The ends of the top and bottom members a, of the girder are preferably fitted
The shoe is made with a recess k¹
into cast iron shoes such as k Figs. 1, 8, and 9.
at top and a recess at bottom for the reception of the webs m of the T bars
and with flanges k³ to which the bars are bolted.
a,
b
If desired the shoes k may be made in two halves or parts indicated by the
dotted line at n (Fig. 8) and the parts be bolted or rivetted together.
In some cases when it is not desired to use the shces, the girders may be finished
off at each end in either of the manners shown at Figs. 10, 11, and 12. Fig. 10
shows an angled end, Fig. 11 a square end and Fig. 12 a curved end.
As the top member a of the girder is subject to compression when supporting a
load, and, as a consequence, is liable to bend downwards in the centre, we, in order
to counteract such tendency and to keep the girder straight and rigid provide a
wedge or key arrangement whereby the top member may be extended. Different
arrangements are shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15.
In Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the top member a is cut right through at o and a tapered
steel or iron key p driven vertically into the opening as shown. This key is
preferably of an oval shape and of a width not greater than the thickness of the
web of the bar so as not to displace, when driven downwards, the central pair of
side plates c, d. In order to allow the parts of the divided member to move apart

page_text: laterally under the influence of the key the top row of rivets e of the central
plates c, d are, passed through oval holes or slots in said plates (see dotted lines
at e¹).
In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 a key p' is used which is driven horizontally into the space o.
In this case the central pair of plates c, d. are cut away at top (see Fig. 6) to allow
space for the key.
In Figs. 13, 14, and 15 the vertical key p² is shown as made with side wings p³.
The top member is also shown as provided with short stiffening plates r, s bolted
to its underside by countersunk bolts t.
The bolts are passed through slots or oval holes in the stiffening plates in order
to permit the divided parts of the member moving laterally. To give sufficient
space for the key p² to pass downwards the central web plates c, d are bulged out
in the middle as indicated at Fig. 13.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. A girder of the class set forth formed of tee bars a, b, and web plates the top
bar or member being cut through at o and a key or wedge driven into the opening.
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with a girder of the class set forth of a metal shoe such as k
Figs. 1, 8 and 9, substantially as hereinbefore set forth..
Dated this 18th day of March 1895.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.