IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONCRETE BUILDING
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Osborn, of Great Berkhampstead, in the
County of Hertford, Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONCRETE BUILDING."
Sealed the 25th September 1869, and dated the 2nd April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Osborn
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 2nd April 1869.
I, DAVID OSBORN, of Great Berkhampstead, in the County of Hertford,
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONCRETE BUILDING,' to be as
follows:-
The objects of this Invention are to facilitate the setting up and
removal of the apparatus used in the erection of concrete buildings,
and to increase the adaptability of the apparatus to varying circum-
stances, both as respects height and thickness of walls, and occurring
angles and length of unbroken surfaces.

page_text: Hitherto in building up walls in concrete, it has been customary
to set up vertical supports at given distances apart in front and rear
of the intended wall, the thickness of the wall being gauged by
transverse tie bolts, and to attach to these uprights panels which extend
from upright to upright, and form a kind of trough to receive the
concrete and support it while setting. When the concrete has set the
panels are shifted higher up on their respective supports or uprights,
and the filling in is proceeded with as before. This process is repeated
until the top of the uprights has been reached by the panels and the
wall. The whole of the apparatus has then to be removed and reset,
it being secured to the built up portion of the wall by transverse tie bolts
or straps, and thus the wall is built up step by step. This plan involves
considerable loss of time, and it is mainly with the view of economising
time that my novel arrangement of apparatus has been designed.
To avoid the necessity of having to wait until the concrete is set
before the building can be continued after a height of wall equal to the
depth of a panel has been set up, I so arrange the fastenings that
secure the panels to the uprights that I can set one panel above the
other and secure it in position without first removing the lower panel.
And further to prevent the necessity for pulling down from time to time,
during the process of building, all the uprights or vertical supports, I
make these supports of a moderate length, and add length to length,
relying on the attachment of the panels thereto to secure these lengths
in position, the junctions of the panels and the vertical supports being
arranged at different levels so as to break joint with one another.
In order to vary the length of the panels I provide for the connecting
together of two full sized panels lengthwise by coupling pieces, or of
a full sized panel with a short one; and for forming angles I use
coupling pieces of a peculiar construction, which are attached to the
uprights at one side and at the other to a panel. Or I form panels with
a vertical hinge, and these I attach to two uprights in the same way as
the other panels. The attachments which I employ for connecting the
panels with the verticals and with the coupling pieces resemble some-
what the well-known eyelet hole and stud fastening. To the ends of
the panels I secure cast-iron plates formed with a row of eyelet holes
about 1 inches from centre to centre; these plates with their holes
project beyond the panels, and are intended to receive studs which
project from the outer face of the verticals or coupling pieces. The

page_text: studs are made conical to facilitate their insertion into the eyelet holes,
and they are formed with a tooth on their periphery. They are secured
by rivet heads to metal straps or plates fastened to the verticals or
coupling pieces, and are capable of receiving an axial motion, so as to
lock onto the eyelet hole plates when inserted therein. Each upright
will be provided with two rows of studs carried by straps or plates of
iron, and the same remark applies to the coupling pieces; these,
however, I sometimes make to expand laterally, and to this end I
divide them down the middle, and connect the parts together by slotted
plates and screws, a lapped zinc facing (of sufficient width to cover
the whole face of the coupling piece) being fixed to one half of the
coupling piece. The pieces used for turning angles or forming pro-
jections are fitted on one edge with an eyelet hole plate, which stands
out from the edge, and on the opposite edge, or it may be at right
angles to the plate, with a row of studs similar to those described.
When connecting panels together endwise I provide strengthening
straps to receive toothed pins, which enter sockets made to receive
them in the panels. For fixing the hinged panels in their place I
provide them with two rows of studs, which are carried by slotted plates
that are adjustable horizontally on the panels; this permits of these
hinged panels being set to produce angles of different degrees of
obtuseness or acuteness.
For gauging the thickness of the walls to be built, and also to connect
the outer and inner system of apparatus transversely, I employ taper
gauge pieces, which are placed between the panels and uprights on the
opposite sides of the wall in the course of construction, and into the ends
of these gauge pieces I fit screw bolts, which when passed through holes
in the panels and uprights made to receive them, and tightened up in
the gauge pieces, will draw the uprights and panels into contact with
the gauge pieces and thus ensure their standing at a uniform distance
apart. These gauge pieces will be changed to suit different thicknesses
of walls.
In using cores for chimney flues 1 find it very desirable, in order
to facilitate their removal from the set concrete, to provide for their
contraction. To this end I form a cylindrical core of iron, say two feet
in length, by connecting together three segment pieces by means of
internal hinges, but so that two of the segments when not supported
may fall inwards. Near the free abutting edges, and on the inner face

page_text: of these two segment pieces, I form lugs to receive the prongs of two
forked struts that are hinged to cross bars fixed to the third or stationary
segment piece. The forked struts are connected together by a chain,
so that by lifting one out of the lugs the other will move with it, and
the supports being thus withdrawn the core will collapse and may then
be readily withdrawn from the surrounding concrete.
This arrange-
ment with suitable modifications I also adopt in forming drains, wells,
and circular tanks of concrete, proportioning the core both in length
and diameter to the requirements of the work.
The brackets for carrying the platforms for the workmen I form
by hinging the horizontal arm to a vertical pillar or post, and the
horizontal arm I support in position by a leg or strut hinged thereto;
this arrangement allows of one bracket being set up above another, and
of the upper one being partially supported thereby, the lower one having
a firm hold by reason of the concrete which carries it having had longer
time to set than that to which the upper bracket is connected.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Osborn in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
OSBORN, of Great Berkhampstead, in the County of Hertford, Builder,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said David Osborn, Her special
licence that I, the said David Osborn, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said David Osborn, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONCRETE BUILDING," upon the condition

page_text: or
(amongst others) that I, the said David Osborn, my executors
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Osborn, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
The objects of this Invention are to facilitate the setting up and
removal of the apparatus used in the erection of concrete buildings, and
to increase the adaptability of the apparatus to varying circumstances.
both as respects height and thickness of walls, and occurring angles and
length of unbroken surfaces.
Hitherto in building up walls in concrete it has been customary to set
up vertical supports at given distances apart in front and rear of the
intended walls, the thickness of the wall being gauged and regulated by
transverse tie bolts. To these uprights are temporarily attached panels
which extend from upright to upright, and form a kind of trough to
receive the concrete and support it while it is setting. When the
concrete has become set the panels are shifted higher up on their
respective supports or uprights, and the filling in is proceeded with as
before. This process is repeated until the top of the uprights has been
reached by the panels and the wall. The whole of the apparatus has
then to be removed and reset, it being secured to the built up portion of
the wall by transverse tie bolts or straps, and thus the wall is built up
step by step. This plan involves considerable loss of time, and it is
mainly with the view of economizing time and rendering the apparatus
more adaptable to different kinds of work, such as varying angles and
thickness of walls, that my novel arrangement of apparatus, as shewn in
the accompanying Drawings, has been designed.
Fig. 1 is an elevation shewing a piece of wall in course of being
erected with my improved apparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the
same, and Fig. 3 is a plan view.

page_text: To avoid the necessity of having to wait until the concrete is set
before the building can be continued (after a height of wall equal to the
depth of a panel has been set up) I so construct and arrange the fast-
enings (that secure the panels a to the uprights b) that I can set one
panel above the other and secure it in position, as shewn at A, A, Fig. 1,
and in the sectional view Fig. 2, without first removing the lower panel.
And, further, to prevent the necessity for pulling down from time to
time (during the process of building) all the uprights or vertical
supports b, I make these supports of a moderate length, as at B, B,
Fig. 1, and I add length to length, relying on the attachment of the
panels a thereto; to secure these lengths of uprights in position the
junctions of the panels and the vertical supports being arranged at
different levels so as to break joint with one another, as shewn at C,
Fig. 1. The mode of connecting the panels a 'to the uprights 6 will be
best understood by referring to the detached Figures 4 and 5, which are
drawn on an enlarged scale, and are represented in plan and elevation,
the ends of two panels a, a, being connected with the coupling piece b.
It will be seen that the panels are provided at each end with metal
plates c, c, in which there are a series of holes one above the other.
These attachments will hereafter be more particularly described. By
placing any of the holes in the plate cover rotary studs d attached to
the uprights b the panels will be attached to or suspended from the
uprights. As all the holes in the plates c are of exactly the same size
and distance apart it will be evident that every one of them will fit over
the studs d of the uprights, so that the two panels a, a, may be attached
or suspended at different levels as at D, D¹, Fig. 1. It will be seen on
referring to Fig. 1 that a horizontal joint is formed at C, C, between the
two uprights by placing the uprights 6' on the top of the uprights b, and
the two uprights 6 and 6' are held in place by the attachments or fast-
enings c, c, of the panels a, the upper part of the panel being connected
to one upright and the lower part of the panel to the other upright
below.
In order to vary the length of the panels I provide for connecting
together two full-sized panels lengthwise by means of coupling pieces
capable of being adjusted laterally to a nicety. One of these adjustable
coupling pieces is shewn in elevation at Fig. 6 and in plan at Fig. 7, or
a full-sized panel may be connected with an adjustable short one, such
as that shown at Fig. 6. The adjustable coupling piece shown in

page_text: elevation at Fig. 6 is a double coupling piece, and consists, in fact, of
two parts E and E', connected together by hinges for the purpose here-
after described. Each of these parts E and E' consists of two pieces p
and p', one of which is provided with a screw stud q and the other with
a slotted plate r. On the inner face of the narrow piece p¹ is secured a
thin metal plate s, Fig. 7, which extends over or in front of the face of
the contiguous piece p. Upon loosening the screw studs q one or both
of the pieces p¹ can be drawn out laterally, as indicated by dots in the
Figures, to the extent of the slots in the plates r, and therefore the
width of the coupling piece may be adjusted to a nicety according to the
width required. Each of the plates r is provided with a rotary stud d,
similar to those shewn at Figures 4 and 5, and over these studs are
passed the holes in the plates c attached to the panels. For forming
right angles I use coupling pieces of a peculiar construction, which are
attached to the uprights at one side and at the other to a panel. This
device is shewn at Figures 1, 2, and 3, in which i is an upright piece
serving both as a coupling piece and to receive the end of a short or
narrow panel to form a pier to a wall. To one side of this piece i is
fitted a cast-iron angle piece j, in which there are a series of holes (as
in the plates c) to receive the rotary studs d of the pieces b, b, as already
described. The pieces i are thus made to stand at right angles to the
coupling plates to which they are attached, as shewn at Fig. 3, and in
their forward edges are fixed the rotary studs d, d, on which the short
panel a* for forming the front of the pier is suspended; or I form panels
or corner pieces or angle pieces with a vertical hinge, and these I attach
to two uprights (in the same way as the other panels) for the purpose of
forming angles or corners. This form of corner or angle piece is shewn
in plan at the left-hand corner of Figures 1 and 3, and also in the plan
view Fig. 8, in which the corner is shewn as made of an acute angle.
The corner piece is shewn detached and laid out flat in Figures 6 and 7,
already referred to, and is capable of being used (when in this form) to
form a continuous straight wall. Figures 9 and 10 represent in elevation
and plan the corner piece for forming the internal angle of the wall.
It will be seen that by means of these hinged corner pieces any angle
from the acute one shewn in the Drawing to any obtuse angle short of a
continuously straight line can be produced. It will be seen that the
attachments above mentioned for connecting the panels with the ver-
ticals and with the coupling pieces resemble somewhat the well-known

page_text: eyelet hole and stud fastening, and are shewn best in the enlarged views
Figures 4 and 5. To the ends of the panels I secure the cast-iron plates c
provided with a row of these eyelet holes, about one and a half inches
from centre to centre. These plates with their holes project beyond the
ends of the panels a, and receive the studs d which project from the outer
face of the verticals or coupling pieces b. The studs d are made conical
to facilitate their insertion into the eyelet holes, and they are formed
with a tooth on their periphery, as shewn in Fig. 5. They are secured
by rivet heads to metal straps or plates q¹ fastened to the verticals or
coupling pieces b, and are capable of receiving an axial motion so as to
lock on to the eyelet hole plates when inserted therein. On one side of
the eyelet holes there is an incline on which the tooth of the stud d
bears, so that when the latter is turned round it will force forward the
plate c, and with it the panel a to which the latter is attached. Each
upright 6 will be provided with two sets of studs carried by straps or
plates of iron q, q', and the same remark applies to the coupling pieces.
The coupling pieces are sometimes made to expand laterally, and to this
end I divide them down the middle, as already explained, and connect
the separate parts p and p' together by slotted plates and screws, as
shewn in Figures 6 and 7; a lapped zinc facing (of sufficient width to
cover the whole face of the coupling piece) being fixed to the part p¹ of
the coupling piece. When panels are to be connected together endwise
(as at B, Figures 1 and 5) I provide strengthening straps u provided
with long slots to receive toothed pins o, which enter sockets made to
receive them in the panels.
S
In place of constructing the upright 6 (as above described) of two
pieces braced together by strips of iron, it will sometimes be found better
to form them of one piece of wood strengthened by a blade of iron cover-
ing the whole side (as seen in Figures 11 and 12, Sheet III.), and attached
thereto by wood screws. By this means I am enabled to reduce the
thickness of the uprights and to arrange for a greater number of the
eyelet holes (employed in securing the gauge pieces), and also to place
them in a central line. I also form inclines around the eyelet holes on
the inner face of the plate, as in the former instance, to enable the
stiffening link u (shewn in Figures 4 and 5) to be readily attached
whenever it may be thought necessary. A strip of iron 1, Fig. 11, is
sunk into the inner face of the upright, through which the eyelet holes

page_text: are pierced.
This reduced thickness enables me to form an internal
angle, like that shewn at Figures 3, of more easy attachment and
detachment.
Figures 13 and 14 are respectively side elevation and plan views of an
internal right angle formed in this way. b is the ordinary upright;
6* an upright of special form, to which is attached a cast-iron angle
piece j having a series of holes (as in the plates c), by which it is to be
attached to the upright b. The opposite side of the upright b is pro-
vided with studs d as usual to receive the panels.
In order to facilitate the arrangement of the panels when taken pro-
miscuously from the ground to be placed on the uprights I provide them
with plates c, in which the eyelet holes are arranged horizontally, as seen
at Fig. 15, instead of vertically, as in Fig. 1.
It is
Figures 16 shew in plan and elevation a corner piece termed a "cypher,"
because it forms no part of the wall but is only intended to act as the
outward corner support for the panels to form a right angle.
provided on two of its sides with a row of studs d secured thereto by a
plate, as shewn. These studs receive the pierced plates c of the coupling
pieces or panels.
For gauging and regulating the thickness of the walls to be built,
and also to connect the outer and inner system of apparatus transversely,
I employ taper gauge pieces w, Figures 3 and 8, and shewn detached
upon an enlarged scale at Fig. 17. These gauge pieces are placed
between the panels and uprights on the opposite sides of the wall in
the course of construction, as shewn in Figures 1 and 8. Into the ends
of these gauge pieces are fitted screw pins x, Fig. 17, which when passed
through holes in the panels and uprights (made to receive them) and
tightened up in the gauge pieces will draw the uprights and panels into
contact with the gauge pieces w, and thus insure their standing at a
uniform distance apart. Gauge pieces of different length will be used
so that they may be changed to suit different thicknesses of walls. These
gauge pieces may be cored out, and cast hollow of the section -shewn
at Figures 18, Sheet III., that is, both ends having eyelet openings into
the hollow interior. In place of the screw bolts described above the
bolts are provided at the end with a projecting tooth, which on the
bolt being inserted passes through the eyelet hole in the end of the gauge
pieces, and when the bolt is turned axially the tooth will take hold of
the shoulder formed by the hollow interior.

page_text: In using cores for chimney flues it will be found very desirable (in
order to facilitate their removal from the set concrete) to provide for
their contraction. To this end they are constructed in the form of a
cylindrical core of iron, say, two feet in length, as shewn in plan at
Fig. 19, and in section at Fig. 20. The three segment pieces y, y, y¹,
are connected together by means of internal hinges y², but so that two
of the segments when not supported may fall inwards. Near the free
abutting edges and on the inner face of these two segment pieces I form
lugs y", y, to receive the prongs of two forked struts z that are hinged
to cross bars fixed to the third or stationary segment piece y¹. The
forked struts are connected together by a chain 2', so that by lifting one
of the struts out of the lugs the other will move with it, and the
supports being thus withdrawn the parts y, y, of the core will collapse,
and the core may then be readily withdrawn from the surrounding
concrete.
A modification of the above chimney core is shewn at Figures 21
and 22 in plan and section. In place of the hinges y² for connecting
the segment pieces together, cast-iron rings provided with lugs are
rivetted to the segment pieces at suitable distances apart; these rings
are divided into three segments which are hinged to each other at y*.
The forked strut z is also cast iron and formed with a hollow part z³
to be clear of the connecting rod z¹ when the core is collapsed. These
cores or "centreings," with suitable modifications as to strength, may
also be adopted for forming drains, wells, and circular tanks of concrete,
the core being constructed both in length and diameter to the require-
ments of the work.
The brackets for carrying the platforms for the workmen are formed,
as shewn in the side elevation, Fig. 23, by hinging the horizontal arm o
to a vertical pillar or post 1, and the horizontal arm is supported in
position by a leg or strut m hinged thereto. This arrangement allows
of one bracket being set up above another, and of the upper one being
partially supported by the lower one, which will have a firm hold by
reason of the concrete which carries it having had longer time to set
than that to which the upper bracket is connected.
Fig. 24 is a side elevation of a bracket in which one end of the strut m
is hinged to the under side of the horizontal arm o, its other end being
placed in a metal socket o¹ sunk in the upper side of the horizontal
arm o immediately below or placed in the metal socket on the vertical

page_text: pillar . By this arrangement the weight is carried more directly and
the danger of shearing off the studs is avoided.
Fig. 25 represents a form of apparatus to be used for constructing
curved or circular work. It will be seen that the panels or linings of
the apparatus are formed of curved metal plates, which are adjusted and
secured in position by an arrangement of set screws.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Apparatus
to be employed in Concrete Building," and having explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me
by Letters Patent as aforesaid,―
First. Constructing the panels a and uprights b, as herein set forth,
so that the panels may be suspended at any point on the uprights,
and may moreover be made to serve to support the uprights when placed
one upon the other, as herein shewn.
Second. I claim constructing the uprights and corner pieces with
rotating studs, and also with hinges, as herein shewn and described, so
that they may be set at any angle, as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. I claim constructing certain of the uprights and panels, as
herein set forth, so that they may be expanded or extended laterally
and secured in such extended state, as and for the purpose shewn and
described.
Fourth. I claim the construction and use of the wall gauges w and
their pins, as herein set forth.
Fifth. I claim the construction and adaptation to the purposes herein
set forth of the collapsible chimney cores, shewn at Figures 19, 20, 21,
and 22.
Sixth. I claim the use and application of the scaffold brackets above
shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Osborn, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
DAVID OSBORN. (L.S.)