Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1887
Specification Accepted, 30th Dec., 1887
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 consists of the combinations of devices and appliances hereinafter
specified, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a joint embodying the invention.
Figure 2, is a separate view of the filling-piece at the joint.
Figure 3, shows different forms of joints and in Figure 4 beneath, are corresponding
filling pieces for the joints.
Figure 5, shows various forms of corrugated metal which may be employed with
corresponding joint-pieces.
Figure 6, shows a form of joint for truss work, etcetera.
Figure 7, shows its application in roofing or siding for buildings, cars, etcetera.
Figure 8, shows a wrought iron rod cast into a joint piece to serve as rivets.
It is the purpose of this invention to provide a strong and substantial joint for
employment in connection with corrugated metal structures, at the point where such
corrugated metal parts are caused to cross each other, and require to be fastened
together.
It is of course apparent that where two pieces of corrugated metal are brought across
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page_text: each other and are fastened simply by a rivet or bolt the structure is not materially
strengthened at the joint, because the metal, being light, cannot stand the tightening
strain of a bolt. Moreover, the whole strain at this point is thrown directly upon the bolts,
without the bolts having any intermediate support. By this invention, however, the
joint is made as strong as or stronger than any other part of the structure.
In carrying out the invention, A and A¹ represent any two corrugated inetal parts
of any bridge, truss, frame-work, or other structure.
B, is a filling piece adapted upon its exterior surface to closely fit within the
corresponding surfaces of the parts A and A².
C, is a bolt or rivet. It will be observed that the corrugated metal comes down over
the filling piece, so as to prevent any lateral strain upon the bolt, and the filling-piece
serves to relieve the corrugated metal from the strain of the bolt. The bolt itself is
almost wholly relieved from strain because it is supported by the filling-piece
throughout its whole length, and the filling piece-B is adapted to fill the channel in
both the parts A and A'. These parts A A are thus held rigidly, while the filling-
piece prevents any displacement of, and serves to brace the parts A A¹.
The filling-piece B may be so cast or shaped as to correspond with any particular
angle at which the parts A cross each other. Several of these different shapes are
shown in Figure 4, and as shown in Figure 5 it makes no difference what may be
the cross-sectional shape of the corrugated metal, the filling piece can be made to
correspond:
It is apparent that this improvement in the manner of making the joints will
enable the constructer to employ light corrugated metal in many localities where it
could ordinarily not otherwise be employed, as for instance, in bridges, trusses, boat
frames, and in a vast variety of other structures. There is also by this improvement
provided a rigidity at these points by the employment of a single bolt or rivet such
as it is impossible to obtain by the usual forms of joints, where the crossing
members A A' are simply laid together and united by bolts or rivets. All flexing or
rotation of the parts A A¹ about the bolt or rivet as a pivot is entirely overcome, thus
removing a great source of wear in structures of this kind, and obviating the liability
of becoming loose and shaky.
The filling piece B may be cast solid in the shape required, or it may be cast hollow,
thereby lightening the structure and saving metal; or, if great strength and tenacity
are required, it may be made in the form of a drop-forging, or of malleable iron, and
when of malleable iron may be either hollow or solid.
W1
Instead of the filling piece B being formed with a through-opening for the passage
of the bolt or rivet, the piece itself may, especially for light work, be formed of
ought or malleable metal with rivets projecting from its two sides and consti-
tuting a part of the piece, which rivets may be passed through holes in the corrugated
metal, and he headed down upon the outside, and it is to be understood that such a
construction is contemplated as the equivalent of the structures described in the
claims.
By corrugated metal is meant, any metal which is provided with channels or
corrugations, and known under the various names, such as angle metal, channel
metal, corrugated metal and the like.
said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by ny foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An improved joint for use at the crossing of corrugated metal parts, consisting
of the combination, with the corrugated metal parts A A¹ of the filling piece B,
said filling piece dressed, substantially as described, to conform to the interior
surfaces of both said parts, and means for uniting the three, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
2. An improved joint for use at the crossing of corrugated metal parts, con-
sisting of the combination, with the corrugated metal parts A A', of the filling

page_text: piece B, said filling piece dressed, substantially as described, to conform to the
interior surfaces of both said parts, and a uniting bolt or rivet, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. A joint for the crossing parts of corrugated metal, consisting of the com-
bination, with the said parts A A', of the filling piece B, said filling-piece made
to conform to and fit the inner surfaces of both said parts A and A', the same
made hollow and the whole united by a bolt or rivet, substantially as described.
4. The filling-piece B, provided with an opening for the passage of a bolt or
rivet, and shaped upon its two sides to correspond with and fit into the channels
of two crossing parts of corrugated metal, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Dated this 28th day of November 1887
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.