Improvements in Runners or Pulleys for Partitions, Sashes, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Runners or Pulleys for Partitions, Sashes, and
the like.
I, JOHN WILKS of Thornaby-on-Tees, in the County of York, Commercial
Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to a supporting runner or pulley for sliding or movable
partitions or doors applicable also to sash pulleys and similar appliances and is
designed with the object of adapting ball bearings thereto.
In the form I at present prefer for supporting the leaves or sections of heavy
partitions or doors I construct a bracket or socket for attachment to the partition
with a shank or its equivalent to allow of the runner swivelling and below this
I provide an annular socket or bearing to maintain the wheel or runner.
The runner is made in two parts each with a shank or projection which pro-
jects through the socket one part projecting into the other and being secured
together by a screw thread thereon or by a screw or bolt passed through the two
parts. Each of these is made of suitable shape conical or otherwise to carry
balls for ball bearings a ring of balls being inserted at each side. The apparatus
may be applied either to supporting the partition or other article below or sus-
pending it from above.
In another arrangement the runner is supported upon two cones one inserted
at each side of the bracket which are held in position by being screwed into the
side of the bracket and by means of a screw or bolt passed through them which
locks them a ring of balls being inserted at each side.
This arrangement may also be applied to the brackets of sash pulleys in which
it is desired to mount the pulley on ball bearings.
In the case of swivelling sliding partitions the castor may be fixed in the centre
of the leaf or door and the groove in which the pulley runs be curved at the end
to allow the leaves or doors to turn or swivel.
Dated this 5th day of December 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Runners or Pulleys for Partitions, Sashes, and
the like.
I, JOHN WILKS of Thornaby-on-Tees, in the County of York, Commercial
Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The invention relates primarily to a supporting runner or pulley for sliding
or movable partitions or doors applicable also to sash pulleys and similar
appliances, and is designed with the object, of adapting ball bearings thereto.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which the invention is shown applied to several of the various articles to
which it is applicable.
Fig. 1. Transverse sectional elevation of supporting pulley for partitions.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal sectional elevation of same on line
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. Transverse sectional clevation of a modified form of same.
Fig. 4. Longitudinal sectional elevation on line y-y Fig. 3.
Fig. 5. Transverse sectional elevation of another modification of partition pulley.
Fig. 6. Longitudinal sectional elevation on line - Fig. 5.
Fig. 7. Transverse sectional elevation showing another modification.
Fig. 8. Longitudinal sectional elevation of same.
Fig. 9. Transverse sectional elevation showing another modification.
Fig. 10. Transverse sectional elevation of another modification of partition
.pulley.
Fig. 11. Side elevation of Fig. 10, partly in section.
Fig. 12. Transverse sectional elevation of pulley for suspending doors or
partitions.
Fig. 13. Longitudinal section of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14. Transverse sectional elevation of another form of pulley for suspending
doors or partitions.
Fig. 1. Transverse sectional elevation of ash pulley.
Fig. 16. Longitudinal sectional elevation of sane on line - Fig. 15.
Fig. 17. Transverse sectional elevation of modified form of sash pulley.
Fig. 18. Side elevation of same, partly in section.
Fig. 19. Plan showing arrangement of pulleys and partitions and method
adopted for swivelling same.
Figs. 20 and 21. Show side and end elevations of pulleys applied to the arrange-
ment illustrated in Fig. 19.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 which show one method of construction for pulleys
or runners for supporting the leaves or sections of heavy partitions or doors, I
construct a bracket or socket A for attachment to the partition with a shank a
or its equivalent to allow of the runner swivelling, and below this I provide an
annular socket or bearing B to maintain the wheel or runner. The runner C
is made in two parts each with a shank or projection which projects through
the socket B, one part el projecting into the other e and secured thereto by a
screw thread thereon or by a screw or bolt passed through the two parts. Each
of the parts c and cof the runner C is made of conical or other suitable
shape for ball bearings, a ring of balls d being inserted at each side.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, another arrangement of construction is illustrated
in which the runner or pulley C is supported upon two cones D, one inserted at
each side of the bracket A. The bracket A is formed with two annular sockets B
between which the pulley C is placed. The cones D are held in position by
being screwed into the sockets B in the bracket A, and by means of a screw
or bolt d¹ passed through them which locks them when set. Or they may be
made respectively with male and female screw threads and one be screwed into
the other. Instead of being screwed into the sockets B the cones D may be
provided with a key or feather or made with squares on the ends to prevent
turning, and be secured by a screw or bolt. The interior of the pulley C is made
with a groove and a ring of halls d is inserted in this groove between the ends
of the cones D.
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a slightly modified construction is illustrated

page_text: differing only from Figs. 3 and 4 in that the pulley C is supported on two rings
of balls d, one set at each side of the pulley, and the cones D being shaped to
correspond therewith as shown.
Refering to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 a slight modification of Figs. 1 and 2 is shown,
one ring of balls being placed in the centre of the socket B. In Fig. 7 the two
parts of the runner C being attached by the part cl screwing into the part c, and
locked by a bolt d', and in Fig. 9 the two parts being attached by the bolt d
screwing into one and locked by a nut d2.
Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, another modified construction is shown, the
pulley C being mounted in a similar manner to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
It is encased in two plates B₁ which take the place of the bracket A., This
might be used as a sash pulley or as a pulley for bearing balance weights or
for other purposes where a cased pulley may be required.
Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, in which is shown the method of construction
for pulleys to suspend doors or partitions from above. The bracket A by which
the partition is supported is securely attached to the leaf by the rod 6 or other
suitable means. The pulleys or runners C which run on two rails Gare
supported in an annular socket B by two rings of balls d bearing on the cone
ends D as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
Referring to Fig. 14, a cross head bracket A is shown for suspending the
partition, the pulleys or runners C being placed one at each side. The bracket
at each side is fitted with a fixed cone D, and the pulley C is supported by the
fixed cone I) and a loose or adjustable cone D' which is screwed over a stud d'
forming part of the bracket. The pulley is formed with an internal groove into
which the ball's d are fitted as in Figs. 3 and 4.
Referring to Figs. 15 and 16 the invention is shown as applied to sash pulleys.
The bracket A is of the ordinary external construction with a screwed socket B
to receive the cones D which support the ring of balls d. These run in a groove
in the interior of the pulley C as in Figs. 3 and 4.
Referring to Figs 17 and 18, a modified construction of sash pulley is shown,
in which the pulley C is supported on two rings of balls d placed at the sides
as shown in Figs. 5 to 8.
Referring to Figs. 19 to 21, an arrangement for swivelling sliding partitions is
illustrated in which the groove L which guides the pulley is curved at one end
to allow the leaves or doors K to turn or swivel. The leaves or doors are fitted
at and with a pulley such as shown in Figs. 1 or 3, provided with a projection
or pin to fit into the grooves L and M. The three leaves
are hinged
together, the first is provided with a pulley at one edge with a pin or pro-
jection N which slides in the straight groove M. The second leaf is supported
between the other two, and the third leaf is supported by a pulley fixed in
the centre with a pin or projection which is guided by the groove L, the curved
end L' of which causes the doors to swivel. The fourth leaf which is supported
alone without hinging, is provided with two pulleys one 7 at the edge and one
under the centre the central one being guided by the groove L, the curved end L
of which causes it to swivel. The form of pulleys I prefer to employ (which may
be constructed with ball, bearings as illustrated in any of the preceding Figs.)
at and are illustrated in Figs. 20 and 21. In order to prevent the edge of
the leaf or being drawn forward when the partition is folded before it has
been turned or swivelled back into the longitudinal position, I attach the
pulleys to the leaf without a swivelling joint or connection, so that the leaf
cannot swivel upon them, and so that the pulleys are turned round with it across
the groove M. Hence when the partitions are in the position shown in Fig. 19
the pulleys C Fig. 20, are turned across the groove M, and a very strong pull
would be required to move the partition out of place. A corresponding set of
pulleys is placed at the top of the partition. The. runners C are pivoted to a
cross head A¹ mounted upon a square spindle or bolt P attached to the top of
the leaves and k, and are held down upon the beam or rail R by a spring p.
;

page_text: The spindle P turns with the partition in a sliding thimbler with flanges which
rest upon the beam R. When the partition is swivelled the runners C are turned
round across the beam R on to the extended flanges of the thimble r, and these
flanges are thereby pressed firmly against the beam by means of the spring 7
thus locking the edge of the partition in position when swivelled or turned across.
A similar thimble with flanges may if desired be placed in the floor rail for the
bottom runners to mount upon. The dotted lines in Fig. 20 indicate the position
of the pulleys C relative to the grooves when the partition is swivelled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in runners or pulleys for partitions, sash pulleys, and
the like, substantially as described and shown.
2. A supporting pulley for partitions, sashes, weights or the like, having the
several parts constructed and arranged in combination, substantially as described
and shown with reference to either of the Figs. of the drawings.
3. The arrangement for swivelling partitions comprising a centrally fixed
pulley and a groove curved at the end to guide the pulley, substantially as
described and shown with reference to Fig. 19.
4. The general arrangement of swivelling partitions and pulleys therefor, sub-
stantially as described and shown with reference to Figs. 19, 20 and 21.
Dated this 6th day of September 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, & London, Patent Agents.