IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON BUILDINGS OR GLAZED STRUCTURES FOR HORTI- CULTURAL OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hungate Preston Dennis, of Chelmsford,
in the County of Essex, Ironmonger, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON BUILDINGS OR GLAZED STRUCTURES FOR HORTI-
CULTURAL OR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 4th October 1860, and dated the 11th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hungate Preston
Dennis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition;
on the 11th April 1860.
I, THOMAS HUNGATE PRESTON DENNIS, of Chelmsford, in the County of
Essex, Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON BUILDINGS OR GLAZED STRUCTURES
FOR HORTICULTURAL OR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the arrangement of iron (as material), so that it
may be erected or removed with great facility, provision being made for adding
thereto without altering any part of the existing structure. To accomplish
this I use tubular wrought or cast iron pillars for the main supports, attached
to which are dovetail joints capable of taking horizontal plates, the dovetail to
fit said joints is formed from the solid wrought or cast iron plates; the end
rafters are attached to the ridge by a sliding bolt; the sash bar or inter-
mediate rafters are likewise fixed to the ridge and front plate, the top and
bottom of each bar in contrary directions, so that they cannot wring or twist.

page_text: The dovetail joints and fastenings by which the bars or rafters are held in
place, are applicable to any shaped building. The dovetail joint, as before
described, is applicable to framing for iron bedsteads and other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Hungate Preston Dennis in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HUNGATE PRESTON DENNIS, of Chelmsford, in the County of Essex, Ironmonger,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Hungate Preston Dennis, Her special licence that I, the said
Thomas Hungate Preston Dennis, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Thomas Hungate Preston Dennis, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON BUILD-
INGS OR GLAZED STRUCTURES FOR HORTICULTURAL OR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Hungate Preston Dennis,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Thomas Hungate Preston Dennis, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is
to say) :-
My Invention consists in the arrangement of iron (as material), so that it
may be erected or removed with great facility, provision being made for adding

page_text: thereto without altering any part of the existing structure. To accomplish
this, I use wrought or cast iron pillars, for the main supports, attached to
which are bosses having dovetail mortises or joints arranged to receive
horizontal plates; the dovetails to fit these mortises are formed from the solid
wrought or cast iron plates, either on one or both sides, the end rafters are.
attached to the ridge by a sliding bolt; the sash bar or intermediate rafters
are likewise fixed to the ridge and front plate, either by forming a hook from
the end of the sash bar or rafter, or by affixing iron clips thereto, in the latter
arrangement, distance pieces are necessary.
The end bars or "lights" of a house are fixed either with iron clips having
a mortise on the upper side to receive the bars, or by cutting mortises from
the bars to fit up to and clip the plates.
The iron clips are made suitable for wooden structures where iron sash bars.
are required. The pivots upon which the front sashes hang are formed from
their own frames and swing upon the iron mullion of the house, the sashes can
be drawn entirely out. The dovetail joints and fastenings by which the sash
bars or rafters are held in place are applicable to any shaped building. The
dovetail joint is applicable to framing for iron bedsteads and other purposes.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto annexed,.
the same letters refer to similar parts in all the Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the iron pillar or main support of building.
A, A, are the bosses (having dovetail mortises) attached thereto. Figures 2
and 3 are sections of the same. A is the boss; B, the pillars (which in
this case are hollow); C are the plates of building having dovetail ends; D
are wedges of lead or other soft material, which drive in tight and keep the
plates C in their places; F are dovetail mortises, which can be made use
of for extending the building, or filled with soft material if not wanted. In
Figure 3 the boss (having dovetail mortises) is fixed to the pillar by screws
passing through it; in Figure 2 it is dropped into slots cut through the pillar
deep enough to bring the top of it flush with the boss; the cross pieces tie it
together and keep it in position.
Figures 4 and 5 show the ridge, with end rafter attached by the sliding bolt.
F is the ridge; G, the rafter; H, the sliding bolt; I, eyes or staples fixed to
the rafter and ridge through which the bolt slides; J is a key which passes
through the bolt and keeps it in place. Figure 4 represents the terminal end
of a ridge mitered to receive another building; Figure 5 shows the mode of

page_text: extending the ridge, and from which it will be seen that the bolt H is driven
forward, and connects the ridge F, F, the key J keeping all tight; Figure 6
is an end view of ridge and bolts.
Figures 7 and 8 show the way by which the intermediate sash bars or rafters
are attached to the ridge and front plate; K is the sash bar or rafter; L, L,
are the hooks formed out of the rafter, and which slip contrary ways top and
bottom through mortises cut in the plates M, as seen by the end views 9 and 10.
Figure 11 is another method by which the intermediate sash bars or rafters
are attached to the ridge and front plate; C is the front plate; K, the sash
bar or rafter; N an iron clip rivetted to the sash bar or rafter K; i, i, are
V-shaped slots on either side of the iron clip to admit a distance piece, which
is put in after the clips are placed upon the plates C. Figure 12 represents.
front view of the same. C is the front plate; K, the sash bar or rafter; N, the
iron clip; O, the distance piece; P is a tee-shaped mullion, which supports
the front plate and forms a rabbit for a casement when needed; it is upon the
back of this mullion the casements are made to swing (see Figures 13 and 14).
Figure 13 is another form of the iron clip N, showing side of a mullion and
part of casement when closed; P is the mullion; Q, the casement.
Figure 14 represents a mullion and part of casement when open, P is the
mullion, the casement.
Figure 15 shows an end or fixed sash bar, from which pieces are cut the
exact thickness of the plate to which it is fixed; G is an end rafter; C, C, the
end plates; K, the sash bar.
Figures 16 and 17 show another method of fixing the end or upright sash
bars; R is an iron clip, having a mortise on its face corresponding with the
shape of the sash bar K. which fits into it; on the under side of the iron clip is
a slot which fits on to the plate C; by inverting the iron clip it will be seen
that it is applicable for the top or bottom of each sash bar.
Figures 18 and 20 show the form of iron clip applicable for wooden
structures with iron roofs, or for upright sash bars of the same material. Nis
an iron clip made any suitable form to screw to the wall or eaves plate of a
building; K is the sash bar or rafter attached to it by a small pin or screw;
i is a V-shaped slot on either side of the iron clip to admit a distance piece,
which is put in after the clips are placed upon the plates. Figure 19 is a plan
of same.
Figure 20 is another form of iron clip for wooden structures, and can be
applied to "lights," doors, and sashes; N is the clip having a mortise through
it, corresponding in shape with the sash bar or rafter K, which fits into it.
Figure 21 is a plan of same.

page_text: The iron clips N in Figures 11 and 13 are available for the eaves or back
wall plates of a lean-to house, but for a span roof they must be made double
for the ridge.
Having now described the best method with which I am acquainted of
carrying my Invention into effect, I wish it to be understood that the same
may be varied without departing from my Invention, and what I chiefly claim
is the arrangement of the parts of the building as described and illustrated by
Figures 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, and 13.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hungate Preston Dennis, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
T. H. P. DENNIS. (L.8.)