IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Woodhouse, of Woolston, in the County of South-
ampton, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCKS FOR BUILDING
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st December 1876, and dated the 10th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Woodhouse at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th July 1876.
"
JAMES WOODHOUSE, of Woolston, in the County of Southampton. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BLOCKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to concrete blocks for building purposes, and has for its
principal object to ensure dryness in the structure by thoroughly ventilating the
walls, as well as to lessen the cost of construction and render the structure lighter.
According to my Invention the concrete blocks, which are of rectangular form, are
mounted with a half round or other shaped groove extending entirely around the
block along the top, bottom, and end faces, so that when the blocks are laid together
the walls will by the conjunction of the grooves in the adjacent blocks be pierced
from top to bottom and from end to end with a number of vertical and horizontal
tubular cavities which intersect each other. The blocks are further pierced by a
tubular cavity of oblong or other form in cross section, passing vertically through
the middle of each block and intersecting the horizontal cavities above mentioned.
The vertical cavity coincides with that of the blocks above and below so as to form
a continuous cavity extending the whole height of the wall.
The concrete of which the blocks are made may be composed of various materials,
but principally shingle and cement. The blocks are surfaced so as to require no
plastering, and they may be made either plain or of any ornamental form, and of
various colors desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Janes Woodhouse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th January
1877.
JAMES WOODHOUSE, of Woolston, in the County of Southampton. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BLOCKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to concrete blocks for building purposes, and has for its
principal object to ensure dryness in the structure by thoroughly ventilating the
walls, as well as to lessen the cost of construction and render the structure lighter.
According to my Invention the concrete blocks, which are of rectangular form,
are moulded with a half round or other shaped groove extending along the middle
of, the top, bottom, and end faces so that when the blocks are laid together the
walls will by the conjunction of the grooves in the adjacent blocks be pierced
from top to bottom and from end to end with a number of vertical and horizontal
tubular cavities which intersect each other. The blocks are further pierced by a
tubular cavity of oblong or other form in cross section, passing vertically through
the middle of each block and intersecting the horizontal cavities above mentioned.
The vertical cavity coincides with that of the blocks above and below so as to form
a continuous cavity extending the whole height of the wall.
The concrete of which the blocks are made is composed of pounded shingle, burnt
clay, and other inexpensive materials, such as scovia clinkers crushed and mixed with
a certain portion of cement. The blocks are surfaced so as to require no plastering,
and they may be made either of plain or of any ornamental forin for architectural
mouldings and string courses, and of various colors desired.
In order that my Invention may be better understood I have illustrated it in the
accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan, and Figure 2 a longitudinal
section of one block on line 1, 1, Figure 1. Figure 3 shows an end view of two
blocks, laid one on top of the other. The block A is provided with the half round
cavity B, which extends along the top, bottom, and end faces, and forms, when the
blocks are laid together horizontal and vertical tubular cavities between the blocks,
as herein-before specified. C is a tubular cavity of oblong or other shape passing
vertically through the middle of the block, and which coincides with those of the
blocks above and below. D are V grooves in the end faces which come opposite
to those in the ends of the adjacent block and form with them spaces for the
reception of cement to form dowels or keys to hold the blocks together.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the manufacture of building blocks of
concrete with grooves and cavities therein, forming, when the blocks are laid
together horizontal and vertical air passages in the walls which intersect one
another, substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Woodhouse, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES WOODHOUSE. (LS.)