IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROOFS FOR SHEDS, RAILWAY STATIONS, AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bouch, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROOFS FOR SHEDS, RAILWAY STATIONS,
AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 13th June 1865, and dated the 30th December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bouch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th December 1864.
I, THOMAS BOUCH, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROOFS FOR SHEDS, RAILWAY STATIONS,
AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of roofs
for sheds, railway stations, and other similar structures, the chief feature of
which consists in the application of a compression bar upon the top side of the
ridges forming the roof, and running transversely along them, the bar being
fixed to the apices of the ridges by a saddle and bolts or cotters, or in any
other way that may be found suitable. The chief advantages resulting from
this construction of roof are that the entire structure becomes virtually a
series of lattice or "Warren" girders in the cross section, by which arrange-
ment a very strong and light roof is produced, it being also capable of

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Bouch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd June 1865.
4
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BOUCH, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Thomas Bouch, Her special license that I, the said Thomas.
Bouch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Bouch, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROOFS FOR SHEDS, RAILWAY STATIONS, AND
SIMILAR STRUCTURES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Bouch, by an instrument 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 Thomas Bouch, 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, reference. being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
roofs.for sheds, railway stations, and other similar structures. the chief feature
of which consists in the application of a compression bar upon the top side of
the ridges forming the roof, and running transversely along them, the bar
being fixed to the apices of the ridges by a saddle and bolts, or cotters, or in.
--
-

page_text: any other
way that may be found suitable. The chief advantages resulting
from this construction of roof are that the entire structure becomes virtually
a series of lattice or "Warren" girders in the cross section, by which arrange-
ment a very strong and light roof is produced, it being also capable of
extension to very large spans, so that intermediate supporting columns aro
avoided.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the system, mode, or manner in or
under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect,
reference being had to the several Figures upon the two explanatory Sheets of
Drawings, which I have hereunto appended, and in all of which similar parts
are indicated by corresponding letters of reference, that is to say :-
On Sheet 1, Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the roof for a railway
station constructed according to my said Invention, Figure 2 being a corre-
sponding end view of the same.
The Figure on Sheet 2 is a plan of and corresponding to Figure 1,
portions of the building of the railway station being shewn in this latter
Figure for the purpose of rendering the same more intelligible.
In all the Figures the lower beams of the roof, which may be made of
either angle or T iron, or of iron of any other suitable section, are marked A,
corresponding top beams being marked B, the upper and lower beams A
and B being connected together by means of the transverse angular divisions
of the roof marked C. These angular divisions of the roof being connected at
the apices a and 6 of their alternate angles to the upper and lower beams B
and A respectively, result in the arrangement of a roof on the "Warren girder"
principle, or, what is the same thing, that by attaching the upper beam B to
withstand the compressing action, which would without it cause the roof to
fall in, roofs of a very great span and constructed at a comparatively low cost
are obtained. Owing to the addition of the top or compression beam B all
necessity for intermediate support is obviated, the roof being entirely
maintained in fixed position by resting only on the pillars E, Figure 1, Sheet 1.
It is preferred to attach the top beam B to the apices of the several angular
divisions of the roof by means of a cast-iron saddle passing over and bolted to
the apex of each division, a transverse opening being formed in the saddle,
into which the top beam is dropped, and held therein by a bolt or bolts, by
studs, or otherwise. The roof is constructed with gutters between the lower
part of the angular divisions, and in other parts where they may be required.
In constructing roofs of the kind herein specified provision must be made
that they may be of sufficient strength to bear up the weight of snow which

page_text: may rest in the winter season between the hollows of the several sections
of the roof.
It is obvious that the system of constructing roofs herein-before described
and referred to, is applicable to buildings of any kind, and especially to those
classes of buildings wherein great space is required with little floor obstruction,
such as is caused by the use of that number of pillars employed to support
ordinary roofs.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in or under which the same is or may be used or
carried into practical effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements herein-before referred to,
as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the true
principles or main features of my said 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, the system or mode of con-
structing roofs in the manner herein-before described and shewn in the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bouch, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of June, One thousand eight hun-
dred and sixty-five.
THOMAS BOUCH. (L.S.)