IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-PROOF CEILINGS AND FLOORS AND IN BLOCKS OR TILES THEREFOR to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: or Tiles therefor.
I, HORATIO RICHARD SNELGROVE, of 8, The Grove, Clapham Common, in the
County of Surrey, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-PROOF CEILINGS AND FLOORS AND IN BLOCKS OR TILES
THEREFOR to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates to fire-proof ceilings and floors and is designed to improve
the construction thereof as hereinafter set forth.
My improved ceiling is composed of hollow blocks of fire-clay or similar material
which are placed so that they rest upon iron girders. These blocks are formed
with a series of longitudinal chambers or passages which are separated by vertical
webs and which contain air. This air prevents, or greatly impedes, the transmission
of heat through the ceiling. The said blocks are made of any desired length
according to the distance between the girders upon which they are to be supported.
They are, moreover, made with notches in the ends of the said vertical webs so
that the blocks can be readily inserted in place between the girders after the latter
have been fixed in a building. The said blocks are square, oblong, circular or of
other suitable shape in transverse section..
My invention is conveniently and advantageously carried into practice as follows,
that is to say, I make each fire-clay block either square, curvilinear, elliptical, or
oblong in transverse section and with upper intermediate and bottom plates or
flanges united by vertical webs in such a manner as to form a greater or less
number of longitudinal air chambers or passages. Each of the said ribs is made
with a V-shaped notch in each end so that there is a notch between every two
adjacent plates or flanges. The top flange and middle plate or plates are of such
length that they will fit between the webs of the two girders which are to support
the block. The length of the bottom flange is a little less than the distance
between the edges of the flanges of the two girders. The manner in which the
blocks are inserted after the girders are fixed during the construction of a building
is as follows, viz:-The block is held in an oblique position in a plane perpendicular
to the girders and is lowered between two girders, the notch at the lower end of
the block being caused to engage with the bottom flange of one girder so as to

page_text: permit the bottom flange or plate at the higher end of the block to pass the top
flange of the other girder; the notch at this end is then caused to engage with the
top flange of this girder to permit the lower end of the block to be inserted in its
place; the upper end of the block can then be lowered into its place. When the
block is in place the second plate or flange from the bottom thereof rests with a
considerable bearing surface upon the bottom flanges of the girders, and the bottom
plate or flange projects below the said girder flanges to receive plates or flat pieces
of fire-clay which are inserted between the ends of the bottom flanges of the blocks
on one side of the girder flange and those on the other side thereof and thus protect
the lower flange of the girder. The ends of the said bottom flanges are bevelled,
or otherwise suitably shaped, to support the said plates or pieces of fire-clay.
After the blocks are in place, the spaces between the notched ends of the blocks
and the girder webs are filled up with cement or fire-clay. Moreover the said
plates or flat pieces of fire-clay may, if desired, be secured in place by cement.
The flooring above the ceiling is either of wood or of concrete on a sand core.
When it is of wood, the space between the ceiling and the floor is sometimes filled,
or partially filled, with sand or concrete, or both.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Fire-proof Ceilings and Floors, and in Blocks
or Tiles therefor.
I, HORATIO RICHARD SNELGROVE, of 8 The Grove, Clapham Common, in the
County of Surrey, 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:-
My invention relates to fire-proof ceilings and floors of that class wherein hollow
blocks of fire-clay or other suitable material are supported upon iron girders or.
joists. The air contained in these hollow blocks prevents, or greatly impedes, the
transmission of heat and sound through the ceiling and floor.
The chief feature of my invention is the construction or formation of these
blocks in such a manner that they can be readily inserted in place between the
girders or joists, after the latter have been fixed in a building, and will have ample
bearing surface upon the flanges of the said girders or joists.
My said invention, moreover, comprises various improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of part of a ceiling and floor constructed
according to my said invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sections, shewing different forms of my improved
blocks or tiles.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sections through two girders or joists,
illustrating the manner of inserting the blocks or tiles between the same.
Figure 7 is a vertical section, and
Figure 8 a plan of part of another ceiling and floor constructed in accordance
with my said invention.
Figure 9 is a vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a vertical section, shewing a modification of my invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a, a¹ are two of the iron girders or joists for supporting the ceiling and floor of a
building. b, b are the hollow blocks or tiles which rest thereon. These blocks are
shewn rectangular, but they may be of any other suitable shape in transverse
section. I prefer to make the said blocks as shewn in Figure 2 or in Figure 3, that
is to say, each block is made with an upper plate or slab b¹, an intermediate plate
or slab b, and a lower plate or slab 63, united by vertical webs or ribs b. The
intermediate plate or slab 68 is longer than either the top or the bottom plate or
slab. The said webs or ribs are notched at each end, as at c, c¹, to permit the
insertion of the block into its place between the girders a, a¹.
:
The manner of inserting the blocks between the said girders is illustrated in
Figures 4, 5, and 6, and is as follows, viz:-The block is first lowered between the
girders a, a¹ in an oblique position until the notch cat the lower end of the said
block engages with the bottom flange of the girder a, for example, as shewn by
dotted lines in Figure 4. The other end of the block can then pass the edge of the

page_text: top Bange of the girder a¹. The notch c, at this end of the block, is then caused
to engage with the said top flange, as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 5, to permit
the lower end of the block to be moved into place on the bottom flange of the
girder a. The notch o' then engages with this flange as shewn by dotted lines in
Figure 6, so that, in finally lowering the block into its place, the lower plate 6 of
the said block will pass the bottom flange of the girder a¹.
By making the blocks with the intermediate plate longer than the upper and
lower plates, and notching their ends in the manner above described, I provide for
obtaining large bearing surfaces of the blocks upon the girders or joists, and, at
the same time, enabling the said blocks to be very readily inserted in place after.
the erection of the outer walls of a building and the fixing of the girders or joists
during such erection. The length of the bottom plate or slab is slightly less than
the distance between the edges of the flanges of the girders a, a¹.
The ends of the lower plates or slabs 6s are bevelled or inclined as shown,
and plates or flat pieces d of fire-clay or other suitable material are inserted
between, and supported by, the same. These plates or pieces cover the lower
flanges of the girders and serve to protect the same against injury by fire, an air-
space being left between the said plates or pieces and the girders.
The plates or pieces d are very readily inserted by pushing them upward in an
oblique position between the blocks b and then turning them into a borizontal
position and lowering them into place.
After the blocks are in place, the spaces between the notched ends of the blocks
and the girder-webs are filled up with cement-grouting, fire-clay, or other suitablo
material. Moreover the plates or pieces d are, if desired, secured in place by means
of cement.
Instead of using flat pieces, I sometimes use ornamental pieces d¹ in the form of
projections, mouldings or ribs. These pieces afford an opportunity for architectural
and decorative treatment by which a considerable effect may be obtained at a
small additional cost.
The flooring above the ceiling is either of wood, tiles or stone; or of concrete on
a sand core, or of other suitable material. When it is of wood, the space between
the ceiling and the floor is sometimes filled, or partially filled, with sand or concrete,
or both.
I sometimes place upon the blocks b, between the girders a, a¹, tiles e, Figures 7,
8 and 9. These tiles are U-shaped in transverse section and are of such length
that, when either end of one of the said tiles is in contact with the web of one of
the girders, the other end. of the said tile will be clear of the flange of the other
girder. The said tiles are arranged as shewn in Figure 8, that is to say, they are
placed alternately in contact with either girder. The interstices between these
tiles are then filled with cement-grouting, concrete, or other suitable material.
In Figures 7 and 9, I have shewn a concrete flooring covered with flat tiles.
According to a modification of my invention, I dispense with the upper plate or
slab and construct my improved blocks or tiles as shewn in Figure 10. In making
a ceiling and floor with these blocks, I combine, with the said blocks, the plates or
pieces dor d' as above described.
By my invention I obtain the following advantages, viz:-There are fewer parts
than in ceilings and floors of this kind or class as heretofore constructed, and the
blocks are very easily put in place; therefore considerable economy is effected with.
respect to the construction of the ceiling and floor. The ironwork is fully protected
against fire. The ceiling does not require plastering, and, if it is desired to apply
plaster thereto, no "furring down" is necessary. Although the weight of a ceiling
and floor constructed according to my invention is only about one third of that of
a ceiling and floor made entirely of concrete or brickwork, yet it is capable of
sustaining great weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
învention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood

page_text: that I do not confine myself to the special forms of blocks shewn in the accom-
panying drawing, as I may, if desired, inake notches in blocks of any other suitable
shape for the purpose of my invention, and I declare that what I claim is :-
First. A hollow block or tile of fire-clay or other suitable material formed with
notches as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Second. The improved block or tile consisting of the upper, intermediate, and
lower plates or slabs united by webs or ribs having notched ends, substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or to Figure 3 of the drawing for the
purpose specified.
Third. The modification of my improved block or tile wherein I dispense with
the upper plate or slab, substantially as described with reference to Figure 10 of
the drawing.
Fourth. The combination, with my improved blocks or tiles b, of the plates or
pieces d or d supported upon the lower plates or slabs of the said blocks or tiles,
substantially as described with reference to Figure 1, or to Figure 10 of the
drawing for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The combination, with my improved blocks or tiles b and the plates or
pieces d or d¹, of the U-shaped tiles e, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawing for the purpose specified.