Improvements in Glass Roofs for Houses in which Vines, Fruit Trees, and other Trees, Shrubs, and Plants are Grown, and for other Structures.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Glass Roofs for Houses in which Vines, Fruit
Trees, and other Trees, Shrubs, and Plants are Grown, and for
other Structures.
I, SIDNEY ALEXANDER CHEALE of 10 Calverley Parade, Tunbridge Wells
in the County of Kent, Solicitor do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
which has been communicated to me from abroad by Thomas Weare of Kumeo
Junction, Waitemata County, Province of Auckland, New Zealand, Farmer, to be
as follows:-
The principal object of this invention is to provide for the automatic free
admission of air and moisture to vines, fruit trees and other trees, shrubs, and
plants growing under glass, in such manner that free circulation and exchange of
the inner atmosphere is effected without injurious draughts and the growth of
mildew rendered impossible. The invention is however also applicable to other
structures such for instance as offices in railway stations, and stands and stalls in
other large buildings for exhibitions and shows."
At the
For this purpose the glass roof is constructed in the following manner.
sides of each vertically running row of glass sheets a narrow space say about a
quarter of an inch is left open laterally and at top and bottom narrow spaces say
about a quarter to three quarters of an inch in height.
The aforesaid lateral spaces between the sheets of glass may be produced by
spacing the rafters about a quarter of an inch wider than the glass sheets and by
resting the glass sheets on narrow strips of wood or fillets which are fixed to the
sides of the rafters preferably with a narrow space say or inch between. For
this purpose the fixing nails or screws have by preference washers or blocks of that
thickness placed on them so that the nails or screws may be driven home. The
sheets may suitably be 16 inches long by 12 inches wide while the rafters have
spaces about 12 inches between them.
In order to give the overlap of the glass sheets the fillets have not the same
angle as that of the rafters to which they are fixed but have a greater fall or slope
say about of an inch or 1 inch, so that each sheet of glass not only overlaps the
one above it but also leaves an open space between them say to of an inch in
depth for the purpose of the free admission of air and moisture.
It will be noticed that the overlap is the reverse of that of the usual glass roof
in which latter the overlap serves to exclude the rain and dews from the inside of
the house.
The bottom edge of each sheet of glass abuts against the upper ends of the
fillets which support the sheet of glass immediately below it and so on from the
ridge down to the eaves.
The lower ends of the sheets of glass are kept from rising by wire pins or nails
preferably of brass or the like driven into the sides of the rafters close to the
glass but so that the latter can be removed at any time. The upper ends of the
sheets of glass are kept in place by galvanized wire stapled to rafter and by
battens running horizontally lengthway of the roof and secured to the rafters, thus
strengthening the whole roof.
It will be understood from the above that in roofs constructed according to this
invention facility is given for the entry of air, rain and dew the moisture running
down from the lower edge of the sheets of glass and the air entering or circulating
freely and especially by way of the spaces left between the lower edge of one sheet
and the upper edge of the next following lower sheet while at the same time the
overlap of the latter prevents the direct entry of vertical columns of air and

page_text: shelters the vines or other plants from winds which must pass over the roof and
while absolute freedom is given for atmospheric circulation without draughts.
Sometimes it is useful in connection with the above ventilated roof to make
apertures at the bottom of the walls of the house for entry of air.
Dated this 4th day of February 1892.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Glass Roofs for Houses in which Vines, Fruit
Trees, and other Trees, Shrubs, and Plants are Grown, and for
other Structures.
I, SIDNEY ALEXANDER CHEALE of 10 Calverley Parade, Tunbridge Wells,
in the County of Kent, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from abroad by Thomas Weare of Kumes Junction,
Province of Auckland, New Zealand Farmer) and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The principal object of this invention is to provide for the automatic free
admission of air and moisture to vines, fruit trees and other trees, shrubs and
plants growing under glass, in such manner that the free circulation or exchange of
the inner atmosphere is effected without injurious draughts and the growth of
mildew rendered impossible. The invention is however also applicable to other
structures such for instance as offices in railway stations and stands and stalls in
other large buildings for exhibitions and shows; the roofing material in such cases
not necessarily being made of glass or other transparent or translucent material.
My improved glass roof is constructed in the following manner. At the sides of
each vertically running row of glass sheets a narrow lateral space say about a
quarter of an inch wide is left open and between the top of each glass sheet and
the bottom of the next higher glass sheet narrow height spaces are left open. The
aforesaid lateral spaces between the sheets of glass or other roofing material are
suitably produced by making the clear space between the rafters slightly wider
than the width of the glass sheets and by supporting the glass sheets on narrow
strips or fillets of wood which are fixed to the sides of the rafters with a narrow
space, inch wide, between fillet and rafter and the height spaces are formed by
giving the fillets a sufficiently greater rise or angle than the rafters.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical transverse section through
a glass roof of my construction and Figure 2 side view of same.
Figure 3 is a plan view to a larger scale of part of the roof to illustrate the
manner of supporting the glass sheets and Figure 4 a sectional side view.
Figure 5 is a side view and Figure 6 front view illustrating a mode of holding
the glass sheets in place.
The glass sheets A are shewn slightly narrower than the spaces between the
rafters B at the right hand of Figure 2 the sheets A are shewn omitted in order
to shew the roof construction in a clearer manner. The glass sheets A are
supported on strips or fillets C by preference of wood. Lateral spaces a say about
inch wide are thus formed at the sides of each sheet A and rafter B for
ventilation. The fillets C are fastened to the sides of the rafters B by means of
nails or screws E having by preference washers For blocks say about or inch
thick but in any case so as to leave that width of space between fillet and rafter;
if washers are used the nails or screws E can be driven home in the rafters. In
order to give the overlap of the glass sheets the fillets C have not the same angle
as that of the rafters B but have a greater fall or slope say about or 1 inch so
that each sheet of glass not only can overlap the one next above it but so that a
vertical space say about one to three quarters of an inch high is left between

page_text: them. It will be noticed that the overlap is the reverse of that of the usual glass
roof in which latter the overlap serves to exclude the entry of rain from the out-
side and the exit of dew from the inside of the house. The bottom edge of each
glass sheet A abuts against the upper ends of the fillets C which support the sheet
glass immediately below it and so on from the roof ridge down to the eaves.
The lower ends of the sheets A are in the example shewn kept from rising by
wire pins or nails G preferably of brass or the like driven into the sides of the
rafters B close to the glass but so that the latter can be removed at any time. The
upper ends of the sheets A especially at or near the ridge of the roof are kept in
place by galvanized wire H held down by staples driven into the rafters B
Figures 1 and 2. Or I may as shown in Figures 5 and 6 use lead strips H' fixed
to the sides of the fillets C and bent over the sheet A. Battens I may be fastened
to the rafters B and run horizontally lengthways of the roof thus also strengthening
the whole roof. The roof shown has in this example a base equal to the sides, and
I prefer this for glass houses without side walls.
It will be understood from the above that in roofs constructed according to this
invention facility is given for the entry of air, rain and dew the moisture running
down from the lower edge of the sheets of glass, and the air entering or circulating
freely and especially by way of the spaces left between the lower edge of one
sheet and the upper edge of the next following lower sheet, while at the same time
the overlap of the latter prevents the direct entry of vertical columns of air and
shelters the vines or other plants from winds which must pass over the roof, and
while absolute freedom is given for atmospheric circulation without draughts.
Sometimes it is useful in connection with the above ventilated roof to make
apertures for the entry of air at the bottom of the roof or in the walls of the
house covered by such a roof.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a ventilated roof the rafters in combination with roofing material
supporting fillets fixed thereto with intermediate lateral spaces and with a suitably
greater rise or angle than that of the rafters, sheets of roofing material of a less
width than the clear space between the rafters and overlapping each other in such
manner that a space is left in height between the upper edge of one sheet and the
lower edge of the next following upper sheet and means for holding the sheets in
place, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a ventilated roof the rafters B in combination with the fillets C
fixed thereto by means of screws or nails E with washers F between rafter and
fillet the latter having a suitably greater rise or angle than that of the rafter
sheeis A of roofing material of a less width than the clear space between the
rafters so as to form lateral air spaces a and overlapping each other in such manner
that a height space is left between the upper edge of one sheet and the lower
edge of the next following upper sheet the pegs G for holding the lower ends of
the sheets in place and the wires H with staples for holding the upper ends of the
sheets in place substantially as set forth.
Dated this
day of October 1802
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.