An Improved System of Light and Economical Building Construction.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved System of Light and Economical Building
Construction.
I, HENRI STURM of 16 Rue Drouot, Paris in the Republic of France, Inventor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:
My invention has for its object an improved system of light and economical
building construction obtained by the combination of ceramic parts or pieces,
and particularly by the combination with an arrangement of joint-covers, of hollow
or solid panels or tiles made of ceramic or earthenware or any other substance
capable of being moulded, which panels I call the "Universal" tiles, by reason of
the multiplicity and variety of the purposes to which they may be applied, these
panels being capable in fact of serving either for the covoring of buildings and
walls, for the making of ceilings, rubble partitions, walls, or facings for walls, air
passages or smoke flues, for the covering of columns or beams of wood or iron, or
for the covering and protection of parts of a bridge from being effected by the
more or less sulphurous smoke from locomotives.
1. AS A COVERING FOR BUILDINGS AND WALLS.
Hitherto the mechanical or other tiles employed have only allowed roofs to be
formed which were only slightly or not at all water-tight because of the infiltration
of water and of fine snow in particular which always takes place at the joints what-
ever may be the number or the arrangement of such tiles. The reason of this is
that in practice it is impossible to obtain products fired or baked exactly straight
or with thoroughly level surfaces, and consequently the overlapping parts and the
joints are only joined very imperfectly.
Now my system of panels allows this drawback to be remedied by forming a tile
the joints of which are ensured by means of lime, mortar, plaster or cement placed
in special grooves arranged for this purpose at each end of the tile.
In order to ensure the durability of the mortar, to impart a more decorative
appearance and that the roof shall not be slippery for the feet of the tiler, this tile
is provided with projecting ridges in the direction of the slope, and I arrange
between the tiles in the direction of the rafters joint-covers shaped in the form of a
hook at their extremities so as to provide also at this point a suitable place for
holding the mortar in order that the joint may be really efficacious.
The fundamental principles of my improved system of roofing which I form in
therefore:
1st. In the special arrangement of a tight joint formed between the tiles,
and filled with lime, plaster, cement or mortar made with these materials, or any
other unalterable mastic yielding a perfect tightness of joint.
2ndly. In the special arrangement of all the ridges and hollows, which only exist
in the direction of the moulding of the products in order to obtain a simple and
economic manufacture.
3rdly. In the use of special joint-covers for concealing or protecting the mortar,
the simple form and regular profile of said joint-covers allowing of their being
produced completely finished by moulding machines.
The principal economy in the system as a whole consists therefore in the
complete suppression of any hand work in addition to that required for the

page_text: mechanical manufacture, as the bevelled and hooked' sections are easily obtained by
suitable moulds arranged on the cutting-out table of the moulding machine; this
dispensing with hand labour is further increased by it being unnecessary to have
any plastering or ceiling under the tiles such being rendered unnecessary by the
tightness of this system of roof and the regularity of its under surface.
In designing the ordinary wood or iron rafters of a roof, 1 separate them one
from another to a suitable extent such however that the panels can without danger
rest with their two ends on two consecutive rafters. I give to these pauels a
section which may be straight or bevelled, preferably the latter, in order to
facilitate the joint, and each panel overlaps the panel which immediately precedes
it by means of a flange or lip resting on a projection formed on the preceding
panel. These panels are hollowed as has been done for a long time, and as the
hollows as well as the lips or flanges are all in the same direction, they are very
easily made in a moulding machine. A recess or groove made on each edge of
each panel enables an absolutely tight joint to be made by means of mortar at the
moment of placing the tiles in position.
The longitudinal flanges of the different panels are connected one with another
also by means of a mortar joint on which I place a joint-cover which is pressed down
into the mortar in order to attach it solidly to the whole roof. These joint-covers
may have various forms.
For instance, the rafters may be formed by means of simple T irons on the
wings of which the panels rest; the joint-covers are arranged in such a way as to
entirely cover these iron rafters.
Or the panels may not bear directly on the rafter, but instead the joint-cover
may rest on the rafter and the panels then fit into this joint-cover.
These joint-covers may either be straight in which case the longitudinal flanges
are cut out to receive them, or they may, on the contrary, be cut out so as to
receive and be intersected by said flanges.
Special tiles may also be made in a moulding machine for forming the ends or
butts of roofs these tiles being connected like the ordinary tiles by means of joint-
covers suited to their shape.
These tiles and their joint-covers may serve to form ridge pieces and in the case
of a broken roof they may take the place of the seam of lead generally employed
in this class of roofs.
Speaking generally my system of tiles may have single or double recesses so as
to more completely avoid loss of heat, in this case a ceiling may be obtained
immediately below the roof by making the rafter rest on the intermediate partition.
The openings left open for inserting the panels are then stopped by means of
squares which are cut out with bevelled edges in order to rest on the lower
partition.
2ND. FLOORS AND CEILINGS.
In the application of my system of panels to the construction of floors and
ceilings, make use of a special ceiling joist combined with a cross piece placed
between the joists of iron or wood serving to support the floor, and on this
.cross-piece I hook the supports of the joint-covers which in their turn serve to
support the ends of the panels. This mode of construction enables the lath and
plaster covering as well as the rough plastering and the like which is usually
necessary, and all the inconveniences which result therefrom principally from a
hygienic point of view to be dispensed with entirely.
My system of construction enables the space existing between the flooring and
the ceiling to be left entirely free, the result of which is the formation of a bed of
air which is the best insulator which can be employed, and which may be also
advantageously utilised either for ventilating the rooms or for heating them by
nieans of a current of warm air which passed therein.
In the case of floorings and ceilings, I arrange between the girders, the distance
apart of which in this case may be much greater, ceiling joists which. I strengthen

page_text: by means of tassels or struts and bridge-pieces. The struts may be in a single
piece in which case the bridge pieces may be dispensed with. On the lower arms
of two consecutive joists I arrange a suspension bar which supports by means of a
suitable attaching device, the height of which may be adjusted at will, a lower bar
penetrating by each of its ends into two consecutive joint-covers on which the ends
of the two consecutive panels or tiles rest, the joint being completed as has been
hereinbefore mentioned by means of plaster or mortar giving the whole system an
absolute solidarity.
In another mode of forming floors and ceilings by means of my system of panels
I place between the girders at a distance apart equal to the length of my panels,
cross-pieces formed of two planks held together by means of upright pieces of wood
fitted between the wings of the girders. Between these two planks forming a cross
piece the tassels are placed which serve to support suspension bolts, the height of
which is also adjustable, and on the lower end of which bars are carried which
enter by each of their ends into recesses in the panels supporting each two joint-
covers which serve to sustain the ordinary panels of my system, the fastening
together of the joint-covers and of the panels being made as herein before specifie
by running mortar into the interior of the recesses of each of these parts. The
joists are fixed in the ordinary manner directly on the cross pieces.
In a simplified system of ceilings, the panels are directly connected with the joists
of the floor. For this purpose, they are arranged on these joists and fixed by means of
nails or bolts which serve to hold a system of small plates which may be turned at
will and placed consequently parallel to the direction of the recesses. The putting
up and taking down are therefore as may be seen very simple. It suffices to turn
the small plates in order to place them either in a direction parallel with or
perpendicular to that of the recesses.
The method of suspension just described may be also employed for the protection
of the parts of a bridge against effects of the smoke or acid vapours arising from
passing locomotives.
THE
3. THE APPLICATION OF THE PANELS TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND
COVERING OF WALLS FOR THE FORMATION OF FIREPLACES, PASSAGES
FOR CONVEYING HEAT AND FOR COVERING METALLIC COLUMNS AND
THE LIKE.
If instead of suspending the "universal" panels such as have been hereinbefore
described, they be placed vertically, walls or partitions are obtained. By placing
two similar partitions at a certain distance apart, and by filling the interval
between them with concrete, a wall with two coverings the one interior and the
other exterior is produced. The two partitions are connected by iron hooks or
brace bolts connected either by means of the joint covers or engaging directly on
the panels.
In the application of my panels to the construction of a house with a frame work
of wood, the internal wall is of plaster squares, or of planks covered with plaster,
and the external wall is made of ceramic panels formed in the manner herein before
described. The space existing between the two walls (partitions) may remain
empty or be filled with concrete or other suitable insulating substance.
"
As to the weight of the building it is entirely supported by posts or columns
suitably arranged. In the angles of the building, aud in those of the doors and
windows, special pieces are connected with the panels by overlapping them. These
special corner pieces are preferably moulded upright like pipes. Above the
windows a moulded piece which forms a coping may be arranged in the same
manner.
Different modes of attaching or connecting the panels with one another, or with
the internal partition or wall may be employed. For instance this connection may
be effected by means of tie bolts fixed directly in the panels themselves, in the

page_text: t
recesses which are formed at the points of junction which are made in the ordinary
manner as hereinbefore described.
Where the interior wall is of planks the tie bolts are attached to this wall by
means of nails or screws.
The connection may also be made by connecting the joint-covers by means of tie
bars to the internal wall. Another mode of construction of these walls, consists in
making use of simple Tirons which are arranged vertically and on the wings of
which the panels are arranged, the T irons being interconnected by means of a
simple chain.
A mode of decoration which may be easily adapted with this kind of construction
consists in forming, during the moulding parallel to the direction in which the
moulding takes place, grooves imitating the joints in bricks, whilst other transverse
grooves formed with a tool by hand imitate the transverse joints..
In the application of my system of panels to the formation of pipes or passages
for conveying smoke or gas, the angles are formed by means of corner pieces
similar to those previously described and into which the panels fit, the latter being
attached to the corner pieces by means of a chain made of wire, or a bar of iron.
The same method of construction may be adopted for forming the coverings of
posts or pillars of iron or masonry.
Dated this 26th day of April 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved System of Light and Economical Building
Construction.
I, HENRI STURM, of 16, Rue Drouot, Paris, in the Republic of France, Inventor,
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 :-
My invention has for its object an improved system of light and economical
building construction obtained by the combination of ceramic parts or pieces, and
particularly by the combination with an arrangement of joint-covers, of bollow
or solid panels or tiles made of ceramic or earthenware or any other substance
capable of being moulded, which panels I call the "Universal" tiles, by reason of
the multiplicity and variety of the purposes to which they may be applied, these
panels being capable in fact of serving either for the covering of buildings and
walls, for the making of ceilings, rubble partitions, walls, or facings for walls, air
passages or smoke flues, for the covering of columns or beams of wood or iron, or
for the covering and protecting of parts of a bridge from being effected by the
more or less sulphurous smoke from locomotives.
1. As a COVERING FOR BUILDINGS AND WALLS.
Hitherto the mechanical or other tiles employed have only allowed roofs to be
formed which were only slightly or not at all water-tight because of the infiltration
of water and of fine snow in particular which always takes place at the joints
whatever may be the number or the arrangement of such tiles. The reason of
this is that in practice it is impossible to obtain products fired or baked' exactly
straight or with thoroughly level surfaces, and consequently the overlapping parts
and the joints are only joined very imperfectly.
Now my system of panels allows this drawback to be remedied by forming a
•

page_text: tile, the joints of which are ensured by means of lime, mortar, plaster or cement,.
placed in special grooves arranged for this purpose at each end of the tile.
In order to ensure the durability of the mortar, to impart a more decorative
appearance, and that the roof shall not be slippery for the feet of the tiler, this
tile is provided with projecting ridges in the direction of the slope, and I arrange
between the tiles in the direction of the rafters joint-covers shaped in the form of
a hook at their extremities so as to provide also at this point a suitable place for
holding the mortar in order that the joint may be really efficacious.
The fundamental principles of my improved system of roofing which I form in
this way consist therefore :
1stly. In the special arrangement of tight joint formed between the tiles, and
filled with lime, plaster, cement or mortar made with these materials, or any other
unalterable mastic yielding a perfect tightness of joint.
2ndly. In the special arrangement of all the ridges and hollows, which only exist.
in the direction of the moulding of the products in order to obtain a simple and
economic manufacture.
3rdly. In the use of special joint-covers for concealing or protecting the mortar,
the simple form and regular profile of said joint-covers allowing of their being
produced completely finished by moulding machines.
The principal economy in the system as a whole consists therefore in the
complete suppression of any hand work in addition to that required for the
mechanical manufacture, as the bevelled and hooked sections are easily obtained
by suitable moulds arranged on the cutting-out table of the moulding machine ;.
this dispensing with hand labour is further increased by it being unnecessary to
have any plastering or ceiling under the tiles, such being rendered unnecessary by
the tightness of this system of roof and the regularity of its under surface.
In order to allow of the invention being better understood I will now refer to.
the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on the line A B of Figures 2 and 3.
of a roof arranged in the manner hereinbefore described.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;
Figure 3 a transverse section of the same on the line E F of Figure 2;
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are modifications of the same system of roofing.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 are transverse sectional views showing the ends of roofs
arranged on this system.
In designing the ordinary wood or iron rafters A of a roof, I separate them
one from another to a suitable extent such however that the panels B can without.
danger rest with their two ends on two consecutive rafters. I give to these.
panels B a section 1 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) which may be straight or bevelled,.
preferably the latter, in order to facilitate the joint, and each panel overlaps the
panel which immediately precedes it by means of a flange or lip 2 resting on a
projection 3 formed on the preceding panel. These panels are hollowed as has.
been done for a long time, and as the hollo vs as well as the lips or flanges are all
in the same direction, they are very easily made in a moulding machine. A
recess or groove 4 made on each edge of each panel enables an absolutely tight.
joint to be made by means of mortar at the moment of placing the tiles in
position.
The longitudinal flanges of the different panels are connected one with another,
also by means of a mortar joint on which I place a joint-cover 5 which is pressed
down into the mortar in order to attach it solidly to the whole roof. These
joint-covers may have various forms.
For instance, in the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rafters A may be.
formed by means of simple T-irons on the wings of which the panels B rest; the
joint-covers are arranged in such a way as to entirely cover these iron rafters.
Or, as in Figure 4, the panels may not bear directly on the rafter, but instead.
the joint-cover may rest on the rafter and the panels then fit into this joint-cover.
These joint-covers may either be straight, in which case the longitudinal flanges

page_text: machine for forming the ends or bULES OF TO018, these this being conne
.ordinary tiles by means of joint-covers suited to their shape.
These tiles 6 and their joint-covers 7 may serve to form ridge pieces and in the
case of a broken roof they may take the place of the seam of lead generally
employed in this class of roofs.
Speaking generally my system of tiles may have single or double recesses
(see Figures 1, 3 and 10) so as to more completely avoid loss of heat, in this case.
a ceiling may be obtained immediately below the roof by making the rafter rest
on the intermediate partition. The openings left open for inserting the panels are
then stopped by means of squares 8 which are cut out with bevelled edges in order
to rest on the lower partition as shown in Figure 1.
2ND. FLOORS AND CEILINGS.
Figures 11 to 17 show the application of my system of panels to the construc-
tion of floors and ceilings. For this object I make use of a special ceiling joist
combined with a cross piece placed between the joists of iron or wood serving to
support the floor, and on this cross-piece I hook the supports of the joint-covers
which in their turn serve to support the ends of the panels. This mode of con-
struction enables the lath and plaster covering as well as the rough plastering and
the like, which is usually necessary, and all the inconveniences which result
therefrom principally from a hygienic point of view, to be dispensed with entirely.
My system of construction enables the space existing between the flooring and
the ceiling to be left entirely free, the result of which is the formation of a
bed of air which is the best insulator which can be employed, and which may be
also advantageously utilised either for ventilating the rooms or for heating them
by means of a current of warm air which is passed therein.
Figure 11 is a view in transverse section perpendicular to the joists, of my new
system of construction of floors and ceilings.
In Figure 12 the left hand part represents a longitudinal section parallel to the
joists on the line A B of Figure 11.
The right hand part of the same figure represents a similar section on the
line CD of this same Figure 11.
In the case of floorings and ceilings, as shown in these 2 figures, I arrange
between the girders 15, the distance apart of which in this case may be much
greater, ceiling joists 16 which I strengthen by means of tassels or struts 17 and
bridge-pieces 18. The struts 17 may be in a single piece in which case the
bridge pieces may be dispensed with. On the lower arms of two consecutive
joists arrange a suspension bar G which supports by means of a suitable
attaching device, the height of which may be adjusted at will, a lower bar G
penetrating by each of its ends into two consecutive joint-covers e on which the
ends of the two consecutive panels or tiles 19, 20 rest, the joint being completed
as has been hereinbefore mentioned by means of plaster or mortar giving the whole
system an absolute solidarity.
Figure 13 is a transverse section in a plane perpendicular to the joists:
Figure 14 longitudinal sections on the lines E F and G H of Figure 13:
Figure 15 a plan view from beneath; and
Figure 16 a sectional plan view on the line J K of Figure 14, of another mode
of forming floors and ceilings by means of my system of paneis.
In this case I place between the girders 15 at a distance apart equal to the length
of my panels, cross-pieces 21 formed of two planks held together by means of
upright pieces of wood 22 fitted between the wings of the girders. Between these
two planks forming a cross piece, the tassels 23 are placed, which serve to support
suspension bolts 24, the height of which is also adjustable, and on the lower end

page_text: of which bars 25, are carried, which enter by each of their ends to recesses
the panels 26 supporting each two joint-covers 27 which serve to sustain the
ordinary panels 28 of my system, the fastening together of the joint-covers 27
and of the panels 26 and 28 being made as hereinbefore specified by running mortar
into the interior of the recesses of each of these parts. The joists are fixed in the
ordinary manner directly on the cross pieces.
Figure 17 shows a simplified system of ceilings, in which the panels 28 are
directly connected with the joists S of the floor. For this purpose, they are
arranged on these joists and fixed by means of nails or bolt X which serve to
hold a system of small plates Y which may be turned at will and placed con-
sequently parallel to the direction of the recesses. The putting up and taking
down are therefore as may be seen very simple. It is sufficient to turn the small
plates Y in order to place them in a direction either parallel with.or perpendicular
to that of the recesses:
The method of suspension just described may be also employed for the protection
of the parts of a bridge against effects of the smoke or acid vapours arising from
passing locomotives.
3. THE APPLICATION OF THE PANELS TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE
COVERING OF WALLS FOR THE FORMATION OF FIREPLACES, PASSAGES
FOR CONVEYING HEAT AND FOR COVERING METALLIC COLUMNS AND
THE LIKE.
If instead of suspending the "universal" panels such as have been herein before
described, they be placed vertically, walls or partitions are obtained as may be
seen in elevation, sections and sectional plan views in the accompanying drawings
in Figures 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. By placing two similar partitions at a certain
distance apart, and by filling the interval between them with concrete, a wall
with two coverings, the one interior and the other exterior is produced. The two
partitions are connected by iron hooks or brace bolts connected either by means of
the joint covers or engaging directly on the panels.
Figures 18 and 22 show respectively in elevation and sectional plan view the.
application of my panels to the construction of a house with a frame work of wood.
The internal wall C is of plaster squares, or of planks covered with plaster, and
the external wall C¹ is made of ceramic panels formed in the manner herein-
before described. The space existing between the two walls (partitions) may remain
empty or be filled with concrete or other suitable insulating substance.
As to the weight of the building it is entirely supported by posts or columns P P₁
suitably arranged. In the angles of the building, and in those of the doors and
windows, special pieces B' are connected with the panels by overlapping them.
These special corner pieces are preferably moulded upright like pipes. Above the
windows a moulded piece M (Fig. 18) which forms a coping may be arranged in
the same manner.
Figures 19, 20, and 22 show different modes of attaching or connecting the
panels with one another, or with the internal partition or wall. In the case of
Figure 19 for instance this connection may be effected by means of tie bolts 30
fixed directly in the panels themselves, in the recesses which are formed at the
as hereinbefore
points of junction which are made in the ordinary manner
described.
Where the interior wall is of planks as shown in Figure 20, the tie bolts 30 are
attached to this wall by means of nails or screws.
As shown in Figure 22 the connection may also be made by connecting the
joint-covers 29 by means of tie-bars 30 to the internal wall, as in the case of
Figure 20.
Figures 21 and 23 show in sectional elevation and plan view respectively another
mode of construction of these walls, which consists in making use of simple
:
:

page_text: Tirons 31, which are arranged vertically, and on the wings of which the panels
as shown in Figure 1 are arranged, the Tirons being interconnected as shown by
means of a simple chain 32.
Figure 18 shows a mode of decoration which may be easily adapted with this
kind of construction. It consists in forming during the moulding parallel to the
direction in which the moulding takes place, grooves imitating the joints.in bricks,
whilst other transverse grooves formed with a tool by hand imitate the transverse
joints.
•
Figure 24 shows the application of my system of panels to the formation of
pipes or passages for conveying smoke or gas. The angles are formed by means of
corner pieces B¹ similar to those previously described in Figures 18 and 22 and into
which the panels fit, the latter being attached to the corner pieces by means of a
chain made of wire, or a bar of iron. The same method of construction may be
adopted for forming the coverings of posts or pillars of iron or masonry.
The right is reserved of varying the forms, dimensions, proportions or accessory
parts of the various constructive parts of my improved system of construction and
of employing such materials for their formation as I may deem suitable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
An improved system of light and economical building construction consisting in
the combination of ceramic parts or pieces and particularly in the combination with
an arrangement of cover-joints, of hollow or solid panels or tiles made of ceramic
or earthenware or any other substance capable of being moulded, said panels being
adapted either for the covering of buildings and walls, for the making of ceilings,
rubble partitions, walls or facings for walls, air passages or smoke flues, for the
covering of columns or beams of wood or iron, or as protective coverings for parts
of bridges against the more or less corrosive smoke of locomotives, and the con-
nection of these panels and their cover joints being effected by means of mortar.or
other suitable agglomerating substance allowing absolutely tight joints to be
obtained the whole substantially as herein before described and shown as an
example on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.