Improvements in Fireproof Walls and Ceilings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Cate of Application, 20th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
Improvements in Fireproof Walls and Ceilings.
I, KARL ALSDORFF, Builder, of 18 Humboldstrasse, Cologne on the Rhine,
Germany, 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:-
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. is a front view showing the inner framework or skeleton of a wall
embodying my invention, said skeleton consisting of rolled iron bars and wires or
flat irons.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the finished wall along line
Fig. 3 is a vertical section along line y y of Fig.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along line
Fig. 5 a partial section in natural size.
of Fig. 1, and
The wall or partition is built in the following manner :—
of Fig. 1.
An iron bar a of cross-shaped section or other suitable shape is let into the sill s
and the lintel p, and secured to the same, after which the wires or flat iron bars b
are stretched across the panels to form a lattice work, so that the upper beam p
will be subjected to tensile strains corresponding to one half the weight of the
partition to be formed, while the lower beams is subjected to compressive strains
corresponding to the other half of the weight of the said partition or wall and
the wall itself is strong enough to resist its internal strains or support its own
weight.
After the completion of this inner framework, which should be made to fit every
particular case, the outer coverings of the partition wall are cast, two wooden
planks (Fig. 3) being placed on each side thereof and secured in position, at a
distance corresponding to the thickness of the wall required to be built, by means
of a number of bolts d locked by wedges, the material being cast into the inter-
stices between the boards or planks c which are arranged in superposed sections or
zones. When the space between the first two boards is filled, two more boards
are put up, the space between which is likewise filled up, and so on, until the top
is nearly reached. When the space between the third pair of boards is filled up,
the lowermost planks can be removed. When the casting has been proceeded
with up to a height of about 20 c.m. from the top, one board only, the last,
is placed on one side, and the wall completed by throwing or applying the plaster
from the side. After some time has elapsed, the boards are removed, and the wall
is finished ready to be smoothed or scraped. The plastic mineral matter to be cast
between the boards consists preferably of ceiling plaster and coal slag or clinkers,
or of silicious sand and plaster of paris, or cement.
Besides greatly economising space, these walls are thoroughly fire proof, imper-
meable to sound, very strong, stable and self-contained. The cross irons used may
be made of any suitable strength and shape, according to the thickness of the
partition wall required. The thickness of the wall is preferably about 5 centimeters,
but may be larger.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
A fireproof, self supporting and sound proof wall, partition, or ceiling, which,
apart from the external framework, consists of a metallic skeleton of rolled
beams or bars and wires or flat irons arranged in a manner analogous to a

page_text: lattice girder, and of plastic mineral matter cast in so as to fill up and cover the
said skeleton, substantially as described.
Dated thin 10th 2ave of Anatahan 1000
KARL ALSDORFF,
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433, Strand, London, Agents.