Stone Slabs and Cable Channels.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Artificial Stone Slabs and Cable Channels.
JOHN KNIGHT, 24, Gertrude Street, King's Road, Chelsea, S.W., Plumber and
Sanitary Specialist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
Artificial stone slabs to be used as fire and damp proof partitions and such like
purposes in building construction; rain water storage tanks and cesspools. Each slab
is made with a groove all round it and so designed that when the adjoining grooved
slabs are placed in position a covert is formed throughout the joint. Into this covert
liquid cement grout is pored which when set formes the whole as one slab, and
also foundations upon which to place pipes and cables these slabs are capable of
being formed into a covered water proof channel the lower portion of which being
cast with upward projecting stays or footings in which to place the cover.
channel may also be formed separately from the slab by casting the channel in
two pieces, the lower portions having footings preferably cast upon them to form
a firm base, the top half accurately fitting to the lower portion by means of a
grooved grouted joint in cement as described to slabs with the addition of a
tongue being inserted to prevent the grout entering the channel.
The
These slabs and channels are preferably made of artificial stone or other suit-
able material.
I, JOHN KNIGHT, of 24, Gertrude Street, Chelsea in the County of Middlesex
Sanitary Engineer 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:-
Artificial stone slabs to be used as fire and damp-proof partitions in building.
construction rainwater storage tanks and cesspools. Each slab is made with a
groove all round it and so designed that when the adjoining grooved slabs are
placed in position a covert is formed throughout the joint, into this covert liquid
cement grout is poured which when set forms the whole as one slab, and also
foundations upon which to place pipes and cables, these slabs are capable of being
formed into a covered waterproof channel, the lower portion of which being cast
The channel
with upward projecting stays or footings in which to place covers.

page_text: may also be formed separately from the slab by casting the channel in two pieces
The lower portions having footings preferably cast upon them to form a firm base,
the top half accurately fitting to the lower portion by means of a grooved grouted
joint in cement as described to slabs with the addition of a tongue being inserted
10 prevent the grout entering the channel.
These slabs and channels are preferably made of artificial stone or other suit-
able material.
Fig. 1 shews one of my artificial stone slabs.
Fig. 2 shews a sectional elevation of a fireproof partition.
Fig. 3 shews a perspective view of a corbel or bracket for carrying two joists.
Fig. 3 shews modification of Fig. 3 for carrying one joist.
Fig. 4 shews a modification of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shews a section of a fireproof ceiling and floor.
Fig. 6 shews a perspective view of a fireproof ceiling and floor partly in section.
Fig. 7shews a modification of Figs. 5 and 6.
Fig 8 shews a duct or cable channel partly in section.
Fig. 9 shews modification of Fig. S partly in section.
Fig. 10 shews modification of Fig. 8 in section.
Fig. 11 is a modification of Fig. 8 shewn in perspective.
Fig. 12 shews an elevation of a small storage tank in perspective.
Fig. 13 is a modification of same partly in section.
Fig. 13 detail of buttress partly in section across m. m.
Fig. 14 modification of Fig. 13 partly in section.
Fig. 15 plan of same partly in section.
Fig. 1 shews one of my artificial stone slabs A. I form a dovetail or other
suitable groove a around each slab, so that when they are placed in position the
grooves a are opposite each other. These slabs A are built up in courses say of
two feet in height, each course can be grouted as placed in position with Portland
cement or the like which would flow freely in the grooves a surrounding each
slab, or several courses can be grouted at the same time. On these slabs A I
put one thin layer of plaster or cement e to give the face of the partition a
finished surface. It will be clear to all concerned in building that a great ad-
vantage is gained in saving time in drying, the present system on brick or lath
taking two or three layers which require very considerable time to dry. The
courses can be raised to any desired height. Slab A can be curved to any radius
and made to any thickness, length and depth.
Fig. 2 shews a sectional elevation of a fireproof partition constructed of my
artificial stone slabs A. B is a layer of cement or other similar substance, to
give a firm and level foundation on which to lay the footings preferably of
artificial stone having a dovetailed groove a on the top. On this footing the
courses of slabs are placed in position, a is an ordinary wood plate to receive the
joists on which the floor boards are fixed in the usual way, it must be under-
stood that a a² and do not form part of my invention. If the building is to
be of more than one floor in height I proceed in the following manner;-I
build up the partition in courses until I arrive at the desired floor level I here
insert corbels or brackets C which supports the end of the joists D and D'. The
corbels or brackets C I place at a suitable distance from each other.
Fig. 3 shews a metal casting of a bracket or corbel C the two slippers c c in
which the ends of the joists on either side of the partition are inserted the con-
necting plate is of such a thickness as not to afford any obstruction to the flow
of the grout in the grooves a. If the corbels or brackets are to support joists
on one side of the partition only, I employ the bracket shewn at Fig. 3, the
plate regulating the balance, or to build into exterior brick walls to carry joists.
Fig. 4 shews a modification of Fig. 3.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew details of a fire proof floor and ceiling, the slabs A forming
the partition and corbels C are the same as in Fig. 2, but instead of wood I use
iron joists E E¹ of I or other suitable section, these joists E, E¹ I place at a

page_text: uitable distance from each other filling in the intermediate spaces with artificial
tone slabs A at the two ends d and d that rests on the joists E and E¹ I make
groove so as to fit the lower flanges of the joists the projecting portions d
s to give as flat a surface as possible for the thin layer of plaster e described in
Fig. 2. On the top of the slabs A I put a layer of cement or concrete e¹ or the
ike so as to make the upper surface level with the top of joists E and E', on this
concrete el I fix the battens and floor boards a³ in the usual manner.
Fig. 7 is a modification of Figs. 5 and 6 which I propose using for warehouses
and such like buildings the difference being that I used curved slabs A¹ instead
of flat slabs as A Fig. 6, the top e¹ being filled in as before stated this system is
a great advantage over that in present use as no boards or curved centres are re-
quired as the slabs A support the concrete e'.
have
Fig. 8 shews my artificial stone slabs A (Fig. 1) utilised as a duct or cable
channel, on the slab A are formed upward projecting ridges f f which receive
the curved ends f² and f³ of the cover F. Both the slabs A and the cover
to join the lengths of the cover F
grooves formed in them a to join the slabs A.
I make the joints waterproof by filling the
and gl to join the lid T to the slabs A.
grooves a g g with cement or other grout, g² is a strip or tongue of metal slate or
other suitable material which fit into grooves cast in the slab A and cover F to
receive it and prevents any of the grout entering the duct or channel.
Fig. 9 is a modification of Fig. 8 the slab A being curved up at the two
ends h¹ with projecting lugs and h³ on either side to prevent rocking. In
this case I prefer to use a layer of concrete or the like as a foundation on which
to place the slabs A. The several portions being joined as set forth in Fig. 8.
Figs. 10 and 11 are further modifications of Fig. 8, which I shall use where a
larger system is required, is a foundation of concrete or the like, b, b1 are foot-
ings on which one or more courses of slabs A are erected upon which I form up-
ward projecting nibbs s to keep the slabs A from slipping out of position on these
slabs A are placed curved slabs A' which form the roof, when
come to a side
junction or passage as shewn at K I make the slabs A' with returned ends as
at A. This way of constructing ducts or passages is a great improvement over
the present system no wood centres or models being required. Should the duct
or passage be required of such a width that the two curved slabs A' could not
conveniently span the whole distance, I cover the intervening space as shewn at
Figs. 6 and 7 omitting the battens & and floor boards K is a side passage or
junction, k is a manhole. These ducts or passages can be made to any length
and have any number of side junctions K, and can also be fitted with any existing
fittings to carry cables, pipes, or such like purposes.
Fig. 12 shews a small storage tank constructed of my artificial stone slabs, j
shews concrete foundations, b footings. A slabs forming the walls for the corners
prefer to use curved slabs as A3 so that there should be no corners for dirt to
Where it is
accumulate, A¹ curved slabs forming roof, k manhole for access.
required to have a storage tank of large dimensions I construct it as shewn in
Fig. 13, the difference being the addition of artificial stone buttresses G, a section
5 across m m is shewn in Fig. 13. G is the artificial stone buttress which I prefer
A A are slabs forming
to make hollow for lightness and convenience of transit.
the walls, n. is cement or the like filling in the hollow buttress on site as each
course is constructed. I treat the roof in the same way as in Figs. 6 and 7, r,
Fig. 13 is an ordinary suction pipe.
50
Figs. 14 and 15 are modifications of Figs. 12 and 13, where a circular storage
tank is preferred. j is a concrete foundation, 6 are the footings. A a course of
slabs one or more courses of which can be built up according to the required
depth of the tank, on these are placed the slabs A2 which forms a domed roof with
a manhole in the centre, the ring is a key or kerb of artificial stone or metal
55 which I use as a guide for the slabs A¹, the floors of the tanks Figs. 12, 13, 14
and 15 I prefer to pave with my artificial stone slabs A, the floor radiating to
a shallow basin which enables the tank to be pumped out dry.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is -
1. A fireproof partition built up in courses of artificial stone slabs with a
groove for grouting surrounding each tablet.
2. Artificial stone ducts or channels constructed in lengths as set forth with
groove or grooved and tongued joint.
3. Storage tank built up in courses of slabs A.
4 Slabs A1