Improvements in or relating to Fire-proof and other Walls and Partitions.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fire-proof and other Walls and
Partitions.
I, BENJAMIN RICHARD 1KIN, of 21 Livingstone Road, Bowes Road, Palmers
Green in the County of Middlesex, Agent for the Sale of Cement, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in fireproof and other walls and
partitions.
The objects of my invention are to construct a fire-proof wall or partition of
blocks preferably of a kind mentioned hereinafter, fastened together by metallic
fastenings which latter are not visible at the exterior of the completed structure
and may constitute a metallic framework; means for attaching such a wall to a
joist or girder; a double fire-proof wall or an ordinary wall with a separate fire-proof
facing, and special connections for the two parts of such walls.
According to my invention I cut or otherwise form grooves or channels in those
faces of the blocks or slabs which are to be contiguous in the wall or partition, and
I construct fastenings preferably of strip sheet metal straight and bent and adapted
to enter and engage in the grooves or channels of the contiguous blocks or slabs so
as to connect them together; it is an important feature of my invention that these
fastenings are received within the wall in the grooves or channels and in the spaces
between the blocks so that they do not appear on the exterior and are not accessible
to fire; nor will water affect them so as to cause unsightly marks to appear on the
face of the wall; nor will the acids of the plaster corrode them. These fastenings
may consist for instance of rectangular or other flat plates or of a plate bent to a
right angle or bent at one end to a right angle and at the other end to a curved
form suited to clasp the edge of a joist or girder; or of a plate divided at each end
in the direction of its length and having the metal at each side of each division
bent to opposite sides so that the fastening viewed edgewise is of H form; or
they may be made cruciform, T-shaped or of any other suitable form in cross
section, and may be so connected by strips as to form a metallic frame hidden in
the wall.
The double walls herein before referred to consist of two walls with an air space
between them. The opposed or interior faces of the two walls may be coated or
not with bitumen or other material. Each wall is constructed with blocks or slabs
channelled or grooved upon their meeting faces and the two walls can be connected
by the H-section fastening aforesaid, each end of the fastening entering two
grooves in either wall that is to say the grooves in each contiguous slab or block,
and the middle part of the fastening serving to connect the two walls across the
air-space. I may construct a single fireproof wall as a facing for an ordinary
wall, placing it so that a suitable space exists between them; in such a case I
employ a T-shaped or fastening and a dog or pin, the Tor L fastening having
its head received in the channels of the blocks or slabs so that its tail protrudes
into the air-space. The tail is connected by bolts, split-pins or otherwise to the
dog or pin which is placed in or driven into the other wall and is suitably formed
to permit of the connection being made easily.
I prefer that the slabs or blocks used in my fireproof walls or partitions should
be perforated; the perforations should not lie vertically in the wall nor should

page_text: they be arranged in any other way which would cause them to act as draught
orifices or chimneys in the event of a fire. Preferably they should be so laid that
the perforations constitute tubes lying horizontally in the wall an parallel with
its face so that they may be used for the reception of telephone or telegraph wires,
gas or water pipes or speaking tubes.
A suitable slab or block for use in the structures hereinbefore mentioned is a
perforated block with an interior formed of a cheap material or composition, coke-
breeze or granulated slag and plaster for instance, and outer facings of plaster so
as to present a neat appearance; within the plaster and coke-breeze composition
and so arranged as to partially embrace the perforations sheets of Hessian cloth
wire-gauze or other suitable material are placed to constitute a binding for
strengthening the brick.
Dated this 26th day of November 1894.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Fire-proof and other Walls and
Partitions.
I, BENJAMIN RICHARD IKIN of 29 Siebert Road, Westcombe Park, in the
County of Kent, formerly of 21 Livingstone Road, Bowes Road, Palmers Green,
in the County of Middlesex, Agent for the Sale of Cement, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in fire-proof and other partitions, the
term "partition" being understood to include also walls floors, and ceilings.
The objects of my invention are to construct a fire-proof partition of blocks
preferably of a kind mentioned hereinafter, fastened together or to the blocks of a
contiguous partition by metallic fastenings which latter are not visible at the
exterior of the completed structure and may constitute a metallic framework;
means for attaching such a partition to a joist or girder; a double fireproof
partition or an ordinary partition with a separate fire-proof facing, and special
connections for the two parts of such partition.
According to my invention I cut or otherwise form grooves or channels in those
faces of each of the blocks or slabs hereinafter referred to by the term "block
which are to be contiguous in the partition, and I construct fastenings preferably
of strip sheet metal straight and bent and adapted to enter and engage in the
grooves or channels of the contiguous blocks so as to connect them together; it is
an important feature of my invention that these fastenings are received within the
partition in the grooves or channels and in the spaces between the blocks so that
they do not appear on the exterior and are not accessible to fire; nor will water affect
them so as to cause unsightly marks to appear on the face of the partition; nor
will the acids of the plaster corrode them.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a single block or slab A, having a groove A¹ in
each of four faces thereof, and fastenings B inserted therein, according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an angle of part of a partition, comprising these
blocks A and fastenings B.
Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 are perspective views of various forms of the
fastening B.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a rolled joist with partitions connected
thereto by metal fastenings B of the type illustrated in

page_text: Fig. 9 which as aforesaid is a perspective view of one of the fastenings.
Figs. 10 and 11 are transverse sections of two constructions of double partition
according to my invention.
Fig. 12 is a plan of a spike employed in the double partition illustrated in
Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is an elevation of part of a partition in which electric conductors or gas
or other pipes are received as hereinafter explained.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view in transverse section of an improved block
constructed according to my invention and hereinafter fully described.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
With reference first to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the grooves A¹ in each
block are adapted to receive the fastenings B and to come opposite other similar
grooves in contiguous blocks when the partition is built as in Fig. 2; each
fastening B is contained partly in the groove of one block and partly in the groove
of the other so as to constitute a key to retain the blocks in proper position
relatively to each other.
The fastenings B shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are flat pieces of sheet metal such
as are illustrated in Fig. 3, except at the angle of the partition at the places
where the grooves are in planes lying at right angles. At these places the
fastenings B are of the form illustrated separately in Fig. 4, and transverse
grooves A 2 are made in the blocks A to enable the bent fastening to extend from the
end block A 3 at one side of the partition into the contiguous end block A 4 of the
other side thereof. Where four partitions meet I may employ a cruciform
fastening B such as is shown in Fig. 5, with four radial wings B³, one for each
of the four partitions. Obviously I may modify the shape of the fastenings B
and the number and disposition of the wings or tongues thereof as may be
desired.
In Fig. 8 the partitions C, indicated in dotted lines, and built of blocks A
grooved in the manner hereinbefore described, are secured to a joist D by
fastenings B of the shape shown separately in Fig. 9, the wing B' entering the
groove of the contiguous block and the tail B 2 being bent around one of the
flanges of the joist. The tails B2 of alternate fastenings B extend towards
opposite sides of the girder and clasp its flanges as shown in Fig. 8 so as to prevent
lateral displacement of the partitions relatively to the joist.
With reference now to double partitious constructed according to my invention,
the outer partition E in the construction illustrated in Fig. 10 is separated from
the inner partition F by an intermediate air-space G. Each partition is con-
structed with the blocks A aforesaid, channelled or grooved upon their meeting
faces and the two partitions are connected by an H-section fastening B of the kind
shown separately in Fig. 6, each end of which is provided with tongues B 3 B4;
in the present example the tongues are each of half the width of the main portion
of the fastening from which they extend at right angles in opposite directions. As
wn in Fig. 10 the tongues B3 B4 at one end of the fastening B enter the
grooves in the contiguous faces of the blocks of one partition E, and the
tongues B3 B4 at the other end enter similar grooves in the other partition F,
the main portion of the fastening bridging the air-space and tying the two partitions
together.
In Fig. 11 I show a double partition in which a single fire-proof partition F
constructed of channelled blocks like the partition F of Fig. 10 is employed as a
facing for an ordinary partition II and is so placed that an air-space G exists
between them. In such a case I employ a T-shaped fastening B such as is shown
in Fig. 7, to enable the facing-partition F to be retained in the desired position
relatively to the partition H. This form of the fastening is one which has
tongues B3 B4 at one end only; these tongues enter the grooves in contiguous
blocks of the partition F and the main portion of the fastening extends from that
partition towards the other partition H into which latter spikes H' (see also

page_text: Fig. 12) are driven. The spikes are perforated at H 2 and the fasteners B at B5,
and a pin B6 is dropped into both the perforations to connect the spike H¹
and the fastener B. Or I may employ in this partition instead of the fastener
shown in Fig. 7 the angle fastener shown in Fig 4 with a tongue B 3 which enters
one channel only, in one of two contiguous blocks. Instead of the spike H' and
pin B6 I may adopt any other suitable devices for enabling a fastening B received
in one partition to be readily attached to another partition.
The opposed or interior faces of the two partitions F and G or H or all
the faces thereof may be coated or not with bitumen or other material as
desired.
Any of the fasteners B may be perforated as desired to enable them to be
conveniently attached to wood structures for instance.
I prefer that the slabs or blocks A used in my fireproof partitions should be
perforated as at A 5 Figs. 1, 2, 10, 11 and 13; the perforations should not lie
vertically in the partition nor should they be arranged in any other way which would
cause them to act as draught orifices or chimneys in the event of a fire. Preferably
they should be so laid that the perforations constitute tubes lying horizontally in
the partition and parallel with its face as shown so that they may be used for the
reception of telephone or telegraph wires I (Fig. 13) or for gas or water pipes or
speaking tubes J.
A suitable slab or block for use in the structures hereinbefore mentioned is
illustrated in the perspective cross section Fig. 14 of one of the blocks A, which is
a perforated block with an interior portion K formed of a cheap material or
composition, coke-breeze or granulated slag aud plaster or fireproof cement for
instance, and outer facings L of plaster so as to present a neat appearance; within
the plaster and coke-breeze composition and so arranged as to partially embrace the
perforations A 5 are sheets M of Hessian cloth wire-gauze or other suitable material
placed to constitute a binding for strengthening the brick.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination with two or more blocks of fire-resisting material of
concealed metallic fastenings B substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. A partition whereof the contiguous blocks of fire-resisting material are
engaged with each other by concealed metallic fastenings B substantially as and
for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. A double partition whereof the two parts F and E or 11 are connected by
metallic fastenings concealed within the double partition substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described.
4. In a partition the combination with grooved blocks of fire-resisting material
such as A of metallic fastenings B substantially as and for the purpose describ
and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The metallic fasteners B substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in Figure 5 or Figure 6 or Figure 7 or Figure 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
6. The combination with a girder of a block grooved on the face next the girder
and metallic fasteners B for connecting the block and gider substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described.
7. In a double partition the combination with grooved blocks of fire-resisting
material such as A of metallic fasteners B substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in Figures 6 and 10 of the accompanying drawing.
8. The combination with a gider D of a block such as A and metallic fasteners B
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of
the accompanying drawings.
9. In a double partition the combination with grooved blocks of fire-resisting

page_text: material such as A of metallic fasteners B substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in Figures 7 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
10. A block substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in
Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings.
1002
BN. RD. IKIN.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.