US2395438A - Means for laying brick - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1946. w ms 2,395,438

MEANS FOR LAYING BRICK Filed June 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 4. FT WA r/r/A/s,

A rro/mwy Feb. 26, 1946. A. F. WATKINS 2,395,433

MEANS FOR LAYING BRICK Filed June 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 26, 1946.

A. F. WATKINS MEANS FOR LAYING BRICK Filed June 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y @HJM;

fQQQMaW Patented Feb. 26, 194s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved means or devices for laying brick for the construction of retaining, terracing and other walls,

bins, cribs, and various other wall structures or edifices built of walls or tiers of brick laid in courses.

The laying of brick in accordance with conventional practices is more or less time consuming and expensive, as it requires the use of skilled help in performing the usual steps of laying down a bed of mortar of more or less exact thickness, applying mortar to each individual brick to fill spaces between and bind together adjacent bricks, placing each brick in position and tamping it to set it and displace excess mortar, and removing the excess mortar and pointing up the brickwork in the customar way. 7

One object of my invention is to provide a novel means or devices for laying brick whereby a number of these customary steps may be eliminated and whereby walls of plain or more or less ornate type may be conveniently and rapidly erected in a time and labor saving manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved meansor devices for laying brick. whereb the work may be satisfactorily performed by unskilled workmen or more easily, quickly and advantageously performed as compared with conventional methods by skilled workmen.

The invention consists of the means or devices for carrying the same into practice hereinafter fully described and claimed, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a number of courses of a portion of a wall, for example a retaining or terracing wall, constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing also steps of the method of laying another course;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a portion of the parts disclosed in Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale and illustrating the operation of starting the laying of a new course of brick at one end of the defined work field;

. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fi 3. showing some of the brick of the new course laid;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the combined gauging and clamping members;

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same;

Figs. 8 and 9 are cross-sections on the lines 8-8 and 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the row spacing auge; and

Fig. 11 is a similar view of one of the gauge boards.

In carrying my invention into practice in the building of a wall or like brick structure, I provide a suitable base or foundation on which the bricks of a first course are laid and on which are laid in superposed order successive courses the bricks of each course being ordinarily laid flatwise in two or more parallel rows, with the bricks of adjacent courses and the bricks of the rows of a course preferably arranged to break joint with each other in the usual manner. The bricks may, however, be laid edgewise longitudinally or transversely, or both fiatwise and edgewise longitudinally or transversely in the same or successive courses, or in any other known manner, according to the character of the wall to be built. I do not limit my invention to an particular manner of arrangement of the brick in laying the brick so long as the principles of operation embodying the invention may be employed in laying the same.

In the present instance, in order to better 11- lustrate the invention, and to clearly show the greater portion of a brickwork structure built in accordance therewith, I have shown in the drawings a partly completed wall I formed of a plurality of previously laid courses 2, 3, 4, d and 8, on the uppermost complete course 6 of which another course I, which has been partly laid, is being completed in accordance with the principles of the invention.

As shown, in the operation of laying a course, horizontal longitudinally extending gauge boards or plates 8, each of suitable length and width or depth, are arranged to bear upon the outer faces of the brick of the course previously laid. at the outer and inner sides of the wall. These boards are placed so that their upper edges 9 project a predetermined distance above the upper surface of the previously laid course. To suspend or support the boards in gauged position while they are A being clamped in place sets of openings III are formed in each board at points intersecting gage lines II and at suitable distances apart for the passage of sustaining pins 12 which extend beyond the inner faces of the boards and rest on the upper surface of the previously laid course, such as the course 6, whereby the boards are held with their edges 9 projecting upward to the desired degree. Combined clamping and gauging members l3 are employed to thereafter clamp the boards in applied position while subsequent operwhich members I! are disposed a suitable and convenient distance apart to leave. a work field between them for the laying of the mortar bed and the brick.

The members I3, as shown, are arranged transversely of the wall under construction so as to bridge across the space between the boards 8, and each is of arched conformation or of inverted U-shape and comprises a body portion I4 having at each end a depending leg it. Two such clamping and. gauging members may be disposed, as in the example shown, at starting and finishing points in the length of the whole or a predeten mined portion of the course to be laid. When disposed in working position the body portion l4 of the members I! are spaced from the underlying course so as to overhang any bricks previously laid at the points or to permit brick to be laid thereunder, while the legs I5 are arranged to depend and bear against the outer faces of the boards 8. The inner faces it of the legs I5 are beveled or inclined at the same angle as openings l1 extending downward through the body portion l4, and wedge pins or keys 18 are adapted to be inserted into these openings so as to bring their lower ends into the spaces between the faces i6 and row bricks l9 and of the new course disposed under the body portion to clamp the boards 8 and the member l3 securely in position. The use of such clamping means obviously permits relative adjustment between the boards 8 and members l3 to adapt the boards to be arranged at higher or lower gauging levels, or at different gauging elevations, and the member l3 to be properly positioned relative thereto so as to obtain firm and secure clamping actions. At the center of the body portion ll each member i3 is also provided with a tapered opening 2i for the downward passage of a tapered spacing gauge pin 22. the lower end of which is inserted between the opposed inner sides of the starting bricks l9 and 20 of the rows underlying the member l3 at the starting point to hold said bricks in properly spaced relation for use as gauges to enable the new bricks of the course to be readily and quickly laid by the workman in properly spaced longitudinal rows. For the purpose of enabling the workman to lay the bricks of each row with their ends accurately spaced apart a small hand tool 23 may be employed. This tool, which may be made of metal or other suitable material, is L-shaped and comprises a handle part 24 and a gauge blade part 25. In its use the tool is placed so that its handle part 24 rests upon the top of a brick which ha been laid and with its blade part 25 bearing against the end of such brick lying next to the adjacent end of the following brick to be laid so that in the act of laying the latter named brick and pressing it down into a formed bed of mortar, as hereinafter described, the adjoining bricks of a row as laid will be properly spaced with relation to each other.

The drawings show, for the purpose of illustrating one typ of wall which may be built in accordance with the invention, a retaining or terracing wall which is completed except for a portion of its upper main course, the completed portions of which are shown as surmounted by a finishing row-brick course 26 of brick laid crosswise and edgewise to give an ornamental finish. Each corner of the wall may also, if desired, be finished by using extra brick 21 to give-the appearance or impression of corner posts.-

Assuming that the gauge boards 8 and clamping and gauge members "have been applied for use as above described in completing the unfinished portion of the top course 1, which will give an understanding of the mode of laying each course of a wall of a desired length and width, the operation is as follows:

The upper projecting edges 8 of the boards I as applied form with the upper surface of the course 6 a shallow trough extending the length of the uncompleted portion of the course I. Into this trough is introduced mortar, which is spread and smoothed out'by means of a screed board or paddle run along the edges 8 as guides, so as to form a mortar bed 28 flush with the edges 0 and of a prescribed depth determined thereby. On this bed of mortar the remaining bricks 29, some of which are shown, are laid, in break-joint or other intended manner, until all the bricks to complete the course I are laid between the spaced clamping and gauging members l3. As each brick of a row is laid it is pressed down into the mortar in gauged alinement with the preceding brick and accurately spaced longitudinally therefrom, and laterally also if desired, by the use of the tool 23. By means of the gauge boards 8 and members I3. which maybe applied for use by anyone of ordinary mechanical knowledge and skill, the operation of forming the mortar bed and laying the brick may be easily, quickly and eiliciently performed even by unskilled workmen and, as compared with the building of a wall in the conven tional manner, may be much more quickly performed by skilled bricklayers. After the bricks of the course are laid in the manner above described a suitable fluent or plastic joint closing and binding medium, such as grout of proper consistency, is poured into the spaces or cracks between the laid bricks, thus filling all spaces and binding and pointing up all the brick in an easy, rapid and labor saving manner. Any excess grout which may extrude beyond the outer surface of the face brick may be readily wiped or scraped off before the grout sets.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, my novel and improved method of laying brick for the construction of walls and other brickwork structures, and the devices used in carrying the method into practical effect, w ll be readily understood without a further and extended description, and it will be seen that the invention provides a means for carrying out such building operations in a simple, easy, convenient and timesaving manner. Furthermore, as such method anddevices enable many of the steps employed in laying brick in the customary manner to be eliminated, the use of skilled help is not absolutely essential, and as the work may be more rapidly performed greater economy in doing the work' is insured.

While the steps of operation and construction of the devices employed as disclosed are preferred, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, but that changes falling within the scope of the appended claims may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim: 7

1. Means for use in laying brick upon a base or previously laid course for the production of a wall or like structure comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinal gauge members dis posed at opposite sides of the base or laid course with their upper edges projecting above the same to form abutment surfaces for and to gauge the level of a bed of mortar to be laid upon the prepared base or course and upon which brick of a succeeding course are to be laid and transverse gauging members disposed over the prepared base or course and engaged with the longitudinal gauge members to secure the same in position, at least one of said transverse members being provided with means for gauging the distance between inner and outer bricks of rows of bricks to belaid to form the succeeding course.

2. Means for use in laying brick upon a base or previously laid course for the production of a wall or like structure comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinal gauge members disposed at opposite sides of the base or laid course with their upper edges projecting above the same to form abutment surfaces for and to gauge the level of a bed of mortar to be laid upon the prepared base or course and upon which brick of a succeeding course are to be laid, and inverted U- shaped transverse clamping and gau ing members disposed over the prepared base or course, each comprising a horizontal body portion and legs depending therefrom and each provided with clamping elements cooperating with its legs to engage the longitudinal gauge members and secure the same in position, at least one of said transverse members having a vertically disposed gauge for gauging the distance between inner and outer bricks of rows of bricks to be laid on the succeeding course.

3. Means for use in laying brick upon abase or previously laid course for the production of a wall or like structure comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinal gauge members disposed at opposite sides of the base or laid course with their upper edges projecting above the same to form abutment surfaces for and to gauge the level of a bed of mortar to be laid upon the prepared base or course and upon which brick of a succeeding course are to be laid, and transverse clamping and gauging members disposed over the prepared base or course between the longitudinal gauge members and provided with means to engage and secure said longitudinal gauge members in position and also provided with a gauge member set to gauge the distance between inner and outer bricks of rows of bricks of the succeeding course.

4. Means for use in laying brick upon a base or previously laid course of brickwork for the production of a wall or like structure comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinal gauge boards disposed at opposite sides of the base or laid course with their upper edges projectin above the same to form abutment surfaces for and to gauge the level of a bed of mortar to be laid upon the prepared base or course and upon which brick of a succeeding course are to be laid, means for adjustably suspending the boards from the laid brickwork, and U-shaped transverse clamping and gauging members disposed over the prepared base or course between the longitudinal gauge members and each including a horizontal body portion and vertical legs depending therefrom and provided with wedges extending downward through said body portion for cooperation with the legs to engage and secure said longitudinal gauge members in position and also inner and outer bricks of rows of bricks of the succeeding course.

5. A transverse gauge member for use in laying brick comprising an inverted U-shaped'unitary a mortar bed is to be laid.

6. A transverse gauge member for use in laying brick comprising an inverted U-shaped member including a horizontal transverse body portion and depending legs at the ends thereof, and clamping wedges on said member, one for cooperation with each leg, extendingdownward through the body portion on the inner sides of and adjacent to the legs.

7. A transverse gauge member for use in laying brick comprising an inverted U-shaped element having a horizontal transverse body portion and depending legs at the ends thereof, clamping elements extending downward through said member, one for cooperation with each leg, to clamp cooperating gauging member against opposite sides of a wall on which a mortar bed is to be laid, and a gauge member mounted on the body portion and extending downward therefrom between the legs for gauging the space between bricks of rows of bricks to be laid.

8. A transverse gauge member for use in laying brick comprising an inverted U-shaped member including a horizontal transverse body portion and depending legs at the ends thereof, means carried by said member .for cooperation with the legs to clamp. cooperating gauging members against opposite sides of a wall on which a mortar bed is to be laid, and a gauge member mounted on the body portion and extending downward therefrom between the legs for gauging the space between bricks of rows of bricks to be laid on the mortar bed.

9. A transverse gauge member for use in laying brick comprising an inverted U-shaped member having a horizontal transverse body portion and depending legs at the ends thereof, means carried by said member for cooperation with the legs to clamp cooperating gauging members against opposite sides of a wall on which a mortar bed is to be laid, and a gauge member carried by said member and disposed between the legs for gauging the space between bricks of rows of bricks to be laid on the mortar bed.

10. Means for use in laying brick upon a base or previously laid course for the production of a provided with a gauge member extending downward through the body portion at a point bewall or like structure comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinal gauge members disposed at opposite sides of the base or laid course with their upper edges projecting above the same to form abutment surfaces for and to gauge the level of a bed of mortar to be laid upon the prepared base or course and upon which brick of a succeeding course are to be laid, longitudinally.

spaced and transverse clamping and gauging members disposed over the prepared base or course and provided with depending legs and cooperating means for engaging and securing the longitudinal gauge members in position, and a auge member mounted on at least one of said transverse engaging and clamping members and disposed between its legs for gauging the space between bricks of rows of brickato be laid on the mortar bed.

11. Means for use in laying brick upon a base or previously laid course for the production of a wall or like structure comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinal gauge members disposed at opposite sides' of the base or laid course with their upper edges projecting above the same to form abutment surfaces for and to gauge the level of a bed of mortar to be laid upon the prepared base or course and upon which brick of a succeeding course are to be laid, and transverse clamping and gauging members disposed over the prepared base or course between the longitudinal gauge members and provided with legs and wedges coacting therewith to engage and secure said longitudinal gauge members in position-and also provided with a gauge member set to gauge the distance between inner; and

'outer bricks of rows of bricks of the succeeding succeeding course are to be laid, and transverseclamping .and gauging members disposed over ing brick comprising an inverted U-shaped uni tary. member including a horizontal transverse body portion and rigid depending legs at the ends thereof, said legs having inner inclined faces, and clamping wedges on said member extending downward through the body in contact with said'i'aces and adapted to. clamp cooperating gauging members against opposite sides of a wall on which a mortar bed isto be laid.

l4. Atr'ansverse gauge member for use in laying brick comprising -.an inverted U-shaped unitary member having a horizontal transverse body portion and rigid depending legs at the ends'thereof, said legs having inner inclined faces, clamping wedges extending downward through said member in contact with the inclined faces of the le s for clamping cooperating gauging members against opposite sides of a wall on which a mortar bed is to be laid, and a gauge member mounted on the body portion and extending downward therefrom between the legs for gaugthe prepared base or course between the lon ituing the space between bricks of rows otbricks to'be laid. 4 V

15. Means for use in laying brick upon a base or previously laid course for the production of a wall or like structure comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinal gauge members disposed at opposite sides 01' the base or laid course with their upper edges projecting above the same to form abutment surfaces for and to gauge the level of a bed of mortar to be laid upon the prepared baseor course and upon which brick of a succeeding course are to be laid, and transverse ,clamping and gauging members disposed over the prepared base or course and provided with depending legs, and clamping elements coacting with said legs to engage the longitudinal gauge members and secure the same in position.

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