Improvements in or connected with Fireproof Floors, Ceilings, or the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1899-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
NTT
I H
Improvements in or connected with Fireproof Floors, Ceilings,
or the like.
I, ERNEST HOMAN, of 17, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with fireproof floors,
ceilings, or the like.
It is well known that in order to construct a fireproof floor with bricks or
blocks of the kind at present in use it is either necessary that the bricks or
blocks should extend in one span from joist to joist, or that a frame or center-
ing be first built up between the joists in order that the bricks, of which the floor
is being constructed may be supported until the joists are reached or the binding
cement has set.
Now the object of" the present invention is to so construct and arrange the
bricks or blocks that they will when placed in position automatically support
one another and key themselves together so that the troublesome and tedious
operation of centering may be dispensed with, the workman's time materially
saved and an absolutely rigid floor obtained.
In carrying the invention into effect a rectangular brick or block of short
length is employed provided on one side thereof with a horizontal and longi-
tudinal dovetail, projection, or rib, whilst upon the opposite side the brick is
formed with a longitudinal groove, therein shaped to correspond with the dovetail
projection but formed of larger dimensions.
Each end brick is on the end adjacent to the joist formed with a horizontal
slot which receives the flange of the joist and with a lip which covers about half
the underside of the flange of the joist.
In constructing a floor with bricks of the character hereinbefore described a
row of bricks with the ribs or projections outward is first laid in the usual
manner so as to rest on the wall or girder and the bricks of the next row are by
means of their dovetail slots or grooves hung on to the ribs or projections of
the preceding row and packed or bedded in mortar or cement as is usual in brick
work the peculiar undercut shape of the grooves causing the bricks to hang"
securely in position.
The bricks are laid so as to "break joint" after the usual manner of brick
laying thus ensuring the absolute rigidity of the floor.
By reason of the angular shape of the projections and grooves any weight
placed, upon the floor will tend to press the bricks more closely together and thus
add to the general strength of the floor.
In lieu of forming the bricks or blocks with complete dovetails the lower parts
of the groove and projection or rib may be formed flat or at right angles with.
the body of the brick or slightly recessed or rounded or of other suitable shape
and the upper parts may also be modified if desired.

page_text: As a further modification the bricks may be constructed with sloping sides, that
is to say their section may be that of a parallelogram so that one row will as it
were lie upon the next row.
The brick floor or the like may be covered with concrete, asphalte, boarding, or
other material in the usual way.
By the means hereinbefore described a fireproof floor may be rendered self sup-
porting between the joists during its construction and a greater span can be
obtained from joist to joist than can be effectively carried by a single brick or
lintel, thereby dispensing with the troublesome and expensive operation of center-
ing whilst the bricks or blocks will be firmly keyed together and by reason of the
peculiar shape of the keys any pressure upon the floor will tend to force the
bricks together rather than separate them, and the floor will consequently be
more rigid than heretofore.
Improvements in or connected with Fireproof Floors, Ceilings,
or the like.
I, ERNEST HOMAN, of 17, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Engineer,
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 follow-
ing statement; -
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with fireproof floors
ceilings or the like.
It is well known that in order to construct a fireproof floor with bricks or
blocks of the kind at present in use it is either necessary that the bricks or
blocks should extend in one span from joist to joist or that a frame or center-
ing be first built up between the joists in order that the bricks of which the floor
is being constructed may be supported until the joists are reached or the binding
cement has set.
Now the object of the present invention is to so construct and arrange the
bricks or blocks that they will when placed in position automatically support
one another and key themselves together so that the troublesome and tedious
operation of centering may be dispensed with, the workman's time materially
saved and an absolutely rigid floor obtained.
In carrying the invention into effect a rectangular brick or block of short
length is employed provided on one side thereof with a horizontal and longi-
tudinal dovetail projection or rib, whilst upon the opposite side the brick is
formed with a longitudinal groove therein shaped to correspond with the dovetail
projection but formed of larger dimensions.
Each end brick is on the end adjacent to the joist formed with a horizontal
slot which receives the flange of the joist and with a lip which covers about half
the underside of the flange of the joist.
In constructing a floor with bricks of the character hereinbefore described a
row of bricks with the ribs or projections outward is first laid in the usual
manner so as to rest on the wall or girder and the bricks of the next row are by
means of their dovetail slots or grooves hung on to the ribs or projections of

page_text: the preceding row and packed or bedded in mortar or cement as is usual in brick
work the peculiar undercut shape of the grooves causing the bricks to hang
securely in position.
The bricks are laid so as to "break joint" after the usual manner of brick
laying thus ensuring the absolute rigidity of the floor.
By reason of the angular shape of the projections and grooves any weight
placed upon the floor will tend to press the bricks more closely together and thus
add to the general strength of the floor.
In lieu of forming the bricks or blocks with complete dovetails the lower parts
of the groove and projection or rib may be formed flat or at right angles with
the body of the brick or slightly recessed or rounded or of other suitable shape
and the upper parts may be also modified if desired.
As a further modification the bricks may be constructed with sloping sides that
is to say their section may be that of a parallelogram so that one row will as it
were lie upon the next row.
The brick floor or the like may be covered with concrete, asphalte, boarding or
other material in the usual way.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings
more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan representing a portion of a fireproof floor or ceiling con-
structed according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents an end view of two of the bricks or blocks separately.
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 2 illustrating a slight modification.
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 4 illustrating a slight modification in the
shape of the interlocking parts.
Figure 7 is a similar view representing a further slight modification in said
parts.
Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 2 illustrating a modification in the shape
of the body of the bricks or blocks and
Figure 9 is a vertical section of a wall faced with tiles constructed according
to the present invention.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference Figures 4, 6, 7 and 9 are drawn to an increased scale with respect to
the other figures of the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4 a represents one of the usual joists or beams
employed in the construction of fireproof floors and b represents the bricks or
blocks which are filled in between said joists.
The bricks or blocks b which are rectangular and oblong in shape are provided
on one side or face thereof with a horizontal and longitudinal dovetail projection
or rib whilst upon the opposite side each brick is formed with a longitudinal
groove therein shaped to correspond with the dovetail projection but formed
of larger dimensions to allow of said projection freely entering therein as herein-
after described.
Each end brick of a row is in that end adjacent to the joist a formed with a
horizontal slot or notch 63, which receives the flange a¹ of the joist and with
a lip 64 which covers about half the underside of said flange a¹ so that when a
row of bricks is laid upon the opposite side of the joist the underside of the .
flange a will be more or less protected from fire.
In constructing a floor with bricks of the character herein before described, a
row of bricks with the ribs or projections & outward is first laid in the usual
manner so as to rest on the wall or girder supporting the joists a and the bricks b
of the next row are by means of their dovetail slots or grooves 63 hung on to the

page_text: ribs or projections 61 of the preceding row said slots being' of such area' as to
admit of the projections 61 passing thereinto from the face or side of the brick
and the bricks are packed or bedded in mortar or cement as is usual in' brick
work the peculiar undercut shape of the grooves 63 causing the bricks to hang
securely in position whilst the mortar or cement at c forms a key to' éffectually
lock the parts together.
The bricks 6 are laid so as to "break joint" after the usual manner of brick-
laying thus ensuring the absolute rigidity of the floor and in order to enable this
to be accomplished the rows are alternately commenced with half bricks 6*.
By reason of the angular shape of the projections b¹ and grooves 62 any weight
placed upon the floor will tend to press the bricks more closely together and thus
add to the general strength of the structure.
The brick floor or ceiling may be covered with concrete asphalte, boarding or
other material in the usual way.
In the example given at Figure 5 the dovetail rib or projection 6" and groove
or recess 63 are formed out of the centre that is nearer to the top edge of the
brick than in the previous example by which arrangement the hanging principle
is accentuated.
In the example given at Figure 6 the ribs or projections band grooves or
recesses 62 instead of being formed with complete dovetails have their lower
parts 61 and 62* formed flat or horizontal that is to say at right angles with the
body of the brick.
The interlocking parts of this device by reason of the removal of the lower
angle of the dovetail fit more closely than those hereinbefore described the differ-
ence in the dimensions of the rib and groove being just sufficient to give the neces-
sary clearance and although the key c is absent the parts are firmly united by the
cement in which the bricks are bedded and which fills the joints.
In the example given at Figure 7 the principle of cutting away the lower angle
of the dovetail is carried still farther that is, to say the direction of said angle
is reversed the parts 61* and 6* being upwardly inclined although they are not
quite parallel with the upper angles by which arrangement the hanging of the
bricks is facilitated.
Or both angles might be of other suitable shape or curves niight be substituted
therefor if desired.
In the example given at Figure 8. the bricks are constructed with sloping
sides that is to say their transverse section is that of a parallelogram so that each
row after the first to some extent lies upon the preceding row and the end rows
are or may be formed wedge shaped or inclined upon one side so that the oppo-
site side will lie parallel with the wall or girder against which it abuts.
By the means hereinbefore described a fireproof floor may be rendered self
supporting between the joists during its construction thereby dispensing with
the troublesome and expensive operation of centering and a greater span can be
cbtained from joist to joist than can be effectively carried by a single brick or
lintel whilst the bricks or blocks will be firmly keyed together and by reason of
the peculiar shape of the keys or interlocking parts any pressure upon the floor
will tend to force the bricks together rather than separate them and the floor
will consequently be more rigid than heretofore.
In the example given at Figure 9 the same principle is applied to tiles that
is to say the tiles b are formed with inclined projections 6' and corresponding
recesses and the angles of the former rest or hang upon the latter by which
means the weight of the tiles tends to close the joints and keep them against the
wall.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:

page_text: or blocks filled in between said joists so as to break joint said bricks or blocks
being formed with a dovetail or like longitudinal rib or projection upon one
face and a corresponding groove or recess in the other face so that each row
except the first by means of its recess hangs upon the row next preceding sub-
stantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. A constituent part of a fireproof floor or the like comprising a brick, block
or the like formed in such manner that when a number of said bricks, blocks
or the like are arranged side by side in proper relation they will interlock and
their own weight will tend to keep them in the required position substantially
as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
3. A constituent part of a fireproof floor or the like comprising a brick or block
formed upon one side or face with a longitudinal rib or projection having an
inclined or hook like upper edge and upon the other side or face with a corre-
sponding groove or recess so that when a number of said blocks are arranged in a
row end to end a continuous hook like rib will be formed upon which the succeed-
ing row of bricks may be hung by their grooves or recesses so as to break joint
with the preceding row substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
4. A fireproof floor or the like constructed in manner substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
حيني
1
P T 1
1000
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.