Improvements in the Construction of Fireproof Buildings.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Fireproof Buildings. .
I, THOMAS POTTER, of 95, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, Secretary,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention has for its object the better protection of various parts of
buildings from fire in the following manner.
In the construction of ceilings to wood floors, I fix to the ceiling or floor
joists by nailing or screwing-morticed metal suspenders, and in which mor-
tices iron or steel rods or bars are held, and metallic lathing of any description
fixed thereto, by wiring or otherwise, ready for plastering. I apply the
same to iron or steel joists by adapting the same kind of suspenders to clip
the bottom flanges of the said joists, and which are held rigid by the elastic
grip of the suspenders, instead of by wood screws, or nails as required for
wood joists. I apply the same suspenders, or a modification thereof, to form
light fireproof partitions, using channel, tee, or Hiron standards, to which the
suspenders, lathing bars, and metallic lathing are fixed ready for plastering.
Another part of my invention consists in the construction of fire proof floors.
The concrete is applied in the usual way, by filling in same between, or on top,
of rolled steel or iron joists, and my improvement consists in inserting therein
continuous corrugated steel rods of small diameter, and short distances apart,
to prevent them from shearing or sliding. I apply the same principle in the
construction of fire proof partitions, 2 inches in thickness and over, formed of
coke breeze or other fire proof materials, and in which the said corrugated rods
are built at intervals. To enable concrete floors to be covered with wood for
a walking surface, I secure thin casing boards to the concrete by means of a
composition consisting of common glue, red lead, linseed oil, resin and boracic -
acid in varying proportions I cover fireproof concrete stairs (by reason of their
slipperyness) with wood treads (as distinguished from risers) formed in the usual
way, but secured on their back edge by being let into a groove in the risers,
at their ends by being let into the walls and in front by being screwed into
wood or gutta percha plugs let into wood sockets, and built into the concrete,
or otherwise. In the construction of fire proof seating, as used in theatres and
other public buildings, steel beams or radial girders are usually employed. I fix
brackets upon these to support ordinary steel or iron joists, and upon these
joists I form concrete risers monolithically, by means of encasing boards form-
ing troughs or panels to keep it in place, and which are held rigid by the use
of glands or stirrup irons made movable at will. On the top flange of these
joists and on the bottom flange of the joists immediately in the rear thereof,
I rest corrugated or plain sheet iron and upon which I deposit concrète to form
the seat proper.
1
11000

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Fireprooi Buildings.
I, THOMAS POTTER, 95, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, Secretary
to Public Company, 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:
-
My invention has for its object the better protection of various parts of
buildings from fire.
In the construction of fire proof ceilings to wood joists, as Fig. 1, I fix to
the ceiling joists, beams or floor joists-by nailing or screwing thereto―mor-
ticed or slotted metal suspenders, through which mortices or slots, iron or other
metal bars or rods are passed, called lathing bars, or lathing rods, and metallic
lathing of any ordinary description is fixed thereto by wiring, clips or other
form of fastening. A is the metal suspender, B the lathing bar, Ĉ the metal
lathing, D the plaster ceiling.
I apply the same principle to iron or steel joists and beams, as Fig. 2, by
adopting metal suspenders made to clip the bottom flanges of the said joists,
and which are held rigid by their elastic grip, no nails, wedges or screws being
necessary, as when fixed to wood joists. A is the metal suspender, B the lathing
bar, C the metallic lathing, D the plaster ceiling.
I apply the same principle also in forming fireproof partitions, as Fig. 3,
using channel, tee or H iron standards, secured to floor at bottom and top, or to
whatever may be available, and any required distance apart. AA are the metal
suspenders, BB the lathing bars, CC metallic lathing, DD ordinary plaster
work.
Another part of my invention consists in the construction of fire-proof floors
as Fig. 4. The concrete is applied, in the usual way, by filling in same on top
of corrugated iron centres, or on top or between rolled steel joists. In the two
latter systems the concrete is of uniform thickness throughout. My improve-
ment consists in inserting in the concrete, corrugated metal rods of small or
large dimension as may be necessary, and a greater or less distance apart accord-
ing to the strength required.
Where the floor is curved on the under side, as in Fig. 4, the rods A are
bent to curve downwards, but where the floor is of parallel thickness, the curve
is made the reverse way, and in which case the centre of the rods are kept as
closely as possible to the bottom of the concrete, and the ends approach to the
top of the concrete.
The object of the corrugations is to prevent the rods from sliding or shearing
when the concrete is undergoing a tensile strain on the under side, through the
floor being loaded. The curving also adds to the strength of the rods.
I apply this principle also to the construction of fireproof concrete partitions,
2 inches in thickness more or less as may be necessary, formed of coke breeze
or other fire resisting materials and in which the said corrugated rods are in-
serted at intervals between top and bottom of the said partitions which creates
great rigidity and stiffness.
Another portion of my invention consists in the casing of concrete floors with
wood, without the use of nails. In the construction of concrete floors, floor
boards are sometimes nailed to the concrete; but the nail holes are objection-
able for various reasons. To avoid this I fasten the floor boards to the con-
crete with a composition consisting of common glue, red lead, linseed oil, wood
resin, and boracic acid or salicylic acid in varying proportions. The composi-

page_text: tion is impervious to moisture, does not ferment or become putrid, and has
strong holding down properties. By these means I do away with the use of
nails.
Another part of my invention consists in covering fireproof concrete stairs
with wood treads as Fig. 5, to obviate the slipperiness of concrete. I let the
ends of the treads into the wall at each end, and into the concrete riser by cut-
ting a groove in the latter, or forming a groove in the concrete when the latter
is in a soft state. The front of the tread is fastened by screwing or nailing
the same to metal and wood sockets let into the concrete, or nailing or screwing
direct into the concrete without the use of sockets. A is the concrete stairs,
B wood casing, C iron and wood sockets.
Another part of my invention consists in forming fireproof seating for theatres
and other public buildings. Steel beams or radial girders are usually employed.
and concrete slabs are sometimes placed thereon to form seats, and supported
by iron brackets. By my system as Fig. 6 I fix brackets B upon radial or other
girders to support light steel or iron joists H, and upon these joists I form con-
crete risers C monolithically by means of woód encasing panels held rigid by
means of iron or steel glands, or stirrup irons, or otherwise. On the top flanges
of these joists and on the bottom flanges of the joists immediately in the rear
thereof, I rest corrugated or plain sheet irons K, and upon the sheet I deposit
concrete L L to form the seat. On the concrete seat I sometimes fix to the
front portion a wood seat D, levelling up the back of the concrete with cement E,
as shown, and forming a rounded corner G at the junction of the seat and riser,
to prevent the accumulation of dust and facilitate cleansing operations.
Each and all of these inventions may be subject to such modifications as vary-
ing circumstances may necessitate, but without deviating from the principles
of construction described in this specification and shown in accompanying
drawing.
I do not claim as my invention the metal lathing C in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; nor
the curved form of floor in Fig. 4; nor the radial beams and brackets in Fig. 6,
which are well known.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1) In Fig. 1, the use of the morticed or slotted metal hangers, practically
of the form described, but which may be varied somewhat to suit special cir-
cumstances.
(2) In Fig. 2 the morticed or slotted hangers, practically of the kind shown.
(3.) In Fig. 3 the use of metallic slotted or morticed hangers fixed to ordinary
tee, Hor channel iron, practically in the way shown.
(4.) In Fig. 4 the use of corrugated rods inserted in concrete floors &c.; to
increase the strength of same.
(5.) In Fig. 5 the method of casing concrete or stone stairs with wood treads
practically as shown.
(6.) In Fig. 6 the method of forming seats and risers for theatres and public
buildings practically in the way shown.
Doted thi. Qth dex of AL 1900