IMPROVEMENTS IN BEAMS OR GIRDERS FOR BUILDING OR STRUCTURAL PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert McConnel, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BEAMS OR GIRDERS FOR BUILDING OR STRUCTURAL PURPOSES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert McConnel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th May 1855.
I, ROBERT MCCONNEL, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IN-
PROVEMENTS IN BEAMS OR GIRDERS FOR BUILDING OR STRUCTURAL PURPOSES" to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to the formation of beams or girders for supporting
floors, & for other building and structural purposes, in such manner as to
secure very superior strength, combined with lightness and economy, in
materials and workmanship. In making a flooring beam on this principle, two
thin broad plates of malleable iron are used as the top and bottom plates of the
beam. These two plates or bars are disposed parallel to each other and some
considerable distance asunder, one foot, for example, more or less, according to
circumstances. The space between these plates is filled in with short blocks

page_text: of wood, disposed at regular distances asunder, with but slight spaces between
cach block for the reception of the flooring joists. These blocks or pieces of
wood are disposed with the fibre of the wood in a vertical position, that is to
say, in the direction in which the wood grows. When so packed in with
wood, the two plates aro bolted together at regular intervals asunder by bolts,
so as to bind the whole of the details into one solid beam. The wood having
no appreciable shrinkage in the direction of its fibres, the beam always remains
solid, whilst the direction in which the fibres are opposed to the strain from the
flooring is most favourable in point of resisting strength. Cast iron may be
used instead of malleable plates for the top and bottom portions of the beam,
or one plate may be cast iron and the other malleable iron. In a slight modi-
fication of this arrangement of beam, cast or malleable iron distending pieces
may be used for interposition between the two main plates. Where the two
main plates are of malleable iron, open, diagonal, or other shaped castings may
be used as the supporting or distending blocks, these castings being bolted up
into position, just as in the case of the wood blocks. Instead of being separate
and detached blocks, the distending or stay pieces may be cast as projections
upon one of the main plates or bars, the other plate being then bolted up. In
any of these modifications the main plates need not necessarily be parallel, as
by using deeper blocks or stays towards the longitudinal centre of the beam,
increased strength is secured. The top plate, too, may be in two or more
lengths, with the junction ends abutting, or nearly so. A central key may then
be driven in horizontally between these ends, so as to give a rise to the beam's
central portion. If wood is used instead of metal for the top and bottom
portions of these beams, or in cases where bolts have to be screwed directly up
against wood in structures of this nature, a "compensating washer" is used to
counteract the deranging effect of shrinkage. This washer, which may be of
cast iron, is in the form of a flattened truncated cone. This conical piece is
disposed with its smaller end next to the wood, into which it partially enters
when the nut of the bolt which is passed through its axis is screwed up against
the larger end. The line of greatest width of the conical piece is disposed
across the fibres of the wood, so that when shrinkage occurs the peculiar
shape of the flattened cone compensates for it, and preserves the parts in proper
relative bearing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert McConnel in the Great Seal Patent Oflice on the
14th November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
M.CONNEL, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Ironfounder,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert McConnel, Her special license that I, the said Robert
McConnel, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Robert McConnel, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BEAMS OR GIRDERS FOR BUILDING OR STRUCTURAL PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert McConnel, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert McConnel, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference heing had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the formation of beams or girders for sup-
porting floors, and for other building and structural purposes, in such manner
as to secure very superior strength, combined with lightness and economy, in
materials and workmanship. In making a flooring beam on this principle,
two thin broad bars or plates of malleable iron are used as the top and bottom
plates of the beam. These two plates or bars are disposed parallel to each other
and at some considerable distance asunder, one foot, for example, more or less,
according to circumstances. The space between these plates is filled in with
short blocks of wood, disposed with slight spaces between each block for the

page_text: reception of the flooring joists. These blocks or pieces of wood are disposed
with the fibre of the wood in a vertical position, that is to say, in the direction
in which the wood grows. When so packed in with wood, the two plates are
bolted together at suitable intervals asunder by bolts, so as to bind the whole
of the details into one solid beam. The wood having no appreciable shrinkage
in the direction of its fibres, the beam always remains solid, whilst the direction
in which the fibres are opposed to the strain from the flooring is most favour-
able in point of resisting strength. Cast iron may be used instead of malleable
plates for the top and bottom portions of the beam, or one plate may be of
cast iron and the other of malleable iron. In a slight modification of this
arrangement of beam, cast or malleable iron distending pieces may be used
for interposition between the two main plates. Where the two main plates are
of malleable iron, open, diagonal, or other shaped castings may be used as the
supporting or distending blocks, these castings being bolted up into position,
just as in the case of the wood blocks. Instead of being separate and
detached blocks, the distending or stay pieces may be cast as projections upon
one of the main plates or bars, the other plate being then bolted up. In any
of these modifications the main plates need not necessarily be parallel, as by
using deeper blocks or stays towards the longitudinal centre of the beam,
increased strength is secured. The top plate, too, may be in two or more
lengths, with the junction ends abutting, or nearly so.
A central key may
then be driven in horizontally between these ends, so as to give a rise to the
beam's central portion. The beam or girder, as constructed upon my improved
system, may obviously be used for supporting weights arranged otherwise than
upon the flooring joists, in which case the spaces for the joists may be filled
up in any convenient way, or they may be left open. If wood is used instead
of metal for the top and bottom portions of these beams, or in cases where
bolts have to be screwed directly up against wood, in structures of this nature, a
"compensating washer "is used to counteract the deranging effect of shrinkage.
This washer, which may be of cast iron, is in the form of a flattened truncated
cone. This conical piece is disposed with its smaller end next to the wood,
into which it partially enters when the nut of the bolt which is passed through
itsis is screwed up against the larger end. The line of greatest width of
the conical piece is disposed across the fibres of the wood, so that when
shrinkage occurs, the peculiar shape of the flattened cone compensates for it,
and preserves the parts in proper relative bearing.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several explanatory Figures on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached.

page_text: Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is an elevation, and Figure 2 is a plan,
of a beam or girder constructed according to one modification of my present
Invention.
The cast-iron columns A are formed with the usual neck and shoulder B,
for supporting the beam or girder. This beam is attached to the wings or
bracket arms C of box or saddle pieces D, which are passed upon the necks
of the columns, and rest upon the shoulders B. It is not necessary, however,
to bolt or fix the beam or girder to the walls or to columns, as they may be
made to simply rest with their ends in or upon the walls, or upon shoulders or
resting surfaces formed upon the columns. The beam is formed of two
malleable iron bars, straps, or narrow plates E, F, bolted respectively to the
upper and under edges of the wings C, the lower strap F being slightly
broader than the upper one E. The straps E, F, are distended or kept apart
by blocks of wood G, which are placed with the grain running in a vertical
direction, small spaces being left between each block for the passage through
of the transverse joists H. The blocks G are made slightly deeper towards
the centre of the beam, so as to give a slight rise or arch to the upper strap E.
The beam is bound up into a compact mass by bolts K, passed from one strap
to the other through the blocks G, and on each side of the joists H. The
upper strap E is divided at or near its longitudinal centre, and a key L is
inserted, by means of which the top strap may be forced to take any required
arch or rise, and thus add to the strength of the beam. The employment of
the key also admits of the girder being set up, if it should sink at all after
being in use any time.
Figure 3 on the Sheet of Drawings is an elevation of a beam or girder,
which in its general arrangement is similar to that represented in Figures 1
and 2; but instead of the distending or stay pieces G between the joists H
being of wood, as in the first modification, they are open iron castings. These
castings are in the form of open frames, with feathers and diagonal bars to
give the necessary stiffness and strength, and it is obvious that they may be
modified in shape or pattern, always, however, keeping these qualities in view.
The various details of the beam are distinguished by the same letters as are
used for corresponding parts in Figures 1 and 2, herein-before described.
Figure 4 on the Sheet of Drawings is an elevation, and Figure 5 is a plan,
of another modification of my improved beam, and comprehending also another
mode of connecting the beam to the supporting columns. The columns A are
cast with shoulders B, and with four strong vertical feathers D, upon which
feathers the wing pieces C are fitted and secured by keys at L. The malleable
iron straps E and F are bolted to the wing pieces C, as in the modifications

page_text: herein-before described. The straps are screwed down upon the joists H, by
which they are distended, diagonal wooden says G being fitted in between the
joints to give stiffness and strength to the whole. The flooring I is laid above
the beam, as in the previous examples.
In the modification of beam or girder, represented in elevation in Figure 6,
the beam is partly composed of cast iron, the top flange or plate E being cast
in two lengths, with the stay or filling-up pieces G projecting downwards from
it. The joists H are inserted from below, or the strap is passed down upon
the joists, and a bottom strap F of malleable iron is bolted or screwed to the
filling-up pieces G, to bind the whole tightly together and to resist the tensile
strain. The two lengths of the top plate E are separated by the key L, which
lies upon a plate connecting the two adjacent filling-up pieces G. The beam
is attached to its supporting columns A, by being keyed upon one of the
vertical-feathers D of the columns. Instead of casting the filling-up pieces G
in one piece with the top plate or flange E, they may be made separately, and
be fitted in according to any of the other herein-before described modes; and it
will be obvious to the practical builder that the various modifications in the
details of my improved system of constructing beams or girders may be com-
bined together in several ways besides those represented in the Drawings
hereunto attached.
In Figures 7, 8, and 9, on the Sheet of Drawings, is represented my im-
proved form of washer, to be used in bolting together pieces of timber, and
designed to prevent the loosening of the bolt from shrinkage in the wood.
Figure 7 is a section through two pieces of wood bolted together, and with
one of my improved washers at each extremity of the bolt; Figure 8 is a face
view of the washer, showing its oval or flattened form; and Figure 9 is a
section through two pieces of wood, shewing a common washer at one end of
the bolt, and one of my improved washers at the other end thereof. The
improved washer A is in the form of a truncated cone with an oval base, the
narrow end of the cone being entered into a recess formed in the wood B, so
that when the wood shrinks, as it does so across the breadth C, D, of the
wood, as well as across its thickness E, F, it does not leave the washer, as in
the ease of the common flat washer G, but merely clips it at a point a little
nearer to its narrow end.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without

page_text: deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of beams or girders for
building or structural purposes, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of forming beams or girders, wherein two
parallel or nearly parallel malleable iron bars, straps, or narrow plates are
bolted or connected together with distending or stay pieces of wood or cast
iron and with spaces for transverse joists, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of forming beams or supports for joists, by fixing
malleable iron straps transversely above and below the joists, and inserting
diagonal stays or filling-up pieces between the joists, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of forming beams or girders on the general
plan herein-before described, wherein the upper bar, plate, or strap is of cast
iron, with the distending or stay pieces cast in one piece with it or inserted
afterwards; the bottom bar, strap, or plate being of malleable iron, as more
particularly described herein with reference to Figure 6 on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached.
Fifth, the application and use of conical washers, or washer pieces with
inclined sides, to be applied between the head or nut of the bolt and the wood
in bolting pieces of wood together, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert McConnel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
T