Improvements in Fire-proof Buildings and Appliances for use in the Construction thereof.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1891-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1891
[Communicated from abroad by THE UNITED STATES FIRE-PROOFING COMPANY,
a Corporation existing under the Laws of the State of Illinois, U.S.A., of
1223, Chamber of Commerce Buildings, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., Manu-
facturers.]
Improvements in Fire-proof Buildings and Appliances for use in the
Construction thereof.
1 CHARLES AUBREY DAY, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, of 321,
High Holborn, in the County of London, 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 main purpose of the invention is to provide a fire proof floor, ceiling or roof,
such as shall be suitable for use in hotels, ware-houses, or other buildings, and in
viaducts, etc., the design being to furnish a floor of simple and compact structure,
which can be easily and quickly laid and capable of withstanding heavy loads or
strains According to the proposed plan, a series of strands, or a fabric ordinarily
of metal wire, is drooped across the tops of the beams of the structure and serves
to sustain the mass of fire-proof material by which the spaces between the beams
are filled.
In the accompanying drawings, like letters of reference denote like parts of
structure throughout:
Sheets I-III: Figure 1 shows in sectional view, a floor-structure embodying the
invention, with beams, fabric, and filling, and the temporary staging in position, as
usual in the process of manufacture;
Figure 2 is a section-view of the completed floor with its surface coat or finish,
the temporary staging being removed.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of floor-structure, exhibiting a
compound beam and double fabric suitable for wide spans or unusual loads.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a floor with simple catenary droop to the fabric.
Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1 ; and
Figure 6 a plan view of a portion of the fabric or netting.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 exhibit modified shapes or types of the floor-structure.
Extending in usual fashion to the walls or girders of the building are the series
of beams A, arranged at proper distance apart with reference to the load they
carry. The beams may be of wood or iron, and in the form shown are of the
familiar I-pattern generally adopted for structural purposes. Over the tops of the
beams A is carried the fabric or netting B preferably made of metal wire, and having
its main strands which extend from beam to beam in meshed or interlaced with
the cross strands e to constitute a stout support. The strands are generally made
heavier than the cross-strands because subjected to a greater duty in carrying the
load. The strands e serve as braces or stays in distributing the strain and furnish
with the main strands proper interlocks to aid in thoroughly embedding and
retaining the concrete filling C.
6
At the outset, the free terminal of the fabric B is lapped around the last or end
I-beam of the series (Figs. 1 and 2) and has its strands & secured together as shown
for the purpose of holding the fabric against slip or displacement. The fabric is
laid from beam to beam over the tops thereof, and droops between the same so that
ordinarily the main portion of the concrete filling C at the centre of the arch or
span shall there be above the line of the netting. The fabric may be drooped
between the I-beams in simple catenary form (Fig. 4), or as preferred in practice,

page_text: is strained to assume a position under tension, in which the strands will act
somewhat as chords or braces in carrying the load, and in withstanding sudden shocks
or strains.
A temporary staging is provided which acts to retain the plastic cement until it
has properly set or hardened within the pockets that exist between contiguous
beams. The staging consists of the girders D mounted upon the I-beams A, and
by through-bolts and nuts d carrying the lower companion girder E and the floor-
boards e arranged slightly below the I-beams A. The upper timbers D generally
rest upon spacing blocks f Fig. 1) at the I-beams, which blocks enable the workmen
to obtain ready access beneath the timbers D, so that the flooring can there be
smoothly finished beneath and at the proper level. The temporary flooring having
been located in proper position with the fabric drooping from beam to beam, and
over the same, a metal cross-bar (T-iron) is preferably placed at the sag or lowest
level of the fabric in position beneath the screw-jacks H. By adjusting the jacks H
so as to bear upon the cross-bars G, the fabric B is brought under tension or strain,
which latter is capable of nice adjustment, and is rendered substantially equal for
the several pockets of the floor, so that the strains on the I-beams A are evenly
distributed at both sides. The presence of the cross-bars G enables the jacks H to
be applied to the fabric with substantially uniform effect throughout.
Any of the usual concretes or plastic compositions, which set or harden upon
exposure, can be employed as a filling for the floor pockets, preference being had
for those which are tenacious and fire-resisting; light and capable of withstanding
severe crushing strains as well. Experience has shown that a compound consisting
of fibrous material such as asbestos, saw-dust or cork, incorporated with plaster-of-
Paris, caustic lime, and hydraulic cement, is quite satisfactory for the purpose.
The ingredients named may be variously combined as follows:
Fibrous material -
Hydraulic cement
Caustic lime
Plaster-of-Paris
i
25 to 80%
3 to 10%
2 to
5%
15 to 20%
The material is mixed with water to about the consistency of stiff mortar, and is
filled into the floor pockets, so as to completely incase the netting B and enclose
the I-beams A both above and below. A cap (Figure 4) of stout paper or the
like, may be set over the upper face of the beams A to receive the fabric B. The
caps i serve as guards to prevent the fabric from being torn or otherwise injured
by contact with the joists or beams. The floor-pockets are filled in succession, and
when the entire series is completed and the composition has sufficiently set, the
temporary staging is removed and shifted to new position. The lower ends of the
jacks Hare easily withdrawn from the filling compound in which they are
embedded and the holes thus left are filled in. A top dressing (Figure 2) of finer
quality of cement can be laid across the flooring if desired, although in many
instances the body filling itself may be carried to the upper level indicated for the
top dressing and thus complete the protection of the I-beams against exposure.
For spans of unusual reach, say 20 feet or more, or where the load to be carried
is unusually great, a compound beam (Figure 3) consisting of the double I-beam A'
secured together by spacing bolts and sleeves a', can be substituted for the simple
I-beam ordinarily employed. Protecting caps or plates are arranged at the
upper and lower faces of the compound beam and in the example shown a double
fabric or netting B1 B2 is extended from beam to beam to sustain the filling and the
superposed load. Cross bars G are mounted as usual in effecting the desired
tension upon the fabric. It is obvious that instead of the double netting, there
may be three or more distinct fabrics distributed at various distances apart, and
embedded within the filling, if the load to be carried should require such additional
strength to be given.
For a ceiling finish, the under part of each pocket may be arched or cambered
(Figure 8) or left in truss-like form (Figure 9) if desired. Such constructions

page_text: serve also to reduce the body of the filling so that the dead weight thus carried by
the fabric is correspondingly lessened. To the same end, it may be advisable at
times to provide a series of hollow tiles or cores m, no (Figure 7) previously
prepared, and of proper size and contour to be sustained in place from the temporary
staging. Plastic composition can be snugly tamped about such cores, the shape
and material whereof serve in lieu of the composition, which they displace, as a
means for strengthening the filling and rendering it solid.
may
In lieu of the fabric or netting proper, it be advisable or sufficient at times,
especially where the strain is comparatively slight, to provide a series of simple
strands alone, such strands being arranged side by side at proper distance apart (as
with the fabric) and drooping over and between the I-beams in like fashion as if
the fabric were employed.
Sheet IV exhibits a modified form of tile-filling for the pockets or spaces between
the beams of the floor.
Figure 1 is a view of the floor-section with the drooping support and tile-filling
shown united together in place.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 1-1 of Figure 14.
Figure 3A is a perspective view of one of the lower tile-sections.
Figure 4A is a perspective view in half section of one of the upper tiles.
The strand or fabric support a extends across and between the tops of the
beams A in manner already described, to sustain the weight or burden of the filling
between the beams.
The lower tile shapes B are first set in place, their bases resting directly upon
the temporary staging, and by soffit-joint e, at their outer ends, against the flanges
of the beams A. The upper incline faces of the tile-sections B have dove-tailed
insets dat various points, to receive the portion of the plastic composition which
firmly locks the tile to the other parts of the filling. Longitudinal grooves
(Figure 34) may be used on the tile B for like purpose. After the lower tiles are
set in place, the wire supporter a is extended to position, and a plastic concrete e
thrown into the beam pocket until the supporter a is thoroughly embedded therein:
At the centre of the span, the plastic concrete penetrates beyond the supporter a
and serves as a key to hold the lower tiles B in place. The upper tiles C are
then set upon the plastic mass e, which latter penetrates between the spaces thereof
to bind the tiles in place. Having closed the beam-span it is merely necessary to
apply a surface finish and to key the places g beneath the base flanges.
Sheet Vexhibits another modified form and arrangement of tile-filling for the
floor structure.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a floor showing the usual beams with intermediate
pocket fillings constructed according to the modified plan.
Figure 2 is a similar view displaying the fillings in course of construction.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a tile piece.
Figure 4" a detail showing one of the hook-loops.
The strand or fabric support a, instead of simply drooping or extending diagonally
toward the centre of the span is here shown bent abruptly down near the I-beams A,
and is made to extend thence in nearly horizontal plane along the lower level of
the beam span. This permits a series of tile D of substantially uniform size and
contour to he used for the major part of the floor-filling. The strand or fabric
supporter a having been set in position, the plastic cement is thrown into the
pocket until the strands a are covered thereby. The tile series D are then laid in
the plastic mass and the pocket filling completed. The hook e may be used as an
aid in holding the tile in place.
Sheet VI exhibits a jack-screw used in stretching the supporting wire strands of
the filling.
Figure 1 shows the jack-screw applied in effecting the necessary tension.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the jack-screw mounted in place.
Figure 3 is a like view at right angles to the section shown in Figure 2º.

page_text: Figures 4 and 6c are cross section views on line 4-4 and 6-6 (Figure 2º)
respectively, and
Fig. 5 is a cross section view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3º.
The ram g has a notched head which clips the tongue of the cross bar i resting
against the sag of the strand supporter 6. The ram has a rectilineal play in its
housing d, a pin & on the ram engaging with the slot of the housing to prevent
rotation. The screw-spindle m sustained by a collar n from the housing d, engages
the ram to advance or retract the same. Tic-plates extend from the housing d
to clip the temporary girders B.
Sheet VII shows a clamp for holding the temporary girders against the thrust of
the jack-screws.
Figure 1 is a general view showing the clamps in operating position.
Figure 2" is a side view and
Figure 3 an end view of one of the clamps.
Figure 4" is a perspective view of a clamp jaw.
The jaws of the clamp are joined together by a cross bar , which over-lies
the temporary girders B. Each clamp has a double purchase on the I-beam A
beneath, and when in place serves to retain the girders B against the thrust of
the jack-screw d, when the latter is applied to effect the tension of the wire
supporter c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In fire-proof structures, the combination with the beams, of the wire strands
extending over and drooped between the same, and the span-filling sustained by
said strands, substantially as described.
2.In fire-proof structures, the combination with the beams, of the wire fabric
extending over and drooped between the same, and the concrete span filling wherein
said beams and fabric are embedded, substantially as described.
3. The method of laying fire-proof floor structures which consists in drooping
a wire fabric over and between contiguous beams, embedding the beams and fabric
in plastic concrete and maintaining the fabric under tension, whilst the concrete
filling sets, substantially as described.
4. In fire proof structures, the combination with the beams, of the strand or
fabric support extending over and depressed between them, and the section tile
united together and to the support by plastic concrete, substantially as described.
5. In laying fire proof floors, the combination with the beams and with the
strand or fabric support extending over and drooped between them, of the temporary
girders, the clamps or grapples between said girders and the beams, and the tension
jack mounted upon said girders and bearing against the support, substantially as
described.
Dated this 7th day of July 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.