IMPROVED BRIDGE FLOORINGS OR PLATFORMS, AND FIREPROOF FLOORINGS AND FIREPROOF ROOFINGS FOR EXTENSIVE DWELLING HOUSES, WAREHOUSES, AND MILLS
Year: 1808

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RALPH
DODD, of Change Alley, in the City of London, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, did,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Third day of
June, in the forty-eighth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the
said Ralph Dodd, my executors, administrators, and assigns, His especial
licence, full power, sole privilego and authority, that I, the said Ralph
Dodd, my executors, administrators, and assigns, during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "IMPROVED BRIDGE FLOORINGS OR PLATFORMS, AND FIREPROOF FLOORINGS AND
FIREPROOF ROOFINGS FOR EXTENSIVE DWELLING HOUSES, WAREHOUSES, AND MILLS;"
in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the
said Ralph Dodd, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months after the date of the
said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto
had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Ralph Dodd, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described in manner
following (that is to say):-

page_text: A certain mode and method of applying mallable iron and other metals,
and condensed earth or artificial stone, as described in such like figures and
shape as hereunto annexed. No. 1, a tubical rib, either to be used empty or
filled or part filled with condensed earth or artificial stone, or to be coated
outside with the same, to be made of any figure from the circle to the square,
and to be applied from one pier to another, or bearings either straight,
eliptical, triangular, or forming a segment or circle. No. 2, an upright shaft
or column for sustaining heavy weight, strengthened internally or externally
with condensed earth or artificial stone, is either filled wholly or in part.
No. 3, ditto with flanges or joints for attaching one to each other, to
stand upright or to be laid horizontal, for bearing heavy pressures or
conducting fluids or air in a cold or heated state through them when part of
the centre is left void of condensed earth or artificial stone for that purpose;
the outside may be coated with the same or not at the pleasure of the user.
No. 4, a square tube, to be coated internally or externally with condensed earth
or artificial stone, to be used for the purposes as described in No. 3, or with or
without coating, to be used as a beam, rafter, joice, girden, pile, or upright
standard or stancheon in any depth or breadth. No. 5, the same as described
n No. 4, with the additional ears or flanges marked A, B, with C, D, pieces
of timber fastened to the same for nailing on laths, nailing or screwing down
flooring, or making other necessary fastenings. No. 6, the same as No. 5, with
center ears or flanges to be used either perpendicular or horizontal; when the
latter, to be used with attached iron or other metal plates or materials; or
receiving of them in horizontal segments or eliptical forms. No. 7, the samo
as No. 6, with four or more ears or flanges attached, for purposes described in
No. 6, when connecting with a segment, eliptical, or straight plate, covered or
uncovered with condensed earth or artificial stone from each other, as 8, 8, 8,
by which means attached floorings above them are rendered fireproof, and an
effectual covering for houses instead or tiling or slating. No. 9, a tubical
beam, made of materials before described, with two upper ears or flanges
to fasten down platforms, decks, and floorings, or other attached parts, to be
formed of any figure from the square to the segment, taper, twisting, or angle-
ways, made water-tight to prevent their sinking. No. 10, an upright shaft or
column, as described in No. 2 and 3, in the two projecting ears or flanges on
each side for attaching to any fixture. No. 11, the same as No. 10, when
made without ears, and used as masts, standards, yards, or booms. No. 12,
a square tube, with centre, upper, and under ears or flanges, to be used as in
No. 6 and 7. No. 13, 13, 13, the various parts when combined in the forma
tion of houses, warehouses, or mills, coated or not internally or externally with

page_text: condensed earth or artificial stone. No. 14, 14, 14, 14, the various parts
when combined apply to vessels floating in or on water, or to contain any
fluid coated or not internally or externally with condensed earth or artificial
stone.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ralph Dodd, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this First day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eight.