An Improved Construction of Metal Rib for Bridge Floorings, for Columns, and other Constructive Purposes
Year: 1885

page_text: An Improved Construction of Metal Rib for Bridge Floorings,
for Columns, and other Constructive Purposes.
I JOHN ELLIS of Blenheim House, Reading, Berks, Mechanical Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION
OF METAL RIB FOR BRIDGE FLOORINGS FOR COLUMNS AND OTHER CONSTRUCTIVE
PURPOSES" to be as follows
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The object of my invention is to so manufacture a metal rib suitable for Bridge
floorings that any number of them, all of the same shape in cross section, can be
put together and held by rivets or other fastenings
For the purpose of my invention I roll or otherwise prepare a rib with an
angled web and with two wings each having a portion of less thickness than
another portion-such thinner portion when two of said ribs are put together
correspond to the full thickness of the rib The webs have bolt holes in them also
corresponding in distance apart so that they can be secured together in any
suitable manner
The web may have a fillet on each of its faces to carry weight supporting plates
Dated this 26th day of May 1885

page_text: for Columns, and other Constructive rurposes.
Ο
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I JOHN ELLIS of Blenheim House, Reading, Berks, Mechanical Engineer, 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 my invention is to so manufacture a metal rib suitable for Bridge
floorings, that any number of them, all of the same shape in cross section, can be
put together and held by rivets or other fastenings
In
For the purpose of my invention I roll or otherwise prepare a rib with an angled
web and with two wings each having a portion of less thickness than another
portion, such thinner portion when two of said ribs are put together correspond to
the full thickness of the rib The wings have bolt holes in them also corresponding
in distance apart so that they can be secured together in any suitable manner.
The web may have a fillet on each of its faces to carry weight supporting plates
My invention is indicated in the annexed drawings at Figures 1, 2, 3 as single
ribs in section A is the angled web B B the two wings a portion of each
of which is thinner to form grooves CC on the upper surfaces as at Figure 1
Figure 2 the two grooves CC are on the underside of the wings B B and at
Figure 3 one groove is on the upper side of one wing and on the under side of the
other wing
Ribs of these sections can be rolled or otherwise prepared of any
convenient length and they can be rivetted together along the overlapping
edges of two adjoining grooved portions as seen in Figure 4 which represents
four sections of Figure 2 rivetted together suitable for a supporting column when
provided with a suitable base, as a ventilating shaft, as a rain water pipe from a
roof, as a gas or water main or other useful purpose and the length from
continuity may be rivetted together to any desired length or four of such ribs may
have an intervening plate D such as at Figure 5 which may serve as a top boom to
a girder of any convenient construction or with a flat base as indicated by said
Figure 5 said intervening plate having angle or other iron attached according to
its depth.
In the plan section shown at Figure 4 two of the grooves C face one another
and a filling in strip of metal E 18 inserted to make the seam tight.
Figure 6 shows two sections of ribs which in the position shown would serve as
a light girder but reversed would form a girder upon concrete with which the
opening F may also be filled to obtain solidity of bearing but any number of these
ribs may be arranged to form a flooring upon which Joists or floor boards can be
laid such as in floors for warehouses or when heavy weights have to be supported
the troughs G may be filled with concrete the flooring then serving as a fire proof
ceiling to the room below
Figure 7 shows a rib of my invention suitable as a staunchion girder.
If my improved ribs are connected transversely the bars may be connected at
intervals to produce rigidity of structure and where bridge flooring has to be laid

page_text: I purpose making my ribs with fillets H one being on each side of the web A as
represented at Figure 8 and these ribs can be rivetted together as pairs as at
Figure 9 and serve as a brestsummer as a light girder, or as a cross stay, or
intermediate bearer on which Joists can be laid for building purposes or these
filleted ribs may be connected as represented by the view Figure 10 for the
construction of a bridge flooring in which G forms a trough covered by a plate I, J,
or of other shape the edges resting on the fillets and arched to about level with the
overlapping edges or rivet seams, the troughs & then serving for conveying rain
water from the roof carrying gas or water pipes or telegraph or other cables or
wires which may be on the bottoms of the troughs or suspended from the cover
plates I, J
I have at Figure 4 shown four unfillited ribs constructed to form a column or
water or gas main but four of my filleted ribs may be used for either or all of
those purposes but some of the plain and some of the filleted ribs may be rivetted
together
The grooves C of my ribs may be of any convenient depth and when any two
are rivetted together the overlaps are generally the same depth so as to present a
level surface but where additional strength at the overlaps is desired the groove
may be very shallow so that the overlap or wing of one rib may be at a higher
level than the wing of the adjoining rib as seen at Figures 9 and 10
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 18.
The construction of ribs, by rolling or otherwise, of the forms shown at
Figures 1, 2 and 3 and their application or employment for general building
purposes either as trough girders in pairs as floorings for bridges and other
structures as box girders, as pipes, as columns for supporting weights said ribs
being combined substantially in the manner for the purposes set forth
H. GARDNER,
Agent for the said J Ellis.