IMPROVEMENTS IN ERECTING BUILDINGS OF CONCRETE, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Carrington Sellars, of Birkenhead, in the County of
Chester, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ERECTING BUILDINGS OF CONCRETE, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.'
"
Scaled the 5th January 1877, and dated the 3rd October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICAȚION left by the said John Carrington Sellars at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1876.
JOHN CARRINGTON SELLARS, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Manu-
facturing Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ERECTING BUILDINGS OF CONCRETE, AND
IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention relates (a) to the production in a cheap and economical manner of
concrete blocks for building purposes having a neat and finished appearance; (b) to
the use of the said blocks in the erection of buildings; and (c) to apparatus employed
in the manufacture of the said blocks, and consists,-
First. As means for constructing cheap concrete blocks having a neat and finished
appearance, in forming the said blocks with one or more facing pieces or slabs of
good concrete or cement to give a hard, durable, and finished appearance to one or
more sides of the said block, and fill in the rest of the block with inferior material.
A mould is employed to hold the facing pieces in position until the concrete is
filled in and sufficiently set to allow of the removal of the mould, after which the
blocks are left undisturbed until sufficiently hard for building purposes.
Second. As means for erecting concrete buildings quickly and cheaply in
employing alternately blocks constructed as described under the above first] head
and slabs or facing pieces, and filling up the space between the ends of the blocks
with concrete.
Third. As means for facilitating the lifting and removal of blocks constructed as
described under the above first head in moulding recesses at the ends of the said
blocks in which to obtain a hold.
Fourth. As means for ensuring that blocks constructed as described under the
above first head shall set squarely and evenly after the mould has been removed in
forming the slabs or facing pieces thicker at the bottom than at the top, the slope
or angle being towards the inner surface. The said inner surface may also, if

page_text: desired, be roughened or formed with projections and recesses to increase the holding
effect.
Fifth. As means for securing that facing slabs constructed with projections and
recesses shall adhere firmly to the concrete of the main body of the block, in filling
up the spaces with concrete, and whilst the concrete is yet soft in placing the said
facing slabs in position, and filling the mould with stones and concrete to form the
block.
Sixth. As means for facilitating horizontal and vertical holding between blocks
constructed as described under the above first head, in forming the upper and under
and end surfaces unevenly or with recesses and projections.
Seventh. As means for forming the said blocks of various lengths or widths in
employing a mould having two sides connected together by bolts formed with right
and left handed threads or equivalent means, so that the said sides can be moved
closer to or further from each other at pleasure.
Eighth. As means for facilitating the setting, hardening, and weathering of
blocks constructed as described under first head in making the bottom of the mould
with perforations, and placeing such moulds or supports so that air or fluid can
circulate underneath.
Ninth. As means for making light buildings, either permanent or removable, in
making the said blocks hollow by employing a core when fitting the concrete into
the mould.
It will be seen that when slow setting concrete is employed that the blocks may
be constructed and allowed to harden before building cominences, thus allowing of
a building being rapidly erected, instead of having to wait for the setting of each
layer of concrete, as is at present necessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Carrington Sellars in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
April 1877.
JOHN CARRINGTON SELLARS, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Manu-
facturing Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ERECTING BUILDINGS OF CONCRETE, AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention relates (a) to the production in a cheap and economical manner of
concrete blocks for building purposes having a neat and finished appearance; (b) to
the use of the said blocks in the erection of buildings; and (c) to apparatus employed
in the manufacture of the said blocks, and consists,-
First. As means for constructing cheap concrete blocks having a neat and finished
appearance, in forming the said blocks with one or more facing pieces or slabs of
good concrete or cement to give a hard, durable, and finished appearance to one or
more sides of the said block, and fill in the rest of the block with inferior material.
A mould is employed to hold the facing pieces in position until the concrete is filled
in and sufficiently set to allow of the removal of the mould, after which the blocks
are left undisturbed until sufficiently hard for building purposes.
Second. As means for erecting concrete buildings quickly and cheaply in
employing alternately blocks constructed as described under the above first head
and slabs or facing pieces, and filling up the space between the ends of the blocks
with concrete.
Third. As means for facilitating the lifting and removal of blocks constructed as
described under the above first head in moulding recesses at the ends of the said
blocks in which to obtain a hold.
Fourth. As means for ensuring that blocks constructed as described under the
above first head shall set squarely and evenly after the mould has been removed in
forming the slabs or facing pieces thicker at the bottom than at the top, the slope

page_text: or angle being towards the inner surface. The said inner surface may also, if
desired, be roughened or formed with projections and recesses to increase the holding
effect.
Fifth. As means for securing that facing slabs constructed with projections and
recesses shall adhere firmly to the concrete of the main body of the block in filling
up the spaces with concrete, and whilst the concrete is yet soft in placing the said
facing slabs in position, and filling the mould with stones and concrete to form the
block.
Sixth. As means for facilitating horizontal and vertical holding between blocks
constructed as described under the above first head in forming the upper and under
and end surfaces unevenly or with recesses and projections.
Seventh. As means for forming the said blocks of various lengths or widths in
employing a mould having two sides connected together by bolts formed with right
and left handed threads or equivalent means, so as the said sides can be moved closer
to or further from each other at pleasure.
Eighth. As means for facilitating the setting, hardening, and weathering of blocks
constructed as described under the first head in making the bottom of the mould
with perforations, and place such moulds on supports so that air or fluid can circulate
underneath.
Ninth. As means for making light buildings, either permanent or removable, in
making the said blocks hollow by employing a core when filling the concrete into
the mould.
It will be seen that when slow setting concrete is employed that the blocks may
be constructed and allowed to harden before building commences, thus allowing of a
building being rapidly erected instead of having to wait for the setting of each layer
of concrete, as is at present necessary.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2, a side elevation partly in section; Fig. 3, an end
view; Fig. 4, an end soction; Fig. 5, a plan view; Fig. 6, a side section; and Figs. 7
and 8, end sections at the lines A, A, B, B, all illustrative of my improvements. In
these views like letters denote the same parts.
Under the first head, 1 are pressed facing pieces or slabs usually made of fine
materials; 2, body of blocks, preferably of stones and inferior concrete; the compound
blocks are sometimes formed with slabs or facing pieces on one face, and sometimes
on two or more sides. It will be obvious that if an absolutely waterproof wall is desired
one of the pressed slabs may be coated, say, the interior of the outside one, with
cement. 3, mould frame shown containing compound blocks with slabs or facing
pieces on one, two, and more sides.
The second head is illustrated by Fig. 9. Here 4 are blocks constructed under the
first part of my Invention, that is to say, compound blocks; and 5 are slabs; the
spaces 6 are filled with concrete or other material when desired.
Under the third head, 7 are plugs or pieces which project through the moulds so
as to cause the ends of the blocks to be formed with recesses, and so form holding
places, whereby the blocks may be easily transported from place to place. When
slow setting concrete is being used the moulds may have false or carrying bottoms.
Under the fourth head, the slope or angle of the slabs or facing pieces is shown
at 8, and the mass of the concrete at 81. Projections may be formed on either
surface.
Under the sixth head, the blocks are formed on their upper and under surfaces
with recesses and projections 9, 10, so as to increase vertical and horizontal
holding.
The seventh head is illustrated by Fig. 10. Here the sides 11 are connected together
by right and left handed screws 12, by means of which the said slides can be
adjusted nearer to or further from each other, end pieces 13 being placed in position
as required, or rods 12 might be attached to only one of the sides 11, and to screw
into the other.

page_text: Under the eighth head, the moulds are formed with perforations 14, so that air
or fluid can be allowed to circulate in contact with the blocks, and facilitate
hardening.
་
The ninth head is illustrated by Fig. 11. Here the blocks are made hollow, and
placed one upon another, so as to form a wall; the said blocks are blocked together,
and the joints made tight by means of wedges or stones placed in the spaces 15,
16, 17, 18, (Figs. 1, 2, 4,) show a loose core formed of three pieces to be used in
forming such hollow blocks. After the block is hardened the centre piece 17 is
withdrawn, and then the two side pieces, 16, 18. The said core may be made of
sheet metal, open at top and bottom, and be filled with sand, so that it can be with-
drawn immediately the concrete is filled into the mould; the sand serves to keep
the soft concrete in its place.
Having now described and illustrated the nature of the said Invention, so that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,—
Under the first head. Constructing the blocks called by me compound blocks,
substantially as set forth.
Under the second head. Erecting buildings of compound blocks under the above
first head and slabs placed alternately or in combination, substantially as set forth.
Under the third head. Forming blocks constructed under the first head with
recesses, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Under the fourth head. Forming compound blocks with slabs-or-facing-pieces-
thicker at the bottom than the top for the purpose set forth.
Under the fifth head. Causing firm adherence of slabs or facing pieces by the
means substantially as set forth.
Under the sixth head. Forming compound blocks constructed under the above
first head unevenly, or with projections and recesses, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Under the seventh head. Constructing moulds so that they are adjustable, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Under the eighth head. Perforated bottoms for moulds placed on supports, for the
purposes set forth.
Ninth. Constructing light walls or buildings of blocks rendered hollow by employing
a core substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Carrington Sellars, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
זגד
DDINATIONT
J. JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
JNO. CARRI
AUTONT
SELLARS.
r - (L.S.)
Witness.