Improvements in and relating to Ceilings.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
CUALI DDIM DI MUITIATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ceilings.
We, CARL MOBERS and WILHELM WIRTZ, both of 98, Cornelius Strasse,
Dusseldorf, in the Empire of Germany, Contractors for Concrete Constructions,
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 a ribbed ceiling which rests upou T girders and which
in addition to complete isolation or insulation and small weight, possesses also
great strength and load-carrying capacity, whilst it is perfectly fireproof and can
be readily constructed.
The subject of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which:-
Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through the ceiling.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same and Figure 3 is a
plan of the ceiling.
Figure 4 is a view of a wire hook.
The ribbed ceilings are constructed by first stretching any desired kind of
woven wire fabric a, but particularly that known as "Rabitz-fabric," (a particular
kind of wire netting named after the inventor Rabitz and is used for making light
walls or partitions as it gives a good hold to the mortar or plaster known also as
"Rabitz-Gewebe") very tightly under the girders bb etc. Then iron
strips etc. are arranged upon the girder flanges from girder to girdes at
suitable intervals of distance apart from each other according to requirement,
with their ends bent or twisted to the right hand and to the left hand, so that the
iron strips are situated on edge between the girders. Then at certain intervals of
distance apart from each other small wire hooks are arranged in the ceiling in
such a manner that the said hooks engage with one hooked end cross-fashion with
the fabric, whilst the other and oppositely directed hook engages with the iron
strip, so that the fabric acquires a safe support by means of the iron strips on the
girder flanges. Then a light lathing f of special construction for the purpose is
provided under the fabric, and the iron strips together with the fabric are embedded
up to the top edge of the iron strips by filling, casting or pouring in, from the top
a mixture of binding materials such as gypsum with "pumice-gravel," or any
other existing binding agents and compositions, the iron strips being covered or
strengthened with or by means of a bulge-shaped reinforcement c. The filling of
the ribbed ceiling is effected in any prescribed manner such as with pure
slag-ash," pumice-sand," etc., upon which the flooring consisting of wood,
concrete, asphalte or the like may be laid.
66
*
The ceiling as above described possesses as stated in the preamble, great
strength and load-carrying capacity insulates perfectly, and has, when made of
the above mentioned mixtures of binding agents, but very little weight, it dries
thoroughly in a very short time; it is cheaply and quickly built, and above all
i proof against fire and burglars.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A free or unsupported ceiling, characterised by one or more supporting
pieces (iron-strip, T-iron, or the like c, c¹, c³, etc.) which are rigidly fixed in
between the abutments b, b¹, and which carry at their underside by means of hooks
or the like d, a wire netting or woven fabric that serves for the attachment
thereto of the plaster covering of the ceiling.
2. Ceilings constructed substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 30th day of April 1897.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E. M. I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.