IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR SECURING SHEET METAL AND BUCKLED OR OTHER METAL PLATES EMPLOYED FOR ROOFING, FLOORING, ENCLOSURES, AND COVERING OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Allan, of No. 18, Leadenhall Street, in
the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR SECURING SHEET METAL AND BUCKLED OR OTHER
METAL PLATES EMPLOYED FOR ROOFING, FLOORING, ENCLOSURES, AND
COVERING OTHER SURFACES."
Sealed the 16th November 1869, and dated the 18th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Allan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th May 1869.
I, GEORGE ALLAN, of No. 18, Leadenhall Street, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR SECURING SHEET METAL AND BUCKLED OR
OTHER METAL PLATES EMPLOYED FOR ROOFING, FLOORING, ENCLOSURES, AND FOR
COVERING OTHER SURFACES," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object, firstly, an
securing sheet metal covering or buckled or other
improved mode of
plates to the purlins,

page_text: rafters, or ridge pieces of roofs, or to the framing of other structures,
such as flooring for bridges and buildings of all kinds, and the sides of
enclosures, whereby the sheet metal or plate while it is securely fixed
has at the same time perfect freedom to expand and contract through
variations of temperature without causing leakage at the points where it
is secured.
For this purpose, in place of fixing the sheet metal or plate direct
to the purlins or other objects, I secure it to a metal strap passing round
or partially round the purlin or other object, and arranged either so that
both ends of the strap are fixed to the sheet metal or plate by one and
the same bolt or bolts or rivets, or so that each end is fixed by a
separate bolt or bolts or rivets. The straps or loops are made so as to
leave sufficient play between them and the sides of the purlins to allow
of the extreme amount of expansion of the metal covering in one
direction, while in the other direction the straps are free to slide upon
the purlins. In some cases, instead of letting the sheet metal rest
directly on the purlins or other surfaces, the same may be carried clear
of the said surfaces by a saddle piece connected to or forming part of
the straps or loops, by which means an air space for ventilation would
be obtained between the boarded surface and the sheet metal, and by
which also the noise arising from vibrations through the action of high
winds is completely obviated.
Another part of my Invention consists in an improved form and
arrangement of the bolts or rivets for securing corrugated sheets of
metal covering together, as also for securing the before-mentioned straps
thereto, so as to prevent the leakage at the points of connection. For
this purpose I form the outer heads of the bolts or rivets with a curved
under surface corresponding with the curvature of the corrugated sheet
metal, so as to fit closely upon the latter. Furthermore, I fit upon the
inside end of the bolt or rivet a metal washer, also formed curved so as
to fit the corrugations, and I interpose between such washer and the
surface of tho sheet metal a washer of india-rubber.
Lastly, I form the bearing surface of the screw nut of the bolt rounded
so as to fit the concave surface of the metal washer. In securing the
before-mentioned strap connection the india-rubber washer is interposed
between the surface of the sheet metal and that of the strap, which is
also formed curved to fit the corrugation. By these means the holes in

page_text: the sheet metal through which the bolt or rivet passes will be effectually
closed, and any leakage through them be prevented.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Allan in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 18th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ALLAN, of No. 18, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Allan, Her special licence
that I, the said George Allan, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Allan, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR SECURING SHEET METAL AND BUCKLED OR OTHER METAL.
PLATES EMPLOYED FOR ROOFING, FLOORING, ENCLOSURES, AND FOR COVERING OTHER
SURFACES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Allan, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Allan, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-

page_text: panying Sheet of Drawings and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention has for its object, firstly, an improved mode of
securing sheet metal covering or buckled or other plates to the purlins,
rafters, or ridge pieces of roofs, or to the framing of other structures,
such as flooring for bridges and buildings of all kinds, and the sides of
enclosures, whereby the sheet metal or plate while it is securely fixed
has at the same time perfect freedom to expand and contract through
variations of temperature without causing leakage at the points where
it is secured.
For this purpose, in place of fixing the sheet metal or plate direct
to the purlins or other objects, I secure it to a metal strap passing round
or partially round the purlin or other object, and arranged either so that
both ends of the strap are fixed to the sheet metal or plate by one and
the same bolt or bolts or rivets, or so that each end is fixed by a
separate bolt or bolts or rivets. The straps or loops, whilst made to grip
cach purlin tight, are at the same time so shaped as to leave sufficient
play between them and the sides of the purlins to allow of the extreme
amount of the expansion of the metal covering in one direction, while
in the other direction the straps are free to slide upon the purlins. In
some places, instead of letting the sheet metal rest directly on the
purlins or other surfaces, the same may be carried clear of the said
surfaces by a saddle piece connected to or forming part of the straps or
loops, by which means an enlarged air space for ventilation would be
obtained between the boarded surface and the sheet metal, and by which
also the noise arising from vibrations through the action of high winds
is almost completely obviated.
Another part of my Invention consists in an improved form and
arrangement of bolts or rivets for securing corrugated sheets of
metal covering together, as also for securing the before-mentioned straps
thereto, so as to prevent the leaking at the points of connection. For
this purpose I form the outer heads of the bolts or rivets with a curved
under surface corresponding with the curvature of the corrugated sheet
metal so as to fit closely upon the latter. Furthermore, I fit upon the
inside end of the bolt or rivet a metal washer, also formed curved so as
to fit the corrugations, and I interpose between such washer and the
'surface of the sheet metal a washer of india-rubber.

page_text: Lastly, I form the bearing surface of the screw nut of the bolt rounded
so as to fit the concave surface of the metal washer. In securing the
before-mentioned strap connection the india-rubber washer is interposed
between the surface of the sheet metal and that of the strap, which is
also formed curved to fit the corrugation. By these means the hole in
the sheet metal through which the bolt or rivet passes will be effectually
closed, and any leakage through it be prevented.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention I will now proceed
more particularly to describe the manner of performing the same, for
which purpose I shall refer to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in
which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in each of the
Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 shew respectively a front and side view of one
arrangement of my improved mode of securing the corrugated metal
covering to the purlins or rafters of a roof or other structure. For this
purpose the strap A is passed round the purlin B, and is connected at
cach end to the corrugated metal C, either as shewn at Figure 2 by the
bolt D, the head of which is formed with a concave or curved under
surface to fit the corrugations, while the upper surface of the strap A is
formed convex or rounded to fit the inner surface of the corrugations,
and between the former and the latter is inserted an india-rubber
washer E, by which combined arrangement the hole through which the
bolt D' passes is effectually closed and the penetration of water through
it prevented; or the bolt D, instead of fitting directly upon the corru-
gated metal O, is made at the same time to secure the trough-shaped
wind tics F, as shown at Figure 1. These from their peculiar shape arc
of greatly increased strength as compared with those used heretofore, and
with fifty per cent. less metal, and will secure the corrugated metal
much more effectually. I do not, however, claim such wind ties as part
of my present Invention. The strap is made so as to fit the purlin at
bottom, as shewn, while at top a certain amount of play is left on either
side between the purlin and the strap in order to allow the sheet metal
covering C to expand and contract freely in either direction.
Figure 3 shews a modified form of the strap A, being made to fit close
against the purlin B on the one side, with allowance for expansion and
contraction on the opposite side between it and the purlin. In this
arrangement the bolt D securing the one end of the strap bears directly

page_text: on the covering C, a curved washer C' intervening between the two,
while the other bolt D' secures the wind tie F holding down the outer
lap of the sheet metal.
Figure 4 shews an arrangement where the two ends of the strap A are
secured to the sheet metal C by one single screw bolt D; and Figure 5
shews a similar arrangement, the strap A being in this case made in the
form of a ring, which is capable of turning somewhat in one direction or
the other on the purlin B in yielding to the expansion and contraction
of the sheet metal C.
In Figure 6 the sheet metal covering C, instead of resting directly
upon the purlin B, is supported by a saddle piece G, as before described,
the ends of such saddle piece being secured by the same bolts D that
hold the strap A; and at Figure 7 the strap A is cranked as shewn, so
as itself to constitute a saddle for supporting the covering C.
Figure 8 shows the application of the strap A for securing the sheet
metal C to the ridge piece H, the bolts D serving at the same time.to
secure the covering I to the ridge roll. Figure 9, as also Figures 4, 5,
and 7 shew the before-described mode of securing the sheets of the
metal covering C together by the screw bolts D formed with curved
under surface to the head, so as to fit the corrugations in the same?
manner as the bolts D, an india-rubber disc E and a curved metal
washer K being interposed between the under surface of the corrugated
metal and the nut of the bolt, which is also formed with a rounded
bearing surface to fit the corrugations, by which means the holes in the
sheet metal through which the bolts pass arc effectually closed against 2
the entrance of wet.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, what I claim is,―
First. Sccuring sheet metal covering for roofing and other purposes
by means of a strap passing round or partially round the purlin or other
support, the ends being secured to the sheet metal and arranged so
as to allow of the expansion and contraction thereof, substantially as
described.
Second Sunnanting the chest maial so
1.11

page_text: with a concave and convex under and upper surfaces, or by a rivet with
concave under surface in combination with india-rubber and curved
metal washers, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Allan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
G. ALLAN. (L.S.)