Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 18th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 18th May, 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
I, ALEXANDER ROBERTS FORDYCE, Building Contractor, of 312 Belleville
Avenue Newark, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, United States
of America, 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 invention relates to improvements in fireproof construction, and more
particularly to the formation of the metallic skeleton which forms the foundation
of floors, ceilings, partitions, &c., and which supports the filling of plaster or other
material which forms the body of the wall.
It has for its object the provision of a skeleton that can be easily built, of cheap
construction, and of considerable strength, which is adapted to be used in the
construction of walls of any thickness and in the building of combined floors aud
ceilings of any depth.
The invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement
of parts, such as will be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended
claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference designate
corresponding parts,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a combined floor and ceiling embodying the
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view showing the skeleton formation of the floor.
Figure 3 is a plan view showing the skeleton with the hoops arranged so as to
break joint.
Figure 4 is a plan view of a section of the skeleton, showing the hoops provided
with an auxiliary support.
Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the hoops.
Figure 6 is a plan view of a section of the skeleton, showing the hoops circular
in form instead of elliptical, as shown in the preceding views.
Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the hoops of a circular form arranged so as
to break joint and embedded in a filling.
Figure 8 is a plan view of a section of skeleton in which the hoops are elliptical
in form and provided with an auxiliary support and have a smaller hoop mounted
concentrically within the main hoop and carried by the auxiliary support.
Figure 9 is a sectional view showing circular hoops of different diameters and
the one of the shorter diameter concentrically mounted within the larger hoop.
Figure 10 is a sectional view showing elliptical hoops mounted so as to break
ioint.

page_text: Figure 11 is a detail view showing cross sections of strips of different designs of
which the hoops may be formed.
Figure 12 is a plan view of a section of skeleton in which the hoops are round
and are mounted concentrically and provided with an auxiliary support that extends
from beam to beam. Figure 13 is a sectional view of the same.
Figure 14 is a plan view of a section of skeleton formed of numerous smaller
hoops joined together and mounted so as to break joint.
Figure 15 is a plan view of a circular hoop.
Figure 16 is an end view showing a hoop embedded in a filling to form a
flagging.
"
Referring to the drawings by letter, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2,
which show the skeleton used in the formation of a floor and ceiling construction,
A A designate the beams which support the metallic skeleton forming the foundation
of the filling composing the body of the floor and ceiling. These beams may be
any of the forms well known in the art, and which generally consist of a web having
a flange or flanges projecting from its edge or edges. The beam shown in the
present instance is commonly called an I-beam" and is well adapted to the purpose.
Between these beams is supported the metallic skeleton, which carries the plaster
or other filling. The skeleton consists, primarily, of a number of hoops supported
between the beams and suitably connected and guarded against spreading. In the
construction shown in the said figures the hoops B B are elliptical in form and are
In the
arranged between the supports in a manner hereinafter to be described.
manufacture of these hoops a strip of metal of a suitable width and preferably
plain in cross-section, but for different purposes may be of different shapes, as
shown in Figure 11, is first given a form somewhat similar to a very thin frustum
of a cone, such as is shown in Figures 13 and 15. In the preferred form of con-
struction, especially in the formation of floors and ceilings, the hoops are given an
elliptical shape. When bent into an elliptical form, the hoops become somewhat
dished, which is due to the inclination of the sides to form the frustum of a cone.
The hoop thus formed is in the shape of a shallow arch, which greatly increases
its strength when placed to utilize this formation, and especially adapts it to be
used in the construction of floors intended to bear heavy weights.
The elliptical hoops are so bent that the longest diameter of the same will fit
between the webs of two adjacent beams. After the floor beams A A are in place
force is applied to the hoop B, so that its longest diameter will be diminished to
such an extent as to allow the hoop to pass the edges a a of the flanges of the
I-beams A A, if they should be beams of such a character and as shown in cross-
section in Fig. 1. When in position and the compressing force removed, owing to
the elasticity of the metal the hoop will spring out and fill the space between the
webs a' a¹ of the adjacent beams. Where there is room, however, the hoops need
not be distorted, but placed lengthwise between the beams and turned until they are
in the proper positions.
Where the construction is a combined floor and ceiling, such as shown in Figs. 1
and 2, the hoops supporting the ceiling proper will rest on the lower flanges a a of
the beams. As these ceiling-hoops have but comparatively little weight to support
they are placed so that the crown of the arch, formed by the dish shape, is down
and flush or below the uuder side of the beams A A. To the under side of the
beams and the ceiling-hoops a metallic fabric or reticulated metallic plate may be
secured, such as at C, and secured thereto in any suitable manner, and forms a lathing,
to which the plastering may be applied..
The flooring-hoops are placed so that the crown of the arch of each is uppermost.
They are held against the under sides of the upper flanges a a of the beams by
the hangers D D, which may be of any form suitable in the premises. In the
present instance they consist of a strip of metal bent over the beam and having
books d d at its ends, adapted to engage with the hoops on opposite sides of a
In making the flooring the entire space between the flooring and ceiling
beam.

page_text: hoops may be filled in or an open space left between them, as shown in Fig. 1.
The open construction is formed by placing a mold between two sets of hoops
and removing it after the filling has hardened, in a manner well known.in
the art.
The hoops are placed between the beams, close together, so that they bear one
against the other in the direction of their shortest diameter, so as to prevent them.
from spreading and thereby becoming displaced. Ordinarily the adjacent sides of
the hoops are secured together by clips, such as E, which consists of a strip of metal..
encircling the said sides."
It is to be observed that by giving the sides of the hoops au inclination when:
they are in place only the edges of the same contact with the supports. This
allows a thorough bonding of the filling.
The construction as hereinbefore described is especially applicable to the
formation of floors and ceilings. It is also applicable to the construction of
partitions and walls. In Figs. 3 and 4 constructions better adapted to the
formation of upright partitions and walls are shown. In Fig. 3 the arrangement
is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that in Fig. 3 the
hoops on one side break joint with those on the other side. In Fig. 4 an auxiliary
support F is shown, which is especially useful where the filling
very thick and
heavy, and consequently tends to compress the hoops, or where the distance between
thé beams A A. is considerable. This auxiliary support is a rod passing through
or under the hoops parallel to the beams and, where the hoops are elliptical,
through their shortest diameters.
In Fig. 6 a construction is shown in which the hoops are circular and arranged
so as to break joint. The beams in this instance are shown as T-beams.
In Fig. 7 a section of flooring filled with plaster is shown, formed of circular
hoops, one set resting on the other and breaking joint.
In Fig. 8 a construction is shown formed of elliptical hoops and an auxiliary
support passing through them. A supplementary hoop G is shown mounted on
the auxiliary support and concentric with the hoop B.
Fig. 9 shows a sectional view of a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 8,
except that the hoops are circular.
In Fig. 10 an end elevation of a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 6
is shown, except that the hoops are elliptical instead of round.
In Figs. 12 and 13 is shown a construction in which the boops are circular and
provided with auxiliary supports extending from beam to beam and having a
smaller hoop G mounted concentric with the larger hoop B.
In Fig. 14 a construction is shown formed of two series of circular hoops H H
and L L, the hoops forming one set being all connected together, as are the hoops
forming the other set, and the hoops of one set breaking joint with the hoops of
the other set.
In Fig. 16 a construction is shown in which a hoop is provided with flanges on
its edges, which project inwardly and is embedded in a suitable filling to form a
flagging which is supported on the beams A A.
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 I
claim is :
1. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the supports, and the hoops
mounted thereon.
2. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the beams having flanges, and
the hoops mounted on the said flanges.
3. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the supports, and the hoops
mounted thereon in two parallel sets, the hoops of one set breaking joint with the
hoops of the other set.
4. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the supports, the hoops
mounted thereon, and the clips securing said hoops together.

page_text: 5. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the supports, the hoops, and
the hangers securing said hoops to said supports.
6. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the supports, the hoops having
slanting sides mounted thereon.
7. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the supports, and the elliptical
hoops mounted thereon.
8. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the supports, and the elliptical
supports having inclined sides mounted thereon.
9. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the supports and the elliptical
arched hoops mounted thereon.
•
10. In a fireproof construction, the combination of the supports, the hoops
mounted thereon, and the auxiliary supports carried by the main supports and
connected with said hoops.
ALEXANDER ROBERTS FORDYCE.
H. B. Barlow & Gillett,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Patent Agents.
ALEXANDER ROBERTS FORDYCE.
H. B. Barlow & Gillett,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Patent Agents.