Im- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF STOREHOUSES SUITABLE FOR TY FOR WAREHOUSING FURNITURE AND FOR OTHER SUCH LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Edward Knightley, of 106, Cannon
Street, in the City of London, Architect, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF STOREHOUSES SUITABLE FOR
TY
Sealed the 23rd October 1874, and dated the 25th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edward
Knightley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 25th April 1874.
·I, THOMAS EDWARD KNIGHTLEY, of 106, Cannon Street, in the City
of London, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF STOREHOUSES
SUITABLE FOR WAREHOUSING FURNITURE AND FOR OTHER SUCH LIKE PURPOSES," to
be as follows:-
-

page_text: I construct such warehouses in separate blocks, each of moderate
dimensions. Between the blocks I arrange a tramway, by which the
goods are brought and taken away, and travelling cranes or hoists
running on this tramway lift and lower the goods as may be required.
Each block is of an oblong form, and is divided into a number of
separate and similar chambers by transverse walls parallel to the end
walls and running from front to back of the block, which is no deeper
than the length of a chamber. These chambers, which are of moderate
height, are enclosed at the top by semicircular brick arches, and on these
arches fireproof concrete is laid. Above this ground floor are several
upper stories constructed in all respects in a similar manner of parallel
walls running from back to front of the building, with arches turned
between them. Over the arches on each story a grid of steel bars is laid
and is embedded in the concrete to tie the structure together. The
thrust of the arches is sustained by massive counterforts at the ends of
each block.
The arches of the top story form the roof of the building, and here
are placed water tanks, and at each end of each block are hydrants con-
nected with the public water mains as well as with the tanks in cach
chamber of the building. Along the front of each block there are
external balconies formed at each story, and the doors giving access to
the chambers open on to these balconies, and there is no internal com-
munication of any sort between chamber and chamber.
The goods to be stored are lifted by the travelling cranes or hoists on
to the balcony opposite the door of the chamber where they are to be
stored.
At the back of each block and to each cell are windows or openings
for ventilation, each guarded by a broad overhanging fireproof cill, so
that a fire originating in any chamber from spontaneous combustion or
otherwise may be prevented lapping in at the window or ventilation
opening of the cell above.
The balconies at the front of the block serve the same purpose as the
cills at the back. They prevent fire being communicated from a lower
to an upper chamber. .
At the end of each block is an enclosed staircase of terra cotta stops; 3
but this has no direct communication with the chambers, but-leads to

page_text: the balconies, on to which the doors of the chambers open. Any required
number of blocks may thus be built parallel the one to the other, with
ways between them for the travelling hoists, and also to prevent the
possibility of fire passing from block to block.
The offices form a separate block, and there may also be a block
intended especially to receive jewellery and other portable valuables, and
in this block special precautions will be taken to resist violence as well
as fire. Neither iron or stone are used in the construction of the blocks
themselves, the only material used in their construction being strictly in
accordance with the scientific principle "that nothing is fireproof except
that which has passed through the fire."
Each cell is to be heated by hot water in pipes laid in ducts below the
level of the floors covered with steel cratines. Bach water tank is to be
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Edward Knightley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
EDWARD KNIGHTLEY, of 106, Cannon Strect, in the City of London,
Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Edward Knightley, Her
special license that I, the said Thomas Edward Knightley, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Edward Knightley, 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 CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF STOREHOUSES SUITABLE
FOR WAREHOUSING FURNITURE AND FOR OTHER SUCH LIKE PURPOSES," upon the

page_text: condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Edward Knightley,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or
their hands and scals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, or them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Thomas Edward Knightley, do hereby
declare 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, that is to say:—
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
fireproof storehouses suitable for warehousing furniture and for other
such like purposes.
I construct such warehouses as is shown in the annexed Drawings in
separate blocks, such as a, b, c, each block being of moderate dimensions.
Between and along the front of the blocks I arrange a tramway d, by
which the goods are brought and taken away, and travelling cranes or
hoists running on this tramway lift and lower the goods as may be
required.
Each block is of an oblong or other convenient form, and the ground
floor is divided into a number of separate and suitable chambers e, e, e,
by transverse walls f, f, running from front to back of the block, which
is no deeper than the length of a chamber. These chambers, which are
of moderate height, are enclosed at the top by semicircular arches, and
on these arches fireproof concrete is laid. Above this ground floor are
several upper stories constructed in all respects in a similar manner, the
walls of separation running from back to front of the building, with
arches turned as before described. Over the arches on each story a grid
of steel bars 7 is laid, and this is embedded in the concrete to tie the
structure together. The thrust of the arches is sustained by massive
counter forts h, h, at the ends of each block.
The arches of the top story form the roof of the building, and here
are placed water tanks k, and at each end of each block are. hydrants
connected with the public water mains as well as with the tanks on each
block of the building. Along the front of cach block there are external
balconies m, m, formed at each story and supplied with suitable hoisting

page_text: struction of storehouses, consisting of blocks composed of series of
vaulted cells, with the means of access on the exterior, the whole being
arranged with a view to render it impossible for fire to pass from cell to
cell, and substantially in the manner. described and shewn in the annexed
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Edward Knightley, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-second day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-four.
THOMAS EDWARD KNIGHTLEY. (L:s.)