Improvements in the Construction of Portable or Temporary Buildings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 7th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Portable or Temporary
Buildings.
I, GEORGES ESPITALLIER of Chalons, in the Department of Marne in the
Republic of France, Commander, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The two methods of construction at present made use of in putting up portable or
temporary buildings consist in forming a wooden or iron framework which serves as
a frame, either for a wood panelling or for a brick partition. In the latter case, it
may be said that the building is not absolutely portable, and when it is necessary
to take it down, the materials are almost entirely destroyed.
Buildings with a double panelling of wood are healthy and convenient. They
may, if necessary, be removed, but as a matter of fact a very long time is required
for taking them down, transporting them and putting them up again, and the cost
is almost as much as the construction of a new building.
There are many known, or easily imagined, patterns with an iron framework,
which can, as is well known, be put together in a simple and rapid manner, but the
weight of the parts is very considerable, and the buildings so constructed have also
the serious drawback of being very expensive.
The object of the present invention is a new type of building constructed
entirely of cardboard, cellulose, or other compressed substance with the introduction
or insertion into such substance of a sheet of metal, thereby increasing the rigidity
and requiring that the thickness of the various substances should be only a few
millimetres as will be hereinafter explained. This new type of building, while
presenting the various advantages of similar structures, is capable of being very
easily moved in consequence of the lightness of its parts and the facility with which
it can be erected.
Although the dimensions of the various parts forming a building constructed
according to this invention are not absolutely unalterable, it is preferable that they
should be such as are given in the following Specification, as such will be found the
best for the purpose of easily handling the various parts. Each section of the
structure consists of a panel three metres in height, by one metre sixty centimetres
or 0-80 centimetres in breadth, forming an actual tubular beam of 10 centimetres in
thickness.
The panel is composed of two walls or shells connected by joints of a U section
and by cross pieces of the same section. The frame thus formed is of compressed
cardboard, wood, or iron in certain cases.
The walls or shells are formed either of compressed cardboard, or of an internal
foundation of perforated metal, metal gauze or trellis work on which is affixed paper
pulp, cellulose, sawdust, cork and the like, mixed with some suitable agglutinant ;
Whatever
these agglomerated substances may be antiseptic or absorbent mixtures.
its composition, the substance is strongly compressed by means of rollers or presses
onto both sides of the metallic foundation to a thickness which may be only a few
millimetres, taking care, in order to prevent the peeling off of the layer, to
incorporate in the substance one or more thicknesses of a very large meshed fabric.
A similar result is attained by employing as an internal foundation a mixed trellis
composed of metallic strips and any suitable fibre over which the paste is compressed.
These panels offer thus considerable resistance, but they can be corrugated so as to
give them still more rigidity.
Each section formed in this manner only weighs from 35 to 40 kilogrammes; these
pieces are therefore easily handled; they fit into each other at their ends, one

page_text: projecting end fitting into the adjoining recessed end of the next section. The
projecting and recessed ends may be of a V or any other shape. A continuous wal
or partition of any desired dimension may thus be formed.
In each section a casement is arranged which takes up half the breadth. The
doors are most frequently made in the gable ends.
When the wall is erected, in order to fasten all the sections firmly together they
are connected to one another by means of slightly flexible clasps hung in ring loop
suitably placed, and recessed in such a way that they do not project beyond the
surface of the wall, or by means of steel couplings connecting the two contiguous
sections.
The roof is composed of similar sections, the breadth of which is only 80 centi
metres, so as to be still more easily handled. In any case, the two sections forming
the corresponding pieces are connected at the ridge where hinges are placed
When the building is pulled down, these two sections fold one upon the other, which
facilitates transportation.
In order that the fitting together of the sections may always be effected without
difficulty, in cases where frequent removals are necessary, the girders, which form
the long sides of each section of the roof, are V shaped and present alternately
their concavity and convexity so that the girders of two adjacent sections may
easily successively fit into one another with a certain amount of grip.
The external wall or shell of the roof is of cardboard like all the other parts, but
its longitudinal edges are turned up a few centimetres so that the water cannot run
into any space which there may be between two sections. The joints may be
covered by a cardboard protector which will suffice to entirely protect the joints.
In the same way a ridge piece of cardboard or of metal protects the junction of the
two slopes of the roof.
In place of having the whole of the roof hinged, only some of the bays may be
complete, while others may be formed of isolated walls on which roofs are placed.
In this case the bays with hinged roofs may alternate with the bays of the
independent roof, covering one part or the other.
Finally, buildings may be constructed in which all the bays have independent
roofs. In this case, the panels of the roof slopes have a groove into which the upper
part of the walls fits. The groove is strengthened by cardboard cross pieces com-
pressed into the shape of a Ŭ; these cross pieces may, in certain cases, be of wood
or metal.
A very solid connection is thus obtained which further offers a very
great hindrance to the entrance of cold air. The roof may also be simply placed
on the wall, a buttress cornice being fitted thereto.
The joints of the roof panellings alternate with those of the walls; these latter
have recesses to allow the joints of the roof which cannot be cut to pass through.
The walls of the gables are made of a similar section to what has been described,
combined with a triangular part.
In the fitting up of the building, the bottom of the walls must be secured by
means of strong pegs wedged in where the floor is to be merely of benten earth or
cements.
On the other hand, in case it is desired to make a plank flooring, the supports of
the wall rest generally on the flooring with mortice joints, and the latter is raised
on trusses capable of being placed at various distances, allowing of a level surface
being easily obtained. The flooring may be composed of panels formed by means
of compressed cardboard joists in the shape of Zoré irons (fers Zorés) enclosed
between two flat pieces also of compressed cardboard, one of which forms the floor
boards and the other a sort of ceiling board, either visible, or resting on the
ground, according to whether the building consists of one or more floors. The
flooring may also be made by nailing strips of compressed cardboard on a frame or
ground work of wood.
The panelling of the walls may be made as above stated of compressed cardboard,
being corrugated for the purpose of offering greater resistance, it may also be
formed of cardboard embossed by stamping and decorated with varnish, lacquer or

page_text: other suitable coatings, or finally, it may be formed of substances agglomerated on
metallic gauze.
As will be seen, this building is surrounded on all sides with a cushion of air,
such being a good non-conductor, which is preferable in the case of house walls,
consequently the outside temperature very slightly affects the internal temperature.
This is a great advantage both for hot climates as well as for colder latitudes, and
one which could not be realised to the same extent by any of the methods of con-
structing buildings with single walls.
In order to complete these good hygienic conditions, a thorough ventilation is
secured. The admission of fresh air, if the joints of the doors and windows be not
considered sufficient, can be effected by means of orifices in the double wall.
But the most essential point and the one most difficult of realisation is the
removal of the vitiated air. This air, which is the lightest because the most
heated, rises to the upper part of the building and encounters, in the shell of the
ceiling, just at the angle where this ceiling meets the wall, a series of small holes
through which it passes away into the thickness of the roof itself to the groove
formed along the ridge. This groove is in its turn covered with a ridge tile of
compressed cardboard and is sufficiently raised to allow the air to freely escape.
This method of removal is very efficacious, especially during the heat of summer
when the heating of the outer shell causes an extra strong draught.
The foregoing method of construction is applicable to all kinds of buildings, such
as dock sheds, stables, movable dwellings, encampments, etcetera, etcetera.
Dated this 26th day of June 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Portable or Temporary
Buildings.
I, GEORGES ESPITALLIER of Chalons, in the Department of Marne in the
Republic of France, Commander, 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 two methods of construction at present made use of in putting up portable
or temporary buildings consist in forming a wooden or iron framework which serves
as a frame, either for a wood panelling or for a brick partition. In the latter case,
it may be said that the building not absolutely portable, and when it is necessary
to take it down, the materials are almost entirely destroyed.
Buildings with a double panelling of wood are healthy and convenient. They
may, if necessary, be removed, but as a matter of fact a very long time is required
for taking them down, transporting them and putting them up again, and the cost
is almost as much as the construction of a new building.
There are many known, or easily imagined, patterns with an iron framework,
which can, as is well known, be put together in a simple and rapid manner, but
the weight of the parts is very considerable, and the buildings so constructed have
also the serious drawback of being very expensive.
The object of the present invention is a new type of building constructed
entirely of cardboard, cellulose, or other compressed substance with the introduc-
tion or insertion into such substance of a sheet of metal, thereby increasing the
rigidity and requiring that the thickness of the various substances should be only
a few millimetres as will be hereinafter explained. This new type of building,
while presenting the various advantages of similar structures, is capable of being
very easily moved in consequence of the lightness of its parts and the facility with
which it can be erected.

page_text: In the four sheets or drawings accompanying this Specification this new type of
building is shown as an example, the description of which follows hereinafter.
Figure 1 is an elevation,
Figure 2 a plan view,
Figure 3 a section,
Figure 4 an arrangement of trusses capable of being placed at various distances
apart,
Figure 5 a section showing the connection of the panels (in the form of a V),
Figure 6 the same in the form of a U,
Figures 7 and 8 details of the connection of the panels forming a wall,
Figures 9 and 13 views in perspective and section of one of the arrangements for
connecting the roof and the walls,
Figures 10 and 11 another method of connecting roof and wall,
Figure 12 section of the flooring,
Figure 14 shows one of the arrangements for connecting the roof to the wall.
Figure 15 shows the method of arranging the roof in bays.
Figure 16 shows arrangements for ventilating at the top.
Although the dimensions of the various parts forming a building constructed
according to this invention are not absolutely unalterable, it is preferable that they
should be such as are given in the following Specification, as such will be found the
best for the purpose of easily handling the various parts. Each section of the
structure consists of a panel three metres in height, by one metre sixty or eighty
centimetres in breadth, forming an actual tubular beam of 10 centimetres in
thickness.
The panel is composed of two walls or shells connected by joints a a of a
U section, and by cross pieces bb of the same section. The frame thus formed is
of compressed cardboard, wood or iron in certain cases.
The walls or shells are formed either of compressed cardboard, or of an internal
foundation of perforated metal, metallic gauze, or trellis work, on which is affixed
paper pulp, cellulose, sawdust, cork and the like, mixed with some suitable agglu-
tinant these agglomerating substances may be antiseptic or absorbent mixtures.
Whatever its composition, the substance is strongly compressed by means of
rollers or presses onto both sides of the metallic foundation to a thickness which
may be only a few millimetres, taking care, in order to prevent the peeling off of
the layer, to incorporate in the substance one or more thicknesses of a very large
meshed fabric. A similar result is attained by employing as an internal foundation
a mixed trellis composed of metallic strips and any suitable fibre over which the
paste is compressed. These panels offer thus considerable resistance, but they can
be corrugated so as to give them still more rigidity.
The
Each section formed in this manner only weighs from 35 to 40 kilogrammes;
these pieces are therefore easily handled; they fit into each other at their ends,
one projecting.end fitting into the adjoining recessed end of the next section.
projecting and recessed ends may be of a V or any other shape. A continuous
wall or partition of any desired dimension may thus be formed.
In each section, a casement is arranged which takes up half the breadth. The
doors are most frequently made in the gable ends.
When the wall is erected, in order to fasten all the sections firmly together they
are connected to one another by means of slightly flexible clasps hung in ring
loops suitably placed, and recessed in such a way that they do not project beyond
the surface of the wall, or by means of steel couplings connecting the two
continuous sections as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
The roof is composed of similar sections, the breadth of which is only 80 centi-
metres, so as to be still more easily handled. In any case, the two sections
forming the corresponding pieces are connected at the ridge where hinges are
placed. When the building is pulled down, these two sections fold one upon the
other, which facilitates transportation.
In order that the fitting together of the sections may always be effected without

page_text: difficulty, in cases where frequent removals are necessary, the girders, which form
the long sides of each section of the roof, are V shaped and present alternately
their concavity and convexity, so that the girders of two adjacent sections may
casily fit successively into one another with a certain amount of grip.
The external wall or shell of the roof is of cardboard like all the other parts,
but its longitudinal edges are turned up a few centimetres so that the water cannot
run into any space which there may be between two sections. The joints may be
covered by a cardboard protector which will suffice to entirely protect the joints.
In the same way, a ridge piece of cardboard or of metal protects the junction of
the two slopes of the roof.
In place of having the whole of the roof hinged, only some of the bays may be
complete, while others may be formed of isolated walls on which roofs are placed.
In this case, as shown in Figure 14, the bays with hinged roofs may alternate with
the bays of the independent roof, covering one part or the other.
Finally, buildings may be constructed in which all the bays have independent
roofs. In this case, the panels of the roof slopes have a groove into which the
upper part of the walls tits.
As shown by the arrangement in Figures 9, 11 and 13,
the groove is strengthened by cardboard cross pieces compressed into the shape of
a U; these cross pieces may, in certain cases, be of wood or metal.
connection is thus obtained, which further offers a very great resistance to the
entrance of cold air. The roof may also be simply placed on the wall, a buttress
cornice being fitted thereto.
A. very solid
The joints of the roof panellings alternate with those of the walls; these latter
have recesses, Figure 11, to allow the joints of the roof which cannot be cut to
pass through, Figure 10.
The walls of the gables are made of a similar section to what has been described,
combined with a triangular part.
In the fitting up of the building, the bottom of the walls must be secured by
means of strong pegs wedged in, where the floor is to be merely of beaten earth or
cements, Figures 1, 2, 3.
On the other hand, in case it is desired to make a plank flooring, the supports of
the wall rest generally on the flooring with mortice joints, and the latter is raised
on trusses capable of being placed at various distances, allowing of a level surface
being easily obtained. The flooring may be composed of panels formed by means
of compressed cardboard joists in the shape of Zoré irons (fers Zorés) enclosed
between two flat pieces also of compressed cardboard, one of which forms the floor
boards and the other a sort of ceiling board, either visible, or resting on the
ground, according to whether the building consists of one or more floors. The
flooring may also be made by nailing strips of compressed cardboard on a frame or
groundwork of wood.
The panelling of the walls may be made as above stated of compressed card-
board, being corrugated for the purpose of offering greater resistance, it may also
bé formed of cardboard embossed by stamping and decorated with varnish, lacquer
or other suitable coatings, or finally, it may be formed of substances agglomerated
on metallic gauze.
As will be seen, this building is surrounded on all sides with a cushion of air,
such being a good non-conductor, which is preferable in the case of house walls,
consequently the outside temperature very slightly affects the internal temperature.
This is a great advantage both for hot climates as well as for colder latitudes, and
one which could not be realised to the same extent by any of the methods of
constructing buildings with single walls.
In order to complete these good hygienic conditions, a thorough ventilation is
secured. The admission of fresh air, if the joints of the doors and windows be not
considered sufficient, can be effected by means of suitable orifices in the double
wall.
But the most essential point and the one most difficult of realisation is the
removal of the vitiated air. This air, which is the lightest because the most

page_text: heated, rises to the upper part of the building and encounters, in the shell of the
ceiling, just at the angle where this ceiling meets the wall, Figure 15, a series of
small holes, Figure 16, through which it passes away into the thickness of the roof
itself to the groove formed along the ridge. This groove is in its turn covered
with a ridge tile of compressed cardboard, and is sufficiently raised to allow the air
to freely escape.
This method of removal is very efficacious, especially during the
heat of suminer, when the heating of the outer shell causes an extra strong
draught.
The foregoing method of construction is applicable to all kinds of buildings,
such as dock sheds, stables, movable dwellings,. encampments, etcetera, etcetera.
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 improvements in the construction of portable or temporary buildings
which consist in forming their various component parts, whether the framework or
panelling, of compressed substances (such as paper pulp, cellulose and the like)
mixed with any suitable agglutinant, and combined with a metallic core composed
of a trellis or perforated sheet, one or several layers of a large meshed material
being incorporated with the mass in order to prevent the board thus formed from
peeling off, the same result may be obtained by using a core of composite trellis
composed of metallic threads and any suitable fibres; all substantially as herein-
before set forth.
2. The improvements in the construction of portable or temporary buildings,
which consist in the employment of compressed sheets formed in the manner
hereinbefore described, stamped, corrugated and ornamented in order to form
various panellings whilst employing for their decoration lacquers, varnishes and
coatings of all descriptions.
3. In portable or temporary buildings, the use of parts of a U or T section, of
angles, jambs or other similar fitting pieces made of compressed substances similar
to those which are hereinbefore specified.
4. The constructive arrangements in connection with portable or temporary
buildings, all substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the various
different figures on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Dated this 26th day of March 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.