Improvements in Fire-proof Floors and Ceilings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-proof Floors and Ceilings.
I, GUSTAV LIEBAU, of Maurer, Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the United
States of America, Engineer, 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 certain new and useful improvements in fire-proof
floors and ceilings, and has for its object the production of such a floor or ceiling
in which the use of the usual I-beams may be dispensed with; which may be
constructed with a greater width of span than heretofore considered safe or
practicable, and which will be light, strong, thoroughly fireproof and economical.
To these ends, therefore, my said invention consists in the novel features and
in the arrangement and combination of the constituent parts, all as hereinafter
more fully described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like parts are
similarly designated.
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a floor and ceiling between two
supporting or end walls, showing the tiles of the floor or ceiling at one side
extending through or across the supporting or end wall, and at the other side
embedded therein; and
Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are end views of two courses of the floor or ceiling tiles,
showing my invention, and illustrating respectively different forms of such tiles.
a, represents fire-proof bricks or tiles of any desired pattern having formed on
their opposite sides parallel grooves or channels, b. When the tiles are laid, the
channels or grooves therein on adjacent courses coincide to form continuous
transverse channels, wholly between the top and bottom faces of such tiles, as
clearly shown in the drawings. Each tile, therefore, on each side has grooves or
channels, one half the size and shape of the channels extending through the
floor or ceiling when the same is laid, and within these channels are embedded
metallic strengthening rods or strips, c; the channels in the tiles being, of course,
in each case appropriately shaped to receive the same.
The metal rods or strips c may be of any desired conformation and as many
may be used for each two courses of tiles as may be deemed necessary, depending
upon the amount of strength required as well as upon the height of the tiles. I
have found in practice, however, that good results are obtained in the majority
of cases by using for each two courses, two T-iron rods or strips, the lower one
of which is inverted, as shown. The practical effect of this arrangement is the
embedding between adjacent courses of tiles of light I-beams with the central
part omitted; its place being taken by the solid walls of the tiles on adjacent
courses. I do not, however, desire to limit myself to this construction, as the
shape, the number and the arrangement of the metal strips c, may be varied at
will and still remain within the scope and purview of my invention.
In constructing a building embodying my invention the supporting or end
walls, d, are laid to the height of the first floor or ceiling; wooden centres
supported from below are then placed in position and on these centres the tiles a,
in which are embedded the strips c, are laid in mortar in the usual manner. The

page_text: tiles and metal strips may be carried across the top of the walls d, as shown at a,
Fig. 1, in which case the openings in the tiles may be filled with mortar or cement
to afford additional strength to bear the wall above, which may be laid upon such
tiles, or the tiles, with their inclosed strips c, may be embedded in the wall d,
as shown at y, Fig. 1. Again, when the latter construction is used, the walls a
may be laid up with the recesses or indentations y, at the floor lines, in which
the end tiles a, may be subsequently inserted.
It will be noticed that by my construction no I-beams are necessary; that the
usual tie bolts or rods are dispensed with; that the structure is light, cheap and
strong and may be made with a practically unlimited width of span.
It will also be obvious that the metal rods or strips c may be constructed to
serve as anchors, by forming the same with bolts on its ends adapted to extend
through the supporting or end walls d, and to receive outside such walls,
washers and nuts in the usual manner.
97
By my invention but one form of brick or tile' is necessarily used, thereby
rendering the construction more rapid, simple and economical than where
46 skew-
backs,' keys," "cotters," etc., are employed as is now frequently done in the
building of these flat-arches.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what J
claim is:
1. In a floor or ceiling, the combination with suitable end supports, of bricks
or tiles having side grooves coinciding with opposite grooves in the bricks or tiles
of the next course, and metallic rods or strips located wholly within the channels
thus formed, substantially as described.
2. In a floor or ceiling, the combination with suitable end supports, of bricks
or tiles having a plurality of side grooves coinciding with opposite grooves in the
bricks or tiles of the next course, and T-iron strips located within the channels
thus formed, substantially as described.
3. In a floor or ceiling, the combination with suitable end supports, of bricks
or tiles having a plurality of appropriately shaped side grooves, coinciding with
opposite grooves in the bricks or tiles of the next course, and T-iron strips, the
lower of which are inverted, located within the channels thus formed, substantially
as described.
4. The combination with supporting or end walls, of hollow bricks or tiles
forming a floor or ceiling and built into said walls; a plurality of side grooves
in said bricks or tiles coinciding with opposite grooves in the bricks or tiles
of the next course, and metal rods or strips located within the channels thus
formed, substantially as described.
5. The combination with supporting or end walls, of hollow bricks or tiles
composing a floor or ceiling and built into said walls; the hollows of the tiles
within the line of said walls being filled with cement and said bricks or tiles
having a plurality of grooves on each side adapted to coincide with opposite
grooves in the bricks or tiles of the next course; and metal rods or strips located
within the channels thus formed, substantially as described.
G. In a floor or ceiling, the combination with suitable end supports, of bricks
or tiles having on each side an appropriately shaped upper and a lower groove
adapted to coincide with opposite grooves in the bricks or tiles of the next course
and form T-shaped channels, the lower of which is inverted, and T-iron rods or
strips located within the channels thus formed, substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of ducent 1800