IMPROVEMENTS IN FIREPROOF STRUCTURES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE WARMING AND VENTILATION OF BUILDINGS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward James Taylor, Distiller, Albert Milsted,
Engineer, both of Carlyle Square, in the County of Middlesex, and
Edward Clark, of Buckingham Strect, in the said County, Architect,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIREPROOF STRUCTURES, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE WARMING AND VENTILATION OF
BUILDINGS."
Scaled the 9th June 1874, and dated the 17th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward James Taylor,
: Albert Milsted, and Edward Clark at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 17th April 1874.
WC, EDWARD JAMES TAYLOR, Distiller, ALBERT MILSTED, Engineer,
both of Carlyle Square, in the County of Middlesex, and EDWARD
CLARK, of Buckingham Street, in the said County, Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIREPROOF.
5

page_text: STRUCTURES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE WARMING AND
VENTILATION OF BUILDINGS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a method of rendering buildings and other
structures fireproof, and is also applicable to the warming and ventilation
of the same, and consists essentially in causing a constant circulation of
water to take place through the principals, rafters, ties, struts, beams,
braces, purlins, hips, ridges, and other parts of roofs; also through the
girders, columns, beams, and other parts of floors in the event of fire,
which several parts, both of the roofs and floors, as well as the walls
where necessary, we purpose to make of wrought or cast iron, and of a
hollow form. The said several hollow metal parts of the structure are
all connected by one or more circulating pipes, with water tanks or
cisterns placed in any convenient or suitable situation. We also purpose
to dispose hydrants at suitable parts of the interior of the structure;
also fusible plugs which will melt at a moderately elevated temperature
and admit one or more jets of water, which will at once assist in
extinguishing any fire that may have broken out in that part of the
building. From the fact of the several parts of the structure containing
water in free communication with the atmosphere, their temperature
can never exceed that of the boiling point of water, and hence the
destruction of the beams, columns, and other parts is effectually
prevented.
By employing water at an elevated temperature in the said several
hollow parts it is obvious that the building may be warmed and ventilated
in a most efficient manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
:
filed by the said Edward James Taylor, Albert Milsted, and
Edward Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th October
1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, EDWARD 30
JAMES TAYLOR, Distiller, ALBERT MILSTED, Engineer, both of Carlyle
Square, in the County of Middlesex, and EDWARD CLARK, of Buck-
ingham Street, in the said County, Architect, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth 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 us, the said Edward James Taylor, Albert Milsted,
and Edward Clark, Her special license that we, the said Edward James
Taylor, Albert Milsted, and Edward Clark, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Edward James Taylor, Albert
Milsted, and Edward Clark, our 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 FIREPROOF STRUCTURES, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE WARMING AND VENTILATION OF BUILDINGS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Edward James
Taylor, Albert Milsted, and Edward Clark, our executors, or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their
hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the naturo
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 we, the said Edward James Taylor, Albert
Milsted, and Edward Clark, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our said Invention relates to certain peculiar arrangements for
rendering buildings, safety rooms, and safes capable of resisting tho
ravages of fire, which arrangements are also partly applicable to the.
warming and ventilation of buildings or parts of buildings..
In carrying out our said Invention, we so construct, arrange, and
combine the girders, columns, beams, and other parts of floors, or some
of them, and if desired, the principals, rafters, ties, struts, beams, braces,

page_text: 'purlins, hips, ridges, and other parts of roofs, or some of them, as that
they shall always remain filled with water, and in the event of fire shall
have a constant circulation of water through the whole or some of such
parts, which parts as well as the walls (where necessary) we purpose to
make of wrought or cast iron, and of a hollow or tubular form. The
said several hollow or tubular metal parts of the structure all com-
municate by one or more circulating pipes with one or more water tanks
or cisterns placed in the upper part of the building, and in case of such
tanks being closed they are to be provided with vent pipes open to the
atmosphere. We also dispose hydrants at suitable parts of the interior
of the structure, such hydrants being in direct communication with the
said tank or tanks. Fusible plugs, which will melt at a moderately
elevated temperature, may also, if desired, be fitted to branches leading
from the hydrant pipes, so that when such plugs become melted they
will admit one or more jets of water into the building, which jets will at
once assist in extinguishing any fire that may have broken out in the
immediate locality of the said plugs. From the fact of the several parts
of the structure containing water in free communication with the
atmosphere, their temperature can never exceed the boiling point of
water, and hence the destruction of the beams, girders, columns, and
other parts containing water in circulation is effectually prevented.
By causing water heated in a boiler to circulate through the said
hollow parts or some of them, it is obvious that the building or portions
thereof may be warmed and ventilated in a most efficient manner.
In the case of safety rooms and safes, we make the door and walls
and in some cases the floor and ceiling hollow, and of wrought or cast
iron, and establish a communication between them through the hinges
of the door, so as to admit of a free circulation of water through the said
hollow walls and door.
.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood, we shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of our Drawings represents a transverse vertical section of a
building. constructed in accordance with our Invention; Figure 2 is a

page_text: When the building
corresponding cross section of one of the hollow wrought-iron girders in
each floor, showing their connection with their corresponding flow pipe;
Figure 3 is a similar view, showing the connection of the opposite ends
of the same girders with their corresponding return pipe; and Figures 4,
5, 6, and 7 are enlarged details of parts thereof. a, a, are the main or
outer walls of the building; b, b, are the main girders of each floor.
These girders are represented as of wrought iron (but they may be com-
posed of cast iron) made hollow and watertight, as shown in enlarged.
transverse section in the details, Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7.
is of such a depth as to require more than one length of girder, the
adjoining ends of the said girders rest upon the inner supporting
walls c, c, as shown in Fig. 1, where three such girders are represented
as being disposed end to end, so as to extend from front to back of the
building, all three girders being made to communicate freely with each
other at their junction ends at d, d, so that the three form in fact one
long hollow water chamber. The several girders in each floor are
disposed in like manner, care being taken in laying them to incline.
them slightly, in order to facilitate the circulation of the water through
them, as herein-after explained. At the more elevated end of each set
of girders there is situate a vertical flow pipe e which passes the sides
of the corresponding girders in each floor, as shown in Fig. 2, and
extends from the bottom to the top of the building, there being as
many of these flow pipes arranged side by side as there are sets of girders
in cach floor. These several flow pipes communicate at the bottom and
top of the building respectively with horizontal cross pipes f and I, the
bottom pipe f communicating direct with with a hot water boiler h of any
suitable or well-known construction, here shown in the basement of the
building, but in practice we prefer to place the said boiler outside the
building, whilst the top horizontal pipe g communicates by one or more
expansion pipes i with the lower part of a water tank or cistern k,
situate by preference immediately under the roof of the building, and to
which we shall herein-after more particularly refer. Each of the flow
pipes e is connected by a small branch pipe e' with the upper part of
the corresponding. girder in each floor, as will be seen more clearly in
Fig. 2, and in the enlarged detail section, Fig. 4. The opposite and lower
ends of the several girders communicate in a somewhat similar manner
with their corresponding cold water return pipes 7, as shown in Figs. 1
and 3, and in enlarged detail section at Fig. 5, these return pipes also

page_text: communicating at the bottom and top with the horizontal pipes m and n.
The top horizontal pipen communicates by one or more branch pipes o
with the bottom of a sunk portion or well p made in one end of the tank-
to receive the cold water supply, which enters the tank by a feed pipe
and ball-cock, the feed pipe q dipping into the bottom of the well. The
bottom horizontal pipe m communicates direct with the bottom of the
boiler by the return piper. Each of the several vertical return pipes /
is connected with its corresponding girder in each floor (see Fig. 3) by a
branch, which enters the top of the girder and dips down to near the
bottom thereof, as shown clearly in the enlarged section, Fig. 5. A
second branch connects the bottom also of each girder in the several
floors with its corresponding return pipe, a stop valve opened and closed
by a screw spindle s or otherwise serving to shut off, when desired, all
communication between the bottom of the inside of the girder and its
return pipe by closing the branch ". At a point situate, say, about
two-thirds below the usual level of the water in the tank there enters
a pipe or pipes t, one of which is shown broken away in Fig. 1, which
pipe is intended to be carried throughout the several floors of the
building, and to communicate with hydrants placed in convenient
situations on each floor. If desired, these pipes t may also be provided
with discharge nozzles closed by fusible metal plugs.
In lieu of providing a separate flow and return pipe for each vertical
row of girders in the several floors, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, one
vertical flow pipe and one return pipe only may be employed, com-
municating with a horizontal flow pipe e¹¹ (Fig. 6) and a horizontal
return pipe (Fig. 7) passing respectively across the top and beneath
the bottom transversely of the horizontal row of girders in each floor.
In this arrangement a branch pipe e¹ connects the upper end of each
girder of the floor with the horizontal flow pipe e" common to the series
in that floor, whilst the opposite ends of the same girders are connected
at the top by a branch pipe dipping down into the interior of the
girder, and by a second branch 7 which connects the bottom of that
end of each girder directly with the horizontal return pipe ", as shown
clearly in Fig. 7, a stop valve worked by a screw spindle s or otherwise,
as in the previously described arrangement, being fitted into each
branch, in order to shut off any one or more of the girders of the
floor from the horizontal return pipe. The connection of the top and
.

page_text: bottom horizontal flow and return pipes with the tank k and boiler /
respectively is effected in the manner already described in reference to
Fig. 1.
If desired, one stop valve only may be provided at the junction of
each of the horizontal return pipes with the vertical return pipe, in
which case the entire series of girders in each floor will be shut off from
circulation on closing the said valve, whereas by providing each separate
girder with a stop valve of its own, any one or more of the girders in
each floor may be shut off, as found desirable.
The girders employed may be of any section, provided they be hollow
and water-tight, and may be made either of wrought or cast iron or
steel.
The boiler may be entirely dispensed with in cases where the warming
of the building is not essential, or in climates where the water is not
liable to become frozen. In cold climates, however, the hot water boiler
will be found to be absolutely necessary.
In those cases where the boiler is not employed, the flow and return
pipes need not descend below the lowest series of girders in the building,
as such girders will in that case form the bottom connection between
the hot water flow and the cold water return pipes in case of fire. The
stop valve or valves in connection with the lowest series of girders are
also dispensed with in the arrangemont last referred to.
The several parts of our system having been constructed and arranged
as herein-before described, water is to be supplied to the tank / by the
ordinary service pipe q, until all the girders b, b, on the various floors,
and the pipes in connection therewith, as well as the boiler (when used)
are filled with cold water, which should stand in the tank at or about
the level indicated in Fig. 1, such level being regulated by the ordinary
ball-cock arrangement attached to the service pipe. The stop-cocks or
valves at 8, 8, may be either left open or closed when filling the several
girders or other hollow parts of the circulatory system, as the water will
gain free access in either case to the girders and other hollow parts
through the flow and return pipes simultaneously, vents being provided
if necessary for the escape of the confined air from the girders and pipes
whilst the water is entering therein, such vents being hermetically

page_text: closed after the several hollow parts or members of the circulatory
system have been completely filled with water. The system is now
ready for action, either in the event of an outbreak of fire, or in the case
of it being required to warm the whole or any special part of the
building. In the former case, those girders which are subjected to the
greatest heat will operate as boilers, the water contained therein com-
mencing to rise towards the more elevated end of the girder or set of
girders so soon as it becomes heated, and to flow upwards or along the
flow pipe or pipes e or e¹¹ in connection with such girder or girders, and
will enter the tank by the expansion pipe or pipes i. At the same
time the cold water service, which is conducted by the service pipe q
direct into the bottom of the sunk part or well p of the tank, will pass
down through the return pipe or pipes o and 7 or ", and into the
opposite or lower ends of the girders by the branches 1, the hot water in
the tank being. used for supplying the hydrants for extinguishing the
fire. This circulation will take place whether the stop valves be left
open or shut.
It will thus be seen that a constant circulation of water
is maintained through any number of girders, thereby preventing their
temperature being elevated above that of the boiling point of water, and
consequently effectually preserving them from destruction by fire. The
hot water which flows into the tank, and which may be drawn off
therefrom for the supply of the hydrants by the pipe or pipes t, is
replaced by cold water supplied from the service pipe into the well so
soon as the ball-cock is opened by the lowering of the level of the water
in the tank. As the pipe which supplies the hydrants is situate some
distance above the level of the expansion or flow pipe i, it follows that
the tank can never be emptied below the level of the hydrant supply
pipe t, the water in the circulatory system being practically inexhaustible.
If on the other hand it be desired to warm the building or any floor or
part of a floor thereof by causing hot water to circulate through any
one or more of the girders (each girder being capable of being heated
separately), it is simply necessary to open the stop valves s of those
girders through which the hot water is required to circulate or flow, the
valves of the rest of the girders being shut. The water in the boiler /
having been raised to the temperature of boiling point will rise up the
flow pipes e, and flow through such of the girders only as may have
their stop valves open, the water as it cools descending through the
branches and open valves at the lower ends of the girders into the
•

page_text: l
return pipes or 2¹¹¹, and so back again to the lower part of the boiler by
the pipe to be reheated. Those girders in which the stop valves are
closed will obviously be shut off from circulation, and will remain filled
with cold water in a state of rest.
By encasing or boxing in any one or more of the girders so as to.
leave an air flue or passage around it, facility is afforded for warming
the air in such passage before it is permitted to enter any of the rooms
in the building, and thus an efficient system of ventilation by warm air
is also obtained.
• We shall now proceed to describe the application of our Invention to
strong rooms and safes.
Figure 8 represents a vertical section of a strong room constructed in
accordance with our Invention, the section being taken along the
line 1-2 in Figure 9. Figure 9 is a horizontal section of a strong
room, and Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged details of one of the hollow
door hinges herein-after fully described. This strong room may be
erected in any convenient part of the building, of which A. (Fig. 8)
shows one of the main walls. The walls B, B, of the strong room itself
are constructed of wrought or cast iron and made hollow, that is to say,.
double, with an intervening space.C between the double walls all round
the room, such space being filled with water. The ceiling and floor of
the room may be rendered fireproof by any of the well-known methods
of fireproof construction, the side walls being self-contained or forming
a complete water vessel or holder entirely independent of the ceiling and
floor..
For safes all parts must be made hollow, and contain water in
circulation when subjected to an elevated temperature.
The door D of the strong room is made double or hollow like the walls,
as shown clearly in Fig. 9.
In order to ensure a free circulation of water through the hollow door
and walls of the strong room in the event of its being attacked by fire,
we make the lower hinge of the said door one of the inlets for the return
cold water which takes the place of the hot water, flowing upwards by
the flow pipe E (Fig. 8). This flow pipe E may either be a separato
and independent pipe rising to the water tank or cistern k (herein-before*
.

page_text: referred to), or it may join one of the rising pipes e (previously described),
or may have a separate cistern in ordinary buildings. There may be one
or more of these rising or flow pipes E leading from the top of the water
space C surrounding the strong room, and there may be a corresponding.
number of return or cold water supply pipes (one of which is shown
at F) leading either directly or indirectly from the tank or cistern k to
the lower part of the water space C. The hinge pins G, G, of the strong
room hollow door are made hollow or tubular, as shown more clearly in
Figs. 10 and 11, and work in ground brass sockets H. To the lower one
of these sockets there is connected the return flow pipe F, which allows
the cold water to pass through the hinge pin into the hollow door,
whence it flows through the upper hinge pin into the water space O, as
shown clearly by the arrows in Figs. 8 and 11. When the room is
hollow-cased throughout then connection at the top and bottom would
suffice.
In some cases we make the ceiling and floor of the strong room hollow,
and fill them with water in free communication with the hollow side
walls and with the before-mentioned tank or cistern.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that we are aware
that it has been proposed to employ hollow water girders and supports
for buildings in connection with a tank or cistern, for the purpose of
preventing the said supports from being injured during a fire, but no
method has been set forth whereby such a suggestion could be practically
carried out; we do not therefore claim separately the use of hollow
girders or supports through which water is caused to circulate in the
event of fire, but what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to us by tho herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination of the hollow girders or other hollow supports
of buildings, the flow and return pipes, the stop valves, the peculiar tank
or cistern, and the hydrant pipes, either in conjunction or not with tho
boiler or water heater when arranged and caused to operate together,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose hcrcin-before described
and illustrated by the Drawings herounto annexed.

page_text: Secondly. The constructing of strong rooms and safes with double
netal walls and doors, through which water is caused to circulate in the
vent of fire, substantially in the manner herein-before described and
llustrated by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert Milsted, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Edward James Taylor and Edward Clark, havo
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
ALBERT MILSTED. (L.S.)
Witness,
EDWIN P. ALEXANDER,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
14, Southampton Buildings,
London.