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206,332 · Hyatt · "Improvement in the Application of Cements, Clays, Metals and Glass in forming Illuminated or Other Gratings, Vault-Covers, Roofs, &c."· Page 5 Home  > Prism Glass  > Patent Index  > Page 5

206,332: 5 of 14

foregoing, and designed for the same purposes as to illumination, ornamentation, safe walking, and fireproofing; but in place of employing molded and cast-metal gratings as the core or tie-metal portion of the structures, I adopt the cheaper method of extemporizing the metal cores from hoop-iron threaded upon wires or thin blades of metal placed edgewise and halved together, or hoop-iron studded with pins or stops, and laid flatwise in the concrete to serve as tie-metal.     Fig. 21 represents a concrete illuminating-slab six feet long, fourteen inches wide, and two and one-fourth inches thick. The glasses A, which are two and one-fourth inches square, are set at three and one-half inches from center. The tensional strength of the slab, and also, in part, its compressile strength, is due to five blades of metal, n, each one and one-fourth deep by three-sixteenths thick, threaded upon wires n', three and one-half inches apart, as represented by the drawing. The slab which this drawing represents supported thirty hundred-weight, or six hundred pounds to the square foot, superficial, with a deflection of but one inch, and regained its level on the removal of the load, the concrete not being cracked nor a glass broken. The value of illuminating-constructions of this character as a building material for sustaining load, withstanding burglars, and resisting fire may hence be inferred.     Another part of my invention consists in a new construction of illuminating and non-illuminating coal-hole plates and coal-hole slabs to receive the plates or vault-covers, the invention being represented by Figs. 22, 23, 24, and 25, the invention as to the vault-covers II, Figs. 22, 23, 24, consisting in making them of concrete within an encircling and protecting metal band, I, to prevent the edges of the coal-hole plate from becoming broken or spalled in the frequent removals to which such covers are subject in use; and the invention as to the coal-hole slab consists in protecting the mouth of the hole with a belt or lining, I', of iron, to protect it from injury, and to also at the same time furnish a seat or rabbet for the cover II to rest in.     Fig. 22 represents a cover formed with tie-metals n and set with glasses A; Fig. 23, the same with no metals; and Fig. 24, a concrete cover with a metal-protected rim.     Another part of my invention, and which relates to the construction of slabs for the flagging of sidewalks and other public thoroughfares, is represented by Fig. 26; and consists in the employment of a double set of flat ties, as shown, one set, n', lying in one direction across the slab, and the other set, n'', lying at right angles thereto, the pins or stops n''' running through the two layers of metal at the angles where they cross each other. The object of this construction is to produce the strongest slab of least thickness, and to make them of equal cross strength upon all sides.

Figs. 27 and 27' represent a slab of similar construction, but of double thickness. The purpose of this construction is to make a slab equally strong however laid, whether upon one face or the other, the ties being placed midway between the two faces, as shown.     Another part of my invention relates to the method of forming walking-surfaces or pavements, as to laying the flags or slabs. Ordinarily they are laid directly upon the earth, the consequence of which is a wealth of unevenness and an unlimited amount of discomfort to pedestrians.     My invention, to secure a permanently even and level foot-pavement at moderate cost, consists in laying the slabs upon beams or bearers, the same being made permanently level by resting the bearing ends upon suitable piers or dwarf-walls established upon foundations laid below the frost. Fig. 28 represents this part of my invention. K represents the main beams; L, cross-beams interlocked with the main beams by the enlarged heads. The dotted lines K' represent the piers on which the main beams rest. o represents rabbets in the beams, to form a seat for receiving the slabs.     Another part of my invention relates to an entirely new and very novel application of hydraulic cements combined with metal.     The power of the magnesian or Sorel cement as a matrix has been well set forth in "Gillmore on Artificial Stone"-- as small an amount as five per cent. of the cement having in some cases proved sufficient to make hard stone with its aggregates. A still more valuable feature of this species of hydraulic cement is its ability to combine with aggregates in the condition of dust or powder, whereas dust impoverishes Portland cement.     My invention, taking advantage of these qualities of the Sorel cement, utilizes them for making open-work constructions, such as guards, gratings, railings, and the like, and some solid constructions, such as newels, hand-rails, window sashes, and frames, and other surfaces, it being possible, by this method of construction, to produce work equaling in beauty carved marbles in white and variegated colors. A part of my invention consists in applying this method of construction to furniture-manufacture and objects of art, the same to be made the subject of another patent.     A part of my invention consists in the employment of the Sorel cement as a facing upon Portland or equivalent hydraulic cement.     Fig. 29 represents a concrete open grating, designed as a walking-surface for durability and safety. In this construction the blades of metal, n, are threaded upon the wires n', and then incased within the concrete H, Z being the apertures or open spaces for ventilation or otherwise. These gratings I propose to make of Portland cement, magnesian, or a combination of both, as already mentioned.