IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING PROAL
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Patrick Clark and Alexander Clark, both of
Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Clark and
Alexander Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 12th October 1858.
I, PATRICK CLARK, & I, ALEXANDER CLARK, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING SHUT-
TERS & OTHER CLOSURES FOR PORTABLE & OTHER BUILDINGS" to be as
follows:-
Our improvements in revolving shutters are,-
First, forming the metal laths of which revolving iron or other metal
shutters are constructed, with beads or projecting nibs.
Secondly, forming the joint pins which connect the laths out of the
solid metal of one or other of the beads or ribs before mentioned.

page_text: Thirdly, forming the joint pin of metal lath shutters out of the solid
by perforating a slot near the edge of such laths.
Fourthly, rolling the iron for metal lath shutters with projecting pins
in the solid, such pins to be used as rivets for connecting the hinges to
the several laths, instead of inserting rivets through the metal of the !
lath, as usual.
Fifthly, the application of hydraulic power to the winding up and
lowering of revolving shutters; either by a head of water, or forced by a
pump into a cylinder from whose piston the power is transmitted; also
the application of compressed air for a like purpose.
Our improvements in other closures refers to the formation of the
laths for the construction of portable houses, and consists in covering
wood laths used for that purpose with sheet metal by drawing such
metal on the wood, such laths being received into suitable grooves
formed in the uprights of those structures. These metal covered laths
are also used for the roofs thereof...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Patrick Clark and Alexander Clark in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 12th April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
PATRICK CLARK and ALEXANDER CLARK, both of Gate Street, Lincoln's
Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Patrick Clark and Alexander Clark,
Her special licence that we, the said Patrick Clark and Alexander
Clark, our executors, administrators, and, assigns, or such others as we,
the said Patrick Clark and Alexander Clark, our executors, adminiştra-
tors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING
SHUTTERS AND OTHER CLOSURES FOR PORTABLE AND OTHER BUILDINGS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Patrick Clark and
Alexander Clark, by an instrument in writing under our hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Patrick Clark and Alexander
Clark, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):
Our improvements in revolving shutters consist,-
First, in forming the metal laths of which revolving iron shutters are
constructed with beads or projecting ribs in order to strengthen and
stiffen the laths in the direction of their length.
Secondly, forming the joint pins which connect the laths out of the
solid metal of one or other of the beads or ribs before mentioned.
Thirdly, forming the joint pin of metal lath shutters out of the solid
by perforating a slot near the edge of such laths.
Fourthly, rolling the iron for metal lath shutters with projecting pins
in the solid, such pins to be used as rivets for connecting the hinges to
the several laths, instead of inserting rivets through the metal of the
lath, as usual.
Fifthly, the application of hydraulic power to the winding up and
lowering of revolving shutters, either by a head of water, or forced by
a pump into a cylinder from whose piston the power is transmitted; also
the application of compressed air for a like)
purpose.
Our improvement in other closures refers to the formation of laths for
the construction of portable houses, and consists in covering wood
laths used for that purpose with sheet metal by drawing such metal

page_text: on the wood, such laths being received in suitable grooves formed in
the uprights of those structures. These metal covered laths are also
used for the roof thereof.
Fig 1, represents a back view, Fig. 2, a front view, and Fig. 3, a
transverse section of a portion of a revolving shutter constructed and
combined according to our improvements. Fig. 4, shows a back view,
and Fig. 5, a front view of a single lath thereof. a, a, is a flat metal
lath, similar to the ordinary hoop iron used in the manufacture of
revolving iron shutters, but having beads c, d, or projecting ribs rolled
on the iron at the time of its manufacture in order to thicken and
strengthen its edges. The upper or smaller bead c, is also applicable
as a joint pin by which to connect the one lath to another. For this
purpose we punch a slot hole e, through the lath just below the bead;
the joints consist of a single knuckle f, made of a piece of hoop iron
doubled to receive the bead pin g, on which it works as its joint. The
knuckle f, is then riveted to the adjoining lath in the ordinary manner.
The joints are placed at such intervals along the laths as to be con-
sistent with the strength of the shutter. The bends c, & d, being in
the solid metal, gives great additional strength to the lath at the edges
where the strength is most necessary, and at the same time permits
of the body or plate of the lath being extremely thin. In order to add
further strength to the laths of such shutters we form beads on the
metal by rolling at the time of its manufacture intermediate of its
breadth, as represented in front view at h, & i, Fig. 6, and in transverse
section at Fig. 7, or such beads h, & i, may be formed on the back part
of the lath.
Fig. 8, represents front view and section of a lath having its beads
both one size. Instead of forming the thickening beads or ribs on one
side of the lath, they may be produced in a central position, as exempli-
fied in the cross section, Fig. 11.
Fig. 9, represents front view, and Fig. 10, transverse section of a flat
lath, showing the mode of jointing by a simple knuckle f, as explained
with reference to Fig. 1, which in this case is by simply perforating
the slot k, near the edge of the lath, and rounding the exterior strip
1, so as to form a suitable joint pin, such as before described.

page_text: Another improvement in metal lath shutters consists in rolling the
laths with projecting pins m, m, as seen in Figs. 7, 9, and 10, which
answer as a substitute for the rivets used in connecting the joints of
such laths. The rivet thus formed not only obviates the necessity of
piercing holes in the laths, but forms a much stronger fastening than
can be obtained by countersinking the rivets in the thickness of the
metal lath, as is usually the case. The method of rolling beads or
projections on the surface of the metal laths being well understood
in the manufacture of iron, it is unnecessary to give any description
thereof.
The next part of our Invention refers to the application of hydraulic
power to the winding up and lowering of revolving shutters. Fig. 12,
illustrates the application of this principle, in which a pressure of water
is obtained by means of a small force pump forcing water into a cylinder
whose piston is placed in communication with the revolving shaft of the
shutter. This Figure represents the transverse section of a shop front,
showing the shutter A. partially down. The shutter, as well understood,
is wound up on a roller B, placed horizontally over the window, or
it may be vertically at the side of the window. On the end of the
roller we place a grooved wheel C, better seen in the partial front view,
Fig. 13; this wheel has a deep groove which receives a chain or belt D.
The one end of chain D is fixed to the centre of wheel C, round which
it winds spirally, while the other end is attached to the piston rod E of
cylinder F. The piston of cylinder F is fitted with a cup leather adapted
to receive the pressure of water on the upper side of the piston that is
between it and the stuffing box G, through which the rod F enters
the cylinder; we prefer the pitch chain for the purpose as being better
adapted for enwrapping on the barrel of wheel C. It will be observed
also that while the convolution of the shutter is taking place, and the
pendant part of shutter diminishing in weight, the evolution of the
chain is proceeding at the same time, and "vice versa."
In this way
the leverage hold of the chain on its barrel increases when the weight
of pendant shutter increases, and diminishes when the weight of pen-
dant shutter decreases. H, is a small cistern and pump (shown on a
larger scale at Fig. 14). By means of this pump water is forced

page_text: through pipe I into cylinder F; the action of the pressure of water
thus introduced forces down the piston and its rod E, connected to
the chain D, which is thus unwound from its barrel; the conséquent
rotation of roller B winds up the shutter A. When it is desired to
lower the shutter A, it is simply necessary to allow the water in
cylinder F to escape or flow back again into its cistern, when the
shutter descends by its own weight, and winds up the chain D in
readiness for a repetition of the motion.
.
Fig. 14, represents a vertical section of the cistern II, and its pump,"
mentioned in the foregoing description. It consists simply of a small
cistern H, having a small force pump K fitted in the bottom, the
plunger of which is actuated by a rod m connected with the hand
lever n.
The fulcrum p, oscillating on slings 9, permits the rod m'to
move in a parallel direction, for which the hole in the cover acts as a
guide. The plunger 1, works through a stuffing box », or leather, to
render it tight, and the pump is otherwise fitted as a force pump. The
cistern is nearly filled with water.s, is the inlet valve of the pump,
which draws water from the inverted rose pipe t, to prevent sedi-
ment entering. The elevation of the plunger 1, causes the water to
flow in through the valves, and passages u, u, and fill the barrel of
pump; which water, on the depression of the plunger taking place, is
forced through the passage w, and outlet valve a, and thence through
the pipe I, to the cylinder F. By a succession of strokes in the pump
a sufficient amount of water is transmitted to raise the shutter, as do-
scribed. L, M, are plug caps to valves s, and a; in the plug Ma small
escape valvey is fitted. This is weighted sufficiently by means of a
lever P, and weights.R, to prevent the escape of water during the action
of the pump. The weighted stem S of lever P-projects through the
cover of cistern for the purpose of removing the weight from valvey, when
it is desired to permit the return of the water from cylinder F. On
the valve y being so released the weight of the shutter and the column of
water in the cylinder F causes the water to return through pipe I, and
entering above valve a, it passes up passages, z, and escapes through
valve y into the cistern. On lowering the valvey the pump is again
fit for action: By opening the valve y more or less-the descent of
the

page_text: shutter may be regulated at pleasure. The pump and piston should be
placed at a lower level than the cylinder F, so that the water will run
freely back, and present no obstacle to the descent of the shutters.
Figs. 15, 16, and 17, represent the detail of another arrangement of
pressure cylinder for actuating revolving shutters by means of a head of
water. Fig. 15, shows a side view of the cylinder complete; Fig. 16,
a partial vertical section; and Fig. 17, a plan of the same. The action
of the water in the cylinder is precisely similar to that before described,
but on account of the pressure of the water being generally very
limited the cylinder must be proportionately larger. For convenience
it is fixed in a horizontal position, and the chain D conducted to the
piston rod T over a pulley U. The piston V has a cup leather, as
before described, to sustain the pressure of water between it and the
cover W of cylinder. We form the cylinder X of sheet zinc, turned
into a cylinder, and suitably united and strengthened by external belts.
The one end of the cylinder is left open, and a cover W with
stuffing box is fitted to the other. This cover is held in its place by
means of a conical iron belt or ring 1, driven on the outer part of
cylinder, which is thereby compressed and embraces the cover firmly.
The cover is slightly coned, with the larger end 'inwards, which pre-
vents the possibility of its being forced out. 2, 2, are a series of vul-
canized india-rubber rings placed on the piston rod T, between collars
3, 8. When the shutter is raised to the highest point these rings come
in contact with the stuffing box 4, and offer an elastic resistance to the
further motion of the piston, and so preventing any injurious concus
sion resulting from the stoppage of the descending column of water.
The pressure may be obtained from a head of water maintained in
a cistern at sufficient elevation, or from the pressure of the mains of
any water supply. 5, is a slide valve, fitted in a box 6; it is worked
by a lever handle 7, in the usual manner. The supply pipe 8, admits
water to the valve box, which enters the cylinder by passage 9, when
that passage is uncovered by the valve 5. The pressure of water
takes effect on the piston, and winds up and sustains the slutter in an
elevated position, as described. When the valve, 5; is moved to the
position shown in the section, the water passes out through passage 9;
"

page_text: inside the valve, and escapes by the eduction passage and pipe 10.
According to the size of passage opened so will be the rate of
descent of the shutter. Instead of using water under pressure, air
compressed by means of a suitable pump, or contained in a reser-
voir, may be similarly adapted to the winding up and lowering of these
shutters.
Figs. 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, represent our improvement in portable.
and other houses, which consists in closing in the sides and roof of such
structures by means of wood laths covered with metal, as exhibited in
the cross section of a single lath at Fig. 18. The wood lath is first pre-
pared in shape by a wood shaping machine; a thin strip of sheet iron is
then drawn on the face and round the edges of the wood lath by the
ordinary operation of the drawbench. These laths are to be used in the
ordinary manner of building lath houses, viz., by erecting uprights, as
at A, A, Fig. 19, which represents part of an elevation, and of which
Fig. 20, is a plan. The uprights have grooves b, b, into which the ends
of the laths B, B, fit, and are dropped one above the other, as best seen
in the vertical section, Fig. 21. Fig. 22, represents a section of these
improved laths applied to a roof; for this purpose the laths should be
made with more lap. The sides and roof and other closed parts of
a house constructed according to this improvement presents an iron
or other metal surface outside, and a wooden surface inside, and is at
once durable and well adapted to prevent the transmission of heat or
cold. It can be papered or ornamented inside with all the facility of a
wooden house, at the same time possessing all the advantages of an
iron exterior. The uprights may be covered with metal by the same
means as the laths.
Having described our Invention, we would have it understood that
what we claim is,―
First, constructing the metal laths of which revolving iron shutters are
constructed with beads or projecting ribs for the purposes described.
Secondly, forming the joint pins of metal lath shutters out of the
solid bead, as described.
Thirdly, forming the joint pin of metal laths by perforating a slot
near the edge of such laths, as described.

page_text: Fourthly, rolling the iron for metal lath shutters with projecting
rivet pins whereby to fix the joints or hinges, as described.
Fifthly, we claim the application of water or other similar fluid under
pressure to the raising and lowering of revolving shutters, and also thic
application of compressed air for a like purpose.
Lastly, we claim facing or covering wood laths with iron or other
metal in the construction of portable and other houses, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Patrick Clark and the said
Alexander Clark, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
cight hundred and fifty-four.
15 Witness,
W. CLARK,
Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
PAT CLARK. (L.S.)
ALEX CLARK. (L.S.)