Year: 1891

page_text: like.
We, EMIL WEHRLI, of Aarau, Switzerland, Architect, and EDUARD BALLY, of
Schoenenwerd, near Aarau, Switzerland, Manufacturer, 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 improvements in the construction of parquetry floors
and the like and is designed to increase the carrying capacity of the parquetry and
to render the same suitable for stair-steps, floors of railway carriages, flooring for
bridges, etc.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shews a piece of parquetry constructed according to this invention, the
inner or central blocks being omitted.
Fig. 2 shows separately a block with its framing.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of a block
joint.
.
Figs. 5 and 5 show other forms of joint hereinafter described.
Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations and
Fig. 8 is a plan shewing the method of attaching the parquetry to the foundation
of the flooring.
According to this invention the parquetry is constructed of small blocks in which
in place of the usual feather and groove connection, T-irons are employed to serve
as feathers or supports in such a manner that the parquetry floor, when laid, is held
in a framing or net work of supports, the feathers or supports which extend in one
direction being arranged above those which extend in the other direction.
In some
instances the T-irons are employed in one direction, while flat strips only are
employed as feathers in the other direction.
The blocks are all of the same size and shape; they are provided at their edges
with grooves a a², the grooves in the opposite edges being level with one another
and one pair, say the grooves a', being situated slightly above the other pair.
Parquetry may be constructed according to this invention by placing the blocks
together in such a manner that the grooves in their adjacent edges are level; the
feathers are then inserted or caused to project into the grooves a Figs. 1, 2, and
T-irons are inserted into the grooves a, the edges of the blocks being cut away
slightly so as to receive the web of the T-piece when the blocks are pressed
together. A framing or net work is thus formed, in which the blocks are held
securely and the floor can in consequence of the employment of the aforesaid T-irons,
be carried over comparatively large areas without the employment of intermediate
supports.
The firm hold given to the slabs by the T-irons situated in the grooves imparts
sufficient strength even to permit in some cases of considerable spans. The
parquetry thus constructed may be carried upon beams or planks arranged at
suitable distances apart. Moreover a smaller number of underneath-fastenings or
holding-down bolts are required than with ordinary parquetry. In consequence of
the latter circumstance parquetry constructed according to this invention may very
conveniently be secured upon foundations of stone, cement, asphalte and the like.
A method of effecting this is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. A small hole is made in
the cement or other foundation d preferably below the junction of two of the blocks
or pieces of which the parquetry is composed, to serve for the reception of the
holding down bolts or fastenings. These fastenings may conveniently consist of
short lengths of flat strip or bar iron as shown at c, the lower part of this being
27

page_text: bent triangularly and inserted in the hole and being then further bent over and
jammed in the hole by a blow on the upper end thereof. The hole is then filled
with cement or with melted sulphur, lead or the like, and the iron is bent at the
top in the form of a hook over the feather whereby the adjacent slabs are con-
nected together.
Figs. 5 and 5 illustrate modifications of the modes of connection of the blocks
of which the parquetry is composed. Fig. 5 illustrates a block joint in which a
T-iron is inserted, in the groove a', that is to say in the upper groove, in addition
to that inserted in the lower groove, as hereinbefore described. Fig. 5B shews a
similar block joint in which the web of the T-iron is not let into the block but lies
along the edges of the same, a space being thus left between the upper edges of the
blocks, which space if the web does not reach up to the surface of the floor, may
conveniently be filled with asphalte and the like.
The parquetry may moreover be provided only with the upper T-irons and
instead of the lower T-iron a simple feather, similar to the feather, may be,
inserted in the corresponding groove u, this latter arrangement being the converse
of that shown in Figs. 1 to 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what
I claim is :―
1. Parquetry provided with T-irons inserted between the blocks of which the
same is composed substantially as hereinbefore described for the purposes specified.
2. The construction of parquetry floors and the like, of blocks held in position
by Tirons or by T-irons and flat feathers projecting into grooves in the sides or
edges of the blocks, the grooves on one pair of opposite sides or edges of a block
being situated above the level of the grooves in the other pair of sides or edges,
substantially as hereinbefore described for the purposes specified.
3. The construction of parquetry, substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings for the purposes specified.
Dated thin 10 day at tail 1901
E. WERHLI,
By L. W., per F. B.
E. BALLY,
By L. W., per F. B.