Improvements in Portable or other Buildings.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable or other Buildings.
I, ROBERT STEWART, of Perren Street, Ryland Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to portable or other buildings of all kinds such as huts,
sheds, storehouses, offices, or the like, and more especially to such buildings when
they are to be used in tropical, or cold countries, the novel method of construction
being adapted to prevent heat from passing through the walls and roofs of the
buildings, which are nevertheless inexpensive, easily erected and removed,
portable, fireproof, impervious to sound and vermin, and of any desired size and
character.
My invention is applicable to such buildings whether their framework is of metal,
wood or other material, and it consists essentially of lining or fitting to the walls-
and if desired to the roof-of what is known as silicate cotton or slag wool, in
combination with cement of a suitable kind, and of other material so made and
arranged that it can be very readily applied or removed, and is thoroughly effective
for the purposes required.
In order to put my invention in operation, and supposing that it is to be applied
to a hut or building having a wooden frame and an outer covering of corrugated
metal, I line the interior of the building with slabs of improved compound material
fitted into the inner wooden framework, in pieces cut to the required shape and size
so that they can be readily fixed or removed when necessary.
The compound slabs which form the lining of the building as described, may be
composed in different ways and of different thicknesses according to the situation,
in which they are to be used. For instance I use a layer of sufficient thickness of
mineral fibre such as slag wool or silicate cotton one surface of which is covered
and kept in place by wire net laid upon and attached to it, and upon the other
surface I prepare a layer of any suitable cement or plaster which is attached to the
fibre so that the whole forms a compound slab of homogeneous thickness. The
plaster or cement is preferably mixed with a proportion of about ten per cent. (which
may be varied as desired) of silicate cotton, or other fibrous material by which
additional strength and toughness is obtained.
I cut this slab into pieces of suitable size and shape to fit upon the inner surface
of the corrugated metal walls of the building and between the timber or other
frames which support them, and the inner surface of the slabs may be coated with
a smooth layer of cement, which may be painted or otherwise ornamented.
Instead of cutting the different shaped pieces from a larger slab, they may be
made in the first instance of the required size and shape.
In order to strengthen the compound slabs of material, I prefer to introduce into
the thickness of the plaster or cement a sheet or strips of canvas, wire gauze, or
other sufficiently tough material. For this purpose I cast a sufficient quantity of
cement or plaster in a suitable mould or upon a flat surface, and upon this I lay a
sheet or pieces of canvas or other material, and upon this 1 pour or cast an additional
quantity of the cement or plaster. Upon this second thickness I lay and pack a
sufficient quantity of the silicate cotton or slag wool, and upon this again I lay a
sheet of wire gauze of large mesh. From the outer surface of the plaster I then
introduce double wire pins which pass through the plaster, the silicate cotton, and
the wire gauze, and I then bend down or twist their ends so that they hold the
several thicknesses of material strongly together, forming a uniform compound slab
of any desired thickness and shape.

page_text: The outer bent ends of the double pins may be attached to the canvas or wire
gauze which is embedded in the body of the plaster or cement as described, instead
of passing through the entire thickness from the outside.
The outer surface of the plaster or cement may be made rough, and another layer
applied to it having a smooth outer surface and serving to conceal the wires which
pass through the slab. The compound slabs described may be attached to the
corrugated or other walls and roof of the building in different ways. Where the
walls have vertical corrugations, strips of wood may be arranged in some of these
corrugations, and fixed by nails or screws from the outside, and the compound blocks
are fitted against the wood and fixed by screws or fastenings passing through the
plaster and mineral fibre into the wood.
Or, as already explained the compound slabs may be fitted sufficiently tightly
into the different shaped spaces between the inner wooden or other framework to
which the walls are fixed, their edges being finished by fillets or covering strips of
wood, or in any other suitable way. Instead of the coating of cement or plaster,
wood may in some cases be used, or a coating of wood may be fixed upon the
surface of the plaster.
As an additional method of strengthening the compound slabs, canvas or wire
netting may be used as a lining to them.
Huts or other buildings constructed according to my invention are absolutely
fireproof, and nonconducting of heat and the compound slabs described are very
readily fitted to or removed from the interior parts of corrugated iron, wooden, or
other buildings. The material is not only a non-conductor of heat and sound,
but it is light, antiseptic in its properties, and beneficial rather than injurious to
health.
By the combination of the external portable and easily removeable walls and
roofing, with the interior lining of the compound slabs described, huts can be
erected, taken down, and removed from place to place very quickly, and without
skilled labour being required. The materials being all inorganic they are free from
injurious influences, such as the attacks of insects, vermin, or fungus, to which
materials ordinarily used are liable, and for these reasons and for their impermeability
to heat they are well adapted for temporary hospitals.
Dated this 12th dev of M 1900
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable or other Buildings.
I, ROBERT STEWART, of Perren Street, Ryland Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, 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, that is to say :-
My invention relates to portable buildings of all kinds, such as huts, sheds, store
houses, offices, or the like, and more especially to such buildings when they are to
be used in either tropical, or cold countries, the novel method of construction being
adapted to prevent heat from passing through the walls and roofs of the
buildings, which are nevertheless inexpensive, easily erected and removed,
portable, fireproof, impervious to sound and to vermin, and of any desired size and
character.
My invention is applicable to such buildings whether their framework is of metal,
wood, or other material, and it consists essentially of lining or fitting to the walls,
and if desired to the roof, slabs of what is known as "silicate cotton or "slag
wool," in combination with cement of suitable kind, and of other material so made
"

page_text: and arranged that it can very readily be applied or removed, and is thoroughly
effective for the purposes required.
In order to put my invention in operation, and supposing that it is to be applied
to a hut or building having a wooden frame and an outer covering of corrugated
metal, I line the interior of the building with slabs of the improved compound
material fitted into the inner wooden framework, in pieces cut to the required shape
and size so that they can be readily fixed or removed when necessary.
The compound slabs which form the lining of the building as described, may be
composed in different ways and of different thicknesses, according to the situation.
in which they are to be used.
For instance I may use a layer of sufficient thickness of mineral fibre such as.
slag wool or silicate cotton, one surface of which is covered and kept in place by
wire net laid upon and attached to it, and upon the other surface is placed a layer
of any suitable cement or plaster which is attached to the fibre so that the whole
forms a compound slab of homogeneous thickness.
The plaster or cement is preferably mixed with a proportion of about ten per cent.
(which may be varied as may be desired) of silicate cotton or other fibrous material
by which additional strength and toughness are obtained.
I cut this slab into pieces of suitable size and shape to fit upon the inner surface.
of the corrugated walls of the building and between the timber or other frames.
which support them, and the inner surface of the slabs may be coated with a smooth
layer of cement, which may be painted or otherwise ornamented.
Instead of cutting the different shaped pieces from a larger slab, they may be
made in the first instance of the required size and shape.
In order to strengthen the compound slabs of material I prefer to introduce into
the thickness of the plaster or cement a sheet or strip of canvas, wire-gauze, or other
sufficiently tough material.
For this purpose I cast a sufficient quantity of cement or plaster in a suitable
mould or upon a flat surface, and upon this I lay a sheet or pieces of canvas or
other material, and upon this I pour or cast an additional quantity of the cement.or
plaster.
Upon this second thickness I lay and pack a sufficient quantity of the silicate
cotton or slag wool, and upon this again I lay a sheet of wire gauze of large mesh.
From the outer surface of the plaster I then introduce double wire pins which pass
through the plaster, the silicate cotton, and the cotton wire gauze, and I then bend
down and twist together their ends so that they hold the several thicknesses of
material strongly together, forming a uniform compound slab of any desired thickness
and shape.
The outer bent ends of the double pins may be attached to the canvas or wire.
gauze which is embedded in the body of the plaster or cement as described instead
of passing through the entire thickness from the outside.
The outer surface of the plaster or cement may be made rough and another layer
applied to it having a smooth surface and serving to conceal the wires which pass
through the slab.
cases,
In situations where the plaster or cement is liable to crack or break, or in other
I may use wood in its stead, the wood being of suitable thickness and quality,.
tongued or fitted together, and attached by wires as already described for the
cement. Its outer surface may be painted or ornamented as desired. I sometimes
too use a sheet of waterproof paper or material between the silicate cotton or slag
wool and wire gauze.
The compound slabs described may be attached to the corrugated or other walls
and roof of the building in different ways. Where the walls have vertical corruga-
tions, strips of wood may be arranged in some of these corrugations and fixed by
nails or screws from the outside, and the compound blocks are fitted against the
wood and fixed by screws or fastenings passing through the plaster and mineral
fibre into the wood.

page_text: Or as already explained, the compound slabs may be fitted sufficiently tightly
into the different shaped spaces between the inner wooden or other framework to
which the walls are fixed their edges being finished by fillets or covering strips of
wood, or in any other suitable way. Or a coating of wood may be fixed upon the
surface of the plaster.
As an additional means of strengthening the compound slabs, canvas or wire
netting may be used as a lining to them.
Huts or other buildings constructed according to my invention are absolutely
fireproof, and non-conducting of heat, and the compound slabs described are very
readily fitted to or removed from the interior parts of corrugated iron, wooden, or
other buildings.
The material (silicate cotton or slag wool) is not only a non-conductor of heat
and sound, but it is light, antiseptic in its properties, and beneficial rather than
injurious to health.
By the combination of the external portable and easily removeable walls and
roofing, with the interior lining of compound slabs described, huts can be erected,
taken down, and removed from place to place, very quickly, and without skilled
labour being required. The materials being all inorganic they are free from
injurious influences, such as the attacks of insects, vermin, or fungus, to which
materials ordinarily used are liable, and for these reasons and for their impermeability
to heat they are well adapted for temporary hospitals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
.
For the walls or roofs of portable or other buildings,
1. The combination of silicate cotton, with cement, substantially as described.
2. The combination of silicate cotton, cement, and wire net or gauze, substantially
as described.
4
3. In the plaster used in combination with silicate cotton as described, the use of
canvas, wire gauze, or other sufficiently tough material, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
4. In combination with the silicate cotton, an inner lining of wood, instead of the
cement described and claimed in claims 1, 2, and 3.
5. The method of attaching together the several thicknesses of silicate cotton,
cement, wood, and wire net or gauze, by means of wires, substantially as herein
described.
6. The portable compound slabs composed of silicate cotton and other materials
combined as described, and of such shape as to fit against or between the frame-
work of the walls or roofs of portable or other buildings, substantially as set
forth.
l. loulוימ
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.