Patents of Interest to Builders

Progress, Volume XIII, Issue 10, 1 June 1918, Page 234

Patents of Interest to Builders

Skylight.—A patent, No. 39572, lias been taken out by Herbert Smart, of Young Street, New Plymouth, which consists in providing the opening-frame with a lever or lever? extending beyond its pivot, to which a weight or weights are

attached that serve to counterbalance the weight of the frame. This weighted counter-balance will thus allow of the skylight being opened by any of the ordinary appliances, with great facility, and will also serve to maintain it at any position to which it may be raised. Door Holder. —A patent, No. 39,301, has been taken out by E. Heffernan, Sydney. This invention relates to holders

cf the friction-grip type for retaining hinged doors in open or partly open position or in closed position as may be re-

quired, and for braking the movement of such doors, thereby to prevent “slamming.” It consists essentially in a curved tongue attached to the door-frame and a friction-grip device attached to the door and engaging the curved tongue. Alternatively, the tongue may be attached to the door, in which case the friction-grip device through which the tongue works is attached to the door-frame. Roofing Tiles, etc., Moulding Machine.— A patent, No. 39665, has been taken out by O. J. Oakley, of Brunswick, and E. C. Hughes, of North Fitzroy, Victoria. This invention relates to those machines which compress clay or other plastic or pliable material to form roofing-tiles or other articles. The object of the invention is to provide a machine which will compress the material between two oscillatory moulds, and, in the case of tilemaking, form a hole through a lug which projects from the lower face of the tile for wiring

it to a roof, and also cut off the excess clay which exudes from between the meeting surfaces of the two moulds. The machine also transfers the moulded article to a conveyer, which carries it away for drying, seasoning, or other purposes. The invention, comprises a series of oscillatory moulds mounted on the circumference of upper and lower supportingwheels, and adapted to be oscillated so that the faces of corresponding upper and lower moulds are disposed parallel to each other for a predetermined period, during which the compression of the article takes place. Cement Tile.—A patent, No. 4360, has been taken oul by A. Emsiedel, Victoria, for a tile for low pitched roofs or walls, which has flutings b on the upper face to distribute the rain-water evenly, and further flutings on the lower face to provide ■ventilation to the interior of the roof. The tile

is thickened at the lower end, thus providing additional weight to prevent the base being lifted by the wind, while wire fasteners and reinforcements may be embedded in the cement. Modified designs are adapted for ridge and abutting sections, and for starters at the eaves. Piers, Concrete Jetties, etc., erected in Water.— A patent, No. 37378, has been taken out by C. F. Pulley, of Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, which comprises hollow caissons made of concrete, and having vertical keys and keyways upon their exteriors and interlocking with each other, the caissons being filled with concrete after the same have been placed in

position. A cap of solid concrete may be employed, extending over the top of the caissons and keyed to the same. The caissons may be divided into compartments by partitions with or without holes through which reinforcing-rods are

passed, the caissons being nearly filled with concrete after the same have been placed in position, and a cap of solid concrete extending over the top of the caissons and keyed to the same. Other features are contained in invention.