Improvements in Terra-cotta Fireproof Construction.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1888
Complete Left, 15th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
Improvements in Terra-cotta Fireproof Construction.
I, MARK HENRY BLANCHARD, of The Terra-Cotta Brick and Tile Works, Bishop's
Waltham, in the County of Hants, Terra-Cotta, Brick, and Tile Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
I take properly prepared plastic clay of a fireproof mixture and character, and
mould the same into slabs, blocks, tiles, or any required shape whatever for columns,
cornices, walls, roofs, cielings, and such like purposes in building construction.
then prepare moulds (plain or ornamental), formed of wood, plaster of paris, or any
other suitable material for moulding the object or article intended to be made. I then
spread plastic clay over the surface of such mould, and form annular chambers
through the thickness of the same by inserting round iron rods, tubes, or round wood
cores through or into collars to receive the same. I then work the said plastic clay
round and about the rod, tube, or cores, and when so covered to the required thickness
I insert another rod, tube, or core in a similar manner, and follow the same system
throughout the body or bulk of the article being made.
When a sufficient number is placed to cover the same over to form the face or
surface, I then place the article aside until sufficiently stiffened or dried, and then
withdraw the rods, tubes, or cores, leaving annular chambers, holes, or passages
throughout the mass so made. The mould is then removed, and the article allowed to
dry. When sufficiently dried it is placed in the kiln to be burnt or fired.
The aforesaid annular or hollow chambers allow the hot air or vapour to pass
through them, and the moulded form is thus preserved from distortion, and the body
of the material more effectually and equally vitrified throughout.
For making plainer articles I pass the plastic clay through moulding dies or
orifices to form the tiles or slabs with zigzag edges, with suitable cores to form
annular chambers through the body or substance of the article, by means of steam,
hydraulic, or other power.
When fired, I use these articles in making fireproof floors and cielings, by placing
the same together round iron stanchions, columns, girders, and joists, and into the
indentations made to receive the same, in the substance of the terra-cotta slabs, tiles,

page_text: or blocks; thereby effectually protecting the iron from the action of fire, and forming
floors, cielings, or roofs; and by placing the slabs, blocks, and tiles one on the other
horizontally, fireproof walls and partitions are obtained.
The side edges of the tiles and springers are made of a zigzag or corrugated form;
and when the tiles &c. are so placed on the springers, on each side of the iron joist, to
the number required to fill up the space to be covered, I insert one or more keys
horizontally, fitting into the edges of the last two side tiles to the centre, and then run
the joint with cement, mortar, plaster of paris, or any other suitable material. When
the joints are sufficiently set, I clean off and point the same.
By the aforesaid method of keying and locking the joints together (the ends of the
tiles, slabs, and springers being joggle jointed), it becomes impossible for the tiles to
fall, no matter how strong a fire there may be surrounding the construction.
When it is desired to lay wood flooring or parquetting on the same, I prepare
joggle-holes in the upper surface of the tiles or slabs, of the size required, to receive
molten lead, and then screw the dowelled, rabbeted, or parquetted flooring into the
said lead plugs, securely fastening the same to the terra-cotta thereby, and doing away
with scantling timber, as usually laid in concrete, and which often springs and gets
loose, without any means of tightening the same when the wood floors are laid and
completed.
RICHARD JORDAN,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for Mark Henry Blanchard.

page_text: Improvements in Terra-cotta Fireproof Construction.
1 I, MARK HENRY BLANCHARD, of The Terra-Cotta Brick and Tile Works, Bishop's
Waltham, in the County of Hants, Terra-Cotta, Brick, and Tile Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
I take properly prepared plastic clay of a fireproof mixture and character, and
mould the same into slabs, blocks, tiles, or any required shape whatever, for columns,
cornices, walls, roofs, cielings, steps, stairs, and such like purposes in building
construction. I then prepare moulds (plain or ornamental) formed of wood, plaster
of paris, or any other suitable material for moulding the object or article intended to
be made. I then spread plastic clay over the surface of such mould, and form
annular chambers through the thickness of the same by inserting round iron rods,
tubes, or round wood cores through or into collars to receive the same. then work
the said plastic clay round and about the rod, tube, or cores, and when so covered to
the required thickness I insert another rod, tube, or core in a similar manner, and
follow the same system throughout the body or bulk of the article being made.
When a sufficient number is placed to cover the same over to form the face or
surface, I then place the article aside until sufficiently stiffened or dried, and then
withdraw the rods, tubes, or cores, leaving annular chambers, holes, or passages
throughout the mass so made.
The mould is then removed, and the article allowed to dry. When sufficiently
dried it is placed in the kiln to be burnt or fired. The aforesaid annular or hollow
chambers allow the hot air or vapour to pass through them, and the moulded form is
thus preserved from distortion, and the body of the material more effectually and
equally vitrified throughout. For making plainer articles I pass the plastic clay
through moulding dies or orifices to form the tiles or slabs with zigzag edges, with
suitable cores to form annular chambers through the body or substance of the article,
by means of steam, hydraulic, or other power.
When fired, I use these articles in making fire-proof floors and cielings, by placing
the same together round iron stanchions, columns, girders, and joists, and into the
indentations made to receive the same, in the substance of the terra-cotta slabs, tiles,
or blocks, tying the whole together with tie rods, or iron tubes (with suitable nuts,
washers, and sockets) passing through the same: thereby effectually protecting the
iron from the action of fire, and forming floors, cieling, or roofs, and by placing the
slabs, blocks and tiles one on the other horizontally, fire-proof walls, partitions and
other parts of the building are obtained. The iron tubes may be kept charged with
water, or utilized for the injection of steam, with fusible or suitable plugs, ready for
any emergency (where firemen and others are unable to penetrate in consequence of
the smoke and other vapours) in any part of the building, by. suitable arrangements,
which may be applied and caused to act by appliances fixed to the external part of the
building.
The side edges. of the. blocks, slabs, tiles, and springers are made of a zigzag or
corrugated form: and when the blocks &c. are so placed on the springers, on each
side of the iron joist, to the number required to fill-up the space to be covered, I
insert one or more keys horizontally, fitting into the edges of the last two side tiles,
to the centre, and then joint-up and run the joints with cement, mortar, plaster of

page_text: paris, or any other suitable material. When the joints are sufficiently set, I clean off
and point the same. By the aforesaid method of keying and locking the joints
together, (the ends of the blocks, slabs, tiles, and springers being joggle-jointed), it
becomes impossible for the blocks &c. to fall, no matter how strong a fire there may
be surrounding the construction, and the joggle joint prevents smoke, effluvia, or
smells from passing from one apartment to the other. When it is desired to lay
wood flooring or parquetting on the same, or fixing panel work or framing to walls,
partitions, and cielings, I prepare joggle holes (while in the plastic state and previous
to firing) in the upper or outer surface of the blocks &c. of the size required to receive
molten lead or other fusible metals, iron joggles, plugs and lugs (securely fixed with
suitable materials), and then secure, by means of screws, the dowelled, rabbeted,
parquetted flooring, panelling, framing, or any other suitable fibrous materials, into
the said lead or other plugs as above described, securely fastening the same to the
Terra-Cotta blocks &c. thereby, and obviating the necessity of using timber scantling,
wood blocks, and plugs, as usually laid in concrete, and which often become loose,
from decay and other causes, there being no means of tightening the same when the
wood floors, framing, panelling &c. are laid and completed.
Previous to laying the floors, or fixing panelling to walls, partitions, and cielings
I cover the outer surface of the Terra-Cotta blocks &c., if desired, with felt or similar
substances of an incombustible nature, for the purpose of forming a bed for the
flooring, framing, panelling, and cieling, and for the purpose of acting as a non-
conductor of sound.
And, in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views, partly in section, showing two examples of
methods of carrying out my invention.
A A are the iron joists: B B the springing blocks on each side of the iron joist;
CC are the intermediate blocks; D is the lock joint key placed horizontally; E is
the raised joggle joint, across the end of blocks; F is the section of indented joggle
joint across the ends of the blocks; G is a plug for fastening the flooring; H is a
portion of the flooring laid on Terra-Cotta blocks; I shows the annular chambers in
the Terra-Cotta blocks; K shows the tie-rods or tubes (with washer or socket)
through the iron joists and terra-cotta, flooring &c.
Fig. 2 shows a terra-cotta fire proof floor and cieling complete (without wood or
other flooring or cieling).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the object of my said invention,
together with the best means I am now acquainted with for carrying the same into
practical effect I declare that what I claim is
1. The method of moulding and machine making the several fire-proof articles in
Terra-cotta or plastic clays substantially as herein before described and illustrated on
the drawings.
2. The method and manner of placing such articles as aforesaid together for the
purpose of fireproof construction, with lock-joint horizontal keys, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated on the drawings.
3. The application of plugs or lugs for fastening flooring to the Terra-cotta blocks,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated on the drawings.
RICHARD JORDAN,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for Mark Henry Blanchard.
RICHARD JORDAN,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for Mark Henry Blanchard.