Improvements in Metallic Fire-proof Structures.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES WHITTINGHAM KENSETT, of Newport, and
State of Rhode Island, United States of America.]
Improvements in Metallic Fire-proof Structures.
I, OLIVER IMRAY of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the
County of London, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents 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 :--
My invention relates to metallic, fire-proof structures for interior and exterior
walls, for floor, roof and interior fittings, as well as for a great variety of other
structures, wherein great strength and cheapness and a construction light, durable
and quickly erected are desirable. I provide a simple and economical skeleton metal
frame adapted to receive and firmly support metallic lathing, to which the plaster
or cement may be applied upon either one or both faces. The metallic skeleton
frame is arranged to form an exceedingly light, strong and durable structure suitable
for various exterior and interior walls or roofs, for the erection of warehouses, their
sectional divisions, Mansard roofs and fire-walls, the formation of artificial pavements
and the construction of various submerged structures, such as the walls of aquaria,
tanks or reservoirs in which the presence of metal has been, heretofore, an objection
owing to its liability to oxidation.
The skeletou frame according to my present Invention can be adapted to support
and firmly bind in place the metallic lathing foundation described in the Specification
of my United States Patent dated the 16th day November 1886, No. 352,826, the
construction being such as to permit a rapid and economical erection, and provide a
light, strong and permanently durable support for the plastering, so as to form a
fire proof wall, roof, or ceiling, as the case may be. I also provide simple means of
stiffening and bracing the metallic lathing foundation at suitable intervals, imparting
to it great strength and power of resisting lateral strains without material increase
in weight or cost.
Finally, I provide simple and inexpensive means for rapidly and easily setting up
and bracing or stiffening the metallic lathing foundation and for rigidly and strongly
connecting the studding which supports it and for conveniently and cheaply applying
a metallic moulding or facing to the exposed faces or edges of iron beams giving
facilities for plastering the faces of iron rafters and girders. I provide also for a
variety of interior constructions such as walls or partitions with door-ways and
window openings formed of my metallic studding, various forms of shelving with its
supports, and other features being thus easily and economically rendered portions of
the interior fitting with the strength, permanence and fire-proof qualities of the main
structure. I also provide cheap and simple means whereby the exposed edges of
shelving or the jainbs' of doorways, windows, or similar parts, may be furnished with
metallic facing, enhancing the ornamental appearance without increase in expense as
compared with the use of wood for such purposes, and promoting the security of the
structure by absence of all combustible material.
I shall describe my Invention.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1, is a front elevation showing a skeleton frame, a portion of studding, with
a similar framing at right angles and a length, or section of the metallic lathing
foundation in place.

page_text: Figure 4, is an enlarged vertical cross-section of the longitudinal, or horizontal
studding or stiffening.
Figures 5 and 6, are detail perspectives showing different methods of constructing
the intersecting members of the studding.
Figure 7, is a front elevation of part of the metallic foundation plate, with a single
bracing, or stiffening strip applied to it.
Figure 8, is a detail sectional perspective of a shelf illustrating the application of
a metallic facing to its exposed edges.
4
Figure 9, is a detail section of a metallic studding showing one method of applying
a metallic facing to its exposed edge.
Figure 10, is a similar view, showing a modified construction for the same purpose,
the stud being shown in dotted lines..
Figure 11, is a detail view of a girder, showing the application thereto of my
metallic foundation and lathing, whereby the exposed faces of such girders may be
plastered, if desired. This figure also shows the application of my Invention, to the
formation of an arch such as is usually composed of brick or masonry.
The skeleton frame or studding 1 consists of upright members 2 and horizontal, or
transverse members 3. The upright members 2 are thin strips or plates 4, of iron,
steel or other metal, rolled or otherwise formed in concavo-convex form in cross-
section, giving great strength with small weight, or quantity, of metal. Each of the
members of the skeleton frame is formed of two of these strips 4 placed with their
convex faces adjacent, and bolted or riveted together, a washer, plate, or other
intervening piece being placed between their convex faces to slightly separate them.
In setting up the skeleton frame, or studding, I prefer to use short, flat, plates 5,
inserted between the plates 4 and fastened by the bolts or rivets which unite these.
The ends of these link plates projecting on each side of the upright members 2, afford
a convenient attachment for the ends of the horizontal members 3, which are lapped
at their ends upon the projecting ends of the link plates 5 and secured by bolts or
rivets as shewn in figure 3. The link plates may be curved to suit the convex
surfaces against which they lie, and there may be several of them at each point.
The horizontal members 3 of the studding may have less width and weight, than
the intersecting members and their ends 7, may simply have holes 6 for their
attachment, as shown in figure 5, or their edges may be notched and the end parts
flattened, as shown in figure 6, to be lapped upon and connected to the projecting
ends of the link plates, by a bolt or rivet 8, through a hole 9; otherwise curved
washers, may be employed to separate .the plates 4, the horizontal and vertical
members of the frame being connected by lapping one upon the other and bolting or
riveting.
Along the concave faces of the plates composing the studding, run helical metallic,
lathing strips 9 a supported by loops or eyes 10, which are punched up from, or attached
to, the concavo-convex plates, or strips 4. I prefer, however, to attach these helical
laths by lapping metallic facings 12 upon the concave faces of the strips or plates 4,
these facings having the supporting loops 10 punched up from them at intervals.
The facings 12 are lapped over the edges and bent to the curvature of the plates 4 to
which they are attached.
The skeleton frame, or studding thus constructed, forms a support for any suitable
form of metallic lathing, such for example, as the metallic lathing foundation shown
in figures 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 11. This lathing foundation is composed of a thin sheet
of metal, such as galvanized iron, corrugated to form ridges 13 and furrows 14, and
provided with suitable loops, or eyes 15, to receive and support helical metallic
faths 16. This lathing foundation is set within the studding already described, its
margins 'seating in the channels 17, between the diverging edges of the plates or
strips 4 and 7, the whole forming a fireproof structure of great strength, firmness and
rigidity.
Bracing or stiffening pieces 18, may be applied at intervals, these consisting of
light metal plates, or strips, concavo-convex in cross-section, or, half-round. They are

page_text: laid in the furrows 14 of the lathing foundation, with their extremities resting in the
spaces between the strips 4, and fastened by bolts or rivets 19. These stiffening pieces
aro of small weight, but being of a form giving them great rigidity, they act in com-
bination with the metallic lathing foundation, to form a light inexpensive construction,
capable of offering great resistance to lateral or other strains." To the structure
thus formed, plaster or cement may be applied upon either one or both faces, to
which it will readily and firmly adhere. For ordinary purposes, such as common
partition walls, roofs &c., a single studding generally suffices, but in some cases two
parallel studdings with their lathing may be used with an air space between; or this
air space may be filled with cement or suitable material for deadening sounds. The
stiffening pieces 18 may be elliptical in cross-section, and they may be extended to
support two or more sections of the lathing foundation, passing them between the
bars or plates, of the studding, with a washer if necessary, securing them by bolts.
When the walls or partitions have door-ways, window openings, and similar spaces,
the jambs or edges of the studding would be exposed. In such cases I provide a
permanent, ornamental moulding or facing, as shewn in Figures 8, 9 and 10. I fold
a thin plate 19 to embrace one or both margins of each strip 7 of the studding and
cover their exposed edges. The covering portion of the plate 19 may be either convex
as in Figure 9 or flat as in figure 10, and its exposed face may be plated, painted, or
otherwise ornamented and protected.
The plate 19 may have lips 20 overlapping the edges of the studding, as shewn
in figure 9. This construction gives a strong, firm and permanent attachment to the
moulding.
When the floor or roof has girders such as that shown in figure 11 the metallic
lathing foundation may be applied to the exposed face of the girder by providing it
with ears, 21 overlapping the edges, or the foundation may be of such width as to
permit its marginal portions themselves to be folded round the edges of the girder,
or the ends of the lathing foundation may be flattened and bent over the edges of
the girder. This provides for girders, a facing to which plaster or cement may be
applied.
The plates composing the studding may be bent, or curved, into any desired form,
and may be applied to the formation of arches, cornices, curves and other forms.
Figure 11 shews the application of the construction to an arch springing from a
girder, the studding being bent to the curve required. As the curvature is
transverse to the line of corrugation of the lathing foundation it readily
accommodates itself to the desired form, and provides a suitable surface for the
application of plaster. The space above the arch may be filled, or partly filled
with plaster, or cement.
In forming shelving, as illustrated in figure 8, the studding frame projects
horizontally over a vertical support, with plaster applied to both its sides, the
exposed margin of the shelf being protected and ornamented by the metallic
moulding, or facing 19.
It will thus been seen that by my Invention I provide an all-metal frame which
is constructed at small expense, and may be quickly and easily set up to form
studding for walls and partitions, or to constitute the framework for floors, or
roofs, or for tiling. This frame provides a complete support and fastening for
the metallic lathing foundation, in conjunction with which it forms a stiff, impervious
structure, having great strength, wholly fire-proof, extremely light, and capable of
being erected with great speed and at an extremely small expense, as compared with
ordinary metallic structures. By forming the studding of the concaved, or trough
shaped strips, as set forth, I obtain great strength and stiffness, with relatively
small weight, this construction also affording a convenient seat for the margin of
the metallic lathing foundation. The same principle of construction, also, applies
to the auxiliary bracing strips, and is utilized in the construction of the metal
lathing foundations, thereby giving a structure which is extremely light, but possesses
remarkable strength and durability.

page_text: The construction according to the present Invention may be used in conjunction
with the metallic lathing foundation described in the Specification of my United
States Patent dated the 16th day of November 1886 No. 352,826.
With the metallic frame, or support above described the metallic foundation and
lathing may be used in constructing pavements of artificial stone, and for similar
purposes. It is also well adapted for the construction of Mansard roofs and fire-walls,
and may be used in many other situations.
I may also employ, with the novel metallic studding shown, any desired form of
metallic lathing, and lathing foundation, whether such as is described in my Patent
Specification, above referred to, or any other form.
I may use light T irons, or angle plates, and attach the metallic lathing foundation
to them in certain constructions by suitable bolts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In metallic structures, for walls, roofs and other purposes, a studding or skeleton
frame, consisting of intersecting members, each formed of metallic strips, or plates,
concavo-convex in cross-section placed with their convex faces adjacent, with
intervening washers or plates, all fastened together, substantially as described.
2. In combination with a studding or skeleton frame such as is above referred to, a
metallic lathing foundation having its edges lying between the strips of the studding,
substantially as described.
3. In combination with the frame work or studding and the lathing foundation
referred to in the preceding claim, bracing strips concaved, or trough shaped, laid in
the furrows of the lathing foundations, substantially as described.
4. In combination with the frame work or studding, the metallic lathing foundation,
and the bracing strips, above referred to, helical lathing running longitudinally,
substantially as described.
5. In combination with a frame-work or studding such as is above referred to a
metallic moulding or facing plate covering its edges, the edges of the plate being bent
round or over them, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of December 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.