IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, Roors, ARCHES, AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Wood, of Benmore, in the County of Argyleshire,
Scotland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BUILDINGS, Roors, ARCHES, AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES, AND IN THE
APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 25th June 1878, and dated the 7th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Wood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1878.
DAVID WOOD, of Benmore, in the County of Argyleshire, Scotland. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, ROOFS, ARCHES, AND OTHER LIKE
STRUCTURES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
"
My Invention relates to an exceedingly simple and improved method of building
with concrete, by which all expensive frames and moulds are entirely dispensed
with.
In carrying out my Invention the foundations are first laid in any usual or
suitable manner, and I then proceed to erect a system of wood space framing of
very simple and inexpensive construction, which is most easily adapted to all styles
of buildings, and once fixed cannot by any possibility get out of truth. This
framing instead of being fixed outside the walls is so arranged that its outer sides
are in a direct line with the face of the wall, and on these any ordinary boards are
nailed, the nails not being driven quite home.
By a simple arrangement of wooden distance pieces the boards are held firmly
in position without the necessity for the use of any iron (excepting a few nails)
from the laying of the foundation to the finishing of the roof. The concrete is
then filled in, and after the walls are set the framing is then drawn out, it being.
made of such a shape and so constructed as to admit of its being readily with-
drawn.
13
The spaces left by the framing can be roughly filled in by a labourer, and the
wall is then ready for its surface finish.
When my Invention is applied to the erection of roofs, arches, and other like

page_text: structures I construct concrete ribs of any desired shape transversely and longi-
tudinally, preferably by the aid of the before-mentioned wood space framing, and
strengthen the ribs by the introduction of ordinary stone bonding, thus forming a
roof or arch (for example) without the aid of iron or any other supports.
By the adoption of this system the objections against building in concrete, viz,
the great expense in the hiring and carting of plant, the difficulty with which such
plant is adapted to miscellaneous buildings, and the great cost of all previously
constructed concrete roofs is entirely obviated.
The advantages are simplicity of use, speed, universal adaptability, and great
cheapness, together with a solidity never yet excelled, thus bringing concrete
building within the reach of all.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th July
1878.
DAVID WOOD, of Benmore, in the County of Argyleshire, Scotland. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, ROOFS, ARCHES, AND OTHER LIKE
STRUCTURES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My said Invention relates to the construction of buildings, roofs, arches, and
other like structures in concrete, and consists,―
First. Of an improved method of building with concrete, whereby expensive
frames and moulds are dispensed with.
Secondly. Of an improved construction of concrete roofs, arches, and other like
structures.
In carrying out the first part of my said Invention the foundations are first laid
in any usual or suitable manner, and I then proceed to erect a system of wood
space framing of very simple and inexpensive construction, which is most easily
adapted to all styles of buildings, and once fixed cannot by any possibility get out of
truth. This framing instead of being fixed outside the walls is so arranged that
its outer sides are in a direct line with the face of the wall, and on these any
ordinary boards are nailed, the nails not being driven into their entire length.
Distance pieces, either of wood or iron, are also employed where necessary, in order
to assist in holding the boards firmly in position. The concrete is then filled in,
and after the walls are set the framing is drawn out, it being made of such &
shape and so constructed as to admit of its being readily withdrawn.
The spaces left by the framing can be roughly filled in by a labourer, and the
wall is then ready for its surface finish.
In carrying out the second part of my said Invention, which relates to the
erection of roofs, arches, and other like structures, I construct concrete ribs of any
desired shape transversely and longitudinally, and if necessary strengthen the
ribs by the introduction of ordinary stone bonding, thus forming a roof or arch (for
example) without the aid of iron or any other supports.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer
to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents an elevation, partly in
section, of a portion of the wood space framing employed in carrying out the first
part of my said Invention, and Figure 2 is a plan of the same, corresponding to
Figure 1; Figure 3 represents a vertical section of a building constructed according
to my said Invention, and embodying both parts of the same; Figure 4 is a part
horizontal section and part plan; and Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same, both
corresponding to Figure 3.
In erecting a building according to my said Invention, the foundations are first
laid in any usual or suitable manner, and I then construct the walls in concrete
in situ, employing for the formation of the moulds for the concrete wood space
framing, such as is shewn in detail in Figures 1 and 2, and next herein-after
described, with boards attached thereto, the walls being by preference constructed
in incremental sections of their height, and the boards removed and attached to
the framing at greater heights in succession as the different sections of the height
are in their turn reared.
A, A, Figures 1 and 2, are wooden uprights, connected together by wooden cross
pieces B, B, which are made of a reduced size at their extremities to enter apertures
formed in the uprights A, A, and are secured to the latter by screws a inserted in
an angular direction. The two uprights are arranged at such a distance apart the
one from the other, that the space between their outer sides b, b, will correspond to
the thickness of the wall, the two uprights with their cross pieces secured together
as before mentioned constituting a frame, any required number of which are.
employed in the construction of a building.
The frames are used in the following manner, reference being had to Figures 3,
4, and 5 of the Drawings:-Taking the side C as an example of the application of
the Invention, I erect, say, two of the frames A of a height about equal to that of
the wall to be constructed, the outer and inner sides of the frames coinciding with
the outer and inner surfaces respectively of the said wall, and where windows
occur, as at D, I erect two shorter frames, as shewn at A¹, which are of similar
construction to the frames A, and arranged in a similar manner. The window
openings D are enclosed with a plain temporary frame c, and the opening of the
door at E is also fitted with a plain temporary frame c', which temporary frames
are intended to be removed and replaced by the ordinary permanent framing when
the wall is completed.
Having thus erected the frames, I next nail on to the outer and inner sides
thereof any ordinary boards, extending to a section of the height of the wall to be
constructed, as shewn at F, the nails not being driven in for their full length, so
as to facilitate their extraction. A space G (Figures 3 and 4) is thus formed
between the two sets of boards, which constitutes a mould for the reception of the
concrete, and the latter is then filled in, and when it has sufficiently set, the boards
are removed and re-attached at a greater height, as shewn by the dotted lines at F' in
Figures 3 and 5, and the concrete is filled in as before. These operations are con-
tinued, section by section, until the wall is completed, additional frames and longer
boards being applied where necessary.
When the wall is completed the required height, and the concrete has set, the
boards are finally removed, and the frames A, A¹, are drawn out, either the outer
or inner upright being disconnected, and the other upright with the cross pieces
attached being withdrawn inwards or outwards, as the case may be.
The temporary frames c, c', of the window and door openings D, E, are also
removed and replaced by the permanent framing, and the spaces left by the
frames A, A', are roughly filled in by a laborer, and the wall is then ready for its
surface finish.

page_text: It will be understood that although in describing the mode of carrying out my
Invention I have only referred to the wall of one side, the walls of the other sides
of the building may be simultaneously constructed in a similar manner.
Where irregularities occur, as for example at the fire-places H, distance pieces d
and cores e may be used.
In lieu of constructing the walls in successive incremental sections of their
height, the whole height may be filled in at once if found practicable, but I prefer
the former method as being more convenient in practice.
In erecting walls of a greater altitude than, say, fourteen feet, it is necessary or
desirable to use frames extending to a section only of that height, and to move
them upwards as the wood proceeds.
This operation may be readily performed in the following manner:-The wall
having been completed up to the full height of the frames the latter are taken
apart, and the uprights are withdrawn in the manner herein-before explained.
The frames are then fitted together again by inserting and securing the free ends
of the cross pieces B, B, in the apertures of the corresponding upright A, with the
exception of the lowest cross piece, which is entirely withdrawn, leaving the
apertures provided for it, in both uprights open. The frames are next lifted to the
top of the section of the height of the wall already built, and slid down over it,
bringing the lowest apertures in the uprights which are left open exactly opposite
the hole in the wall vacated by the top cross piece of the frame previously removed,
and a bolt or piece of wood is then passed through and secured, whereby the frames
are held firmly in position. The next section of the height of the wall may then
be filled in with concrete, after which the frames are again removed, and if
necessary may be re-erected at a greater elevation, and so on in succession,
according to the height of the wall to be built.
By this method walls of any required altitude may be constructed with the use
of only one set of frames of a moderate height, the frames being simply supported
when erected above the first section of the height by stays arranged either at the
exterior or the interior in a manner which will be well understood.
The roof is formed of a thickness or layer I of concrete, strengthened or sup-
ported by concrete ribs K, which may be of any desired shape, and are arranged
transversely and longitudinally.
The ribs, which impart rigidity with lightness, may also be strengthened, if
necessary, by the introduction of ordinary stone bonding. A roof is thus formed
without the aid of iron or other supports.
This part of my said Invention is also applicable to arches generally, and other
like structures.
In the construction of concrete roofs, arches, or the like, in this manner, I employ
any ordinary means used in the erection of arched or other like structures, such,
for example, as what are known as centres made to the required shape and span of
the roof or arch to be constructed I fill on to these centres the concrete by pre-
ference of a finer mixture than is used for ordinary walls), and form ribs thereon, as
before described, as the work progresses.
By the use of my said Invention, the objections against building in concrete,
videlicet, the expense in the hiring and carting of plant, the difficulty with which
such plant is adapted to miscellaneous buildings, and the great cost of all previously
constructed concrete roofs, are entirely obviated.
The material, which is to subsequently form the flooring and other wooden
portions of the building, is first utilized in the construction of the moulds for the
walls, so that the amount of special plant required is reduced to a minimum.
The Invention combines the advantages of simplicity, economy of time, universal
adaptability, and great cheapness, together with a solidity never yet excelled, thus
bringing concrete building within the reach of all.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into

page_text: effect, I would observe in conclusion that 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,-
First. Constructing buildings in concrete, substantially in the manner and by
the apparatus or means herein-before described.
Secondly. Constructing concrete roofs, arches, and other like structures with
concrete ribs, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Wood, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this 2nd day of July, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
DAVID WOOD. (L.S.)