AN IMPROVED METHOD OF ROOFING OR COVERING BUILDINGS, RESERVOIRS, AND OTHER SPACES REQUIRING ROOFS OR COVERINGS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Braithwaite, of Gower Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF ROOFING OR COVERING BUILDINGS, RESERVOIRS, AND OTHER SPACES REQUIRING
ROOFS OR COVERINGS."
Sealed the 5th December 1854, and dated the 10th June 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Braithwaite at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
June 1854.
I, JOHN BRAITHWAITE, of Gower Street, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF ROOFING OR COVERING BUILDINGS, RESERVOIRS, AND OTHER SPACES
BEQUIRING ROOFS OR COVERINGS," to be as follows:-
My improved method consists in constructing suspension roofs and coverings,
whereby I am enabled to dispense with all central or internal shafts and
supports, the end pieces or abutments being constructed of such strength as
to support the weight of the suspended roof or covering.
In the annexed Drawings I have shewn, by way of exemplification, how my
roofs may be adapted to the covering of reservoirs; Figure 1 shewing the
manner in which I construct my roofs of wood framing, and Figure 2, of sheet
or corrugated iron. A, A, in each Figure being the piers or supports; B, the
chains, which are carried over saddles on the top of the piers; C, the roof,
suspended and supported from the chains by the rods D, D; E is the
reservoir.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Braithwaite in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th December 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BRAITHWAITE, of Gower Street, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Braithwaite, Her special licence that I, the said John Braithwaite,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Braithwaite, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN. IMPROVED METHOD.
OP ROOFING OR COVERING BUILDINGS, RESERVOIRS, AND OTHER SPACES REQUIRING
ROOPS OR COVERINGS," upon the condition (aniongst others) that I, the said
John Braithwaite, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Braithwaite do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
My improved method of roofing or covering buildings, reservoirs, and other
spaces requiring roofs or coverings, consists in constructing suspension roofs
and coverings, whereby I am enabled to dispense with all central or internal
shafts and supports, the end piers or abutments being constructed of such
strength as to support the weight of the suspended roof or covering.
In the annexed Drawing I have shewn, by way of exemplification, how my
method of roofing may be adapted to the covering of reservoirs, and I consider
that this example will be sufficient to enable the same to be applied to buildings
and other spaces requiring roofs or coverings. I would observe, however, that

page_text: I do not confine myself to the arrangements of suspended roofs, shewn in the
Drawing, as any known or approved modes of suspending and covering them
in may be adopted.
Figure 1 shews the suspended roof or covering as constructed of wood; and
Figure 2, as constructed of sheet or corrugated iron. A, A, in both Figures
are the piers or abutments; and B, the chains, which are carried over saddles
on the top of the piers, and the ends of which are built into masonry or other-
wise secured at B', so as to prevent any lateral strain on the piers. C is the
roof or covering, suspended and supported from the chains B by rods or links
D, D. E is the reservoir. If thought necessary or desirable, mooring chains,
made fast at various parts to the interior of the roof, and at the other end to
blocks of stone bedded in the floor of the reservoir, or to other moorings, may
be introduced, to prevent the action of the wind from lifting the roof.
Suspended roofs of the description herein-before mentioned will be found
very suitable for covering in buildings, railway stations, large reservoirs, and
other spaces where an uninterrupted area is required, free from pillars, shafts,
and other internal supports, which always require expensive foundations.
These are by my method entirely dispensed with, thus saving what always con-
stitutes a heavy item in the cost of construction.
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 my
Invention is, the construction of suspension roofs and coverings for buildings,
reservoirs, and other spaces requiring to be roofed or covered.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Braithwaite, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN BRAITHWAITE. (L.B.)