Improvements in the Construction of Floors.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HERMAN BARKER SEELY, of No. 183, Cass
Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Architect.]
Improvements in the Construction of Floors.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents
45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of the floor frames of buildings. It is
specially adapted for use in fire proof buildings, inasmuch as it permits the use of
much lighter beams than are customarily employed, but may be used in other
buildings with advantage.
In my improved construction I divide the floor spaces or squares into triangles
by means of diagonal beams crossing the squares at substantially right angles to
each other. These diagonal beams, as well as the direct or parallel beams, I prefer
to support independently of each other upon the columns or other supports, as
thereby each beam is required to carry only its own burden, none of them serving
as girders to carry any other beam. The spaces between the beams thus disposed
are of such area as to require a much shorter span than has been customary where
all the beams are independent and are arranged to form squares or parallelograms.
I further obtain necessary strength in the floor with a minimum amount of
material in the frame, by the employment of ties or braces secured to the beams at
points between the ends of the latter, and also attached to the support, so that they
may withstand a horizontal strain as well as a strain in a vertical direction.
The method I prefer for attaching these ties to the columns for supports is by
means of rings surrounding the columns or supports to which the ties or braces may
be riveted. When the beams are thus connected to the column by means of ties
and rings those of each square, and those of adjacent squares as well, are rendered
practically continuous because this connection divides the strains among them all
and renders them mutually helpful in sustaining any burden placed on any one or
more of them.
I also place between the ends of the beams and the supports upon which they
rest abutting pieces or blocks one side of which blocks is flat or square so it may
give a full bearing to the beam, and the other side of which is concaved or other-
wise shaped to correspond to the shape of the support. I thus avoid all necessity for
fitting the beam ends to the supports and also for calculating the angles so as to obtain
square abutments of the parts one with the other. I also prefer to employ a ring
which is inserted inside the abutment blocks and surrounds the column and to make
this ring of larger diameter than the column so that plenty of space within it will
be afforded for the positioning of an upper column, should one be used. This ring
is rigidly held in place in some appropriate way, as for instance by means of bolts
passing through a horizontal flange integral with the ring and into the supporting
shoulder of the column. And if necessary, I also insert between this ring and the
column filling pieces which shall substantially fill the space between it and the
column surrounded by it.
The ties or braces referred to are preferably braced froin the beams at the ends
which are secured to the rings or columns by means of vertical braces, so that any
crushing or breaking down of the ties will be prevented.
Tinted L: YES
* T.... 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in the Construction of Floors.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents 45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to the construction of the floor frames of buildings. It is
specially adapted for use in fire proof buildings, inasmuch as the chief results
accomplished by it are a large reduction in the amount of material employed in the
frames and a reduction in the length of the spans for the filling material, but it
may be used in other buildings with advantage.
I accomplish much of the saving referred to by dividing the floor spaces or
squares into triangles by means of diagonal beams crossing the squares at sub-
stantially right angles to each other. These diagonal beams, as well as the direct
or parallel beams, I prefer to support independently of each other upon the columns
or other supports, as thereby each beam is required to support only its own burden,
none of them serving as girders to carry any other beam. The spaces between the
beams thus disposed are of such area as to require a much shorter span than has
been customary where all the beams are independent and are arranged to form
squares or parallelograms.
I further obtain necessary strength in the floor with a minimum amount of
material in the frame by the employment of ties or braces leading from the columns
or walls upon which the various beams are supported and secured to the beams at a
remove from the support and at points between the ends of the beams.
In case
ties are used I attach them to the support so that they may withstand a horizontal
strain as well as a strain in a vertical direction.
the drawing a few modifications which contain the essence of the invention and the
These features of construction may be varied considerably, and I have shown in
invention, and may
often be used. The drawing also shows the simpler form of
construction which I prefer under ordinary circumstances. While I have shown
some modifications it will be understood that there are many others besides those
illustrated which can be employed without departing from the claim, and which
will occur readily to any architect and builder.
The accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this Specification, and in
which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, shows at
Fig. 1
invention;
a plan of a portion of a floor frame constructed according to my
Fig. 2 is a detail view of my preferred construction of beam;
Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections of one of the supporting columns showing
the floor beams radiating therefrom and taken upon the lines 3-3 and 4-4,
respectively, of Fig. 5;
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the column and the beam supports ;
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the column on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a partial section of the completed floor upon the line 7-7 of Fig. 1
showing the filling in place, and
Figs. 8 and 9 are plans of floor space frames embodying modifications of what I
call my triangular frame system.
In the drawing A A and B B may represent the direct beams and which are
disposed at right angles to each other so as to enclose a square, or substantially
square place. They are supported by the walls or columns of the building in the
ordinary way. I have shown them resting upon columns C. The space enclosed
between these direct beams 1 divide into triangular or substantially triangular
shape sub-spaces d by means of the diagonal beams D which may be supported in

page_text: any suitable way, but I prefer to support them independently from the same
supports which are provided for the direct beams, so that in the case of the interior
columns the various beams will radiate therefrom much after the fashion of the
spokes in a wheel. The spaces require but short spans in the filling material,
and they are filled in any of the ordinary ways well known to builders, such as with
tile, cement, &c.
Instead of dividing the floor into the accurately formed triangular spaces shown
in Fig. 1, I may employ the constructions shown at Figs. 8 and 9, the spaces in
these constructions being approximately triangular. Thus in Fig. 8 I omit the
central portions of the beams D and connect the inner ends of the sections thereof
by means of the connecting bars E, united to the diagonal beams in any suitable
way, as for instance by the Y-shaped strap-irons e. In this frame a central space f
is formed from the inner apices of the outer triangular spaces d. In Fig. 9 I
employ two sets of diagonal beams D and connect them at their inner ends by
similar connecting beams or bars E which may be united to the diagonal beams by
similar strap fastenings e. In this construction the central space is octagonal, and
additional triangular spaces are formed. Other modifications of the triangular
system may be devised. and in them all the light beams may be used with the
attendant benefits.
As already explained, I prefer that all the beams, both direct and diagonal,
should be supported independently of each other from the walls or columns of the
building, and it will be observed from the drawing that this feature is clearly
shown. Where the columns C form the support they may be provided with an
outstanding flange c for this purpose. In the most desirable construction however
I prefer to provide the beams with ties G, which can be secured to the column or
support in such manner as to sustain the center of the beam and permit the
employment of lighter beams than could be used where they are supported only at
the ends. These ties may be secured to the column in any appropriate way, and
while I have illustrated but one way it will be understood that I do not wish to be
limited to that construction except where it forms the specific matter claimed, the
illustrated construction being one of many types which can be used. In the
construction which I have chosen as a sample for this attachment, I secure the ties
by rivets or bolts to a ring H surrounding the column and keyed in position by the
keys h, if the latter feature is requisite. It will now be seen that if the outer ends
of the ties G be riveted or otherwise secured to the beams that the weight put upon
the beams will be sustained, in great measure, by the ties instead of the unaided
beams, and if light beams are used these ties will prevent any bending or crushing
thereof at their centers. A companion ring H₁ may be used, if desired, and the
attaching bolts or rivets in that case may be passed through both of the rings and
the end of the ties. These rings, or that one of thein which may be used, unite all
the beams at each column or support so as to reduce the resultant bending strain to
a minimum. A brace J is also preferably employed in the case of each beam and
its tie, as illustrated at Fig. 5. It is intended to prevent any breaking down or
vertical movement of the tie at the end adjoining the support. It may rest upon
the inner end of the beam, as shown if that is preferred and be riveted there.
To provide a universal connection for the ends of the beams and to avoid the
calculation of angles to bring the abutting surfaces square with the beams, I prefer
to rest their ends upon a flanged ring L, which is supported upon and bolted to the
shoulder c of the column, as shown, and to insert between the ends of the beams and
this ring abutment blocks m, as shown at Figs. 4 and 5. The ring L is made large
enough to allow the upper column to be readily placed in position, and other keys
or blocks n may be inserted between it and the column, as illustrated.
All the beams, both direct and diagonal, are desirably though not necessarily,
provided with tying or bracing devices substantially as described, as by the use of
the triangular frame and the ties the strength of the floor is maintained with a
frame employing, as I estimate, only about forty per cent. of the material commonly
used in floors constructed in the ordinary way. I may of course employ either

page_text: metal or wood beams, or composite beams in the triangular system, and with the
supporting ties. I have illustrated at Fig. 7 the completed floor employing the
beams and ties shown at Fig. 5, the letter o designating the ordinary cement filling,
arched as shown at p.
The various keys or abutting blocks m employed at the inner ends of the beams
are concaved upon one side and flat upon the other, thus adapting them to conform
to both the beams and the ring. In this manner I am enabled to use square ended
beams and to avoid all necessity for any special fitting of the beams to the surface
of the column or ring. So too, by the use of keys within the ring L, I am enabled
to use the same size of ring with various sizes of columns, the keys employed
being suited to fill the space in which they are placed, and to conform to both
surfaces.
One benefit attending my invention is found in the fact that the beams of
adjacent squares are rendered practically continuous by reason of their being all
joined to the same column rings. There is thus provided cross connections which
unite the upper portions of contiguous beams. By this feature every beam is made
to contribute some resistance to the strains coming upon every other beam. The
beams are also made thereby to relieve the columns of some of the bending strain
which would otherwise require to be borne by the latter unaided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The metallic floor frame composed of direct beams forming a square or space,
and diagonal beans dividing said square or space into triangular, or substantially
triangular, sub-spaces, substantially as specified.
2nd. The metallic floor frame composed of direct beams forming a square or
space, and other beams extending diagonally across the square or space, sub-
stantially as specified.
3rd. The metallic floor frame composed of direct beams and diagonal beams, in
combination with column or wall supports upon which all said beams rest, sub-
stantially as specified.
4th. In a floor frame, the combination of the direct beams and the diagonal
beams with supports upon which all of said beams are supported independently of
each other, substantially as specified.
5th. The triangular floor frame, all the members whereof are continuous beams,
and are all individually supported directly from the columns or walls, substantially
as specified.
6th. The triangular floor frame composed of beams, the ends whereof are fixed
to the supports and are independent of each other, substantially as specified.
7th. The triangular floor frame, the beams whereof are provided with braces or
ties in combination with suitable supports, substantially as specified.
8th. The triangular floor frame, the beams whereof are provided with braces or
ties, in combination with supports upon which the beams are sustained, said braces.
or ties being also secured to said beam supports, substantially as specified.
9th. The triangular floor frame, the beams whereof are provided with braces or
ties, in combination with a ring or rings to which the braces or ties are secured,
and supporting columns surrounded by the ring, substantially as specified.
10th. The combination with the beams of a floor frame, of ties or braces con-
necting the central portion of the beams to supporting rings located at the columns
and to which rings said ties or braces are secured, and said rings and columns,
substantially as specified.
11th. In a floor frame the combination, with the beams of adjacent squares, ties
secured to the beams as described, supports for the beams, and connections uniting
the ties of adjacent squares with one another, substantially as set forth.
12th. In a floor frame the combination with the beams of adjacent squares of the
column rings and ties uniting, the beams together, substantially as specified:

page_text: 13th. In a floor frame, the combination with the beams of adjacent squares, of a
ring at the column and above the beams and to which said beams are united and
whereby the frame is rendered practically continuous, substantially as set forth.
14th. A floor frame comprising the beams combined with cross connections
uniting the upper portions of the beams whereby all the beams are connected
together at the point of support, and thereby rendered continuous, substantially as
set forth.
15th. The combination with the beams and their supports of separate abutting
pieces or blocks, each conforming to the end of its beam and the surface of the
support, whereby special fitting of the beams to the supports is avoided, substantially
as set forth.
16th. The combination of the column with the surrounding ring L of larger
diameter than the column and separate filling pieces n inserted between the ring
and column, whereby rings of the same size are adapted to be used with variously
sized columns, substantially as set forth.
17th. The combination with the beams of the ties and braces J, substantially as
set forth.
18th. The combination with the floor beams of the ties, the rings to which the
ties are secured, the columns and the braces J, substantially as specified.
Chicago Illinois. U.S.A.. November 31st 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.