An outside view of the end bent of the superstructure and an end view of all the basement bents are shown in [Fig. 3] of the illustrations. The braces in the basement are permitted to extend up and between the sills of the superstructure, thus binding both basement and superstructure into one solid frame work. In the interior of the basement, where long braces will not interfere with the arrangement or convenience, they are to be preferred to short ones, but where short braces are necessary they are inserted in such a manner as to give greater strength than when mortised in as is usually done.
Fig. 7.—Detail at Peak of Barn.—Scale, ½ Inch to the Foot.
A side view of the frame, which is of such a character as to fully explain itself, is presented in [Fig. 4]. The plate is made of two 2 × 8 plank spiked together to form a trough and inverted over the tops of the posts. The manner of constructing the bents of the basement is indicated in [Fig. 5]. If the posts can stand on solid pillars of stone no sills are necessary, and the fillers extend down to the lower ends of the posts and up to the joist bearers. A side view of the purlin plates, which are made of two 2 × 8 or 2 × 10 plank with a 2-inch space between them, is shown in [Fig. 6]. The coupling or splicing block extends either way from the roof support a to the dotted lines b b. At c is represented a sectional view of the sub-support, to which the stays d d are secured, and also the lower end of the braces e e. This arrangement gives sufficient strength to the purlin plates to sustain a slate or any other roof desired. [Fig. 7] shows the manner in which the peak of the arch is constructed. The roof supports, which are usually of 2 × 8, are indicated by A A. The sub-supports, usually of 2 × 6 plank, are indicated by B B, while the dotted lines represent the collar beams, C, constructed of 2 × 12 inch plank, there being one on either side and bound together by ½-inch carriage bolts 6½ inches in length, their position being indicated by the small crosses.
Fig. 8.—Detail Showing Construction of Posts in End Bent of [Fig. 3].
Fig. 9—Sectional View of Plate.
Three posts of the end bent, shown in [Fig. 3], are constructed of two 2 × 8 plank, one 2 × 4 and one 3 × 6, all as indicated by the cross section in [Fig. 8] of the engravings.
