Improvements in the Manufacture of Material for Use in the Construction of Fire Proof Curtains for Theatres, Fire Proof Ceilings, Walls, Columns, Partitions, Panelling, Blocks, Slabs, Girders, Doors, Floors, Roofing, Safes, Strong Rooms, and other Analogous Parts, Structures, and Buildings Intended to be Fire Proof.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 188
Improvements in the Manufacture of Material for Use in the
Construction of Fire Proof Curtains for Theatres, Fire Proof
Ceilings, Walls, Columns, Partitions, Panelling, Blocks, Slabs,
Girders, Doors, Floors, Roofing, Safes, Strong Rooms, and other
Analogous Parts, Structures, and Buildings Intended to be
Fire Proof.
I ROBERT BRISTOW LEE of The Titancrete Company of 8 Deansgate, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of
this Invention to be as follows:-
My said Invention has for its object to render buildings and other structures and
parts inore capable of resisting fire and of confining a fire to one part of a building.
The material which I use in the production of the said fire proof parts consists of
concrete or cement mixed with a proportion of asbestos fibre and with finely broken
slag or finely broken fire brick. The asbestos fibre is carefully mixed with the com-
position while the latter is in a liquid or semi-liquid condition, and should be introduced
in sufficient quantity to act as a fibrous binding agent assisting to unite the whole
mass together. 1 form slabs, blocks, parts and structures of this material, the asbestos
fibre permitting me to make for example slabs and panelling much thicker and stronger
than would be the case if the cement or composition were used without the said ingre-
dient of asbestos fibre. Another advantage is that slabs and parts made of my
improved material may be nailed to a backing if necessary or may have objects nailed
to them as the asbestos fibre prevents the concrete or cement from cracking and flying.
The blocks, slabs or parts might in addition be formed with an internal metallic
skeleton or trellis work in the manner set forth in the Specification annexed to Letters
Patent No. 14726 of 1885, granted to me in conjunction with James Hodgson.
In making a fire proof curtain for use in theatres I employ a frame of iron or steel
and into the divisions of the frame I fit slabs or panels of the improved material and
of a suitable thickness. The various slabs or panels are firmly secured to each other
and to the frame so that the whole composes a fire proof partition of the requisite size.

page_text: This partition may slide in ways and be raised and lowered by hydraulic or other
power or by means of counterbalance weights. The dividing wall or proscenium
-should-also be fire proof so that when the curtain is lowered, any fire occuring on or
beneath or above the stage or behind the scenes is entirely cut off from the audience
and confined to that portion of the house. The decorated parts of the house may be
faced with panelling of the improved material, and the plaster decorations may be
nailed thereto just as if it were a backing of wood, the nails being easily driven into
and held by the material. My improved material may be used in the construction of
columns to support the galleries of a theatre or girders to carry parts of buildings, or
in the construction of sales or strong rooms and for a variety of purposes where fire
proof properties are required.
0:1 1
1 1000
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Material for Use in the
Construction of Fire Proof Curtains for Theatres, Fire Proof
Ceilings, Walls, Columns, Partitions, Panelling, Blocks, Slabs,
Girders, Doors, Floors, Roofing, Safes, Strong Rooms, and other
Duildings Intended to
ha
I ROBERT BRISTOW LEE of The Titanerete Company of 8 Deansgate, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineers and Contractors, 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 and accompanying
drawings:-
My said Invention has for its object to render buildings and other structures and
parts more capable of resisting fire and of confining a fire to one part of a building.
The material which I use in the production of the said fire proof parts consists of
concrete or cement mixed with a proportion of asbestos fibre and with or without
finely broken slag, coke, finely broken fire brick or other suitable non-combustible
material. The asbestos fibre is carefully mixed with the cement or composition while
the latter is in a liquid or semi-liquid condition and should be introduced in sufficient
quantity to act as a fibrous binding agent assisting to unite the whole mass together.
I form slabs, blocks, parts, and structures of this material, the asbestos fibre permitting
me to make for example slabs and panelling much thinner and stronger than would
be the case if the cement or composition were used without the said ingredient of
asbestos fibre. Another advantage is that slabs and parts made of my improved material
may be nailed to a backing if necessary or may have objects nailed to them as the
asbestos fibre prevents the concrete or cement from cracking and flying. The blocks,
slabs or parts might in addition be formed with an internal metallic skeleton or trellis
work in the manner set forth in the specification annexed to Letters Patent No. 14726
of 1885, granted to me in conjunction with James Hodgson.
As a suitable example 1 will now describe the method of making a fire proof
curtain from my improved material the said curtain being intended for use in
theatres and similar places of resort. Such a curtain is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing, the portion to the right hand representing the front of the curtain the
portion to the left the back of the curtain. As seen from the drawing the finished
curtain comprises a large rectangular slab capable of sliding in ways a. bat each side
of the stage. In the portion to the left, the mode of constructing the curtain is
clearly shown. I first make an iron or steel frame of the size of the curtain, and
with lattice bars which divide the frame into a number of smaller squares. Into

page_text: each of these squares 1 place a panel consisting of a slab of my improved material of
asbestos fibre and concrete or cement, which is preferably surrounded by a binding
or frame of iron or-steel. The panels may consist simply of slabs of my improved
material as in the panels 1. 2. and 3 of that portion of the curtain which is shown
broken away. Or such a panel may consist of crossed iron or steel bars in com-
bination with my improved material of concrete or cement and asbestos fibre as
shown in the panel marked 4, this construction being in accordance with Letters
Patent No. 14726 of 1885 granted to me in conjunction with James Hodgson or I
may use the latter combination in conjunction with a sheet or sheets of wire
netting or woven or intertwisted wire as shown in the panel marked 5 and as set
forth in the specification of Letters Patent No. 14554 of 1887 granted to me.
These
panels are securely fastened into their respective squares and the whole curtain when
completed may be skinned over on both sides with a finishing coat of the material
so as to conceal the joints of the squares and to cover the metal frames and lattice
bars. That side of the curtain which looks towards the proscenium may be decorated
or painted as an act drop and as shown on the right side of the figure. The curtain
may be raised and lowered in the ways a. b by any suitable means but a convenient
mode is shown in the drawing. The curtain is suspended on each side by chains c d
over carrier pullies e. f. g. h and is weighted by counterbalance weights . which
are made hollow like pitchers so that they can be filled with water from the pipes k. l.
which are supplied with water from the pipe m the supply being governed by a
stop valve, n. The curtain is heavier than the weights when they are empty and
lighter than the weights when they are filled with water.
When the curtain is clown
as shown in the drawing the valve n is opened and the hollow weights i. j become
filled with water. The curtain is prevented from being raised by this added
weight of water by a catch or bolt, or by jambing it with the brake o which is
operated by a rod p and hand lever q from the stage. This brake may be also
used to control the ascent and descent of the curtain. When the curtain is to be
raised the holding down catch or bolt is unfastened or the brake cased and the
weights full of water descend into a tube or well and occupy the position
shown in dotted lines. The pitcher weights . j have a flap valve at the bottom
which is opened or lifted by coming against a projection at the foot of the well "
allowing the water to run out and escape. The curtain having now been fully
raised and secured when up either by the brake o or by a bolt or catch or other
means it cannot descend when the weights are thus lightened by the escape of the
contained water. But when it is desired to drop the curtain, the holding means are
detached and as the curtain is heavier than the empty weights, it descends,
lifting the weights, to be again filled with water ready for another ascent of the
curtain.. The curtain might however be raised and lowered by the aid of a hydraulic
ram or other means. The dividing wall or proscenium should also be fire proof so
that when the curtain is lowered, any fire occuring on or beneath or above the stage
or behind the scenes is entirely cut off from the audience and confined to that portion
of the house. The decorated parts of the house may be faced with panelling of the
improved material, and the plaster decorations may be nailed thereto just as if it
were a backing of wood, the nails being easily driven into and held by the material.
My improved material may be used in the construction of columns to support the
galleries of a theatre or girders to carry parts of buildings or in the construction
of safes or strong rooms and for a variety of purposes where fire proof properties
are required. The material may also be used in the manufacture of gate posts and
for other outside purposes and objects not strictly requiring to be fire proof.
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 manufacture of the specified and indicated articles from a material or
composition consisting of a mixture of cement or concrete and asbestos fibre either
with or without a further addition of finely broken or crushed slag, coke, firo brick

page_text: or other suitable non-combustible material in the manner, for the purposes and
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
(2) The fire-proof curtain for use in theatres and other similar places of public
resort, constructed and applied substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
(3) The apparatus for raising and lowering a fire proof curtain in theatres and
other similar places of public resort substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.