Improvements in and connected with Fire-proof Ceilings.
Year: 1893

page_text: uate of Application, 31st Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Fire-proof Ceilings.
1, WILLIAM ALFRED BURR, of Anglefield, Berkhamsted, in the County of*
Herts, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with fire-proof ceilings,
the object being to provide such ceilings in connection with ordinary wooden floor
joists.
In carrying out my invention I employ what I term flat tubular tiles, that is to
say tiles which are preferably square in plan and formed with hollows passing
through them from one end or side to the other but closed at the other ends
or sides.
The surfaces and edges of my tiles are grooved or otherwise suitably roughened
in order to form a key for the plaster or cement with which the tiles are covered
when they are fixed in position.
The upper surface of each tile on two of its opposite edges is provided with
semi-circular notches so that when the ends of two tiles butt circular holes are
formed which are for the purpose of allowing the tiles to be fixed to the floor joists
which is effected by means of turn-buckles or clips screwed into the joists, the
screw or pin of the turn-buckle or clip fitting in the said notches the turn-buckles
or heads of the clips passing into the hollows of the tiles and holding them against
the floor joists. Washers or distance pieces of suitable material are provided
between the under sides of the joists and the upper surfaces of the tiles so as to
leave a space between the same to allow of the whole of the upper surface of the
tiles forming the ceiling being covered with a grouting or coating of suitable cement
or composition such as plaster of Paris.
The under side of the ceiling formed by my tiles is then plastered or cemented
in any usual manner no lathing being required.
It will be obvious that where the tiles come against outer walls openings may be
made in the said walls to correspond with the holes of the hollow tiles and in
addition the edges of the said tiles may be grooved or perforated where required
so that there may be a thorough circulation of air.
Dated the 31st day of August 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Fire-proof Ceilings.
1. WILLIAM ALFRED BURR, of Anglefield, Berkhamsted, in the County of
Herts, Gentleman, 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 in and connected with fire-proof ceilings,
the object being to provide such ceilings in connection with ordinary wooden floor
joists.
In carrying out my invention I employ what I term flat tubular tiles, that is to
ay, tiles which are preferably square in plan and formed with one or more hollows
113 11

page_text: passing through them from one end or side to the other but closed at the other ends
or sides.
The surfaces and edges of my tiles are grooved or otherwise suitably roughened
in order to form a key for the plaster or cement with which the tiles are covered
when they are fixed in position.
The upper surface of each tile on two of its opposite edges is provided with a
semi-circular notch (or notches) so that when the ends of two tiles butt together
circular holes are formed which are for the purpose of allowing the tiles to be fixed
to the floor joists by means of turn-buttons or clips screwed into the joists, the
screw or pin of the turn-button or clip fitting in the said notches, while the turn-
button or heads of the clips pass into the hollows of the tiles and hold them against
the floor joists. Washers or distance-pieces of suitable material are provided
between the undersides of the joists and the upper surfaces of the tiles so as to
leave a space between the same to allow of the whole of the upper surface of the
tiles forming the ceiling being covered with a grouting or conting of suitable cement
or composition such as plaster of Paris. In some cases the undersides of the tiles
are not covered with plaster or cement, and may be glazed or ornamented and the
distance pieces may be formed on the surfaces of the tiles.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of part of a ceiling constructed according to my
improvements :
Figure 2 is a view of the ceiling looking from below:
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Figure 1:
Figures 4 and 5 are a plan and edge view of one of my tiles detached; and,
Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Figure 4:
Figure 7 is an edge view of one of the tiles which comes against a wall:
Figure 8 is a plan of one of the washers or distance pieces:
Figure 9 is an elevation of one of the turn-buttons or clips; and,
Figures 10 and 11 are a plan and an edge view respectively of one of the tiles
with the distance piece formed thereon.
a, a represent my tubular tiles which (as shewn in the drawing) are preferably
square in plan but they may be made rectangular or of other suitable shape; 6 shews
the hollow passing through each tile from end to end; c, e are the closed sides or
ends of the tiles advantageously grooved as shewn and d, d are the semi-circular
notches on the upper surface of each tile.
e, e represent the turn-buttons or clips for fixing the tiles; shews the washers or
distance-pieces, and the ordinary floor joists.
To construct a ceiling with my improved tiles the openings of the first row of
tiles are passed over nails or the like driven into the side walls of the building,
one of the washers or distance-pieces for a portion of the same being placed
between the under side of the joist g and the upper surface of the tile as clearly
shewn in Figure 1 ; but such distance pieces are not required when the tiles are
made as shewn in Figures 10 and 11. The other end of each tile is then fixed to the
floor joist by screwing the pin or shank of the turn-button e into the joist, the pin
or shank of the turn-button fitting into the recess d in the end of the tile and the
head or clip passing into the hollow of the tile so as to hold the tile against
the distance-piece or washer f between the tile and the floor-joist. The hollows
of the next row of tiles are then placed over the heads of the said turn-
buttons, the recesses d thereof fitting over the pins thereof and so on for each
row of tiles the edges of the last row of tiles against the wall being supported by
nails, driven into the wall. In consequence of the first and last rows of tiles
being upheld by the nails h, h and 1,7 the recesses d, d in the edges of the
tiles abutting against the walls can be dispensed with.
In practice I find it convenient to employ two turn-buttons for each end or side
of the tile, as shewn in the drawing, but if required more than two or one only may
be employed as will be readily understood.

page_text: The tiles having thus been fixed in position to form the ceiling the upper surface
of the tiles is then covered with a grouting or coating j of suitable cement or
composition such as plaster of Paris so as to fill in the space between the upper
surface of the tiles and the joists g and to fill or partly fill the grooves in the closed
sides c, c thereby forming a kind of key to assist in holding the tiles together and
to make a tight joint. k represents the coating of plaster or cement on the under
side of the tiles and forming the surface of the ceiling but as before stated this
coating k may be dispensed with in which case the underside of the tiles are
advantageously ornamented or glazed.
The tiles are as before mentioned grooved or roughened on their surfaces so as to
form a key for the coatings j and k of cement or plaster. Figure 11 shews at n the
form of groove which I find it advantageous to employ. In this figure as also
at Figure 111 shew the distance-piece f formed on the tile.
, represent the openings which can, with advantage, be made in the outer
walls so as to allow of the passage of air through the tiles, and m, m represent the
grooves or openings in the edges of the tiles which come against the said openings
so that the air may circulate from one row of tiles to another.
In some cases the tiles may be made with tennons and grooves so that they may
interlock.
By this mode of construction it will be obvious that if my tiles are made of a
suitable refractory material such as is usually employed in the manufacture of tiles,
I obtain a ceiling on wooden floor joists which is practically fire-proof and
sound-proof which can be easily made, and at a comparatively low cost.
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 flat tubular tile for forming fire-proof ceilings, such tiles being formed with
seini-circular notches for receiving the pins for fixing turn-buttons or clips as, and
for the purposés, set forth.
2. A fire-proof ceiling formed of flat tubular tiles having semi-circular notches
such as described, the said tiles being fixed to ordinary floor joists by means
of turn-buttons or clips such as e with washers or distance-pieces between the upper
surface of the tiles and the underside of the floor joists, the upper and under sides
of the tiles being covered or coated with suitable cement or plaster, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawing.
3. A flat tubular tile for fire-proof ceilings provided with grooves or openings such
as mas, and for the purpose herein before described and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2
and 7 of the accompanying drawing.
4. In a fire-proof ceiling as described a clip consisting of a turn-button having a
screwed pin or shank as and for the purposes described.
Doted the 17th day of January 1894
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.