In- PROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING SHUTTERS AND BLINDS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME."S
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Clark, of Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING SHUTTERS AND BLINDS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME."
PROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING SHUTTERS AND BLINDS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME."
Sealed the 12th January 1864, and dated the 18th July 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th July 1863.
I, ALEXANDER CLARK, of Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING SHUTTERS AND BLINDS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME," to be as follows:
My Invention relates, first, to the manufacture of revolving shutters, in
which, instead of the ordinary wood laths lapped one on the other, I adopt a
series of round rods, which are merely placed and held in close contact, and have
no lap, the one on the other. To hold them together and in the form of a
shutter I mortise or punch slits or holes through the centre of the round rods
at intervals throughout their length, and thread strips or bands of metal
[Price Sd.]

page_text: (spring or otherwise) or other material through such slots, by which I draw
and fix the whole of the round rods close and firmly together, the connecting
strips being fixed at each end to the extreme rods or laths for that purpose.
A shutter so made is sufficiently close for all the purposes of a shutter, and at
same time sufficiently flexible to revolve or roll up as desired; tubes or rods
of metal or other material may be used instead of wood rods. Instead of the
rods being round they may be merely rounded throughout their length at the
points of contact of the one with the other, and flat or of other form at the
other parts of their surface.
The second part of my Invention relates to revolving sun blinds or shutters;
these I make of laths, and thread or connect them together very much in the
manner of wood lath revolving shutters, but instead of forming the area of the
surface with laths to form a solid surface I dispose alternately with the laths a
small ball or sphere, which keeps the laths at certain determined distances
apart, say, of an inch; these balls are disposed at intervals throughout the
length of the faths, say, at every foot, and corresponding with the uniting strips
or bands of the laths. By this means an open lattice kind of surface will be
presented, by which light and air will enter, but by reason of the thickness of
the laths and the inclination of the sun's rays to the blind the rays will not
enter. To prevent the sun's rays entering and to obtain as much light and air
as possible I make the laths about the same thickness as their depth, and
incline their upper and lower edges in a direction contrary to the inclination of
the sun's rays by using the alternate lath and ball as described, the whole may
be strung or drawn tight on strips of metal or other material, as herein-before
described with reference to shutters. When used for a shutter as well as
a blind it may be of advantage to make the laths of hollow metal.
The third part of my Invention relates to the application of pullies of
different diameters to the revolving or winding barrels of revolving shutters,
with endless band so arranged that a differential motion is induced, whereby
power is obtained to enable the easy winding up and lowering of a shutter or
blind.
Another part relates to improvements in short spring barrels for winding-up
shutters and blinds, such as described in a Patent granted to me, No. 975,
1862, and dated April 5th, which improvement consists in forming a double
instead of a single barrel, one of large and one of small diameter, the one
within the other, the smaller one to contain the acting spring, the larger one
being that on which the shutter is wound, by which means a much less length
of spring is required than when one barrel only is used. The same effect
may be produced by contracting the interior diameter of the large barrel by

page_text: radial ribs extended towards the centre, the ends of which form the limits that
contain the spring.
The last part of my Invention relates to machinery to be used in the manu-
facture of wood lath shutters, which consists of a punching apparatus for per-
forating the holes or slots through the laths, whereby they are threaded and
held together. In this apparatus I make the die or female part of the
punching apparatus to reciprocate, and mount the punch below; this punch I
make out 8 or 10 inches long, and in cross section equal to and of the form of
the slot to be punched; it is held in position by two or more sets of grippers
placed the one set below the other. When a lath is pierced it is forced down
on this punch, the next is then perforated and forced down in succession, the
first one being carried down (by a part of the apparatus) beyond the upper set
of grippers, which open for that purpose; a third is then perforated, when a
similar action takes place, and the first lath escapes past the lower set of
grippers and drops from the lower end of the punch; a metal or other con-
necting strip being attached to the lower end of the punch, the lath is at once
threaded thereon. In this description I have referred to one punch only, but
the machine would have the requisite number of punches and strip threaders
for the entire length of the lath, which would act simultaneously in the manner
described. I make the face of the punch of a double inclined form, which
begins the cut at the ends of the slot, the inclines meeting in the middle of the
breadth of the slot. A sharp cutting surface is ensured for the face of punch,
which acts in the manner of what may be termed a double-mortise chisel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CLARK, of Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alexander Clark, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander

page_text: "
Clark, my 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 SHUTTERS AND BLINDS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
THE SAME, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander
Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, 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 I, the said Alexander Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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 two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) —
My Invention relates; first, to the manufacture of revolving shutters, in
which, instead of the ordinary wood laths lapped one on the other, I adopt a
series of round rods which are merely placed and held in close contact, and
have no lap, the one on the other. To hold them together and in the form of
a shutter I mortise or punch slits or holes through the centre of the round
rods at intervals throughout their length, and thread strips or bands of metal
(spring or otherwise), or other material through such slits, by which I draw
and fix the whole of the round rods close and firmly together, the connecting
strips being secured at each end to the extreme rods or laths for that purpose.
A shutter so made is sufficiently flexible to revolve or roll up as desired.
Instead of the rods being round they may be merely rounded at the points of
contact the one with the other, and flat or of other form at the other parts of
their surface.
The second part of my Invention relates to revolving sun blinds; these I
make of laths, and thread or connect them together very much in the manner
of wood lath revolving shutters, but instead of forming the area of the surface of
laths to make a solid surface, I dispose alternately with the laths small balls, or
spheres, or short cylinders, which keep the laths at certain determined distances
apart, say, three-quarters of an inch; these balls or cylinders are disposed at
intervals throughout the length of the laths, say, every foot, and corresponding
with the uniting tapes or bands of the laths. By this means an open lattice

page_text: kind of surface will be presented, by which light and air will enter, but by
reason of the thickness of the laths, and. the inclination of the sun's rays to
the blind, the rays willinot enter. To prevent the rays entering, and to
obtain as much light and air as possible, I make the laths about the same
thickness as depth, and incline their upper and lower edges. in a direction
contrary to the inclination of the sun's rays by using the laths alternately with
the balls or short cylinders, as described; the whole may be strung and drawn
tight on strips of metal or other material, as herein-before described with
reference to shutters.
The third part of my Invention relates to the application of pullies of
different diameters to the revolving or winding barrels of revolving shutters
with an endless band or chain so arranged that a differential motion is induced,
whereby power is obtained to enable the easy winding up of a shutter or blind.
Another part relates to improvements in short spring barrels for winding up
shutters and blinds, such as described in Patent granted to me, No. 975,
April 5th 1862, which consists in forming a double instead of a single barrel,
one of large and one of small diameter, the one within the other, the smaller
one to contain the acting spring, the larger one being that on which the
shutter is wound, by which means a much less length of spring is required
than when one and the same barrel is used. The same effect may be pro-
duced by contracting the interior diameter of the large barrel by radial ribs
extending towards the centre. the inner ends of which form the limits that
contain the spring.
The last part of my Invention relates to machinery to be used in the manu-
facture of wood lath shutters, which consists of a punching apparatus for
perforating the holes or slots through the laths, whereby they are threaded
and held together. In this apparatus I make the die or female part of the
punching apparatus to reciprocate and mount the punch below; this punch I
make about eight or ten inches long, and in cross section equal to and of the
form of the slot to be punched; it is held in position by two or more sets of
grippers placed the one set below the other. When a lath is pierced it is
forced down on this punch, the next is then perforated and forced down in
succession; each lath is carried down beyond the lower set of grippers, the
grippers open and recede in succession to admit of its passage down on the
punch. A third is then perforated, when a similar action takes place, and so
on; the preceding laths are at same time forced lower down, and if not at once
threaded on a connecting strip drop from the lower end of the punch; if the
metal or other connecting strip be attached to the lower end of the punch the

page_text: lath will be at once threaded thereon. In this description I have referred to
one punch only, but the machine would have the requisite number of punches
and strip threaders for the entire length of the lath, the whole number acting
simultaneously in the manner described. I make the face of the punch of a
double inclined form, beginning the cut at the ends of the slot, the inclines
meeting in the middle of the breadth of the slot.
A sharp cutting surface is
thus ensured as the face of punch, which acts in manner like what may be
termed a double-mortise chisel.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a revolving shutter formed of round rods or laths fitted to
the opening of a window, showing also the means of coiling up such shutters;
this view represents the inside of the shutter and opening to which it is fitted,
but so far as the shutter is concerned its appearance is the same inside
and out.
Fig. 2 represents a transverse vertical section of Fig. 1.
a, a, are the
round rods, which have slot perforations through them at intervals b, b, b, as
seen in Fig. 1, for the reception of steel bands or tapes c, c, or they may be of
other suitable material, but I prefer steel as being strong and durable. A
terminal lath d is provided at the upper and lower parts, to which the ends of
the tapes c, c, are securely fixed, the whole of the laths forming the shutter
having been previously drawn tightly together; these lath or strip shutters
are unlike other lath shutters, as no rubbing contact takes place between the
laths in coiling, the act of bending the shutter merely causing the one round
lath to roll upon the next, the tension of the strips c, c, c, in drawing the rods
together having no effect in impeding the coiling of the shutters, as is the case
with ordinary lath shutters. I coil up these shutters by means of spring
barrels e, e, mounted one on either side of the window; strips of metal f, f,
connect the top lath of the shutter to the spring barrels, which, as well under-
stood, contain a spring coiled up in a state of tension, such that when the
shutter is slightly lifted it coils up on the two barrels; the reverse action of
pulling down the shutter uncoils it, and increases the tension of the spring.
These shutters are fitted to run in grooves at the sides of the window or opening
in which it is fitted as usual in coiling shutters, the ends of the wood rods
fitting somewhat closely therein.
Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of a shutter in which the action of
coiling or bending is the same as before described, but in which the edges of
the laths or rods only are of a rounded form, the cross section being somewhat

page_text: of an oblong or extended oval form.
This admits of the laths being threaded
and drawn up tightly on the connecting tapes, which are firmly fixed to the
terminal laths, as before described. In this case the laths are threaded on
and held by steel strips or laths, which are springs, and have of themselves a
tendency to coil and involve the shutter upon itself in a circular recess gat
each end, or it may be on a pin h attached to the upper lath at each end, as
described in the operation of my Patent, dated November 21st 1856, No. 2768,
for self-coiling shutters. In this case the spring barrels, as at Figs. 1 and 2,
are dispensed with. Instead of being coiled up by springs these shutters may
be wound or coiled up by shafting and wheel or other gear.
Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of three laths of a dianrond form in
cross section, having the contact edges rounded, as before described.
Fig. 5 represents a transverse section, and Fig. 6 an inside view, of a sun
blind according to my Invention, which is made in manner precisely similar to
the shutters herein-before described, with the exception that the laths k are of
an angular form, as seen in cross section, Fig. 5, and are separated the one from
the other by short cylinders i, i, disposed at intervals; these laths and pieces i,
which are simply short pieces of the round rods before described, are threaded
on tapes or strips of steel, either with or without the self-coiling action, and
the whole combined, fitted, and appointed as described with reference to the
shutter.
It will be observed that this blind will admit light between the laths, while
at same time it will exclude the sun's rays by reason of their, opposite
inclination to that of the openings between the laths k.
Instead of the short cylinders i, spheres may be used, but in that case they
should be threaded on wires or cords passing through the centres of the balls.
My improvements in the spring barrels for coiling up shutters and blinds
are represented in Figs. 7, 8, and 9; Fig. 7 represents a lateral section of a
spring barrel, and Fig. 8 a transverse section of the same. m is the outer
circumference or barrel, on which the shutter is wound, while p is the inner
barrel or box containing the spring q; r is the stud or pin on which the barrel
is free to rotate; it is fixed to the wall plate 8. Fig. 9 shows a modification
in which the inner barrel is dispensed with, the space containing the spring
being limited by three or more radial ribs t, t, to one of which the outer end
of the spring is fixed, the other end being fixed to the pin r.
Fig. 10 represents a means of raising and lowering shutters and blinds.
According to the third part of my Invention u, u, is the shutter fitted to slide
in the side grooves as usual. On the top part of the shutter are mounted two
grooved pullies v, v; at the upper part of the frame or opening are also fixed

page_text: two grooved pullies c, z, around all which pullies an endless chain is passed
as seen, and on which the weight of the shutter hangs. The pulley r has two
grooves, one at a larger diameter than the other, the one part of the pulley
carrying the chain proceeding from one side of the shutter, and the other part the
chain passing from the other side the friction of the chain in the grooves of the
pulley x, and the weight of the bight z must be sufficient to sustain the weight
of the shutter in order to prevent its running down, or a friction roller o may be
added, as shown dotted, to make it grip. The pulley x it must be understood
is of one piece, or its two grooved parts securely fixed together. The action
of the chain is this, in raising the shutter the part 1 of the chain is pulled,
causing the pulley z to rotate; this hauling in of the chain increases the length
of the bight or double z, the rotation of the pulley at same time gives out
chain from the bight or double z, but at a lesser rate than that taken in before
mentioned, which difference of rate will depend on the relative diameters of
the grooves of pulley x, and on which also the power gained will depend.
The lesser the difference of diameter in the grooves of x the slower will be the
motion given to the shutter, but the greater will be the power gained, and vice
versa. In lowering the shutter the opposite part 2 of the bight z is to be
pulled and the first-mentioned part eased away.
In making lath shutters according to this Invention I prefer to form them
of round rods, as before described, which rods I prepare by means of rotating
cutters, such as used in the manufacture of umbrella sticks, pencils, and other
like round articles as well understood, the cutters being mounted radially on
a rotating socket, with the cutting edges towards the centre, through which
the lath of wood is passed. The cutter socket or chuck rotates at a high
velocity, and the wood is fed up to it by feed rollers or other self-acting means.
The rods or laths having been so prepared are then taken to the machine in
which they are to be punched and threaded on the metal strips as before
mentioned. This machine is represented in Figs. 11 and 12, Fig. 11 being a
front view and Fig. 12 a transverse vertical section of the same; Figs. 13,
14, and 15 are detail views, which will be herein-after referred to.
A, A, are two standards, between which is disposed a bed B, which in a
certain sense is analogous to the bed of a punching machine; C, C, is a beam
mounted between the standards A, A; and so fitted thereto so as to reciprocate
up and down; motion is communicated to the beam C, C, by two connecting
rods D worked by crank pins E, E, on the end of the shaft G, or this motion
may be given by eccentrics in lieu of the cranks; the shaft G has rotary
motion communicated to it by bevil or other gear II in connection with any
suitable driving power. This machine must necessarily be of the length of the

page_text: rods and equal to the widest shutter required, and be fitted with a number of
punching parts, adjusted at intervals throughout the length at the distances
apart required for the steel strips to be inserted. In order that this may be
varied I fit the parts, herein-after to be described. as to slide in dovetails
or grooves on the bed B and beam C. and fix them at any points desired.
The following description I will confine to one punch and die and their
appurtenances, the same being repeated at intervals in the length of the
machine as seen. I is the punch or part perforating the lath, which is held in
an upright position by two pairs of nippers K, K. mounted on a bracket L fixed
to the bed B; these nippers grip the edges of the punch I. as best seen in
the partial horizontal section Fig. 15. The nipper jaws, although mounted on
the same pin, do not cross cach other like a pair of shears, the head and tail ends
remaining the same side; the tail ends of the nippers K, K. move in guide
groves or cams in plate M (seen enlarged and detached at Fig. 14), that is
to say, they are subject to the control of such grooves; the nippers, in fact.
retaining a stationary position, while the cam grooves M move up and down
upon them. The cam piece M is fixed to the beam C. and moves up and
down with it. On the beam C also is fixed the die, which with the punch I
effects the perforating operation. This die is an open loop-like piece P. which
has at the upper part a flange to fix it to the beam C. while in the lower limb i
is the slot or opening of the die which receives the punch I. It is separately
represented in front view on an enlarged scale at Fig. 13, and partially in
cross section at Fig. 16, taken through the opening that receives the punch.
It will be observed that it has a lateral hollow or groove along the face to fit
The parts
somewhat closely to the form of the round rod to be punched.
being thus formed and arranged the action of the apparatus is as follows:-The
reciprocating action before mentioned elevates the cam guides, so that the
tail ends of both pairs of nippers K are in their lower straight parts 3, 3, as
seen, which keeps both the nippers closed and holding the punch I; at this
time the die is lifted off the punch. The rod of wood Q to be perforated is
now placed in position on the tops of the punches, the descending motion of
beam C then commences bringing down the dies on the wood Q, and forcing it
on the several punches, which being at the point of the shape seen in Fig. 16
cuts portions of the wood out of the centre of the rod, which pieces with the
punches enter the dies P, thus forming the desired slots through the wood rod.
During the actual time of punching, and until the punches I enter the dies,
the tails of both pairs of nippers remain in the lower straight parts 3, 3, of the
cam grooves, so that both pairs of nippers K continue to hold the punch

page_text: during that time; so soon as the punches enter the dies the tails of the upper
nippers pass by the inclines to the middle parts 4, 4 of the cams, which has
the effect of opening their jaws and withdrawing them within the face of their
supporting bracket L, so that the dies P are free to descend on the punches below
the position of the upper nippers; this they continue to do, forcing the lath of
wood before them, the punches being still held by the lower ones. When
the dies descend near to the position of the lower nippers, the upper nippers
again close by passing from the parts 4, 4, to parts 5, 5, of the cams M. and
again grip the punches, immediately after the upper nippers again take hold of
the punches, the lower ones release their hold by passing from the parts 3,3, to 4,4,
of the cams, the jaws receding behind the face of their supporting bracket; the
dies are thus free to descend below the level of the lowest nippers K, forcing
the rod Q down to an equal extent, the retrograde motion then takes place, and
when the die rises above the lower nippers they are again closed by passing
from 4; 4, to 3, 3, and grip the punch, and in turn the upper ones release their
hold, & recede by passing from 5, 5, to 4, 4, and allow the dies to pass; they
are again closed by passing from 4, 4, to 3, 3, and grip the punches as first
described, in readiness to perforate another rod Q. The open hoop form of
the dies P permit the upper nippers to be projected from the face of bracket L
and hold the punch I whilst it is through the part j. The same action is
again repeated with another rod, which is perforated in like manner, and
forced down on the previous one, pressing it lower and so on. In order to
thread the rods Q, Q, on the strip of steel or other material on which they
are, to be permanently fixed, I attach such strips to the lower ends of the
several punches I, as seen at R, R, for which purpose I make slots in the
lower ends of the punches, bend a kind of hook on the steel strips and hook
them into such slots as represented, the strips being narrowed and pointed at
the ends for that purpose. Thus the several wood rods Q, Q, to form a
shutter or surface of laths are at once punched and threaded on the material
which is to connect them permanently, and when a sufficient number are
threaded the connecting steel strips R, R, are fixed at each end to the terminal
laths, or the lower or upper terminal lath may be fixed to the strips previously
to threading on the round laths or other suitable stops provided at the ends.
This apparatus will answer equally well for perforating slots in rods or laths
of other shapes for blinds or shutters which it will be unnecessary to further
describe. It may also be used for perforating other material than wood of
which to make shutters or blinds, and I further make such shutters and blinds
of iron, steel, or other metal, or of wood and metal combined either by

page_text: enclosing a core of wood in a thin metal tube for each lath, or the laths may
be alternately of wood and metal, or the materials may be otherwise combined.
For feeding the laths to the perforating apparatus I provide an inclined table
seen in the transverse section Fig. 12; this table S extends from end to end of
the machine, and has a covering piece T, between which and the table S the
round rods or laths are fed, they being placed on the table S at the highest
part and pressed towards the punches by hand, the rods being placed parallel
and in sufficient number to cover the table S. pressure so exerted forces the
lowest laths against the side of the dies P as it is descending and ascending
during the perforation of the preceding lath, so soon as the dies rise from
the punches to the level of table and its cover S and T the lowest lath is
forced forward, and takes up a position immediately above the punches I, the
centre of the lath coinciding with the central line of the punches.
feeding the laths if they are warped or bent the pressure exerted should be
sufficient to straighten them, and be maintained to keep them straight until
gripped by the dies and punches. In the manufacture of the sun blinds
before described by this machine it is simply necessary to alternately feed in
the laths with the short cylinders before described, the laths must however be
held so that the slots will be punched in the direction desired, and as shown
in Figs. 5 & 6. Laths or rods (for shutters) of other form than round will
also require holding to insure their perforation in the desired direction.
In thus
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the manufacture of revolving shutters and blinds of laths, rods, or
strips of wood or other material arranged & threaded on strips or tapes of metal
or other material as herein-before described.
Secondly, I claim the manufacture of revolving sun blinds of strips of
wood or other material, alternated and held apart by short cylinders or
pieces of other form, such blinds being otherwise formed and arranged as
herein-before described.
Thirdly, I claim the application of differential gear for winding up and
lowering revolving shutters acting as herein-before described with reference
to Fig. 10 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourthly, I claim the application of the double or compound spring barrel
represented at Figs. 7 and 8 of the Drawing annexed, or its equivalent shown
at Fig. 8, to revolving shutters and blinds.
Fifthly, I claim the apparatus herein-before described with reference to
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the Drawings hereunto annexed for per-

page_text: In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
W. CLARK,
Patent Agent,
ALEXANDER CLARK. (L.S.)
:
53, Chancery Lane,
London.