A New Method of Constructing Fire-proof Floors, Flats, Partitions, and Walls.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th Dec.. 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Method of Constructing Fire-proof Floors, Flats, Partitions,
and Walls.
I, JOHN TREADWAY HANSON Architect F.R.I.B.A. of 54 Gloucester Crescent
Regent's Park N.W. London do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Any fire-proof material, preferably terra cotta, is cast in blocks of some
convenient size, say one foot by one foot by six inches, some of this size and some
double the length; the latter will be called double blocks.
The form of the single blocks may be best described by supposing it to be cut out
of a solid block in the following manner.
Imagine a block one foot four inches square by six inches deep and placed on
the ground horizontally. Two inches on each side of the four upper corners an
arris is cut extending from the upper face to the lower one: that is to say, a piece
two inches by two inches by six inches, is cut away from each corner. This leaves
a central projection two inches deep and eight inches wide on each vertical face of
the block. Suppose a cut made vertically down the centre of this projection two
inches deep this leaves two contiguous projections each four inches wide and two
inches deep. Each of these projections is now cut into a wedge shape, the wedges
being reversed one against the other.
:
Thus the upper part of one wedge is on the same plane as the upper face of the
block with a horizontal projection of two inches-and the lower part of the same
wedge on the same plane as the lower face of the block but having no projection
from it.
The pairs of wedges on each of the opposite vertical sides of the blocks are
similar but reversed. Each vertical face of the block is treated in the same
manner, thus producing four pairs of wedge-shaped projections.
Each of these pairs of wedges is also alternately reversed on the vertical sides of
the block.
If a number of such blocks be placed together all the wedges interlock with each
other and the upper & lower surfaces are each in a continuous plane.
This describes the single blocks. The double block is supposed to be formed of
two such blocks joined together length-wise.
The floor, or flat will be built as follows. No plate, templet, girder or joist is
requisite, though in large spans girders may be used to divide the floor into
convenient compartments.
The walls being carried up to floor level one row of the double blocks is built
into the wall as far as desirable. The next row is then put together and placed
against the first, the blocks breaking joint in their length with each other. The
single blocks are used to fill in the spaces caused on one end of each row by this
breaking of joint.
Such a floor, by reason of the blocks interlocking, will support itself as one
continuous slab. The blocks, however, to give rigidity, will be put together with
a thin cement joint & grouted in cement.
A wall may be built of such blocks placed vertically and will support itself over
a wide opening without the use of a girder.
Dated this 12th day of February 1896.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Method of Constructing Fire-proof Floors, Flats, Partitions,
and Walls.
1, JOHN TREADWAY HANSON, of 54, Gloucester Crescent, Regent's Park, in
the County of London, Architect, 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 fire-proof floors, walls, ceilings and the like constructed
of a number of blocks or sections adapted to interlock with one another in such a
manner that girders, joists or the like for supporting the same are unnecessary.
The blocks of which my floor or the like is constructed are composed of terra-
cotta or other suitable material each block being provided with inclined projections
on its sides or edges which will enable the said blocks to be regarded as voussoirs,
each block besides having inclines as above referred to has also oppositely arranged
inclines which form abutments or surfaces against which the voussoir surfaces of
adjacent blocks will bear.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a block constructed according to my invention;
and,
Figure 2 is a view of a smaller block the use of which is hereinafter
described;
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 Figure 1:
Figure 4 is an isometric view illustrating the construction of a floor with blocks
constructed according to my invention:
Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 Figure 4.
a, a indicate my improved blocks and b, c are the two sets of inclined projections
formed thereon, the inclines 6, 61 of the projections b extending inwardly from the
top towards the bottom, as clearly shewn in Figure 3, and being the surfaces which
constitute the block a voussoir whilst the inclined surfaces c, c of the projections
are those which form abutments upon which the voussoir surfaces 6, 6 of adjacent
blocks bear.
.
C
It will be noticed by reference to Figures 1 and 2 that the inclined
surfaces b, b, c, c are formed at both the ends and the sides of the block so that
the support which each block receives from adjacent blocks is as effective at the
ends as at the sides.
In addition to the support which each block receives owing to the contact of its
surfaces b', 6' with the surfaces c, c¹ of adjacent blocks it also receives a further
support owing to the contact of the lateral surfaces 62, 63, 3, 3 of the projections b, c
with the corresponding surfaces of adjacent blocks and which exert a shearing
pressure upon one another under any tendency of one block to take up a position in
a plane different from that of the interlocked adjacent block. This further support
tends to prevent the sagging or bulging of the floor and so reduces or obviates
lateral thrust upon the walls of the building.
In constructing a floor with blocks made according to my invention a series of
blocks is built into the wall of the building, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5 in such a
manner that the projections c, c of the blocks will project beyond the face of the
wall.
A temporary staging or centering is also erected to carry the floor during
construction. Upon this staging against the row of blocks thus built in is placed
another row of blocks in such a manner that the inclined surfaces b', 6' thereof lie
upon or against the surfaces c¹, c of the blocks in the wall the several blocks of
this row interlocking at the ends with one another owing to the incline b¹ of each

page_text: block lying upon or against the corresponding incline c¹ of the adjacent block, and
also interlocking owing to the contact of the faces b, b and c, e as herein before
described.
Against the row of blocks thus laid is arranged a second row in a similar manner,
except that I prefer to arrange the said blocks so that the blocks of adjacent rows
shall break joint as clearly shewn in Figure 4. In order to permit of this break-
joint arrangement I make use of the small or half blocks shewn in Figure 2 which
are placed at the ends of alternate rows.
It will be noticed that blocks are built all round the wall so that the floor is
supported not only at the ends but at the sides.
The blocks having been thus laid, grouting or cemeut is poured in to fill the
spaces between them, and to facilitate the introduction of this cement and to enable
it to flow freely between the blocks, I arrange the projections b, c of each block
with spaces between them which form channels d, d' and I also groove the said
surfaces as at e, e. In practice the channels d, d¹ between the centre projections b, c
of each block are wider than the channels d, d so as to leave openings for the
introduction of the cement. The spaces between the blocks having been thus filled
and the whole having been allowed to set the staging or centering beneath the same
can be removed the whole floor constituting what may he regarded as a single slab
the weight of which will be entirely carried upon the walls without any lateral
thrust.
When large floors are required it may in some cases be considered advisable to
employ girders at such points as will divide the floor area into sections which can
be conveniently floored in the manner herein before described.
In order to lighten the floor as much as possible I advantageously form the
blocks with recesses f,f which recesses when the said flooring is to be covered with
floor boards may be filled with wooden blocks to which the said boards can be
attached.
Although I have chiefly described my invention as applied to a floor it will be
obvious that it is also applicable for the construction of walls or partitions, the
interlocking of the blocks preventing the lateral and vertical displacement of the
same when placed on edge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A floor, wall or the like composed of blocks having upon the sides and ends
oppositely inclined projections b, c so arranged that the inclines b, b of one block
are adjacent to or in contact with the inclines c, c of adjacent blocks, substantially
as described.
. 2. Blocks for the manufacture of fire-proof floors and the like constructed
substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 3
of the accompanying drawings.
3. The manufacture or construction of a fire-proof floor (or wall) substantially in
the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accom-
panying drawings.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.