Methods and Devices for Uniting Prism Sections and Tiles to form Plates for Windows and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
Methods and Devices for Uniting Prism Sections and Tiles to form
Plates for Windows and the like.
I, JOHN MEIGGS EWEN, of No. 1129 The Rookery, Chicago, County of Cook,
State of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: —
My invention relates to means and methods and devices for mounting tiles,
preferably prismatic glass tiles, and particularly for mounting the same in such
manner as to make them convenient and satisfactory for immersion in the
electrolytic bath, which process is usually necessary to complete or harden or
finish the framing or mounting of such tiles or prismatic glass.
My invention is illustrated, so far as may be necessary to an understanding of
it, in a particular form or with various devices which are at present thought by
me to be suitable for the purpose of realizing or putting into practical shape my
invention for use.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side view of a supporting frame which is provided at one side with
a movable bar and at both ends with removable bars and with slots at both ends
for the metal strips.
Figure 2 is a similar view with a portion of the prismatic glass sections placed in
position in the process of building them up.
Figure 3 is a like view when the process has been brought to that point where
all the sections are assembled and the frame portions are in place ready for the
whole to be submitted to the bath.
Figure 4 is a like view of the complete product after the electrolytic process has
been completed and when the framed tile or glass is ready to be removed in a
single sheet from the temporary frame.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 Fig. 3.
Figure 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 Fig. 3.
Figures 7 and 8 show details of the short strips.
Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.
A B C and D constitute the four members of the temporary frame; and the
members B and C are slotted as at E E to receive metal strips F preferably of
copper. These strips are somewhat longer than the diameter of the opening in
the temporary frame and are turned over at the ends and are held tightly stretched
by a staple or two-pointed tack.
In the drawings, I have shown a frame capable of holding but nine sections.
This is intended, however, merely as an illustration, for the frame may be made
of any size and to suit any reasonable number of sections. This frame may be

page_text: course be constructed with some modifications and so as to be permanent and
durable, and may indeed constitute a part of the finished product; but the pre-
ferred form is somewhat like the illustrated form, and is intended to be
temporary or a part of the temporary frame, serving only the purpose of
holding the glass together while it is subjected to the bath and of serving if
desired as a case or frame in which to ship or store the finished product until it
is ready to be withdrawn for use.
G is a removable frame-piece adapted to be secured in position for example by
means of screws H H, and which is slotted as indicated to permit the passage of
the several strips. When in position, it forms a ledge projecting upwardly or
inwardly in the plane of the product when completed, and of about the thickness
of the body of the tile or prismatic glass which is intended to be set up in the
frame. J is a similar frame-piece at the opposite end, and beveled and adapted
to be forced into position so as to tightly press the glass sections down upon one
another or upon their interposed strips. K is a movable strip which forms a
similar ledge along the edge and in the plane of the completed product. It is
adapted to be forced up against the side or edge of the mass of tile sections, as
indicated, by the wedges L L. M is a similar ledge projecting from the permanent
or fixed frame-piece D. NN are short strips having each a body portion preferably
about the length of the glass or tile and having at each end flanges offset as shown
so as to project over such end in all directions in the plane of the edge of the
body. O are similar strips having such flanged or offset parts at one end only.
PP are the tile or glass sections. In this case, they are the prismatic window
glass for which my invention is well adapted, though of course they might be
other tile pieces or sections or any desired substance or material, size or shape to
which my invention could be conveniently applied.
The use and operation of this method and process and these several devices is
as follows: Given the temporary frame, the strips preferably of copper will be
attached thereto as indicated, being tightly drawn by any convenient tool and
being fastened securely in position at each end. The left-hand strip, looking at
the drawings, will lie along the flange end, having a width substantially equal to
the thickness of such flange. The other three strips, as indicated, will be stretched
across the frame like the strings of a musical instrument.
I now take the removable frame-piece G and securely fasten it into position,
as indicated in several of the drawings, thus making a flange-like continuation
of the flange end. I now take one of the short strips N and drop it into the
position between, for example, the two strips toward the right side, its flanged
ends projecting beyond the long strips as indicated, and its body resting upon the
flange of the frame-piece G. The strips 00 are then dropped into similar positions,
and thus I have a continuous metallic border from the left hand upper corner
down the rib M across the rib of the piece G and up the strip on the right side.
I now take a piece of tile, or in this case, prismatic glass, and insert it in position
on top of the strip N, its lower corners resting between the flanges at the ends
of that strip so that its lower edge will be held somewhat loosely but still securely
between the strips and in the plane of the flanges and of the product when com-
pleted. I now put a strip N on top of the piece of glass, as indicated, whereby it
is in like manner secured at its upper edge. I now put another piece of glass
to the left and between the two middle strips and the short strip on top of that,
and so another tile and strip at the lower left hand corner. I now begin on top
of the first tile placed in position, and continue the process as before, until all the
sections are in position; in this case, until nine are in position. This work is all
done while the temporary frame is held on edge, and results in a complete body
of tile or prismatic glass sections held in a plane in proper relation to each other
for a finished product, the whole being bound by a metal strip or strips which
pass all the way around. Of course the product in this condition is somewhat
loosely arranged, and the parts are not very securely held together. Still it could
be in this condition submitted to the electrolytic bath, being exposed while held

page_text: How-
in the same position as that which it occupies while being thus built up.
ever, I prefer, and particularly in the case of large pieces of glass so to be built
up, to secure the parts more firmly together. I therefore insert the strip J, forcing
it down to position, its ledge-like projection being in the plane of the complete
product. And I also force up, preferably by means of the wedges, the movable
strip K. By this means the mass of glass, the several sections being thus held
in close relation to each other and being held in a proper plane, is put under
pressure so that all the parts are quite firmly united.
At this stage, the product might be considered complete, and could be used
without being subjected to the electrolytic bath, but of course it would not be
either air- or water-tight, nor could it be removed from the frame or loosened.
I prefer to continue the process by subjecting the whole in this condition to the
electrolytic bath. It becomes the cathode, its metal portion being properly con-
nected, and it is thus exposed in the bath until the deposit has taken place between
the opposed portions of glass and metal to make a water-tight joint, and preferably
until the overhanging ledges of deposited copper have been formed on the strips
to project into the grooves or angles between the prisms, and preferably until
the electrically deposited copper overhangs the edges of the strips until they
are formed each into an I-shape. This process may also further be continued
until an additional amount of electrically deposited metal has been placed about
the corners and the flange pieces, though this is not probably essential in every
instance. Indeed these flange pieces are, properly speaking, only parts of the
strips intended to facilitate the setting of the entire mass together in a complete
frame ready for immersion in the bath.
In the old methods of putting these glass sections or tile pieces together in proper
shape for immersion in the bath, a good deal of difficulty was encountered, and
somewhat elaborate and expensive and troublesome processes were necessary, and
the object of this invention is primarily to present a method or process and suitable
means for assembling the sections of glass or tile and holding them in a proper
temporary frame or relation, so that they can then be subsequently immersed in
the bath, although, as previously explained, for some purposes this final immer-
sion and electrolytic deposit is not essential.
It will be understood that in subjecting the work to the electrolytic bath, it is
highly important that the same should be properly exposed so as to secure uniform
results, and this can be done best by putting it in the bath in a vertical position.
After the work has been exposed to the bath, it can be shipped to any desired
point, assuming that it is to be removed from what I have called the temporary
frame, and when ready at its destination for reframing in its permanent frame
or sash, the movable strip may be released and pushed back, and the removable
strips at the ends may be taken out, whereupon the product will be found sus-
pended as it were in the midst of the frame, being supported only by the exposed
strips at top and bottom. By cutting these, the work is freed and is ready to be
applied in any manner to the permanent frame or sash. The permanent product
is a mass of sections of tile or in this case prismatic glass, each section of which
is bounded by the thin strip of metal preferably copper, and the whole held in
position by the electrolytically deposited metal. These strips of course may be
of any size and strength, and the lugs on their ends may be formed in any desired
manner. I have shown them of copper, the lugs being upset or made continuous
with the body of the short strip, for my illustration is one which sets out a device
adapted to the electrolytic process. If, however, this process is not to be applied,
the strips might be stronger and heavier. If electrolysis is not used, a cement
of some kind applied either to the strips or tile edges in the process of forming,
or to the apertures when the work has been all assembled, could be used to render
the finished product partly or wholly air- or water-proof. Such a construction
might be very satisfactory in mild climates.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The processes of assembling and holding together a series of tile sections
which consists in providing a surrounding frame, having tightly stretched across
the same a series of strips separated by distances equal to the width of the sections,
placing across the bottom of the frame a series of short strips provided each with
projecting lugs which engage the outer edges of the vertical strips and extend
beyond the margin of such edges, placing sections of the tile between the vertical
strips, and on top of the cross strips, then placing similar cross strips on top of
the sections, and continuing the process until all the sections are assembled; then
clamping the sections firmly together, the whole being in the form of a complete
sheet by the engagement of such lugs and strips at the edges and corners of the
sections.
2. The process of assembling and holding together a series of tile sections as
set out in Claim 1 and then immersing the same in an electrolytic bath.
3. As a frame for window glass or prism sections, the combination of a series
of long strips, a series of short strips, each provided with end lugs which enclose
the long strips and project beyond the edges of both strips and tile sections
between such strips, their outer corner surfaces engaged by the lugs, and the
processes of Claims 1 and 2 applied thereto, substantially as shown and described.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.