AN IMPROVED METHOD OF SLATING IRON ROOFs
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM MIDDLETON of (No) 308 Munton Road Now Kent Road S.E.
London Slater do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF SLATING IRON ROOFs to be as follows:-
"
Cutting out a piece (centrally) of the "head" or top part of each slate about
34 inches wide by 1 inch deep and so leave an awn on cach side of the slates,
to rest upon, and go over the iron battens, without interfereing with the lap, whilst
the holeing is still near the middle of the slates (lengthwise:) thus securing them
from sliding off the battens and also from being liable to be blown up, through
not resting the heads on the battens at all as by the old method.
I claim for this invention that it is simple, effectual for its purpose, and requisite ;
no improvement in the method of slating iron roofs having been made in the past
half century.
It will be next to impossible for the Workman to err in the putting of the
slates on, as the "slots" in the heads of them and the accurate Machine holcing
will make the right guage apparent to even an unskill'd person.
By it "Lead pegs," "Copper Wire," or "Copper clips" can be used as fasteners.
It will save the useing of wood battens as the slates will have as much rest on
the angle iron battens as they usually have on wood, the zinc nails that are mostly
used when wood battens are put on iron roofs alway fail to last as long as the
slates, and they necessitate the stripping off of the slates to re-nail them much
sooner than would otherwise be the case; this is especially so in Gas, or Chemical
works.
+
All the difference that my method requires is that the angle iron battens will
require to be put half an inch closer to each other i.e. ten inches apart instead of
ten and a half for "Duchess"" slates and eight inches instead of eight and a half
for "Countess'" slates and so on for any size slates used half an inch closer than
the usual guage.
Or tho slates will require to be one inch longer than the usual length if the iron
battens are put on at the ordinary guage.
The slates can be "slotted" and holed by hand or machine and the "awns" can.
be left round or square at top.

page_text: I WILLIAM MIDDLETON of 308 Munton Road New Kent Road S.E. London
(Slater) do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF SLATING IRON ROOFS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"
Cutting out a piece (centrally) of the "head" or top part of each slate about
3 inches wide by 1 inch deep, and so leave an "awn on each side of the
"head" of slates, to rest upon and go over the iron battens without interfereing
with the lap; the holeing being still near the middle of the slates (length wise).
Thus securing them from sliding off the battens at top, and also from being liable
to be blown or lifted up at bottom through not resting the "heads" on the battens
at all as by the old methods.
The iron battens on which the slates rest and to which they are secured, will
only require to be put an inch closer to each other viz. ten inches apart instead
of ten and a half inches for "Duchess" slates; and eight inches instead of eight
and a half inches for "Countess." slates; and so on for any sizes of slates used, half
an inch closer than the usual guages, according to the lap required.
Or the slates will require to he one inch longer than the usual lengths if the
iron battens are put on at the ordinary guages.
The slates can be "slotted" and holed by hand or by Machine and the "awns"
left round, square, or any other shape required.
It will be next to impossible for the Workman to err in the putting of the
slates on; the "slots" in the heads of them and accurate Machine or hand holeing
will make the right guage apparent to even an unskilled person.
Lead pegs, Copper wire, Copper clips or any other of the usual fasteners will
answer the purpose in this work as well as in the old style.
It will save the labour and expense of having wood battens as the slates will
have as much "rest" or bearing, on the angle iron battens as they usualy have on
wood battens.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st That it an effectual and simple improvement to prevent slatos sliding off
battens of Iron Roofs.
2nd That it is positively Fire-proof no wood being used.
3rd That it is stronger; the "slots" allowing the "pegs" or other fasteners to
rest against the flat side of the iron battens instead of against the sharp edges of
the under course of slates.