İmprovements in or relating to the Construction of Walls applicable for Grain Storage Bins and other purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th UCL., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
Date of Application, 24th UCL., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
İmprovements in or relating to the Construction of Walls applicable
for Grain Storage Bins and other purposes.
A communication by ALBERT WILLIAM WALLACE MILLER, of 24-26, White
Street, New York, in the County and State of New York, United States of
America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of partition walls, the object being
to provide an improved form of block or tile which, when built into a wall, will
form or have the properties of an arch, thus rendering the wall capable of resist-
ing great lateral pressure, and therefore particularly adapted for use in the con-
struction of grain bins, where, owing to the fact that one bin may be filled with
grain and the adjoining bin entirely empty, a very heavy lateral pressure is
exerted upon the bin walls causing them to bulge out or be overthrown unless
constructed in a very heavy and substantial manner. A further object is to pro-
vide a very strong and durable construction for grain elevator and other storage
bins, and also one that will be fire proof.
The invention consists generally in a wall composed of a single row of, prefer-
ably, tile blocks built to form or have the properties of an arch, to the end that
the lateral pressure upon either side of the wall, caused by the weight of the
grain, will not produce a bulging or transverse strain upon the wall though one
bin may be full and the adjoining bin entirely or partially empty. Further
the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as herein-
after described.
As applied to grain bins, I beams are horizontally arranged one upon
another at intervals preferably of about six feet upon the four sides of the bins.
These beams serve to bind the structure firmly together, and aid in supporting
the tile walls, but my correspondent does not confine himself to the use of
I beams in this construction, as various other forms of beams may be used with
equally good results.
Preferably near the middle of the wall the I beams are provided with clamps
connected by tie rods extending across the corners of the bins, by means of
which the beams in the adjoining walls may be held firmly in position. Between
each pair of beams a single row of blocks, preferably tile, or other clay pro-
ducts is provided, forming or having the properties of an arch, the haunches of
which bear upon the beams and have recesses at one end to receive the flanges
thereon. The lower haunch of the arch at its inner end is provided with a
wedge shaped surface to enter a correspondingly shaped recess in the end of the

page_text: adjoining voussoir, which in turn at its opposite end, has a wedge shaped sur-
face to enter a V-shaped recess in the next voussoir, and so on until the middle
of the arch is reached where a key-stone is provided having V-shaped recesses
in its upper and lower ends to receive the wedge shaped surfaces of the voussoirs
immediately above and below. Above the keystone the construction described is
continued until the upper haunch of the arch is reached which is secured to the
I beam in the manner heretofore described with reference to the lower haunch.
The other rows of the blocks between the pairs forming the walls of the bin are
constructed in a similar manner, there being preferably 4 voussoirs between pair
of beams in addition to the keystone and haunches, but if preferred the beams
may be arranged at greater intervals, or the I beams may be placed closer
together should it be desired to construct a bin in which the walls would be sub-
jected to an unusual lateral strain. At the intersection of the walls, vertical
rows of tiling are provided having preferably square ends and V-shaped recesses
in their opposite sides to receive the wedge shaped surfaces on the ends of the
adjoining blocks at the corners of the bins.
A slightly modified construction consists in providing a hexagonal bin though
it may be polygonal in form, the walls being formed of a single row of blocks
but arranged horizontally instead of vertically between the supporting beams
whereby there is formed a wall having the properties of an arch. At the inter-
section of the walls triangular blocks having wedge faced surfaces are provided
to interlock with the recessed ends of the blocks in the abutting walls. Near
the centre of the blocks, in their upper surfaces, are recesses to receive projec-
tions upon the under surface of the superimposed blocks when built into a
column.
A vertical column is thus formed composed of interlocking blocks, which, when
joined with the ends of the abutting walls, form an extremely rigid and sub-
stantial corner for the bin. Instead of tile steel columns may be used at the
corners of the bins.
The advantages of this construction lie in the fact that by providing V-shaped
recesses and wedge shaped surfaces in the ends of the voussoirs, there is formed
out of a single row of blocks between each pair of supporting beams a double ver-
tical or horizontal arch, or a wall having the properties of an arch, so that great
lateral pressure may be exerted upon either side of the wall without bulging
it out of perpendicular or overthrowing it entirely, as the resultant of the lateral
pressure of the grain, owing to the peculiar shape of the blocks, is directed
through the ends of the arch upon the vertical or horizontal supports of the wall,
rather than transversely to the plane thereof, and as it frequently happens that
the wall of a grain bin may be subjected to great pressure from one side only,
it is obviously very important to provide a partition wall capable of resisting any
strain to which it may be subjected from either side.
A further advantage arising from the use of this construction lies in the fact
that a tile wall will absorb moisture, which otherwise might damage the grain,
and in addition will render the structure practically fire proof. It is preferred
to provide hollow blocks which, when built into a wall, will form continuous
horizontal or vertical passages between the bins, this aiding in the ventilation
and permitting the rapid escape of the moisture that is absorbed by the blocks.
The construction may be used, not only in grain elevators, but also in other
storage bins where flour, coal, etcetera is stored in large quantities.
Obviously the construction may be modified considerably by anyone skilled in
the art, and my correspondent does not therefore confine himself to the specific
details herein given.

page_text: MUITIVATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Walls, applicable
for Grain Storage Bins and other purposes.
A communication by ALBERT WILLIAM WALLACE MILLER, of 24-26, White
Street, New York, in the County and State of New York, United States of
America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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 fol-
lowing statement:-
This invention relates to the construction of partition walls, the object being
to provide an improved form of block or tile which, when built into a wall, will
form or have the properties of an arch, thus rendering the wall capable of resist-
ing great lateral pressure, and therefore particularly adapted for use in the con-
struction of grain bins, where, owing to the fact that one bin may be filled with
grain and the adjoining bin entirely empty, a very heavy lateral pressure is
exerted upon the bin walls causing them to bulge out or be overthrown unless
constructed in a very heavy and substantial manner. A further object is to pro-
vide a very strong and durable construction for grain elevator and other storage
bins, and also one that will be fire proof.
The invention consists generally in a wall composed of a single row of, prefer-
ably, tile blocks built to form or have the properties of an arch, to the end that
the lateral pressure upon either side of the wall, caused by the weight of the
grain, will not produce a bulging or transverse strain upon the wall though one
bin may be full and the adjoining bin entirely or partially empty.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification-
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a grain bin embodying the invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the bin walls.
Figure 3 is a detail of the tile blocks and strengthening beams arranged at
intervals in the walls.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of an hexagonal bin, the blocks being laid to
form horizontal instead of vertical double arches.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a block in the intersections of the walls.
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line at of Figure 5.
In the drawings, 2-2 represent grain bins and 3 I-beams horizontally arranged
one upon another at intervals preferably of about six feet upon the four sides of
the bins. These beams serve to bind the structure firmly together and aid in
supporting the tile walls, but my correspondent does not confine himself to the
use of I-beams in this construction, as various other forms of beams may be used
with equally good results.
Preferably near the middle of the wall the I-beams are provided with clamps 4
connected by tie rods 5 extending across the corners of the bins, by means of
which the beams in the adjoining walls may be held firmly in position. Between
each pair of beams, a single row of blocks, preferably tile, or other clay products
is provided, forming or having the properties of an arch, the haunches 6 of
which bear upon the I-beams and have recesses 7 at one end to receive the
flanges thereon. The lower haunch of the arch at its inner end is provided with
a wedge shaped surface 8 to enter a correspondingly shaped recess 9 in the end
7

page_text: of the adjoining voussoir, which in turn at its opposite end, has a wedge shaped
surface to enter a V-shaped recess in the next voussoir, and so on until the
middle of the arch is reached where a key-stone 11 is provided having V-shaped
recesses in its upper and lower ends to receive the wedge shaped surfaces of
the voussoirs immediately above and below. Above the key-stone 11 the con-
struction described is continued until the upper haunch of the arch is reached
which is secured to the I beam in the manner heretofore described with refer-
ence to the lower haunch. The other rows of the blocks between the pairs of
beams forming the walls of the bin are constructed in a similar manner, there
being preferably 4 voussoirs between each pair of beams in addition to the key-
stone and haunches, but if preferred the beams may be arranged at greater
intervals, or the I-beams may be placed closer together should it be desired to
construct a bin in which the walls would be subjected to an unusual lateral
strain. At the intersection of the walls vertical rows of tiling 12 are provided
having preferably square ends and V-shaped recesses in their opposite sides to
receive the wedge shaped surfaces on the ends of the adjoining blocks 13 at the
corners of the bins.
In Figure 4a slightly modified construction is shown which consists in provid-
ing a hexagonal bin though it may be polygonal in form, the walls being formed
of a single row of blocks but arranged horizontally instead of vertically between
the supporting beams, whereby there is formed a wall having the properties of
an arch. At the intersection of the walls triangular blocks 14 having wedge
faced surfaces 15 are provided to interlock with the recessed ends of the blocks
in the abutting walls. Near the centre of the blocks, in their upper surfaces,
are recesses 16 to receive projections 17 upon the under surface of the superim-
posed blocks when built into a column. A vertical column is thus formed com-
posed of interlocking blocks, which, when joined with the ends of the abutting
walls, form an extremely rigid and substantial corner for the bin. Instead of
tile steel columns may be used at the corners of the bins.
The advantages of this construction lie in the fact that by providing V-shaped
recesses and wedge shaped surfaces in the ends of the roussoirs there is formed
out of a single row of blocks between each pair of supporting beams a double ver-
tical or horizontal arch or a wall having the properties of an arch, so that great
lateral pressure may be exerted upon either side of the wall without bulging
it out of perpendicular, or overthrowing it entirely. The resultant of the lateral
pressure of the grain, owing to the peculiar shape of the blocks, is directed
through the ends of the arch upon the vertical or horizontal supports of the wall,
rather than transversely to the plane thereof, and as it frequently happens that
the wall of a grain bin may be subjected to great pressure from one side only,
it is obviously very important to provide a partition wall capable of resisting any
strain to which it may be subjected from either side.
A further advantage arising from the use of this construction lies in the fact
that a tile wall will absorb moisture, which otherwise might damage the grain,
and in addition will render the structure practically fire proof. It is preferred
to provide hollow blocks which, when built into a wall, will form continuous
horizontal or vertical passages between the bins, this aiding in the ventilation
and permitting the rapid escape of the moisture that is absorbed by the blocks.
The construction may be used, not only in grain elevators, but also in other
storage bins where flour, coal etcetera, is stored in large quantities.
Obviously the construction may be modified considerably by anyone skilled in
the art, and my correspondent does not therefore confine himself to the specific
details herein shown and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The improvement in the construction of walls applicable for grain storage

page_text: bins and other purposes, which consists in forming them of interlocking blocks
of tile or other clay products, with the necessary supports or abutments, the
blocks being so formed and arranged that when united they shall by mutual
pressure support each other and resist lateral or transverse pressure from either
side substantially as described.
2. Walls applicable for grain storage bins and other purposes composed of a
series of horizontal beams arranged at intervals above each other, a set of inter-
locking blocks of tile or other clay products between the pairs of beams inter-
locking with each other and with the beams, and superimposed interlocking
blocks forming vertical columns at the intersection of the walls whereby the
transverse or bulging strain upon the walls arising from lateral pressure is
diverted and expended upon the vertical and (or) horizontal supports of the
walls substantially as described.
3. The method of constructing walls which consists in building up upon hori-
zontal or vertical supports, interlocking blocks having opposite wedge faced and
recessed surfaces engaging respectively correspondingly recessed and wedge faced
surfaces upon similar blocks with an interlocking keystone arranged midway
between the vertical or horizontal supports, whereby there is formed a wall
having the properties of an arch, the blocks of which will by mutual pressure
support each other and divert lateral or transverse pressure upon the horizontal
or vertical supports substantially as described.
4. A wall construction for storage bins comprising a series of supporting
beams arranged at intervals, tie rods connecting said beams, and a row of inter-
locking blocks between the pairs of beams having wedge shaped and recessed
surfaces adapted to interlock substantially as described.
5. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts substantially
as described in reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, and Figures 4, 5 and 6, substan-
tially as set forth.