Improvements in and relating to Metal Covered Truss-work for Carrying Concrete Floors and Ceilings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov.. 1892-4ccepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Metal Covered Truss-work for
Carrying Concrete Floors and Ceilings.
I, JOHN FRENCH GOLDING, of 100° Queen Victoria Street, in the County
of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to metal covered truss-work for carrying concrete floors and
ceilings.
One object of my invention is to provide a structure comprising girders or arches
made of very light and inexpensive material and which shall be very strong and
rigid. My improved structure not only forms the support for the floor during
construction, but also constitutes the ceiling surface to which the plaster can be
directly applied.
An important feature of my invention consists in the employment of metal open-
work forming either wholly or partially the bottom or tension member of my
improved structure and at the same time constituting the lathing to receive the
plaster for the ceiling. Another important feature is the provision, in combination
therewith, of similar metal open-work above the arch or structure for receiving the
material forming the floor. It will be seen therefore that all the materials used in
the construction of the floor, the ceiling, and the arch contribute to strengthen each
other. This feature is as far as I am aware quite novel.
My improved structure provides for deadening the sound communicated through
the floor. and possesses other advantages over floors as heretofore constructed.
My said structure comprises two or more parallel girders connected by suitable
cross-braces. The said girders are preferably of the bow-string type and made of
very light metal. The trusses are preferably formed with pointed ends and secured
to the top and bottom members by rivets or bolts which pass also through, and
secure, the cross-braces which connect the parallel girders. The pointed ends of
the trusses extend above and below, respectively, the top and bottom members of
the girder. I stretch over and between the top members of the structure, and
below and between the bottom members thereof, a covering or lathing of metal
open work preferably of the kind substantially such as is described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent No. 6977 A.D. 1884 and now generally
known as expanded metal. I prefer to secure the said metal covering by means of
the truss bars of the girders, the pointed ends of which are bent over, or into, the
covering or lathing.
In some cases I dispense with the straight bottom tension members of the
girders, and use only the expanded metal which is securely fastened to the girders
by the pointed ends of the trusses as above described.
The arches are made in suitable lengths and widths. They are light and port-
able and can be readily applied between the walls or main girders of a building.
For building concrete flooring my improved arches dispense with much labor as
they are adapted to receive the concrete directly upon their upper surface, no other
centreing pieces being required. Where desired, the upper lathing may be dispensed
with and the concrete allowed to fill the interior of the arched structure, though I
prefer not to fill the structure in this, manner but to allow the concrete to cover
the surface only. In this manner a light fire-proof floor is ensured, and one that is
not soon affected by a couflagration within the building, as the space inside the
arch admits of circulation of air thus retarding the heating of the concrete
above it

page_text: Owing to the lightness of the metal employed, the parts thereof when heated
will deffect slightly without injury to the concrete floor or ceiling.
All the metal forming the top members and the covering thereof being under
compressiou, contributes to stiffness, while all the metal in the bottom members
and ceiling surface is in tension and contributes to the strength of the floor.
My improved arch-structures may be set between heavy iron girders, such as
are used in concrete floors, or between the walls or partitions of the building.
It is obvious that I can modify the construction of my improved arches in detail
without departing from the nature of my invention.
Dated this 13th day of February 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Metal Covered Truss-work for
Carrying Concrete Floors and Ceilings.
I, JOHN FRENCH GOLDING, of 100° Queen Victoria Street, in the County
of London, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to metal-covered truss-work for carrying concrete or fire-
proof floors and ceilings.
One object of my invention is to provide a structure comprising girders or arches
made of very light and inexpensive material and which shall be very strong and
rigid. My improved structure not only forms the support for the concrete during
the construction of the floor but also constitutes wholly or in part the ceiling
Burface to which the plaster can be directly applied. According to one part of my
invention I provide for making a finished floor of concrete, but as such floors are
not so common as boarded floors I provide also in one construction an upper com-
pression member of wood in the arched and trussed structure to which member the
Hooring boards can be nailed as they are to ordinary wooden joists.
One of the features of my invention consists in the employment of metal open-work
forming either wholly or partially the bottom or tension member of my improved
structure and at the same time constituting the lathing to receive the plaster for
the ceiling. Another feature is the provision in combination therewith of similar
metal open-work for receiving the concrete forming the floor. The strength of my
flooring and ceiling structure depends upon the crushing strength of the concrete
and the longitudinal strength of the compression members of wood or iron in the
truss or arch in combination with the tensile strength of its other members. The
normal strength of the concrete is moreover greatly enhanced by its becoming
embedded in the metals forming the trusses and arches.
My improved structure provides for deadening the sound communicated through
the floor, and possesses other advantages over floors as heretofore constructed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a girder constructed according to my invention,
the side flanges hereinafter described being removed.
•
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line of Figure 3 and showing a
transverse section of a main gider, and also another form of a trussed bow-string
girder, constructed according to my invention.
Figure 3 is a transverse central section drawn to a larger scale of two parallel
cross girders showing the expanded metal between the said girders for supporting
the concrete of the floor, and the mortar of the ceiling.
Figure 4 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the end of a main girder.
Like-letters-indicate corresponding-parts-throughout-the-drawings._

page_text: The main girders are similar in construction to the cross girders, and differ,
except as to size, only in the mode of constructing the upper member.
In the main girder this upper member is made up of two longitudinal angle
irons, while in the cross girders it is in the preferred construction made of wood to
which the flooring boards are nailed as to a wooden joist.
Referring to Figure 1, A is an arch of channelled iron or steel, a section of
which is shown in Figure 3. The ends A' A¹ of the said arch are turned up
and riveted to the upper wooden member B. A bolt C which may be solid or
tubular extends from end to end of the girder and is provided with nuts C¹ C¹
which are tightened against the ends of the girder and thus give longitudinal
stiffness thereto. The said bolt passes through oval openings a¹ formed in the
arched part of the channel A as shown in the perspective view Figure 4. Before
the said channel A is bent up at the ends, the flauges thereof are preferably slit so
that when the ends are turned up, the flanges overlap each other at the bend.
They are then secured together by a rivet a. The arch portion proper A springs
from a point A some little distance from the end of the beam. On each side of
the arch is riveted thereto a longitudinal strip D forming a tension member which
extends nearly the full length of the beam. In some cases the strips D may be
dispensed with, reliance for tensile strength being placed on the expanded metal
hereinafter described. E, E are braces riveted as shown to the said strips D, the
channelled arch A, and the wooden top member B.
The channel A is made with inclined side flanges A* A' as indicated in Figure 3.
These flanges may be produced by rolling, or they may be formed by bending a flat
plate or strip to the shape indicated in the said Figure 3. The braces E pass
through holes formed in the said inclined flanges or in the upper bent part of the
vertical flanges of the channel. Cross bars D'D' see Figure 3 are riveted at
intervals between the longitudinal strips D to stiffen the same transversely.
When forming a floor, the said girders are placed parallel with each other at a
suitable distance apart resting at their ends on the main girders or on the walls of
the building if the latter is small. The main girders are supported by the walls of
the building or by pillars. The space between the said parallel girders is then
spanned with open metal work F preferably of the kind substantially such as
described in the Specification of former Letters Patent No. 6977 A.D. 1884 and
what is now well known as expanded metal. The said metal rests on or is secured
to the side flanges A³ of the girders. The concrete is then laid upon the said
girders and expanded metal and when set it locks the whole firmly and securely
together. In like manner, expanded metal G is applied and secured to the lower
members of the girders to receive the mortar for the ceiling. The expanded metal
may be secured in a simple manner by turning the ends of the trusses or braces E
into the said metal work. My improved arches dispense with much labour in the
constructing of concrete floors, as they are adapted to receive the concrete directly.
upon their upper surface, no other centreing pieces being required.
The modified form of cross girder shown in Figure 2 is of the bow-string type
covered top and bottom with expanded metal for the purpose above specified.
I may provide a longitudinal bolt in this girder similar to the bolt C, Figure 1. and
secure the same to anchor plates set in the concrete.
It will be seen that an air space is provided between the concrete floor and the
ceiling, which ensures a light floor, and provides for a circulation of air there-
through which would retard the heating of the floor in case there should be a con-
flagration within the building. Owing to the lightness of all the metal employed
in the structure, the parts will deflect when heated without injuring the concrete
floor or ceiling. In no part of the structure is there used any metal having a heavy
section, other than the bolt which is in air space.
This system which combines trussed and arched girders of light metal work or
of metal and wood combined for carrying concrete above the arched members, the
lower tensile members thereof being of light metal for carrying the mortar of
the ceiling; the convenient means provided for increasing the number of tensile

page_text: members, that is to say two or more bolts C, and consequently the strength of the
structure, the fillet strips of wood upon which the flooring boards are secured; and
the provision thus made for fireproofing and ventilating the structure between the
ceiling and the arch of the floor, are I believe entirely novel features in the
construction of buildings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A trussed and arched girder constructed of light metal, substantially as
described, for the purpose specified.
2. The method of constructing the ends of the girders in combination with one
or more longitudinal tension members passing through said ends and secured
thereto, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
3. A trussed and arched girder for supporting a floor and ceiling having its
tensile members formed partially of expanded metal or other open metal-work to
which the ceiling mortar is applied, substantially as described.
4. A trussed and arched girder for carrying a concrete floor and ceiling, said
girder being constructed with an upper compression member of wood forming
a fillet strip to which the flooring boards can be nailed, substantially as described.
5. The means provided for supporting the concrete between and above the
arched girders both while it is setting and after it is set, substantially as described.
6. In a girder constructed to carry a concrete floor and the ceiling structure, the
provision of a ventilating space between the floor and the ceiling, substantially as
described, for the purpose specified.
7. A. combined floor and ceiling, and girders for carrying the same, arranged to
strengthen and support each other, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of November 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.