Improved Means for Detaching Sashes from Window Frames and Raising and Lowering the same without Weights.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Detaching Sashes from Window Frames and
Raising and Lowering the same without Weights.
FRANCIS PODGER 12 Oakley Crescent Chelsea, London S.W. Engineer - do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention consists in two metal carriages or boxes containing in each one reel,
metal or otherwise, two cog wheels, two driving wheels & two loose pulleys..
These carriages are fixed one in each side of the top of window frame to lintel or
otherwise & covered with a false head as hereinafter described.
These carriages or boxes contain the whole of the lifting appliances for raising
& lowering the sashes composed of a wood or metal reel with a flange on each
end & one in centre to which reel is fastened between the flanges the ends of
sash cords or chains on which they wind when they are being raised & unwind
when being lowered.
The cord or chain runs over a loose pulley in each box alternately so that they
lift directly perpendicular over the sash.
The end of cord or chain is taken down & rove through a small pulley block,
the end is taken up & fastened above the false head so that each corner of the sash
is raised by a loop. These blocks are made detachable at top corners of sashes.
These blocks when unhooked release the sashes from all connection with the gear
overhead. The stock bead is fastened to the frame cut a little above the top of
bottom sash, the top piece fastened in the ordinary way. The lower piece hinged
to frame. The parting bead cut as before with an airtight joint. The top piece
fixed. The lower piece made to come in & out.
The reels are propelled by a cog wheel fastened on the same shaft into which is
geared a small one, on the shaft of which is fastened a driving wheel over which the
pulley cord is passed, & coming through the false head is rove in an ordinary cord
pulley as with blinds but roved through a patent cord fastener to act as check:
Dated this 17th day of February 1891.
FRANCIS PODGER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Detaching Sashes from Window Frames and
Raising and Lowering the same without Weights.
I, FRANCIS PODGER, of 12, Oakley Crescent, Chelsea, London, S.W., Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
My invention has for its object, to construct sash windows without balance
weights in such a manner, that each of the sashes can be raised and lowered by
pulling a cord, like those of window blinds, that when left more or less open, the
sashes remain in the desired position and cannot be moved from outside, and that
they can be rapidly taken out for cleaning, or for repairs.
In the following description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings,
of which

page_text: t
1
Fig. 5 is a corresponding horizontal section above the sashes, so as to show the
lifting mechanism.
Figs. 6, 7, 8 & 9 are details of the lifting mechanism on a larger scale.
Figs. 10 to 14 represent modifications.
Corresponding parts on the right and left side of the window are distinguished
by indexes.
The principal parts of the lifting mechanism are held in a pair of boxes or
housings D, D', situated in or near the upper corners of the window frame. Each
housing D, or D', supports the ends of an axle d (or d'), on which is fixed a
double reel or drum EF (or E' F¹), or a pair of drums, and a spur wheel H (or H')
and which also carries a loose guide pulley G (G¹).
To the circumference of the reel E is fixed the upper end of a flat chain I
attached at its lower end to the nearest corner of the upper sash, in such a manner,
that it can be rapidly detached, for instance by means of a metal plate b sunk into
a recess of the sash frame B, and provided with perforations i for introducing the
hook of the cord I, as shown by Fig. 9; and to the circumference of the reel F
is fixed the upper end of a flat chain J extending horizontally, or almost horizontally,
to the opposite corner of the window and running over the guide pulley G¹ down
to the nearest corner of the upper sash, where it is attached in the same manner,
as shown by Fig. 9. The ends of the chain I, J, are fixed to their respective
drums E and F in the same sense, that is to say, so that by turning the double reel,
the two chains are either wound or unwound simultaneously and at the same speed,
and the position of the axles d and din relation to the sash corners is such, that
the lower parts of the chains I J (I¹ J¹) deviate as little as possible from the
vertical position, from the time the reel is empty to the time the recl full.
In a similar manner, the reels E' and F' serve to lift the lower sash by means of
the chains I and J', the chain I' being fixed at its upper end to the reel E¹ and
extending vertically down to the nearest corner of the lower sash which is suspended
from the said chain, while the chain J' is fixed with its upper end to the reel FI
and then carried over to the opposite side of the window, to be guided over the
loose pulley G, from which the chain extends downward to the corresponding
corner of the lower sash.
As shown by Fig. 4, the boxes D, D¹, are made of such a shape and size, that
they can be easily fixed to the window frame and then covered by a false head C³,
which is perforated for the passage of the chains I, J, I', J.
For turning the axles dd, and thereby lowering or raising the sashes, I employ
a pair of endless cords or chains M, M', situated on the right and left sides of the
window, in front of the window casing, as shown by Figs. 1 and. 4, each cord
passing at the top over a pulley L (or L¹) mounted on an axle k which passes
through the housing D (D¹) and carries in the interior of the same a toothed
pinion K (K) gearing with the spur wheel H (H¹) mentioned above.
If a chain is employed, it may be covered with india-rubber or other flexible
material, to provide a better grip for the hand.
The lower part of the cord passes over a small pulley held by an ordinary tension
regulator, consisting of a screw spindle, a screw nut and a bracket attached to the
window frame, as shown by Fig. 4.
The stock-bead at the side of the window-frame is made of two lengths, as shown
by Fig. 4, the lower part O extending a short distance above the top of the bottom
sash, and being hinged to the window frame, so that it can be turned out into the
position shown in Fig. 4 by dotted lines, while the upper part P is fixed to the
window frame in the ordinary way. The parting bead is likewise cut into two
lengths a little above the top of the bottom sash, so as to form an oblique air-tight
joint Q, shown by Fig. 4. The lower piece of the parting bead is loose, so that it
can be taken out, while the top piece is fixed as usual. For taking the sashes out
of the window, the ends of the chains I J (I' J¹) are detached from the sashes, the
lower stock beads are turned on their hinges, so as to occupy the position shown by
dotted lines, after which the lower sash can be taken out; subsequently the lower

page_text: parting beads are taken out, after which the upper sash can be removed through the
lower half of the window.
In the modified construction represented by Figs. 10 to 13, the flat chains I J (I'J¹)
are not attached to the sashes, but are guided through pulley blocks, RR, attached
to the sashes and then led upward over loose pulleys S, S', mounted on the axles k k¹
mentioned above, and the free end of each chain carries a small weight T, to keep
.the chain in tension.
Figs. 12 & 13 show a means of attaching a pulley block to the sash frames A
and B, so that it can be easily fixed and removed. It consists of an angle plate U
provided at the top with a slot u leading to a cavity underneath the plate.
The T shaped lower end of the block R is introduced through the slot u and then
turned at a right angle into the position shown by the drawings.
Fig. 14 indicates another way of setting in motion the cord M, instead of moving
it by hand. The cord runs over a pulley, on the axle of which is mounted a
ratchet wheel and a crank.
Instead of suspending the sashes from flat chains, they may be suspended from
ropes or belts.
Instead of leading the chains 1 I', from the corner of the sash directly to the
drum, each of them may be led from the sash up to a guide pulley, and then to the
drum.
Instead of smooth drums or reels for winding up the chains, I may employ
suitable chain wheels, which grip and propel the chain like the driving chain of
velocipedes, in which case the free end of each chain may be guided over a pulley
into a suitable recess of the window frame; also instead of using two spurwheels for
transmitting motion from the axle of the cord pulley L to the axle of the drums,
I may use three tooth wheels; nor is it absolutely necessary, that the two drums,
which control the two sides of the same sash and are coupled together, should be
made in one piece or fixed on the same axle, but as far as I know, the arrangements
described and shown are more advantageous than any others that fall under the
general principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The method or means of supporting a sash of sash windows, which consists in
suspending the two sides of the said sash from a double drum or a pair of flanged
pulleys, situated at the top of the window frame, by a pair of chains, one chain
being fixed to one drum or one half of the double drum, and adapted to lift the side
of the sash immediately underneath it, while the other chain is attached to the other
drum of the pair, or to the other half of the double drum and then led over a guide
pulley at the opposite side of the window, and serves to lift the sash corner imme-
diately underneath the said guide pulley, and the connection of the chains with the
two halves of the double drum or the two contiguous drums being made in such a
manner, that by turning the said drum on its axis the two chains are simultaneously
wound or unwound, substantially as described.
2. In sash windows, the combination of a double drum or a pair of drums situated
in the upper right hand corner of the window frame, with a pair of chains attached
with one end to the said drum or drums, and at the other end to one of the sashes,
a double drum or a pair of drums situated in the upper left hand corner of the
window frame, a pair of chains secured at one end to the said drum or drums and at
the other end to the second sash, means for guiding the said chains, and means for
Lurning the said drums on their axes, the whole being adapted to operate substan-
tially as described.
3. In sash windows, the combination of a pair of boxes or housings D, each of
which carries an axle d (or d') an axle & (or ) a double drum, a guide pulley, and
a pair of tooth wheels, with two pairs of chains connected with the said drums and
with the sashes in the manner described, a pair of pulleys L L', and a pair of

page_text: 1
cords M M and accessories adapted to turn the said pulleys, substantially as
described.
4. In sash windows, the combination of a pair of boxes or housings D; each of
which carries an axle d (d) an axle k (k), a double drum, a pair of guide pulleys
and a pair of tooth wheels, with detachable pulley blocks secured to the upper
corners of the sashes two pairs of chains connected with the said drums and with the
pulley blocks and guide pulleys in the manner described, and a pair of pulleys LL'
and a pair of cords MM and accessories adapted to turn the said pulleys, substan-
tially as described.
5. A sash window provided with means substantially as described for suspending
and lifting the sashes, a pair of hinged stock beads, O, and a pair of removable
parting beads, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of May 1891.
FRANCIS PODGER,
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433, Strand, London, Agents.