US2066681A - Fireproof building - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5, 1937. w. M. GoLDsMlTH FIREPROOF BUILDING Filed Nov. 1, 1955` 5 sheets-sheet 2 Jan. 5,- 1693-7.

W. M. GOLDSMITH FIREPROOF BUILDING Filed NOV'. l, 1955 5 ShetS--Sheet 5` W. M. GOLDSMITH FIREPROOF BUILDING Filed No'v. 1, 1953 Jani. 5, 1937.

W. M. GOLDSMITH FIREPROOF BUILDING Jan. 5, 1937.

Filed Nov. l, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 hh Sn mlm.

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES ArENT OFFICE 24 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and means for constructing re-proof buildings.

An object of the invention is to decrease the cost of labor and materials necessary for the construction of fire-proof and/or incombustible buildings.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the construction of lire-proof buildings by means of standardized units or sections which conveniently are built or assembled at the factory and thereafter transported to the job for erection with the use of concrete or the like.

A further object is the provision of different but cooperative building units which are made similar in certain vital respects, so that any of them may, with equal facility, be associated with any of the others to accomplish the construction of a building having predetermined characteristics. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and means for constructing the major portion of a building by means of concrete and factory-built units or wall sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide structural units or sections for the aforesaid purpose, in which provision is made for ready and easy installation of concealed plumbing, heating,

Ventilating, and other service equipment.

Another object o-f the invention is to provide, if desired, for convenient application of insulating means to the sections or units, at the factory prior to erection of a building.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmental perspective view of a building construction in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental cross-sectional View taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l, showing the corner construction.

Fig. 4 is a. view in elevation, of a plain wall section or building unit, forming a detail of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the section or unit of Fig. 4. l

Fig. 6 is a top view of the Fig. 4 member.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the Fig. 4 member.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental plan view of one type of metal lath that may be used in making the sections or units.

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation, of a unit or wall section similar to that of Fig. 4 but having a window therein.

Fig. 10 is a side View of the Fig. 9 unit or section.

Fig. 11 is a top view of the Fig. 9 unit or section.

Fig. 12 is a bottom View of the Fig. 9 unit or section.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of unit or section,

Fig. 14 is -a fragmental perspective view, partly in cross section, showing one satisfactory mode of erecting a building with the use of the factory-built units or sections of my invention.

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I5-I5 of Fig. 14, the sho-ring and other formwork being removed.

One of the objects of the present invention is the economical construction of a nre-proof building, using structural units or sections built at the factory and easily set up in connection with suitable form-Work on the job. An ordinary type of building such as is illustrated in the drawings, can be constructed with the use of but four diierent types of sections or units, these being indicated by the characters A, B, C and D. The characters A, B, C and D indicate, respectively, a plain or intermediate section or unit, a window section or unit, a corner section or unit, and a door section or unit. Other types of sections or units obviously may be provided, when necessary, to eifect the construction of different types of buildings than that illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Although each of the various sections or units A, B, C and D present a diiferent appearance, they will be found to have certain characteristics which are common to all of them. For example, all of the units or sections preferably are of the same size, and each is provided with a pair of identical opposed angular side pieces 20 thatv cooperate interchangeably to provide three walls of a column form adapted to be lled with concrete or thelike. 'Ihe fourth wall of each column form is provided by the temporary vertical slabor plank 53, (Fig. 14), which is placed in posi- 4- tion when the units are located or positioned, however, that portion of the description which relates to erection of the building will logically follow the detailed description of the units or sections. o

Section or unit A will first be described, with reference to Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive. The side pieces or runners 29 each comprise a sheet or strip of metal that has one of its longitudinal edges 22 bent twice at right angles to provide a front face 23 and a rearwardly directed flange 24, which latter is spaced from the side wall a distance approximating halfthe width of a concrete column to be formed adjacent to the section or unit. The other longitudinal edge 25 of the runner or side piece is bent at a right angle to provide a rear flange 26, and this flange preferably is extended inwardly of the section or unit. The purpose of the pairs of flanges having faces 23 and 26 is to provide means onto which may be secured the substantially flat sheets 21 and 28 of metal lath or other rigid material. The sheets may be welded, wired, bolted or otherwise secured to the faces of the flanges, thereby rendering the sheets instrumental in maintaining the side piece or runners in spaced parallelism. Although any suitable character of sheeting may be employed, it is desirable to utilize a strong ribbed lath sheet such as is shown in Fig, 3, so that. no expensive interior bracing of the side pieces will be required. The lath sheet of Fig. 8 may be formed with a series of perforations the edges of which are surrounded by flanges 29 formed from the metal, which is struck up around the perforations to provide truncated pyramidal formations which extend from the plane of the sheet. At intervals reinforcing ribs 89 may be formed in or attached to the lath. The particular form of metal lath just described is found suitable for use in constructing the units or sections, but it is to be understood that any other type of metal lath sheets, plasterboard and the like are suitable for constructing the units. As stated before, a strong or rigid metal lath sheet is preferable, although with proper bracing of the side pieces a less substantial sheetingmay be employed.

At the top end of the unit there is xed a trans- Versecross member 30 of substantial inverted U or channel shape. Member 30 is connected to the upper ends of the side pieces. Member 30 may advantageously be provided with front and rear flanges 3l and 32, respectively, the front flange serving as a support for the sheeting 21 and the rear flange serving as a support for a panel or imperforate sheet 33 that may be used in some types of construction and whose width approximates the depth of the joist to be employed in the building structure. The imperforate sheets 33 are provided to prevent seepage of the plastic cementitious mass interiorly of the units such as A, B, C and D, at those places where the combined floor and ceiling slabs and joists are formed adjacent the upper parts of such units. This` is shown in Fig. 15. It is not absolutely necessary that imperforate sheets or plates 33 be used, because in some instances the apertures in the sheeting such as 28, may substantially exclude the plastic mass. At places horizontally aligned with the plates 33 and between adjacent plates 33,the cementitious material of the floor rib 49 will merge with and may be integral with various of the columns 6i. This is shown in Fig, 14. This is explained in detail in a subsequent part of the specification.

The space between the flanges 3| and 32 provides a pocket or channel 31 (Fig. 15) upon which may be placed a cushion or sill 38 of concrete which may support a superposed section or unit in the manner illustrated. The panel 32 may be the flanges of the side pieces and to the outer face of flange 32. Intermediate the lower edge 34 of the panel 33 and the bottom of the section or unit, there are secured the fastening or nailing strips 35 (Fig. 7), which extend outwardly an inch or more from the sheeting 28, and these may be welded, bolted, or otherwise fixedly secured to the side pieces. The fastening or nailing strips are used in holding the planks 53, as will be explained hereinafter.

The character 36 indicates (Fig. 4) a quantity of insulating substance applied between the inner faces of the sheetings 21 and 28. The insulating substance may be applied at the factory with great convenience, however, such substance can be omitted if desired. It may be in sheet, mineral wool, comminuted or other form.

Attention is directed to the fact that the window section or unit B and also the door section or unit D, are identical with and carry the same structural elements as the intermediate or plain section or unit A. This fact is emphasized by the placing of the same reference numerals on corresponding parts of the units A, B, and D. Section or unit C (Fig. 3), which is a corner unit, has one ofthe side pieces 2U with its characteristic anges 23, 24 and 25 in identically the same relationship to the side piece 29 as in units A, B, and D. The other side'piece 39 of the corner unit has a flange 40 in the plane of the outer face of the unit, onto which flange the outside sheeting 4l is welded or otherwise secured; and the said sheeting is turned at an angle, as at 42, and extended transversely to the'plane of the unit, to a location at which it is xed onto a. laterally offset flange 43 which corresponds to the .flanges 23 of the other units. Flange 43 has an inwardly directed'column-engaging flange 44 which corresponds to and coacts with a similar or co-operative abutting ilange 24 of one of the other units, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The flanges 24 and 44, together with the adjacent flanges 23 and 43, may properly be referred to as column determining means, for the reason that the dimensions thereof determine the width of the columns. For example, wider or more extensive flanges such as 23 and 43 would result in the formation of a wider column,

and vice versa. It is considered desirable to make the flanges 23 and 43 of the same width and length on all units, so that the corresponding or co-operative flanges of any of the units, when placed, will result in the formation of a standard size of column. Thus, it is possible to secure uniformity of construction regardless of which type of unit or section is placed adjacent to any other one of the units or sections. The inside sheeting 45 of unit C is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the flange 25 of the unit and to co-planar turned portion 46 of the members 39. It will be observed that the corner of the building, (Fig. 3), is formed of sheeting which is stuccoed or otherwise covered as at 41, the concrete column 48 being offset from the corner a distance approximately the thickness of a unit. The offset column thereby is caused to support a concrete joist 49 which is disposed entirely with in the building walls. This will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Fig. 3, which is a section through a finished building, shows the exterior coating 41 of stucco or other suitable facing substance applied to the outer sheeting. The inner sheeting is plastered, wallboarded, or otherwise covered, as indicated at 50, (Figs. 2 and 3). The nailing strips or flanges 35 are hammered down or bent over upon the columns, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, prior to the application of plaster or other interior nishing material.

In erecting a building with the use of the interchangeable units or sections of the invention, a suitable foundation wall 5l is iirst provided. Upon the wall are placed a series of the units in vertical position, with their cooperative anges 24 (or 44) in abutment as indicated in Fig. 3, so as to form one or more walls of the building. As will be readily understood, the walls may be constituted of different sections or units such as A, B and D, the corners of the building being each provided with a unit or section such as C. The manner of placing the various sections is clearly disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3.

The sections are held in position by bclting, clamping, or otherwsie securing the iianges 24 and/or 44 together as at 52, and then applying the planks or form-work disclosed in Fig. 14. AS is evident from the disclosure of Fig. 14, adjacent units or sections are secured together also by nailing their securing flanges 35 onto a vertical timber or board 53 tted therebetween. The inner face 54 of each vertical board preferably is disposed in the plane of the sheeting 28, and each board may be reinforced by means of a vertical brace 55 secured thereto. These braces and others indicated at 55, may also serve as shoring and support the soflits 5'! upon which are placed suitable tiles or pans 53 and associated lath sections 59 that, in a known manner, provide the necessary structure for forming a concrete oor and a ceiling beneath it. The shoring may rest upon the earth or upon a floor Sil. The reader is referred to the patent of Max S. Goldsmith No. 1,168,627 for a detailed explanation of one known method of placing the tile and lath structure 58-59, however, it is to be understood that any other satisfactory second floor and ceiling construction may be employed.

After erection of the boards 53 and the ceiling form-work, concrete may be poured down between the units or sections to provide the columns 6|, and these as well as all other concrete portions, including the floor and joists or beams, may be reinforced with metal in accordance with .v well known principles of concrete construction work.

As is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 15, the upper floors of the building are formed by sim- 'oly repeating the erection of sections or units and the necessary formwork, upon the floor t2 and the subjacent sections or units. The concrete sill or cushion 38 is not essential, but where used it may be integral with the concrete floor 52. and suitable tubing or the like 53 may be associated with openings in the top members or channels 3!) to permit installation of pipes or ducts for water, heating, or Ventilating. and for the passage of electricity conductors. It is to be observed that the joist 49, by reason of its offset disposition interiorly of the units or sections. cannot interfere with the passage of pipes and ducts straight up through the units or sections. The offset corner column 1B of Fig. 3 supports and is connected with the joist 49, in alignment therewith. The offset relationship of the corner corner portions of the corner sections at 42, but such additional corner reinforceemnt is not ordinarily necessary.

Attention is directed to Fig. 15 wherein is shown the imperforate transverse panel 33, previously referred to in connection with Figs. 4 and 5, performing the function of precluding entry of concrete into the interior of unit or section A. As Was explained previously, the Width or height of each panel 33 approximates the depth of the joist. In the Vdisclosure of Fig. 15 the panels 33 of adjacent units or sections parallel the tile sides, whereas at the far end wall of the building the panels 33 of the units would of course extend transversely of the tiles and would therefore serve as end closures for the tiles. The width of the tiles is such that a joist Will be formed between the tiles and in alignment with columns at opposite ends of the building or spans. The live loads and dead weight of the interior and exterior structure of the building is carried entirely by the joists and columns, thereby relieving the wall sections or units` A, B, C and D, of practically all strain and stress. The various units provide a skeleton frame or mold for the load carrying columns. The co1- umns in turn bind the units together, which thereby provides a substantial. and rigid building structure.

Instead of forming the columns and joists of reinforced concrete, steel columns and joists may be substituted. In such modified structure the units or sections would be welded, bolted or otherwise fixed to the columns, but the cooperative relationship of the parts would be the same as disclosed herein, affording the same ad.

vantages as to economy, simplicity, fire-resistance, and saving of labor and time. Concrete can be molded about the metal columns and joists, if desired.

Fig. 13 discloses a skeleton type of unit or sect-ion which is the same as unit A except for the omission of sheeting and the substitution therefor of a series of spaced metal strips or channels 55 secured to both the front and rear of the unit transversely thereof. The unit illustrated in Fig. 13 is adapted to be sheeted on the job, during erection of the walls. It is to be understood that this modied form of unit shall carry the same type of side pieces and top construction as the unit A of Figs. 4 to( '7, inclusive. so that it may be used in conjunction with units such as A, B, C, and D, if desired, or with other units of the Fig. 13 construction. The various units or wall sections are all of a length corresponding substantially to the height of a building story.

The herein described method and means of constructing a fire-proof building affords many advantages over the old practice. .For example, much of the construction can be performed in the factory, where all tools and machinery are conveniently arranged, and where much of the construction can be accomplished regardless of adverse weather conditions. The structural materials are inexpensive and may readily be made into structural units without the employment of skilled labor. Other advantages resulting from the particular form of the units or sections have been set forth throughout the foregoing description.

V/hile the invention as disclosed and described herein, is illustrated by means of sheeting and metal lath and so-called runners that provide units that are locked together by the concrete columns'formed between adjacent units, it is to be understood that the units may be made of material other than metal. For example, some clays, gypsum and materials of that character, may be molded into units, that may be hollow and the outer faces of which present flanges that may be brought into abutment and may be locked together by the concrete, in the same way as are the flanges 24 and 44 secured to similar elements.

Other variations and modifications of materials to be used would necessarily conform with the underlying principles of the invention as herein explained and suggested.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in structural details concerning the invention may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

While, for the purpose of disclosing one form ofA structure embodying the invention, units A, B, C and D have been illustrated, it is to be understood that units intended to perform the same functions, and of different structure may be employed. For example, the inner faces and. the lateral faces of the units may be so formed and related that recesses may be provided between adjacent pillars, and such recesses may be used as parts of or be developed into book cases, cupboards, pantries and the like. Such recesses may be used `to receive and house various types of foldable and collapsible furniture such as tables, benches, ironing boards, beds and the like.

While the terms conicrete, reinforced concrete, and cementitious material have been used herein in connection with the columns, floor and ceiling slabs and ribs and the like, it is to be understood that when using those terms, it is intended to include or embrace thereby, various other moldable plastics that will serve the same function, for example, gypsum and the like. These terms, included in the claims are therefore to be understood as being terms of general description and not as terms of limitation.

What is claimed is:

l. Means for constructing a building comprisprising a series of structural wall sections having substantially the same over-all dimensions, and having interior and exterior faces, and cooperative identical side pieces on all of the sections, each side piece comprising a flange extending substantially parallel to the exterior face of the wall section and outwardly from the section a distance approximating half the width of a concrete column to be poured adjacent to the wall sections, and means for securing the flanges of one wall section to those of an adjacent section, the flanges and side pieces of adjacent sections providing exterior and side walls for the concrete columns and fastening means extending from the interior face of each section for fixing a plank in position to define an interior wall for such column thereby to eliminate scaffolding the building exterior.

2. A building comprising walls substantially meeting at an angle, a column, and an interior joist, the column being included in one of the walls but offset relative to the other wall a distance approximating the thickness of said other wall, and the joist being supported upon the column to extend along but outside the limits of said other wall.

3. A fire-proof building comprising hollow metallic walls substantially meeting at an angle,

a column and a joist formed substantially of concrete, the column being a continuation of one of the walls and having approximatelythe saine thickness as said wall of which it forms a continuation, the column being offset relative to the other wall a distance approximating the thickness of said other wall, and the concrete joist being supported upon the column to extend along but outside the limits of said otheri wall, whereby to permit unobstructed vertical communication between said other wall and one to be superposed thereon.

4. As a new article of manufacture a wall section for use in constructing a wall, and comprising in combination a pair of spaced longitudinal substantially parallel side pieces, said side pieces each having a longitudinal front flange, a longitudinal rear flange, and a substantially flat intermediate portion, the flanges being bent substantially at right angles to the intermediate portion, a sheet of metal lath permanently secured along opposite edges thereof to the front flange of each side piece and a second sheet of metal lath having opposed side edges thereof fixed to the rear flanges of the pair of side pieces, whereby to space the side pieces in substantial parallelism, and a substantially imperforate panel fixed transversely of the rear flanges near the top thereof, and spanning said flanges to provide a barrier for plastic concrete, said panel being of a width approximating the depth of a predetermined building beam.

5. As a new article of manufacture a wall section for use in constructing a wall, and comprising in combination a pair of spaced longitudinal substantially parallel side pieces, said side pieces each having a longitudinal front flange, a longitudinal rear flange, and a substantially flat intermediate portion, the flanges being bent substantially at right angles to the intermediate portion, incombustible sheeting permanently secured along opposite edges thereof to the front flange of each side piece and to the rear flanges of the pair of side pieces, whereby to space the side pieces in substantial parallelism, and a substantially imperforate panel fixed transversely of the rear flanges near the top thereof, and spanning said flanges to provide a barrier for plastic concrete, said panel being of a width approximating the depth of a predetermined building beam.

6. As a new article of manufacture a wall section for use in constructing a building, and comprising in combination a pair of spaced substantially parallel side pieces of length approximating the height of a story, said' side pieces each having a front flange and a rear flange both turned at an angle transverse to the mean plane of the side piece, a sheet substantially co-extensive with the length of the side pieces and having its side edges flxed to the front flanges of the pair of side pieces, whereby to maintain the front flanges in spaced relationship, and a second sheet having side edges thereof fixed to the rear flanges of the pair of side pieces, whereby to provide a hollow wall section.

'7. As a new article of manufacture a wall section for use in constructing a building, and comprising in combination a pair of spaced substantially parallel side pieces of length approximating the height of a story, said side pieces each having a front flange and a rear flange turned at an angle to the mean plane of the side piece, a sheet of metal lath substantially co-extensive with the length of the side pieces and having its side edges fixed at intervals to the front flanges of the pair of side pieces, whereby to maintain the front flanges in spaced relationship, a second sheet of metal lath having side edges thereof fixed to the rear flanges of the pair of side pieces, whereby to pro-vide a hollow wall section, and a substantially imperforate panel of a width approximating the depth of a building joist, secured transversely of the wall section in the plane of the rear flanges.

8. As a new article of manufacture a wall seotion for use in constructing a wall, and cornprising in combination a pair of spaced longitudinal side pieces said side pieces each having a longitudinal front flange, a rearwardly disposed face, and a substantially flat intermediate portion, a sheet of metal lath secured along opposite edges thereof to the front flange of each side piece to maintain the side pieces in substantially parallel spaced relationship, and a second sheet of material having opposed side edges thereof fixed to the rearwardly disposed faces of the side pieces, the front flanges being of a width approximating half the width of a concrete column to be formed between adjacent wall sections placed side by side, in a plane, with their front flanges substantially in contacting relationship.

9. As a new article of manufacture a wall section for use in constructing a wall, and comprising in combination a pair of spacedlongitudinal side pieces, said side pieces each having a longitudinal front flange, a rearwardly disposed face, and a substantially flat intermediate portion, a sheet of metal lath secured along opposite edges thereof to the front flange of each side piece to maintain the side pieces in substantially' parallel spaced relationship, and a second sheet of material having opposed side edges thereof fixed to the rearwardly disposed faces of the side pieces, the front flanges being of a width approximating half the width of a concrete column to be formed between adjacent wall sections placed side by side, in a plane, with their front flanges substantially in contacting relationship, and a rearwardly directed iiange extending from the front flange of each side piece, substantially at right angles, to provide abutments which determine the distance between the intermediate portions of the side pieces of wall sections placed side by side in a common plane.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a wall section for use in constructing a corner of a building, said section comprising a hollow substantially rectangular frame having front and rear faces, and a flange extending from one corner of the frame transversely of the plane of one face and beyond the limits of said plane, to form part of a concrete column.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a wall section for use in constructing a corner of a building, said section comprising a hollow substantially rectangular frame having four longitudinal edges, and flanges at two diagonally located edges, and extending longitudinally of said edges, to be embedded in concrete columns formed adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the wall section, one of said flanges being at right angles to the mean plane of the frame, and a turned portion on the last mentioned one flange, bent substantially to parallelism with the plane of the frame.

12. A building comprising a series of vertically disposed pre-formed units provided along their lateral edges with complementary column-forming means and with means for locking the units together with a plastic mass, means formed between adjacent units to form rows of columns, some of the columns being load-bearing columns and others being merely unit supports, the loadbearing columns being disposed in rows spaced apart, and beams spanning only the load-bearing columns from one row thereof to another.

13. A building comprising a series of vertically disposed pre-formed units, and means along the side edges of each unit to provide only three sides of a series of forms for relatively small and closely spaced concrete columns no thicker than the thickness of the units, the columns being arranged in rows determined by the location oi' the units, and concrete beams extending only in one direction across the building and spanning opposite rows of columns to provide a sole supporting means for a floor.

14. In a building construction, the combination of opposed rows of relatively small and closely spaced concrete columns arranged in pairs, beams integral with and connecting opposed individual columns which form the pairs of columns, the number of beams being equal to the number of pairs of columns, and means supported in the spaces between adjacent columns to form the walls of the building.

15. Means for constructing a building without the use of exterior scaffolding, comprising the combination of a foundation, structural means comprising wall sections of a length approximating the height of a story superposed upon the foundation, and providing only a partial form of the same length for upright poured columns, so that part of the form is open toward the interior of the building, a combined ceiling shore and closure member mounted for closing the interiorly disposed open portion of the form, and means associated with said member for bracing other structural elements interiorly of the building.

16. A building in the course of construction, which comprises in combination, a foundation, opposed spaced rows of structural means cornprising wall sections of a length approximating the height of a story superposed upon the foundation to define opposed walls of the building, permanent column forms on said structural means, and coextensive in length therewith, to define all but the inner sides of columns to be poured within the forms, a temporary closure member for the open inner side of each form, and temporary ceiling forming means comprising soflits extending from the temporary closure members of one row of column forms, to those of the opposite row.

17. A building in the course of construction, which comprises in combination, a foundation, opposed spaced rows of structural means superposed upon the foundation to denne opposed walls of the building, permanent column forms on said structural means to define all but the inner sides of columns to be poured within the -forms, a temporary closure member for the open inner side of each form, and temporary ceiling forming means comprising softs extending from the temporary closure members of one row of column forms, to those of the opposite row, with the interiors of the column forms in communication with the interior of the ceiling forming means.

18. As a new article of manufacture, a wall section unit for use in constructing a building, and comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel side pieces of a length approximating the height of a story and of a width approximating the thickness of the building wall, said unit having an outer face and an inner face to be disposed, respectively, to the outside and to the inside of a building, extending iianges on the unit disposed lengthwise of the side pieces, but along only that face of the unit which is to be disposed to the outside of the building, so that the side pieces and the iianges of any two units placed side by side in a plane with their flanges substantially abutting will furnish but three Walls of a form for a column to be poured between any two units so placed.

19. As a new article of manufacture, a wall section unit for use in constructing a building, and comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel side pieces of a length approximating the height of a story and of a width approximating the thickness of the building wall, said unit having an outer face and an inner face to be disposed, respectively, to the outside and to the inside of a building, extending flanges on the unit disposed lengthwise of the side pieces, but along only that face of the unit which is to be disposed to the outside of the building, so that the side pieces and the flanges of any two units placed side by side in a plane with their flanges substantially abutting will furnish but three Walls of a form for a column to be poured between any two units so placed, and means along a side piece of the unit, in the region of the said inner face of the unit, for attachment of a separate element to provide a fourth wall of the column form, when two units are placed as stated.

20. As a new article of manufacture, a wall section unit for use in constructing a building, and comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel side pieces of a length approximating the height of a story and of a width approximating the thickness of the building wall, said unit having an outer face and an inner face to be disposed, respectively, to the outside and to the inside of a building, extending iianges on the unit disposed lengthwise of the side pieces, but along only that face of the unit which is to be disposed to the outside of the building, so that the side pieces and the flanges of any two units placed side by side in a plane with their anges substantially abutting will furnish but three walls of a form for a column to be poured between any two units so placed, the flanges each being of a width approximating half the width of a column to be poured as stated.

21. A concrete building comprising two opposed rows of spaced concrete columns, with an lequal number of columns in said rows so as to provide pairs of opposed columns, integral beams connecting each pair of opposed columns, and a third row of spaced concrete columns disposed in a plane transverse to the plane of one of the first mentioned rows, the individual columns of the third mentioned row being integral with, but to one side of, the beam which spans two endmost columns of the first mentioned opposed rows of columns.

22. A concrete building comprising two opposed rows of spaced concrete columns, with an equal number of columns in said rows so as to provide pairs of opposed columns, integral beams connecting each pair of opposed columns, and a third row of spaced concrete columns disposed in a plane transverse to the plane of one of the iirst mentioned rows, the individual columns of the third mentioned row being integral with, but to one side of, the beam which spans two endmost columns of the first mentioned opposed rows of columns, and a top slab connecting all the beams and columns in a monolithic structure.

23, A concrete building in the course of construction", comprising two opposed rows of spaced concrete columns, the columns being arranged in pairs, one column of each pair being in one row,

and the other column of each pair being in the other row, integral beams connecting each pair of opposed columns, so that said beams are equal in number to the number of pairs of columns, the spacing between adjacent beams and the spacing between adjacent columns being determined by the width of a single beam and ceiling forming tile, and a ceiling slab connecting all of the beams and columns in a monolithic structure.

24. A concrete building in the course of construction, comprising two opposed rows of spaced concrete columns, the columns being arranged in pairs, one column of each pair being in one row, and the other column of each pair being in the other row, integral concrete beams connecting each pair of opposed columns so that said beams are equal in number to the number of pairs of columns, the spacing between adjacent columns and the spacing between adjacent beams being substantially equal, and a concrete ceiling slab connecting all of the beams and columns in a monolithic structure.

WILLIAM M. GOLDSMITH.

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