Im- PROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR PROOF ILLUMINATING ROOFS, SKYLIGHTS, WINDOW LYCTIMS AND GRAMYWAS AND TV Tron
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thaddeus Hyatt, of Gloucester Gardens, Hyde
Park, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of “Im-
PROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR PROOF ILLUMINATING ROOFS, SKYLIGHTS,
WINDOW LYCTIMS AND GRAMYWAS
AND TV Tron
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thaddeus Hyatt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd January 1872.
I, THADDEUS HYATT, of Gloucester Gardens, Hyde Park, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR PROOF ILLUMINATING ROOFS, SKYLIGHTS,
WINDOW LIGHTS, AND GRATINGS, AND IN GLASSES FOR THE SAME,
"to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in constructing plates, sheets,
and blocks of glass and other translucent substances used to form

page_text: illuminating roofs, skylights, floor lights, pavement lights, and window
lights, a part of the said improvements referring to the metal framework
of the pavement lights, employed under certain conditions for holding
the said translucent media; both having reference to security against fire
and burglary, and both being designed to influence the quality, character,
and direction of the rays or the volume of the transmitted light.
In general illuminating roofs and skylights are rendered burglar proof
by their construction, and moreover by the use of an iron network grating
in conjunction with apertures of only about three inches diameter,
the said roofs and skylights are also rendered fireproof. But while such
illuminating roofs answer perfectly in many and perhaps most situations,
there are others where the metal network is pronounced objectionable,
and disused by reason of a mottled and damaged look given to mer-
chandize lying beneath it, especially so with a strong light, the iron
network, it is alleged, casting shadows upon the fabrics beneath the
lights, and thus injuring their sale. On this account the occupants of
stores where merchandize is sold have resorted to the use of large sheets
of glass with less metal framework, notwithstanding that the greater
risk of fire and burglary, and notwithstanding that the increased glare of
light from such large sheets of glass necessitate the use of shades beneath
the lights.
Now my improvements in illuminating roofs to light stores of this
description consist first in making the roof wholly of glass, a part of the
improvement consisting in the construction of the glass itself, so as to
render it self-supporting, which I accomplish by making the plates with
a series of parallel bars, "webs," or ribs, which are rolled upon either
one or upon both surfaces during the process of manufacture of the said
plates, which ribs-may all lie in the same direction parallel with each
other, or may cross one another, or they may all lie in one direction
upon one face, and all lie upon the reverse face in an opposite direction.
In order to separate such sheets into any required sizes smaller than
the original, I make dividing channels upon one or both surfaces of the
glass plate for the passage of the diamond, but these channels are not
made sufficiently deep to weaken the glass. In the self-supporting glass
above referred to the channels are situate between the webs or ribs,
which for this purpose are disposed in pairs at convenient intervals, the

page_text: two ribs of each pair being near to each other. The diamond is to be
run along the channel so as to divide the plate between the two ribs
which form the pair.
This system of making guiding channels for the diamond is also
obviously applicable to the dividing of other plates of glass into any
given smaller sizes or forms.
Where it is desirable to make a roof of narrow panes of the self-
supporting glass, each pane will have along each side of its upper face
throughout its whole length a standing rib, the practical value of which
is this, the roof is required to be water-tight; it is also required to be all
of glass;
it is also required to be formed of sections. Now my method
of forming such a roof is to make use of glass cap plates or reversed
troughs in combination with the said ribbed glass, which by embracing
the two standing ribs of the jointed sections causes the seam to be water
tight, no cement being required, and consequently no rays of light being
intercepted.
The second feature of this improved roof consists in neutralizing the
glare of so great a glass surface by means of a blue tint in the glass
itself, and thus dispensing with the blue calico shades now made use of
under the skylights. These all glass self-supporting roofs obviously
necessitate the protection of the premises so covered against fire and
burglars, which protection has hitherto been obtained from the metal
frame or grating which supported the glass, the bars being placed so
near to each other as to prevent the entrance of burglars.
I propose to obtain the protection required by the use of Venetian
blind roof light shutters situate underneath the roof, as described in my
Provisional Specification, filed the 18th day of November, 1871; but
in order to utilize the light which falls upon such shutters I make the
sides or faces of each slat in the blind or shutter reflecting surfaces. I
polish the said ribbed and self-supporting glass, and use it as occasion
may require for window glass in large sheets.
I also propose to form the under face of the glass plates used for
roof lights and illuminating gratings in a way which, whilst affording
additional strength to the glass itself, admits also of giving direction to
the rays of light that enter it. This feature consists of forming the

page_text: under side of the plate of glass, whether the plate be self-supporting
(that is to say, webbed or ribbed) as above described, or set in frames in
the ordinary way, with a series of ribs deep enough and wide enough
apart to act as reflectors, especially when silvered on the rear side.
These ribs may be all of uniform depth when the glass is sufficiently
inclined to prevent the projections of the fore one from intercepting the
reflected rays of light from that in its rear; but when not so inclined I
then make the ribs of varying depth, progressively deepening to the rear
according to the angle at which the glass is to be placed.
Where the glass is to-be walked upon and is used in small blocks, one
part of my improvements consists in tilting these glasses or setting them
in seats that are inclined so as to produce a sloping face for the double
purpose of shedding rain and dirt, and to prevent the glass from being as
much scratched and worn as it would otherwise be, for the iron of the
grating that rises up behind the rear portion of one glass serves as a
defence or protection to the depressed portion of the glass behind. The
same result may be accomplished by a sloping face upon the glass even
if set in a straight seat.
Another object of tilting the glass under certain circumstances is to
give special direction to the entering rays of light.
The last part of these improvements has reference to protection against
fire, and consists in the employment of translucent plates or panes of
alum for the sake of its water of crystallization. In using these alum
panes I use first a supporting pane of thin glass to hold the alum, so
that in the event of its being melted by fire, it shall not run away and
be lost. I also overlay the alum by a pane of glass still thinner to
protect it against the weather. This pane I prefer to have thinner in
order that the generated steam may crack it rather than the one below.
These three panes are all glazed into one scat in the sash in the ordinary
manner of glazing.
The alum may be protected by a waterproof coating of transparent

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thaddeus Hyatt in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 19th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, THADDEUS
HYATT, of Gloucester Gardens, Hyde Park, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the 35th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, Her special license that I,
the said Thaddeus Hyatt, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term thercin
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 FIRE AND
BURGLAR PROOF ILLUMINATING ROOF SKYLIGHTS, WINDOW LIGHTS, AND GRATINGS,
AND IN GLASSES FOR THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, my exccutors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Thaddeus Hyatt, 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 accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
-
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in constructing
plates, sheets, and blocks of glass and other translucent substances used
to form illuminating roofs, skylights, floor lights, pavement lights, and
window lights, a part of the said improvements referring to the metal

page_text: framework of the pavement lights employed under certain conditions for
holding the said translucent media; both having reference to security
against fire and burglary, and both being designed to influence the
quality, character, and direction of the rays, or the volume of the
transmitted light.
In general illuminating roofs and skylights are rendered burglar proof
by their construction, and moreover by the use of an iron grating with
apertures of only about three inches diameter, the said roofs and skylights
are also rendered fireproof. But while such illuminating roofs answer
perfectly in many and perhaps most situations, there are others where
the metal network is pronounced objectionable, and disused by reason of
a mottled and damaged look given to merchandize lying beneath it,
especially so with a strong light, the iron network, it is alleged, casting
shadows upon the fabrics beneath the lights, and thus injuring their
sale. On this account the occupants of stores where merchandize is sold
have resorted to the use of large sheets of glass with less metal frame-
work, notwithstanding that the greater risk of fire and burglary, and
notwithstanding that the increased glare of light from such large sheets
of glass necessitates the use of shades beneath the lights.
Now my improvements in illuminating roofs to light stores of this
description consist, first, in making the roof wholly of glass, a part of the
improvement consisting in the construction of the glass itself so as to
render it self-supporting, which I accomplish by making the plates with
a series of parallel bars, "webs," or ribs," which are rolled upon either
one or upon both surfaces during the process of manufacture of the said
plates, as shewn in the sectional views of the said plates in Figures 1
and 2 of the annexed Sheet of explanatory Drawings, wherein A
represents the main illuminating portion of each plate, and B the
strengthening or self-supporting ribs. These ribs may all lie in the
same direction parallel with each other, or may cross one another, or
they may all lie in one direction upon one face, and in an opposite or
different direction on the reverse face.
In order to separate such sheets into any required sizes smaller than
the original, I make dividing channels a, a, Figure 3, upon one or both
surfaces of the glass plate for the passage of the diamond, but these
channels are not made sufficiently deep to weaken the glass. In the
self-supporting glass above referred to the channels are situate between
the webs or ribs B, B, which for this purpose are disposed in pairs at

page_text: convenient intervals, the two ribs of each pair being near to each other.
The diamond is run along the channel a so as to divide the plate between
the two ribs which form the pair.
This system of making guiding channels is also obviously applicable
to the dividing of other plates of glass into any given and smaller sizes
and forms, as shewn at a, a, in Figure 4, which represents a full-sized
view of a portion of a plate capable of being thus divided into a number
of lens, glasses, or squares.
Where it is desirable to make a roof of narrow panes of the self-
supporting glass, each pane will have along each side of its upper face
throughout its whole length, one of the before-mentioned strengthening
ribs, as shewn in Figure 3, the practical value of which will be found in
cases where a roof is required to be water-tight as well as to be formed
of sections of glass alone. Now my method of forming such a roof is to
make use of glass cap plates or reversed troughs D, D, in combination
with the said ribbed glass, which by embracing the two standing
ribs B, B, of the jointed sections, causes the seam to be water-tight,
no cement being required, and consequently no rays of light being
intercepted.
If found desirable the glare of so great a glass surface may be
neutralized by means of a blue tint in the glass itself, thereby dispensing
with the blue calico shades now made use of under the skylights. These
all glass self-supporting roofs obviously necessitate the protection of the
premises so covered against fire and burglars, which protection has
hitherto been obtained from the metal frame or grating which supported
the glass, the bars being placed so near to each other as to prevent the
entrance of burglars.
I propose to obtain the protection required by the use of Venetian
blind roof light shutters (E, Figure 5,) situate underneath the roof F, as
described in the Specification of my Patent, dated November Eighteenth,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, No. 3124; but in order to
utilize the light which falls upon such shutters, I make the sides or faces
of each slat or lath of the shutter reflecting surfaces, whereby the rays
of light shown by the red lines in Figure 5 may be reflected in various
lateral or angular directions into the apartment G. I propose sometimes
to polish the said ribbed and self-supporting glass, and to use it as
occasion may require in large sheets for window glass.

page_text: I also propose to form the under face of glass plates used for roof
lights and illuminating gratings in a way which, whilst affording
additional strength to the glass itself, admits also of giving direction to
the rays of light that enter it.
One mode of carrying out this part of my Invention consists in
forming the under side of the glass (whether it be self-supporting (that is
to say) webbed or ribbed, as above described, or in small blocks or plates
set in iron gratings in the ordinary way) with a series of ribs deep
enough and wide enough apart to act as reflectors, especially when
silvered on the rear side, as shown at H, H, in Figure 6. These ribs
may be all of uniform depth (see Figure 6) when tlie glass is sufficiently
inclined to prevent the projections of the fore rib or web intercepting
the reflected rays of light from that in its rear, but when not so inclined
I then make the ribs of varying depth, progressively deepening to the
rear according to the angle at which the glass is to be placed, as shewn
at H, H', in Figure 7.
Figures 8 and 9 represent respectively a section and plan of a glass
intended to be set in a frame forming an illuminating grating, such
glass having concentric annular shaped projecting ribs H, H, formed on
its under side, one or both sides of such ribs being, if desired, silvered
so as to constitute reflecting surfaces which will give direction to the
rays of light.
Figure 9 represents a portion of an illuminating grating wherein the
above-described concentric annular ribbed glasses or lenses are employed.
In the case of illuminating gratings where the glasses are to be walked
upon and are used in small blocks I, I, as shown in section and plan at
Figures 10, 11, and 12, one part of my improvements consists in tilting
these glasses or setting them in seats K, K, that are inclined (see
Figure 10) so as to produce a sloping face for the double purpose of
shedding rain and dirt, and to prevent the glass from being as much
scratched and worn as it would otherwise be, the iron of the grating that
rises up behind the rear portion of one glass serving as a defence or
protection to the depressed portion of the glass behind.
The same result may be accomplished by forming a sloping face upon
the glass, even if set in a horizontal seat, as shewn in Figures 11 and 12,
another object of tilting the glass under certain circumstances is to give
angaial divaation to the antexing raxe of light

page_text: Fifth. The utilizing the light which falls on the laths or slats of
Venetian or louvre blind roof light shutters by making one or both
surfaces of some or all of the said slats or laths reflecting surfaces.
Sixth. Forming on the under sides of glass plates intended for roof
lights and illuminating gratings a series of projecting ribs of cither
uniform or different depths, arranged either in straight or curved lines
or in concentric rings, and so disposed as to reflect or deflect in the
direction required, the rays of light which pass through the said plates,
substantially as herein-before described.
Seventh. The setting of the glasses which are fitted into illuminating
gratings intended to be walked upon in inclined seats or the forming of
each glass with an inclined or sloping surface, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by Figures 10, 11,
and 12 of my Drawings.
Eighth. The application and use of plates or panes of alum in con- ]
junction with a supporting and a covering pane of glass, or with a
supporting pane of glass and a coating of varnish on the exposed parts
of the alum, the whole being glazed into one common seat, substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, have to this my 2
Specification set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.