IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING AND OTHER SHUTTERS, AND IN TEMPORARY PARTITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR PREVENTING THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WHILE GIVING ACCESS BETWEEN PORTIONS OF A SCHOOL ROOM, CHAMBER, OR OTHER APARTMENT TEMPORARILY DIVIDED
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stones, of Ulverston, and James Castle
of Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING AND OTHER SHUTTERS, AND IN TEMPORARY
PARTITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE
FOR PREVENTING THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WHILE GIVING ACCESS BETWEEN
PORTIONS OF A SCHOOL ROOM, CHAMBER, OR OTHER APARTMENT TEMPORARILY
DIVIDED."
Sealed 'the 27th December 1872, and dated the 3rd July 1872.
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stones and James
Castle at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 3rd July 1872.
We, JOHN STONES, of Ulverston, and JAMES CASTLE, of Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING AND OTHER SHUTTERS, AND IN
PARTICULARLY
TEMPORARY PARTITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE FOR PREVENTING THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WHILE GIVING ACCESS

page_text: BETWEEN PORTIONS OF A SCHOOL ROOM, CHAMBER, OR OTHER APARTMENT TEMPO-
RARILY DIVIDED," to be as follows :-
The first part of our Invention consists in an arrangement as hercafter
described for working vertical revolving shutters as follows:-We employ
a drum or roller which is of or about the same size in diameter as the
smaller end of a conical grooved pulley herein-after mentioned; the drum
carries the shutter round which it is wound, which (supposing the shutter
to be out or open) is caused to be wound thereon as the chain becomes
uncoiled from the conical pulley on the end thereof, and this is accom-
plished at the same speed as the shutter is wound on the roller; to
unwind the shutter the reverse action takes place, viz.,-as the shutter
unwinds so the chain is wound round the grooved pulley. The chain,
rope, or band, which passes round the conical roller also passes round at
the opposite end; the ordinary guide roller and the said chain, rope, or
band is of the usual and ordinary description now generally used with
revolving shutters. Motion is given to the vertical revolving shutter
before described by a grooved pulley on the opposite end of the shutter
drum, round which grooved pulley a cord passes, or it may be driven in
any other known convenient manner.
The second part of our Invention consists in the application to vertical
revolving shutters of the right and left hand screw arrangement for the
purpose of delivering revolving shutters into grooves without the use of
friction rollers described in the Specification of a Patent, granted to
Thomas Kirby, the 26th April 1866, No. 1170, which is now the
property of the said John Stones, and exclusively worked by him.
The third part of our Invention refers to ascending revolving shutters,
and consists in the employment of a spring for causing shutters to be
wound round the drum. At the top of the window there are pulleys
over which cords or chains pass, and from thence on to grooved pulleys
which are in connection with conical grooved pulleys round which cords,
chains, or bands pass carrying weights so that to raise the shutter the
weight or weights descend as the cord unwinds from the smaller to the
larger portion of the conical pulley, and to raise it the reverse action
takes place.
Oun Inventio

page_text: applicable for dividing schools, class-rooms, rooms, chambers, or other
apartments into two or several divisions or parts in such manner that
when the shutter or shutters, partition or partitions is or are closed, all
sound is as nearly as possible excluded or prevented from passing from
one part of the room or building to the other part which is divided from
it as much as if not more so in many cases than when there are separate
and distinct apartments, rooms, or chambers, permanently divided.
This part of the Invention essentially consists in placing a sheet or
sheets of a material or materials which is or are a non-conductor of
sound against one side of or between a shutter or temporary partition
with another shutter or partition which may be of a similar or of a
different thickness or section to that part of the shutter on the other side
of the non-conducting material, so that when the revolving or other
shutter or partition is made according to this part of our Invention, it
appears to be and resembles an ordinary revolving or other shutter or
partition, but when in use, that is, when it is used to divide one part of a
room from another part or into several parts, all sound is prevented from
passing between the parts divided.
Sometimes we make the shutters on one side only or on both sides if
desired, with additional laths to overlap the other laths, and thus as it
were to break the joints, at the same time forming an additional resist-
ance against the passage of sound.
-
The materials we prefer to use as non-conductors of sound, are hair
felt (which is not of an inflammable nature or offensive in smell),
materials known as kamptulicon, linoleum, boulinikon, cork carpet,
corium, and materials of a like nature, gutta percha, india-rubber, cork,
baize, leather, cloth, woollen and other non-conducting textile fabrics, in
fact any material of a like nature capable of resisting sound.
Sometimes we make shutters and partitions which are non-conductors
of sound of a combination of wood and metal; thus, for example, we
make the shutter of wood laths on one side and of metal sheets or laths
on the other side, with the non-conducting material between them; or
that
we use wood laths on both sides with metal between, or vice versa,
is, metal or metal laths on both sides and wood between, or felt or any
other non-conducting material between.
Although we have described this part of our Invention as particularly
applicable to shutters or temporary' partitions for dividing one part of a

page_text: school, class-room, room, chamber, or other apartment from another, to
make separate and distinct schools, class-rooms, rooms, chambers, or
other apartments, still it must be understood that we do not limit
ourselves to this, because shutters or partitions made in the manner
before described, are, according to our Invention, applicable to all
purposes where revolving and other shutters or partitions are used.
Shutters constructed in the manner before described may be driven in
and by any of the means or modes herein-before described, or by any
other known modes or means which may be applicable to the particular
purposes to which they are applied..
Another part of our Invention consists in the application of wicket
doors to these sound-resisting and other revolving shutters or divisions,
so constructed as to roll up, attached to and as a portion of the revolving
shutters or divisions. When these revolving doors are unwound and
required to be used as doors giving access between rooms divided, we
attach to them diagonal cross framed ledges, whereby the doors are.
made as rigid and firm as an ordinary square framed or ledged door. We
form rebates to receive these doors, which rebates we face or line
preferably with thin plates of steel or other metal. We hinge the doors
with ordinary back flap hinges, and use flush locks and bolts as
fastenings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
IFICATI
filed by the said John Stones and James Castle in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, John
STONES, of Ulverston, and JAMES CASTLE, of Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said John Stones and James Castle, Her special
licence that we, the said John Stones and James Castle, our executors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Stones
and James Castle, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, .should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING AND OTHER SHUTTERS, AND IN TEMPORARY
PARTITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR
PREVENTING THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WHILE GIVING ACCESS BETWEEN PORTIONS
OP A SCHOOL ROOM, CHAMBER, OR OTHER APARTMENT TEMPORARILY DIVIDED," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Stones and James
Castle, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 John Stones and James Castle,
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 accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is
to say :-
The first part of our Invention consists in an arrangement, as here-
after described, for working vertical revolving shutters, as follows:-
We employ a drum or roller which is of or about the same size in
diameter as the smaller end of a conical grooved pulley, herein-after
mentioned. The drum carries the shutter or partition round which it is
wound, which (supposing the shutter to be out or open) is caused to be
wound thereon as a chain or rope becomes uncoiled from the conical
pulley on the end thereof, and this is accomplished at the same speed as
the shutter is wound on the roller. To unwind the shutter the reverse
action takes place, viz., as the shutter unwinds so the chain is wound
round the grooved pulley. The chain, rope, or band which passes round
the conical roller also passes round at the opposite end the ordinary
guide roller, and the said chain, rope, or band is of the usual and
ordinary description now generally used with revolving shutters.

page_text: Motion is given to the vertical revolving shutter, before described, by
a grooved pulley on the opposite or top end of the shutter drum, round
which grooved pulley a cord passes, or it may be driven in any other
known convenient manner.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical section of a
vertical revolving shutter or partition arrangement, constructed according
to this first part of our Invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same; and
Fig, 3 is a sectional view of the groove in which the lower part of the
shutter or partition works or slides, also shewing one of the friction
pulleys.
A is the roller or drum round which the shutter or partition is to be
coiled; B is a conical grooved pulley on the roller A; C is the chain,
wire rope, band, or cord, fastened to the largest part of the pulley B,
and pulley, roller, and shutter or partition are so proportioned that as the
shutter or partition is being wound off the drum the chain C at the same
time and at the same speed winds on to the pulley B, and vice versa ;
S is the shutter or partition. The chain C passes at the opposite end or
side round an ordinary guide roller D, and is fastened to the end of the
revolving shutter or partition S, thus forming an endless band with the
latter. The shutter or partition moves on pulleys E in the floor, as
shewn. Motion is in this instance communicated to the vertical
drum A by a grooved pulley F at the upper end of the shutter. A cord
passing round the pulley F, together with the eccentric arrangement
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Thomas Kirby,
A.D. 1866, No. 1120, or any other known convenient mode and means,
may be adopted for this purpose.
The arrangement just described may be reversed; that is, the conical
pulley B may be placed at the top of the drum instead of at the bottom,
and the driving arrangement at the bottom, or the driving arrangement
may be at the top with the conical pulley.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of an arrangement for an ascending
shutter or partition where weights are employed to cause the ascent.
S is the shutter, coiled round the drum, which is placed below the
window sill or below the floor of the apartment; T is a chain in a
grooved pulley, carrying a weight V at its end, so that as the chain
unwinds from its pulley the shutter or partition ascends; T¹ is another

page_text: chain, connected at one end to the shutter or partition, and carrying a
weight at its other end; W is a pulley over which the chain T
passes thus as the shutter or partition ascends the weights V and V₁
descend, and as the shutter is lowered they ascend, the chain T being
coiled on itself in its grooved pulley. The eccentric arrangement
patented by Kirby is applied in this case to cause the shutter or partition
to be delivered vertically in its groove.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of an arrangement when the drum for
carrying the shutter or partition is placed above the ceiling of the
apartment instead of below the floor, as described with reference to
Figure 4. In this case the chain T and weight V are only used, thus
dispensing with the chain T and weight V'.
The second part of our Invention consists in the application to vertical
revolving partitions or shutters of the right and left hand screw arrange-
ment for the purpose of delivering revolving partitions or shutters into
grooves without the use of friction rollers, described in the Specification
of a Patent granted to Thomas Kirby, the 26th April, 1866, No. 1170,
which is now the property of the said John Stones, and exclusively
worked by him.
The third part of our Invention refers to ascending revolving shutters,
and consists in the employment of a spring for causing shutters to be
wound round the drum. At the top of the window there are pulleys,
over which cords or chains pass, and from thence on to grooved pulleys,
which are in connection with conical grooved pulleys, round which cords,
chains, or bands pass carrying weights, so that to raise the shutter the
weight or weights descend as the cord unwinds from the smaller to
the larger portion of the conical pulley, and to lower it the reverse
action takes place.
Our Invention further consists in the construction and employment of
revolving and other shutters and temporary partitions, being particularly
applicable for dividing schools, class-rooms, rooms, chambers, or other
apartments into two or several divisions or parts in such manner that
when the shutter or shutters, partition or partitions is or are closed, all
sound is as nearly as possible excluded or prevented from passing from
one part of the room or building to the other part which is divided
from it as much as if not more so in many cases than when there are

page_text: separate and distinct apartments, rooms, or chambers permanently
divided.
This part of the Invention consists in placing a sheet or sheets of a
material or materials, which is or are a non-conductor of sound, against
one side of or between a shutter or temporary partition with another
shutter or partition, which may be of a similar or of a different thickness
or section to that part of the shutter on the other side of the non-con-
ducting material, so that when the revolving or other shutter or
partition is made according to this part of our Invention it appears to be
and resembles an ordinary revolving shutter or partition; but when in
use, that is, when it is used to divide one part of a room from another
part, or into several parts, all sound is prevented from passing between
the parts divided.
Sometimes we make the shutters on one side only, or on both sides if
desired, with additional laths to overlap the other laths, and thus, as it.
were, to break the joints, at the same time forming an additional
resistance against the passage of sound.
The materials we prefer to use as non-conductors of sound are hair felt
(which is not of an inflammable nature or offensive in smell), materials
known as kamptulican, linoleum, boulinikon, cork carpet, corium, and
materials of a like nature, gutta percha, india-rubber, çork, sail cloth,
baize, leather, cloth, woollen, and other non-conducting textile fabrics,
in fact any material of a like nature capable of resisting sound.
Sometimes we make shutters and partitions, which are non-conductors
of sound, of a combination of wood and metal, thus, for example, we
make the shutter of wood laths on one side, and of metal sheets or laths
on the other sides with the non-conducting material between them, or we
use wood laths on both sides with metal between, or vice versa; that is,
metal or metal laths on both sides, and wood between, or felt or any other
non-conducting material between.
Although we have described this part of our Invention as particularly
applicable to shutters or temporary partitions for dividing one part of a
school, class-room, room, chamber, or other apartment from another to
make separate and distinct schools, class rooms, rooms, chambers, or
other apartments, still, it must be understood that we do not limit
ourselves to this, because shutters or partitions made in the manner

page_text: before described are according to our Invention applicable to all
purposes where revolving and other shutters or partitions are used.
Shutters constructed in the manner before described may be driven in
and by any of the means or modes herein-before described, or by any
other known modes or means which may be applicable to the particular
purposes to which they are applied.
.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of a portion of a shutter shewing one
method which we adopt in the manufacture of shutter and partition
laths for preventing the transmission of sound through shutters or
partitions when made up wholly or partially composed of such laths.
a, a, are the shutter laths; b is the felt or other non-conducting
material; between the same the laths are secured or connected together
by bands of metal or webbing, or both combined, or they may be joined
to one another in any other convenient manner by screws, rivets, or
otherwise.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of a portion of a shutter, possessing
similar qualities to the first described, where additional laths are used
to overlap the other laths.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of a portion of a shutter, where one side
of the shutter is made of wood laths, and the contrary or opposite side
of metal, with felt or some other non-conducting material between the
wood and metal.
Figure 9 shews a shutter composed of metal laths, with felt between,
or other material, which is a non-conductor to sound; sheets of metal
may be used instead of metal laths.
Figure 10 is a view in vertical section of a portion of a shutter or
partition made according to our Invention, with laths, canvas, and felt,
or other non-conducting material, in fact, according to this arrangement
the partition or shutter is itself constructed of felt or of other material,
O non-conductible of sound, with just sufficient wood or iron to support
the non-conducting material.
Figures 11, 12, and 13, are views on a smaller scale than the preceding
of a partition made up according to our Invention.
Figure 11 is a view of the skeleton wood or iron frame which forms
5 the basis or a portion of the internal part of this partition. d, d'arc

page_text: cross bars or pieces, which with the outer frame form a skeleton frame;
b, b, is felt or other material non-conductible to sound, placed in and
filling up the spaces formed by the cross pieces d, d; e, c, are pieces of
canvas placed over the skeleton frame on both sides of the felt or other
non-conductible filling in or packing between the spaces of the frame;
f, f, are sheets of felt or other non-conductible material placed over the
canvas, and a, a, are the laths laid over the felt. These laths are always
detached from each other and made with open rabbeted joints. Instead
of the laths a, a, leather, sailcloth, baize, or other textile fabric is also
used by us.
Figure 12 shews one side of a partition when finished; Figure 13
shews the opposite or contrary side, thus it will be observed that the
laths are laid on one side in one direction and on the other side in the
contrary or opposite direction, so that every portion of the wood or iron-
work is disconnected, and not. solidly attached as in an ordinary wood
framed partition, and a greater resistance to the passage of sound is
obtained by breaking the joints, that is, by having the joints of the
laths on one side opposed to or opposite the laths themselves on the
other, or nearly so, than if the laths were placed in the same direction
on both sides, and by these means a temporary partition is produced
capable of resisting sound as completely, if not more so, than many
permanent partitions now used.
Figure 14 is a vertical section, and Figure 15 is a sectional plan of a
portion of a set of partitions, or of three partitions, or of so much thereof
as will be necessary to shew how we fit these partitions, in order to
enable them to be easily opened out or closed up, as circumstances may
require. A is the beam or joist of room; B is the soffit board; C, the
line of ceiling; D, the floor line; E, E, are shoulder pulleys mounted
on axes, which revolve in metal frames inserted in the lower ends of the
partitions, which are constructed and made in a similar manner to those
described with reference to Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13; G, G, are grooves
inserted in the floor of the room or other apartment, in which the par-
titions are placed, and extending so far as it is required for the partitions
to be moved, these grooves or guides are clearly shewn in Figures 14
and 15, we prefer to make the grooves deep, as shewn with the pulleys E, E,
running or working only in the top edges thereof, whereby a clear space
is left between the pulleys and the bottom of the groove, into which

page_text: are
dirt and other extraneous substances fall without in any way interfering
with the action of the pulleys which support the partitions, or we lay in
these grooves hollow india-rubber tubes, which prevent dirt from falling
therein without impeding the motion of the partitions; H, H,
friction pulleys, firmly secured to the top or opposite end of the par-
titions; I, I, are guides or runners, against which the friction pulleys H,H,
are free to run or slide; K, K, are the shutting stiles of the partitions ;
1,1, are pieces of india-rubber tubing, the strips or ends of which are .
inserted between the stiles and the partitions frame, which hold the rubber
in position, so that when the partitions are used to divide a room, the
tubing portion is jammed one against the other, and sound is thereby
prevented passing between the joints where one partition ends and the
other commences; a, a, are the laths with open rabbeted joints; b, b, is
the felt; and d, d, is the skeleton wood or iron framing of the partitions,.
all as before described.
Figure 16 is an isometrical perspective view of an apartment fitted
with sliding partitions made according to our Invention, and, as just
described, shewing three partitions partially drawn out. They are fitted
with pulleys and friction pulleys, as described, and in such manner that
there is nothing employed in the shape of complicated machinery which
can get out of order, neither is there any gearing, the parts cannot clog
or get stiff, a boy in fact can open or close the partitions. These par-
titions are preferably finished on the outside with open rabbeted match
boarding, as particularly herein-before described, but we wish it to be
understood that they may be finished with painted canvas, or otherwise
ornamented, or with leather bands or strips, or with leather, baize, or
cloth, or they may be even papered with ordinary house paper, according
as fancy or taste may dictate. Ordinary wicket doors may be inserted in
these partitions if required.
Partitions or shutters made according to our Invention can be wound,
closed, drawn up, coiled or uncoiled, or drawn by either of the arrange-
ments herein-before described most suitable for the particular kind, of
shutter or partition to be used, or by any other known and suitable
arrangement.
Another part of our Invention consists in the application of wicket
doors to these sound resisting and other revolving shutters or divisions,
so constructed as to roll up attached to and as a portion of the revolving

page_text: ་
shutters or divisions. When these revolving doors are unwound, and
required to be used as doors giving access between rooms divided, we
attach to them diagonal cross framed ledges, whereby the doors are made
as rigid and firm as an ordinary square framed or ledged door. We form
rabbets to receive these doors, which rabbets we face or line preferably
with thin plates of steel or other metal.
We hinge the doors with ordinary back flap hinges, and use flush
locks and bolts as fastenings.
Figure 17 shews a portion of a shutter or partition fitted with a wicket
door in this manner. s is that portion of the shutter forming the door,
which is hinged as shown in the enlarged sectional view, Figure 18;
t, t, are plates of steel inserted in the shutter on both sides of the door
to maintain the rigidity thereof; and v is a steel plate in the door itself
for a similar purpose, which steel is sufficiently pliable to be capable of
being wound with the shutter.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we do not limit
ourselves to the precise arrangement or arrangements herein-before
described, as the same may be varied or modified without departing from
the Invention, but we claim,—
First. Working revolving partitions or shutters vertically, substantially
in manner herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The application to vertical revolving shutters or partitions of
a right and left hand screw arrangement, described in the Specification
of a Patent granted to Thomas Kirby, 26 April 1866, No. 1170.
Third. The application to ascending revolving shutters of a spring in
combination with weights, or with weights alone, for causing the
shutters to be wound round the drum, substantially in manner herein.
before described.
Fourth. The employment and construction of temporary partitions or
shutters in and by the employment of frames whercin felt or other
material non-conductible of sound is employed, wherein the outside
framing is composed of thin laths with open rabbeted joints, and
possessing sufficient substance to hold the said framing together, sub-

page_text: stantially as herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth. The particular arrangement, construction, and method of action
of temporary partitions, together with any mere modification thereof,
substantially as described, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Stones and James Castle,
have hereunto set our hands and scals, this First day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.