Improvement in Bricks for Forming Flat Ceilings, which may also be used for Casings, Partition Walls, and for other like Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 26th May, 1900-Accepted, 7th July, 1900
Improvement in Bricks for Forming Flat Ceilings, which may also be
used for Casings, Partition Walls, and for other like Purposes.
I, PAUL ROWALD, of 22A, Marienstrasse, in the City of Hannover, Kingdom of
Irussia, and German Empire, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object a better and more reliable form or shape of
bricks for constructing flat ceilings; they occupy considerably less height than
the common or wedge shaped bricks usually employed in such constructions.
The characteristic feature of my bricks, which I call Omega bricks, is that they
possess two flat sides, the upper and the lower one, conveniently roughed, and two
curved sides. These curved sides may show one or more curves, but preferably
of the "O Gee" shape. These curves may be shaped either symmetrically or
parallelly. These Omega bricks, when employed for ceilings, are generally placed
between two joists, T irons, walls, as the case may be; a temporary ceiling being
constructed beforehand, to serve as a support, while the bricks are being laid
with broken joints. Portland cement or the like is used as mortar. After the
mortar has become hardened the temporary ceiling is removed and a flat ceiling
is obtained, occupying very little height and serving all purposes of a common
arch.
Dated this 28th dox of Avonst 1900
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvement in Bricks for Forming Flat Ceilings, which may also be
used for Casings, Partition Walls, and for other like Purposes.
I, Paul Rowald. of 221, Marienstrasse, in the City of Hanover, Kingdom of
Prussia, and German Empire, Architect, 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:—
For the construction of fireproof ceilings and floors various designs have been
used in particular for covering the open space between the different joists or
T-irons supporting the floors. Principally wedge-shaped hollow bricks have been
employed for that purpose, the bricks forming part of an arch. Also other
shapes of hollow bricks have been used for the same purpose with more or less
success. But the laying of all these bricks require's expert masons, and besides
[Price 8d.]

page_text: their weight is quite a drawback in shipping and in calling for heavier joists.
In my invention I avoid almost all side pressure which arches will exert.
My bricks, which I call "Omega" bricks, are easily laid, and their weight is
so much less than that of other shapes that considerable lighter joists may be
employed with safety. My Omega bricks may also be used for the construction
of light partition walls, fireproof supports for staircases, &c.
I mould my bricks in such a manner that they contain one or more hollow
spaces, but have found that those with two spaces and a rib in the centre are the
most practicable. The two sides are curved in an ogee form, while the top and
bottom are flat and provided with grooves, or they are roughed in some other way
in order to make the coating on top or bottom adhere better to them.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a cross section of an
Omega brick with one hollow space a, and Fig. 2 the same with two hollow
spaces a, a, and rib b. Fig. 3 is a perspective view and shows how the Omega
bricks are laid in bond between the joists, Fig. 4 how they are placed to make a
staircase fireproof, and Fig. 5 how they are used for making partition-walls.
Fig. 6 represents an upright Omega brick for filling up the entire space between
the flanges of the T-irons or where heavier weights are to be supported. cand
d are the roughed top and bottom, and e and f the two curved ogee sides, which
may be symmetrically or parallelly formed, the latter shown by Fig. 7 and
applicable to all other forms
-
When laying Omega bricks between two joists a temporary ceiling is put up
and a full-length brick is embedded into mortar upon the lower flange of the
T-iron, and then follow other bricks, until the line to the next joist is com-
pleted. The next line is commenced with a half of a brick, and then follows
a whole brick, and so on until that line is also completed, when the following line
is again commenced with a whole brick in order to obtain broken joints all
along the entire length of the joists. The joints between bricks are filled out
with a thin layer of cement mortar in order to secure a closer fit and to give
more stability to the entire structure. Each of these Omega bricks is provided
with a concave and a corresponding convex face of the ogee form, either symme-
trical or parallel, and when placing them in line from joist to joist in one line
the symmetrical ones are placed bottom d down, and in the next bottom up, and
so on alternately, as appears from drawings, Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, but with the
parallel ones. Fig. 7, no alterations are required. When the cement is suffi-
ciently hardened, the temporary ceiling is removed and a very strong flat fire-
proof ceiling is attained. Fireproof staircase-casings and partition-walls are con-
structed in a similar manner, as indicated by Figs. 4 and 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what
I claim is:
Omega bricks shaped in such a manner that the two opposite upper and lower
sides are made conveniently flat and roughed in some ordinary way, whereas the
other two sides have an ogee shape, symmetrical or parallel, so that they fit
exactly one unto the other thus forming tight joints, all substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of May 1900.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.