Improvements in and connected with the Application of Expanded Metal to Constructional Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Application of Expanded
Metal to Constructional Purposes.
I, WILHELM GÜRTLER, of Wassily Ostrow, Gr. Perspective 61, St. Petersburg,
in the Empire of Russia, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion to be as follows:-
the
Lattice work formed out of metal sheets and known as "expanded metal'
although largely used, has, on account of its low resistance to flexure only been
used heretofore for gratings, trellis fencing, and the like. But such expanded
netal when placed edgewise is capable of considerable loads and
object of the present invention is to adapt it for the construction of lattice and
other girders, beams, joists, stringers, struts, longitudinal diagonal and cross-
ties, trusses, columns, pillars, and other members of metallic frames or structures
of different forms and dimensions embedded in or covered with, cement or other
material or without such covering according to the particular purpose for which
they are to be employed.
The mode of construction of this new type of structural elements or members
is as follows:-
In the manufacture of expanded metal from sheet steel, narrow non-slitted
marginal bands of sheet metal are left along the longitudinal edges of the sheet
(as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification) and such a sheet of expanded metal when placed edgewise will
form a girder of expanded metal of a strength depending on the gauge of the
sheet metal from which it is made.
By interlacing or assembling together two or more such sheets of expanded
metal to form the web of the lattice girder (as shewn in Figures 15 and 17) the
strength of the structure may be increased as may be required, and by bending
one or both of the non-slit marginal portions of the expanded metal sheet flanged
or L-angle iron top and bottom members may be formed, as in Figures 5 and 6,
and by assembling together two of these ✓ or U flanged sheets of expanded
metal, girders of Z, T, or I, section, as in Figures 7 and 8, may be formed of
a strength proportionate to the dimensions and thickness of the expanded metal.
By reason of the fact that during the manufacture of the expanded metal and
of the above described girders having non-slitted marginal strips the sheet metal
is only expanded or drawn out in one direction, the resistance of the sheet when
placed edgewise in the direction of the expansion (perpendicularly to the incisions
or to the strips) is more elastic but less rigid than the resistance of the same
sheet placed in a direction parallel to the incisions or to the strips.

page_text: In order to obtain any required degree of strength I may assemble or combine
with the lattice web of such a girder, one or more of these sheets of expanded
metal placed edgewise as in Figure 3. Such sheets of expanded metal placed
edgewise may be further strengthened and adapted for use as girders able to
support considerable stresses, by reinforcing them by means of top or bottom
members or shoe pieces formed of sheet metal strips bent or folded upon them-
selves so as to bring them to a cross sectional form of which examples are repre-
sented in Figures 9, 10, 11, that is to say such reinforcing members or shoe
pieces may either be of the plain section_shewn in Figure 11, or of the L-angle
iron section shewn in Figure 9, or of the T-angle iron section shewn in Figure 10.
Between the double webs of these shoes or flanged members there may be inserted
one or a number of sheets of expanded metal of a width and thickness suited
to the strength required, which are interlaced together and are secured to the
shoes or flanged members by rivetting, as illustrated in Figures 12 to 17.
These hollow flanged members or shoes are afterwards filled up with cement,
asphalt, or other rapidly hardening material in order to render them more solid.
Such beams or small girders of expanded metal, provided with plain or flanged
top and bottom members, may be used as component members of a new type in
various structures.
Sheets of expanded metal are generally of limited dimensions in the direction
of the length of the sheet and in order to construct beams or girders of any
required length the ends of the sheets may be jointed by an overlapping piece
and the joint thus formed inserted between the double webs of the top and bottom
sills or flanged members and secured therein by rivetting, as illustrated in
Figure 19, and in this way a beam or girder of indefinite length may be formed
in which the arrangement of the meshes of the expanded metal may be perpen-
dicular or parallel. Beams, girders, or other similar structures thus constructed
of any sectional form, may be embedded in or covered with a mass or coating of
cement, concrete, or plaster, which greatly increases the strength of the girder
and renders it proof against distortion by fire.
Sheets of expanded metal, provided with plain, flanged, or angled edges, as
shewn in Figures 20 to 29, may also be used as strengthening supports for
plaster or concrete ceilings or arches, by embedding them in the mass, as shewn
in Figures 49 to 53, parallel to one another, or in the form of lattice work
according to the strength required and the thickness of the mass.
Similar sheets of expanded metal of various dimensions and thicknesses, pro-
vided with plain or flanged edges, may also be used in the flat or transversely
curved for making pillars or columns of trellis or open work, posts for telegraph
and telephone wires and other similar structures of angular or circular section
by rivetting together the flanged edges of the sheets or component members of
the pillars or columns, as shewn in Figures 30 to 38.
By covering the elements of these structures with a hard cement, gutters,
channels, or pipes, for the conveyance of water, for ventilating purposes, or
the like, and other similar pieces for structural purposes, may be produced, and
it will be evident that in, addition to the various forms of girders, columns,
tubular pillars, and other structural elements herein before referred to, expanded
metal is by this invention adapted for use as a building material in lieu of
metal, stone, and wood in structures generally.
I will now refer more particularly to the accompanying drawings,
wherein Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of sheets of expanded
metal provided with non-slitted top and bottom marginal strips, and Figure 3
is a similar view of two similar sheets rivetted together. Figure 4 is a side
elevation of a single sheet of expanded metal. Figures 5 and 6 are perspective
views of sheets of expanded metal with the one of the non-slitted margins bent
to form an angle flange. Figure 7 shews a girder of T-section formed of two
oppositely flanged sheets of expanded metal (such as Figure 6) rivetted together
side by side. Figure 8 shews a girder. of I-section formed of two sheets of

page_text: expanded metal oppositely flanged at top and bottom and rivetted together.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 are perspective views of shoes formed of sheet metal strips
bent double of flat L or T angle section. Figure 12 shews a girder with top
and bottom members or shoes of the form shewn in Figure 11; and Figure 13
a similar girder with the lower member of the form Figure 11 and the top
member of the form Figure 9; and Figure 14 a similar girder but with the top
member of the form Figure 10. Figure 15 shews a similar girder to the last
but with the web made of two juxtaposed sheets of expanded metal. Figure 16
shews a girder with single web; and Figure 17 one with double web and both
top and bottom members of the form Figure 10; Figures 18 and 19 being side
elevations of Figure 16, the latter shewing the joint in the web. Figures 20 to 29
shew perspective views of various sections of flat or arched and flanged sheets of
expanded metal for embedding in concrete and for other structural purposes.
Figures 30 to 34 shew perspective views of sheets of expanded metal with plain
and flanged edges for square and round columns, shewn partly and completely
assembled in Figures 35, 36, 37, 38. Figures 39 to 43 shew various forms of
girders of flat or I section, formed by embedding the plain or flanged sheets
of expanded metal in cement of various sectional forms; and Figures 44 to 48
shew other forms with top and bottom members rivetted on. Figures 49 to 53
shew flanged flat or arched expanded metal sheets embedded in concrete ceilings,
their ends resting on girders, as in Figures 49 to 52, or on walls, as in Figures 50
to 53.
Toted thin Orth day of T... 1808
5
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
Improvements in and connected with the Application of Expanded
Metal to Constructional Purposes.
I, WILHELM GÜRTLER, of Wassily Ostrow, Gr. Perspective 61, St. Petersburg,
in the Empire of Russia, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
«
Lattice work formed out of metal sheets and known as
expanded metal"
although largely used, has, on account of its low resistance to flexure only been
used heretofore for gratings, trellis, fencing and the like. Such expanded metal
however, when placed edgewise is capable of supporting considerable loads and
the object of the present invention is to adapt it for the construction of lattice
and other girders, beams, joists, stringers, struts, longitudinal, diagonal and cross
ties, trusses, columns, pipes, pillars and other members of metallic frames or
structures of different forms and dimensions embedded in or covered with cement
or other material or without such covering according to the particular purpose
for which they are to be employed.
The mode of construction of this new type of structural elements or members
is as follows:-
In the manufacture of expanded metal from sheet steel, narrow non-slitted
marginal bands of sheet metal are left along the longitudinal edges of the sheet
(as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings accompanying my Provisional

page_text: Specification) and such a sheet of expanded metal when placed edgewise will
form a girder of expanded metal of a strength depending on the gauge of the
sheet metal from which it is made.
By interlacing or assembling together two or more sheets of expanded
metal to form the web of the lattice girder (as shewn in Figures 15 and 17) the
strength of the structure may be increased as may be required, and by bending
one or both of the non-slit marginal portions of the expanded metal sheet flanged
or L-angle iron top and bottom members may be formed, as in Figures 5 and 6,
and by assembling together two of these L U flanged sheets of expanded
metal, girders of Z, T, or I, section, as in Figures 7 and 8, may be formed of
a strength proportionate to the dimensions and thickness of the expanded metal.
By reason of the fact that during the manufacture of the expanded metal and
of the above described girders having non-slitted marginal strips the sheet metal
is only expanded or drawn out in one direction, the resistance of the sheet when
placed edgewise in the direction of the expansion (perpendicularly to the incisions
or to the strips) is more elastic but less rigid than the resistance of the same
sheet placed in a direction parallel to the incisions or to the strips.
In order to obtain any required. degree of strength I may assemble or combine
with the lattice web of such a girder, one or more of these sheets of expanded
metal placed edgewise as in Figure 3. Such sheets of expanded metal placed
edgewise may be further strengthened and adapted for use as girders able to
support considerable stresses, by reinforcing them by means of top or bottom
members or shoe pieces formed of sheet metal strips bent or folded upon them-
selves so as to bring them to a cross sectional form of which examples are repre-
sented in Figures 9, 10, 11, that is to say such reinforcing members or heads
may either be of the plain section shewn in Figure 11, or of the L-angle
iron section shewn in Figure 9, or of the T-angle iron section shewn in Figure 10.
Between the double webs of these heads or flanged members there may be inserted
one or a number of sheets of expanded metal of a width and thickness suited
to the strength required, which are interlaced together and are secured to the
heads or flanged members by rivetting, as illustrated in Figures 12 to 17.
These hollow flanged members or heads are afterwards filled up with cement.
asphalt, or other rapidly hardening material in order to render them more solid.
Such beams or small girders of expanded metal, provided with plain or flanged
top and bottom members, may be used as component members of a new type in
various structures.
Sheets of expanded metal are generally of limited dimensions in the direction
of the length of the sheet and in order to construct beams or girders of any
required length the ends of the sheets may be jointed by an overlapping piece
and the joint thus formed inserted between the double webs of the top and bottom
sills or flanged members and secured therein by rivetting, as illustrated in
Figure 19, and in this way a beam or girder of indefinite length may be formed
in which the arrangement of the meshes of the expanded metal may be perpen-
dicular or
parallel. Beams, girders, or other similar structures thus constructed
of any sectional form, may be embedded in or covered with a mass or coating of
cement, concrete, or plaster, which greatly increases the strength of the girder
and renders it proof against distortion by fire.
Sheets of expanded metal, provided with plain, flanged, or angled edges, as
shewn in Figures 20 to 29, may also be used as strengthening supports for
plaster or concrete ceilings or arches, by embedding them in the mass, as shewn
in Figures 49 to 53, parallel to one another, or in the form of lattice work
according to the strength required and the thickness of the mass.
Similar sheets of expanded metal of various dimensions and thicknesses, pro-
vided with plain or flanged edges, may also be used in the flat or transversely
curved for making pillars or columns of trellis or open work, posts for telegraph
and telephone wires and other similar structures of angular or circular section

page_text: by rivetting together the flanged edges of the sheets or component members of
the pillars or columns, as shewn in Figures 30 to 38.
By covering the elements of these structures with a hard cement, gutters,
channels, or pipes, for the conveyance of water, for ventilating purposes, or
the like, and other similar pieces for structural purposes, may be produced, and
it will be evident that in addition to the various forms of girders, columns,
tubular pillars, and other structural elements hereinbefore referred to, expanded
metal is by this invention adapted for use as a building material in lieu of
metal, stone and wood in structures generally.
I will now refer more particularly to the drawings accompanying my Provisional
Specification, wherein Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of sheets of expanded
metal provided with non-slitted top and bottom marginal strips, and Figure 3
is a similar view of two similar sheets rivetted together. Figure 4 is a side
elevation of a single sheet of expanded metal. Figures 5 and 6 are perspective
views of sheets of expanded metal with one of the non-slitted margins bent
to form an angle flange. Figure 7 shews a girder of T-section formed of two
oppositely flanged sheets of expanded metal (such as Figure 6) rivetted together
side by side. Figure 8 shews a girder of I-section formed of two sheets of
expanded metal oppositely flanged at top and bottom and rivetted together.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 are perspective views of shoes formed: of sheet metal stripa
bent double of flat, L or T angle section. Figure 12 shews a girder with top
and bottom members or shoes of the form shewn in Figure 11 and Figure 13
a similar girder with the lower member of the form Figure 11 and the top
member of the form Figure 9; and Figure 14 a similar girder but with the top
member of the form Figure 10. Figure 15 shews a similar girder to the last
but with the web made of two juxtaposed sheets of expanded metal. Figure 16
shews a girder with single web and both top and bottom members of the form
shown in Figure 10; and Figure 17 one with double web and both top and bottom
members of the form Figure 10; Figures 18 and 19 being side elevations of
Figure 16, the latter shewing the joint in the web. Figures 20 to 23 shew
perspective views of various sections of flat or arched and flanged sheets of
expanded metal for embedding in and strengthening concrete ceilings. Figures 24
to 29 show different types of flat or arched sheets of expanded metal having
flat, bent or angle iron Hanges. Figures 30 to 34 shew perspective views of sheets
of expanded metal with plain and flanged edges for square and round columns
the parts being shown partly assembled in Figures 35 and 36 and completely
assembled in Figures 37 and 38. Figures 39 to 43 shew various forms of
girders of flat, T or I section, formed by embedding plain or flanged sheets of
expanded metal placed edgewise in cement of various sectional forms; and
Figures 44 to 48 shew other forms of girders with top and bottom members
rivetted on. Figures 49 to 53 shew the manner of embedding the flanged, flat
or arched expanded metal sheets in, concrete ceilings, their ends resting on
girders, as in Figures 49 to 52, or on walls as in Figures 50 to 53.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. The herein described system of constructing girders, beams, columns and
other structural elements, characterized by the employment for this purpose of
sheets of expanded metal placed edgewise, substantially as specified.
2nd. Constructing beams, girders, or other similar structures of flat T or I
section of sheets of expanded metal placed edgewise, and having flanges or heads
of flat or Tangle iron section substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 9 to 17.
3rd. The employment of sheets or strips of expanded metal with flat, bent or
angle iron edges or flanges embedded in the cement, concrete or plaster, of

page_text: vaults and ceilings and other similar structural purposes, for the purpose of
strengthening the same as specified.
4th. Fireproof beams or girders formed of plain or flanged sheets of expanded
metal embedded or covered with cement or other similar material, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 39 to 48 of the drawings.
5th. Constructing columns, pillars, gutters, channels and pipes of square or
circular section of sheets of expanded metal, embedded or not in cement, sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figures 30 to 38.
Dated this 11th day of Avril 1899.
A. M. & WM. CLARK
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.