An Improved Device for Opening and Closing Sky-lights or WE, Fan-lights.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Opening and Closing Sky-lights or
WE,
Fan-lights.
FRANZ KOERFER and LOUIS KOERFER, Manufacturers, of the Firm of
Jean Wimmersberg Nachfolger, of Witschgasse, Cologne, in the German Empire,
do hereby declare the nature of 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 will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which ;-
Figs. 1 and 2 represent a fan-light provided with the improved closing or locking
device, in the closed and open conditions, respectively;
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a similarly fitted fanlight; and
Fig. 4 shows the operating mechanism on a larger scale.
A screw spindle a is so supported in a suitable bearing b, that the spindle may
turn about its longitudinal axis, and perform an up-and-down pendulum-like
movement. The bearing is secured to the window frame d by means of a
bracket c and woodscrews. Upon the fan-light g is mounted a bracket f, the head e
of which carries on a pair of trunnions a screw nut through which passes the
spindle a. As the screw nut e is held by the bracket, while the spindle a is capable
of revolving, the turning of the latter will cause the nut e, together with the
bracket, to move along the spindle, and will consequently produce a turning or
swinging movement of the fan-light y upon its hinges. Upon the spindle a, between
the bracket f and the base plate c, there is interposed a small chain-wheel, over
which runs a pitch chain guided by small pulleys or rollers i, as shown in Fig. 3 by
The said chain extends downward to a convenient distance above the
dotted lines.
floor.
When it is desired to open or close the fan-light, one side or the other of the
chain is pulled, as the case may be. By such means, and through the medium of
the chain wheel h, the spindle a will be caused to turn in the required direction and
thereby.to open or close the fan-light. Owing to this arrangement, the fan-light can
be easily placed in any desired position and will then remain in it. While opening
the fan-light, the front end of the spindle is lowered or depressed (Fig. 2), and
when it is being closed, that end rises. The chain wheel his little (if at all)
influenced by this rising and sinking motion of the spindle end, so that the chain
passing over the rollers i, as well as over the wheel h, does nevertheless invariably
retain the proper position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:―
1. A device for opening, closing and securing fan-lights or sky-lights hinged
upon horizontal pivots or hinge pius, by. means of a spindle. (a) capable of
simultaneous rotary and pivotal up and down motion, the said device having the
distinctive feature, that when the spindle is turned by means of a pitch chain and
wheel, a screw nut, secured to the fan-light or sky-light and enclosing the spindle,
will travel along said spindle forward or backward, as the case may be, thereby
causing the sky-light to open or to close and then to securely remain in position ;

page_text: the chain-wheel being so mounted upon the spindle as to be little, (if at all) affected
by the pivotal rise and fall of the spindle, substantially as described.
2. A fan-light or sky-light opener constructed or adapted to operate substantially
as described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of February 1895.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents.