US2185196A - Hollow block masonry construction - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1940. 4 F. HEATH 2,185,l96

HQLLOW BLO CK MAS ONRY CONSTRUCT I ON Filed Oct. :51, 1935 :5 sheets-Sheet 2 A A A P u HQ u u u .D D P n u P u l CJ AFP X P A A P A 'P P P D P F- I--Q Q l-P C' C' P 4l C A P IJ P IJ J Jan. 2, 1940. F. HEATH 2,1s5,196

HOLLOW BLOCK MASONRY CONSTRUCTION.

Filed Oct. 31. 1935 3 sheets-Sheet 3 EEJUE 1 FEEE EEEJUE INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 2, 1940 maiss rATENT orricr.

2,185,196 V g HOLLOW BLOCK MASONItlrv CONSTRUCTIO-N VFrederick Heath, Tacoma, .'Wash., .assignor 'to The Wash., a corporation Vv-l'hiplication October 31,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements'in hollow block` masonry construction, and more particularly torwhat is known as structural burned clay hollow tile. and is concerned with a new formation of the .tile, new proportioning of dimensions thereof to increase the adaptabilityin use,v and finally With wall constructions composed inpart or in whole of these tile. v

4'I'he general object of my invention is to provide hollow buildingblocks of a simple design whichmay be readily extrudedin the forming machine and burnedwithout cracking; Which, while light'in weight, will have load 'bearingand braci'ng webs positioned to resist all stresses enocuntered in structural walls; which will be so proporti'oned -that all theparts of a wall lmay 'be built in systematic bonding relation whether the wall is made all of blocksor in conjunction With brick, 'and will have'such form that the blocks 'may readily associate themselves with, all

the structural' details, such a's corners, jams,v

pilasters, chases, etc., resulting in strength and economy of'construction.v

In accomplishing the 'above'object, I provide a primary block having a length .equal to the length of .a standard brick; a height `eoual to the combined thickness 'of three bricks and'two 4 intervening'mortar joints, anda Width -which is `desired thickness to support the load and provide l'ateral'stiifness, while the next standard dimension, namely, twelve inch, is greater than necessary. `My tenand one-quarter inch wall meets the structural requirements of many buildings, such as 'residences and panel walls of Skeleton 'frame construction, 'and thus not only saves material and 4expense but' yenlarges the rooms `correspondingly. v

Anothervcharacteristic of -a wall With my 'tile and facing of brickV is that there are no'through mortar joints, with'a result that the walls are kept dry. Furthermore, by the use of my tilevI may build insulated walls in which there are substantiallyfno continuous air' passageways, the

:blocks being 4so laid in the Wall that the cells Heath Unit 'File` v('J-ornpany,`v Tacoma,

of vliliashington y 1935, serial no. 47,64s (cl. 72-1-41) of-each block are sealed at the ends by faces of the adjacent blocks-crossing such ends.

fFinally, my blocks are so made that if laid up in'a single course to produce asubstantially six inch ,partition wall, the formationof the block gives greatstrength tothe wall whilethe mortar joints :atth'e ends of the blocks are keyed to each block by reasonof small cells in the blocks adjacent the opposite sides, as hereinafter explained.

My hollow block and walls made thereby or in conjunction with brick, are illustrated in the to the length of one standard brick (also equal` to the thickness of three bricks plus two intervening mortar joints) and a Width independent of brick dimensions, preferably six inches. Fig. 2 is a perspective of what I call a half-block, which has a Width and length equal to ,the block of Fig. 1 and a heght equal to half the heght of the block lof that figure less half the thickness of a mortar joint; Fig. 3 is a perspective of what I call a tWo-.thirds block, which has a heght and Width equal to the block of Fig. 1, but a length equal to the thickness of two bricks plus a mortar joint. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a stopped block, vwhich is of the same extreme dimensions as the block of Fig. l, but with a cut-out portion, which, measured lengthwise of the Voids, is equal to the thickness of onevbrick plus a mortar joint, and has av transverse extent equal to a brick Width plus a mortar joint. 'Fig.- 5 is a perspective of the primary unit of the second character of block, having the length and thickness of a standard brick and a width corresponding to the block of Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 6is a perspective of a block having a length and heght of the block 4of Fig. 5, but a Width of substantially one-third thereof.` Fig. '7 is a Vertical section through a wall made by a single tier of brick with headers and employing ,myv blocks of Figs. 1 and 4 for back-up purposes. Fig. 8 is a perspective of the lwall of Fig. '7.l Fig. v9 is a Vertical section of a Wall emplcying the blocks of Figsl, 3 and 6 for back-up purposes. Fig. 10 is a perspective of the wall ofFig. 9. Fig. 11 is a perspective of a so- 'called six-.inch Wall made by the blocks ofFig. 1

with the blocks of Figs. 2 and 5 adjacent the corners. The upper course of brick in this view is supposed to rest directly in the mortar bed, surmounting the lower courses shown. Fig. 12 is a perspective of what I have called a quarter block, being a block having the Width and height of Fig. 2, but a length equal to half that block less half a mortar joint. Figs. 13 and 14 are illustrations of patterns bonds which may be made by employing the blocks of Figs. 1, 2 and 12, and are intended to be illustrative of Various arrangements which may be nadeby my blocks.`

Referring to Fig. 1, the primary block, designated A, is shown as comprising an exterior shell consistng of the Vertical members Il] and Il,` horizontal members |2 and |3'. In the interior of the block are two Vertical webs |4 and l extending the entire height of the block and joined at their tops and bottoms with the horizontal shell portions |2 and l3 and joined at their outer sides with the Vertical shells I'andr Il by means of cross portions l6 arranged to leave a series of voids between the web and shell. That block also has two intermediate horizontal centrally located webs I'l and |8 which are spaced apart a distance oorresponding to the thickness of a mortar joint and at their ends join the Vertical webs l4 and l5.

The formation thus described results in a block with a series of voids running from end to end and open at the ends. Thereare two majorvoids 20 and 2! bounded by the internal Vertical webs and the internal horizontal webs and the horizontal members of the shell. There is an intermediate shallow void 22 between the internal horizontal webs l 'l and I8 which void exte-nds from the inner face of the Vertical web 14 to the inner face of th'e web l and has a height equal to that of a mortar joint. The voids between the Vertical web l4 or |5 and the vadjacent Vertical shell member l or H comprise a small tubular passageway 23 horizontallyyaligned with the intermediate void 22 and two voids 24 and 25, one above the other` and elongated Vertically in an oblong fashion so thatV they extend directly opposite practically the entire major void 20 or 2l.

The above defined construction of the interior of the block produces, when the block stands as shown in Fig. 1 or islaid Vertical as in Fig. 11, four load bearing members for each block, namely, the parts 10, I 4, 15 and Il. The transverse shell members 12 and i3 which are preferably Slightly thicker than any of the Vertical members indi- Vidually, provides anpeffective mortar bed with ample strength to bridge the major void when the block is horizontal and With suficient crosssection to form an eifective column when` the block is laid with the voids Vertical. The two intermediate webs l'l and l8 very effectively brace the side members. Finally, the small voids provide space into which the mortar will pass sufficiently to key the mortar effectively to the block.

By providing the two Vertical webs Il and lE set in from the shell members lo and H and periodically connected -therewith by the portions extending across the small voids, I accomplishv several Valuable results. First, I obtain the desired amount of material for load bearing purposes without making a wall so thick that it is difiicult to extrude or burn. By maintaining all ofthe thicknesses of nearly the same amount, I very materially reduce the unevenness of drying of different portions with its consequent liability to cracking the product. Second, by arranging the intermediate webs M and l5 Within the block instead of providing simply a thicker wall, I reduce the span of the horizontal members IZ and 93 of the shell and thus form a more effective support for the same when the block is laid horizontally, and a more effective bracing when these 5 members stand as columns with the block laid Vertically. Finally, the end portions of the webs and shells provide ample mortar beds for the ends of the block while allowing such bedtobe keyed to the block by reason of the minor voids shown. 10

- The relative dimensioning of my blocksl is also an important factorlin the result accomplished.v Modern brick have a length equal to the thicke ness of three bricks plus two mortar joints, and I use such dimension as the key dimension tor15 the length and height of my block; that is to say, the side face of my primary block is square, the height and length being equal to a length of brick, while the transverse dimension, as already stated, is preferably six inches. I 20 I find that Very convenientsubdivisions of this block for building walls comprise the half block shown in Fig. 2, and designated B, which may be made by simply breaking the block of Flg. 1 through the line of middle voids 23-22 or may be 2,55 extruded individually, while by cutting the block of Fig. 2 in half by a line of severance parallel with the end, I produce the so-*called quarter block G, shown in Fig. 12, which standing on end is very suitable for a closure. Fig. 3 has the interior formation ofthe block of Fig. 1, but is substantially two-thirds thelength thereof; and finally, the block D of Fig. 4 is the same as the block of Fig. l with'the stepcut out of it, which step 1s dimensiened te `receive the 35.' projecting portion of a header course with proper horizontal and Vertical mortar-joints.v L The blocks of Figs. 5 and 6 are built-on a different basis. The block E of Fig. 5 has the brick length and the substantially six-inch Width of 40 vFig. 1, but has a height equal to*` that of one brick. This block is made in three* connected units, that is to say, it has horizontal shells 30 f and 3| extending from' one side to the other and Vertical shells 32 and 33, and four intermediate 45; v

wall with a course of facing brick and my blocks,

I may combine either the blocks of Figs. `1 and 4 or the blocks of Figs. 1, 3 and 6. Figs. 7 and 8 v illustrate the first of these combinations wherein e the blocks A'and D are alternated one above the other and the facing of brick comprises running QD courses P and occasional header courses Qwhich extend into the spaceprovided by the steps of v the block D. In Figs. 9 and 10A the backing wally comprises the blocks C, F and A repeating in that manner, thus leaving spaces between the block C and the block A for a header course.

In standard brick-laying it is customary to make every sixth course a header course, and my system of tile units is adapted for such layv70 ing, as illustrated in Fig. 9, where the two headery courses appear at Q and the five intermediate v running courses at P. It will be seen that the block C plus the block F takes the place of the w stepping block D, So that the same system-of brick 75 The block c ef 3.0..

facing with header courses -is adapted 'for either system of backing.

y`Fig. 1.1 illustrates two walls meeting `at=a corner composed of the blocks A, Bfand E. The lower course-is shownV as having afcorner block Bstandingl on end and then a block A standing sideways extending toward the right followed by afblock A endwise, two blocks sidewise, one endwise, and so on. At the left of block B, that is, adjacent its Smaller side face, I place theblock EJ standing on end, which overlaps and bonds with Athe block A at the right of block B, and then beyond the block E toward the left I indicate two blocks, a horizontal and one Vertical, andiso on. Now Ithe surmounting course, which in the figure is shown raised for clearness of illustration, has at the corner the blocks B and -'E,`but now lwith the wide dimension of block B extending in the other direction and with the block 'E at the right of B instead of at the left. Then toward the le'ft I employ one block A flatwise 'and then a block A vertically, and to the right of block E I employ two flatwise blocks A instead of one fiatwise block as in the lowercourse.

The illustrative arrangement just described causes the second course to bond very effectively with the first course. For instance, the mortar joint between the corner block B and the .block E and the joint between the block lE and the block A of the upper course, come on the flat face of a block A of the lower course; while the mortar joints between the blocks E, B and A of the lowerl 'course come against a flat face of this lower and upperl course block A. The junction of the two adjacenthorizontal blocks A of the upper course comes over the 'center of the Vertical blocks A of the lower course, and the Vertical blocks A of the upper course bridge the space between two horizontal blocks of the lower course, and so on.

In the described method of laying the wall, it will be seen that each course is effectively bonded with the adjacent course. Moreover, except as to the corner blocks B, the voids of each block are sealed at the end of the block by the flat face of adjacent blocks extending across them. Moreover, the small voids adjacent the shells of my blocks and the intermediate transverse void form spaces forkeying the mortar bed across such end whether the blocks are end-set or laid flatwise.

Sometimes it is desirable to lay up all tile with the faces exposed in the form of an attractive pattern. My block units are admirably adapted for this purpose, as illustrated, for instance, in Figs, v13 and 14, composed of the blocks A, B and G, the blocks B having their voids extending horizontally and b-locks A and G have them extending either horizontally or vertically as desired, the solid face of all of the blocks being aligned in the visible wall.

The pattern formation of Fig. 13 gives a mortar bed R over two blocks B and beneath one block A and two blocks G; a mortar bed S over one block A and two blocks G, and then one continuous horizontal mortar bed T over the blocks A and B, and various Vertical mortar beds at the edges of each block. This wall unit, which one might call a block and a half high, is successively repeated, one course above the other, as the wall is laid out, producing the attractive pattern shown.

Fig. 14; illustrates another pattern arrangement of these blocks wherein the blocks A are laid up in step fashion one directly above the other and the space filled in at the top and bottom by blocks B and G and the small square spaces filled by the blocks G, as shown. This gives the pattern illusztrated with J'comparatively'short horizontal and -Lvertical mortar' beds. patterns may be made by suitably grouping the Various other attractive blockunits shown. lWhen 'the-'blocks are to be used to produce a pattern, they maybe smooth or given such tex- Vture face as desired. For back-up purposes or yplastered walls, the blocks are scored in the usual manner, as illustrated, for instance, in Fig. l.

'It will be apparent from `the description given that I have produced a system of vwall construc- .ftion'by the use of a comparatively few different units of hollow tile, Which provides lfor'layingup of the tile in various manners; enablesvthe voids of veach *block to. be sealed by rcason of the flat faces of adjacent blocks, and enables the very ready production of a brick-faced wall of a very desirable thickness greater than that of two brick A'courses without resorting to the thiokness of three 'brick courses.

When the blocks are used for back-up purposes in conjunction with brickthe course of horizontal 'blocks associated with each course of end-set blocks, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9, prevents the accumulaltionof mortar in the bottom of the wall,

which is a disadvantage resulting with the usual end-set tile construction. With my wall, the mortar droppings are arrested by each side-set tile Course.

lf it is desired to provide a twelve-inch wall, this may-be very readily'effected by using two tiers of my six-inchvtile blocks suitably bonded at desired intervals. This bonding may, for instance, be

|effected byiplacing a course of the blocks E endset across the mortar line between the two tiers inches instead of merely the present brick differ-` ence of four inches. To illustrate: a six-inch partition may be made by a single tier of my blocks; an eight-inch Wall by two brick tiers; a

substantially ten-inch Wall by my blocks and one brick tier; a twelve-inch wall by two tiers of my block; a fourteen-inch wall by my blocks faced with brick on opposite sides, and so on. By thus cuttingr in half the runit of difference lbetween successive widths of wall, walls can be built to fulfill more accurately the stress requirements at any particular location, with greater economy and an increase in the resulting space within the building.

I claim:

1. A masonry construction made of hollow building blocks and mortar, each block being of rectangular cross section and having two internal webs adjacent to and parallel with their longer faces and periodically connected therewith in a manner to form minor voids Which are no wider than the webs, and having major voids extending from end to end, said construction comprising a course of blocks such as aforesaid some of the voids of which are horizontal and some of which are Vertical, and a surmounting course such as aforesaid with the blocks having their voids vertical where they were horizontal in the lower course and horizontal Where they were verticaL'whereby four Vertical load-supporting members are provided by each block and the voids of each block are sealed at their ends by flat faces of adjacent blocks.

2. A masonry construction made' of hollow building blocks and mortar, eachblock having voids extending from end to end and having internal webs, said construction co-mprising courses of said blocks some with the voids horizontal parallel to the Wall and some with the voids Vertical, other courses of said blocks, wherein the blocks have their voids Vertical where they were horizontal in the adjacent course and horizontal where they were Vertical, whereby the voids are sealed at their ends by flat faces of adjacent blocks, and blocks of rectangular cross-section having through voids, set vertically to make closures at the corners,

there being an additional wide and thin block set endwise adjacent the narrow side of each corner block and extending beyond the same to bond with l the block adjacent block.

3. A hollow building block which, when laid with its voids horizontal, comprises Vertical and the wide side of the corner horizontal shell members, two internal Vertical section, having parallel voids extending from end to end, said block when laid with the voids horizontal having a shell composed of two Vertical members and two horizontal members, two internal Vertical webs spaced adjacent the Vertical members and periodically connected therewith, -and two cross webs equidistant from respective horizontal members, connecting the internal vertical webs and continuously spaced from each other from Vertical web to Vertical web.

5. A masonry construction made of hollow` of sizes adequate to receive the projecting headers v with upper and lower mortar beds, said headers extending materially more than half way and less than three quarters of the way across the hollow tile thereby producing a Wall having a Width greater than that of two bricks side by side, laid fiatwise, and less than that of three bricks side by side and laid flatwise.

6. In masonry construction, a wall .composed of hollow building blocks With through parallel voids, bricks and mortar, said wall comprising surmounting normal courses of brick and mortar With occasional header courses, said blocks when set With their voids horizontal being of heights corresponding to the height of a plurality of bricks plus a number of mortar joints one less than the number of bricks,- thewall lhaving blocks set as aforesaid opposite and horizontally aligned With such plurality of bricks of the normal brick courses, other blocks of the same section as those just mentioned being set with their voids Vertical and overlapped by the inwardly extending headerV brick, said other blocks set as stated, corresponding in height to the combined height of the adjacent normal brick courses plus their separating mortar joints, and separate header blockslocated between the block courses aforesaid and in horizontal alignment with the header brick. i

FREIDERICK I-IEATH.

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