IMPROVEMENTS IN TILES FOR ROOFING AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF SUCH TILES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Farrell, of Clanbrassil Terrace, in the
City of Dublin, Architect and Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TILES FOR ROOFING AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE
EMPLOYMENT OF SUCH TILES."
4
Scaled the 4th August 1871, and dated the 7th February 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Farrell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th February 1871.
I, ISAAC FARRELL, of Clanbrassil Terrace, in the City of Dublin,
Architect and Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TILES FOR ROOFING AND OTHER PURPOSES,
AND IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF SUCH TILES," to be as follows:-
These improvements have for their object the rendering by use of the
improved tile roofing generally more water-tight, and at the same time
ornamental, and consist in constructing roofing and other tiles with
flanges on two adjacent sides so constructed as to lap over and thus
protect, as far as possible, the joint of the course below.

page_text: The improvements also consist in placing the tiles diagonally whether
for roofing or for lining walls or other similar purpose.
The improvements may be carried into effect by constructing the tile
of a square, or poligonal, diamond, or other suitable shape, preferably
square, having flanges on two adjoining sides laid diagonally, the two
flanged sides on the lower side, and the plain or filletted sides on the
upper, so that the water may run down to the diagonal lower corner
of the tile, and there being a channel cut out at this corner the water
passes through on to the next, and so successively over each tile. The
rafters which form the support of the tiles are placed at a distance from
each other equal to the diagonal of the tile, and the laths in like manner,
so that when the tile is laid it bears upon its four corners, two on the
rafter and two on the laths. It is not therefore necessary that the timber
work should be so strong as it is at present, as by being laid diagonally
they only require support at their extremities, where they are secured
by any suitable means; also for covering or lining walls or for similar
purposes tiles may be laid diagonally, thus obtaining additional strength
as described above.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Isaac Farrell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th August 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
FARRELL, of Clanbrassil Terrace, in the City of Dublin, Architect and
Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Isaac Farrell, Her special
licence that I, the said Isaac Farrell, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Isaac Farrell, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TILES FOR ROOFING AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF SUCH TILES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Isaac Farrell, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Isaac Farrell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:
-
The improvements have for their object the rendering by use of the
improved tiles roofing generally lighter, cheaper, more water-tight, and
at the same time ornamental, and building in general (in connection
with concrete) less expensive, and consist in constructing roofing and
other tiles with flanges on two adjacent sides so constructed as to lap
over and thus protect effectually the joint of the course below.
The improvements also consist in placing the tiles diagonally whether
for roofing or for lining walls or other similar purpose.
The improvements may be carried into effect by constructing the tile
of a square or poligonal, diamond, or other suitable shape, preferably
square, having flanges on two adjoining sides laid diagonally, the two
flanged sides on the lower half and the plain or filletted sides on the
upper, so that the water is conducted down to the diagonal lower corner
of the tile, and there being an inclined plane formed at this corner the
water passes over it and through a channel in the button hereafter
described on to the next, and so successively over each tile. The rafters
which form the support of the tiles are placed at a distance from each
other equal to the diagonal of the tile, and the laths in like manner, so
that when the tile is laid it bears upon its four corners, two on the
rafter and two on the lath, and is secured by proper fastenings at those
points. It is not necessary that the timber work should be so strong as
it is at present, as by being laid diagonally the tiles interlace with and
by means of the flanges mutually support each other, thus in great
measure extending the bearings on all sides to the outer walls or main
supports; also for covering or lining walls or for similar purposes the

page_text: tiles are laid diagonally and similarly fastened, and as they abutt against
and bear upon each other and the abutting joints are covered by the
flanges perfect stability and staunchness is obtained.
I will now proceed to describe more particularly my Invention and
the different ways in which it may be carried out.
When applied to roofing tiles it consists in making a square tile of
the ordinary thickness, say twelve inches square, with flanges raised on
the face on two adjoining sides, and projecting preferably about one inch
over the sides; fillets, preferably about three-quarters of an inch wide
and about one-eighth of an inch or more thick, are raised on the other
two sides. At the junction of the two flanges is formed a button about
two and a half inches square, the angles cut off to about half inch and
raised above the surface of the flanges, so as to form as it were a second
flange on that part to protect the abutting joints of the flanges.
When my Invention is applied as a facing tile for facing concrete or
ordinary or other walls instead of cement or weather slating, it consists
in manufacturing a tile preferably about nine inches square by half
inch thick with a raised fillet or flange, as described above, projecting
about half an inch beyond their sides.
I also propose a flue tile as a substitute for brickwork; it consists of
a tile about twelve inches square and from three to twelve inches or
more in thickness or height, perforated for an octagon flue about ten
inches in diameter, the angles perforated with circular or triangular
openings to admit of dowelling, and the joints protected by flanges, as
before described, or rabbeted or grooved.
The manner in which the roof is prepared for the roofing tiles is as
follows: The rafters are placed seventeen inches from centre to centre,
that is to say, a distance equal to the diagonal of a twelve-inch tile,
and the laths in like manner, but with an intermediate lath if desired,
in which latter case the rafters may be spaced any desired distance
apart. The tiles are laid diagonally, commencing with a triangular tile,
equal to half the square tile cut diagonally, and about one-sixth more in
width. The square tiles are dropped in between these said tiles, their
bottom flanges lapping over the filletted edges of the tile below and
covering the joints. The tiles are secured to the rafters and laths
preferably by means of a flat-headed nail (the head about an inch in
diameter) at the corner or point where four tiles meet, so that every tile-
is nailed down at the corners. The casing or facing tiles arc similarly

page_text: aid and secured to studs and such like prepared for them, or to the
concrete or wall. These tiles when laid abutt against each other and
are flush like flooring tiles, the flanges only lapping over and covering
the joints, thus forming a diaper pattern. For the tile flue I form a
chimney piece in the ordinary way with solid stone or other jambs and
head, the later perforated for the flue; on and over this opening I place
the flue tiles in succession to the required height doweled together
and cramped to the wall, whether it be of concrete or otherwise, thus
dispensing with brickwork chimney breasts.
The accompanying Drawings will serve to illustrate my Invention.
Fig. 1 shews a roofing tile laid on the roof, in which A is the tile;
a, a, bottom flanges; b, b, fillets on two upper sides; c, button at lower
corner with channel to let the rain pass off; d, d, d, flat-headed nails for
securing the tile; B is one half of same tile broken off, and shewing
how the flange a laps over it and covers the joint; C, section through
both tiles further illustrating the above; e, e, are the rafters of the
roof;
and f, f, laths; g, metal hook secured to the rafter to support
the cave tile.
It is evident that I do not limit or confine myself to the square form
of roofing or casing tiles, or to the particular sizes mentioned above,
as the tiles may be of any required size or form, namely, hexagonal or
lozenge shaped, or any other suitable shape having flanges as above
described.
Fig. 2 shews on a smaller scale facing tile similarly fixed.
Fig. 3 shews the perforated flue tile twelve inches square by twelve
inches thick or high, with grooved joints.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Farrell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.