Patents of Interest to Builders

Progress, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 1 February 1918, Page 140

Patents of Interest to Builders

Concrete Building Block. —A patent No. 37,900 has been taken out by May Isbester and A. G. Isbester, builder, of Palmerston North, for a concrete building block. The block is made hollow with the exception of the ends and a central web. This construction forms two cavities passing vertically through the block. The upper edge is made with a rebate into which a tongue upon the lower edge of the superimposed

block enters. A comparatively wide central tongue upon the lower edge of the block enters a groove in the upper edge of the block, the horizontal joint thus formed being completed with cement. The vertical joints are formed as follows: The central tongue projects from one vertical edge of the block, and is adapted to pass into a groove in the opposite vertical edge of the next adjacent block. A circular hole is provided in the tongue end of the block in order to allow a vertical reinforcing-rod to pass upwards through the joint. This vertical rod passes through a hole fc>rmed in the central web of the blocks above and below the joint. The surfaces of the vertical joint butt one against the other, and are pro-

vided with grooves which are adapted to be filled with cement in order to form a stronger joint. The inner sides of the blocks may be finished smooth so as to receive papc»r, distemper, or other inside finish, or they may be formed with grooves in order to form a key for plaster. Concrete Mixer. —A patent, No. 39,511), has been taken out by Eric Whitcombe, farmer, of Eketaluma, for the concrete mixer illustrated. According to this invention, the barrel or the like is rotated on a spindle suitably attached to the closed end

thereof. This spindle is mounted in a U-shaped frame, and the barrel may be revolved by suitable means, such as a bevel-wheel on the spindle, suitably driven f.rom any available source of power. Towards the front of the U-shaped frame is a band provided with pulleys, preferably recessed along their ■circumference, and within the recesses another band fixed around the periphery of the barrel will run. Such other band will preferably be made semicircular in section, and will form a track for the pulleys. The U-shaped frame is provided with trunnions, which support it on suitable apparatus. By operating the U-shaped frame the barrel may be tilted.

Building Stone or Block. A patent, No. 38,072, has been taken out by E. E. Larson, of Sweden, for a building block. It relates to T-shaped building-stones, and consists of a stem adapted to fit into the space between every other stone when

the terminal edges 3, 4 of the cross-parts 1 are contiguous, and an additional cross-part 5 corresponding to and directly adjoining the first-named cross-part 1. The said cross-parts and stem may have oblique surfaces, forming acute angles between them. Other features are contained in invention. Window Construction. A patent, No. 4,852, has been taken out by Julia H. and J. E. Crook, of New Zealand. The patent is designed to enable a window to be swung into a room for cleaning or painting without preventing its normal operation, each sash is hinged at one side of the window, the

hinges 8 having on their inner ends runners 7 adapted to slide in vertical guides 6 recessed into the window stile 1. Separate outer stops and parting slips are avoided and inner stops 5 ace hinged to open inwards. The sashes are raised and lowered either by weights provided at the hinged side only, or by two screwed rods 9 recessed into the stile on the hinge side and engaging internally threaded bosses 15 on the inner ends of the hinges. The sashes are raised or lowered by the operation of a crank handle with a sliding spindle having a pair of grooves adapted to be engaged by a pawl 16 to keep the wheel 14 in engagement with either of the wheels 11 meshing with pinions 10 mounted on the rods 9. For casement windows double-knuckled hinges ■ are secured to top and bottom rails and are fastened by thumbscrews. Preserving Timber.—A patent, No. 4,886, has been taken out by T. M. Gates, of Victoria, for preserving timber by immersing first of all in cold water, which is then heated to boiling point, and sodium carbonate, with milk of lime or with chloride of lime, is added. The timber is then washed in cold water, which is brought to the boiling point, and milk of lime is added, after which the timber is dried.