Improvements in the Method of and Appliances for Securing Glass. Sheets in Roofs of Greenhouses, Railway Stations, and other Structures, said Improvements being also Applicable for other Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Appliances for Securing Glass.
Sheets in Roofs of Greenhouses, Railway Stations, and other
Structures, said Improvements being also Applicable for other
Purposes.
I, ALEXANDER DRUMMOND of 35 Montrose Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, Glass Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to and is a further developement of my prior invention for
glazing structures No. 5947 dated 21st April 1888.
In securing the glass sheets in the roofs of greenhouses, railway stations, or other
structures in accordance with this invention I entirely dispense with the use of
astragals or glazing bars.
The glass sheets are placed edge to edge, or they may overlap, and are fitted at their
upper ends into grooves or recesses cut longitudinally in the purline bars. The
meeting edges of the glass sheets are covered by narrow strips of glass, metal, or wood,
which are, at their upper ends, either entered into recesses in the purline bars or are
held in position by forked shaped catching devices which may be of cast or stamped
metal having projections on the capable of being driven into the purlines to secure
them in position or they may be secured thereto by screwing or otherwise. The lower
end of each of said narrow strips of glass is held firmly in position by a stop piece
which is secured to the purline bars by screwing or otherwise. Gutters for carrying
off moisture are cut in the upper sides of the purline bars.
The stop piece as described in my prior Specification consists of a clip or cover
which is dovetailed into a rectangular or other shaped base plate secured to the purline
bars. Under this invention the head of this clip or cover has two arms or projections
on it, so made as to grip the glass strips and prevent lateral movement.
The stop piece instead of being made as described in my prior Specification may be
made of a base plate or piece having a thick part at one end through which a hole
is bored or made, over the thickened part the clip or cover is fitted by a pin passed
through a hole in each of the sides of the clip and through the hole in the thickened
part of the plate; or the clip may be hinged to the base plate, the hinged part
folding over on top of the glass and being held in position by a pin passed through a
projection on the thickened end of the base plate In some cases the clip itself may
be narrowed at one end and may pass through and be secured in a hole made longi-
tudinally in the thick part of the base plate; or the clip may be dovetailed over the
thick part of the plate.
In lieu of making the base plate thicker at one end it may be bent upwards or
stepped instead, and the lower end of the clip be made to slip over or to be bent over
the raised part.
Under another modification the clip may have projections at its under side which
will fit easily into recesses or holes, or their equivalent, made in the clips; or vice versa,
the clips may fit or slide on projections made on the base plate. The base plate and
the clip would each have preferably, in all cases, arms for gripping and holding the
glass strips in position.
When the glass sheets overlap each over a different sort of stop piece from those
bereinbefore described would preferably be used. This stop piece has only one arm
on one side of both the clip and base plate and the base plate is further provided
with a raised projection or ridge to prevent the under sheets of glass from moving
laterally.
Instead of being secured by stop pieces as herein before described, the narrow strips

page_text: of glass, metal, or wood, may have flanges or projections made on them which would
fil into or catch on corresponding grooves or projections made on or in the glass
sheets. In some cases the narrow strips may be made "T" shape in cross section
instead of as hereinbefore described.
Strips of tarred cotton, felt, or canvas, may, if desired, cover the meeting edges of
the glass sheets and on this the narrow locking strips may be laid.
In some cases the narrow locking strips may be underneath the glass sheets instead
of above them.
My improvements besides being used for glazing purposes are equally applicable for
securing corrugated metal roofing, tiles, slates, and sheet metal roofing in position.
Dated this 25th day of April 1889
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Appliances for Securing Glass
Sheets in Roofs of Greenhouses, Railway Stations, and other
Structures, said Improvements being also Applicable for other
Purposes.
I, ALEXANDER DRUMMOND of 35 Montrose Street, Glasgow in the County of
Lanark, Glass Merchant, do hereby declare the nature this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to and is a further development of my prior invention for
glazing structures No. 5947 dated 21st April 1888.
In securing the glass sheets in the roofs of green houses, railway stations, or
other structures in accordance with this invention I entirely dispense with the use of
astragals or glazing bars.
The glass sheets are placed edge to edge, or they may overlap and are fitted at
their upper ends into grooves or recesses cut longitudinally in the purline bars. The
meeting edges of the glass sheets are covered by narrow strips of glass, metal, or
wood, which are, at their upper ends, either entered into recesses in the purline bars
or are held in position by forked shaped catching devices which may be of cast or
stamped metal having projections on them capable of being driven into the purlines
to secure them in position or they may be secured thereto by screwing or otherwise.
The lower end of each of said narrow strips of glass is held firmly in position by a
stop piece which is secured to the purline bars by screwing or otherwise. Gutters for
carrying off moisture are cut in the upper sides of the purline bars.
The stop piece as described in my prior specification consists of a clip or cover
which is dovetailed into a rectangular or other shaped base plate secured to the purline
bars. Under this invention the head of the clip or cover has two arms or projections
on it so made as to grip the glass strips and prevent lateral movement.
The stop piece instead of being made as described in my prior Specification may be
made of a base plate or piece having a thick part at one end through which a hole is
bored or made; over the thickened part the clip or cover is fitted by a pin passed
through a hole in each of the sides of the clip and through the hole in the thickened
part of the plate or the clip may be hinged to the base plate, the hinged part folding
over on top of the glass and being held in position by a pin passed through a pro-
jection on the thickened end of the base plate. In some cases the clip itself may be
narrowed at one end and may pass through and be secured in a hole made longi-
tudinally in the thick part of the base plate; or the clip may be dovetailed into or
over the thick part of the plate.
In lieu of making the base plate thicker at one end it may be bent upwards or
stepped instead, and the lower end of the clip be made to slip into or over; or to be
bent over or slip over the raised part.

page_text: Under another modification the clip may have projections at its under side which
will fit easily into recesses or holes or their equivalent made in the clips; or
vice versa, the clips may fit or slide on projections made on the base plate. The
base plate and the clip would each have preferably, in all cases, arms for gripping
and holding the glass strips in position.
When the glass sheets overlap each other a different sort of stop piece from
those herein before described would preferably be used. This stop piece has only
one arm on one side of both the clip and base plate and the base plate may be
further provided with a raised projection or ridge to prevent the under sheets of
glass from moving laterally.
+
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have here- .
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings whereon
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 shown in perspective roofs glazed in accordance with my
invention.
Figs. 4 and 5 show glass sheets with overlapping caps of glass.
Fig. 5 shows a device for catching the upper end of the cap.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 show in perspective different arrangements
of clips or stop pieces for securing the glass sheets in position on the purline.
On the drawings, the same reference letters wherever repeated indicate similar
or like parts.
Referring to the drawings:-
--
A are corrugated glass sheets and A' ordinary flat glass sheets shown in position
at figs. 1, 2 and 3. B are glass caps for covering the meeting edges of the glass
sheets A, A¹. C are the purlines. D are stop pieces or clips for securing the glass
sheets in position.
With my improved method of glazing structures the glass sheets are first secured
at their upper ends in a groove E in the purlines and a glass cap B is then laid
over the meeting edges of the sheets. The upper end of the cap is or may be
secured in a recess or groove in the purlines or may be held in place by a fork
shaped clip G having arms for gripping the upper end of the cap as shown at
fig. 5. The spike G₁ is driven into the purline which is indicated in dotted lines.
Instead of being spiked into position the clip G may be screwed or nailed to the
purline. In figs. 1 and 2 the caps B, B₁ are shown as fitted in grooves, the lower end
of the glass caps being securely held in place by the clips D. In these figures the
sheets of glass A have prismatic corrugations rolled on them as shown. The
caps B, B are also made of pieces or strips of corrugated glass the corrugations of
the caps fitting into the corrugations of the glass sheets and thus making a secure and
tight joint, as shown to an enlarged scale in fig. 4. The stop piece used in this style
of glazing may be of the form described in my prior patent No. 5947 of. 1888 as
shown at fig. 1 or the sliding head or clip a may have arms b b¹ (see fig. 2) projecting
out from either side so as to grip the glass and hold it firmly in position so preventing
lateral movement. Instead of glazing with corrugated glass the ordinary flat sheets
may be used and a glass or other cap be fitted over the meeting edges as shown at
fig. 5.
In fig. 3 the sheets of glass A¹ are shown as overlapping one another. In this
arrangement a small single armed clip or catch F is or may be used to keep the sheets
in place at the top and a stop piece D be used to hold the sheets securely at bottom.
The clip D is shown to a large scale at fig. 9. It consists of two parts D', D² the
part D has a dovetail groove formed in it into which slips the head or clip a which
has a single arm b for gripping the edge of the glass sheet. The part D², which is
stepped downwards as shown, has an arm c for gripping the edge of the lower sheet
of glass in the manner indicated at fig. 3. The grooves E in the purlines may in this
arrangement be so cut as to receive the upper ends of the glass sheets and hold them
in place.
The stop piece shown in fig. 6 is stamped or formed out of thin sheet metal, and, as
will be seen, the sliding head or clip a has two arms b, b₁ similar to the clip shown at
fig. 2 for gripping the lower end of the upper glass cap B and so preventing lateral

page_text: movement. The base plate D¹ which is secured to the purline by screws or nails
passed through the holes d has also an arm c on each side for gripping the end of the
lower cap B instead of the cap being inserted in a groove cut for the purpose in the
purline bar. The head or clip a slips into the raised part which is formed with
bent-over parts D³, D₁ for its reception
The stop piece shown in fig. 7 is preferably made of cast metal; the clip or head a
has two arms b, b1 as before; but it is made with a dovetail groove e on its under
side which slides on the raised part of the base plate D which is suitably formed for
its reception. The part f, as also the groove e is made to taper gradually so that a
tight and firm joint will be effected when the parts are fitted together. Arms c are
also provided on this stop piece for securing the lower cap B¹.
In the clip at fig. 8 the head or clip a is made with two downwardly projecting
sides or flanges through which a hole g is bored. This flanged part slides over the
raised part which is suitably shaped for its reception and has a hole g' through it.
The whole is locked firmly together by passing a pin through the holes g, g' in the
flanges and raised part.
In fig. 10 a slightly modified arrangement is shown. In this case the head or clip a
is made with a narrow projecting part j through which a hole j¹ is or may be made.
The head a is fitted in place by slipping the projecting part into the opening
made in the raised part and then passing a pin through the hole in the head and
the hole in the raised part. If desired the holes j, 3 may be dispensed with
and the projecting part be simply fitted into the opening which may be tapered for
its reception. No arms c are shown on this clip although they may be made thereon
if necessary.
In fig. 11 a hinged stop piece is shown. The hinged part a' which corresponds
with the part a in the other figures, has two arms b, band is hinged to the base
plate D₁ at k. The base plate D has arms c and also a projection which, when the
hinged part a¹ is closed down on the glass sheets and cap, projects up through a slot a²
in the part a. The projection has a hole in it through which a pin m is passed to
prevent the hinged part a¹ from rising up out of position.
In fig. 12 a further modification is shown. In this case the head or clip a has a
hollow tubular shank n which slides on to the projection or tooth o on the base
plate.
In fig. 13 two teeth or projections o are made on the head a and these slide teles-
copewise into two tubular sockets n on the part D¹.
In fig. 14 a stop piece is shown with the head a bent under at each side so as to
form two grooves p which when the head is to be fitted in place slide over the raised
part of the base plate D¹. The step q is cut away at each side as shown for the
purpose of allowing the grooves p to grip on the raised part q.
Although I have hereinbefore described several modifications of the stop piece D it
is to be understood that I do not confine myself thereto as it is evident it can be further
modified without departing from my invention.
The purlines would have preferably on their upper sides gutters or grooves cut in
them for carrying off moisture or small metal gutters may be attached to the purlines
for this purpose.
The caps B, B instead of being strips of glass may be strips of metal or wood or
equivalent material.
Instead of being secured by stop pieces as hereinbefore described, the narrow
strips of glass, metal or wood may have flanges or projections made on them
which would fit into corresponding grooves or projections made on or in the glass
sheets. In some cases the narrow strips may be made "T" shape in cross section
instead of as herein before described.
Strips of tarred cotton, felt or canvas, may, if desired, cover the meeting edges of
the glass sheets and on this the narrow locking strips may be laid.
In some cases the narrow locking strips may be underneath the glass sheets instead
of above them.
My improvements besides being used for glazing purposes are equally applicable

page_text: for securing corrugated metal roofing, tiles, slates and sheet metal roofing in
position.
With my present improvements only a single stop-piece need be used for securing
the glass sheets in position and the sheets do not require to be overlapped. A better
joint is also effected by the use of the glass cap.
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 1
claim is :-
1. The improved method of glazing structures without astragals wherein the glass
sheets are first secured at their upper ends in grooves made in the purlines and have
then a narrow strip of glass, metal, or wood laid over their meeting edges, said strip
and also the glass sheets being held securely in place by means of stop pieces fitted to
the purlines, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A stop piece having or not arms thereon, and made substantially as herein before
described and shown under different modifications at figs. 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 14 of
the annexed drawings.
3. The stepped stop-piece having arms only on one side, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to figs. 3 and 9 of the annexed drawings.
4. The hinged stop-piece, having or not arms b, b and c, substantially as berein-
before described with reference to fig. 11 of the annexed drawings.
5. A clip a made with arms b, 6 for gripping the glass or other cap, substantially
as herein before described and shown under modified arrangements at figs. 2, 6, 7, 8,
10, 12, 13 and 14 of the annexed drawings.
6. Á base plate D' made with arms for gripping the glass or other cap, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and shown under modified arrangements at
figs. 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the annexed drawings.
7. The forked shape catching device G for holding the upper end of the glass
cap in position substantially as herein before described with reference to fig. 5º.
8. The combination with the glass or other sheets of a strip of glass, metal or
wood for covering the meeting edges of said sheets and of a stop piece made in
two parts, with or without arms thereon, for securing said glass sheets and cap in
position on the purlines, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the
annexed drawings.
רד
11: 75th Ja of Tonowy 1800
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agent.