IMPROVE. MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GLAZED ROOFS AND OTHER GLAZED STRUCTURES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edgcumbe Rendle, of 3, Westminster Chambers,
Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, for an Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GLAZED ROOFS AND OTHER GLAZED
STRUCTURES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William_Edgcumbe Rendle
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th July 1880.
WILLIAM EDGCUMBE RENDLE, of 3, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, in
the City of Westminster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GLAZED
ROOFS AND OTHER GLAZED STRUCTURES."
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, No. 201, in the year
1877, I described means by which sheets of glass could be carried by horizontal
purlins.
According to this Invention I carry sheets of glass by horizontal purlins in the
following manner :-I allow the upper ends of the sheets of glass to rest upon
the face of one horizontal purlin, whilst the lower ends of the sheets of glass are
received in a trough formed in bent sheet metal bars secured to another horizontal
purlin. These bent sheet metal bars at their upper edge are formed so that they
may be attached to the top face of the purlins; they are also formed with a flat
face against which the back of the lower ends of the sheets of glass may rest; they
are then bent back at right angles, and afterwards again have three more right
angled bends formed in them so as to form as it were a rectangular tube or partially
closed over trough along the bottom of each bar. The bottom of this tube or
trough rests upon the surface of the top end of the sheets of glass and holds them
down.
The sheets of glass at their bottom end are overlapped by the last bend of the
sheet metal of which the horizontal sheet metal bar is formed, and which covers or
partly covers the trough which is along the bottom of that bar as above mentioned.
The sheets of glass are thus prevented from slipping down.
Between the abutting side edges of the sheets of glass I interpose a bar of a
section similar to that described as being used for this purpose in the Specification;
No. 201, above mentioned. These bars are made with a flat strip to lie above the
glass, and cover the space or opening between them, and with a central stem to

page_text: descend between the sheets of glass, and with two troughs one on either side of the
stem below the glass; but in place of making the troughs or gutters of a rounded
form, as shown in the above mentioned Specification, I make them with flat sides
and rectangular.
The horizontal sheet metal bars which are attached to the purlins are cut into
lengths somewhat shorter than the width of the sheets of glass, so that at their
ends they may abut against the sides of the bars, which, as just stated, are placed
between the side edges of the sheets of glass and so make a close joint.
The troughs at the bottom edge of the horizontal bars which are secured to the
purlins have holes formed in them to allow any water which may flow down into
them either from the inner or outer face of the glass to run off on to the top of the
pane of glass below them.
The new horizontal metal bar is adapted for any kind of "purlin," either of wood
or iron, and is secured by means of screws fastened at the back or upper portions
of the "purlin." When the glazing bar is fixed to iron, a piece of india rubber or
felt is interposed between the same to prevent contact of the two-metals, and can..
also be placed on the flat surface of the iron to act as a cushion for the upper edges
of the glass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed. by
the said William Edgcumbe Rendle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th January 1881.
16
WILLIAM EDGCUMBE RENDLE, of 3, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, in
the City of Westminster. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GLAZED
ROOFS AND OTHER GLAZED STRUCTURES."
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, No. 201, in the year
1877, I described means by which sheets of glass could be carried by horizontal
purlins.
According to this Invention I carry sheets of glass by horizontal purlins in the
following manner:-I allow the upper ends of the sheets of glass to rest upon
the face of one horizontal purlin, whilst the lower ends of the sheets of glass are
received in a trough formed in bent sheet metal bars secured to another horizontal
purlin. These bent sheet metal bars at their upper edge are formed so that they
may be attached to the back or upper side of the purlins; they are also formed
with a flat face, against which the back of the lower ends of the sheets of glass may
rest; they are then bent back at right angles, and afterwards again have three
more right angled bends formed in them so as to form as it were a rectangular tube
or partially closed over trough along the bottom of each bar. The bottom of this
tube or trough rests upon the surface of the top end of the sheets of glass and holds
them down.

page_text: The sheets of glass at their bottom end are overlapped by the last bend of the
sheet metal of which the horizontal shoet metal bar is formed, and which covers or
partially covers the trough which is along the bottom of that bar as above mentioned.
The sheets of glass are thus prevented from slipping down.
Between the abutting side edges of the sheets of glass I interpose a bar of a
section similar to that described as being used for this purpose in the Specification,
No. 201, above mentioned. These bars are made with a flat strip to lie above the
glass and cover the space or opening between them, and with a central stem to
descend between the sheets of glass, and with two troughs one on either side of the
stem below the glass; but in place of making the troughs or gutters of a rounded
form, as shewn in the above mentioned Specification, I make them with flat sides
and rectangular.
The horizontal sheet metal bars which are attached to the purlins are cut into
lengths somewhat shorter than the width of the sheets of glass, so that at their
ends,they may.abut against the sides of the bars, which, as just stated, are placed
between the side edges of the sheets of glass and so make a close joint. The
troughs at the bottom edge of the horizontal bars which are secured to the purlins
have holes formed in them to allow any water which may flow down into them
oither from the inner or outer face of the glass to run off on to the top of the pane
of glass below them.
The new horizontal metal bar is adapted for any kind of purlin, either of wood
or iron, and is secured by means of screws fastened at the back or upper portions
of the purlin. When the glazing bar is fixed to iron, a piece of india rubber or
felt is interposed between the same to prevent contact of the two metals, and can
also be placed on the flat surface of the iron to act as a cushion for the upper
edges of the glass.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
more fully the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan view in perspective of a portion of a roof glazed in the above
manner, and in which wooden purlins are used; Figure 2 is a vertical section of
the same; Figures 3 and 4 show cross sections of similar roofs, in which the purlins
are of iron of different sections. These are only shown as examples of the forms
of purlin that may be used, but it is evident that the purlins might be of other
sections or forms.
The roof or other structure is formed with the requisite number of horizontal
purlins or supports at a distance from one another somewhat less than the length
of the sheets of glass which are to be used; one only of these supports is shewn
at A.
Bare the sheets of glass. The upper ends of the sheets of glass lic upon the top of
the purlins A, and are held down on to them by the bars C, formed of bent sheet
metal. These bars are secured by screws or other fastenings to the back or upper
sides of the purlins as shewn. When the purlin is of iron, and the bar C of other
metal, a picco of india rubber, or felt D, may be interposed between them and
prevent contact of the two metals. A similar strip of soft material might also be
placed between the flat surface of the purlin and the glass resting upon it so as to
form a cushion for the glass to lie upon. The bars C, in addition to holding down
the upper end of one sheet of glass on to the purlin, are also, as above stated, formed
to support and hold the lower ends of the sheet of glass next above it; the way in
which the sheet metal of which the bar is formed has right angled bends made in
t to effect this object is clearly shown by the Drawings.
The partially closed over trough formed, as shewn, along the bottom of the bar
as holes C' formed at intervals through it so that any water which may run down
nto the trough, either from the inner or outer face of the glass, may run off on to
he top of the sheet of glass below it; E are the bars of bent sheet metal interposed

page_text: between the abutting side edges of the sheets of glass. An end view of one of
these bars is shewn at Figure 5. Each bar E is, as above stated, formed with a flat
surface to cover over the space between the side edges of two adjoining sheets of
glass, and also to lap over these sheets of glass to any extent required; it is also
formed with a stem to descend between the sheets of glass, and also with two
troughs one on either side of the stem, and these troughs, in place of being of a
rounded form, as described in the Specification of the Patent above mentioned, are
made with flat sides and rectangular, so that the ends of the bars C may abut and
fit against them. The bars E at their upper ends may have the troughs cut away
so that the bars may be of the same length as the sheets of glass, and yet not render
it necessary that the purlins should be cut away or recessed for the troughs of these
bars to lie in. The bars C are in lengths somewhat shorter than the width of the
sheets of glass used, just sufficient to allow of their ends abutting against the bars E,
as shewn at Figure 1.
A pin H may be passed through the stem of the bar E near its lower end, and 1
-the-ends-of-the-pin be made to extend into the troughs of the bars C to prevent
the bars E from slipping downwards.
--
Figures 6 and 7 show how the top and bottom of a ridge roof glazed in the
manner above described may be formed.
.
Figures 8 and 9 show the way in which the vertical bars E may be formed for a
finishing to hips and ends of a roof.
Figure 10 shows a cross section of a small skylight glazed as above described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,—
First. The construction of glazed roofs and other glazed structures, substantially
in the manner herein before described.
Second. The construction of the horizontal bars C, substantially as described.
Third-The-construction-of-the-vertical bars E of the improved form, substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edgcumbe Rendle, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.