Improvements in Fire-proof Floor Construction. Fire- proof Building Blocks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Fire-proof Floor Construction.
A communication from JAMES COCIRAN FENDER, of Chester, County of Delaware,
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturer of Fire-
proof Building Blocks.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to fireproof flooring for buildings in which the floor sup-
ports are in the form of the usual metallic I-beams. The space between these
beams is usually filled in with some form of masonry or with blocks of fire brick,
or other plastic material, the blocks which span this space being so arranged
as to be supported on the flanges of the beams.
My invention comprises certain improvements in the form and character of
blocks made of plastic material, preferably calcined plaster, and is fully illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a cross section of a portion of a floor structure, showing the I-beams
and skewbacks fitting the same with filling blocks of the same material resting
on the offset portions of the skewbacks;
Fig. 2, is a cross section of the filling blocks, taken on the line x-x, Fig. 1;
Fig. 3, is a perspective view of one of the filling blocks; and
Fig. 4, is a perspective view of one of the skewbacks.
My invention consists in combining with both the skewbacks and the filling
blocks molded from plastic material, preferably calcined plaster, a metallic rein-
force in the shape of a sheet of expanded metal (metallic lathing), or a per
forated plate of sheet metal, either flat or corrugated, or a strip of wire gauze or
other reticulated structure, in such manner that said reinforce will add to the
strength of the blocks at the points where strength is most needed.
The blocks forming the subject of my invention are cast in suitable molds, and
the sheet of metal forming the reinforce previously bent into the required shape,
is laid in the molds preparatory to pouring in the plastic material. The blocks
thus formed serve as a fire-proof filling for the space between the I-beams of the
floor structure.
In filling this space both forms of the blocks are used, the skewbacks on
either side conforming to and fitting against the [-beams snugly and being pro-
vided with shoulders or steps, the outer faces of the skewbacks being inclined,
and the filling block being adapted to fit between the skewbacks and having pro-
jecting portions adapted to rest on the shoulders or steps of the skewbacks, the
faces of the offset ends of the filling block also being inclined so as to fit the
skew-backs.
In the drawing 1-1 represent the floor beams of a building, platform or other
permanent structure designed to be fireproof; 2-2 are the skewbacks fitting

page_text: against these floor beams and 3 is the filling block, closing the space between
the beams and adapted to rest on and hold the skewbacks in place. Both the
Bkewbacks and filling block are provided with metallic reinforces.
The skewbacks are shaped so as to fit the beams, the upper part 6 of the same
(the narrowest portion) being slightly wider than the projecting flange of the
beam and the lower portion 7 being extended in the shape of an offset upon
which the ends of the filling blocks rest. The lower part of the skewback fits
over the bottom flange of the beam and a portion 8 extends under the same,
being of a sufficient length to meet a similar portion of a skewback located on
the other side of the beam, thereby entirely closing the bottom flanges of the
beam by the skewbacks. I find by actual experiments that the exposed surface
of the blocks of calcined plaster, when subjected to a high degree of heat, recal-
cines and forms a skin or flake of powder of a depth of about one-quarter of
an inch which will cling to the rest of the material of which the block is made
and will act as a perfect non-conductor of heat, preventing the further burning
of calcining of the blocks, thereby protecting from heat and preventing the dis-
tortion of the beams enclosed by the skewbacks.
The metallic reinforce of the skewback is continuous and comprises the vertical
portion 4 in the upper part of the same, the, curved portion 4b in the lower
part, and the flat portion 4° extending under the lower flange of the beam. The
upper part 6 of the skewback is provided with grooves 9 on its outer face; that
face against which the end of the filling block abuts, and these grooves are for
the reception of a liquid mixture of the plastic material composing the skew-
backs and filling blocks, so that they may be united in a homogeneous mass.
The faces 6 and 7" of the skewbacks are slightly inclined so that the filling
blocks, which have correspondingly inclined faces at their ends, will act as keys
when set in place.
The filling blocks 3 are I-shaped in cross section, comprising the central
web 10, and top and bottom flanges 11 and 12. Connecting the top and bottom
flanges at regular intervals throughout the length of the filling blocks are ver-
tical ribs 13, and extending from the upper opposite ends of these blocks to the
point where the ribs 13 join the base flanges 12, are inclined ribs 14, for a pur-
pose to be hereinafter specified. The filling blocks are provided with solid
rectangular ends 15, including overhanging projections 16 adapted to rest on the
steps or offsets of the skewbacks. The two faces 15" and 16 of the ends of the
filling blocks are inclined to correspond with the inclined faces of the skew-
backs 2. The metallic reinforce in the filling blocks 3 is of the shape shown
in the sectional view, Fig. 1, comprising the vertical end portions 5, the por-
tion 5b located on the lower flange of the blocks, and the inclined portions 5°
connecting the vertical and horizontal portions, as shown, said inclined portions
being imbedded in the inclined ribs 14 of the filling blocks, so that the rein-
force follows the lines of strain to which the filling block is subjected. The under
surface of the filling blocks is provided with a series of shallow depressions. 17
which serve to hold the ceiling plaster placed thereon.
The filling blocks 3 are provided at the sides with opposite offset portions 18
and 19, top and bottom, as shown in the sectional view, Fig. 2, and the per-
spective view Fig. 3. This construction permits the blocks to overlap each other
when laid in place and provides for mutual support of the blocks one by another.
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 combination with a molded block of fireproof material, of a metallic
reinforce consisting of a sheet of perforated or reticulated metal, said sheet
being nearly the same width as the molded block and bent in the shape of an
inverted truss, with vertical extensions adjacent to the ends of said blocks, sub- 5
stantially as described.

page_text: (2) The combination with a molded block of fireproof material, of a metallic
reinforce consisting of a sheet of perforated or reticulated metal in the shape of
an inverted truss with vertical extensions adjacent to the ends of said block.
(3) The combination with a molded block of fireproof material, of a metallic
reinforce consisting of a continuous sheet of perforated or reticulated metal
arranged within the same, said sheet being bent in the shape of an inverted
truss with vertical extensions adjacent to the ends of said block, adapted to
follow the lines of strain to which the block will be subjected when built in the
floor structure.
(4) The combination in a fireproof floor structure, of the floor beams, a series
of skewbacks adapted to fit the contour of said beams and rest on the same and
having angular offsets, a metallic reinforce in each of said skewbacks bent to
conform to the shape of the same, with a filling block or blocks adapted to fill
the space between the skewbacks and rest on the offset portions of the same, and
filling blocks also having metallic reinforces so arranged in said blocks as to
take up the strain to which they will be subjected, substantially as described.
(5) The combination in a fireproof floor structure, of the floor beams, a series
of skewbacks adapted to fit the contour of the same and having angular offsets,
metallic reinforces located in said skewbacks and serving to stiffen the same in
the offset portions, with a filling block or blocks adapted to fill the space between
the skewbacks and having portions adapted to rest on the offset portions of the
same, said filling blocks being provided with metallic reinforces so arranged in
said blocks as to follow the lines of strain to which the blocks will be sub-
jected when built in the floor structure, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
(6) In a fireproof floor structure, a filling block adapted to fit in the space
between the floor beams, said block having solid ends, a central web, upper and
lower flanges connected by the same, a series of ribs arranged on either face of
said web connecting the top and bottom flanges, some of said ribs being inclined,
with a metallic reinforce disposed in the solid ends, the inclined ribs and a por-
tion of the base flange of the block, substantially as shown and described.
(7) As a new article of manufacture, a filling block for fireproof floor construc-
tion, comprising a molded block of suitable material, substantially I-shaped in
cross section and having a series of vertical and inclined ribs springing from the
central web of the block, clined ribs springing from the central web of the block,
the upper and lower flanges of the block and the ribs having offset portions top
and bottom on opposite sides, substantially as and for the purpose described.
(8) The combination in a fireproof floor structure, of the beams, skewbacks
having angular offsets adapted to said beams, and a series of filling blocks adapted
to rest on the offset portions of said skewbacks, said filling blocks being sub-
stantially I-shaped in cross section with offset portions top and bottom on oppo-
site sides, and so arranged in the structure as to form substantially air-tight
spaces between the central webs of the same.
Dated this 7th dox of Santember 1800