Improvements in or relating to Fireproof Building Construction.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fireproof Building Construction.
We WILLIAM MILLAR, of 33 Sherbroke Road, London in the county of Middlesex,
Concrete Manufacturer; GEORGE MOFFATT RHYS LAYTON, of Arlesey in the county
of Bedfordshire, Cement Manufacturer; and THOMAS GROVER, of 5 Minden Road,
Anerley, in the county of Surrey, Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The present improvements are particularly applicable to walls, partitions, and
floorings of fireproof buildings and consist as follows:-We manufacture hollow
blocks, bricks, and slabs of concrete of suitable composition by casting in moulds and
applying pressure, a movable core being used if required.
The blocks and bricks are rectangular, preferably square, in section but have
projections on or recesses in their beds, or a projection on one bed and a corresponding
recess in the other of suitable configuration so that the projections of one course when
laid fits into the corresponding recesses in the adjacent courses above and below and
thus constitute a key or bond between the courses. Walls or partitions may be built
dry or with lime or cement. The recesses are made a little deeper than the
projections so as to leave a small space between for binding material, but the arrises
make face to face joints; grooves or roughs are cast in the faces forming plaster
keys when required. The internal hollow in the block runs longitudinally and may
be in section circular, oval, square or with filletted corners.
For flooring we construct skewbacks to completely encase the lower part of the
ironjoists cast either in one piece and slipped on or in two parts dowelled together, .
the intervening space being run flush with grouting, the said skewbacks are faced to
the required angle and support between the joists flat slabs or blocks also cast in
concrete and having one or more hollow spaces formed therein in the direction of
their length, and keyed together by projections and corresponding recesses on or in
their abutting sides. The abutting ends also may have projections or recesses or both
fitting into corresponding ones in or on the skewbacks and all such joints may be
made with cement or not as required.
Suitable recesses or grooves may be cast in the surfaces of the said hollow blocks to
act as keys for plaster or other refractory covering material..
To complete the flooring the space between the upper surface of the blocks and the
top of the joists may be filled up with fireproof material or concrete, and suitable
laths or bars of wood may be embedded therein for receiving the nails of flooring
boards, or open spaces may be left and the floor completed in any suitable
manner.
Among the advantages of the above described construction of flooring may be
mentioned greater simplicity than heretofore, no centering or iron transoms being
required, Also by our method of manufacture we make the hollow blocks so smooth
and hard on the faces that plastering is not required and hence saving in space is
effected.
By the construction described all parts are protected by refractory materials from
the action of flames, the hollow spaces also tending to prevent overheating and
also having the advantage of impeding the passage of sound better than solid
material.
Dated this 22nd day of December.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fireproof Building Construction.
We WILLIAM MILLAR, of 33 Sherbroke Road, London in the county of Middlesex,
Concrete Manufacturer, GEORGE Moffatt Rhys LaYTON, of Arlesey in the county
of Bedfordshire, Cement Manufacturer, and THOMAS GROVER, of 5 Minden Road,
Anerley in the county of Surrey, Contractor, 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 :-
The present improvements are particularly applicable to the walls; partitions and
floorings of fireproof buildings and we will fully describe our invention in reference
to the hereto annexed drawings. We manufacture hollow bricks blocks and slabs of
concrete of suitable composition by casting in moulds and applying pressure, a
movable core being used if required in the usual known manner. We find it
advantageous to use for the concrete a mixture composed of one part Portland
cement to three parts of annealed furnace slag or pulverised dolomite or other
suitable substance, but the proportions may be varied within limits.
In the accompanying drawings Figure is an isometrical perspective view of
seven superposed walling blocks or bricks formed according to our improvements.
In cross section they are made rectangular, preferably square, but have projections a a
upon or recesses bb in one or both beds, or a projection a on one bed and a corre-
sponding recess in the other of suitable configuration so that when laid in position
the projection or projections a of one course fits or fit into the corresponding recess
or recesses in the adjacent courses above and below, and thus an efficient key or
bond is obtained between the courses. For the sake of illustration an irregular
arrangement of projections and recesses is shown in the figure.
All the recesses are made a little deeper than the projections so as to leave a small
intervening space for binding material when used, but the arrises d make face to
face joints and the blocks are inade to fit so accurately that all face joints are very
fine and close, therefore pointing or plastering is not required and papering or paint
may be applied direct to the blocks.
Where plastering is required grooves or roughs may be cast in the faces to form
keys as illustrated at e e figure 1.
The internal hollow B runs longitudinally through the blocks and in section may
be formed circular, oval, square or with filletted corners as illustrated. Figures 2
and 3 are cross sections through part of a floor showing two alternative methods
of constructing and finishing off, and Figure 4 is a part longitudinal section
thereof.
For flooring we construct concrete skewbacks S of such forms as to completely
encase the lower flango and the whole or the greater part of the web of the iron
joists; they may be cast either in one piece and slipped on before fixing the joists, or
in two parts dowelled together, all intervening spaces being run flush with grouting.
The said skewbacks are faced to any required angle and support between adjacent
joists slabs or blocks A. These are also cast in concrete flat on both sides or they
may be curved on the upper surface as illustrated figure 3, and with one or more
hollow spaces B B formed therein in the direction of their length as above setforth
in reference to the bricks. The blocks A. A are keyed together by longitudinal
projections a and corresponding recesses 6 on or in their abutting sides as illustrated
in figures 2, 3 and 4. The abutting ends also may have projections or recesses or both
fitting into corresponding ones in or on the skewbacks, and all such joints may be
made with cement or not as required.. For ventilation it is advantageous to form
apertures running transversely through the blocks and which will be lineable
in situ, and recesses or grooves 99 may be cast in the surfaces of the said hollow
blocks to act as keys for plaster or other refractory covering material.
The blocks may be made of the shape shown in elevation in figures 2 or 3.
In figure 2 the blocks are rather deeper than the joists and themselves form the
flooring, the upper flanges of the joists being covered with and protected by refractory

page_text: material or to complete the flooring the method illustrated in figure 3 may be
adopted, the space between the upper surface of the blocks A and a little above (say
one inch) the top of the joists is filled in solid with fireproof material or concrete and
so left-thus all parts are protected from fire.
In some cases where a wood floor is required suitable laths or bars 1 of wood may
be embedded in the filling for receiving the nails of flooring boards as shown
in figure 3, or open spaces may be left and the floor completed in any suitable
manner.
Among the advantages of the above described construction of flooring may be
mentioned simplicity in fitting together, no centering during construction or
permanent iron transoms being required. Expansion or contraction of the joists can
take place without disturbing the flooring also by making the hollow blocks smooth
and hard on their faces plastering is not required and hence saving in space is
effected; also all parts (except where wood flooring is used) are effectually protected
by refractory materials from the action of flames and the impounded air in the hollow
spaces also tends to prevent over heating by conduction and impedes the passage of
sound better than solid material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. Constructing fireproof walls or partitions of buildings of hollow concrete blocks
having projections recesses upon their beds substantially of the forms illustrated
and
or
and
or
and adapted to form keys with corresponding recesses projections of the
adjoining courses as described and illustrated in figure 1.
2. Constructing fireproof floorings and ceilings of iron joists having their lower
parts encased in cast concrete skewbacks supporting hollow concrete blocks con-
structed and keyed together as described, the whole being arranged substantially in
the manner setforth in reference to figures 2, 3, 4.
Dated this 6th day of June 1990
J. C. CHAPMAN, Fel. Inst. Patent Agents,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.