Improvements in and connected with Ceilings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1896--Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Ceilings.
I, GUSTAV DE BRUYN, of 48, Hirschgraben, Hamburg, in the German
Empire, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means for deadening sound in
ceilings.
Ceilings have hitherto been deadened to sound by means of boards arranged
between the joists and covered with clay and sand but such boards possess the
disadvantage that they do not deaden sound to the desired extent and in the case
of fire the thin boards are easily burned through whereby the ceiling is heavily
loaded with the layer of clay and sand.
Now it is the object of the present invention to overcome these objections and
to this end I employ curved plates or slabs which are rigidly secured between the
wooden joists.
The joists are provided along their length with fillets or strips adapted to support
the slabs and between each pair of adjacent joists I arrange a moulding board
parallel to the same which board is however removed on the completion of the
ceiling. The plates which are curved or arched on their undersides, are manu-
factured by pressing gypsum, ashes and other suitable light strengthening material
in wrought iron moulds. Strips of iron can if desired be embedded in the slabs
thereby imparting great strength to the same.
The dry plates or slabs are so arranged that they rest with the lower edges of
one end on the strips or fillets in close proximity to the joists and with their other
ends on the moulding board and leave a triangular space between each joist and
slab and a space between the inner ends of each two slabs. These spaces are filled
with plaster which before it sets is well rammed in thereby forming key pieces.
The slabs are formed with horizontal grooves which are filled with plaster rammed
in so that an excellent joint is formed.
When the plaster has set the moulding board is removed and a perfectly
rigid structure is obtained which instead of loading the joists adds to theír
strength.
The ceiling is perfectly sound-proof and is not affected by the growth of fungus
neither is it favorable to the spread of vermin and impurities.
Danger from fire is lessened not only by the incombustible nature of the
materials employed but also by the compactness of the finished ceiling as no air
current can find its way through the same. The ceiling therefore complies with
all requirements including those of sanitation and is also cheap to construct.
In practice the slabs can be made of one average size any difference in the
distance between the joists only increasing or decreasing the space left between the
inner ends of the slabs when laid in position. If necessary a layer of sand, ashes
or the like can be placed on the plaster slabs, which layer is preferably not very
thick in order not to unduly load the ceiling.
Dated the 3rd day of October 1895.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, GUSTAV DE BRUYN, of 48, Hirschgraben, Hamburg, in the 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in means for deadening sound in
ceilings.
Ceilings have hitherto been deadened to sound by means of boards arranged
between the joists and covered with clay and sand but such boards possess the
disadvantage that they do not deaden sound to the desired extent and in the
case of fire the thin boards are easily burned through whereby the ceiling
becomes heavily loaded with the layer of clay and sand.
Now it is the object of the present invention to overcome these objections and
to this end I employ curved plates or slabs which are rigidly secured between
the wooden joists of the ceiling.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe it by reference to
the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a ceiling in course of construction according
to my invention :
Figure 2 is a similar view of a finished ceiling.
The joists a, a are provided along their length with fillets or strips c, c adapted
to support the slabs b, band between each pair of adjacent joists I arrange a
moulding board d parallel to the same, which board is however removed on the
completion of the ceiling. The plates which are curved or arched on their
undersides are manufactured by compressing gypsum, ashes and other suitable
light strengthening material in wrought iron moulds. Strips of iron e can, if
desired, be embedded in the slabs & thereby imparting great strength to the
game.
The dry plates or slabs b, b are so arranged that they rest with the lower edges
of one end on the strips of fillets e in close proximity to the joists a and with
their other ends on the moulding board d so that they leave a triangular space f
between each joist and slab and a space y between the inner ends of each two slabs.
These spaces and y are filled with plaster which before it sets is well rammed
in thereby forming key pieces. The slabs are formed with horizontal grooves /
which are filled with plaster rammed in so that an excellent joint is formed.
When the plaster has set the moulding board d is removed and a perfectly
rigid structure is obtained which instead of loading the joists adds to their
strength.
The ceiling perfectly sound-proof and is not affected by the growth of fungus
neither is it favourable to the spread of vermin and impurities.
Danger from fire is lessened not only by the incombustible nature of the
materials employed but also by the compactness of the finished ceiling as no cir
current can find its way through the same. The ceiling therefore complies with ell
requirements including those of sanitation and is also cheap to construct.
In practice the slabs can be made of one average size, any difference in the
distance between the joists only increasing or decreasing the space left between
the inner ends of the slabs when laid in position. If necessary a layer of sand,
ashes or the like enn be placed on the plaster slabs, which layer is preferably not
very thick in order not to unduly load the ceiling.

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 :-
1. A ceiling having two curved slabs arranged symmetrically between the joists
and secured to the said joists and to one another by means of plaster fillings,
substantially as described.
2. A ceiling having two curved slabs arranged symmetrically between the joists,
the said slabs being composed of gypsum, ashes and a suitable light strengthening
material and being secured together and to the joists by means of gypsum fillings,
substantially as described.
3. The improved ceiling herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing.
Dated the 3rd day of July 1896.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.