US2078621A

US2078621A - Slab

Info

Publication number: US2078621A
Application number: US579327A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick M Venzie
Original assignee: National Gypsum Co
Current assignee: National Gypsum Co
Priority date: 1931-12-05
Filing date: 1931-12-05
Publication date: 1937-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1954-04-27

Description

F. M. VENZIE SLAB Filed Dec. 5, 1951 April 27, 193 7.

/J/NEY.

Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE SLAB Application December 5, 1931, Serial No. 579,327

7 Claims.

"This invention, generally stated, relates to a building construction and has more especial relation to ceiling, wall, or partition slabs and the method ofrmaking same. Y

As atl present formed ceiling, wall, and partition slabs, possessed of so-called sound Vabsorption Y properties,` are not efficient in practical building operations. Itwould seem that to provide a self-sustaining slab, as employed in connection with conventional sustaining clips, is not eiiicient for the purposes desired for the reason that as at present manufactured these slabs are of Vsuch solid construction that the sound absorbig properties are reduced to a minimum.

I have'discovered that if a ceiling, wall, or partition slab'is constructed having efficient sound absorption properties theslab is so friable as to* be not self-sustaining; and that in order to provide eicient sound absorption properties it is necessary thatthe slab be conned in a rigid brace.

Heretofore it has not been possible to suspend `from plasterers channelsA ceiling, wall, or partition slabs of efficient sound absorption properties.

The leading object of the present invention may be said toreside in the provision of a ceiling, wall, or partition pre-castslab possessed of maximum sound absorption properties which slab is so porous and provided with interstices as to be incapable of self-support; thereby requiring an exterior brace, and the provision of such brace.

A further object of the invention isY to provide a building construction in which a slab of the character above described may be supported by plasterers channels.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slab of the character stated which may be'manufactured at a central plant and shipped for erection by unskilled labor at a given point.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slab of the character stated which may be manufactured at a central plant in various sizes and shapes to meet conditions at a place of erection; which may be positioned with vrespect to plasterers channels by unskilled labor expeditiously; by the use of which an appearance may be obtained of a plastered Wall, or of Travartine stone, or similar ornamental nishes; and which yet will be possessed of sound absorption qualities.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a slab of the character stated in which is employed diatomaceous earth, powdered asbestos, calcium sulphate, and powdered glue, diluted with water.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slab of the character stated composed of chloride of calcium, magnesite, cork, and wood fibre, as granulated wood.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slab of the character stated in which the face of the slab is covered by a thin, brous material and painted to match corresponding surfaces of the structure being erected.

Other and further objects of the present invention reside in the provision of general details of construction and in the arrangement, connection, and combination of parts for attaining the results sought by the foregoing objects.

'Ihe invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of the frame or reenforcement for a slab;

Fig. 2 is a View in cross-section taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section of the slab embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of one edge of a completed slab;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in section, illustrating the manner of suspending the slab from plasterers channels in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view in vertical section of the joint between the internal re-enforcement and the marginal support.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawing the form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to b e understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

According to the present invention I make use of pre-cast slabs for ceiling, wall, and partition constructions which are relatively porous and contain interstices so that the slab in practical building construction is incapable of being eiiciently supported by conventional clips. I have discovered that in order to obtain an eucient slab of the character stated for the purposes of sound absorbing proclivities it is necessary to bind or surround the slab edges with a metallic reinforcing, thereby to hold the slab construction together and afford convenient means whereby unskilled labor may support the slab with respect to plasterers channels.

I have also discovered two formulas by which A efficient slabs for the purposes desired may be effected. A description will be given at this time v of a pre-cast slab made under my preferred form of construction. Inorder to obtain a porous slab of sound proofing characteristics it is necessary to have as part thereof a multiplicity of interstices. In practice good results have been obtained by employing in my composition for manufacture of the slab under construction the following ingredients:

Diatomaceous earth 64 Powdered asbestos 10 Calcium sulphate 25 Powdered glue, diluted with water 1 In practice I have discovered that it is sometimes desirable in order to provide a porous condition of slab to use a quantity of granulated wax or soap with the mixture above enumerated. After a slab is formed the same is introduced to a process of heating whereby substantially all of the wax or soap will melt, thus leaving the spaces or cavities for sound absorption purposes.

A slab molded as above described is very ligh in texture, porous in character, and profuse in interstices, and therefore it is difficult to ship the same from'a central plant to place of erection. Therefore, I provide each slab as manufactured with an exterior rim or band I0 of metal. Obviously this band follows the contour of the slab, which is designated II, and is of angular -formation as shown in cross-section in Fig. 4. Each frame 'I Il is'provided with inwardly directed, hori- Zontal flanged portions I 2 upon which are adapted to rest extensions I3 of cross bars I4. 'I'he horizontal flanged portions I2 of the frame Ill have struck out and bent upwardly therefrom lugs I5 which are caused to engage over the extensions I3 of the cross bars I4, thereby to interlock the cross bars with respect to the frame I Il. 'I'he above description has been restricted to the horizontal portions I2 of the frame I0. The vertical portions I5 of the frame lil have struck out therefrom lugs- I'I, see Fig. 4, which are arranged to engage around the pendant end pieces I8 of the cross bars I!! to interlock the cross bars with respect to the frame I0. In practice it may be desirable to apply in suitable manner, as by an adhesive, a backing of felt I9. The tendency of the layer of felt I9 is to absorb and deaden sound emanating over a given area.

Heretofore precast slabshave been attached with respect to furring channels or wooden strips anchored with respect to ceilings or walls. As at present erected these precast slabs are not efficiently sound proof in character and are relatively speal'zing non-porous, being hard and more or less brittle in texture. It has been found that conventional clips answer the purpose of attaching such slabs with respect to such supports. No attempt has been made heretofore to suspend porous metal bound slabs from plasterers channels. According to the present invention I lnd that such attachment may be expeditiously made by unskilled labor as shown in Fig. 5, in which the reference numeral 20 represents a plasterers channel suspended in any desired manner in a building structure supported by which, and arranged at right angles thereto and in a plane therebelow, is a plasterers channel 2I of lighter structure than the plasterers channel 20. practice I make use of a wire clip 22 one end of which is hooked over the top of the plasterers channel 20 and the other end of which supports the plasterers channel 2l. To the lower plasterers channel 2l I connect the slabs by substantially U-shaped clips 22 one leg of which is Y bent over the channel ZI and the other of which engages the slab between its two major surfaces passing through a slot 23 in the frame I0.

A slab of the character stated may be eciently manufactured of the ingredients in the proportions above enumerated. As an alternative structure I may employ the following ingredients:

Chloride of calcium 2 Magnesite- 3 Cork 3 Wood fibre (as granulated wood) 15 Slabs manufactured in accordance with the above described methods can be made to imitate Travartine or the like for ornamental purposes, and yet said slabs be possessedv of sound n titious slab may be eliminated and felt employed both between the frame and back of the grillage. In such case the fibrous material may be painted to match other surfaces. The joints between the adjacent members are covered with molding braiding, but the joint or joints are tapered so as to provide a flat surface in large areas'. In the event that felt alone is used the front and back layers are glued or pasted together, thus to envelop entirely the wire grillage.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a plasterers channel of relatively heavy structure, a plasterers channel of relatively light structure arranged at right angles to the first mentioned plasterers channel and supported thereby, a precast slab suspended from said relatively light plasterers channel, a metal rim encasing said slab, and an arm co-operatively arranged between said relatively light plasterers channel and said rim for connecting said slab to said light plasterers channel.

2. In combination a plasterers channel of relatively heavy structure, a plasterers channel of relatively light structure arranged at right angles to the rst mentioned plasterers channel and supported thereby, a precast slab suspended from said relatively light plasterers channel, a metal rim encasing said slab, said rim being slotted to receive the terminals of a supporting arm, and an arm cooperatively arranged between said relatively light plasterers channel and said rim for the support of said slab.

3. A precast ceiling slab of cementitious material comprising a member confined by a metal marginal support, a layer of felt adhesively secured to the upper face of said slab, and reinforcing rods embedded in said slab, said rods being arranged at right angles with respect to one another, the terminals of said rods being first bent upwardly at an inclination, thence horizontally, and finally downwardly in a vertical manner.

4. A felt slabconfined by a metal, marginal support, and reinforcing rods embedded in said felt slab, said rods being arranged at right angles with respect to one another, the terminals of said rods being ilrst bent upwardly at an inclination, thence horizontally, and finally downwardly in a vertical manner.

5. A surfacing unit of greater length and breadth than thickness comprising a continuous metallic frame and a fill of cementitious material lying within said frame, said frame providing a form defining the marginal edges of said cementitious material, and comprising means providing a seat for means suspending said unit from a support.

6. A surfacing unit comprising a relatively frangible cementitious material, interlocked internal and marginal re-enforcement of relatively rigid infrangible material, said marginal re-enforcement extending from one major surface to the other major surface of said unit and forming a continuous band around said unit, and a resilient iiexible material on one major surface of said cementitious material.

7. A preformed ceiling slab comprising a soundpenetrable cementitious body, a metal marginal supporting edge on said body, and a layer of felt secured to the upper face of said body.

FREDERICK M. VENZIE.