An Improved Form and Method of Construction of Fireproof Floors.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Form and Method of Construction of Fireproof Floors.
ROBERT ASTLEY Architect 34 Ely Place Holborn E.C. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This floor is proposed to be constructed with iron joists placed about 2' 0" apart.
Between the joists specially made fireclay lintels are placed. The lintels are
formed with a flat slab or flange about 9" wide with an upright central web having
a roll on top. The underside to be keyed to receive ceiling plaster. The upright
web to be slotted at both ends to allow the top roll to rest on bottom flange of iron
joists, and also to allow the bottom flange of lintel to pass under the iron joists. In
the top roll a hole will be run through which an iron rod will pass to strengthen
the lintel and prevent its fall in case of breakage. Curved corrugated iron will be
placed between the joists to carry concrete which will be placed over them to form
the floor.
An Improved Form and Method of Construction of Fireproof Floors.
I, ROBERT ASTLEY, of 34 Ely Place, Holborn, in the City of London,
Architect, 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 object of this invention is to construct fireproof floors in such a manner as to
provide efficient protection in case of fire to the joists and girders supporting them
which joists and girders being constructed of metal are apt to bend when heated to
any great extent.
Now according to this invention I provide a number of joists of iron or other
suitable metal about two feet apart and between the joists are placed specially
made fireclay lintels. These lintels are constructed with a bottom flange grooved
to receive the ceiling plaster and a vertical central web having a roll on the top
thereof the said roll having a longitudinal hole through it to receive an iron rod.
which will prevent the lintels from falling should they become broken. The web
is slotted at both ends to allow the lintel to rest on the bottom flange of the joists
and also to allow the flange of the lintel to pass under the joist. Curved corru-
gated iron the ends of which rest on the joists is placed between the lintels to carry
concrete to form the floor.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I will proceed to
explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which :-
Figure 1 represents longitudinal section of a fireproof floor constructed according
to this invention.
Figure 2 is cross section of same.
Figure 3 is side elevation of lintel.
Figure 4 is end elevation of same.
יח

page_text: A is the main girder B the joists C lintels D corrugated sheet iron resting on
the joists E concrete supported by the corrugated irou F flooring joists G wood
flooring boards H grooves in lintels to receive the ceiling plaster I K K are
apertures in lintels for ventilation.
The lintels C which are made of fireclay terra-cotta or other suitable fireproof
material are slotted at each end as shewn at L to allow the flange M to pass under
the joists B and the main girder A and protect them from fire. The slots L are
sufficiently deep to allow of the lintels being canted over so as to enable the flanges
to be passed one under the other and as each lintel has only one vertical web they
may be turned or slewed to enable them to be placed in position after the joists are
fixed.
When all the lintels except the last one in each bay have been placed on the
joists the flanges of the last four or five are placed one under the other and the
lintels pushed up close thus leaving room for the last one to be placed in position
on the joists and the other four or five are afterwards separated and placed in their
proper positions.
A strip of corrugated sheet iron is placed between each lintel the ends of the
said iron resting on the joists B and concrete placed on the said metal to form the
floor.
To prevent a broken lintel from falling I form a longitudinal hole N through
the roll O in which is inserted a metal rod or tube so that in case a lintel should be
broken across the web the said rod or tube will hold the broken pieces in their
proper position the concrete also which encases the rolls of the lintels will prevent
a broken lintel from falling.
To provide efficient ventilation between the ceiling and the undersides of the
concrete arches apertures K K are formed in the webs of the lintels air bricks may
be inserted in one or more outer walls to admit fresh air.
If it is desired the room below may be ventilated by forming apertures in the
flanges of one or more lintels.
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 the construction of fireproof floors the lintels C of fireclay or other fireproof
material and of approximately 1 section having vertical webs with or without
apertures therein terminating in rolls and flat bottom flanges forming projecting
tongues substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In the construction of fireproof floors forming a longitudinal hole through the
upper portion of the web of the lintels described in Claim 1 and inserting therein a
metal rod or tube for the purpose specified.
3. In the construction of fireproof floors the combination of the lintels C of fireclay
or other fireproof material as described in Claim 1 resting on metal joists B with
corrugated sheet metal and concrete arches E all substantially as described and
shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of January 1894.
T. E. HALFORD,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.