IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF ROOFS FOR BUILDINGS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TILES SUITABLE FOR USE FOR THIS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Taylor, jun"., of Roupell Park, Streatham, in
the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF ROOFS FOR BUILDINGS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TILES
SUITABLE FOR USE FOR THIS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 22nd August 1861, and dated the 27th February 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Taylor at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th February
1861.
I, JOHN TAYLOR, jun., of Roupell Park, Streatham, in the County of Surrey,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ROOFS FOR BUILDINGS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TILES
SUITABLE FOR USE FOR THIS AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of roofs
for buildings, and in the manufacture of tiles suitable for use for this and
other purposes.
In the construction of roofs for buildings I employ a tiling, which is similar
in principle to what is now known as Italian tiling. Italian tiling is composed
of trough-formed tiles, so laid that the horizontal lines along the roof consist
alternately of erect and inverted tiles; the first are usually made rectangular,
and the latter semicircular, thus,
all the tiles are made taper-
ing, that is to say, the trough is made wider at one end than at the other.
The rectangular tiles are laid with their narrow ends directed downwards, and

page_text: they overlap and enter within the wider ends of the rectangular tiles in the
horizontal row next below, so that the water may run from one trough to
another until it flows over at the eaves. The inverted tiles are laid with their
wider ends directed downwards, and they overlap the narrow ends of the
inverted tiles in the next lower row. This arrangement of tiling, however,
makes a thick..and..somewhat heavy looking covering_for_a_roof, in conse-
quence
of the number of thicknesses at the lappings, the edges of the inverted
tiles not being able to come down flat on to the bottoms of the trough tiles
on each side, as the inverted tiles are tilted up in
of their edges
at their upper ends overlapping and resting on the lower ends of the rect-
angular tiles in the row above.
consequence
Now, according to my Invention, I avoid this inconvenience by cutting
away a small piece (so as to form a notch) on each side of the narrow end of
all the tiles, both the erect and the inverted, the length of the notch being
equal to one half of the distance by which each horizontal row of tiles overlaps
that next below it.
: It will be seen that this alteration in the form of the tiles will allow the
edges of the inverted tiles to descend down so as to bear from end to end on
the bottoms of the trough tiles on each side, the relative positions of the tiles
being in other respects the same as before described. I prefer in most cases
to make the inverted tiles of the same form as those which are laid in an erect
position in place. of making them semicircular in section, as is usual; this
simplifies the construction, but one pattern of tile being then required in place
of two, as heretofore.
In order to form the ridges of tiling, such as I have described, I make tiles
of two patterns, both in longitudinal section being of a saddle-like (or
inverted V) form, so that they may rest on the ridge-piece of the roof and lap
over it on each side; the tiles of one pattern in transverse section are similar
throughout to the smaller ends of the trough (or erect) tiles of the roofing,
and in laying them their ends are caused to enter the upper or wider ends of
the 'trough tiles on each side; the tiles of the other pattern correspond
throughout in transverse section with the wider ends of the inverted tiles, and
in laying them they are made to lap over the narrow ends of the inverted tiles
on each side of the ridge, their edges at the sides resting in the troughs of
the first described ridge tiles; similar ridge tiles are applicable for ordinary
slated or other flat roofing, the upper surfaces of the inverted trough tiles
being continued at the ends beyond the sides or flanges, and brought down so
as to rest on the flat surface of the roof.
I would remark that in speaking of tiles I do not mean exclusively those

page_text: made of burnt clay (although such tiles. will be most generally useful) for
tiles may be similarly formed from rough glass, galvanized iron, and other
materials from which tiles are at present not unfrequently manufactured.
As a capping for walls I form a tile of such a length that when set on the
top of the wall it may project some inches beyond the face of the wall on
each side;
the tile is flat with a C-form trough formed along one of its edges,
and when the tiles are laid the other or plain edge of the one enters the
trough on the edge of the next, and the flat surfaces are inclined so as to
drain into the troughs. Along the under side of the plain edge of each tile a
throating is formed to prevent the water running back on the under side, and
behind this throating is a ridge or projection to prevent the plain edge entering
too far into the trough, which it does by coming against the lower external
edge of the C trough; the under side of the C trough is also throated at each
end to prevent the water running back. The tiles when in their places on the
wall rest thereon only at the under sides of the C-form troughs, the flat por-
tions of the tiles being maintained at a distance from the top of the wall; the
tiles may conveniently be fixed to the wall by cement, or wall hooks may be
employed for the same purpose. I prefer to secure the tiles the one to the
other by driving in small wedges of dry wood between the upper part or jaw
of each C-form trough and the upper surface of the flat tile which enters it.
I form these tiles by pressing clay through a die, which is so constructed as to
produce two tiles at the same time, the one tile lays on the other, and they
are connected the one to the other, the ridge or stop on the under side of the
plain edge of each tile being attached to the bottom of the C-form trough of
the other; the tiles are burnt in pairs, so connected together which causes
them to burn much straighter than they otherwise would, and they need not
be broken apart until they are required for use; breakage in carriage is thus
also diminished.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
August 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
TAYLOR, jun., of Roupell Park, Streatham, in the County of Surrey, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Taylor, Her special licence that I, the said John Taylor,
'my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Taylor, 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 Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF ROOFS FOR BUILDINGS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TILES SUITABLE FOR
USE FOR THIS AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Taylor, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Taylor, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:―
In the construction of roofs for buildings I employ a tiling which is similar
in principle to what is known as Italian tiling. Italian tiling is composed of
trough-formed tiles so laid that the horizontal lines along the roof consist
alternately of erect and inverted tiles. The first are usually made rectangular
and the latter simicircular, thus
all the tiles are made
tapering, that is to say, the trough is made wider at one end than at the
other. The rectangular tiles are laid with their narrow ends directed down-
wards, and they overlap and enter within the wider ends of the rectangular
tiles in the horizontal row next below so that the water may run from one
trough to another until it flows over at the eaves. The inverted tiles are laid
with their wider ends directed downwards, and they overlap the narrow ends of
the inverted tiles in the next lower row. This arrangement of tiling, however,
makes a thick and somewhat heavy looking covering for a roof in consequence
of the number of thicknesses at the lappings, the edges of the inverted tiles not
being able to come down flat on to the bottoms of the trough tiles on each side
as the inverted tiles are tilted up, in consequence of their edges at their upper
ends overlapping and resting on the lower ends of the rectangular tiles in the
row above..

page_text: Now according to my Invention I avoid this inconvenience by cutting away
a small piece (so as to form a notch) on each side of the narrow end of all the
tilės, both the erect and the inverted, the lengths of the notch being equal to
one half of the distance by which each horizontal row of tiles overlaps that next
below it.
It will be seen that this alteration in the form of the tiles will allow the
edges of the inverted tiles to descend down so as to bear from end to end on
the bottoms of the trough tiles on each side, the relative positions of the tiles
being in other respects the same as before described. I prefer in most cases
to make the inverted tiles of the same form as those which are laid in an erect
position in place of making them semicircular in section as is usual; this
simplifies the construction, but one pattern of tile being then required in place
of two as heretofore.
In order to form the ridges of tiling such as I have described, I make tiles
of two patterns, both in longitudinal section being of a saddle-like (or
inverted V) form so that they may rest on the ridge piece of the roof and lap
over it on each side. The tiles of one pattern in transverse section are similar
throughout to the smaller ends of the trough (or erect) tiles of the roofing, and
in laying them their ends are caused to enter the upper or wider ends of the
trough tiles on each side. The tiles of the other pattern correspond throughout
in transverse section with the wider ends of the inverted tiles, and in laying
them they are made to lap over the narrow ends of the inverted tiles on each
side of the ridge, their edges at the sides resting in the troughs of the first
described ridge tiles. Similar ridge tiles are applicable for ordinary slated or
other flat roofing, the upper surfaces of the inverted trough tiles being con-
tinued at the ends beyond the sides or flanges, and brought down so as to rest
on the flat surface of the roof.
I would remark that in speaking of tiles I do not mean exclusively those
made of burnt clay (although such tiles will be most generally useful), for tiles
may be similarly formed from rough glass, galvanized iron, and other materials
from which tiles are at present not unfrequently manufactured.
As a capping for walls I form a tile of such a length that when set on the
top of the wall it may project some inches beyond the face of the wall on each
side. The tile is flat with a C-form trough formed along one of its edges, and
when the tiles are laid the other or plain edge of the one enters the trough on
the edge of the next, and the flat surfaces are inclined so as to drain into the
troughs. Along the under side of the plain edge of each tile a throating is
formed to prevent the water running back on the under side, and bebind this
throating is a ridge or projection to prevent the plain edge entering too far

page_text: into the trough, which it does by coming against the lower external edge of
the C-trough. The under side of the C-trough is also throated at each end to
prevent the water running back. The tiles when in their places on the wall
rest thereon only at the under sides of the C-form troughs, the flat portions of
the tiles being maintained at a distance from the top of the wall. The tiles
may conveniently be fixed to the wall by cement, or wall hooks may be
employed for the same purpose. I prefer to secure the tiles the one to the
other by driving in small wedges of dry wood between the upper part or jaw
of cach C-form trough and the upper surface of the flat tile which enters it.
I form these tiles by pressing clay through a die which is so constructed as to
produce two tiles at the same time; the one tile lays on the other, and they
are connected the one to the other. The ridge or stop on the under side of
the plain edge of each tile being attached to the bottom of the C-form trough
of the other. The tiles are burnt in pairs, so connected together, which causes
them to burn much straighter than they otherwise would, and they need not be
broken apart until they are required for use; breakage in carriage is thus
also diminished.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed more fully
to describe the manner of performing the same..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a plan view of one of the tiles, the flanges or raised edges
being upwards. Figure 2 shews a plan of like tile with edges or flanges
downwards. These tiles are similar in form to the ordinary Italian tile with
the exception that part of the raised sides or flanges at the narrow ends of the
tiles are notched at the parts a, a, a distance equal to half that which it is
intended the tiles should overlap, this notching of the raised sides or flanges
may be as shewn at Figures 1 and 2, or it may, and I prefer that such notch-
ing of the flanges should be as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, where two similar
tiles are shewn in plan, and where the flanges are formed or notched in an
inclined direction, as is shewn at a', a¹; and I also prefer that each tile should
be formed with a projection or stop 6, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, and in
place of having holes c, c, for nails or pegs to be driven through the tiles, I
prefer to have notches as at d, d, in Figures 3 and 4, and to use hook-formed
nails driven into the roof at the sides of the tiles. Figure 5 shews two tiles
like those shewn at Figures 1 and 2 laid together; and Figure 6 shews two
of the tiles like those shewn at Figures 3 and 4 laid together; Figure 7 shews
a plan of six tiles notched like those shewn in Figures 1 and 2 laid together;
Figure 8 shews a section thereof; and Figure 9 shews a section of tiles with

page_text: 'inclined notches at the narrow ends of the tiles, and also stops, as shewn in
Figures 3 and 4. By thus forming the 'flanges of the narrow ends of the tiles
with notches, as shewn at a, a, and a¹, a¹, great advantage is obtained as com-
pared with the old Italian tiles, and also as compared with other similar tiles
where in addition to flanges at the sides of the tiles flanges have been formed
at the two ends of each tile.
: .
Figure 10 shews the manner of piling tiles when drying and burning the
same. In Figure 7 it will be seen that there are two rows of tiles with the
flanges erect or upwards, the widest ends of the tiles being upwards whilst
there is one row of tiles (the middle one) which are inverted; their widest ends
being downwards.
.
Figure 11 shews a transverse section of an upper ridge tile; and Figure 12
shews a transverse section of an under ridge tile suitable for being used with
slating.
Figure 13 shews a transverse section; and Figure 14 shews a longitudinal
view of part of a roof where upper and under or lower ridge tiles, such as are
shewn at Figures 11 and 12, are used in forming the ridge. Figure 15 shews
a transverse section of an upper ridge, tile, and Figure 16 shews a transverse
section of an under or lower ridge tile to be used when tiles such as before
described are used in covering a roof, as is shewn in the longitudinal view Figure
17, and transverse section Figure 18, in transverse sections Figures 11 and 12,
and also in Figures 15 and 16, flanges e, e, are formed at the ends of both
the upper and lower ridge tiles; the flanges of the lower ridge tiles are up-
wards, whilst the flanges of the upper ridge tiles are downwards.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which relates to the
construction of tiles suitable for capping walls.
Figure 19 shews a transverse section of the upper part of a wall capped
with tiles according to this part of my Invention.
Figure 20 shews a transverse section of two tiles in the form in which I
prefer them to be made by expressing clay or brick earth through a suitable
moulding die or orifice, so that two tiles may be simultaneously made slightly
attached together at f, f.
Figure 21 shews an end view or transverse section of one of the tiles
separately; and Figure 22 shews a portion of the upper part of a wall having
capping tiles thereon constructed according to this part of my Invention. It
will be seen that each tile has at one edge a C-formed trough g, whilst the
other edge is formed suitably to enter such C-formed trough, and to be wedged
or retained therein by the wedges h, h. By this arrangement any rain which

page_text: may fall on the flat upper surface, of a tile will flow down into the C-formed
trough of the next tile, and will flow out therefrom clear from the wall.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I would have it under-
stood that what I claim is,-
First, the construction of roofs and the manufacture of tiles with the side
flanges notched at the narrow ends of the tiles, as herein described, also ridge
tiles with flanges at their ends, as herein-described.
And, secondly, I claim the manufacture of tiles suitable for capping walls
with C-troughs at one side or edge, as herein-described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Taylor, have hereunto set my i
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JOHN TAYLOR, JUN. (L.S.)