IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND PAVING AND ENGINEERING WORKS, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR RESISTING DAMP, WATER, AND FIRE, AND FOR WARMING, VENTILATING, COOLING, OR SOUND RESISTING PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Pritchett, of Bishop's Stortford, in the
County of Herts, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF BUILDINGS AND PAVING AND ENGINEERING WORKS, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
RESISTING DAMP, WATER, AND FIRE, AND FOR WARMING, VENTILATING,
COOLING, OR SOUND RESISTING PURPOSES.”
Sealed the 22nd April 1879, and dated the 1st November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edward Pritchett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1878.
GEORGE EDWARD PRITCHETT, of Bishop's Stortford, in the County of Herts.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND PAVING AND ENGI-
NEERING WORKS, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR RESISTING DAMP, WATER, AND FIRE, AND
FOR WARMING, VENTILATING, COOLING, OR SOUND RESISTING PURPOSES."
My Invention for the purposes above set forth consists in the application of pipes
and tubing, or hollow ware, or material of any size or shape, which will form the
substrata when laid for paving roadways, or such like purposes; also for fire-
resisting or other purposes, such as for floors and for forming walls and partitions in
houses or buildings, or in lining or casing same, and for filling in or covering roofs,
walls, and floors in new or existing buildings.
In carrying out my Invention I adopt inainly the following arrangements :-
Piping, tubing, hollow ware, or material of hollow construction may be placed
side by side or otherwise, so as to admit air warned or cooled, and same can be made
in single, multiple, or other forms.

page_text: The-said-piping, tubing, hollow ware, or material can be fixed in suitable posi-
tions, and joined, cemented, or asphalted by such processes, and with materials
suitable for constructive and ventilating-purposes, and the air in the pipes can
be warmed by oil or suitable means. The said piping, tubing, hollow ware, or
material may in some cases be formed with-rebates or clips, or may be perforated as
may be required; and also provided with suitable cores. The pipes, tubes, hollow
ware, or material may be prepared and formed into blocks or slabs ready for use.
When the pipes, tubes, hollow ware, or material is or are perforated, same serve as
channels for the admission or extraction of air into or from the said system of
pipes. In erecting, the pipes are laid to suit the construction or building required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Edward Pritchett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st May 1879.
16
GEORGE EDWARD PRITCHETT, of Bishop's Stortford, in the County of Herts.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND PAVING AND ENGI-
NEERING WORKS, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR RESISTING DAMP, WATER, AND FIRE, AND
FOR WARMING, VENTILATING, COOLING, OR SOUND RESISTING PURPOSES."
My Invention for the purposes above set forth consists in the application of pipes
and tubing, or hollow ware, or other material of any size or shape which will form
the substrata when laid for paving roadways, or such like purposes; also for fire
resisting or other purposes, such as for floors and for forming walls and partitions in
houses or buildings, or in lining or casing same, and for filling in or covering roofs,
walls, or floors in new or existing buildings.
In carrying out my Invention I adopt substantially the following arrangements:-
Piping, tubing, hollow ware, or material of hollow construction may be placed side
by side or otherwise, so as to admit air warmed or cooled, and same can be made in
single, multiple, or other forms. The said piping, tubing, hollow ware, or material
can be fixed in suitable positions, and joined, ceniented, or asphalted by such pro-
cesses and with materials suitable for constructive and ventilating purposes, and the
air in the pipes can be warmed by oil or suitable means. The said piping, tubing,
hollow ware, or material may in some cases be formed with rebates or clips, or may
be perforated as may be required, and also provided with suitable cores. The pipes,
tubes, hollow ware, or material may be prepared and formed into blocks or slabs
ready for use. When the pipes, tubes, hollow ware, or material is or are perforated,
same serve as channels for the admission or extraction of air into or from the said
system of pipes. In erecting, the pipes are laid to suit the construction or building
required.
Amongst the improvements and methods I adopt I make pipes, tubings, and
hollow wares round or of polygonal form, and of the several sections and shapes
shown in the accompanying Sheets I. and II. of the Drawings.
They may be of various sizes, diameters, lengths, thicknesses, or contours. They
may be of red, blue, black, buff, or white ware, or of stoneware glazed or unglazed,
or of other materials. The shapes and contours of the pipes may be varied in detail
to suit requirements. Ordinary agricultural or other pipes, tubings, and hollow
wares may also be used. The pipes, tubings, and hollow ware constructions may
be formed by or in groups, and fitted side by side, and they may be laid vertically,
diagonally, or horizontally,, and so as to "break joint" or otherwise, and may be
jointed and grouted with cement, selenitic or other lime, asphalte, or other materials,
so as to form strong thick or thin walls for buildings and any erections; and for
pavings and floors of any kind they may receive coatings and facings of cementitious
compounds, and as hereafter described.
The lower storey of a house may be of pipes, tubings, and hollow ware construc-
tion, and the uppper storey may be of wood or other material.
Pipes, tubings, and hollow ware construction may be used as a substratum under
wooden or other pavings for streets, roads, paths, and other places (see Fig. 1); also
for forming cement or asphalte pavements and floors in houses and cottages, and for
receiving encaustic or other tiles or wooden or other floors of any description. For
prevention of damp and for saving height in buildings and in cottages such pave-
ments and floorings may be used with great advantage, utility and comfort (see
Fig. 1).
These applications and systems of pipes, tubings, and hollow wares act well for
draining purposes, and they will carry off water or damp as it arises in any parts of
cellars, basements, areas, retaining walls, or in any other damp and wet situations.
Air will and can be admitted into these systems of pipes, tubings, and hollow wares

page_text: ventilating, cooling, and other purposes.
Such a system of pipes, tubings, and hollow wares may be laid under the whole
area of gravelled roads, paths, and such like places, and as aforesaid, so as to ensure
Lor-provide a dry top surface, and for rapidly carrying off rain and snow water (see
Figs. 1a, b, b', and c).
over.
-Stables, sheds, yards, and all other such like places may be laid and paved with
such application of pipes, tubings, and hollow wares, by which means horses and
stock will lie and be kept dry; and if litter be spread upon them it will be econo-
mised, as wherever water, urine, and damp-occurs it will be carried and. driven, off
by the piping, and air can and will be admitted through the pipes, which will be
open to the air or led into up cast shafts, which will aerate the pipes, tubings, and
hollow ware. In such cases the pipes, tubes, and hollow ware are not cemented
Another improvement and method I adopt is to lay pipes, tubing, and hollow
wares aforesaid between iron and wooden joists, timbers, or girders of any descrip-
tion, so as to form a strong and fire proof construction. These pipes, tubings, and
hollow wares may be laid and placed longitudinally, or they may be placed and laid
transversely, and they may be chambered, arched, and fitted in various positions as
required, and spandrils and spaces may be filled in with them or with concrete or
cementitious compounds ready to receive floorings and linings, and ceilings and
decorations on the same (see Figs. 2 and 2a, Sheet 1).
Another improvement and method I adopt is to construct walls, partitions, chim-
neys, floors, and other parts of buildings systematically with the pipes, tubings, and
hollow ware aforesaid. This will be done principally by grouping and placing pipes,
tubings, and hollow ware vertically side by side, or diagonally to assist bond, or
horizontally for any constructive purposes, and to form arches and openings for
various purposes, for instance, doorways and windows. They will also be placed so
as to form any thickness of walls for strength of construction, and for resisting the
passage of sounds, and as required and so as to break joint, and will be cemented
and grouped together in combination with brickwork where desired or required.
Rows of these pipes, tubes, or hollow, wares may be worked in diagonally so as to
strengthen the construction. The ends of the pipes will or may be bevilled and
made to fit into each other, so as to form clips and ties when placed together.
Dowels of any material may be introduced into them for the purpose of bonding
and strengthening the construction, as shown in Fig. 3. Skeleton framings of iron,
wood, or other material may or may not be provided to receive or maintain the
construction herein described. Battens, boards, and such like material may or may
.not be used to secure the pipes, tubings, and hollow wares as the work of erecting
and concreting is carried on.
Set-offs may be formed by angular plinth pipes or by square or projecting set offs
by means of pipes, so as to receive plates of timber and other material for joisting
and girders, roof, timbers, etc., and for the resting and springing of arches, junctions,
floors, roofs, or other portions of buildings aforesaid; and reveals and rebates may
be formed to receive windows and door frames, also carpenters', joiners', and smiths'
work, as well as that of other trades (Fig. 4, Sheet 1, a, b, and c).
'Pipes, tubings, or hollow wares may be bent and formed for the aforesaid and
'other purposes, either in single or multiple form, of any suitable size, shape, length,
and diameter (see Fig. 5, Sheet 1). Girders and joists of iron, oak, or other wood or
material may be connected with external and other walls; and pipes, tubings, and
hollow wares may be filled in between the girders and joists, as aforesaid. These
(pipes, tubings, and hollow wares will admit of air, cold or hot, being passed through
them spontaneously or by force, so that floors and spaces, rooms, cupboards, and so
forth can be warmed by the admission of heated air or cooled by air passing through
them. Floors, rooms, spaces, cupboards, etc., as aforesaid, can be cooled by bringing
cold air through the pipes, tubings, or hollow ware; and ice may be used for cooling
and refrigerating, as also hereinafter described.

page_text: Another improvement and method I make use of is to fill in spaces between
rafters of roofs, whether of iron or wood, flat or angular, with pipes, tubings, and
hollow wares of suitable sizes and sections aforesaid, so as to form channels or tunnels
from outside to outside, or side to side of flat roofs, new or old, or from eaves to
ridges of angular roofs.
These channels or tunnels will be left open at the caves and ridges so as to allow
the circulation of air through them. This method draws off and prevents the
accumulation of damp and noxious vapours in pipes, tubings, or hollow wares; it
also has a cooling effect in summer and checks cold in winter, and prevents the
noise of hailstones or rain.
The open ends of the pipes, tubes, or hollow wares may be protected with per-
forated material, so as to exclude birds and insects. After the hollow curvilinear
tubings, pipings, and hollow wares are fixed, and bedded, and cemented, the same
will be flushed up with cement or other material to a smooth surface, so as to throw
wet into the caves, troughs, gutters, or outlets, which may be casily fixed and
provided for (see Fig. 6, a, b, c, d, e, and f, Sheet 1).
Such pipes, tubes, and hollow wares aforesaid will be placed so as to assist venti-
lation and cure smoky chimneys. Pipes can be led from any distance and brought
in connection with fenders, floors, hearths, stoves, grates, or flues, and air will be
admitted into the pipes so as to supply sufficient air for promoting ventilation, and
for ensuring proper and complete combustion of fuel (see Figs. 7 and 7b,
Sheet 2).
Another improvement and method I adopt is to supply and fix piping, tubing,
and curvilinear ware for lining the external and internal walls and partitions, floors,
ceilings, or any parts or portions of buildings and erections to stop or check the
penetration of wet or damp. The said hollow curvilinear ware or tubing will or
may be fixed either by T nails, clips, dovetails, or otherwise, and arranged so as to
allow air to circulate through or between them and the walls; thus the passage of
damp is prevented, and evaporation from and through the walls internally is also
stopped (see Fig. 8, Sheet 2). The upper or convex surface of the hollow tubing or
curvilinear ware after fixing is "rendered" with cement or cementitious compounds,
and these may be finished and worked up to a good close and hard face with non-
porous cement or other material, and the surface may be polished, and the said pipes
may be lined with tiles and so forth (see said Fig. 8).
This method is particularly adapted for hospitals, contagion-wards, or any other
buildings where close non-porous walls are required, and such as can be washed and
cleansed, and where security from or against internal evaporation from air and damp
passing through the external walls is necessary or required.
These pipes, tubes, or hollow wares may have a coating of pitch or other material
applied to them internally before being fixed.
These pipes, tubes, and hollow wares may be provided with junctions, perforations,
and inlets and outlets, so as to fit on to the vertical or obliquely placed pipes, for
promoting ventilation or otherwise; they may be of various lengths, as required,
and they may be rebated, lapped, and secured by clips and T nails, or such like
appliances.
Another improvement and method I adopt is to manufacture double or single
pipes, tubings, and hollow wares with curved webbs and indented sides. These can
be made single or double, and indented as aforesaid.
In bedding these pipes, tubings, and hollow wares they will key and overlap each
other, and form strong constructions for arches, floors, roofs, or other parts of
buildings in single or multiple form and arrangement, as more particularly shewn
in Figs. 3 and 3a, Sheet 1, and Fig. 9, Sheet 2. Webbed pipes, tubings, and hollow
wares may be used at intervals, as required, so as to form bond in the construction
of any building or erection of pipes, tubes, and hollow ware or otherwise, and they
may be placed vertically, horizontally, or otherwise, and bedded with cement, selenitic
lime or mortar, or the pipes, tubings, and hollow wares may be filled up, so as to
make a solid construction, or a portion of these pipes, tubings, or hollow wares may

page_text: be filled up with cement or concrete, to strengthen and bond together buildings or
erections. Such pipes, tubings, and hollow wares-when-placed together form mutual
support for arches and ties. These pipes, tubings, and hollow wares may be used
with great advantage for bridges, breakwaters, and other constructive and
-engineering purposes. Strength is combined with lightness. Pipes, tubings, and
hollow wares may be made of various dimensions and shapes for special purposes
in building and engineering works, as shown.
Pipes, tubings, and hollow ware with indented sides as aforesaid may be used for
lining existing arches on the under sides or top sides, such as railway or other
arches. They will prevent the penetration of damp when placed on the top of
arches, and flats, and floors, and carry off wet and damp, and prevent drips when
placed on the under sides of same. The said pipes, tubes, and hollow wares may be
advantageously used for lining and ventilating ships and other structures.
The ends of these pipes, tubings, and hollow wares when applied as aforesaid are
left open to the air or led into shafts, and thus much damp will be evaporated.
These pipes, tubes, and hollow wares may also be placed diagonally under arches or
other places, thus water penetrating into them will pass by gravitation to the lower
ends, and will be carried off as required. These pipes, tubings, and hollow
wares may be applied and used for any other lining or draining purposes,
such as for retaining walls, areas, etc., aforesaid. Dowels, cores, and metal
clips, and wire and hoop iron, may be inserted into and between and around
the pipes, tubings, and hollow wares aforesaid for the purposes of strengthening
the construction of walls, floors, roofs, partitions, and any other portions of
buildings or other erections, such as orchard houses, greenhouses, sheds, and so
forth
Another method I adopt is to form openings and perforations in or on the pipes,
tubings, and hollow wares formning or connected with the walls, partitions, and other
parts of buildings and erections, so that air may be introduced into them at top or
bottom, or at both top and bottom, or at any other points. Currents of air are
produced and set up in these pipes, and air is supplied to interiors, and is also
extracted by means of the openings referred to, which supply can be regulated by
means of dampers or otherwise. Thus rooms and interiors may be efficiently
ventilated without losing much heat.
The said pipes, tubings, and hollow wares with outlets and openings will be
placed at intervals (of several feet for instance) round rooms of buildings, and
uniform ventilation will be distributed and secured by the supply and extraction of
air by means of the said openings, and which openings may be placed at any
desired height above the floors of buildings, and continued on into efflux shafts.
The said openings may be covered and concealed at option by mouldings, cornices,
or skirtings, and enrichments (see Fig. 10a and Fig. 10b, Sheet 2).
Another method I adopt for the same purpose of ventilation is to construct
hollow tubings in bricks so as to form in the bond (either Flemish or English)
continuous tubes in walls, apartments, and so forth.
This tubing may also be formed by hollow or angular sinkings in bricks, plaster,
wood, or other material. These sinkings and recesses forming tubings are carried
up the walls of houses and apartments, and when covered in by slips of wood,
metal, or other material, give the same facility for ventilation as the pipes, tubings,
and hollow wares already described (see Figs. 11ª, 11b, 11, 11d, Sheet 1).
Another improvement and method I adopt is to combine the use of concrete or
pisé with pipes, tubings, and hollow wares aforesaid. This is effected by filling in
concrete or pisé between one, two, or more rows of pipes, tubings, and hollow
wares.
These pipes, tubings, and hollow wares are first of all secured by framings of wood
or iron batterns or otherwise, and the concrete or pisé is carefully filled in between
them. Pipes, tubings, and hollow wares, as described, form bond in connection with
the concrete or pisé by their shapes, and by hoop iron, wire, or other bond, and

page_text: keys may be introduced for strengthening such constructions (see Figs. 12ª, 120, and
120, Sheet 1).
Air is allowed to pass at bottom and top, and through these pipes, tubings, and
hollow wares by perforations or otherwise, to promote ventilation and dryness.
The concrete is materially strengthened thereby, and the same is preserved by
being kept dry and protected from violence and frost.
Another improvement, combination, and construction I adopt is to manufacture
"rubble facings" in connection with pipes, tubings, and hollow wares by packing
split or whole flints, or pieces of stone, marble, or slag in moulds or cases and pouring
on them liquid cement or other compounds. Pipes, tubes, and hollow wares may
also be bedded in the liquid cement. These flints or other materials are taken out
of the mould when set and ready for use and bedding in walls, so as to form the
facings of walls for churches or other buildings, new or old. Prepared facings
also, such as terra-cotta, stone, bricks, and so forth may be used in the said com-
bination.
At the back, and in connection with these rubble and other facings, pipes, tubes,
and hollow wares are connected, and joined with cement or other material, and are
so erected as to form buildings of any thickness aforesaid. Air is introduced into
these pipes, tubings, and hollow ware so as to repel damp and to ventilate buildings,
as before described. Such pipes, tubes, or hollow wares inay be cemented, stuccoed,
and plastered over in the usual way, but in the erection of hospitals they should be
coated with non-porous material only, as aforesaid (see Fig. 13, Sheet 2).
Iron girders, joists, columns, and supports of any kind used in the construction of
new and old buildings and in engineering works may and can be protected and
rendered fireproof by the application and use of the pipes, tubings, and hollow wares
aforesaid, and which can readily be applied and fixed so as to admit air into and
through the said pipes, tubings, and hollow wares aforesaid. Thus iron-work in any
building when cased and enclosed by and in pipes, tubings, and hollow wares afore-
said is prevented from becoming softened by heat, and the said buildings are pre- .
For con-.
served from collapsing and falling during a fire (see Fig. 14, Sheet 2).
venience of transit or otherwise I form sections of and with pipes, tubings, or
hollow wares of greater or less dimensions cemented and joined together as aforesaid
ready for use; such sections will be faced with cement, or tiles, or asphalte, or other
compounds, and laid and set or made use of as required in any parts of buildings or
other places, especially for the purpose of repelling damp and cold, and for promoting
ventilation and circulation of air, cold or hot, and for the cure of smoky chimneys
as aforesaid.
Another improvement or method I adopt is to prepare pipes, tubings, and hollow
wares (previous to joining or using them) with cement or other adhesive substances
by administering to them a dressing or dressings of cement or cementitious com-
pounds, asphalte or pitch, jet, and such like substances. Such dressings are well
worked into the pores of the pipes, tubings, and hollow wares by mops, brushes, or
by the hands; or by dipping or otherwise, as also the inside as well as the outside
when required, or vice versa.
The beneficial result is that when pipes, tubes, and hollow wares are used in any
of the aforesaid methods a better and more certain, perfect, and stronger adhesion of
the pipes, tubes, and hollow ware is secured than when naked or unprepared pipes
tubings, and hollow wares are used without such dressings. Another improvement
or method I adopt is to connect the aforesaid pipes, tubes, and hollow wares with
systems for warming and drying air in such a manner as will ensure warm or heated
air to enter, pass, or travel through the pipes, tubings, and hollow wares, and the
effect will be the warming the floors, walls, and other portions of buildings or other
erections, such as conservatories, greenhouses, and any such like erections; also for
heating baths, such as Turkish or other baths. Pipes, tubings, and hollow wares
may be manufactured into a bent form, so that parts of the pipes, tubings, and
hollow ware may be fixed vertically and part horizontally, and they may be made
in a T shape and provided with outlets, perforations, and junctions; such pipes,

page_text: tubings, and hollow wares may be let to or down to the sources of heat or heated
air, the air may be heated-by-gas-or-by mineral or other oils, or the air may be
heated by any other means -(see-Fig. 15ª, 156, 15°, Sheet 2).
Air may be forced through the pipes;-tubes, and hollow wares by fans or any
known process.
Another improvement, combination, and construction I adopt is to manufacture
-pipes, tubings, and hollow wares with double webs and dovetails, or otherwise, and
to use them in the construction of hollow walls in any buildings-so as to-form keys
and bond between the divided or hollow walls or portions of buildings; they may
be placed horizontally in suitable lengths, or vertically or otherwise in shorter
lengths, and bedded and secured between the joints in brick or any other walls (sec
Fig. 10ª, 16b, 16c, Sheet 2).
Another method, improvement, and construction I adopt is for cooling purposes.
It is to use constructions of pipes, tubings, and hollow wares aforesaid in the erection
of ordinary ice houses, and in the formation of the walls, roofs, floors, and doors of
same.
It will be readily understood that such pipes, tubings, hollow and hollow wares
may be packed with ice, compounds, or mixtures, and may be kept packed with ice
and compounds when necessary.
Thus the internal stores of ice will be kept at a low and saving temperature
(see Fig. 17).
Another method and improvement and combination I adopt is to manufacture
pipes, tubing, and hollow wares aforesaid in sections of required sizes and thick-
nesses, and to place, pack, and fix them in such positions. as will enable them
to be filled with or surrounded with ice compounds and mixtures for cooling
purposes. Thus wagons or portable chests will be formed for conveying perish-
able goods, fish, poultry, and so forth by railway or otherwise at a low temperature
for a lengthened period, and for lining ice houses of ships, and storehouses, and so
forth. Refrigerators and ice safes will be formed by the same combined sections of
pipes, tubings, and hollow wares for cooling water, wine, and for safes of any
descriptions. The pipes, tubes, and hollow wares aforesaid can advantageously be
kept charged with ice and freezing compounds (see Figs. 18, 18b, 18c, 18d).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the hereinbefore described improvements in
the construction of building, and paving, and engineering works, also applicable for
resisting damp, water, and fire, and for warming, ventilating, cooling, or sound
resisting purposes, whereby air and heat or fluid tubes or passages are produced or
provided in and through pavements, and through the floors, walls, and other con-
stituent portions of buildings or other constructions, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Pritchett, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.