Improvements in or relating to Metallic Fabrics, Lattice Work, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Metallic Fabrics, Lattice Work, and
the like.
A communication from ERNST OBERLANDER, of Lobtau, Dresden, in the Empire
of Germany, Merchant.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The lattice work formed of edged bars according to this invention is particularly
distinguished by the fact that it does not require the bars to be rivetted or other-
wise fastened together in order to prevent them from changing their relative
positions and to render the structure undeformable. This property is obtained by
employing edged bars which are flat or approximately flat, at least on one side
and are twisted between the "joints" or points of intersection helically or first
in one and then in the opposite direction in such manner that at the joints or
points of intersection a flat surface rests on a flat surface, but between these points
the edged or twisted portions prevent a relative movement of the bars whereby
the whole lattice is rendered rigid and strong. By doing away with rivetting the
lattice work becomes easy and cheap to manufacture, especially as the .bars
can be twisted as desired with the desired exactitude and uniformity by machinery.
The net-work or lattice work thus manufactured also better resists strains acting
at right angles or approximately so to its plane, for the bars between the joints
or intersection points are arranged substantially on edges. The appearance of
this network is also much better than that of the ordinary network, especially
for trellis and lattice work.
The properties mentioned appear advantageously in a structure consisting of
helically twisted bars said bars being twisted to the right for the "warp" bars-
to use a weaving expression-and to the left for the "weft" bars or vice versa.
In this construction the "weft" bars can be twisted in between the "
while in other constructions such as hereinafter described by way of example,
warp" bars
the "weft" bars must be introduced from one end of the "
warp," through the
whole width of the lattice. A particularly good engagement is given to the bars
by doing away with flat surfaces at the joints and by allowing the twisted surfaces
of the bars helically bent to the right or left to lie one against the other in such
a way as not to leave any room for displacement. Finally in the construction in
question the bars--as long as they are uniformly twisted and spaced at proper
distances fit each other in any position, while in the constructions hereinafter
described a flat surface must rest on a flat surface.
The construction described is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing.
Flat bars of the cross-section shown in Fig. 2 are twisted to the extent of 180°
between each two intersection points the helical twist being uniform and in the
same direction and being left handed in the vertical bars & and right handed in
the horizontal bars b. It will be seen from the drawing that the twisted surfaces

page_text: touch each other at the points of intersection so that the relative position of the
bars especially at the central intersection can be changed only by deforming
the bars. As regards the outer points i.c., those near the edge, the trellises or
lattices are usually set in rigid frames. But even at the latter points there will
be scarcely any fastening required.
In the construction shown in Fig. 1 each second bar of the "warp" and "weft"
-say the even numbered bars could be removed and the remaining bars suitably
arranged, so that a lattice work with larger meshes will be obtained, the bars of
which are twisted through 360° between each two points of intersection.
The cross sectional area in Fig. 2 is symmetrical on either side of the centre
line a.
The cross sections in Figs. 4 and 7 are also symmetrical in the same
sense but those in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 are unsymmetrical. If the cross section be a
symmetrical one, the bar can be twisted through 360° between two "joints." In
spite of the vertical bar 1 (Fig. 1) passing over and the next vertical bar 2 passing
under the horizontal bar 1 whereby through the twisting of the. horizontal bar, I
through 360° (unlike in Fig. 1) the back of the horizontal bar would be in contact
with the vertical bar 2, the flat surfaces can still lie one on another as in bars of
symmetrical cross section the two sides-front and back-are the same. But
with bars of unsymmetrical cross section they must not be turned through more
than 180° between two "joints" in order to present always the same flat side of
one bar on the same flat side of the intersecting bar.
The bars need not have even one flat side. Thus for instance even a bar with
the cross-section like Fig. 4 double convex can be used. Of course the bars do not
then engage at the points of intersection so well as bars having at least one flat
side. But the bars must not be round, as the twisting of a round bar about its
axis does not alter its shape and a wire bent helically would by no means give
as good a lattice as one according to this invention.
Fig. 8 shows two intersecting bars al and which are twisted in a uniform
direction, but not uniformly or helically but so that each two surfaces f twisted
through 90° are connected by a curved or bent surface. Each second surface f
is utilised for a "joint." When the bars are flat (at least on one side) a flat surface
actually lies on a flat surface but care must be taken to have the really flat por-
tions of ff exactly as long as the width of the intersecting bar. If they be shorter
then the surfaces will not lie flat, if they be longer relative movement can take
place. The same remarks apply to the construction shown in Fig. 9 where the
bars a3 and are not twisted always in the same direction, but first in one and
then in the opposite direction, through 90° flat surfaces f being formed. The
edge of the vertical bar, which, in Fig. 8 starts on the left hand side and extends
round the twisted bar extends in Fig. 9 from the centre of the twisted bar always
back to the right hand side.
Further all that has been said with reference to Fig. 1 about the use of different
cross-sections and twisting of the bars through 180 or 360° applies also to the
constructions shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
The described lattice work besides being used for trellises, fencing and the
like can be employed for boot cleaners, baskets and protecting net-work for trees
and also for many other purposes. In certain cases the intervals between the
" warp "bars and "weft" bars may be made different so that the meshes are not
square but rectangular or of other form for instance alternate bars of one kind
may be left out or all the bars of one kind may be provided with larger intervals
between them than between the cross bars. Of course many alterations in the
arrangement and form of bar and mesh can be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
1. Lattice work formed of edged bars twisted about their axes helically or in

page_text: alternate directions in such manner that at the points of intersection they lie
flat on each other, the twisted intermediate portions preventing the bars from
relative displacement.
2. Lattice work of the kind described the bars of which have an unsymmetrical
cross section substantially as shown in Figure 3 or in Figure 5 or in Figure 6
of the accompanying drawings.
3. Lattice work substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 or in
Figure 8 or in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1898:
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant