Improvements in Hollow Blocks for Use in the Construction of Fire- and Damp-proof Ceilings, Walls, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hollow Blocks for Use in the Construction of Fire-
and Damp-proof Ceilings, Walls, and the like.
I, JOHANNES FRANZ KLEINE of Erbach on the Rhine, Prussia, Germany'
Architect, 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 manufacture of fire- and damp-proof ceilings, roofs,
walls and the like, by means of hollow blocks made from an incombustible material
having a cross-section preferably of one or other of the following figures,
☐ X Y K Z II
whereby not only is the strength of the ceiling or wall materially increased but at
the same time a considerable reduction in the weight thereof is also gained.
These hollow blocks besides being light and strong have also the advantage of
allowing ceilings, roofs, walls and the like to be erected with great rapidity and at
any season of the year and when placed side by side and finished present a regular
and plane surface. In addition, boardings and centerings are ordinarily not
necessary.
If desired, I may use the hollow spaces in my improved ceilings or walls for
heating and ventilating purposes and in this case they are put in communication
with each other by suitable apertures formed in the sides of the same, or if
preferred suitable pipes may be arranged transversely through these hollow
spaces.
Upon the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrating my invention;-
Figure 1 is a plan view of a ceiling showing the hollow blocks arranged at an
angle between the girders the dotted lines representing the position of the blocks
when arranged at right angles to the girders.
Figure 2, being a longitudinal section in the direction of line a-b of Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a cross section in the direction of line c-d on Figure 1, and
Figures 4, 4, 4B, 4°, 4, 4, 4, 4G, show different forms of the hollow bricks or
tiles.
The hollow blocks m are made of any suitable material such as cement, gypsum,
clay and the like having embedded or not a layer of wirework and one or more
metallic rods for the purpose of imparting to the same greater strength.
In the figures 6 are the metallic rods embedded in the mass m of the hollow
blocks and connecting the latter with each other, and c the wire work or wire
gauze.
In the construction of ceilings according to my invention the aforesaid hollow
blocks may be arranged either obliquely or upright between supports, or side by
side upon the supports.
The lower edge of the hollow blocks may form the surface of the ceiling or it
may be coated with plastering stucco or the like e, the upper edge of the hollow
blocks may be used as a floor or it may serve as a base or support for receiving
any suitable flooring.
In applying the same to the construction of a roof, the only difference between
the two operations lies in the fact that in the case of a roof the blocks are laid at
an angle corresponding to the pitch of the roof and may be covered with any
suitable material.

page_text: In constructing a wall according to my invention I prefer to place the hollow
blocks upright side by side since the weight is better transferred to the foundations
of the wall and further, in this manner the hollow spaces can be far better utilized
for the purposes of heating, ventilating and the like, by means of the apertures d
formed in the sides of the blocks.
The transverse connections may in this case be made of suitable layers of wire
work or of iron rods.
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
claim is :-
In fire and damp-proof ceilings, walls and the like, the use of hollow blocks
formed of incombustible material with or without a metallic insertion, having a
cross section substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Nineteenth day of February 1895.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
Agents.