Improvements in the Arrangement of Materials used in the Construction of Portable Buildings, and in the Mode of Fixing them.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Arrangement of Materials used in the
Construction of Portable Buildings, and in the Mode of Fixing
them.
I EDWARD ELLIS ALLEN of 16 Cremorne Road Chelsea in the County of
Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvements consist in the formation of sections of special construction
for the sides roofs and floors of portable buildings with the view of saving bulk and
weight for transport and also of time and labour in erecting the said sections being
complete and ready for use.
Firstly I form large sheets say 8 to 12 feet long and 2 to 3 feet wide composed
of 3 thicknesses or layers of thin wood for the lining of portable buildings the
grain of the central layer being arranged at right angles to that of the other
two layers thus forming large and very strong sheets not liable to split.
It is best if not necessary that the three layers of wood should be of the same kind
but where fancy or ornamental wood is used it may be confined to one side only by
making the sheet in the first place with the central layer say of deal of increased
thickness having on each side a veneer of ornamental wood and then after being
well and thoroughly dried dividing the sheet in two when each will consist of
2 layers only.
Secondly combine the above sheets with sheets of galvanized corrugated iron
placing between them sheets of inodorous felt or silicate cotton or other suitable
material as a non-conductor of heat and sound riveting the whole together or
otherwise attaching them by turning over the edges of the iron or by enclosing
them in a light wooden frame. Sheets or sections so formed are suitable for the
sides of portable buildings especially for export occupying little space and being
capable of being closely packed.
Similar sheets or sections are formed for the roofs of portable buildings dis-
pensing with rafters and sections of a somewhat similar character may also be made
for the floors of buildings but in this case ordinary matched floor boards are used
instead of the veneered sheets such boards being either placed at right angles to
the corrugations of the iron and let into a frame rebitted to receive them or they
may be fixed by screws through the iron from underneath and lie parallel with the
corrugations.
The corrugated iron sheets in this case take the place of joists and rest directly
upon bearers usually at 4 feet intervals.
The joints between the several floor-sections may be matched or tongued and
grooved with wood or iron and those of the roof-sections made good with covering
strips of wood with felt under.
The wall and roofing sections on this system with the ordinary 3 inch corrugations
will be from 1 to 1 inches thick and the flooring sections 24 to 2 inches thick
according to the thickness of wood and kind of packing used. The side and roof
sheets if used without framing are packed for transport so that the corrugated sides
of 2 sheets lie together occupying only about 1 to 1 inches.
In order that these sheets or sections may be readily erected I form compound
studs or standards consisting of a main or outer standard morticed into the top and
bottom wall plates and a smaller or inner standard free to move the larger one
forming a covering strip on the outside and the smaller one a covering strip on the
inside thus making the joint between every two sheets or sections perfect a strip

page_text: or strips of felt being sometimes inserted in order that the surfaces between the
sections and the said covering strips may be air and water tight.
The two parts of the compound studs are attached together by means of bolts
or screws at suitable intervals sufficient space being left between them for the
insertion of the sheets or sections which are then firmly gripped by the said bolts or
screws being driven home.
The partitions are formed of sections composed of two compound sheets of thin
wood as above described with felt between enclosed in light frames light covering
strips being placed over the joints or the frames may be tongued and grooved or
matched boards may be used on each side of the felt the joints being made good
by a proper arrangement of the said match boards overlapping the frames on one
side and falling short on the other.
These sections may be kept in place by the vertical part of the frames being left
long so as to be morticed into the floor or secured by mouldings and skirtings
attached thereto. Windows and doors are fitted into frames which form sections
similar to those above described secured in the same way.
In order that the advantages of my system may be better understood it may be
stated that ordinary iron buildings are now exported by making the materials
up in bundles-i.e.-the corrugated iron sheets the match board lining the joists
studs rafters and wall plates doors and window frames and other parts are made
up in bundles necessitating the entire work of erection being done on the site or
ground as in buildings erected in this country whereas on my system almost the
whole of the work is already done before being shipped the sections being
complete requiring only to be attached together this applies to the outside walls
the partitions roofs and floors as also to the windows and doors which are fitted in
frames.
Dated this 30th day of December 1890.
EDWD. E. ALLEN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
the
Improvements in the Arrangement of Materials used in
Construction of Portable Buildings, and in the Mode of Fixing
them.
1 EDWARD ELLIS ALLEN of 16 Cremorne Road Chelsea in the County of
Middlesex Civil Engineer 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 improvements consist in the formation of sections of special construction for
the sides, roofs and floors of portable buildings with the view of saving bulk and
weight for transport and also of time and labor in erecting the said sections being
complete and ready for use.
Firstly I form large sheets 8 to 12 ft. in length and 2 to 3 ft. wide composed
of 3 thicknesses or layers of thin wood for the lining of portable buildings the
grain of the central one being arranged at right angles to that of the other two
layers thus forming large and very strong sheets not liable to split.
It is best if not necessary that the three layers of wood should be of the same
kind but where fancy or ornamental wood is used it may be confined to one side
only by making the sheet in the first place with the central layer say of deal of
increased thickness having on each side a veneer of fancy wood and then after
being thoroughly dried dividing the sheet in two when each will consist of two
layers only. These sheets are shewn at E in Figs. 12 and 3 of accompanying
drawing.
Secondly I combine the above sheets with other ones of corrugated iron C
placing between them sheets of inodourous felt D silicate cotton or other suitable

page_text: material as a non-conductor of heat and sound revitting the whole together or
otherwise attaching them by turning over the edges of the iron sheets as shewn on
right side of Fig. 2 round wooden fillet H or by enclosing them in a light wood
frame. Sheets or sections so formed are suitable for the sides of portable buildings
especially for export occupying little space and being very capable of close
packing.
Similar sheets or sections are formed for the roofs of portable buildings as
shewn in Fig. 3 dispensing with rafters, and sections of a somewhat similar
character may also be made for the floors of buildings shewn in Fig. 1 but in this
case ordinary matched floor boards F are used instead of the veneered sheets such
boards being either placed at right angles to the corrugations of the iron let into
a frame rebitted to receive them or they may be fixed by screws through the iron
from underneath and lie paralel with the corrugations.
The corrugated iron sheets C in this case take the place of joists and rest
directly upon bearers usually at four feet intervals.
The joints between the several floor sections may be matched or tongued and
grooved with wood or iron and those of the roof sections made good with covering
strips of wood with felt under.
The wall and roofing sections on this system with the ordinary 3″ corrugations
will be from 1 to 1 inches thick and the flooring sections 2 to 2 inches thick
according to the thickness of wood and kind of packing used.
The side and roof sheets, if used without frames are packed for transport so
that the corrugations of the sides of two iron sheets lie together occupying only
about 1 to 1 inches.
In order that these sheets or sections may be readily erected I form compound
standards shewn in Figs. 1 2 and 3 consisting of a main or outer one B morticed
into the top and bottom wall plates and a smaller one A forming a covering strip
on the inside thus making the joint between every two sheets or sections perfect,
a strip or strips of felt being sometimes inserted in order that the surfaces between
the sections and the said covering strips may be weather tight. The two parts of
the compound standards or uprights are attached together by means of bolts or
screws G Fig. 2 at suitable intervals sufficient space being left between them for
the insertion of the sheets or sections which are then firmly gripped by the said
bolts or screws being driven home. The partitions are formed of sections composed
of two compound sheets of thin wood, as above described with felt between
enclosed in light frames small covering strips being placed over the joints or the
frames may be tongued and grooved or matched boards may be used on each side
of the felt, the joints being made good by a proper arrangement of the said
matched boards overlapping the frames on one side and falling short on the other.
These sections may be kept in place by the vertical part of the frames being left
long enough so as to be morticed into the floor or secured by mouldings and
skirtings attached thereto. Windows and doors are fitted into frames which form
sections similar to those above described secured in the same way.
In order that the advantages of my system may be better understood it may be
stated that ordinary corrugated iron buildings are now exported by making the
materials up into bundles ie. the corrugated iron sheets, the matched boards, the
joists, standards, rafters wall plates, doors and windows and all other parts are
made into separate bundles necessitating the entire work of erection being done on
the site as with ordinary houses in this country whereas on my system almost
the whole of the work is fully completed and done before being shiped, the sections
being finished requiring only to be attached together. This applies to the outside
walls, the partitions, roofs and floors as also to the doors and windows which
are fitted into frames.
Instead of the veneers or matched boarding, above described, as the lining of
walls I sometimes employ waterproof mill boards as also for ceilings or under side
of upper floors.

page_text: 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
claim is :-
-
1st. The construction of compound sheets or sections for the walls, floors and
roofs of portable buildings as described.
2nd. The construction of compound standards for securing the said sheets or
sections together as described.
3rd. The construction of the floors of portable buildings as described substituting
corrugated iron for the ordinary joists and so saving weight, space, and labor in
erection.
.
1
1001
EDWD. E. ALLEN.