IMPROVE- Denannon BLOODS FOR BUILDINGS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cunningham, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer and Architect, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
Denannon BLOODS FOR BUILDINGS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cunningham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th October 1865.
I, JOHN CUNNINGHAM, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer and Architect, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOP FLOORS FOR BUILDINGS,"
to be as follows:-
-
To provide for offices, warehouses, dwelling houses, and other buildings, of
whatever materials the walls and partitions may be constructed, strong, rigid,
and durable fireproof floors which shall be neither too heavy nor too costly is. the
object of my Invention. I take lengths of iron or other metal of any of the forms

page_text: herein-after described and referred to as Nos. 1, 2, and 3, and place them parallel
to each other, preferably close together, or at such distances apart that lime
or other plaster will pass between and adhere to them without laths. These
said lengths or joists are bound together by tie rods which pass transversely
through their webs, and they are kept at the desired distance from each other
by pieces of pipe or washers placed between them, and through which the
said tie rods may be passed. The form of iron or other metal No. 1 in
transverse section resembles the letter Z, that is to say, it has a vertical web
and two lateral limbs branching therefrom, the one to the right and the other
to the left. No. 2 has a vertical web and two lateral limbs similar to No. 1,
and in addition thereto or in extension thereof the metal of the said limbs
is bent back or overfolded to the other side of the web so as to give the cross
section of the completed form the appearance and qualities of an ordinary
girder. No. 3 in transverse section resembles the letter V.. When the
lengths are placed in position to constitute the joists of a fireproof floor each
alternate one is inverted. These several forms I prefer to make of or shape
from thin sheets of iron or other metal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Cunningham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CUNNINGHAM, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer and
Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Cunningham, Her special license that I, the said John
Cunningham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said John Cunningham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF FLOORS FOR BUILDINGS," upon the condition

page_text: (amongst others) that I, the said John Cunningham, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my, said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar mouths
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Cunningham, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
To provide for offices, warehouses, dwelling houses, and other buildings, of
whatever materials the walls and partitions may be constructed, strong, rigid,
and durable fireproof, floors which shall be neither too heavy nor too costly is
the object of my Invention. I take lengths of iron or other metal of any of
the forms herein-after described and referred to as No. 1, 2, and 3, and place
them parallel to each other, preferably close together, or at such distances
apart that lime or other plaster will pass between and adhere to them without
laths. These said lengths or joists are bound together by tie rods which pass
transversely through their webs, and they are, kept at the desired distance
from each other by pieces of pipe or washers placed between them, and
through which the said tie rods may be passed. Form of iron or other metal
No. 1 in transverse section resembles the letter Z, that is to say, it has a
vertical web and two lateral limbs branching therefrom, the one to the right.
and the other to the left. No. 2 has a vertical web and two lateral limbs
similar to No. 1, and in addition thereto or in extension thereof the metal of
the said limbs is bent back or overfolded to the other side of the web, so as to
give the cross section of the completed form the appearance and qualities of
an ordinary girder. No. 3 in transverse section resembles the letter V. When
the lengths are placed in position to constitute the joists of a fireproof floor
each alternate one is inverted. These several forms I prefer to make of or
shape from thin sheets of iron or other metal.
That architects and others may readily obtain a knowledge of the features
which distinguish my said Invention I have attached hereto a Sheet of
Drawings, whereon the exact forms and proportions of metal joists which I
prefer and the means for tying or securing the same in position are.
delineated.
Form of iron or other metal No. 1 above mentioned is shewn in transverse
section by the Figure marked section No. 1. Thereon a is the web or trunk
of the thin metal joist; b, the lateral limbs; c, the tie rods; and d, ferules,

page_text: pipes, or washers to keep the joists a in position. To the lateral limbs b..pieces
of thin metal might be rivetted or fastened, and in this way each joist be made
to resemble in transverse section the letter I.
The Figure marked section No. 3 represents in transverse section form of
iron or other metal No. 2 above mentioned. e is the web or trunk; f, the
lateral limbs; g, the bent-back or overfolded portions; h, the tie rods; and
i, the separating ferules..
Section No. 2 on the Drawings is a representation of form of iron or other
metal No. 3 above mentioned. j.is the web, or trunk, shewn made of two
pieces of metal fastened together by rivets k, each alternate joist being inverted,
so that the long and short lateral limbs marked respectively. and m (and
shewn in under side view by 1* and m*) may leave the same spaces: on both
surfaces, that is to say, on the bearing floor and ceiling. It will be obvious
that instead of two pieces one only could be used (and I purpose so making
them, either rivetted together or not rivetted), the metal being folded over,
but in this latter case the convenience or advantage of the narrow limbs m-as
means for holding mortar, cement, or other coating would not be obtained.
In practice I prefer to coat over the iron joists, ties, and separating ferules with
with asphalte or other varnish. In finishing a floor constructed as mentioned
I adopt any ordinary or convenient practice. Where a wooden floor is not
required a convenient modo is to lay a coating of Kean's or other cement or
concrete of sufficient thickness over the upper surfaces of the joists. Where
a wooden floor is required it might be screwed to the upper lateral limbs, but
a better arrangement is to lay concrete, mortar, or like plastic.substance over
the upper surface, then to lay on lagging or battens, and to secure the flooring
boards thereto. For the under surfaces or ceilings the first coating should be
of hair mortar; this can be finished in any ordinary way. As a means of giving
increased holding surface holes of an irregular or any desired form might be
made in the lateral limbs, both upper and lower. The manner of securing
the ends of the tie rods may be variously-modified, cotters, outside washers
through openings in the rods would answer well, so also would nuts.
formed to screw on the ends. Where practicable the joists or lengths of
metal might be rolled, but in ordinary practice I prefer to form them from
thin sheets.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particularized
details thereof, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details of forms of joists shewn, nor arrangement of securing or tying
the same, as modifications may be made without departing from those
characteristics which distinguish my Invention. What I claim is, constructing

page_text: or manufacturing fireproof floors for buildings of metal joists formed, arranged,
and secured substantially in the manner herein set forth, and illustrated on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cunningham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
In the presence of
JOHN DAVIES,
Clerk to John T. King,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
JOHN CUNNINGHAM. (L.S.)