Improvements in the Construction of Buildings.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1896-Accepted, 6th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Buildings.
1, JAMES THOMPSON WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at
206 West 135th Street, of the City, County, and State of New York, U.S.A.
Carpenter, 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 the construction of buildings, in which iron and steel
frames are employed, and tho object thereof, is to provide an improved method or
system for connecting the columns or pillars, and the beams or girders, and such
iron or steel frames; a further object being to provide a method of interlocking or
connecting said columns or pillars, and beams or girders, by which the use of bolts
or muts or rivets will be avoided, and whereby if any portion of the frame from any
cause, becomes over loaded, or loaded to breaking, the accident will be local, and,
not effect the entire structure, or those sections thereof, adjacent to that portion
which is injured; a further object being to provide means for connecting supple
mental beams or girders with main beams or girders, said supplemental boams or
girders being such as are usually employed for flooring and other purposes, and with
there and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, com-
bination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which ;-
Fig. 1, is a plan view of one of the columns or pillars which I employ, showing
a number of main beams or girders connected therewith, and a supplemental beam
or girder connected with one of said main beams or girders ;
Fig. 2, a side view thereof showing a part of the construction, in section;
Fig. 3, a plan view of a base or ground column or pillar showing the method of
connecting the main beams. or girders therewith ;
Fig. 4, a bottom plan view of one of the upper columns or pillars which is
adapted to be placed upon said base columns or pillars;
Fig. 5, a bottom plan view of the base column or pillar; and,
Fig. 6, a top plan view of a base plate, on which said base column is adapted to
be placed.
In the drawing forming part of this Specification, A, represents what is known
as a base or ground column or pillar, and the upper end of this column or pillar is
provided with a head a, and a central vertical projection a 2, which is irregular in
cross section, and the hody portion of this hoad and column is preferably cat out
so as to form vertical spaces a 3, in order to dispense with as much material as
possible, without unduly decreasing the strength of the column.
The beams or girders used in connection with this column are shown in Figs. 1, 2,
and 3, and designated by the letter B, and these beams or girders aro what are
known as main beams or girders, all of the beams or girders which are connected
with columns or pillars being so designated, and they are provided with depending
pins h, which are adapted to enter corresponding holes in the head a, of the base
columu or pillar, and these main beams or girders are placed in position upon the
head a, of the column A, as shown in. Fig. 3. Each of these main beams or girders
is also provided with top and bottom plates b2, which are designed to give strength
and stability thereto, and to provide means for connecting supplemental beams or
girders therewith, and the upper plate is cut out as shown at 63, on each side

page_text: thereof, and the end of the central vertical portion thereof, is provided with a
vertical head 4, which is separated from the top plate b2, by said notches or,
recesses 3.
I also employ an upper column or pillar D, the lower end of which is shown in
Fig. 4, said lower end being enlarged as shown at d, to correspond in size with the
head a, of the base or ground column or pillar A, and said lower end of the column
or pillar D, is also hollow or cast with vertical openings as shown at d 3, and
provided at opposite sides with vertical slots d+, and formed therein, at the inner
side of each of said slots is a vertical segmental chamber d 5.
In practice, the main beams or girders B, are placed upon the upper end of the
head a, of the ground column or pillar A, as shown in Figs. 2, and 3, so that the
pins b, will enter the corresponding holes or openings in the head a, of. the column
or pillar A, and the lower end of the upper column D, is then placed in position,
as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which position the vertical portions of the beams or
girders D, enter the vertical slots d 4, and the hend 64, of said beams or girders
enters the vertical segmental chambers or recesses d 5, and when thus united, as
will be seen, it will be impossible to separate these parts without breaking the
beams or girders, or bursting the lower end of the upper column.
The lower end of the base or ground column or pillar A, is formed as shown in
Fig. 5, being provided with a central vertical opening a 3, and also employ a base
plate G, which is provided centrally with an annular flange or rim g, in which the
bottom of the base or ground column or pillar A, is adapted to fit, and said base or
ground plate is provided contrally with an upwardly directed standard 92, which
is shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and which is adapted
to enter the central opening a 3, in the base of the column or pillar A.
The base plate or ground plate G, is also provided within the annular flange or
rim g, with irregular formed upwardly directed shoulders or projections g 3, which
are adapted to enter correspondingly formed recesses or openings a 4, in the lower
end of the ground column or pillar A.
The central portion of the lower end of the upper column or pillar D, is provided
with a vertical opening d 6, into which the standard a 2, formed ou the head a, of
the ground column or pillar A, is adapted to enter, and this also assists in giving
strength and stability to the connection between these two columus.
In buildings of this class it is necessary to employ supplemental cross beams or
girders, one of which is shown at H, and in connecting these supplemental beams
or girders with the main beams or girders B, I employ a block h, which is placed
upon the bottom flange or plate 62, of the main beam or girder, and said 'supple-
mental beam or girder is placed thercon, and secured thereto, and the top flauge or
plate 2, of the supplemental beam or girder is cut out or cut away as shown at h2,
said supplemental beam or girder being provided with top and bottom flanges or
plates 3, and I also employ a tie or lock plate K, having at one end depending
pins k, which are adapted to enter corresponding openings in the top plate or
flange h 3, of the supplemental beam or girder, and which is provided at its opposite
end with a depeuding hook or projection k4, which is adapted to enter a corre-
sponding notch or recess k5, in the side of the main beam or girder, with which it'
is connected, or in the top plate or flange 62, thereof.
The block h, is not absolutely essential, and the ends of the supplemental beam
or girder H, may be made wide enough to fill the space between the top and bottom
plates, or flanges 2, of the main beam or girder if desired, in which event, it
would rest upon said bottom plate or flange.
By means of this construction, the main beams or girders and the supplemental
cross beams or girders may be securely locked together, and the separation of these
parts, so common in cases of fire, is avoided under ordinary conditions.
It is also well known that buildings of this character, frequently settle, so as to
dis-connect the parts of the frame, and especially to dis-connect the supplemental
cross beams or girders, from the main beams or girders, and the application of my
improved method, will also provent this dis-connection of said parts and thus also

page_text: prevent the serious accidents which sometimes result in the destruction of such
buildings, and in the loss of life.
The base colunu or pillar horein showa and doscribed, is what is known as an
inside column and it will be understood that what are known as corners and sile
columns or pillars may be similarly formed, the only difference in the construction
thereof, being such, as is necessary to adapt then for nso as cornor or side columns,
or pillars, and it will also be understood that the upper columns or pillars when
used in connection with corner and side columns or pillars must also be slightly
changed, the changes necessary in each case, being only such as to adapt then.
for use in connection with beams or girders which extenil from two or three sides
thereof.
The base or ground column or pillar when used as an inside column or pillar is
adapted to support four or more of the main beams or girders B, or any desired
number thereof, as shown aud described herein, but when the said ground columa
or pillar is designed for use as a corner column or pillar, it will be understood that
snid main girders or beams are connected therewith, so as to extend in two
directions only, and when said ground column or pillar is intended for use on the
aide of a building, the main beams or girders will project in three directions. In
any event, the principle of the construction by which the upper column or pillar
is connected with the lower or ground column or pillar and by which the main.
beams or girders are connected with said columns or pillars is the same, the only
difference being such, as is necessary to adopt the columns or pillars for use in any
desired location..
It will be understood, of course, that the upper end of the upper column or
pillar D, is formed in the same manner as the upper end of the lower or ground
pillar A, and that by means of this arrangement any desired number of these
columns may be placed one upon another, whereby a building of any desired height
or containing suy desired number of stories may be constructed.
My invention is not limited to the exact form, of the columns or pillars herein
described, or to the exact form of the beams or girders, and the means by which
the columos aud beams or girders are connected, as it is evident that changes
therein, and modifications thereuf, may be made without departing from the spirit
of my invention or ancrificing its advantages, and 1 therefore reserve the right to
make all such alterations therein, and modifications thereof, ns fairly come within
the scope of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
clain is :-
1. The herein described method for connecting the columus or pillars, and the
main beams or girders of an iron or steel frame for buildings, which consists in
placing said beams or girders upon one column and providing the lower end of the
column which is adapted to be placed thereun, with vertical slots into which said
boams or girders pass, and by means of which said parts are interlocked, and
securely held together, said beams or girders being also provided with vertical
beads which interlock with the ond of the column which is placed thereon or
thoreover, substantially as shown and described.
2. An iron or steel frame for buildings, comprising a column or support, a
number of beams or girders mounted tharoon, and another column adapted to bo
placed thereon, which is provided with vertical slots in its lower end into which
said beams or girders pass, and the lower column or support being provided with a
vertical extension which extends into a corresponding opening in the bottom of the
upper column, substantially as shown and described.
3. An iron or steel frame for buildings, comprising a column or support, a
number of beams or girders mounted thereon, and another column adapted to be
placed thereon, which is provided with vertical slots in its lower end into which
said beans or girders pass, and the lower column or support being provided with a.

page_text: vertical extension which extends into a corresponding opening in the bottom of the
upper column, and said beams or girders being also provi led with means by which-
they are held in position, substantially as shown and described.
4. An iron or steel fraine for buildings comprising a base column or support,
a number of beams or girders placed thereon, and another column adapted to be
placed thereon which is provided with vertical slots or openings into which said
beams or girders pass, and means for connecting said columns, substantially as
shown and described.
5. An iron or steel frame for buildings, comprising a base column or support,
a number of beams or girders placed thereon and another column adapted to be
placed thereon, which is provided with vertical slots or openings into which said
beams or girders pass, and means for connecting said columns, and said beams or
girders being provided with flanges which are cut away at the points where they
nre connected with said columns so that they may enter said slots or openings,
substantially as shown described.
6. The herein described means for connecting the supplemental cross beams or
girders with the main beams or girders of an iron or steel frame for buildings,
which consists in a tio or lock which is adapted to be placed cross wise of the
main beam or girder, and which is provided with lugs or projections adapted to
enter corresponding holes or apertures formed in the top flanges of the supplemental
beams or girders, substantially as shown and described.
7. The herein described means for connecting the supplemental cross beams or
girders with the main beams or girders of an iron or steel frame for buildings,
which consists in a tie or lock which is alapted to be placed cross wise of the main
beam or girder, and which is provided with lugs or projections adapted to enter
corresponding holes or apertures formed in the top flanges of the supplemental
beams or girders, said tie or lock being also provided with means by which it
is connected with the main beam or girder and being detachable therefrom,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.