A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING MILLS AND OTHER BUILDINGS, AND OF MAKING FIREPROOF THE FLOORS AND ROOFS OF SAME; ALSO APPLICABLE TO BUILDINGS ALREADY ERECTED
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas William Helliwell, of Brighouse, in the County
of York, Architect, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF
CONSTRUCTING MILLS AND OTHER BUILDINGS, AND OF MAKING FIREPROOF
THE FLOORS AND ROOFS OF SAME; ALSO APPLICABLE TO BUILDINGS ALREADY
ERECTED."
Sealed the 14th January 1879, and dated the 17th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas William Helliwell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th July 1878.
THOMAS WILLIAM HELLIWELL, of Brighouse, in the County of York, Architect.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING MILLS AND OTHER BUILDINGS,
AND OF MAKING FIREPROOF THE FLOORS AND ROOFS OF SAME; ALSO APPLICABLE
TO BUILDINGS ALREADY ERECTED."
This Invention refers principally to fireproof mills or buildings, and the object
thereof is to render the same fireproof without material increase in the cost of
construction. For this purpose I construct the floors as follows:-Upon iron beams
I place a sheet or series of sheets of corrugated or plain iron, arched or flat; over
this may be placed a layer or coating of concrete or other non-conducting sub-
stance, and above this a solid plank flooring of suitable thickness for the work of
bearing.
This construction of flooring is cheaper and is as effective as any now in use.
This can also be applied to buildings already built having wood floors by fixing
light ironwork to the ordinary floor beams and placing thereon the sheets of iron as
named.
My Invention relates also to the roofing for mills and other buildings, whether
fireproof or otherwise.

page_text: Hitherto where metal has been employed in roof structures, the trusses have been
supported by tie rods and bolts; instead of which I propose to employ sections of
rolled metal joists for all the sustaining parts, the joists being rivetted in such a
form as to give the best results for the weight of metal employed on the ordinary
well-known principle of construction.
By using joists the broad flanges offer facilities for securing shafting and other
mill gear thereto in a manner which it is impossible to apply to ordinary metal
roofs. Over the metal joists I fix a covering of planks, on which I fix sheets of
slate, glass, or zinc, as may be required, secured thereto by any of the methods
described in previous Letters Patent granted to me, dated August 1st 1877,
No. 2951.
In place of the clip or nails shewn in the above Specification, I may fix the sheets
by soldering together with strips of zinc.
To guide the rain falling on the roof the edges of the sheets are fluted or bent.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas William Helliwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th January 1879.
THOMAS WILLIAM HELLIWELL, of Brighouse, in the County of York, Architect.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING MILLS AND OTHER BUILDINGS,
AND OF MAKING FIREPROOF THE FLOORS AND ROOFS OF SAME; ALSO APPLICABLE
TO BUILDINGS ALREADY ERECTED."
This Invention refers principally to fireproof mills or buildings, and the object
thereof is to render the same fireproof without material increase in the cost of
construction. For this purpose I construct the floors as follows:-Upon iron beams
I place a sheet or series of sheets of corrugated or plain iron, arched or flat; over
this may be placed a layer or coating of concrete or other non-conducting sub-
stance, and above this a solid plank flooring of suitable thickness for the work of
bearing.
This construction of flooring is cheaper, and is as effective as any now in use.
This can also be applied to buildings already erected having wood floors by fixing
light ironwork to the ordinary floor beams and placing thereon the sheets of iron
as named,
My Invention relates also to the roofing for mills and other buildings, whether
fireproof or otherwise.
Hitherto, where metal has been employed in roof structures, the trusses have
been supported by tie rods and bolts, instead of which I propose to employ sections
of rolled metal joists for all the sustaining parts, the joists being rivetted in such a
form as to give the best results for the weight of metal employed on the ordinary.
well-known principles of construction.
By using joists the broad flanges offer facilities for securing shafting and other
mill gear thereto in a manner which it is impossible to apply to ordinary tie bolt
roofs. Over the metal joists or rafters I fix a covering of planks on which I fix
sheets of slate, glass, or zinc, as may be required, secured thereto by any of the
methods described in previous Letters Patent granted to me, dated August 1st 1877,
No. 2951.
In place of the clip or nails shewn in the above Specification, I may fix the sheets
by soldering thereon strips of zinc.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 illustrates one method of constructing the floors so as to render the
building fireproof.
•
A are iron beams, upon the lower flange of which I place the sheets of corrugated
or plain iron; B and C are the plank floor boards, which by preference consist of
solid planks of suitable thickness for the work of bearing. Between the floor
boards C and the iron plates B I may fill in with brickwork D to any desired
extent, or concrete or other non-conducting substance may be employed instead.
Fig. 2 shews the manner of applying my Invention to non-fireproof buildings
already erected. To the ordinary wood beams E I fix light angle iron F to
support the corrugated or plain iron plates G, and fill in with concrete or brick-
work as before described.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate that part of my Invention which relates to roof structures.
The whole of the sustaining parts H are constructed of rolled metal joists of the
sectional forms shewn in Fig. 5. By this method of construction I am enabled to
fix hangers or brackets as shewn at L for supporting shafting,
I have shewn two methods of arrangeing the parts, through this feature forms no
part of my Invention, as the same principles of construction apply to roofs con-
structed of woodwork, Over the metal joists I fix woodwork J and K. to support

page_text: sheets of slate, glass, or zine L, which may be secured thereto by any of the methods
described in the Specification of Patent already referred to, or I may fix the sheets
by soldering thereon strips of zinc.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas William Helliwell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
THOS. W. HELLIWELL. (L.S.)