Improvements in and relating to Iron Buildings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1893-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Iron Buildings.
I, BIBIANO DUCLOS, Engineer, Courbevois, Paris, Seine, in the Republic of
France, 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 introduced by me in iron buildings,
whether fixed or portable, that can be taken to pieces and re-erected. It is
essentially characterized by a mode of quickly securing the stamped decorative
sheets of iron, which constitute the external walls etc. of the iron building, their
fixture being effected by means of a cam or eccentric attachment. These cams
enable me to dispense with bolts and rivets in fixing and securing the plates forming
the walls, to the metallic framework constituting the rigid carcase of these metallic
buildings.
In the accompanying drawing I have represented one of my improved iron
buildings, that can be taken down and reconstructed with ease and rapidity, with
the addition of such details as will best serve to render comprehensible the
characteristic peculiarities of my invention as applied to this type of building
construction.
The same letters indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Figure represents in perspective a typical example of my system of iron
buildings that can be taken to pieces, in which the gable-end is closed and
completely covered, while the side wall is supposed to be open or uncovered, and
allows the framework of the building to be seen.
Figure 2 is an elevation of a corner pillar a and the iron parts forming the
framing of a gable wall of the structure.
Figures 3 show in elevation the front and side of an intermediate pillar of the
framing, and its socle or base.
Figure 4 shows the connection of a roof-truss k carrying the roof-covering, with
an intermediate pillar b and the mode of connecting and fixing the eaves-gutter.
Figures 5 and 5 show in vertical and horizontal section a door m fitted with a
fanlight m above it, and the mode of connecting and fixing the same to the
intermediate pillars of the structure.
Figures 6 and 64 show in vertical and horizontal section a window n fitted with
casements and the mode of connecting and fixing the same to the intermediate
pillars of the structure.
Figure 7 is a plan of a corner of the iron building at q' where a cooking or
warming stove is placed.
Figure 7 is a section of the iron casing, fixed to the framework or carcase and
forming the external walls of the building, at a point where the ventilating opening
is located (f, Figure 7).
Figure 8 shows an arrangement of a chimney opening t at a point where it
intersects the ceilings and where it traverses the roof-covering k.
Figures 9 are an elevation and horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, of the
mode of fixing the external iron casing or enclosing covering of stamped plates p
forming the walls, to the iron parts of the framework, and the mode of attaching
the internal walls, or lining of the building to the said iron framing.
Figures 9 and 98 represent in vertical and longitudinal section, two modes of
connecting the stamped plates p' with the stays and braces which maintain the
pillars of the framing in position and distance apart..
Figure 10 shows a mode of fixing the flooring to the iron flooring joists g.

page_text: Figures 11 and 11 illustrate various modes of connecting the ceiling with the
iron tie-beams of the trusses carrying the roof-covering.
s
My improved system of iron building construction is composed essentially of the
following parts or members; iron corner pillars a forming hollow rectangular
compartments, of which the external iron walls are solid; iron intermediate
pillars supported on socles or bases cresting on iron sole-plates laid on a foundation
of well-ramined earth, or of dwarf walls of brickwork or masonry; intercalary
pillars similar in form to b; a plinth or cincture e formed of a pair of iron ties in
the form of U, which ties all the pillars together, and forms a coupling of all the
parts, encircling the building at the height of the ground-floor, or a string-course
at the level of each floor (if the building is more than one storey high) fulfilling
the same functions; stamped plates p in decorative patterns, formning the external
walls.
The pillars are spaced at intervals of preferably one metre, in order that iron
buildings of all dimensions, constructed on my improved system may have their
external walls formed of stamped plates, made to uniform patterns.
The stamped metal plates, forming decorative panels, are represented in the
typical example illustrated in Figure 1, as made to the four patterns or forms which
I adopt for the decoration of my improved iron buildings. In the lower part of
the structure I use square panels p; in the upper part I employ rectangular
panels p placed vertically as to height; in the pediment also 1 make use of
rectangular panels placed horizontally as to length; and lastly in the gables of
the building I place triangular or trapezoidal panels 3. The panels ppp have
diamond faces so as to stiffen the plates forming the walls and to obtain by the
reflection of light from the inclined surfaces, a more brilliant decorative effect.
The internal lining of the building is formed with panels of wood, pasteboard,
or other like light material, fixed to the pillars. The space between the
external and the inner walls is generally hollow; but they may be filled up, if
desired, with materials which are bad conductors or non-conductors of heat.
The doors m and windows are of dimensions arranged and calculated according
to the distance between the pillars b, and the height determined by the
panels pp' p²..
The framework of this type of building is constructed
1. With four corner pillars a (Figs. 2 and 7) whereof the angles are formed of
angle irons a" and of iron T-pieces a', the space between these irons aº a¹ is closed
on the outside by plates a rivetted to the inner side of those angle irons. Cross
pieces a connect the irons aº a¹ at suitable intervals of their height.
2. With intermediate pillars b (Figs. 3, 4 and 7) carried by a metallic socle or
base c.
The pillar and its socle c are formed of iron T-pieces &' and c', which run
vertically from top to bottom of the pillar and its base or socle. At suitable
intervals in height, the pieces 6' are firmly held apart by the cross-pieces b².
3. With a metallic cincture or plinth e (Figs. 2, 3 7 and 7) which binds together
all the pillars a and . This plinth is formed of two U-shaped iron pieces, joined
at the top by a solid plate e. Thus constituted, it is supported underneath by an
angle iron, rivetted to the socle or base of the corner pillar a or to the shoe-
plate c. This plinth carries the pillars by means of angle irons e. The connection
of this plinth e with the angle irons e² and e², rivetted to the pillars a and b, is
effected by through-bolts placed on each side of the foot of the said pillars a
and . The solid plate e of the plinth is cut through at intervals midway between
two pillars to form an opening which may be closed with the sliding trap-
door (Figs. 7 and 7A) sliding and bearing on cleats or brackets. These
openings are for ventilation, and allow the atmospheric air to enter and circulate
between the internal lining and the external casing or walls of the building,
whenever it is thought necessary. On the inner side of the plinth e (Figs. 23
and 7) are rivetted angle-irons g' which serve to attach the H-iron flooring
joists g.
Each pillar d and 6 (Figs. 2 and 4) is terminated at top by an angle-iron d

page_text: arranged at each side of the centre of the pillar constituted by the T-irons a
and b. Upon these angle-irons d² are rivetted plates d forming together with the
angle-irons, shoe-pieces which unite the pillars of the framework with the roof-
trusses.
In Fig. 2 the shoe-piece serves to fix the T-irons supporting the stamped
plates p³ of the gable-ends of the building. The iron pieces A in their upper parts
support the angle-iron forming the ridge-piece of the roof.
are
The sabot or shoe-piece (Fig. 4) supports and fixes on the framework the
angle-irons which constitute the principal rafters of the roof. Angle-irons
bolted at suitable intervals on these principals kas purlins to form the compart-
ments of the roof. The iron-pieces such as are used for the purpose of glazing
are placed according to the pitch of the roof and joined at half their length to the
purlins as well as to the ridge-piece (Fig. 2); they serve as supports to the
stamped decorative plates p which form the roof-covering. These covering plates
are firmly united to the irons 2 by means of cams or eccentrics (Fig. 9).
22
The caves-gutter is formed in sections having a length of double the distance
between the pillars. It is composed of sheet-iron y bent to shape (as shown in
Fig. 4) which is fixed on the ends of the principals, the upturned vertical part
carrying an eaves-board y' and angle-irons y rivetted on the underside at each end
of the section y. For the purpose of connecting two sections together with water-
tight joint I slip the angle irons 2 (Fig. 4) of each of the two sections between
the angle-irons composing the principal; and after having brought the gutter into
place, as shown in Figure 4, I fix the sections by connecting the angle-irons y*
with the angle-irons by means of the single through bolt and nut y³.
Against the pillars and inside the external T-irons I apply stamped plates of
uniform dimensions and regular forms p p p² (Fig. 1) which constitute the external
wall of the structure. I fix these plates together and connect thein to the framing
without bolts or rivets in the manner now to be explained.
The metal sheets are provided near their lower edge with a cleat or bracket p1
(Fig. 9A) rivetted to the plate. To join up the plates p p p² in the vertical
direction of the height of the building I fit the cleat p' on the vertical web of the
angle-iron which thus supports the upper plate p' while the lower edge of that.
plate presses the upper edge of close against the outside face of the said vertical
web; and so on with p' and p². Thus the series of plates (or sheets) pp² p³ super-
posed one above the other, and engaged with each other and the framing by their
overlap and by the cleats hooking on to the angle-irons are firmly connected
and mutually maintain each other in an invariable vertical position.
The lowest of the series of plates p rests upon the angle plate rivetted on the
upper part of the plinth e being similarly hung or hooked on to the said angle-plate
by its cleat . Its upper part is supported by the cross-tie (Figs. 1, 3
and 94).
I
For the purpose of fixing and maintaining the plates in vertical position
may also employ the arrangement shown in Fig. 9" wherein the upper edge of
the lower plate p' for instance being placed against the lower part of the angle
iron is there firmly held by the pressure of the lower edge of the plate above, p²,
obtained by means of the bolt p' which passes through the angle-iron and the
plate p only, just clear of the lower plate. A lead washer p' forms a tight joint
between the plate p² and the bolt-head p.
To support the plates ppl p² against the internal vertical face of the web of the
angle-irons, and to obtain perfectly tight joints, at the place where the stamped
plates prest against the pillars of the framework, I adopt the arrangement
shown in Fig. 9 in which the edge of each plate p is placed against the iron stay b
and there supported by internal angle-ironse which are firmly pressed against the
plate by the cams . These cams are pivotted on the bolts arranged at intervals
in the direction of the height of the irons (Fig. 3). In the back of the cam in
rear of the pivot the cams are conically hollowed to receive a lever by which they
are operated, so as to turn upon the pivot, and so caused to press with more or less

page_text: force upon the angle irons and the edges of the plates ppl p². When the cams
are thus pressed home I insert a key between the edge of the iron stay and the
interior of the cam a in such manner as to lock the parts immovably in
position.
I also make use of this arrangement of cams bearing upon angle irons a for
fixing the stamped plates p forming the roof-covering, to the double angle-irons
(or glazing bars) 2 connected to the purlins of the roof-trusses.
In order to form the interior lining of the structure I generally make panels of
dimensions adapted to the height of the rooms. These panels are of wood and
united by groove and tongue joints. Each panel o (Fig. 9) is fitted with one or
more iron cleats o' fixed on the inside face of the panel and so arranged with regard
to the web of the iron stay 1 that, when the cleat is slipped over the internal face
of the web, the panel o is held firmly against the stay, and that the tongue of the
panel shall unite the next adjoining panel similarly therewith (as shown in Fig. 9)
and with the same iron stay of the pillar of the framework.
In the formation of the ceiling I arrange the panels s¹ upon the flanges of the
T-iron tie-beams of the roof-trusses s (Fig. 11) to which they are fastened by
means of a key, suitably disposed, 2; and finally conceal the bottom of the
tie-beams on the ceiling by a wood-moulding screwed to the panels as
shown.
I may however alternatively adopt the arrangement shown in Figure 11 (with
cleats or brackets as hereinbefore described for the walls) for the fixing of the
ceiling plates.
The doors (Figs. 5 and 5ª) and windows (Figs. 6 and 6^) are arranged between two
intermediate pillars b. The door and window linings m² and n², which may be either
of wood or metal are fixed against the side-face of the T-irons of the pillar b.
They are held in place by a flat strip of iron i, attached to the flange of the
T-iron by an angle-iron a and cam u in the same manner as shown in Figure 9
and hereinbefore described. The window-board or sill n³ and the lintels m' and '
of door and window may also be made of wood or metal, and they are respectively
fixed to the door and window frames.
When it is necessary to provide a heating or cooking stove for the building, I
arrange at a short distance away from the internal lining or wall the plates 7
(Figs. 2 and 7) which I secure to the wall o by means of angle-irons q2. Similarly
I arrange a metal plate q' forming the surface on which the stove stands above the
flooring and with a small open space between.
For the purpose of obviating all risk of fire from the heated gases issuing
from the stove, by overheating of the inflammable materials forming the ceiling,
I enclose the chimney pipe or flue of the stove within a larger pipe t' as shown
in Fig. 8, which I fix to the iron framing of the roof truss in any convenient and
..suitable manner; and I allow the air to enter freely into the open space between
the two pipes, for the ventilation of the room and to cool the chimney pipe. At
the point where the pipe is fixed to the tie-beams & the wooden ceiling is replaced
by a metal plate of suitable dimensions, surrounding the protector or guard-pipe t¹.
The chimney t as well as 't', is terminated by a conical plate covering the outlet, so
as to prevent rain entering the building,
The ground-floor e is raised above the surface level to a greater or less height,
according to the height of the socles. c. The basement of the building thus
formed may be enclosed by dwarf walls of masonry or brickwork; or by metal
plates or railings; or in fact by any convenient material..
By opening the sliding trap-doors' a free circulation of air, between the outer
and inner walls obtains, and thus prevents the interior of the building becoming
too much heated by internal radiation from the metallic exterior.
: By closing the trap-doors the free circulation of air is arrested and the layer of
stagnant air between the two walls then serves to hinder the loss of heat by
radiation externally.
The plates forming the external walls of the structure are rendered inoxidable

page_text: ous to use, and, once fixed in place, are covered over with one or more coats.
aint, giving them the appearance of brickwork or masonry or otherwise
ibuting to the decoration of the building.
ving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
is ;-
A system of construction of metallic buildings fixed or portable such as can
adily taken to pieces and re-crected characterized by the combination :-
I. Of a series of metallic pillars a and b formed of T-irons joined together
at regular intervals in height by flat iron stays a² 2 each of the said pillars
being held at an invariable distance apart by stays at vertical intervals
such that they coincide with the horizontal edges of the stamped plates.
forming the external casing or walls of the structure at the place where the
said edges overlap;
II. Of stamped decorated plates square rectangular triangular or trapezoidal
forming the external casing or walls of the structure fixed on the external.
T-irons of each pillar & by the pressure of the edge of the said plates.
on the internal face of the wing of the said T-irons such pressure being
obtained by means of an angle iron bracket and applied by cams which
by pressing them against the wing of the external T-irons of the pillar b
effects the fixture of the plates against the pillars and assures the absolute
tightness of the said metallic walls;
III. Of plain panels o made of wood pasteboard linoleum or other suitable
materials forming the internal lining or wall of the structure fixed on the
internal T-irons of each pillar by the pressure of iron cleats o' attached
invariably to the hinder or unseen side of the panel the said cleats being
adapted to clip the wings of the T-irons which connect the different panels.
together;
IV. Of a metallic cincture or plinth e formed of two U-shaped irons serving
to connect the pillars together at the level of the ground floor or of a
similarly formed string-course at the level of an upper floor or floors ;-the
various parts of such improved iron buildings being so constructed arranged
and connected together that they may be delivered ready to be put together
to form the complete building without necessity for the use of bolts or
rivets to joint and form the external casing or walls of the structure
the whole substantially as described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
In the fixed or portable iron buildings capable of being readily taken to
es and re-erected and formed with an external casing or walls made of metal
ts or plates claimed above the use of stamped plates square or rectangular in
ribbed and having diamond shaped faces and points the said plates or sheets.
placed against the T-irons of the skeleton framework of the structure and
firmly fixed in place by the edges of the sheets or plates being pressed home-
nst each other and against the T-irons by the aid of cams oscillating or
ing on fixed points on the said T-irons whereby the said plates are connected
a perfectly tight joint together and to the iron framework substantially as
ribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In such metallic buildings as described and claimed above the arrangement of
doors Figs. 5 and 5 and of the windows Figures 6 and 6 whereof the linings.
ixed and held in place between two pillars of the structure by the inter-
ation of a flat metallic band or strip connected to the T-irons of the pillars
eans of the same device as that employed for connecting up and fixing the
rnal casing or walls of the structure substantially as described and as illustrated
e accompanying drawings.
The arrangement of the eaves gutters in one single piece (Figure 4) whereof
separate sections are connected to the roof principals by means of an angle.

page_text: irons placed and pressed tightly between the two angle irons forming the roof-
principal substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete building
substantially, as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of December 1893
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.