Improvements in Facings or Covering Plates or Slabs for Architectural Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Facings or Covering Plates or Slabs for
Architectural Purposes.
I, EMIL WEHRLI, of Aarau, Switzerland, Architect, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
As is well known cheap architectural facings have been constructed by the
application of a covering of cement to rough masonry. Such a covering is however not
only frail, but after a very short time its surface becomes covered with an enormous
number of fine hair-like cracks. Covered walls or facades of this kind moreover
require to be painted by reason of the want of uniformity in the color of the
material. Costly stone carver's work has also been replaced by blocks formed by
casting cement-mortar or cernent-concrete into the required form, such blocks being
then arranged in the masonry in the same manner as properly carved stones, thereby
obviating the aforesaid splitting or cracking.
Moreover plates of hewn stone (for example sand stone) have also been employed
for covering purposes these plates being arranged simply flatwise upon the surface
to be covered and adjacent to one another.
Now my invention has reference to the manufacture and use of cast or moulded
covering plates, slabs or the like, (hereinafter called slabs). These slabs can be
employed for the whole structure of the facade and are arranged as facings and
supported between binding pieces such for example as border and cornice pieces
which are or may be also cast or moulded. These comparatively thin slabs, as well
as the binding pieces, are, for the purpose of enabling them to be securely held,
and also for the purpose of enabling them to be readily placed together, provided
at their sides or edges with joint grooves it may be after the manner of a tongue
and groove joint. The slabs may be provided with insertion pieces either for
ornamental purposes, or for binding and strengthening them.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is an elevation shewing a facade constructed with slabs according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof on the line a a¹ ;
Of these a² and a³ are
Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line y y³, and
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line z z¹, Fig. 1.
a¹, a, a³ are cast or moulded slabs of concrete or cement.
shewn provided each with a metal insertion piece, the slab a³ being further provided
with an ornamental insertion d. The slabs a¹ and a³ are at their upper and lower
edges formed with joint grooves during the casting or moulding. The edges of the
slabs are each formed with a groove or with a tongue in such a manner that in
every two abutting slabs, the tongue of the one fits into the groove of the other.
Thus in the example shewn the tongue at the upper edge of the plate a fits into
the groove of the plate a situated above it, and the groove in its lower edge
receives the tongue on the binding cornice piece situated underneath it.
Fig. 4 shews a similar engagement at each side or end of the plates, and also
shews the manner in which the slabs are flanked by the post-facade 6' and the
corner border piece c.
The ornamental insertions d may be of any desired kind, as for example of burnt
clay, and may extend through the entire thickness of the slab or merely be inlaid
on the front face thereof as shewn for example in Figs. 1 and 2.
By the means above described, and also by the facility of imparting any desired
color to the cast cement or concrete, the employment of my cast or moulded pieces
allows of great variety in the construction of facades.

page_text: The accompanying drawing shews several modes of arranging my improved cast
or moulded plates.
The insertions for strengthening purposes may be of any suitable kind such for
example, as those which have for a long time been used in concrete constructions.
may however form these insertions for example by means of wire bundles fo the
wire or the iron insertions preferably projecting at the upper edge of the slab, and
being there attached to one or more hooks or clamps which is or are inserted in
the masonry or brickwork at the back, the slab being thus held securely in position
as if by a wall stay or tic. The projecting ends of the metal insertion pieces also
serve advantageously for holding, suspending, and transporting the facing pieces.
Dated this 25th day of April 1891.
E. WEHRLI,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Facings or Covering Plates or Slabs for
Architectural Purposes.
I, EMIL WEHRLI, of Aarau, Switzerland, 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 :-
As is well known cheap architectural facings have been constructed by the appli-
cation of a covering of cement to rough masonry. Such a covering is however not
only fragile, but after a very short time-its surface becomes covered with an
enormous number of fine hair-like cracks. Covered walls or buildings of this
kind moreover require to be painted by reason of the want of uniformity in the
color of the material. Costly stone carver's work has also been replaced by blocks
formed by casting cement-mortar or cement concrete into the required form, such
blocks being then arranged in the masonry in the same manner as properly carved
stones. Moreover slabs or plates of hewn stone (for example sand stone) have
also been employed for covering purposes these slabs being arranged simply flatwise
upon the surface to be covered and adjacent to one another.
Now my invention has reference to the manufacture and use of cast or moulded
covering plates, slabs or the like, (hereinafter called slabs). These slabs can be
employed for covering the whole structure of the facade or other part of a building,
they are arranged as facings and are supported between binding pieces, such for
example, as border and cornice pieces, which are or may be also cast or moulded.
These comparatively thin slabs, as well as the binding pieces (which are also herein-
after included in the expression slabs) are, for the purpose of enabling them to be
securely held, and also to enable them to be readily arranged in position, formed
at their sides or edges with joints or connections, it may be after the manner of a
tongue and groove joint. The slabs may be provided with insertion pieces either
for ornamental purposes, or for binding and strengthening them or for both
purposes.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification
Fig. 1 is an elevation shewing part of a facade constructed with slabs according
to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof on the line x x¹.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line y y', and
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line z z', Fig. 1.
a', a², a³ are cast or moulded slabs of concrete or cement. Of these a²
and a are shewn provided each with a metal insertion piece the slab a being
further provided with an ornamental insertion d. Each slab is formed at cne
end with a groove and at the opposite end with a tongue or fillet during the
casting or moulding. The edges of the slabs are also formed one with a
groove & the other with a tongue or fillet in such a manner that in every two

page_text: abutting slabs, the tongue of the one fits into the groove of the other. Thus
in the example shewn the tongue at the upper edge of the plate a³ fits into
the groove of the plate a² situated above it, and the groove in its lower edge
receives the tongue on the binding cornice piece & situated underneath it. Fig. 4
shews a similar engagement at each side or end of the plates and also shews the
manner in which the slabs are flanked by the post-facade 6 and the corner border
piece c. The ornamental insertions d may be of any desired kind as for example,
of terra cotta, and may extend through the entire thickness of the slab or merely
be inlaid on the front face thereof as shewn for example in Figs. 1 and 2.
By the employment of the cast or moulded slabs above described to which any
desired color can be easily imparted great variety in the construction of facades
and the like can be obtained.
The drawings shew several modes of arranging the improved cast or moulded
slabs.
The insertions for strengthening purposes may be of any suitable kind, such for
example, as those which have for a long time been used in concrete constructions. I
may, however, form these insertions, for example, by means of bundles of wires or
wire constructions f°. The insertions are according to this invention each arranged
to project from one edge of the slab preferably from the upper end so that they can
be each caused to engage with a hook or holder, inserted in the masonry or
brickwork at the back, the slab being thus held securely in position as if by a
wall stay or tie. The projecting ends of the metal insertion pieces also serve
advantageously for holding, suspending, and transporting the facing pieces.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture of covering plates or slabs for architectural purposes, of
cement or concrete cast or moulded to the desired shape and having their ends
formed with fillets and grooves in such a manner that the fillet on the side of one
plate or slab can be caused to enter and form a joint with the groove in the edge
of an adjacent plate or slab substantially as herein described for the purpose
specified.
2. A covering plate or slab of the kind referred to in the preceding claim
provided with an insertion d cast or embedded in the plate or slab so as to be seen
at the front side thereof substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. A covering plate or slab of the kind referred to in Claim 1 provided with a
wire or other insertion fo cast in the plate or slab and adapted to be connected with
hooks fanchors or the like projecting from the masonry to which the plate or slab
is applied substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 5th day of Ton 1909
E. WEHRLI,
By L. W., per F. B.