IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS
Year: 1853

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by William Buckwell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 5th May 1858, pursuant to the 9th section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM BUCKWELL, of Ardmore Lodge, Wellington Road, Saint
Johns Wood, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS," and in what mauner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):
My Invention consists in constructing buildings of bricks or blocks
so formed as to admit of being combined and bonded together in such
manner as to present various advantages and improvements in construc-
tion, as hercin-after more particularly enumerated.
Hexagonal forms of bricks or blocks have been used in the con-
struction of buildings, but in forming internal obtuse angles, as in the
use of hexagons, a birds mouth has been used to cross the joints of
alternate courses.

page_text: Now, I employ blocks consisting of one hexagon, and of a part of
another hexagon, or consisting of two or more hexagons, with and
without parts of hexagons, or consisting of parts of two or more hexa-
gons made as one block or form, as shewn by Drawing A, and the
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 1 (a), 2 (a), 3 (a), 4 (a), 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
12 (a), 12 (6), and 18, the parts of hexagons being also indicated by
dotted lines on some of the Figures.
The Figure 1, shows a hexagon and part of a hexagon, which is the
form (as to the part of a hexagon) I use when a straight line is
required on the structure.
The Figure 2, (consisting of two hexagons,) is the form I generally
use, for a single thickness. The other forms of three or more hexagons
or parts of hexagons may be employed for more perfect bond in con-
structing piers or walls of a thickness of more than one hexagon.
The shape or form indicated in the Drawings of two or more parts
of hexagons are to cross joints, or to obtain a plain surface or contour
different from the contour lines of hexagons. A plain surface may be
obtained by making the external parts of the blocks solid instead of
hollow, or by filling up the hollow portion; also other contours may be
given or substituted for the hexagonal contour by suitable mouldings,
(as shewn by the Figures 12, 12 (a), & 12 b,) and plinths or panels
for walls of portions of hexagons (as shown by the Figures 9, 10,
and 11,) may be adopted where great strength or thickness is unne-
cessary.
The size of the blocks which I prefer are (measuring across from
parallel sides of hexagons) 44 inches, 6 inches, 9 inches, & 12 inclics,
being sizes. The height or length of such blocks may be about
9 inches and upwards to five feet or more, as best suited for the pur-
pose to which the same are to be applied. In constructing walls on
uneven ground, and for adding to the bond, if desired, one hexagonal
portion of a block may be made to pass the other, as shewn. by the
Figure 13, forming a step on the beds when using them vertically, and
passing of joints in thickness when using them horizontally, as, illus-
trated by the Figures 15 (a) and 16 (a) on Drawing C, and by the
Figures 26 (a), a on Drawing D.
The corcing out or hollow may be in diameter about half of the

page_text: distance across from parallel sides of the hexagon. These hollows
afford the means of additional bonding when required, also the means
of ventilation, by making apertures to the hollows from the interior
and exterior of the buildings, so as to allow for the escape of vitiated
air, or the admission of fresh air at any convenient place.
The blocks above described may be made by forcing the clay
through suitably formed dies, as in the ordinary pipe, tile machine, or
of artificial stone in moulds, as described in the Specification of my
Patent for Improvements in Manufacturing Pipes and, other Structures
artificially in Moulds, when using stone and other matters, and which
Specification was enrolled the Seventeenth day of May, One thousand
cight hundred and fifty.
Drawings B, C, and D, shew the application and manner of using.
the constructive forms above described; the dotted lines on some of the
Figures shew the second or alternate course, as the courses bond with
each other.
I use paper, slate, or other surfaces lined, ruled, or marked with
equilateral triangles, the sides of the triangles corresponding with the
hexagonal sides of the blocks. My design or plan, traced on any of
the sides of the triangles forming obtuse angles, can be readily formed
of blocks of the forms above described, made of glass, china, wood, or
any other suitable material for modelling; and the blocks being properly
placed, the whole may be fastened together by pins of metal, wood, or
other materials, passed through the hollows of the blocks, and by
having surfaces ruled with lines of the width of the sides of triangles,
and half width alternately, with or without cross lines of the height or
lengths of the blocks used, the geometrical elevation of the sides of
a design may be easily marked; and by having surfaces ruled with lines
parallel of half the length apart of the line across from parallel sides
of hexagons, with or without like cross lines, the other geometrical
elevation of the sides of a design may be easily traced or marked.
All these lines on paper I recommend to be left a light colour or white,
on a tinted ground, the design marked with a pencil or ink will then
be readily seen, as illustrated in Drawings B, C, and D).
Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, on Drawing B, are sections of
wall where the blocks are used horizontally, and Figures 15 and 16

page_text: (a) (a) on Drawing C, are the plans which shew the passing of
1 hexagon by the other, and Figure 17 (a,) (a,) on Drawing C, is the
plan of Figure 17, on Drawing B; and Figure 19 (a,) (a,) on Draw-
ing C, is the elevation of Figure 19, in Section on Drawing B.
Figures 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29, on Draw-
ing B; are horizontal sections or plans where the blocks are used
vertically, the like numbers on Drawings C, and D), with a, a, and (a, (a,)
prefixed, are the elevations and plans of the same Figures. The
model block is particularly adapted for forming designs, and with
paper, slate, or other surfaces lined, ruled, or marked as aforesaid,
may be used to teach designing and cultivate taste in form, size, and
arrangement. The building blocks for retaining walls will give great
resisting strength in its varied applications.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood I do not confine
myself to the precise details or any particular materials, so long as the
peculiar character of my Invention be retained. But what I claim is,
the building of structures by means of hexagonal blocks, formed and
combined as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Buckwell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
This is the instrument in writing referred to in the declaration of
William Buckwell, made before me this Third day of May, 1853.
Alderman,
P. LAURIE.
Guildhall
Justice Room,
London.