US1885343A - Metallic lath construction - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1932. G. 5. GREULICH METALLIC LATH CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snow foe G. G. GREULICH METALLIC LATH CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1. 1929' 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2- dew/"Lew Patented Nov. 1, 1932 GERALD G. GREULICH,

PATENT OFFICE OF CLEVELAND, OHIO METALLIC LATE CONSTRUCTION Application filed June 1, 1929. Serial No. 367,644.

This invention relates to metallic lath and particularly to that form which is known as expanded metal lath. Such lath has been widely used as a form for concrete or other plastic material, and as a reinforcing medium in the construction of floors, roofs, and walls. The lath is usually made in sections of a size convenient to handle, and in general comprises ribbed portions and intervening expanded portions. It is intended to act as a form for the concrete until it sets or hardens, and then it is intended to function as a reinforcing medium. 7

From the viewpoint of the contractor this material is convenient to handle and store, but it is objectionable, as it allows water and materials to drip through, thus materially weakening the concrete. This wastage has been so pronounced that to assure the construction, for example, of a two inch slab, it has been necessary to use quantities of materials which would normally be suflicient for a two and one half inch slab. It is obvious that apart from the wasta. e it has been necessary to clean the floors be ow from the accumulation of drippings.

To overcome these difficulties, there is now being used a woven wire reinforcin material with a paper backing, but as th1s material is manufactured and shipped to the job in roll form considerable floor space must be cleared before it can be effectively used.

Furthermore, it must be placed under tension, and for economic reasons, this is best obtained by stretching the wires in relatively long strips and then fastening them securely into place. Expanded metal lath on the other hand need not be stretched, and can be handled and stored in convenient lengths ofapproximately 2 ft. x 8 ft., thus enabling the contractor to follow up the work of the other building trades progressively.

From the viewpoint of the architect or engineer, the expanded metal lathis objectionable, as it rusts within a relatively short time, and hence loses its effectiveness as a reinforcing medium. The rusting results by reason of the fact thatthe under surface as applied to floor slabs is exposed to the atmosphere, notwithstanding the fact that the lath is painted before it is shipped from the factory. To overcome this handicap and yet to obtain the advantages inherent in the use of expanded metal lath, it has been customary to use additional reinforcing members above not easily adapted for production work. Fur- 4 thermore, the pierced paper is apt to allow seepage of water and material therethrough. An object of mv invention is to preserve all of the advantages inherent in the use of expanded metal lath, and at the same time to overcome the objections which have been heretofore pointed out. In this connection, my invention contemplates a construction which includes the use of a backing sheet, together with provision for attaching the sheet to the metal in such manner as to avoid the necessity for piercing the sheet at any point, and yet to provide an attachment which is well adapted for quantity production. A further object of my invention is to provide a construction which obviates the necessity of painting to resist rust, thus reducing the cost of manufacture and eliminating a fire hazard in connection therewith. Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a section through a floor slab which is reinforced with expanded metal lath embodying the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View showing means for connecting adjacent sections of lath; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale through one of the ribs Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the use of a wheel for forcing the backing material into the rib; Fig. 5 is a section showing the step of pressing the walls of the ribs together; Fig. 6 is a section through the ribs showing the completed operation; Fig. 7 1s a sectional view through the ribs showing a modified arrangement for fastening the pa- 1 cent sections.

per to the rib, and Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 2. p

The reinforcing material on which I have shown my invention may comprise the usual lath having expanded mesh portions 10, which are separated by rib portions 11 in the usual way. The rib extending along one side of each section has a flange portion 12 while that on the other side has a flange portion 13 which extends throughout the length of the section. The flange 13 of one sheet overlaps the flange 12 of an adjacent sheet, and in effect, provides an interlock between adj a- My invention is concerned with a backing sheet for the lath particularly for the expanded portion to prevent material from seeping through before the slab has set. My invention also contemplates a method of manufacture which will permit such backing sheet to be attached to the lath without materially increasing the cost and without interfering with the normal use of the lath as a reinforcing medium.

The backing sheet which I employ is indicated at 15 as extending entirely across one face of the length and as being attached thereto at the ribbed portions. The backing ma- I terial preferably comprises heavy waterproof paper which extends substantially throughout the length of the section and entirely across from one side to the other. The paper may be tucked into the ribs and a strip of twine constituting a filler strip may be imbedded into the fold, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 7, the paper is shown as being crimped within the rib as at 21. This obviates the necessity for the use of an interlocking cord, and yet protects the metal from exposure to the elements.

The use of paper as a backing material for expanded metal lath as embodied in my invention is extremely practical, as it can be readily fastened to the lath in a simple and expeditious manner. For example; Fig. 3 shows the rib without the paper in place; Fig. 4 shows the paper with a strip of twine being pressed simultaneously with the paper into a rib by a roller 25. This action may be immediately followed by a crimpinEoperation, as shown in Fig. 5. In such figure, the rib is passed between two cooperating rolls 26, which crimp the rib and paper to the desired degree. The finished form is shown at Fig. 6.

To facilitate the joining of sections in a lengthwise direction, the ribs at one end of each section are left open for a short distance, as at so as to fit over the ribs of an adjacent section. The paper preferably terminates short of the end having the open ribs, as shown at 27, but terminates substantially flush with the other end at 28. Thus, there is a slight overlapping of the paper at the j unction of adjacent sections, and the extent of such overlapping may be modifiedto suit the consistency of the material on which the reinforcement is being used.

From the foregoing description, it'is evident that my invention provides a metallic lath which-is well adapted for manufacture on a production basis without resulting in a material increase in cost. It is also evident that my invention obviates the necessity for the use of extra reinforcing material, as the large size mesh allows concrete to pass through the lath while the water-proof paper backing sheet holds the concrete which has so passed through the lath until it has set. This protects the metal from exposure to the elements on the under surface thereof, thus enabling the expanded portion to serve as an efiective reinforcement. The upper surface, being imbedded in the concrete,,is adequately protected and hence it is not necessary to paint the lath as has heretofore been the practice. This not only results in a material saving incost but also in a reduction of the fire hazard which is present in the paint shops in which the lath has been coated.

A further advantage which is attained by the use of my invention is the fact that a relatively large size mesh may be utilized, thus effecting a saving in weight of metal used for reinforcing a given area.

I claim:

1. In combination, a section of expanded metal lath having ribbed portions and intervening expanded integral portions, a fibrous backing sheet therefor, and means including a filler strip for fastening the sheet to the section at the ribbed portions thereof without piercing the sheet in that portion which is adapted to contact with the material to be reinforced, said sheet being free from the section adjacent the expanded portions.

2. In combination, a plurality of expanded metal lath sections, each having parallel ribs and intervening expanded portions, a fibrous backing sheet for each section, each of said sheets having portions thereof extending into some of the ribs andthe ribs having restricted portions to hold the material therein, there being portions of the ribs adjacent one end .of each section being unrestricted, whereby they may overlap the restricted portions .of

the ribs on the end of an adjacent section,

and said material terminating beneath the unrestricted portion whereby the backing sheet of one section overlaps that of an adjacent section.

3 A method of making a reinforcing material, comprising taking a ribbed expanded metallic section, layinga sheet of paper upon the section and across the rib openings, placing a filler member upon the paper and over one of the ribs, simultaneously forcing the filler member and part of the paper into the rib and then crimping the rib against the paper to close the opening, and to hold the sheet 7 against the section without piercing the paper, in that portion which contacts with the material to be reinforced.

4. An expanded metal lath having ribbed portions extending from one side thereof and expanded integral portions, of a fibrous load bearing backing sheet therefor secured to the lath on the side opposite to the ribs by means of the walls of the ribbed portions without piercing the sheet at that portion which is adapted to contact with the material to be reinforced.

5. In combination a section of expanded.

metal lath having spaced ribs and integral expanded portions, and a load bearing backing sheet therefor on the side opposite to the ribs, said paper being bent inwardly toward the lath and fastened thereto at spaced intervals by means of the walls of the ribs without piercing the paper in that portion which is adapted to contact with the reinforced.

6. In combination a section of expanded metal lath having open sided ribs and intervening integral expanded portions, a fibrous material to be load bearing backing sheet therefor on the opposite side from the ribs having its side 7 I edges lying within the open sided ribs, said a signature.

GERALD G. GREULICH.

Images