IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FORMING DOMES AND CIRCULAR BUILDINGS IN CONCRETE AND PLASTER
Year: 1884

page_text: I ROBERT Moss ORMEROD Plasterer and Concrete Worker of No 5 Close St in
the City of Carlisle do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR FORMING DOMES AND CIRCULAR BUILDINGS IN CONCRETE AND
PLASTER to be as follows viz. :-
For forming the vertical walls, a mould or Template of the requisite form and
size is fixed to the end of an Iron or wooden radius which has on the inner end an:
eyelet, through which a truly formed round Iron bar is put and fixed firmly in the
centre of the proposed building, on this bar (and below the eyelet of radius)
a small piece of tube is put, and held in its position by a Thumb Screw, this forms
the bearing for the eyelet or end of radius and can be raised as required as each
layer of Concrete is put on, to keep the radius horizontal.
The Building is formed by adding layers of Concrete &c, keeping same in form
by this mould & radius which is raised after each layer, this process is repeated till
the requisite height is arrived at.
String Courses, Sills, and Cornices, can be formed in this process, either externaly
or internaly, by adapting the form of Template (or mould) Openings for Doors,
Windows &c to be formed by erection of frame work.
When the walls are carried to the intended height, the centre rod before named
is removed, and for the formation of the spherical Dome or roof, a wooden post or
stand is put in its place, on the top of which in centre, and level with the spring
of Dome, a duplex (Iron) joint is fixed, this joint admits of a rotary vertical &
oblique action (at any angle).
To this joint the same radius with Template at end (as used for Vertical Walls)
is fixed and the process of building is continued as described for walls by adding
layers of Concrete and keeping it in form by the rotary action of the duplex joint,
and without further adjustment of the centre or joint the Dome (or roof) is
carried to the top.
It is found that when the dome has been built about 30 degrees above the spring
that the Concrete in its plastic form has a tendency to run inwards-to obviate this
a thin body (or shell) composed of Plaster of Paris and haired Lime, which sets
quickly is formed on the inside, this keeps the layers of Concrete in position till it
sets, this plaster shell may remain or be taken off according to the purpose for
which the Dome is required.

page_text: For forming Segmental Domes or Roofs the same process is adopted as for
spherical Domes, only the duplex joint is fixed such distance below the spring or
wall top as may be required, according to the ratio of rise of Dome.
For forming Elliptical Domes the duplex joint is also used, being fixed on the
top of an iron or wooden shaft, which shaft is put into a Tube of sufficient length
to admit of difference of minnimum and maximum radius-the joint (or centre) is
1st fixed level with the spring, and while at this level the 1st layer of Concrete is
put on, formed with mould on radius as for the other Domes (the shaft having
been divided into as many parts as there are to be courses or layers in the Dome)
the shaft is now lowered one division, and the 2nd course or layer of Concrete is
put on, the shaft is again lowered, and this process is repeated till the Dome
is complete, when the joint or centre of radiation will be down at its lowest
level in very flat ellipses it is necessary to close the immediate centre or apex of
Dome with Template put in tho centro of remaining open space this latter however
is not a feature in this Patent.
For forming Gothic or pointed high pitched Domes, the same duplex joint is still
used, it is not however fixed in centre of the Dome, as in the other cases, but on
the end of an arm which is fixed to an upright bar or rod in the centre proper,
and extending such distance as the height of the Dome is found to exceed half its
diameter at spring.
A mould or template as in the other cases is fastened to the radius, which is also
connected to the duplex joint The radius in this case for a portion of its length
-has-a-portion-cut-out-of-its-middle-longitudinaly-which-enables-it-to-work-on-the-
centre upright rod which is the centre for the rotary motion, but for the oblique
motion and regulation of the pitch of the dome, the extended radius, and duplex
joint is brought into action.
The same mode of building is adopted in this, as described for the other forms
of Dome.
These several forms of Domes or roofs are carried out without any structural
support being self sustaining throughout.

page_text: I, ROBERT Moss ORMEROD Plasterer & Concrete Worker 5 Close Street London
Road Carlisle do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR FORMING DOMES AND CIRCULAR BUILDINGS IN CONCRETE &
PLASTER and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
For forming the Vertical Walls, a mould or Template of the requisite form & size
is fixed to the end of an Iron or Wooden radius which has on the inner end, an
eyelet through which a truly formed round Iron bar is put, and fixed firmly in the
centre of the proposed Building, on this bar, (and below the cyclet of radius)
a small piece of Tube is put, and held in its position by a Thumb screw, this forins
the bearing for the eyelet or end of radius, and can be raised as required as each
layer of Concrete is put on, to keep the radius horizontal.
The Building is formed by adding layers of Concrete &c, keeping same in forin
by this mould and radius, which is raised after each layer, this process is repeated
till the requisite height is arrived at.
String Courses, Sills, and Cornices, can be formed in this process, either externaly
or internaly by adapting the form of Template, (or mould), Openings for Doors,
Windows &c to be formed by erection of framework.
When the walls are carried to the intended height, the centre rod before
named is removed and for the formation of the Spherical Dome or roof, a wooden
post or stand is put in its place, on the top of which in centre, and level with the
spring of Dome, a Duplex Iron Joint is fixed, this joint admits of a rotary vertical
& oblique action (at any angle).
To this joint the same radius with Template at end (as used for Vertical Walls)
is fixed and the process of building is continued as described for walls by adding
layers of Concrete and keeping it in form by the rotary action of the duplex joint,
and without further adjustment of the centre or joint, the Dome (or roof) is
carried to the top.
:
It is found that when the Dome has been built about 30 degrees above the
spring, that the Concretre in its plastic form has a tendency to run inwards-to
obviate this a thin body (or shell) composed of Plaster of Paris, and haired Lime,
(which sets quickly) is formed on the inside, this keeps the layers of Concrete in
position till it sets, this Plaster Shell may remain or be taken off according to the
purpose for which the Dome is required.
For forming Segmental Domes or Roofs the same process is adopted as for
Spherical Domes, only the duplex joint is fixed such distance below the spring or
wall top as may be required, according to the ratio of rise of Dome.
For forming Elliptical Domes the duplex joint is also used, being fixed on the
top of an iron or wooden shaft, which shaft, is put into a Tube of sufficient length
to admit of difference of minimum & maximum radius, the joint (or centro)
is 1st fixed level with the spring, and while at this level the 1st layer of Concrete
is put on, formed with mould on radius as for the other domes, (the shaft having

page_text: been divided into as many parts as there are to be courses or layers in the Dome)-
the shaft is now lowered one division, and the 2nd course or layer of Concrete is
put on, the shaft is again lowered, and this process is repeated till the Dome is
complete when the joint or centre of radiation will be down at its lowest level, in
very fat ellipses it is necessary to close the immediate centre or apex of Dome,
with template put in the centre of remaining open space, this latter however is not
a feature in this Patent.
For forming Gothic or pointed high pitched Domes, the same duplex joint is still
used it is not however fixed in the centre of the Dome, as in the other cases, but
on the end of an arm, which is fixed to an upright bar or rod in the centre proper
and extending such distance as the height of the Dome is found to exceed half its
diameter at spring-A mould or template as in the other cases is fastened to the
radius which is also connected to the duplex joint.
The radius in this case for a portion of its length, has a portion cut out of its
middle longitudinaly, which enables it to work on the centre upright rod, which
is the centre for the rotary motion-but, for the oblique motion & regulation of
the pitch of the Dome, the extended radius & duplex joint is brought into action.
The same mode of building is adopted in this as described for the other forms of
Domes.
These several forms of Domes or roofs are carried out without any structural
support being self-sustaining throughout.
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
1st That the application of the Duplex Joint for the purposes above named
(whereby both a rotary & oblique action is obtained) is new-as are also the modes
described for forming by the adjustment of levels the several kinds of Domes
named.
2nd That the extended arm-as named for the formation of Gothic or pointed
Domes is also new.