US1891724A - Masonry joint - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1932. P. c. OLSEN 1,891,724

MASONRY JOINT Filed May 23, 1930 IN V EN TOR.

PETER c. OLSEJ}! ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v PETER C. OLSEN, OF PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERAL SEABOARD TERRA GOTTA CORPORATION, JERSEY OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW MASONRY JOINT Application filed May 23,

This invention relates to exterior terra cotta wall construction exposed to all conditions of weather, more particularly sills, copings, spandrels, cornices and other architectural features embodied in a wall. Terra cotta is manufactured in blocks from clay and coated with a glaze or impervious surface that will repel water. Consequently the only portions in a terra cotta construction not so protected against rain penetration are the joints between the blocks. It frequently happens that the cement mortar mixtures used in a joint is faulty or the mortar may be improperly applied and as a consequence the joint fails to prevent entrance of water. This failure of the oints constitutes a serious defect in terra cotta construction, for seepage through the joints results in corrosion of the iron supporting structure or may cause damage to the interior plastering.

The present invention insures against leakage or seepage through faulty joints. It consists in providing a joint with a seepage bar extending from one block to an adjacent block and preferably disposed in such a manner that any water which may penetrate as far as the bar drains back to the exterior. The bar is sealed or anchored to each adjacent block by providing a groove in each block into which the bar extends and the bar is secured in place by a filling of cement or other suitable mortar. The bar may be of any suitable material as metal or metal composition but galvanized sheet iron has been found satisfactory for the purpose.

For a better and more complete understanding of the invention attention is directed to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of a spandrel composed of terra cotta blocks;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The spandrel portion selected for illustrat ing the invention comprises the sill blocks 11, 12, header blocks 13, 14 and intermediate blocks 15. 16. The contiguous edges 17, 18 of a pair of blocks are provided with grooves 19, 20. A seepage bar 21 of galvanized iron or 1930. Serial No. 454,970.

other suitable material extends into each of these grooves. The bar is held in place and a tight ointsecured by filling the remaining.

space in the grooves by cement mortar 22. In practice it is preferred to anchor the bar to one of the blocks by mortar before assembling and apply mortar to the other groove and the joint between the blocks when the blocks are placed in position.

The grooves and bars can be disposed in q any suitable manner but a. function in addition to that of preventing ingress of moisture through the joint is obtained by so locating them that a lower end is disposed forward of an upper end; this causes any water that may penetrate to a bar-to be carried outward to the exterior in its seepage down the bar and thereby protects aswell the underlying horizontal joint betweencourses. ment is illustrated in Fig. 2.

WVhile the invention is here specifically disclosed with relation to terra cotta, it finds application to other masonry construction such as cast concrete, cast stone, stone, etc.

I claim:

1. A Wall construction comprising adj a- The arrangecently disposed blocks of terra cotta, a groove 7 in each of the contiguous vertical faces ofsaid blocks, said grooves being in substantial alignment and inclined with respect to the exterior exposed faces of the blocks, a metallic bar extending into each of said grooves, and means for sealing the bar in each

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