New or Improved Blocks for Building Purposes and Means for Constructing the same.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Aug., 1889-Accepted; 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Blocks for Building Purposes and Means for
Constructing the same.
I ADOLF KATZ, Doctor of Philosophy and Builder to the Government, of Stuttgart
in the Empire of Germany do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct a light material in the form of blocks
suitable for purposes of building and more especially for use as a material for con-
structing or filling partitions ceilings and the like, or for encasing heating apparatus
or for any other construction in building for which such may be suitable.
The blocks are constructed of a mixture of woody refuse, such as chaff, chopped
straw, husks, woody fibre, stalks, etc. or other light and porous bodies, cinders or sandy
material, animal hair or the like with plaster of Paris, lime or suitable cement worked
up and poured into. moulds so constructed as to form blocks having hollow passages
or spaces so made as to decrease the weight without materially diminishing the
strength in the direction of strain or pressure.
Thus, such may be constructed as rather flat or shallow blocks through which pass
horozontally a number of substantially parallel passages of comparatively large height
and small breadth and arched so as to give the greatest strength against compression
proportional to the weight of the block.
To provide a mould for casting such block I preferably make a rectangular trough,
which may or may not have a corrugated or uneven interior bottom plate, two sides
being stationary and provided with holes for the passage of bars which are to form
the cavities in the block, and the other two sides preferably hinged or removable
for more convenient removal of the block. The bars aforesaid are combined in
alternating sets, each bar being tapered for easier withdrawal, from the block, each
set of bars may be connected for simultaneous movement, the one set of bars being
tapered in the same degree as the other but contrary in direction, the walls separating
the cavities in the blocks will be of equal thickness throughout.
The material is poured into said mould and shaken well down and when set
sufficiently, the bars are drawn out.
:
When stiff enough to be handled it is removed from the mould and set apart to
dry or to be dried. In manufacturing a block for filling between ceiling joists or
girders, the lower face is made uneven or rough to be afterwards plastered and the
edges of the block may be made recessed if necessary by insertion of angle irons or
ribs in the mould to adapt the blocks to fit exactly on the flanges of the girders.
Dated this 29th day of Norambo. 1.000
Agents to Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Blocks for Building Purposes and Means for
Constructing the same.
I ADOLF KATZ, Doctor of Philosophy and Builder to the Government of Stuttgart
in the Empire of Germany 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 :-
The object of this invention is to construct a light material in the form of blocks
suitable for purposes of building and more especially for use as a material for con-
structing or filling partitions, ceilings and the like or for encasing heating apparatus
or for any other construction in building for which such may be suitable.

page_text: The blocks are constructed of a mixture of woody refuse such as, chaff, chopped
straw, busks, woody fibre, stalks etc. or other light and porous bodies cinders or sandy
material, animal hair or the like or a mixture of these with plaster of Paris lime or
suitable cement, worked up and poured into moulds constructed so as to form blocks
having hollow passages or spaces so made as to decrease the weight without materially
diminishing the strength in the direction of strain or pressure.
Such may be constructed as rather flat or shallow blocks through which pass
horizontally a number of substantially parallel passages and arched so as to give the
greatest strength against compression proportional to the weight of the block.
The apparatus consists of a modelling box b as shown in the annexed drawing.
Fig. 1 being a cross section thereof. Fig. 2 a longitudinal elevation. Fig. 3 a. plan,
and Fig. 4a perspective view. The longitudinal and cross walls of the same are kept
together by means of the bolts d inserted through eyes c and placed upon the floor
plate on which they are prevented from lateral shifting by the angle levers w pro-
jecting above the surface of the floor. Of course the connecting of the box walls can
also be effected in any other manner for instance by hinge joints and bolts or hooks.
The sides of the modelling box have corresponding slot holes which serve for the
introduction of the bars for forming the hollows of the blocks.
These separate bars of optional cross section are tapered and if more than one is
introduced on either side the bars on that side may be connected by a cross pole..
With all processes known up till now it was necessary to protect the moulds in some
manner against the adhesion of the material to be cast. For this purpose one uses
generally successfully soap, oil, fat and the like. These remedies are however not
only expensive but also the use of them is troublesome and causes waste of time.
In the present process, adhesion to the bars and mould is prevented by covering
them with, cloth fabric, linen, or the like which can at all times be easily removed
from the moulds.
The inner surfaces of the moulds are smootly covered with wetted fabric f. The
bars are covered with linen or similar hoses or bags 9 and are inserted into the
openings in the walls of the box covered in its interior with the wetted fabric. The
material is then poured in and smoothed off level. As soon as it has sufficiently
hardened, the bars are withdrawn without the bags. The bags can then be with-
drawn some minutes after the bars and after they have been washed out, they can
be drawn again over the bars. After the casting is hardened the mould is taken to
pieces and is loosened very conveniently and easily from the completed block whilst
the fabric still adheres to the latter and can be taken off without trouble and used
again immediately.
If in the described manner longitudinal plates are to be constructed there may be
inserted also small bars or sticks into the moulds so that they are retained in the
casting in order to increase the stiffness thereof.
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.. Hollow, blocks for building purposes as set forth, consisting of woody matter
such as: straw. chaff. or husks, woody fibre, stalks sawdust, peat rubbish or other
light porous body and animal hair, cinders, or sandy material or a mixture of these
with gypsum lime, cement or other suitable, cement, said blocks being made by
pouring the mixture into moulds having a suitable arrangement for the formation of
the spaces a.
2. For the formation of said blocks a mould having a floor plate. and removable
"side plates, holes in two opposite side plates and bars adapted to be passed into said
mould by means of said holes, the said bars and interior of the mould being covered
or surfaced with loose fabric, the whole substantially as set forth.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.