GB2024887A

GB2024887A - Building blocks

Info

Publication number: GB2024887A
Application number: GB7925783A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LYGO H
Current assignee: LYGO H
Priority date: 1978-05-12
Filing date: 1979-07-24
Publication date: 1980-01-16

Abstract

The present invention relates to building blocks and a method of laying same. Each building block (1) has recessed upper and lower faces (2, 4) with a through passage (5) interconnecting the recesses, and a channel-like recess (6) at at least one end extending from the upper face of the block (1). After the blocks have been layed in abutting relation the recesses and passages are filled with mortar. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Building blocks This invention relates to building blocks such as bricks and to methods of bricklaying.

Conventional bricklaying with trowel laid and finished mortar joints between the bricks requires skilled operatives, particularly as regards speed of building and the finished appearance, and the speed of construction is essentially limited as compared with other constructional methods. The object of the invention is to provide bricks, and a method of bricklaying, which enable a brick wall to be constructed much more rapidly than hitherto.

Accordingly the present invention provides a building block which has recessed upper and lower faces with a through passage interconnecting the recesses, and a channel-like recess at at least one end extending from the upper face of the block.

The upper and lower face recesses preferably span most of the face area leaving a narrow margin or seating, and they may be generally similar to a conventional "frog" as commonly provided in one face of a brick, except that they are preferably of arcuate cross-section, and the interconnecting passage is desirably of uniform elliptical cross-section disposed centrally through the block with the major axis of the ellipse disposed lengthwise of the block. Preferably the, or each, end recess is a channel of semi-circular cross-section disposed centrally in the corresponding end face of the clock.

When building a wall each course of blocks is laid directly in contact with the foundation or the next lower course, and a pourable mortar is used which is poured into the block passages and thus into the upper and lower recesses, and into the end recesses of the blocks, thus providing the mortar bond between the blocks, and the same procedure is followed for each successive course.

As the blocks contact one another the outer side face of a facing block is preferably bevelled, to produce a fanciful simulation of a conventional mortar bond, or otherwise contoured to produce a decorative finish.

The present invention also provides a method of laying building blocks according to the present invention comprising laying a course of said building blocks directly on to a foundation or a lower course, and pouring mortar into through said interconnecting passages and into said channel-like recesses at the ends of the bricks.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, facing bricks in accordance with the invention and the associated method of bricklaying. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brick; Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line Il-Il in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically the method of bricklaying during building of a wall; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a corner brick; and Figure 5 is a perspective view shown partly cut away of part of a corner of a wall made from a number of the corner bricks shown in Figure 4.

The brick 1 has a recess 2 in its upper face, this recess being symmetrical and of generally arcuate cross-section leaving a continuous flat marginal seating 3. An identical recess 4 is provided in the lower face of the brick, and the recesses 2 and 4 are interconnected by a centrally disposed through passage 5. This passage is of elliptical crosssection with the major elliptical axis disposed lengthwise of the brick. Each end face of the brick has a channel-like recess 6 of semi-circular crosssection which extends throughout the depth of the brick.

The recesses 6 are disposed centrally so that when two bricks are laid in contact end-to-end (as shown in Figure 1) the adjacent recesses 6 between them define a cylindrical mortarreceiving space between the bricks. The outer side face of the brick is bevelled at 7 on all its four edges.

When building a wall 8, as shown in Figure 3, each course of the successive brick courses 9, 10, 11 and 12 is laid and bonded to the one below before another course is laid. The bricks of each course abut end-to-end, as in Figure 1, and they are laid in direct contact with the course below.

After a course has been laid the mortar 13 is poured from a nozzle 14 into the passages 5, to fill up the recesses 2 and 4, and into the end recesses 6. On setting the mortar thus keys the bricks together and provides a permanent mortar bond.

Typical dimensions for a brick of the shape described might be as follows:- Length 224 mm.

Width 100 mm.

Depth 75 mm.

Upper and lower seating width 10 mm.

Upper and lower recess depth 25 mm.

Elliptical passage axes 30 mm. and 40 mm.

Facing bevel width 5 mm.

End recesses 12 mm. radius.

A corner brick 1 5 for use in conjunction with the brick 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3, is shown in Fig. 4. The brick is similar to the brick 1 except that it is of L shape, the width A being half that of length B. The brick 1 5 is provided with recesses 2a and 4a similar to recesses 2 and 4 of brick 1 and interconnected by a through passage 5a of elliptical cross-section. Operative end faces of the brick 1 5 have channel like recesses 6a of semi circular cross-section extending throughout the depth of the brick. Outer edges of the brick 1 5 are bevelled at 7a on all its peripheral edges.

Figure 5 is a perspective view partly cut away of part of an external corner of a brick wall showing a number of bricks 1 5 laid alternately inverted to achieve a common wall-bonding configuration.

It is to be understood that although the brick shown in Figures 4 and 5 is designed for use in making external corners, a similar brick may be made for internal corners, the bevelling being on the 'internal' surface of the 'L' instead of the external surface of the 'L.' In a corner brick suitable for use in conjunction with the example brick given hereinbefore, the width A will be greater than the width of that brick' by 12 mm.

Claims

1. A building block which has recessed upper and lower faces with a through passage interconnecting the recesses, and a channel-like recess at at least one end extending from the upper face of the block.

2. A building block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said channel-like recess extends throughout the full depth of the brick.

3. A building block as claimed in claim 1 or 2 having one said channel-like recess at each end of the block.

4. A building block as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the upper and lower face recesses extend over substantially all of the face area of the block except for a peripheral seating on each face.

5. A building block as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each face recess is of arcuate cross-section.

6. A building block as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said interconnecting passage is of uniform elliptical cross-section disposed centrally through the brick.

7. A building block as claimed in claim 6 wherein the major axis of the cross-sectional ellipse of said interconnecting recess is disposed lengthwise of the block.

8. A building block as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the, or each, end recess is a channel of semi-circular cross-section disposed centrally in the corresponding end face of the block.

9. A building block substantially as hereinbefore.

described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of laying building blocks as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 comprising laying a course of said building blocks directly on to a foundation or a lower course, and pouring mortar into through said interconnecting passages and into said channel-like recesses at the ends of the bricks.