Improvements in Fire-proof Ceilings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
Improvements in Fire-proof Ceilings.
I, GUSTAV DE BRUYN, of 48, Hirschgraben, Hamburg, in the German Empire,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in fire-proof ceilings.
The fire-proof ceiling forming the subject of the present application is designed
as a substitute for reed, bamboo or lath and plaster ceilings hitherto employed and
differs from the latter in that it is stronger, can better withstand fire and is a worse
conductor of sound and heat.
According to my invention instead of employing reeds, bamboo or laths for
holding the plaster I employ iron bars or rods either flat, round or square, the said
bars or rods being secured to the joists or main beams in the manner hereinafter
described.
In carrying out my invention I secure to the underside of the joists or beams
iron bars or rods which bridge over the spaces between the adjacent joists or beams
and are arranged at right angles or diagonally to the same, the said iron bars or
rods being advantageously arranged at distances apart of about 6 to 10 inches.
The bars or rods are nailed or screwed to the undersides of the joists and are
preferably of such a length that they can be bent or bulged upwards between the
joists, but they can obviously be made straight if desired. When the bars or rods
have been secured in position a moulding table is temporarily secured under the
joists the said moulding table being kept at a certain distance from the joists by
means of distance pieces. The shape of the moulding table corresponds to the
desired shape of the ceiling, that is to say, it can be flat, arched or ribbed or of
other suitable form as desired.
The plaster or other material is now applied to the moulding table in such a
manner that the iron strips are covered by the saine. The upper surface of the
plaster may be formed either flat or curved. This material is composed principally
of plaster of Paris with ashes or cinders or sand or both ashes or cinders and sand
added to the same. Chippings of stone may be added if desired and instead of
plaster of Paris with the above named additional materials I may employ other
suitable materials such as for instance cement.
When the mass is sufficiently hardened the temporary moulding board is
removed.
In order to hold the material between the joists in position, that is to say, to
prevent it from falling when the iron strips are disturbed from any cause, such as
for instance by rusting, I secure fillets or strips to the inner sides of the joists
whereby the said mass is keyed and prevented from falling when moulded over
the same.
Dated the 2nd day of Ontoban 1805

page_text: improvements in Fire-proof Cellings.
I, GUSTAV DE BRUYN, of 48, Hirschgraben, Hamburg, in the German Empire,
Architect, 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 improvements in fire-proof ceilings.
The fire-proof ceiling forming the subject of the present application is designed
as a substitute for reed, bamboo or lath and plaster ceilings hitherto employed and
differs from the latter in that it is stronger, can better withstand fire and is a worse
conductor of sound and heat.
According to my invention instead of employing reeds, bamboo or laths for
holding the plaster I employ iron bars or rods either flat, round or square, the
said bars or rods being secured to the joists or main beams in the manner hereinafter
described.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe it by reference to
the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a ceiling constructed according to my
invention:
Figure 2 is an underside view of the same with the plaster removed.
In carrying out my invention I secure to the underside of the joists or beams a
iron bars or rods b which bridge over the spaces between the adjacent joists or
beams and are arranged at right angles or diagonally to the same, the said iron
bars or rods b being advantageously arranged at distances apart of about 6 to
10 inches.
The bars or rods bare nailed or screwed to the undersides of the joists a and are
preferably of such a length that they can be bent or bulged upwards between the
joists, but they can obviously be made straight if desired. When the bars or rods
bave been secured in position a moulding table c is temporarily secured under the
joists a, the said moulding table c being kept at a certain distance from the joists
by means of distance pieces d, d. The shape of the moulding table e corresponds
to the desired shape of the ceiling, that is to say, it can be flat, arched or ribbed or
of other suitable form as desired.
The plaster or other material e is now applied to the moulding table c in such a
manner that the iron strips bare covered by the same. The upper surface of the
plaster may be formed vither flat or curved as in Figure 1. This material e is
composed principally of plaster of Paris with ashes or cinders or sand or both
ashes or cinders and sand added to the same. Chippings of stone may be added if
desired and, instead of plaster of Paris with the above named additional materials,
I may employ other suitable materials such for instance as cement.
When the mass is sufficiently hardened the temporary moulding board c is
removed.
In order to hold the material between the joists in position, that is to say, to
prevent it from falling when the iron strips b are disturbed from any cause, such
as, for instance, by rusting, I secure fillets or strips f to the inner sides of the
joists a whereby the said mass is keyed and prevented from falling when moulded
over the same.
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
cluin is:
1. A fire-proof ceiling formed on wooden joists or beams such as a and having
iran strive or have such
50
hat suitable section secured beneath the said joists

page_text: either perpendicular or inclined to the same and so as to bridge over the spaces
between adjacent joists, the said strips or bars being arranged at a suitable distance
apart and being enclosed in the material forming the ceiling such, for instance, as
a mixture of gypsum or cement with ashes, sand or stone, which mass also covers
the underside of the joists and is prevented from falling by lateral strips such as
f
substantially as described.
2. The improved fire-proof ceiling hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated the 2nd day of July 1896.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.