Improved Construction of Metal Framework for Portable Structures.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by LA SOCIÉTÉ NOUVELLE DE CONSTRUCTIONS
SYSTEME TOLLET, of No. 81, Rue St. Lazare, Paris, France.]
Improved Construction of Metal Framework for Portable
Structures.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to a construction of metal framework formed of iron or
steel ribs of a U section, which is applicable more particularly for tents, ambulances,
shelters, barrack huts, and the like.
For this purpose the said ribs of U section, which are by preference bent so as
to present an arched or ogival form, are fixed together in pairs so as to form a
Gothic arch, being secured together at the apex by a suitable keyed fastening or
clamp which has at top a forked projection for receiving a horizontal ridge-piece
by means of which the said arches are secured together in their upright position.
From the haunch of each end-arch project smaller arched ribs in a direction more
or less at right angles to the plane of the main arch, forming as it were curved
butresses to these.
The lower ends of the main arches and the butress ribs are all connected together
by a system of tie rods, extending all round the structure at a short distance from
the lower ends, and a second system of tie rods is provided at about half the distance
up the arch, the tie rods connecting the two butress ribs at each end being, if
necessary, placed somewhat higher up the others in order to give headway for
the doors.
A third tie rod is also provided connecting the two points where the butress ribs
are connected to the main arches.
Each rib of the main arches is, for facility of transport, by preference formed of
two separate pieces, which are jointed together as follows: The lower length has
its upper end slightly bulged or widened, to receive the end of the upper length
within its trough, and it has fixed within the trough, at the bottom of the widened
part, a tongue piece serving as abutment to the lower end of the upper length.
Over the joint thus formed is slid a stirrup shaped yoke, through the part of which
that crosses the open side of the trough is screwed a screw, the pointed end of
which enters a hole in the bottom of the trough of the upper piece, and in pressing
this and the outer part of the lower length firmly against the outer part of the
yoke, securely fixes the joint together in a readily detachable manner.
For securing the tie rods to the arches, yokes similar to those above described
are slid upon the ribs of the arches, and are secured in position by setting screws;
each side of the yoke is formed with loops at the sides into which are hooked hook-
shaped pieces secured in the ends of the trough shaped tie bars.
Other yokes or collars are slid on the ribs above the tie bars, so as to rest upon
the tops of the hooks, in which position they are secured by setting screws, so as to
hold the tie bars securely in place.
The connection of the butress ribs to the main arches may be effected by means
of the same kind of joint as above described.
The framing constructed as above described can be covered by canvas, wood,
sheet metal or any other suitable covering, in which windows may be provided.
Dated this 20th day of February 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Construction of Metal Framework for Portable
Structures.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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:
This invention relates to a construction of metal framework formed of iron or
steel ribs of a U section, which is applicable more particularly for tents, ambulances,
shelters, barrack huts and the like.
For this purpose the said ribs of U section which are by preference bent so as to
present an arched or ogival form, are fixed together in pairs so as to form a Gothic
arch, being secured together at the apex by a suitable keyed fastening or clamp
which has at top a forked projection for receiving a horizontal ridge picce by
means of which the said arches are secured together in their upright position.
From the haunch of each end arch project smaller arched ribs in a direction
more or less at right angles to the plane of the main arch forming as it were curved
butresses to these.
The lower ends of the main arches and the butress ribs are all connected together
by a system of tic rods, extending all round the structure at a short distance from
the lower ends, and a second system of tic rods is provided at about half the
distance up the arch, the tie rods connecting the two butress ribs at each end being,
if necessary, placed somewhat higher up the others in order to give headway for
the doors.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings shew.respectively a perspective
elevation and a plan of the said construction of metal framework, and
Figs. 3 to 11 shew various enlarged details of the connections.
The whole of the framework is constructed of the special iron or steel of a
Ushaped section, shewn at Fig. 3. It is composed of four arched ribs A, con-
nected together in pairs so as to form two arches, the connection being secured by a
key at a.
Each arch has a fork at the apex for receiving and fixing the wooden ridge-
piece B which holds the arches in position.
From the haunch of each arch project the arched end ribs C.C, secured to A by
suitable fastenings.
In this form of structure there is no flat sill plate for connecting the arches at
bottom, but in lieu thereof are provided two sets of tie bars of the same form of
iron as the ribs, the one set D being situated about 5 ins. from the ground, while
the other set D' is about midway between the bottom and the top. The upper tie
bars of the abutment ribs C are placed somewhat higher than the side ones.
The arches A are also provided with tie bars D2 at the points of junction of
the ribs C.
Each arched rib A. is formed of two separate lengths, which are connected
together as shewn in section at Fig. 4.
The upper end of the lower part is for this purpose somewhat bulged at a and
is provided internally with a hooked piece band a binding loop c is fitted over
the same.
The lower end of the upper length fits through the loop c into the bulged part of
the lower length and behind the hook b, and it is secured in that position by a
pinching screwd, screwing through the inner part c¹ of the loop and taking into a
hole formed in the inner surface of the metal, thus securely fixing the two parts
together.
For fixing the tie bars to the arched ribs, there are fitted upon the latter loops e

page_text: shewn in plan and section at Figs. 5 and 6, these being fixed in position by a screw
the end of which bears against the inner surface of the rib.
f
The loops e are formed so as to leave two holes ġ g outside the rib, into which
are fitted hooks h rivetted on the ends of the tie bars as shewn in the two views of
the connection at Figs. 7 and 8, of which Fig. 7 shews a front view and Fig. 8 a
side view, the parts being about to be connected.
After the hooks h have been dropped into the holes g, a second loop i on the rib,
shewn in plan and section at Figs. 9 and 10 is slid down over the hooks and is
secured in position by a screw k, the parts being then in the position shewn in front
view at Fig. 11, whereby it will be seen that the tie rods D D' are effectually
secured to the ribs.
This construction of framing is applicable for tents, shelters, ambulances,
barracks &c. the covering being effected by single or double canvas, wood, sheet
metal, or other suitable material, and they may be provided, or not, with
windows.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Constructing metal framework for tents and other structures of iron or steel
of a U shaped section, such framework being formed of arched ribs jointed together
at top to form arches, and stayed by end abutment ribs and by two sets of tie bars,
substantially as described.
2. In metal framework such as is referred to in the preceding claim the com-
bination of the arched ribs A of U section connected together at the top to form
arches, and stayed by a set of tie bars D also of U section near the bottom and
a second set of tie bars D' at the upper part, substantially as described.
3. ln metal framework such as is referred to in the preceding claims, con-
structing the arched ribs A of two separate parts secured together as described
with reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings.
4. Securing the tic bar D to the ribs by hooked connections and loops, sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 to 11 of the drawings.
5. The construction of metal framework for tents and other buildings of separate
parts combined and arranged as herein described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 18th day of November 1891.
ABEL & IMKAY,
Agents for the Applicant.