US313971A - Fire-proof composite roof - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

T. H. WHITE.

FIRE PROOF COMPOSITE ROOF.

No. 313,971. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1885.

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THOMAS H. \VHIT-E, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FiRE-PROOF COMPOSITE ROOF.

.ZPESIFILATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,971, dated March 1'7, 1885.

Application filed January 12, 15395.- (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FireProof Com posite Roofs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, having reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part" they are secure from any danger of creeping or sliding on or from their bed.- Italso is designed to obviate the difficulty that has long been experiencediu concrete, bituminous, and

other forms of composite roofs arising from the alternate expansion and contraction of the material of which the bed-layers are composed, (from change of temperature) which thereby moves the superimposed or wearinglayer and the parts or sections of which it is composed, which, especially in sloping or pitch roofs, are not apt to return to their previous positions. So, also, in another class of superimposed layers for concrete or composite roofs, in which the wearing-surface is composedof gravel concreted with asphalt, bitumen, pitch, 830., itis a well-known fact that in consequence of expansion and contraction the gravel by these often recurring reactionary-forces becomes loosened from the bituminous or other adhesive ingredients, and also in the act of displacement and separation breaks off portions of the cement that once held it in position, and so the waste continues, and each recurring shower washes loosened material into the evetroughing, preventing the free passage of the water. Also, in many cases where (in hopes of overcoming the latter difficulty) slate, tile, brick, &c., have been used as an auxiliary layer or taken the place of the concrete from the alternating causes above noted, they have soon commenced to sag and tilt, and thus present an uneven surface to the weather, retarding the escape of the water from the roof instead of facilitating its passage. To obviate these various difficulties and to secure a roof Be 1t known that I, THOMAS H. XVI-UTE, of,

that shall continue intact alike under the infiuence of heat and frost, is the intention of this invention.

My invention consists in the use of copper or other metallic band or wire clamps that, passing through prepared slots and holes in adjoining slates or other equivalent material constituing the superimposed or wearing layer of a composite roof, securely holds the same with asmooth and even surface to the weather, whatever may be the expansion or contraction from change of temperature in the bed-layers beneath.

My invention also consists in laying the slate orits equivalent in ashallow bed-layerof warm plastic pitch or other bituminous material, thus avoiding the necessity of heating the slate to enable it to embed itself in the layer beneath. It is a well-known fact that slate when heated to a high temperature loses its integrity, and soon scales and breaks.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a detail top view showing the difi'erent layers or sections of the roof and the method of securing the slates of my composite roof. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the method of securing the slates in position. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is adetail transverse section at the peak or ridge of the roof, showingthe ridge straps or clamps and their attachment to secure the opposite sides of the root in counterpoise.

A represents the sheathing-boards that sup port the roof, which are preferably notjointed, thus providing an opportunity for the felt, with its bituminous interlayers, to key itself betweeen the interstices of adjoining boards, thus forming a rigid connection with the sheathing-boards below.

B represents two or more layers of roofing felt or paper, cemented together with tar, pitch, or other suitable bituminous material. The roofing-felt is so placed as to break joints in its layers. I

G designates the bed-layer,of pitch or other bituminous material, on which the superimposed laycr of slates D are placed and embed ded while the bed is warm and plastic. By

this method the necessity of heating the slate, so as to enable it to bed itself, and the consequent loss of integrity in the slate itself, is avoided.

E and E are slotted apertures and holes in adjoining slates, in which the band-clamps F and wire clamps F engage and secure the slates in position with asmooth and even wear ing-surface and presentation to wind and weather. It will be seen that by this novel method of fastening the slates the permanence of a level lay is secured, as it is impossible for any of them to get out of position; so, also, for the same reason,a very thin bed-layer alone is needed beneath them, which, also, is agreat advantage, for, in the'first place, the thin bed has not so great a power of expansion and contraction to strain the superimposed layer of slate above it; and, secondly, there is a great saving ofmaterial and consequent advantage in reduction of weight. This last is an advantage readily appreciated by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, who have a knowledge of the strong supports required to sustain a heavy concrete or composite roof.

G is a cant-strip at the eaves, rising just flush with the surface of the bituminous or bed layer, keeping it from overflowing its bounds in the course of construction and from waste afterward. The cant-strip also supports the weight of the overhanging slates at the eaves, so that however much the bituminous cement may be softened by heat the slates cannot unduly press thereon. The cant-strip also forms a ready means of attachment for the eaves-troughing, into which the slates empty.

H are staples that, passing through holes H in adjoining slates at the eaves, fasten into the cant-strip G, and serve the double purpose of holding the slates down to their place at the caves, and supporting the root from a tendency to creep or slide, especially when its bed-layer is softened by heat.

I represents metallic strap'clamps, for use in double pitch roofs. These clamps are somewhat similar but heavier than those that connect the individual slates. They pass through and engage in slotted apertures I in the upper tier or ridge slates connecting the corresponding sides of the roof and holding them in counterpoise with each other.

The aforesaid strap-clamp I and staples H are of especial use when the invention is applied to sloping and double-pitch roofs. Nails may also be used as additional security for attaching at the ridge of pitch-roofs.

The slotted and other apertures, as also the heads of the clamps, &c., are covered smoothly over with asbestus cement, or its equivalent.

This invention, unlike most other composite roofs, is alike suitable for application to both flat and pitch roofs. It is also, from its lightness and peculiar attachmentof the slates, especially adapted for a renewal roof, it being of easy and secure application to cover and entirely hide the shingle and other old roofs.

I claim as my invention 1. In a composite roof, the method herein described of connecting the adjoining edges of the slates D by clamps that engage in apertures formed in the slates forming the superimposed layer of a composite roof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a composite roof, the combination of the sheathing-boards A, two or more layers of roofing felt or paper, B, dressed with tar or other suitable bituminous material, pitch, or bituminous bed-layer O, with the slotted slates and clamps by which they are attached, all substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a composite roof, the combination of slates secured by clamps, cant-strip G, and staples H, passing through the slates into the cant-strip, all substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a composite roof, the combination of the sheathingboards, roofing felt or paper, pitch, or other bituminous bed-layer, and superimposed layer of slate,and attaching clamps and staples, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a composite roof, the combination of the slates secured by clamps,-and the straps or clamps I, extending over the peak or ridge of the roof, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. A composite roofcomposed of the sheathing-boards, rooting-felt.bituminous bed-layer, cant-strip, perforate slates, clamps, staples, and asbestus-cement, all combined substan tially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS II. WHITE.

In presence of- GEO. H. KNIGHT, SAML. KNIGHT.

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