Buildings and other Places or Structures.
Year: 1889

page_text: Buildings and other Places or Structures.
I, CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN of Eldora Iowa, in the United States of America,
Manufacturer of porous terra cotta 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 prevent the cracking or breaking of plastering-
applied to fireproof ceiling slabs or blocks secured to joists of buildings and this object
I accomplish by the construction hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification, Figure 1 is'a "
view in cross-section, taken on 'line x y of Figure 2 of a construction of ceiling
embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a plan view of the ceiling, shewing two forms
of washers or retaining plates. Figure 3 is a view of another form being a section
through line xy of Figure 4. Figure 4 is a plan view of the ceiling shewn in
Figure 3.
.
:
In the construction of my improved ceiling I prefer to use porous terra cotta ;
otherwise known as "terra cotta lumber.". This material as is well known is a non- í
combustible material which more effectually resists the action of fire than brick, is to
a very high degree a non-conductor of heat and cold, and also of sound, is easily
wrought with edged tools, such as used by carpenters, and will receive and hold nails
or spikes. I do not, however limit myself solely to the use of this material, as
ordinary terra-cotta or other fireproof material may be employed.
Referring to the drawings A represents the wooden joists to which the slabs or
blocks B of terra-cotta lumber are secured. The said joists are placed the usual
distance apart from 12 to 16 inches--and the slabs B of terra cotta lumber are made
of a size, in one dimension, determined thereby.
As shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the slabs or blocks B are separated from each other
(leaving a space H) and also from the nail or nails D, passing between them into the
joist A a sufficient distance to allow for the maximum amount of movement of the
joists and nails relatively to the said slabs. Each nail or screw passes through a metal
washer or retaining plate, C or C, having an enlarged opening to permit the
maximum amount of movement of the nail therein, the heads D' of said nails being,
of course, of greater diameter than the holes in said washers, so that the said heads
may operate to hold the washers in place. The slabs or blocks of terra cotta lumber

page_text: rest on said washers or retaining plates, being held up against the joist by said plates
and the securing nails. As the lumber or wooden part of the structure shrinks in
time more or less, or is moved or shifted from other causes, the nails held by the
joists will shift their position relatively to the washers and slabs, without imparting
any movement to the latter, and therefore the plastering that may be thereon cannot
crack or break away, since it is not subjected to any strain.
The retaining plate may be of the form shewn at C or it may be formed with an
extension as shewn at Fig. 1, which extension is folded over the head of the
securing nail and prevents the application of plaster to the said head, the latter having
in this case a movement between the two layers of the retaining plate. The form of
plate shewn at C, Fig. 3, answers very well for all practical purposes; but that shown
at C Fig. 1 is to be preferred, as the nail has more freedom of movement, and its
head is not obliged to release itself from or cut its path through the plaster and thus
possibly loosen a portion thereof.
Instead of separating the slabs or blocks from each other, as shewn in Figure 2,
they may be placed near or close to each other, each slab having a notch, or notches I
cut in its edge or edges as shewn in Figure 4. When two such slabs, similarly
notched or cut away, are laid close to each other, a space equal to that shewn at H,
Figure 1 is provided, in the centre of which the securing nail can be driven and the
retaining plate applied, as before described.
The plastering P is applied to the slabs or blocks, and covers the washers and nail-
heads D¹ or extensions C, as the case may be.
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. The combination of the joists with ceiling slabs or blocks of a fire-proof material
secured to said joists by headed nails or screws placed at a distance from said slabs
or blocks, and by washers or retaining plates having enlarged openings through which
the shanks of said nails pass, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the joists with ceiling slabs or blocks of a fire proof material
carrying a coat of plaster and secured to said joists by headed nails or screws placed
at a distance from said slabs or blocks, and by washers of retaining plates having
enlarged openings through which the shanks of said nails pass, substantially as
described.
3. The combination of the joists with notched ceiling slabs or blocks of a fire-proof
material laid close together and secured to said joists by headed nails or screws
located in said notches at a distance from the edges of said blocks, and by washers
or retaining plates having enlarged openings, through which the shanks of said nails
pass, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the joists with ceiling slabs or blocks of a fire proof material
secured to said joists by headed nails or screws located at a distance from the edges
of said slabs or blocks, and by washers or retaining plates having enlarged openings,
through which the shanks of said nails pass, and extensions folded over the heads of
said nails, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of Fishnu 1000