US1739883A - Building construction - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1929. w. H. wlLsoN ET AL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov.- 9. 1927 INVENTORS,

lrat'entedl Dec. 17, 1929 UNrr f 'rs WILLIAM H. WILSON AND HARRY WESTBERG, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AS-

SIGNORS 0F ONE-FOURTH TO ROBERT P. MILLER ANDTHREE-FOURTHVS TO SAID WILSON BUILDING CONSTIELU'GTIONv Application filed November 9, 1927. Serial No. 232,121.

This invention relates broadly to building` constructions, and more particularly to an improved method and means for obtaining certain desired results in such construction, such as the fireproong thereof. The invention provides a better piece of finished work with the elimination of surface stains and in less time and at less expense than has heretofore been possible. The method is readily workable, does not require skilled labor and is generally superior.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction and association of parts, members and features, as well as a method of use, certain adaptations of which are shown in the accompanying drawing, described generally and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation partly in section showing a possible construction for fabricated structures, utilizing the improved invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the liner 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4L is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of this construction in which the invention is utilized, the bottom line of Fig. 4 represents the exterior surface of the construction after finished plaster has been applied;

Fig. 5 is a invention.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters. Referring now with particularity to the drawings, we have illustrated our improved invention in an adaptation for building purfurther sectional view of the poses wherein it is desired to fireproof the uilding structure. In so reproofing said structure we have provided lan effective medium for preventing transmissionof heat. We have found it expedient to provide for our iireproofing medium a material which is relatively inexpensive and to soapply said material that a. skilled workman is not required forits application. Wehave foundthat gypsum or similar material, used alone or mixed with other ingredients and applied to the fabricated structure in a manner toxbel described, functions to provide they objects of this invention. v

In the drawing a; is a beam adapted to be supported by a column b and it will be noted that the floor supporting members c are secured to the beam ain the customary manner. In the case of the columns, surrounding said columns is a foraminous member such as expanded metal lath d and this ex.

panded metal lath is held spaced from the column b by what are' known as channel reinforcements e. So far the elements just described are ordinary for metal lathing construction when used only to support the plaster finish. The use of the foraminous member such as metal lath d is continued with respect to the beams a, as shownin Fig. 2, with said lath supported by any suitable means as 1 and 2, the part 2 acting as a hanger or channel reinforcement and the part l including means for securing the member 2 to the beam v0. It will also be noted in Fig. 2 that the floor supporting member c may be cov-y ered with the lathing d to support the floor slab la. We now surround the column or columns b with gypsum or other material in 'a dry state and in this regard it will be noted sprayed or soaked with water-or other liquid, l

or in the case of the element 7, the water or other liquid may be directed against the outside of such element and passed through it causing the gypsum or other material to harden. The gypsum or other material will be designated as g. l

It is apparent that by the method just outlined, we eliminate certain undesirable features that have previously been used in fireproofing, to wit, we fireproof more rapidly and with less dimculty than heretofore, and likewise lighter, simpler and more porous forms may be utilized as -the ingredients to be held .are lin a dry state and not fluid and are therefore less likely to run or to create hydraulic pressure in forms in whichv a hydraulic head could 'be created. The question of moisture content with gypsum particularly in columns, girders, or where large masses of gypsum are used, is a serious one `in that all the water not used in crystallization must be expelled through the surface of the gypsum. This 'is sometimes .a slow procedure and has a :tendency to .carry .any impurities and stains Within the gypsum to the surface of said gypsum. By applying` the gypsum in a dry state and then adding` the water afterwards to `the surface of Vsait..-gypsunn the moisture is taken from .the `surface inwardly ofthe said gypsum, so as to car-ry 'the stains away from .theface anda lesser amount of water may be used .as .only the amount necessary to .cause .crystallization of the calcined gypsum is required as -it is not necessary .to use the .excess water required vto make the Wet gypsum fluidas has heretofore been done. It is obvious that .a much less amount of water may be used .and .therefore a correspondingly less amount will have to be .removed by evaporation. Of course it is understood that the gypsum lused by us .is :in @the calcined form requiring water .to be added vthereto vto `cause it to .recrystallize It is .also within the purview of our invention to apply some glutinous or other material `to the metal lath which will take the place l.of paper fabric or the llike f, and which is .suliicien-t .to retain 4the gypsum or -other material -on said ylath, .but which will readily allow water or other liquid to pass tl rough to be .absorbed 'by .the lgypsum or other inater-ial. The gypsumor other material maybe poured to .providea first layer which has water or otherliqu-id then sprayed upon it `or added to it, then a further thickness of gypsum or other material is applied .to inalrethe tota-l thickness required for the fireproofing. It is evident that the water or .other liquid in the fir-st layer of gypsum or other material will in .a measure be absorbed by the second layer.'

Other ingredients Amay .be -used in the place of gypsum', `such as xdiatomaceous earth combined with Portland cement, pumice with gypsum v.or Portland cement, magnesite Vor similar -binderinight ybe used .as a base for th n solidifyzing part of `the ingredients and asbest-oser other heat insulating' material might be lused as .an aggregate. The invenuion more particularly resides inthe methodfof installing the material as applied to iireproefing of the fabricated frame and constructing the vterial through which the water or other liq-v uid may pass and 'be absorbed by thegypsuin or other material, or the fireproofi-n'g niaterial might vbe wrapped with a burlap or similar material .before or after the dry mater'ial is 'in place, with the burlap wetted so that the water .or otherliquid would be Vabsorbed by the reproofing material fromsaid burlap, or .by merely spraying water or otherV liquid upon .the gypsum or other material either from above or through the openings in the foraminous member. Tanks .or jet outlets could `be provided for wetting the fireproofing material.

After the gypsum or other material has been set, plaster, concrete or the like may be applied to the outer surface of the foraminous member d, .as illustrated in the drawing. In Fig. l we have illustratec'l a ceiling construction wherein paper or .asimilar element has been applied ,to a surface of the foraminous member with the gypsum aps plied thereon. The finish cement or plaster is shown as h, and is not essential tto .this iiivention. This construct-ion would be used for horizontal ceilings or any where desired, .the f as it relates to iireproofing, the present inethod of fireproofing a structure with .poured aggregates .is toconstruct forms permanent or removable into which wet gypsum or .other wet material is poured. In order toggelt this wet material around the members to be reproofed it must be .quite fluid .and it is obvious that the forms must vbe close fitting, non-porous and rigidly constructed. VOur method of fireproong a Istructure is the erection Aof metal 'forms composed of .some form of metal lath, wire fabric, wire mesh, .oriother metallic or non-'metallic encasing material, held in place and reinforced by .ordinary .or special furring channels .or .other Vmeans 4so as to form the exterior or surface .of .the fireproofing and in which, ,or upon vwhich is placed the dry .material which .is wet either above .or from the outside or .through `ein-bedded conduits, just as the dry material falls in place `or .after it is all in place, which .causes it to crystallize or harden..

Along with .the other advantages .noted herein another very important one .is .that With our method it is not necessary `to use the customary `expensive ar l .cumbersome mixers to mix the w'ater or other liquid with the dry materials nor the equipment necessary to transport the wet mixture from the mixers to the final position. With our method the dry materials are taken directly to their final position in the structure and the water or other liquid added after the dry materials are in place or as they are falling into place and the costs incident to mixing are saved. It is also readily seen that by this method there is not the usual muss nor dbris on the job which is always present when the mixing is done before placing in the forms.

Furthermore, we have discovered with our method that the finished mass is of greater specific gravity when the water or other liquid necessary to cause the dry material to harden is added as described by our invention than when mixed with the dry material before being put in place. This is for the reason that the excess amount of water or other liquid to make the mass fluid leaves upon evaporation a considerable amount of voids in the final product and it has been proven by tests, as recorded by Bureau of Standards Technichologic Paper Number 130, page 25, that the heat insulating qualities are improved as the density or specific gravity of the material is increased.

Also, it is a known fact that the crystalline structure produced when the water or other liquid is added to the above contemplated dry materials is in a considerable measure destroyed if the mixing be carried on beyond the instant when this crystalline structure commences to form. With our invention this difficulty is entirely eliminated and we therefore obtain a more uniform and stronger inished product.

This invention may be used for construction and other purposes as well as for reproong. For example, ceiling slabs and ioor slabs, roofs and Walls and structural members in a structure may be constructed by using a dry material supported by suit* able forms, which may be either permanent or removable. foraminous or watertight, and adding a liquid to the material after it is in place or as it is being placed causing it to harden so giving it structural strength. We have described and referred in our drawings and specifications particularly to the fireprooiing part of our invention as the construction part is based on the same underlying principles and can be readily understood from what has been already described and explained. Y

Another adaptation of our invention-is that with suitable forms the proper amount of water or other liquid required to crystallize or harden the mass may be placed therein first and the dry material then added in lieu of the order of procedure described above.

It is obvious that various changes, modifications and variations may be utilized. in

practising the invention, in departure from the particular description as given, Without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed'our invention, we claim and'desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. The method of fireproofng a building structure, which consists in providing a foraminous member, applying dry gypsum to said foraminous member at the zone of application, then wetting the gypsum to cause a hardening thereof;

2. The method of fireproong a fabricated building structure, which consists in surrounding a structural member with metal lathing, providing a water absorbing material over said metal lathing, then pouring dry gypsum within said water absorbing material, then spraying said water absorbing material whereby the dry gypsum' is caused to absorb the waterv and harden. 1

3. The method of vfireprooiing a building structure which consists in providing ay foraminous member, applying thereto a water absorbing material, then placing upon said water absorbing material a calcined dry gypsum, then applying moisture to the water absorbing material to in turn be absorbed by the gypsum to cause a hardening of said gypsum.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

WILLIAM H. WILSON. HARRY WESTBERG.

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