IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON BEAMS OR GIRDERS
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
FIELDER, of Carlton Villas, Maida Vale, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
tractor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Ninth day of
November (One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven), in the eleventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Fielder, my exors, adñors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said. Henry,
Fielder, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Fielder, my exors, admňors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON BEAMS OR GIRDERS;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Henry Fielder,
should cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as

page_text: in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, - the said
Henry Fielder, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
'tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
These improvements relate to the construction of iron beams and girders
generally.
Firstly, in the construction of new beams by a combination of malleable
and cast iron, which I call compound girders or beams.
Secondly, in applying the principle for strengthening or repairing old or
broken girders and beams.
Thirdly, in the construction of new girders or beams entirely of malleable iron.
The novel principle applied in this Invention consists in the construct-
ing in malleable iron, wholly or in part, the lower or tension flange of
girders, beams, or bearers, the centre rib and upper or crushing flange being
wholly in cast iron or malleable iron, or partly in either, according to the
several duties they may have to perform, or the division of the Patent, they
may be classed under. In all cases the connection of the two materials is
effected by the process known. by the term of "hot rivetting," which unites
the cast and malleable iron effectually, and insures an increase of strength
in the compound girders commensurate with the tensive power of the
malleable iron applied, the proportion of which is in all cases to be equal
to the whole estimated duty assigned to the girder or beam, ensuring thereby
efficiency in the event of fracture from any cause in the cast iron.
In order to elucidate the principle, and to shew the mode of applying
the materials under the different divisions of the Patent the following
Drawings are appended.
Drawing No. 1, Figures 1 to 3, shew the compound girder of ordinary form,
with the malleable iron attached to the lower flange, thereby making the
girder of twice its original strength. Figures 4 to 6 shew a compound girder,
like the foregoing, with the addition of malleable iron attached to the crushing
flange, and further strengthened by angle iron on the tension flange, designed
for use where the girder may be subjected to vibration endangering the cast
iron by fracture. Figures 7 to 9 shew a compound girder, the centre rib and
upper or crushing flange of cast iron strengthened with malleable iron, the
lower or tension flange entirely in the latter material.

page_text: Figures 10 to 12 shew a further extension of the principle in the formation
of girders or beams where both the ribs and flanges are formed of malleable
and cast iron, designed for situations where concussion or great vibration may
be apprehended, and for beams of large span. I would remark, that the
figure and section of the girders or beams shewn may be varied, so long as the
mode of combining wrought iron above explained be retained. By this mode
of construction the cast-iron core may be used in any convenient lengths, the
malleable iron being arranged in its joinings to effectually connect the whole.
The improvement embraced under the second division of the Patent is the
application of the principle and all the details of construction contained under
the first division to girders already prepared or in use, or for repairing broken
ones, modified in the detail to suit each particular form, giving thereby the
necessary malleable tensive lower flange in all cases, and adding to the
crushing flange in others where the increased strength of the former renders
it necessary to restore a proper proportion between the two.
The improvement included under the third division of the Patent relates to
the constructing entire girders, beams, or bearers in malleable iron by welding.
or hot-rivetting the several parts together.
Drawing No. 2, Figures 1 to 4, shew a girder of malleable iron capable of
bearing one hundred and fifty tons in the centre, suitable for arched fire-proof
floors, &c., the tensive and crushing flanges being attached to the centre rib
by angle iron, the heading joints coupled together, and the whole hot-rivetted.
Figures 5 to 8 shew a girder of the same kind, prepared with sockets to
receive binders of wood or iron, or smaller girders for brick arches to form
fire-proof floors.
Figures 9 to 12 shew another form of girder with the centre rib welded
into one length, the upper and lower flanges, with the sockets for binder.
girders, constructed in the same materials and manner as the foregoing.
Figures 13 to 17 shew other modifications of form, and these forms and
sections may be varied in the construction when making beams or girders
according to this part of my Invention, so long as the peculiar character
of my Invention, as above described, be retained. Girders of this description
are suitable for railroads, bridges, factories, engine houses, and warehouse
floors, or wherever great strain, vibration, or concussion may be apprehended
either from stationary or locomotive machinery.
Having thus fully described my Invention, and the mode of constructing
improved girders or beams, I claim the novel combination of malleable iron
with cast iron in the formation of new girders or beams, and also for
strengthening old girders or beams. And,

page_text: Secondly, I claim the constructing ribbed girders of malleable iron, as
explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Fielder, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and forty-eight.
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