IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SANITARY HOUSES AND BUNGALOWS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM KORTRIGHT BROCK of Trevalga, Boscastle in the County of
Cornwall, Surgeon and Slate Quarry proprietor do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SANITARY HOUSES
AND BUNGALOWS to be as follows:-
Rows of dwarf pillars support an iron or wooden gridiron on which is laid
a floor of slabs of slate or other material selected. On this the walls of the house
are raised, formed of slabs of the same nature placed on their edges in grooves in
the floor, and kept in position by inside and out side skirtings below, and
mouldings above forming the cornices of the rooms. The walls are of single slabs-
or double with an interspace between them according to climate-Joints are made
secure by fish plates, and air tight by being screwed home against slag wool or
other packing, by bolts and nuts and by horizontal and vertical tie-rods. There is
free passage of air and light underneath the house. All drainage is received into a
tank on wheels which is changed daily.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM KORTRIGHT BROCK, of Trevalga, Boscastle, in the County of
Cornwall, Surgeon, and Slate Quarry Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SANITARY
HOUSES AND BUNGALOWS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to construct dwelling and other houses in a
superior manner; suitable for all climates; capable of being readily erected and
removed; free from vermin; wholesome; airy and easily ventilated.
My improved dwellings are designed and erected in what is known as the
"Bungalow" style of building, the chief material used being slate.
In carrying out my invention I erect upon the ground; or upon suitable
"footings" upon or in the ground; a number of vertical posts or pillars. The
height of these pillars is varied to suit the nature of the climate. Upon these
pillars horizontal slabs of slate are laid either with or without iron work or wood
work. In large houses iron girders may be required, and in small houses timber
may be used in forming the flooring, or may be entirely dispensed with. This
forms a firm, clean, vermin-proof floor; and upon this floor the front, back, side
and partition walls are erected; with pillars for verandahs and other convenient
erections.
I sometimes fit the walls, both above and below, into angle T or U iron. In
other cases I drill the slabs of slate and form scarph joints, united by bolts and
nuts; and in other cases timber is used, where necessary.
Boarded floors are laid upon the slate slabs, where necessary for, comfort, but
I prefer to use as little wood as possible; and wherever practicable iron is used in
preference to wood, the joints being made very firm by means of fish plates and
battens, fastened by bolts and nuts, and rendered air tight by screwing home on a
layer of slag wool, asbestos, or other suitable packing.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawing, which is
intended as an illustration to give an idea of the style of building involved in
carrying out my invention, and not as limiting its application.
In the Bungalow shewn in the drawing, a a are the pillars upon which the
dwelling is erected. bb is the slate flooring, composed of slabs of slate, closely
joined together, so as to become, practically, one homogeneous mass. Shallow
grooves or channels formed in the flooring receive the bottoms of the walls, which
are formed in like manner of slate slabs placed on their edges and strenghtened by
both an inside and an outside skirting, screwed together and into the floor.
Similar mouldings above receive and firmly grip the tops of the walls, form
ornamental cornices to the various rooms, and act as powerful horizontal tie-rods.
Others placed vertically divide the walls or partitions into panels, and bind them
down securely into the foundation.

page_text: The ceilings are made of wood or thin slate slabs, the supporting joists forming
panels in keeping with those of the walls. For temperate climates these are of
single thickness only. For cold climates the walls are made double, so as to
confine a quantity of air, which is the best non-conductor of heat. For hot
climates the walls and roof are made double with provision for inducing the
passage of currents of air, to render the dwelling cool and comfortable.
The drainage is received into a tank wagon on wheels, under the dwelling,
which, as necessary, can be readily drawn away, and another similar disinfected
empty tank placed in position.
In hot countries, by putting tanks on the roof for storage, and running a
perforated piping round, under the eaves, with proper connections, a cooling cascade
is turned on at will, so as to thoroughly irrigate the outer walls.
My said invention is also especially suitable for Tea stores, and Store houses and
Warehouses generally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1 The construction of dwelling and other houses, having slabs of slate as
the principal material, substantially as herein before described, and illustrated on
the drawing.
2 In the construction of buildings of the description aforesaid, the use of double
walls, having air spaces enclosed or open, for cold or hot climates, substantially as
herein before described.
3 In the construction of buildings of the description aforesaid, the use of double
roofs for inducing currents of air, and either with or without the addition of water
tanks and piping for distributing jets or streams of water, substantially as herein
before described.