GB1566196A - Device for use in building cavity walls - Google Patents

Description

(54) A DEVICE FOR USE IN BUILDING CAVITY WALLS (71) 1, JOHN GRINDROD, a British Sub ject. of 43 Gleneagles Road, Heald Green, cheadle, Cheshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particumarly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to the construction of cavity walls.

Present building regulations require that the space or cavity between the inner and outer brick walls is filled to a level approxi mately five to eight inches below that of the damp-proof course, with a strengthening material such as concrete. During construction of a building, a considerable amount of waste material such as mortar, broken brick and the like finds its way into the cavity with the result that the intended free space between the top of the filling and the damp-proof course is greatly reduced and in some cases completely filled, thus rendering the damp-proof course ineffective.

Furthermore, during the life of the building certain deposits build up in the cavity, which, if the latter is already filled beyond the normal leveL very rapidly reach the level of the damp-proof course.

When a build-up of deposits beyond the damp-proof course occurs, and, as a result, moisture is transferred to the inner wall, causing for example, rising damp, then it is necessary often to remove large areas of brickwork from the outer wall in order to remove the deposits from the cavity.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device to be applied during construction, which will facilitate the removal of deposits from wall cavities during and after construction.

According to the present invention there is provided, in a cavity wall construction, coprising two spaced parallel walls defining a continuous cavity therebetween, an elon gate catchment plate located near the bot tom of the cavity and extending across the latter continuously between positions adjac ent the ends of the walls, the plate having a series of drainage apertures therethrough, and means for fixing the plate with respect to said walls.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a cavity wall showing a device made in accordance with the invention included therein; Fig. 2 shows the device per se; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line III--III of Fig. 1 and illustrating an application of the device at the corner of a pair of cavity walls.

Referring now to the drawings, the device comprises an elongate flat catchment plate generally indicated at 10, and consisting of a central open channel portion 11 and a pair of flanges 12 substantially the same width as a brick, extending outwardly from the upper extremities of the channel portion and parallel to the base thereof.

Spaced along the base of the channel 11 are a plurality of drainage apertures 13.

The device is preferably made from a plastics material such as rigid polyvinylchloride, having a smooth surface which inherently resists the adhesion of cement products.

In the construction, the device is disposed with the flanges 12 supported upon a pair of corresponding courses of bricks of the two walls indicated at A and B respectively.

The cavity 14 between the walls is filled as indicated at 15 with a reinforcing material such as concrete to a level below that of the damp-proof course which is provided here by the flanges 12.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, at the end of a cavity wall in which the device is placed there may be provided a removable panel 17 whereby access to the channel 11 may be readily attained to enable deposits collected therein to be removed by an appropriate tool. If panels 17 are provided at both ends of the wall then complete rodding through the wall can be achieved. Fig. 3 particularly illustrates a corner arrangement where two panels 17 are provided, one at the end of each wall.

It will be appreciated therefore that a device made in accordance with the invention and installed in a cavity wall will enable deposits to be removed therefrom easily without removing large areas of brickwork from the outside wall. If the panels 17 are not provided then it is a simple matter to remove one or two bricks from the end of the wall to provide access to the cavity.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the channel portion 11 is not essential and the plate 10 can be flat with drain apertures therein. Furthermore, the flanges 12, although conveniently serving as a damp-proof course, may be seated in superimposed relationship with an existing damp-proof course, or maybe located at a different level. In addition, the flanges 12, except where they are required to serve as a damp-proof course, can be replaced by flaps which are shorter, and can, if required, be spaced at intervals along the length of the device. These members or indeed continuous flanges, can be provided with apertures or projections to assist in keying the device when applying mortar during construction of the walls.

The surface characteristics of the plate are selected to ensure that mortar and other cement products being deposited on the device during or following construction of the wall can be readily removed by causing a suitable tool to be advanced along the channel.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. In a cavity wall construction comprising two spaced parallel walls defining a continuous cavity- therebetween, an elongate catchment plate located near the bottom of the cavity and extending across the latter continuously between positions adjacent the ends of the walls, the plate having a series of drainage apertures therethrough, and means for fixing the plate with respect to said walls.

2. A catchment plate according to claim 1, and formed as a channel, said fixing means comprising a pair of flanges extending outwardly from the upper extremities of the channel and let into the walls.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said drainage apertures are formed as a continuous row of apertures spaced along the bottom of the channel.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said flanges are of such a width as to provide a damp-proof course in the wall.

5. 5. A device according to claim 1, where- in said fixing means comprises a plurality of flags spaced at intervals along the length of the device andl extending transversely thereto and attached to the walls.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, made from a plastics material having a surface which inherently resists the adhesion of cement products.

7. In a cavity wall construction, an elongate catchment plate, substantially as herein- before described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. device made in accordance with the invention and installed in a cavity wall will enable deposits to be removed therefrom easily without removing large areas of brickwork from the outside wall. If the panels 17 are not provided then it is a simple matter to remove one or two bricks from the end of the wall to provide access to the cavity. It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the channel portion 11 is not essential and the plate 10 can be flat with drain apertures therein. Furthermore, the flanges 12, although conveniently serving as a damp-proof course, may be seated in superimposed relationship with an existing damp-proof course, or maybe located at a different level. In addition, the flanges 12, except where they are required to serve as a damp-proof course, can be replaced by flaps which are shorter, and can, if required, be spaced at intervals along the length of the device. These members or indeed continuous flanges, can be provided with apertures or projections to assist in keying the device when applying mortar during construction of the walls. The surface characteristics of the plate are selected to ensure that mortar and other cement products being deposited on the device during or following construction of the wall can be readily removed by causing a suitable tool to be advanced along the channel. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. In a cavity wall construction comprising two spaced parallel walls defining a continuous cavity- therebetween, an elongate catchment plate located near the bottom of the cavity and extending across the latter continuously between positions adjacent the ends of the walls, the plate having a series of drainage apertures therethrough, and means for fixing the plate with respect to said walls.

2. A catchment plate according to claim 1, and formed as a channel, said fixing means comprising a pair of flanges extending outwardly from the upper extremities of the channel and let into the walls.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said drainage apertures are formed as a continuous row of apertures spaced along the bottom of the channel.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said flanges are of such a width as to provide a damp-proof course in the wall.

5. 5. A device according to claim 1, where- in said fixing means comprises a plurality of flags spaced at intervals along the length of the device andl extending transversely thereto and attached to the walls.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, made from a plastics material having a surface which inherently resists the adhesion of cement products.

7. In a cavity wall construction, an elongate catchment plate, substantially as herein- before described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.