CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDGES, ROOPING, AND FLOORING
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
BOYSE OSBORNE, of Limerick, in the County of Limerick, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-first
day of December, in the tenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs
and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard Boyse Osborne, my
exors, admors, and and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said Richard Boyse Osborne, my exors, adiñors,
and assigns, or such others as I, the .said Richard Boyse Osborne, my exors,
adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN BRIDGES, ROOPING, AND FLOORING" (partly communicated to me by a
certain Foreigner residing abroad); in which said Letters Patent is contained
a proviso that I, the said Eichard Boyse Osborne, should cause a particular
description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within

page_text: six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had,
will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Boyse Osborne, hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention,
and in what the manner the same is to be performed,, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention consists,―
Firstly, in substituting for the solid beams ordinarily used in the construc-
tion of iron bridges and other iron structures which are of large span between
their piers or other points of support, frame beams of numerous pieces combined
or trussed together in such a manner that the direct transverse strain to which
solid beams are subjected is resolved into a series of tensile and compressing
or acting and counteracting forces, and such frame beams may be made of
greater length and strength than solid beams, and raised into their places
with more facility, and whereby also a large saving of material and labor will
be effected. Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings represents a side elevation
of a frame beam of this improved description, ninety-five feet long. Figure 2
and 2ª are cross sections of the top and bottom chords of the beam on the
lines Y, Y, and Figures 3 and 3 cross sections of the same on the line Z, Z.
Figure 4 is a view in isometrical projection of the two central panels or divi-
sions of the beam. In the section of the top chord, Figure 2, a, a, a, a, a, a,
are plates of wrought iron laid longitudinally on their edges; C, a cast-iron
cap piece, which covers the plates a, a; E, a clamp of wrought iron, which
supports the plates from beneath; and D, D, bolts (with nuts and washers)
by which the cap piece C and under clamp H are bound together (with the
plates a, a, between them, and which bolts serve at the same time to separate
these plates into pairs, and to keep them at equal distances apart. In the
section of the bottom chord Figure 2ª, B, B, B, B, B, B, are plates of wrought
iron similar to a, a, a, a, and laid also on their edges, which are secured in
their places by wrought-iron clamps E, F, at top and bottom (there being in
this case no cap piece), and bolts G, G, (with nuts and washers) passed
through both clamps, which bolts serve also, as in the preceding case, to
separate the plates B, B, into pairs, and to keep them at equal distances apart.
K, K, Figure 3 and 3*, are triangular iron blocks inserted into recesses cut
out crosswise in the plates a, a, and B, of the top and bottom chords. L, L,
are vertical tie rods, which being passed intermediately through orifices in the
blocks K, K, serve also to make these blocks fast. M, M, M, M, Figure 4,

page_text: are diagonal braces of cast iron, which abut at top and bottom against the
blocks K, K, and are started in pairs from each end, one half of them inclining
inwards in one direction, and the other half inclining inwards in the opposite
direction, and both meeting in the centre, as shewn in Figure 4. N, N, are
single diagonal braces of cast iron, which abut at top and bottom against
the blocks K, K, and pass between the double braces M, M, and are started
in two series (not from the ends), but from the centre of the beam, the bars
of each series being inclined in a direction contrary to that of the double
braces, between which they pass. Alongside of each of the two last pairs of
the rods L, L, there are inserted for the sake of greater security two vertical
posts P, P, (one of each pair only being seen in Figure 1,) which are passed
through the top and bottom chords, and secured by nuts and washers. P, P,
Figure 1, are end posts, and O, O, flat bearing plates, laid beneath the two
ends of the bottom chord, and secured by passing through them such of the
bolts D and G and the rods L as come within the range of the plates R, R,
(Figure 1,) are two plain rollers on which the frame beam rests freely at each
end, so as to allow of its contracting and expanding according to variations of
temperature. The axes of these rollers revolve on the sides of cast-iron boxes,
which are so arranged on the inside as to afford a bearing to the rollers
between the axes, the boxes being imbedded in cement, and laid on a cut-stone
bed. An end view of one of these rollers and its box is given separately on
an enlarged scale in Figure 5. These beams may be made as shewn in
Figure 1, that is to say, with the top and bottom chords a, a, and B, B,
parallel, or they may, in the case of very long spans, be constructed with the
top chord horizontal and the bottom chord forming an arc of a circle.
Secondly, my Invention consists in constructing iron and wooden frame
beams or rafters, for roofing on the same principle as the beams for bridges
before described, and in a similar manner. Such frame beams or rafters may
be made either curved or straight, and either wholly of wood or iron, or of a
combination of wood and iron. Figure 6 is a side elevation of a frame rafter
of the form of a segment of a circle, which may be made entirely of plank,
with the exception of the wall bearers F, F. The upper and lower segments
or chords A and B are each formed by spiking together three or more thick-
nesses of plank laid longitudinally and in such relative positions that they
shall everywhere break joint. C, C, are abutting blocks, which are let into
recesses cut for them in the chords A and B. D, D, are double diagonal
braces, all inclined at each side towards the crown or centre of the beam, and
E, E, single, diagonal, or centre braces, which pass between and are inclined
in directions contrary to the double braces, both sets of braces abutting at top

page_text: and bottom against the blocks C. C. G, G, are two centre posts (one only
seen in the Drawing). H, H, are vertical tie bolts, which are passed through
the top and bottom chords, and also through the abutting blocks C, C, and
are mitted on washers of cast iron. I is a long rod, which is passed down
between the two centre posts G, G, and through both chords, and enters into
an eye in the horizontal tie rod K. L is a screw nut, by which the rod I is
adjusted to any degree of tension required.
Thirdly, my Invention consists in certain modes of curving or cambering
frame beams constructed as aforesaid, and 'keeping them after erection of
any given curve or camber, or preventing them when made straight from
swagging.
One mode of producing any required degree of camber, while in the
course of construction, represented in Figures 71, 7%, and 73-After the planks
or plates of each segment or chord have been spiked or bolted together,
I mark out thereon the points (say a, a, a,) at which the different tic
bolts H, H, ought to be introduced in order to suit the radii of the required
curve. The triangular abutting blocks C, C, are then set in their places, the
segments or chords remaining the while perfectly straight as at first framed
(see Figure 7). The centre posts O, O, are then inserted (see Figure 7),
and next a few sets of the braces on both sides of the centre. The tie bolt II
for each set so inserted is then put in and partially screwed up to such a
degree of tightness as may suffice to keep the first set of braces in their places,
and yet leave room enough for introducing with ease the remaining sets.
When a number of sets or pannels have been thus adjusted, the two or three
nearest the centre on each side are further tightened up by the tie bolts H, H,
until the main and counter braces abut closely on their respective blocks,
which brings them to the exact curve or camber required, and causes the
beam to assume the appearance represented in Figure 72. The same course
is pursued till the whole of the braces are inserted and the rods are screwed
up, when the beam exhibits the perfect form represented in Figure 7. In
forming centering for stone bridges over deep and rapid waters this will be
found a very simple, efficient, and economical mode of construction.
Another mode of cambering consists in making all the divisional spaces
alike while putting the framing together, and then lengthening the centre or
single diagonal braces (E, E,) on each side of the centre in a ratio corre-
sponding to the degree of the curve, the mode which I adopt to cause the
frames after construction to retain the forms given to them, as aforesaid, in
Figure 7; but it may be proper to observe that this is a mode chiefly
adapted to straight or slightly cambered beams. The foot of each counter or

page_text: single diagonal brace is furnished with a female screw D, and male screw B,
as shewn, and the male screw is inverted so as to allow the head of it to rest
in a recess or socket made for it in the abutting block C, with which it
forms a joint resembling the ordinary ball and socket joint. The brace can
then be tightened at any time by applying a common wrench to the
nut B. And,
Fourthly, my Invention consists in constructing, on the suspension principle,
rigid frame beams for bridges, floors, and other like structures.
Figure 8 represents a side elevation of a frame beam on this plan; and
Figure 8, an isometrical projection of a portion of the same. A and B are
top and bottom chords, each formed of iron plates, or of wood of proper
scantling, bolted and clamped together at intervals, as shewn. C, C³, are
flat rectangular blocks let into recesses cut for them in the chords A and B.
D, D, are vertical posts which rest at bottom on the blocks Cb, and support at
top the blocks C. E, E, are triangular blocks fitted into seats cut out for
them on the upper side of the chord A, and under side of the chord B.
F, F, are diagonal suspension rods, which are passed from the top through
the blocks C and Eb, and are started in pairs from the heads of the
posts R, R, at each end of the beam, and all inclined inwards towards the
centre of the beam, so that one half of them are necessarily inclined in a
direction opposite to the other half, till they meet in the centre at O, O.
G, G, are single diagonal suspension rods, which are started from each side
of the head of the centre post P, in directions opposite to the double sus-
pension rods F, F, (passing through between them,) and are passed in like
manner through the blocks E and C, C and Eb. Both sets of suspension
rods (F and G) are fitted at top and bottom with heads, nuts, and washers, so
that they may screwed up till any degree of rigidity is obtained, and the whole
of the parts of the structure be then firmly bound together.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the
improvements constituting my said Invention are as follows:-
First, the constructing of iron beams for bridges and other like structures
of a number of pieces trussed or bound together, and resting at their extremities
on roller bearings, as before described.
Second, the employment of rollers as bearings for the beams of frame bridges
and other like structures, whether constructed as before described, or on any
other plan.
Third, the constructing of beams or rafters for roofing of a number of pieces
of iron or wood together, as before described.

page_text: Fourth, the modes of curving or cambering frame beams constructed as
aforesaid and of preventing them from swagging, severally herein-before
described and as described. And,
Fifth, the construction on the suspension principle of rigid frame beams for
bridges, floors, and other like structures, as before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Boyse Osborne, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.