IMPROVEMENTS IN WALLS, ROOFS, PARTITIONS AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON; of 26 Lever Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Iron Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN WALLS, ROOFS, PARTITIONS AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES to
be as follows:-
The object of the invention is the improved construction of partition-walls and
other walls, or divisions, or such like structures, of plaster or such like composition,
or cement, supported upon wire-work in place of employing the more common
laths for the purpose; and roofs.
In carrying out my invention I support the plaster, or other composition, upon
wire-work, or reticulate work of that character and this supporting surface I back-
up or support by a framework or structure of L or T iron, or other section of
suitable metallic material.
A convenient form of structure is to apply at the lower part of the wall a
length of L, T, or other suitable sectional form of iron and then another similar
length of similar iron at the upper part and from the upper to the lower lengths
I connect other pieces of the like or other sectional form of metal ribs, or cross ties,
or pieces suitably connecting the whole frame; such as by rivetting, with the aid
of additional ties where desired.
The cross ties may be arranged in various subsidiary series or arranged
diagonally, or otherwise to suit the particular requirements of the situation.
Among the advantages of this mode of construction are its fire resisting qualities
and the rapidity and accuracy with which good work can be accomplished, with
great strength durability and stability combined with lightness and economy of
space or thickness.

page_text: Improvements in Walls, Roofs, Partitions, and other similar
Structures.
I WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON of 26 Lever Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Iron Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN WALLS ROOFS PARTITIONS AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the invention is the improved construction of partition-walls and
other walls or divisions or such like structures of plaster or such like composition
or cement in place of employing the more common laths for the purpose and to
supersede the ordinary studded walls and brick partitions walls and also to adapt
like means of construction to roofs.
In carrying out my invention I support the plaster cement or other composition
employed upon prepared wirework or reticulate work of that character and this
supporting surface I back up or support by means of strengthening ribs framework
or structure of rod rib L or T iron or other suitable section of metallic material
adapted to the purpose.
A form of construction which I have found most useful in the construction of
partition walls is as follows. Lengths of wirework woven and rolled hammered or
pressed so as to reduce the thickness of the sheet as well as increase its compact
hold and this woven wirework after being so flattened may be galvanised or coated
with suitable preservative or cementing material and to increase its stiffness
additionally of that imparted by the rolling I introduce at intervals in the weaving
or otherwise embody therewith thick wires either straight or crimped and these
wires being thicker than the warp of the wire cloth serve to stiffen it to a degree
dependent on their thickness. Behind this wire work in some cases I fix thereto
and to the ceiling partition wall or other surface framework flat pieces of metal
longitudinally diagonally or otherwise so that the plaster is supported by the
meshes of the wirework, the wirework is stiffened by its being flattened as well
as by the insertion of the thicker stiffening wires further aided when such are
used by the pieces of metal laid edge outwards on the supporting framework of
iron ribs.
Figure 1 shows a face view of a portion of a sheet of woven wirework a rolled
hammered or otherwise flattened so that the wires a¹ which interweave with the
wires a³ are at their points of crossing pressed one partly into the other as is more
clearly shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 shows a cross sectional diagram which will serve to illustrate
two forms of construction or modifications of arrangement according to my
invention.
In figure 4 is shown the arrangement of wirework according to Figure 3 the
left hand half of the Figure showing a face view of the under half of Figure 3 and
the right hand half of Figure 4 showing face view of the upper half of Figure 3.

page_text: In these Figures b indicates a thickness or layer of plaster or other cement laid
onto a sheet a of wirework of the character already described strengthened by
thicker wires c at say six inch intervals interwoven with the fabric ȧ and secured
to the rib or T iron d by wires e or otherwise. f show flat pieces of iron laid within
the plastering surface a and secured to the framework d in a suitable manner by
ties e or otherwise, or the flat pieces f arranged edgewise on the frames may be
used additionally of the thick wires c in which case their utility may be increased
by placing them in diagonal directions. The framework d may also be
strengthened by diagonal and other braces according to circumstances as will be
readily understood by any competent mechanic the main features of the invention
having thus been set forth.
A convenient form of framework may be made by applying at the lower part of
the wall a length of L, T or other suitable sectional form of iron and then another
similar length of similar iron at the upper part and from the upper to the lower
lengths I connect other pieces of the like or other sectional form of metal ribs or
cross ties or pieces suitably connecting the whole frame, such as by rivetting, with
the aid of additional ties where desired. The cross ties may be arranged in various
subsidiary series or arranged diagonally or otherwise to suit the particular
requirements of the situation.
It has been commonly the practice to corrugate wirework in order to stiffen the
sheet but by the use of my invention such will not be necessary, inserted wires for
the same purpose or the flat pieces of iron effecting the like end. These wires or
flat pieces of iron also serve advantageously to raise the wirework from the
supporting framework to a distance of about one quarter to half an inch thereby
affording more space for the plaster within the meshes of the wire and to isolate
the interior framework which when wood or other destructible material is
introduced into the construction is of great advantage in aiding protection
from fire.
This method of construction as so applied to cases where wood or material
destructible or combustible backing, rafters, scantling, joists or such like are made
use of, is shewn in detail in Figures 5 and 6 the former figure shewing a face view
and the latter a cross section of a plastered partition of wire net work a secured
to and supported by metal ribs, bands or pieces f set edgewise and held between
the wire work and the woodwork d, which may be a joist or d¹ which may be
partition scantling, by the fastenings e. These fastenings e are thus caused to lock
the wire work to the iron rib or framework f and being driven into the timber
fasten the whole into a rigid structure and these fastenings e or their equivalents
are inserted at short intervals all over the structure as desired.
In figure 5 portions of the plaster and wire work are removed to shew
underneath parts.
The net a may be flattened or rolled or ordinary.
Among the advantages of this method of construction are its fire resisting
qualities, the rapidity and accuracy with which good work can be constructed, the
economy of space the construction admits of owing to the flattening of the wire-
work, the substitution of the stiffening wires for deep corrugations, the whole
giving great strength durability and stability with lightness and other advantages.
If desired, the space between the two coats of plaster left unoccupied may be
filled with sawdust or other sound-deadening matter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The bereindescribed method of construction of walls roofs partitions and other
similar structures substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The construction and employment of woven wirework or other reticulate work
of that character for supporting plaster or other composition for like purposes

page_text: strengthened and supported by pieces of metal in manner substantially as
set forth.
3. The combination in walls partitions or other similar structures of wirework
to support plaster or other like composition carried by metallic framework and
stiffening or supporting parts as set forth.