Improvements in the Construction of Fire Proof Floors.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July. 1894-Accepted. 25th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Fire Proof Floors.
I, THOMAS LEWIS BANKS, F.R.I.B.A. Architect of Holmrook, Cumberland,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Fire proof floors are at present in some instances made by suspending a
removeable centering from the metal floor or ceiling joists, and after the concrete
or brick arch laid upon such centering. has set, removing the latter, for
further use.
According to my present invention I employ, in such an arrangement, metal
supports for the removeable centering, which supports are suspended from the
metal joists, and which after the removal of the centering on the setting of the
concrete filling or brick arch are made to constitute the supports for a ceiling, so
that when this is formed, there exists between its upper surface and the concrete
filling an enclosed space that serves for ventilation.
For this purpose
I fix iron suspenders to the top or lower flanges of the
iron or steel joists, and to these suspenders I attach, at a suitable distance below
the joists, iron or steel bars extending from joist to joist, and serving both for
supporting the centering for the concrete &c., and afterwards, for supporting the
ceiling.
These ceiling bars may be attached to the suspenders either by bolts or pins, or
the suspenders may be made of a hook shape or with slots for the bars to rest in
the hooks or slots. Upon these bars I then place the centering, which may either
be of wood or sheet iron or corrugated iron, or of wood framing covered with sheet
iron, the upper surface of the centering being either arched or flat.
The concrete filling or brick arch is then formed, and after it has set, the ceiling
bars are detached from the suspenders and the centering is removed for further
use. The ceiling bars are then again fixed in position, and metal lathing is
attached to them, by preference in the manner described in the Specification to
my Application for a Patent dated June 21st 1893 No. 12227.
In cases where the distance between the joists exceeds 2 feet 6 inches, I prefer
to support the ceiling bar at one or more intermediate points by other suspenders
which pass up through the centering and are imbedded in the concrete or brick-
work, the upper ends being either bent or otherwise afforded an effective hold on
the concrete &c.
According to another modification I provide an arched corrugated sheet iron
centering which rests upon the flanges of the joists and I support the intermediate
suspenders from such centering instead of from the concrete.
1001
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Fire Proof Floors,
I, THOMAS LEWIS BANKS, F.R.I.B.A. Architect, of Holmrook, Cumberland,
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:-
Fire proof floors are at present in some instances made by suspending a

page_text: removeable centering from the metal floor or ceiling joists, and after the concrete
or brick arch laid upon such centering has set, removing the latter, for
further use.
According to my present invention I employ, in such an arrangement, metal
supports for the removeable centering, which supports are suspended from the metal
joists, and which after the removal of the centering on the setting of the concrete
filling or brick arch, are made to constitute the supports for a ceiling, so that when
this is formed, there exists between its upper surface and the concrete filling an
enclosed space that serves for ventilation.
For this purpose I fix iron suspenders to the top or lower flanges of the iron or
steel joists, and to these suspenders I attach, at a suitable distance below the joists,
iron or steel bars of any section extending from joist to joist, and serving both for
supporting the centering for the concrete &c. and afterwards for supporting the
ceiling.
These ceiling bars may be attached to the suspenders either by bolts or pins, or
the suspenders may be made of a hook shape or with slots for the bars to rest in
the hooks or slots. Upon these bars I then place the centering, which may either
be of wood or sheet iron or corrugated iron, or of wood framing covered with sheet
iron, the upper surface of the centering being either arched or flat.
The concrete filling or brick arch is then formed, and after it has set, the
ceiling bars are detached from the suspenders and the centering is removed for
further use.
The ceiling bars are then again fixed in position, and have the ceiling
attached to them in any suitable manner.
°
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews a section of one arrangement of
fire proof floor constructed according to my above described invention. The
girders or joists A have wrought iron or steel loop shaped straps B hung over
their upper flange, and to the lower ends of these straps are removeably attached
bars C. Upon these bars are laid longitudinal timbers D that carry arched wood
centres E covered with sheet iron F. Upon this centering the concrete filling G
is laid. When this has set, the one end of the bars C are detached so that the
bars can be lowered as shewn at the right-hand side of Fig. 1, whereupon the
centering D E F is removed. The bars C are then raised again, and secured,
and serve for supporting the ceiling, which may be constructed in suitable.
manner but preferably as described in the Specification to my Patent No. 12227
of 1893, namely, eyes H are hooked on to the bars, through which eyes, rods are
passed for carrying the metallic lathing that supports the plaster of the
ceiling.
any
When the distance between the joists A exceeds from 2 ft. 6 in. to 3ft. I prefer to
support the bar C at one or more intermediate points by suspending straps or
rods which pass up through the centering and are imbedded in the concrete, the
upper ends being either bent or otherwise afforded effective hold on the concrete
as indicated at I. Or, in this case, the arched sheet metal F, which may be
corrugated, and supported on the flanges of the joists A may be allowed to remain,
and the upper ends of the said intermediate suspenders be attached in any
suitable manner to such arched sheet metal.
Fig. 2 shews another modification in which the removeable centres are formed
flat instead of arched, being either made entirely of wood as shewn or of wood
supports at distances apart covered with sheet metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
11
1. In the construction of fire proof floors with removeable centering, the use for
supporting such centering of metal bars suspended from the joists in a detachable
manner, which bars are refixed after the removal of the centering and serve as
the supports for the ceiling, substantially as described.
2. The use in combination with the detachable ceiling bars referred to in the

page_text: first claim, of intermediate suspension straps or rods having their upper ends
secured either to the concrete filling of the floor or to arched sheet metal carried
by the joists, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd do of Iul. 1904
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.