IMPROVE- MENTS IN ILLUMINATING ROOFS AND SHUTTERS AND WALKING SURFACES FOR STREETS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DECKS OF VESSELS, AND IN THE CON-,
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thaddeus. Hyatt, of Gloucester Gardens, Hyde
Park, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ILLUMINATING ROOFS AND SHUTTERS AND WALKING SURFACES FOR
STREETS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DECKS OF VESSELS, AND IN THE CON-,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thaddeus Hyatt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd August 1873.
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 ILLUMINATING Roors AND SHUTTERS AND WALKING SUR-
FACES FOR STREETS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DECKS OF VESSELS, AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND MODE OF SECURING THE GLASSES FOR THE SAME," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to illuminating roofs and shutters for buildings,

page_text: illuminating gratings for vaults or areas, and illuminating deck planks
for ships.
İn my improved illuminating roofs and shutters I surround the shank
portion of the glass buttons which are inserted in the perforated thin
metal plate forming the main body of the roof or shutter, by a ring of
felt or other absorbent material, which soaks up any moisture or con-
densation formed on the glass. I also underline the plate with felt,
wood, or other non-condensing material, the before-mentioned felt rings
being used only when the iron plate is not underlined with an
absorbent non-conductor. When the under side of the sheet metal roof
is covered or sheathed with wood to render it non-condensing, I prefer
in some cases to groove the surface of the wood which lies next the
metal in such a way as that all the condensed moisture from the glasses
shall fall into, be carried away, and discharged by means of this grooved
surface of the wood sheathing, which must then of course be painted
or otherwise made waterproof. The interior surface may be finished
off with ornamental wood veneer, oilcloth, or other ornamental
material if desired. The glasses may be secured in any suitable manner
to the thin perforated non-condensing metal sheet, but I prefer to secure
them therein or into a plain metal sheet by having screwed shanks
formed on the glasses, and annular nuts screwed thereon from the
opposite side, such nuts being, by preference, spun out of thin sheet
metal. Or the shanks may have projections thereon engaging by
turning them partly round, with the edges of the metal plate itself,
or catches may be formed on the plate engaging with notches or
recesses in the shanks. An elastic cushion of india-rubber is placed
under the head of the glass to allow of the glass being forced in and
tightening itself after it has been turned partly round. Or in lieu of
turning the glass a separate washer on the under side may be used
having notches thereon engaging with corresponding projections on the
shank, such washer being turned in lieu of the glass. Or ordinary
glasses without shanks may be set in metal or other mounts provided
with shanks which are secured like the before-mentioned shanked glasses
to the perforated metal plate. These mounts may be composed of paper
machè or other compressed fibrous or plastic material. I sometimes
substitute for the before-mentioned annular sheet metal nuts a glass
having a screw thread formed thercin, which screws on to the screwed
shank of the opposite glass and thus forms a glass, nut or holder, an

page_text: air space being left, if desired, between the two glasses. In lieu of
setting the glasses direct into the gratings which form the roofs of build-
ings or the shutters for windows and doors, I sometimes set the glasses
into sheets of flexible, pliable, or elastic material, such as waterproofed
leather, pasteboard, or canvas, or vulcanized india-rubber, and I spread
this illuminating material over the said gratings, it being readily re-
moveable when required for ventilation. The glasses may be fastened in
the said flexible material in the manner described for the thin perforated
sheet metal, but when elastic material such as india-rubber is used, the
shanks of the glasses may have an annular groove therein, and the
edges of the material be sprung into it. In some cases, with a view to
collecting the moisture from the illuminating roof, I place a shield plate
beneath it having light openings therein near to but not in absolute
contact therewith. The light openings correspond to the glasses above
them, and have a raised edge formed round them on their upper sides to
prevent the moisture which drips from the glasses in the roof and is
caught by the shield plate from dropping through the light openings,
the moisture being collected into gutters. at the sides. The under side
of the glasses are concave so as to compel the condensed moisture to
drop therefrom on to the draining surface of the shield plate.
b
In constructing heavy illuminating gratings more particularly appli-
cable as walking surfaces I employ shanked glasses, the heads of which
| project above the surface, or are contained within a sunk seat and rest
upon a square shoulder or upon the bevelled sides of the openings. This
enables me in some cases to use thick boiler plate (in lieu of cast metal)
without any special seats, and in the case of flap doors and hatchways.
for ships I obtain greater lightness without risk of breakage when
shutting down the doors or hatchways. Or the glasses may be held in
their places by running solder round them, the plate being previously
galvanized or tinned for that purpose. Or the glasses may be contained
in metal rings, which rings may be provided with screwed shanks, or
may be simply soldered to the metal plate.
In some cases I apply a ring to the body of the glass and cut or form
a screw thread therein to be screwed bodily into the perforated plate.
With a view to economy and saving metal I sometimes secure the
glasses into gratings or quarries made up of thin sheet metal shells with
an interposed layer of wood, cement, or other suitable strengthening
-
-
-

page_text: material in combination or not with tie rods, so that the main strength :
of the grating or quarry shall be due to the internal filling. Or I make
illuminating gratings or quarries by inserting the glasses into hollow or
dished shaped cast metal plates, or gratings having the glasses pro-
jecting some distance from the bottom, and I fill in around the said
glass with Portland or other cement, asphalt, or other suitable material
which not only embeds the glasses but prevents a non-slipping walking
surface which is more easy to walk over than plates protected by
metal knobs or projections. I also use in some cases a non-slipping
walking surface of vulcanized rubber preferably having a cellular face
and provided with light openings to allow of the glasses projecting
through them, such rubber being fastened down to the face of the
grating in any convenient manner. When metal knobs or projections
are used I replace the worn ones without impairing the strength of the
grating by soldering on new ones in their place, for which purpose it is
necessary to tin or galvanize the grating. Or the 'metal knobs or pro-
jections may be made on a separate removeable shield plate of light
wrought or cast metal which is placed and secured over the face of the
grating, openings being left at the parts corresponding to the glasses.
This shield plate is secured in position by screws, except where button :
head glasses with screwed shanks are used, in which case the glasses
themselves may serve to hold down the plate.
According to one part of my improvements in illuminating gratings
in place of protecting knobs or buttons of iron I use one set of glasses
to protect another. And in carrying out this idea the glasses are set in
the gratings in different levels, the glasses on the higher level and which
receive the friction or wear of traffic being of a more solid. con-
struction than the glasses on the lower level, which need not be of so
solid a make, and which are in fact the glasses through which the light
is principally obtained.
In some cases where ventilation is desirable I mount the glasses in a
removeable shield grating, which fits over the main grating and can be
secured thereon in any well known manner, or removed bodily or in
sections as preferred..
My illuminating deck planks for illuminating the cabins of vessels;
consist of the ordinary planks into which I insert a large number of
glass or illuminating plugs of a size too small to materially weaken the

page_text: plank, in lieu of as heretofore cutting across one half of two adjoining
planks to receive a glass which is too large to be inserted into a single
plank. My glasses are made with shanks which are driven into holes
bored through the planks, the shanks being preferably lapped with
oakum to form a tight joint. Or I form the shanks with screw threads
and draw them down tightly by a nut inside. Or the glasses may be set
in metal mounts having similar screw shanks. The internal nut should
be shaped to represent a hollow cone having a silvered or enamelled
reflecting surface. By this mode of lighting ship's cabins I obtain a
diffused in place of a concentrated light without injury to the deck
planks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thaddeus Hyatt in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, 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 Twenty-third day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three,
in the 37th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, 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,
administrators, or 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
ILLUMINATING Roofs and SHUTTERS AND WALKING SURFACES FOR STREETS, APPLI-
CABLE ALSO TO THE DECKS OF VESSELS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MODE OF
SECURING THE GLASSES FOR THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, my executors 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

page_text: 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 illuminating roofs and shutters for
buildings, illuminating gratings for vaults and areas, and illuminating
deck planks for ships.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed two Sheets of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the :
corresponding Figures.
In carrying out my Invention, as applied to illuminating roofs,
'shutters, and walking surfaces, with reference to condensed moisture, I
surround the shank portion a of the glass buttons 6 with felt rings d (as
.shewn at Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings).
In making roofs and shutters these glass buttons are inserted in a thin
perforated plate c, forming the main body of the roof or shutter, and the
shank portions of the glasses are surrounded by the felt rings to soak up
any moisture or condensation which may be formed on the under surface of
the glasses, and thus prevent its dripping, the metal plate.c being under-
Jined with wood or other non-condensing material, as shewn at e, Figure
1, to prevent condensation and dripping from the metal plate c..
In some cases I underline the plate c with felt or other absorbent,
and cover the surface thereof with veneer e, or other suitable ornamental
material, the before-mentioned felt rings being then unnecessary, and
not used.
When the sheathing is of wood I prefer in some cases to groove the
surface of it which is next to the metal c at those parts of it which come
under the edges a of the glasses b, as shewn at f, Figures 5 and 6, the
form of the under side of the glasses being such that the condensed:
moisture drips into these grooves, whilst the grooves being connected

page_text: with each other by the channels f¹, see Figure 6, form a drain surface,
discharging the whole of the condensed moisture into a gutter at the
bottom of the inclined roof. Or in place of the wood sheathing I some-
times use an underlining of thin sheet metal stuck up to form a series
of grooves, as shewn in Figure 7, similar to those already described,
which thus secures a perfect drainage of the condensed moisture,
carrying off not only that from the glasses, but that also which forms on
the under side of the metal portion c of the roof, except where a layer of
felt or other non-conductor is interposed between the two metal surfaces,
which I sometimes do.
I prefer to secure the glasses in their positions by means of screw
shanks formed upon them in connection with annular screw nuts, as
shewn at g, Figures 1, 3, and 5, which nuts I prefer to spin up out of
thin metal, or the shanks a may have projections & thereon engaging
with the edges of the metal plate o itself by turning them partly round,
as shewn at Figures 8, 9, and 10, or notches may be formed in the roof
plate for the insertion of inclined projections (as shewn at h in Figures
11 and 12) formed in the shanks a of the glasses. Figure 12 represents
an under side view of Figure 11. By placing an elastic cushion i of
india-rubber under the heads of the glasses they become perfectly water-
tight when forced in and turned partly round. Or in lieu of turning the
glass it may be drawn down upont he india-rubber by means of the screw
nut, or by a washer having notches on its side to engage with the projec-
tions on the side of the shank, as shewn at c¹, Figures 13, 14, and 15, or
ordinary glasses without shanks, as at Figure 16, may be set in metal
or other mounts k, to be screwed in place like the before-mentioned
screw shank glasses. These mounts may be composed of papier maché
or other compressed fibrous or plastic material, or of metal, soft lead
being especially useful, and the glasses may have the mounts moulded
upon or cast around them, as slewn.
་
For the purpose of increased illuminating power I sometimes use a
glass nut, as shown at g, Figure 17, on the under side of the button
head glass b, which is provided with a corresponding screw shank a to
receive it, the effect being to form practically a double button-headed
glass, an air space 2, if desired, being left between them.
In lieu of setting the glasses directly into the perforated plates or
gratings which form the roof of a building, or into shutters or doors, I
sometimes set them into sheets of flexible, pliable, or elastic material;

page_text: , such as waterproofed leather, pasteboard, canvass, vulcanized rubber, or
.similar materials, or into very light, thin, and yielding metal, the
- strength and protection to the building being in the perforated or grating
roof, and not in the illuminating exterior covering. These light illumi-
nating sheets I arrange according to the nature of the material to either
roll
like an awning or curtain, or, being light, to be thrown up or off
from the open work beneath it by suitable apparatus, in order to admit
of ventilation when required.
•
up
Figure 18 shews a ventilating roof where the glasses are set in a
flexible sheet α, which may be rolled upon the roller b, thereby opening 1
or uncovering the perforations in the metal c of the roof to any desired
extent, according to the amount of ventilation required. The roller b
"may be situate inside the building or outside, as shown, and may be
actuated by a windlass or by any other suitable mechanism.
Figure 19 shews the glasses set in a light thin sheet of metal or other 1
*suitable material a, attached to a hinged frame b, which may be made of
"light angle iron or other suitable light material for the purpose of being
"raised for ventilation when required.
Where the roof is large it may be divided into sections, as shewn in
Figures 20 and 21, which represent respectively a plan and section of a 2
portion of the roof provided with frames a, which support the thin
illuminating sheets b, and made to fit over the sections so as to make a
watertight joint, a gutter c being formed between the sections for
carrying off rain or moisture. When the main roof is made of perforated
sheet metal I make the perforations small, say from two to four inches 2
diameter, for the purpose of making it as fire-proof as possible. When
I make it of cast iron I prefer for the sake of lightness and economy to
make the holes larger, and protect them by means of a diaphragm of
wire cloth, as described in my Specification of Letters Patent, No. 1482,
1871.
3
In this description of illuminating roof it is evident that as the fire
and burglar proof elements are placed in the main roof or open work
portion of the structure it is not absolutely essential to limit myself to
the use of exactly such translucent weather coverings as I have
described, but that light sheets of thin glass or other translucent media, 3
as shewn at d, Figures 20 and 21, may be used, in place of the thin
metal or other sheets containing the small glasses before described.

page_text: When the glasses are set in an elastic material like india-rubber, as
at c, Figure 22, the shanks a of the glasses may have an annular
groove 6¹ formed therein, and the edges of the material be sprung into
it, as shewn at the same Figure.
When I construct heavy illuminating gratings, more particularly
applicable as walking surfaces, I employ shanked glasses, the heads of
which project above the general level of the gratings for the purpose of
shedding dirt and rain. They may be set entirely above the metal,
see Figure 23, or the head b (which is in reality also the body of the
glass or main substance, but called "head," in contradistinction to the
“shank”) may be set in a sunk seat in the grating, see Figure 24, but
made sufficiently thick to still leave enough glass above the surface for
the purposes aforesaid, or the sides of the glass may be bevelled, as
shewn at a, in Figures 25 and 26, and rest upon a bevelled seat in the
grating, an interposed layer of india-rubber i being employed if required
to keep it water-tight.
Where I make the heavy illuminating gratings of boiler plate, aš
at Figure 23, I use the button head glasses because no special scats are
required for them, and the use of boiler plate gratings enables me to
introduce illumination where it would otherwise be impracticable or
very objectionable, as for example, in flap doors and for the hatchways
of ships, cast iron in such cases being constantly liable to breakage.
According to one part of my Invention I secure the glasses of illu-
minating gratings in place by soldering them into their seats, as shown
in Figure 27, whether they are set in mounts or whether they are set
into seats formed for them in the grating, the mount in the one case
being metal and tinned or otherwise prepared to form a union with the
solder d which belts the glass, and in the other the grating itself being
tinned for this purpose.
The mounts when tinned or when made of lead I sometimes solder to
the perforated plate as the preferable way of securing them to it,
sec Figure 27, wherein a represents the glass; b, the metal mount;
and c; the tinned grating. In other cases the glasses are provided with
screw shanks, and are held in position by nuts from below, as has been
already described; or the mount 6 when in the form of a lead belt, as
shewn in Figure 28, and designed to enter the grating or perforated
plate c bodily, is formed with a screw thread, as shewn, so as to be

page_text: screwed directly into the plate or grating; or the lead mount b may be
in the form of a collar or soft metal lining to the tinned hole of the
grating; to which it is soldered, as shewn in Figure 28, the glass being
provided with a screw thread around its periphery is screwed into this
soft metal collar. Where a thick glass is employed the screw thread
may be formed only on the lower part, if desired an annular channel for
cement, as at c Figure 28, being provided around the upper section of
the glass for increased security in forming a water-tight joint.
With a view to economy of metal in construction and to obtain
superior fire-resisting and non-condensing illuminating roofs, shutters,
and walking surfaces, I make illuminating gratings of wood, Portland
or other cement, asphalte, "beton," artificial stone of any description,
or other suitable material, preferably in the shape of quarries, or small
tiles suitable for insertion in the large openings of large gratings, as
described in my Specification of Letters Patent, No. 3195, 1870, and I
wholly or partially enclose these quarries when desirable in thin sheet-
metal shells, as shewn at a, Figure 29, Sheet 2, the purpose of the shells,
where the filling or quarry is strong enough in itself, being merely to
serve as a waterproof cover or shield to the enclosed or partially enclosed
body.
In some cases I make cement, beton, or artificial stone quarries in
combination with tie rods or strengthening wires, as shewn at b,
Figure 30, which tie rods may be parellel with each other or be arranged
at right angles with one another like a piece of wire cloth of large mesh.
When these wires are employed, as shewn in Figure 30 (which
represents a section of a quarry so constructed), I prefer to fasten them
to the sides a of the shell or frame, which is then of considerable
strength..
In some cases I cast the glasses directly within the apertures of the
quarry, which for this purpose is made of suitable material, and if of
cement is thoroughly dried, and where made with the tie rods or wire
mesh aforesaid the glasses are cast upon the meshes in the apertures of
the quarry according to my Sepecification of Letters Patent No. 1482,
1871.
According to another part of my Invention I use baked clay tiles or
bricks for the filling of the metal shells, in which case no tie rods or
strengthening wires are needed, and the shells may be no thicker than

page_text: heavy tin foil. But when I cast the glasses within the apertures of
these brick quarries, as above stated, I then prefer to make them with
the aforesaid tie rods or wire mesh as a holder for the glasses, as already
described.
When I use wood (which is a better non-condenser than cement) as
the filling material, as shewn at Figure 29, I prefer its being Burnetized
and of close grain, and the shells that enclose the same I make of copper
or other suitable thin metal or foil, the wood being sufficiently strong in
itself. Quarries of the kind here last described are more applicable to
roofs of houses than to pavements to be walked upon. But for the foot-
ways of streets and other exposed places I make the quarries of a heavier
character as to the shell, in fact putting all or nearly all the strength in
the shell itself and using the cement or other material rather with
reference to forming a safe walking surface than for any other purpose
except economy. The metal quarries for this purpose may be a flat
perforated plate without a rim, or shaped somewhat like a dish or hollow-
faced plate, as shewn at A, Figure 31, with rings B formed thercon, a
glass C being inserted in each ring; and for the purpose of retaining the
cement, asphalt, beton, or other composition face D in place I form these
rings and the inner edge of the plate A with projecting beads a at top,
as shewn. The beads a may however be dispensed with when I use
wood for the face of the dish, as it may readily be otherwise secured to
the quarry.
When I overlay the dish-shaped quarry with asphalt, cement, or other
composition in which I set the glasses directly without the aid of the
aforesaid rings, as shewn in Figure 31, I prefer to use the tie rods or
wires aforesaid placed crosswise above the bottom of the dish-shaped
quarry A to serve as a holder of the asphalt or cement, these rods or
wires being fastened at their ends to the rim or sides of the quarry.
•
For better security I sometimes form ridges or rings c around the sides
of the glasses as at C, Figure 32, so that when the cement is cast upon
the face of the dish-shaped quarry and set it may hold the glasses
securely in place.
If desired an additional series of tie rods or wire mesh may be
employed situate near the top of the dish-shaped plate. to give greater
hold to the cement or asphalt face, or the cement or asphalt face may be
held to the metal plate or grating by the glasses themselves when made

page_text: with ridges around their periphery or sides, as shewn in Figure 32, and
the holding tie rods or wire mesh may then be dispensed with. In this
case the glasses, besides their ridged sides, have also shanks which may
be screw shanks, as shewn at Figure 32ª, or otherwise formed to take
into and be held by the perforated plate or grating underneath the main
body of the glass. This may be done either by the screw shank being
_ screwed directly into the grating or plate, or held to it by screw nuts or
soldered to it, or so formed in conjunction with the internal surface of
the apertures of the grating that any kind of holding cement on being
poured or put around the shanks of the glasses will on hardening confine
the glasses to their position in the grating. The glasses being thus held
by their shanks to the plate or grating underneath any facing of cement,
asphalt, or plastic material poured between and around the glasses will
be held securely by the form of the sides of the glasses, which may be
formed with ridges or otherwise for this purpose.
:
By making the glasses each with a wire netting or diaphragm, as
described in my Specification of Letters Patent, No. 1482, 1871, and
leaving the wires projecting like a fringe all around the periphery
of the glass to take into and be caught within the body of the cement
facing the construction will be still more fire-proof.
Although I have described the illuminating gratings for roofs, shutters,
and walking surfaces as made in the quarry form as the most economical
and convenient method, the cement, asphalt, wood, and other cheap
glass holding materials herein described may be combined with metal
sheets or plates of any convenient size, the essential principles of con-
struction herein set forth being maintained.
When I make use. of india-rubber as the face of the illuminating
quarry or coal hole plate I prefer to make it with a cellular face.
According to another part of my Invention I make the surface of
illuminating gratings rough or non-slipping by means of renewable;
metal buttons, that is to say, the iron knobs or buttons, instead of being
'cast upon the grating, as is commonly done, which when worn down
cannot be renewed, are made separate, and may therefore be of hardened
steel. They are then tinned so as to be readily soldered to the grating,
the grating for this purpose being tinned or galvanized.
By another method the grating is furnished with the protecting knobs
through the agency of a shield or face plate which covers it, as shewn
3

page_text: at c, Figure 33. This plate may be of wrought or cast iron or cast steel. ·
In the latter case the knobs & may all be cast upon it. This shield may
be held to the main grating by the button-head glasses themselves when
they are employed, as shown at Figure 34, or by other means when ·
ordinary glasses are used.
For ventilating purposes I sometimes set the glasses b in the protecting
shield c, as shewn at Figure 35, so that by removing the shield the
apertures of the main grating are left uncovered when so desired in finc
-weather, the shield being readily replaced when the apertures are
required to be closed.
According to another part of my Invention I make a protected
illuminating grating upon a plan of two light levels, as shewn in
Figure 36, that is to say, one set or portion a of the glasses are set
higher than the other set or portion b, the highest ones a serving to
protect the lowest ones b. In this way the whole of the surface is
utilized, the higher level or upper portion of the metal grating in which ¨
the glasses a are set being converted into hollow rings c which act. like
protecting buttons to the glasses b, b, set in the lower level d, d, of the
grating.
According to another part of my Invention I illuminate the cabins of
ships through the decks upon a principle which while economizing glass
accomplishes also the far more important purpose of preventing leakage,
prevents weakening of the planks by cross cutting them to insert the
deck lights, and with the same amount of glass heretofore employed
obtain not only more light in quantity but a better one in quality, that ·
is to say, a diffused in place of a concentrated light.
The deck lights in common use may be termed "chunks" of glass,
and are so large as to require a deck plank to be nearly cut through
crosswise when inserted wholly in one plank. But upon my plan I
mould and cast the same weight of "metal" into a large number of
small plugs of glass a, which are all easily inserted into a plank b, in
line as shown in Figure 37 (which represents a portion of a plank so
fitted), without weakening it. In this way a number of small glasses are
obtained in place of the single large one, by which means not only is
tlie light diffused over a large area of space (the deck plank becoming in
effect an illuminating grating) but by the multiplication of the glass into.
.
.
.

page_text: a number of distinct pieces, an increase of internal side reflecting
surface is brought. into existence, which I illustrate as follows:—A
glass one inch thick, ten inches long, and three inches wide has twenty-
six square inches of side surface, the internal face of which reflects
light. The same glass cut up into thirty cubes each, an inch square,
would possess one hundred and twenty square inches of side surface, and
these thirty glasses set in a vessel's deck would possess one hundred and
twenty square inches of internal side reflecting surface as against the
twenty-six of the one large deck light. This is the economical principle
of my Invention. Reducing it to practice I shape my glasses in the form
of plugs, see Figures 38 and 39, for convenience of insertion in the
planks of vessels' decks, so that they may be driven in as corks are
driven into bottles, being however preferably lapped with oakum 'c,
Figure 38, to make a tight joint, as well as to save the edges of the glass
from injury when driven in.
In some cases I form the glasses a with a screw shank, sce Figure 39,
by means of which they are drawn down upon a cushion seat d, d, by a
nut e.
This nut I prefer to make in the form of a hollow cone ƒ with
its sides silvered or enamelled to form a reflecting surface; or they may
be set in mounts and fixed in the decks in the manner already described
for making illuminating gratings.
Having now described and particularly ascertained tho nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I con-
sider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. Constructing illuminating roofs, shutters, and walking surfaces
with a lining of felt, wood, or other non-conducting material, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth and
illustrated by Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5, of my Drawings.
Second. Underlining illuminating roofs and walking surfaces with a E
drainage plate or shell for removing condensed moisture, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth and illustrated by
Figures 5, 6, and 7, of my Drawings.
Third. Making illuminating roofs and walking surfaces double, the
outer one being a glazed grating, sash, or other translucent covering 3

page_text: impervious to rain and easily lifted or rolled away to obtain ventilation,
the under unglazed grating forming the actual protecting fire and
burglar-proof roof to the space beneath, and by its open apertures on the
removal of the outer cover affording a free circulation of air, sub-
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page_text: the grating or plate, substantially as herein described and illustrated by
Figure 32 of my Drawings.
Tenth. Securing glasses in a tinned or otherwise prepared grating or
perforated metal plate (by a fillet of soft metal cast upon or put around
the glass and soldered to the grating, substantially as herein described
and illustrated by Figure 27 of my Drawings.
Eleventh. Lining the apertures of illuminating gratings or perforated
metal plates with soft metal collars or rings formed with screw threads
to receive glasses correspondingly formed to screw into them, sub-
stantially as herein described and illustrated by Figures 28 and 28° of
my Drawings.
'
Twelfth. Setting the glasses of illuminating gratings in mounts
provided with screw threads around their peripheries to screw into the
apertures of gratings or perforated plates correspondingly formed to be
screwed into the mounts, being made of metal, papier mache, or other
suitable material, substantially as described and illustrated by Figure 28
of my Drawings.
*Thirteenth. Setting the glasses of illuminating gratings in flanged or
"button head" mounts provided with screw shanks to screw into the
apertures of a grating or perforated plate correspondingly formed to
receive them, or the screw shanks may be provided with nuts and held
to the grating by the action of the nut upon the screw shank, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated by Figure 16 of my Drawings.
Fourteenth. Setting the glasses of illuminating gratings in "button
head" mounts of soft or other metal capable of being soldered to the 2
grating or perforated plate, and attaching the same by solder to the
grating, substantially as described and illustrated by Figure 27ª of my
Drawings.
Fifteenth. Securing button head glasses or glasses set in button head
or flanged mounts to gratings or perforated plates by mechanical 3
appliances or attachments, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated by Figures 8 to 16, inclusive, of my Drawings..
Sixteenth. Forming water-tight joints between the glasses or the
glass holding mounts; and the grating or perforated plate in which they

page_text: having the form of a hollow cone, which may have a reflecting surface,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thaddeus Hyatt, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of
· February One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
THADDEUS HYATT. (L.s.)