IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE CO WINDOW SASHES AND FRAMES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Jones, of Aberavon, in the County of
Glamorgan, Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE CO
WINDOW SASHES AND FRAMES."
Scaled the 11th June 1867, and dated the 12th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Jones at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
December 1866.
I, THOMAS JONES, of Aberavon, in the County of Glamorgan, Builder, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
TO WINDOW SASHES AND FRAMES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements applicable to window sashes
and frames, and consists of novel arrangements for opening and closing
windows and retaining them in any desired position.
I propose to dispense with the use and application of weighted sash lines
and to apply to the top of the frame on each side a grooved pulley supported
in a bracket screwed beneath the top frame; over these pulleys the lines or.
cords are passed, one cord on each side of the window sash. The cords, are:
attached respectively to each frame in such manner that when the lower frame
is closed down the cords will traverse the pulleys and raise the upper frame to
its closed position, thus the frames balance each other. Thecords are fixed to.
the frames by means of grooves or channels cut in the sides of the frames into
which the cords are inserted; these grooves may extend partly or or entirely.
Price 81

page_text: along the frames, in the former case the grooves would be brought to the
front of the lower frame and back of the upper frame by an angular channel
and the cords secured by-pins, screws, or staples; in the latter case the cords
would be entirely laid along and down the frames and secured by knots let in
sockets cut in the wood so as to leave a flush surface for shutting the frames
closely. In order to rectify the slackening of the cords and tighten them up
I propose to apply to the edges of the frames a metal plate passed through a
groove or slot and metal guides; to the inner end of this plate the cord is
attached, the opposite end being cut with a series of teeth gearing with a
rack;
a small handle projecting from the plate serves to adjust the racks
together, and thus to regulate the cord. In case of the cords breaking 1
propose in some cases to attach them to small bell-crank levers set in the
edges of the frames, so that while the weight of the window is on the cord the
flat or vertical portions of the levers shall be close against the frames in
grooves, but directly the cord is broken the levers will fly out and act against
the fixed frames in notches cut therein, thus preventing the sudden fall of the
windows.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
JONES, of Aberavon, in the County of Glamorgan, Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Jones, Her special liceuce that I, the said Thomas
Jones, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Jones, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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
APPLICABLE TO WINDOW SASHES AND FRAMES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Jones, iny executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,

page_text: 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 I, the said Thomas Jones, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements applicable to window sashes
and frames, and consists of novel arrangements for opening and closing
windows and retaining them in any desired position, the object and principle of
the Invention being to dispense with the use and application of weighted
sash lines.
This principle is entirely new, novel, and simple, and is performed in the
following manner:-Instead of cast-iron sash weights and hollow frames the
two parts (that is, the top and bottom) are connected together by sash cords
or any other flexible material at the sides and passed over cast-iron or brass
pulleys which are fixed at the top of the frame sides called pulley stiles. The
centre of the pulleys, axle pins, and bearings are to be right over the parting
beads, as shewn at Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings. The same size pulleys
will answer for any thickness of windows by ploughing the groove for cord at
a proper distance to answer the size of the pulleys. The back of the side
stiles of the top part of window is to be grooved for the cord right through,
and a short groove is cut on the under side of the meeting rail for fastening
the cord, as shewn at B. The cord is fastened to the bottom sash by boring
a small hole at the top of sides under the meeting rail; the ends of the cords
are passed on both sides through, as shewn at c. The sides of the top part
are to be cut out at the corner on the inside so as to shut over the pulleys, as
at D, D. The cord is fixed, as described, to each part, so that by moving
either part one will balance the other, and a few pounds once in the weight
will not prevent them to remain where required; the friction of the pulley
axle and the friction of the sash rubbing against the frame is sufficient to
hold them where require. The cords may be fastened by leaving the side
stiles longer 3 or 4 inches at the meeting rails, as is usually done with good
windows, and fastened as shewn at E, E, Fig. 2.
To let the top part down without moving the bottom up, and to rise up the
bottom part without moving the top down, is performed in the following
mauner and several forms here described :-First, the bottom side stiles are
grooved for the cord all the way down, and two small pulleys are fixed as

page_text: shewn at F, F; the cords are then drawn down the groove and passed over
the pulleys and into the open groove G made in the bottom rail, on the inside
which runs the full length of the rail. The two cords are drawn from the
right and left side so as to meet about the middle of the rail, where two pulleys
are fixed for the cord to pass through or between them; the two cords are
then joined together by tieing a knot at a proper distance so as to let down
the top, which may then be drawn up by hand without moving the bottom
part; the bottom part is moved up by drawing more slack into the hand. To
keep the top and bottom parts open at any required distance the cords must
be fastened to the brass hooks fixed on the bottom rail, as indicated by dots
on the Drawing.
Another mode of letting down the top part without moving the bottom part,
and vice versâ, is as follows, see Figs. 3 and 4:-The cords are fastened to
the top part as before described and passed over the balance pulleys and
downwards to the top sides of the bottom part where the pulleys H, H, are
fixed; the cords are passed under and up the pulley stiles to the top, where
one small pulley is fixed on the right-hand side and three small pulleys on the
left-hand side; the right-hand cord is brought over the small pulley and under
the top of the frame towards the left-hand side, and is passed over the small
horizontal pulley first, and then the two cords right and left are passed out
over two vertical pulleys and the cords are joined together by a knot which
will run against the pulleys when the top part of the window is down; spare
cord hangs from the knot down to take hold of and to draw down and to lift
up the top. Brass hooks are fixed on the side of the bottom sash so as to
hold both parts closed or partly closed.
By the above principle the cost of cast-iron sash weights is entirely saved; a
saving is effected also in the breakage of cords by renewal, as on this principle
the cords can be fastened without taking the sashes out, and the frames are
inade solid instead of hollow, which is less costly and more durable. In the
masonry work the window opening is built without the usual weight reveals,
thus ensuring less materials and labour. On the old principle four iron pulleys
are used for hanging double, but on this principle only two are required; on
the old principle, also, the upper and lower parts can only be moved sepa-
rately, but on this balance principle the two parts are moved by moving one.
It often occurs that in the old principle of fixing windows one part is left
immoveable although intended to be raised, but this defect is avoided in the
present principle as the upper part cannot work without the lower, and vice
versâ. The cords may be arranged in other suitable positions as most con-
venient, the principle of the Invention being the same. I also propose that

page_text: the running pulley shall be secured fast to the pulling sill of the sash frame
where the meeting rails of upper and lower parts of the windows come
together. I propose to use a sash chain made of copper or any other suitable
inetal for hanging fixed as indicated on the Drawing; by this plan the working
appliance is covered out of sight. In Fig. 5 I propose to balance the windows
in four cog wheels and four cog racks constructed and fixed according to the
Drawing. I propose the cogs and rack to be made of brass or wood, or any
other suitable metal or material; the racks are fixed into the groove cut out
of the corner of the side stiles of the upper and lower part of the windows
facing the parting bead and fastened with screws, as indicated on the Drawing;
the cog wheels work one in the other the thickness of the parting beads; the
other sides of them will work in the racks fixed in the grooves of each part,
so that by moving either part of the window they will work on the balance.
principle and the working appliance will be entirely out of sight. In Fig. 6
I propose by this balance plan to work the window parts with two cog wheels
fixed at each side of the frame pulley stiles against where the upper and lower
parts of the windows meet, as indicated on the Drawing; cog wheels are to
be fixed as described in Fig. 5, except that in this plan the teeth of the cog
rack will be facing the parting bead instead of facing the back of the window
side stiles, as shewn in plan 5; the racks on each part either side are joined
in the cog wheels, so that by moving the sashes the cog wheels revolve
between the cog racks, and the appliance is out of sight; single cog and
double rack, or any other com bination of cog wheel and rack, may be used, the
principle being the same. These plans will answer to work railway carriage
windows and for private carriages by fixing the pulleys and cogs at the sides,
centre distance of the space; the cords, racks, and chains are all out of sight,
which I consider an improvement on my first plan. I propose (Fig. 7) that
railway carriage windows shall be framed in two parts according to the
Drawing; the meeting rails a I propose to be made of brass or any other
malleable metal; the joint where the two rails meet together when the window
is closed is to be made semi-joint; the said rails are fastened on the top of the
side stiles with two screws, as shewn in the Drawing; to unscrew them and
take them off for fixing in the glass I propose to use wire cord for hanging
made of brass or any malleable metal not above inch in diameter; the two
small pulleys are to be fixed at the top of the door, as indicated on the
Drawing. I propose to have the groove for the window to work in made
sufficiently large so as to give room for small pieces of india-rubber to be
nailed on at the corners of the frames so as to prevent them from vibrating
when the carriage is in motion. Fig. 8 represents a railway carriage window

page_text: where no room is supposed to be at the top of the door, as in the above
description; this sash is made in one piece, the usual ordinary way with this
sort; I propose a balance frame, as by the Drawing, open at the top; the two
are joined together over a small pulley or pulleys at the top with wire cord
(inch) in diameter); a parting bead is to run between them, as in the
Drawing. This principle of hanging windows can be applied to omnibuses
and to all ordinary private carriage windows, skylights, and hothouse windows,
&c. I also employ a side pulley with bearing for blind attached.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of parts I have expressed
and shewn, as the same may evidently be varied or modified without in any
way departing from the general principles of the Invention; for example, the
arrangement of the cords and the various parts of the sashes, the pulleys, and
other component parts of the movements may be considerably modified and
yet be in accordance with the Invention; so also any other arrangement of
cog wheel and rack gearing may be adopted besides those described; but what
I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent are, the general improvements applicable to window sashes and frames,
substantially as specified herein.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Jones, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
DAVID JENKINS,
Aberavon.
THOMAS JONES. (L.8.)