Improvements in and relating to Roofs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th June, 1892-Accepted, 16th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Roofs.
I HENRY LAWRENCE, of 17 Outram Road, Southsea in the County of
Hampshire Clerk of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows: :-
My invention relates to roofs of buildings, and comprises various improvements.
hereinafter described.
The main object of my said invention is to provide strong, light, and durable
roofs, suitable for conservatories, exhibition buildings, winter gardens, market halls,
and buildings of the like description.
My improved roofs are so constructed that they can be very readily erected, and.
afterwards removed and re-erected at will.
In making roofs according to my invention I prefer that they shall be cupola
shaped, that is, either of semi-spherical, or semi-elliptical form.
I first provide upon the wall a continuous horizontal platform of any desired
width, formed probably of steel or iron plates, and angle, or other suitably shaped
bars, all well secured to the wall and to cantalivers projecting from the inner face
of wall, if desired; it is from this platform that the framing,-which forms the
roof, springs, and to which it is firmly bolted or riveted.
The roof is constructed of a number of intersecting vertical, and zone girders,
riveted, or bolted to each other where intersecting, and fitted and made in the
following manner-The vertical girders are arranged to radiate from a common
centre, which is the centre of the apex of the roof, and the zone girders-distributed.
from base to apex or curb of roof are so arranged that the outer and inner edges
respectively, lie horizontally, and the girders parallel to each other.
The circumference of the wall of building being sub-divided as desired, lines.
drawn from the centre to each division would represent the number, direction taken,
and position of the vertical girders, and the outer circumference of the roof being
sub-divided as desired, horizontal and parallel lines drawn through each division
would represent the number and position of the zone, or horizontal girders.
The vertical girders are made up of a series of comparatively short bracket-
frames of plate and, or, L, or, T bars, the outer and inner edges of same taking
the form of the section of the curve of which they form a part, these bracket-frames.
are also suitably braced diagonally and strengthened at the corners by gusset plates,.
the zone or horizontal girders are also similarly made, but probably without diagonal.
ties, the number of these girders will be in proportion to the size of roof, and the
breadth of the girders would gradully decrease as they approach the apex of roof,
the scantling and riveting decreasing in due proportion.
Every alternate radial girder may, if preferred, abut on, and be bolted or
riveted to, a curb provided some distance down from the apex of roof, instead of an
(the radial girders) meeting at or about the apex; from the curb there may spring
small cupola or lantern which would form the finish to the roof.
The roof may be covered with any suitable material and may be erected, and
fterwards removed if required, in conveniently sized sections the greater part of
bolting or riveting can thus be effected on the ground.
Dated this 11th day of September 1891.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvements in and relating to Roofs.
I HENRY LAWRENCE, of 17 Outram Road, Southsea, in the County of
Hampshire, Clerk of Works, 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 roofs of buildings and comprises various improvements
hereinafter described.
The main object of my said invention is to provide, strong, light, and durable
roofs, suitable for conservatories, exhibition buildings, winter gardens, market halls,
and buildings of the like description.
My improved roofs are so constructed that they can be very readily erected and
afterwards removed and re-erected at will.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1, is a vertical sectional elevation.
Fig. 2, is a sectional plan view taken on line a, a.
Fig. 3, an outside elevation, and
Fig. 4, a plan on top of Fig. 3, of a roof constructed according to my invention.
Figs. 5, 6, and 7, are views of details hereinafter described.
In constructing roofs according to my invention I prefer that they shall be dome,
or cupola shaped, that is, either of semi-elliptical or semi-spherical form, and on the
top of the wall b, b, of a building I provide a continuous plate or platform, of any
desired width formed preferably of steel or iron plates and angles, or other suitably
shaped bars, all well secured to each other and to the wall and to cantalevers
if desired projecting from the inner face of wall, the cantalevers when fitted would
support a balcony arranged to run round on the inside of the building. The
plate c, forms the base from which the vertical girders A, A, spring, and to which
they are firmly secured.
The framing of the roof is formed of a number of intersecting vertical, and zone
or, horizontal girders A, A, and B, B, suitably fastened to each other where
intersecting. The vertical girders A, A, are arranged to radiate from a common
centre, namely, from the centre of the apex of the roof and the horizontal
girders B, B, are so arranged that the outer and inner edges respectively lie
horizontally, and all the girders parallel to each other.
The circumference of the wall of building being subdivided as desired, lines
drawn from the said centre to each division would represent the number, direction
taken and position of the vertical girders A, A, and the circumference of the roof
from apex to wall being subdivided as desired, horizontal and parallel lines drawn
through each division would represent the number and position of the horizontal
girders B, B.
The complete vertical girders A, A, are made up of a number of comparatively
short bracket frames a', a¹, as are also the zone or horizontal girders 6, bª, cach
bracket frame is complete in itself-and the vertical and horizontal girders are
suitably bolted or riveted together where intersecting each other, thus the greater
part of riveting may be effected on the ground or staging and the various bracket
frames lifted into, and then bolted or riveted in position consecutively, until the
whole structure is completed.
In Figs. 5, 6, and 7, I have shewn in detail to enlarged scale the method I prefer
to adopt of construction of the bracket frames a³, a', and ', b².
Fig. 5, is a vertical outside elevation of one complete bracket frame a¹, and parts
of other such frames, and parts of frames b¹.
Fig 6, a sectional side elevation taken on line e, e, and Fig. 7, a sectional plan
shewing more especially a complete bracket frame, and parts of two other such
frames

page_text: Referring to the bracket frames a'; j is a frame and,, gusset plates,.
and diagonal ties, these parts when riveted together forming the complete
bracket frame a¹.
Referring to the bracket frames '; g, g, are short pieces of T bar; y', g', rect--
angular pieces of plate, and g, go, gusset plates, forming when riveted together the
complete bracket frame b.
The connection of the frames a', to 6', is established and made good by the rivets
or bolts h; I have shewn in my drawing the frames constructed of T bars but
it is obvious L or other suitably shaped bars may be used if preferred for the
purpose.
The number of complete girders may be in proportion to the size of roof con-
structed, the breadth of all the girders may gradually decrease as they approach
the apex of roof, and the scantling also decrease in due proportion.
Every alternate radial, or vertical girder may if preferred abut on, and be
bolted or riveted to, a curb D, instead of all meeting at, or about the apex; from.
the curb there may spring a small cupola or lantern H, which would form the finish
to the roof.
The roof may be covered with any suitable material.
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. The improvements in, and relating to roofs, consisting of the parts con-
structed and arranged substantially, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
2nd. The improved method of constructing girders, constituting the framework
of a roof of a building, of a series of short vertical and horizontal bracket
frames a', and ', or similar thereto, all suitably connected together substantially, as-
and for the purpose described.
Dated this 10th day of June 1892
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.L.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant..