IMPROVE- MENTS IN ILLUMINATING GRATINGS AND IN MATERIALS FOR MAKING
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thaddeus Hyatt of 21 Addison Gardens. N. Kensington,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Inventor, for an invention of IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ILLUMINATING GRATINGS AND IN MATERIALS FOR MAKING THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thaddeus Hyatt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st July 1882.
THADDEUS HYATT of 21 Addison Gardens N.-Kensington-London, in the
County of Middlesex, Inventor-IMPROVEMENTS IN ILLUMINATING GRATINGS AND
IN MATERIALS FOR MAKING THE SAME
The Object of my invention is to transmit a greater amount of light through a
given superficial area of Illuminating Gratings than is done by the common method
of construction the invention being substantially an All-Glass construction.
A further Object of the Invention is to make the all-glass surface safe to be
walked over when used as an illuminating pavement.
A still further Object of the Invention is to furnish manufacturers with Improve.!
Materials for the construction of Illuminating Gratings.
As commonly constructed, each glass in an illuminating grating rests at its
edges or peripheral borders, within a continuous seat or rebate formed in the bars
of the metal grating. This mode of connecting the glasses to the iron involves a
serious loss of light, amounting in some instances to 50 per cent of the superficial
area of the entire work where the glasses are quite small.
By my improvement the top surface may be wholly of glass save a thin film of
cement put between the glasses at the junction edges; and wholly of glass on the
under surface with the same exception.
The glasses employed by me are of two kinds, viz: 1st flat-faced glasses
channeled on the weather-face to form circular and other ornamental shapes when
the channels are filled with concrete or material the filling at the same time producing
a safe foot surface: and 2d lens-faced glasses formed with channels at the junction
edges of the glasses for water-proofing the joints.
My invention cousists in supporting the glasses in the grating at points along

page_text: the edges or peripheral borders of the glasses in place of enclosing them in
continuous-bearing rebates; the points of bearing being in the nature of posts or
projections made at intervals upon the tops of the grating-bars that rise up to
meet the glass; and posts or legs made at intervals upon the under side of the
glasses to match those of the metal: these posts or legs may be wholly in the
inetal; or wholly in the glass; or partly in each.-Where glass legs are cast upon
the under face of the glass plates, a part of my invention consists in making each
one to match the legs of the adjoining glasses, so that where four plates of glass
abut the four legs shall have the appearance of one leg in this way the under
surface of the glass construction looks like one great plate of glass resting upon
ornamental glass legs or posts which take their several bearings upon the tops of
the metal bars that form the grating. So also in order to make the upper surface
of the construction look like one great plate, though formed in some cases of
hundreds of plates; where the face of each plate is channeled to produce circular
and other forms upon the weather-face of the plate, and these channels are then
filled with cement, concrete, tessarae or other material; in order, I say, to make
the whole surface of the work look as if made of one piece, I channel the peripheral
borders or edges of the glass plates at top with channels that conform to the
channels running over the face of the glass, so that when two or more glasses are
brought abutting edge to edge, that is to say when the sides of the glasses are in
contact one with another, the border channels will resemble the face channels in
size; a portion of such border channels being made in the edges of the two
matching glasses one half in each; the joining of the glasses making a complete
channel.
The plates of glass employed by me for the all-glass constructions I prefer to
contain a superficial area of about balf a foot, and to be about an inch and one
eighth to an inch and three eighths thick to allow for the channels which are
from 3/ths to /, an inch deep and from 1/4 to 1/2 an inch wide. The face of the
plate may be so channeled as to produce any figures required; but in general I
prefer to make the work when finished appear on the top side as though made up
of small circular glasses about two inches diameter and so arranged as that one row
of glasses breaks joint with another this makes necessary a peculiar shaped plate
in order that when the plates are brought together at the edges, the rows of glasses
throughout the entire work shall shew uniformity: this I accomplish by making
the glass plate of lozenge form; and this constitutes a part of my invention, for
these glass plates may then have straight sides.
But when I so channel the glass plate as to produce circular glasses in parallel
rows I allow some of the circles to advance beyond the straight edge of the glass
to avoid cutting the circle, for were the circles cut and one part be upon one plate
and the other part on the adjoining plate, the crack would appear and spoil the
uniform look of the work: a part of my invention therefore consists in making
one glass plate with projections, and the adjoining plate with recesses to match;
the channels when filled with cement tesserae, concrete or material concealing
the joint.
When I make the glass plates with lenses, a part of my invention in some cases
consists in making channels between the lenses to match the channels at the
junction edges of the glasses in order to give to the whole work the appearance of
one large plate the concrete put into the channels serving to make a safe foot-
surface upon the face of the work after the lenses have been worn away and the
surface has become flat.
A part of my invention consists in roughening the sides of the channels and the
junction edges of the glasses by the sand-blast or other process for the purpose of
giving the hydraulic cement a better grip on the glass.
I have described my invention thus far with reference to making the glasses in
moulds out of "flint" or "pressed glass "--but 1 contemplate as a part of my
invention the manufacture and use of rolled plates of glass of large size containing
one foot or more superficial: my invention with respect to such rolled plates of glass

page_text: consisting in combining a concrete tessarae or safe-foot-holding material with the
face of the plate by first forming the plate with channels as already described with
respect to the pressed plates, and then filling the same with hydraulic cement,
tessarac, concrete or roughening material for the feet to prevent slipping:
:-or part
of the invention when applying such improved rolled glass plates to use, consisting
in combining them with metal gratings formed with posts as already described to
give support at intervals upon the bars of the grating and thus permit the
transmitted light to pass over the tops of the bars.
Another part of my invention in rolled plates of glass designed for making
illuminating roofs and pavements consists in casting or rolling the plates with
prisms: these prisms I prefer to make as long as the sheet is wide and I prefer
to make them upon the side of the plate next to the table upon which the "metal"
is poured; indents or moulding cavities being formed in the face of the table for
this purpose; or in the face of a moulding plate of metal made to lie upon the
table, and to be removed with the glass plate, and, if necessary, to go with it into
the annealing oven.
A further part of my invention consists in making glass battens for combination
with glass plates or roofing tiles, and in combining the two by means of hydraulic
or other suitable water-proofing cement, and by means of metal gratings in manner
substantially as already described, to cause the light-transmitted through the glasses
to pass over the tops of the bars of the grating.
The glass battens I cast in moulds as pressed glass is made, making them of
preference from 8 to 12 inches long; 1 inches thick; and from 2 to 6 inches
deep a part of the invention consisting in shaping the bottom of the batten as a
prism similar to "prismatic deck-lights."-These prism-battens rest upon the tops of
the metal bars, which bars hold the relation of rafters to them, as ordinary wood
battens rest upon the rafters of an ordinary roof; seats or saddles for then to rest
in and be cemented to, being formed upon the top side of the grate-bars or rafters:
or the ends of the battens may be so shaped where two battens meet end to end as
to have the appearance of a glass post resting in a socket formed in the top of the
grating-bar and to which the battens are held and secured by hydraulic or other
cement. I form these glass battens either with a rebate or cornice-shoulder along
the sides at about one inch below the top face thereof to give a rest to the glass
plates; the battens being intended to cross the rafters at about 6 to 9 inches apart,
and the spaces between the battens are then to be filled in with glass plates that
take their bearings upon the ledges of the battens as aforesaid. The top face of
the battens I make to correspond in appearance with the face of the glass tiles put
in between them; where the plates are made with lenses I make the battens with
lenses and where the plates are made with channels, I make the battens with
corresponding channels. In making the glass battens with a prism-shaped bottom,
a part of my invention consists in sometimes shaping the prism in the form of an
arch and at other times in the form of a crescent: also in making the sides above
the prism part of the glass parallel with each other or nearly so the better to
reflect the rays of angular light that fall upon the weather face of the glass.
Glasses constructed as herein described, and metal gratings constructed as herein
described I propose to make and sell as new manufactures to facilitate the
construction of illuminating roofs and roof pavements.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thaddeus Hyatt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st December 1882.
THADDEUS HYATT Inventor of No 21 Addison Gardens North, Kensington
London in the County of Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN ILLUMINATING GRATINGS
AND IN MATERIALS FOR MAKING THE SAME
My invention of improvements in the construction of and in materials for
making Illuminating Gratings as set forth in the following specification and in the
drawings attached thereto and making part thereof is as follows viz:-
Figures 1 to 8 on sheet one illustrate the principle of the invention by two
modes of construction and Figures 1 to 8 on sheet two illustrate forms of glass
that may be benefically employed in such constructions.
Figures 1 to 4 sheet one represent glass plates in size about 8" by 12" and of a
total thickness of 11" one inch constituting the actual glass plate. The upper
balf inch forms the face of the glass and is so channeled as to produce the effect of
a number of small glasses, that may be of any desired shape to imitate the
appearance of those usually employed in patent light work. The glass plates and
the grating are so contrived with reference to each other that the plates when in
position are all in contact-edge to edge on every side so making an all-glass-surface
the same as though the entire work, whether a side walk, an area-platform, a
floor or a roof were made of one immense and unbroken plate of glass. The
channels of the plates are then filled with concrete or inlaying material which not
only conceals the joints between the glass plates and makes them water tight but
also gives to the work as a whole the appearance of a single panel.
To further increase the volume of transmitted Light the glass plates, instead of
being set in rebates upon continuous bearings in the ordinary manner of glazing
illuminating gratings are either formed with feet upon the underface of the plate
at the corners thereof to hold in sockets cast upon the tops of the grating bars to
receive them, or they are left plain and made to rest upon glass battens, the
battens in this case holding to the iron bars of the grating the same relation that
glass feet cast upon the under face of the plate would hold. By this arrangement
the greater portion of the under surface of the glasses is exposed and the light
rays pass over the tops as well as under the bars of the grating. With this
preliminary statement of the nature of my invention the following description of
the drawings will be intelligible.
Figure 1 to 4 on sheet I represent a construction where the glass plates are
formed with feet: and the grating is formed with posts recessed at the top for
holding the feet of the glasses. A the glass plates, the size of the plate is indicated
by lines drawn across the face of 24 glasses each plate containing 6 small glasses in
line in one direction, and 4 small glasses in line in the other direction-a. a the
small glasses b. b channels-c. c the feet of the glasses-d. d concrete in the
channels. B the grating e. e posts, sandles or standards cast or placed upon
the top side of the grating bars or rafters: f. f recesses in the tops of the posts.
Figure 1 a top view of the construction. Figure 2 an underside view of same.
Figure 3 a section of Figure 1 on the line x-x. Figure 4 section of Figure 1 on
the line y-Y.
Figures 5. 6. 7. 8 represent a construction made of glass battens and plates
without feet. c the glass battens: g. g shoulders on the battens to form rebates
for the glass plates A to rest in.
Sheet 2 represents glass plates formed with circular glasses. Figure 1 Lozenge-
shaped glass plates containing each 9 circles. Figure 2 an underside view of

page_text: same. Figure 3 Cross section on line x-x Figure 4 Longitudinal section on
line yy. Figure 5 Top view of circles in squares. Figure 6 Underside view of
same. Figure 7 Cross section on line x-x Figure 8 Longitudinal section on
line y-y. The circles in Figure 1 breaking joints with one another in imitation
of the ordinary mode of setting glasses in patent light work: and the circles in
Figure 5 being set in parallel lines without breaking joints. The lozenge shape of
the glass plates represented in Figure 1 I find to be most advantageous where the
circles are required to break joints: and where the circles are required to be in
straight lines and not break joints. I find it advantageous to form the plate with
small glasses a¹-at the angles between four glasses this necessitates the shaping
of the glass plate as shewn by the dark dotted lines on Figure 5 where the plate is
cast with four of the a¹-glasses at the sides of the plate, one of the a¹ being at
the exact corner of the glass plate.
The Figures shewn in the drawings are intended to represent such glasses as are
made in moulds and pressed by hand called flint or pressed glass: but I contemplate
as a part of my invention the making of rolled plate glass formed with a top
surface channeled to receive concrete for making the surface safe for being walked
upon, in manner as herein described and illustrated also making the underside of
rolled glass plates with ranges or prisms formed thereon, as herein represented: the
advantage of such prismatic plates of rolled glass consisting in the unity of the
prisms with the plates: the result being an increase of transmitted light and are
thus cluster lens glasses." Where the circular glasses upon the glass plates are
made with a lense face as shewn by dotted lenses on Figure 7. I prefer to make
channels between the lenses so that when the lenses become worn away a safe foot
surface may
still remain but they may be made with no channels between in
which case my invention consists in forming the plates with feet, channelling the
edges of the plates and abutting them to forin an all glass construction: hydraulic
or other cement being put between the glass plates where they abut in order to
make the joints water tight.
The feet c. c of the glass plates represented in Figures 1 and 5 on Sheet 2 are
quartered so that where the corners of four plates meet together, the four sections
shall unite and have the appearance of a single post when seen from the underside.
This feature of the invention is represented in Figures 2 and 6 on sheet two.
A feature of the invention consists in so managing the channels made in the
face of the glass plates as to not double them where the plates meet as this would
destroy the continuous appearance of the face of the work and betray the fact of
its being made up of small plates by indicating the size of each plate. I therefore
form the border channels as represented in Figures 3. 4 and 7 on sheet one, and
on 3 & 4 sheet two where a half channel is made in each abutting glass: or I
form them as shewn in Figure S sheet one: and in Figures 7 & 8 sheet two: where
a whole channel is made in the edge of one abutting glass, and none is made in
the other.
In order to give a secure hold to the inlays or concrete put into the channels of
the glasses, a part of my invention consists in roughening the face of the glass
within the channels either by the sand-blast process, acid, Varnish or otherwise:
and in some cases I silver the channels to make interior reflecting surfaces and so
produce a more brilliant under face upon the work.
The construction represented by Figures 5. 6. 7. 8 sheet one, is designed to
represent my invention as an improvement upon the ordinary method of roof
construction where the beams are first crossed by battens to which the tiles are
afterwards fastened. Where the construction is an illuminating roof. I employ
battens of glass as well as glass tiles, but when the construction is not an
illuminating roof but merely a fire proof roof I employ battens made of baked clay
like the tiles themselves which battens inay if preferred be nailed to the rafters.
Where the roof beams are wood. I call the posts c, saddles, because they are then
attachments to the beams: but when the beams are iron I call c, posts because
they then form a part of the beani itself. The battens are made of convenient

page_text: lengths to reach from beam to beam or grate bar to grate bar as may be seen by
reference to sheet one Figure 5 where B. B are two bars of the grating, and c. c two
glass battens: each batten being channeled to make a representation of three
glasses a². a². that in appearance so perfectly match the glasses a. a of the plate,
that when the construction is finished, the entire surface has the appearance of one
single pannel as Figure 5 itself represents where in the finished surface the
battens are not distinguishable from the glass plates.
A part of my invention of glass battens consists in forming them after the
manner of " prismatic deck lights "the lower side of the battens being of prism
form. In the construction of illuminating roofs according to this method a feature
of my invention consists in producing lengths of apparently continuous prisms:
the separate lengths of Prism glasses being abutted at their ends one with another
in the saddle or seat over the grate bar where the two meet so that taken as a
whole the entire length has the brilliant effect as though constructed of one single
prism of such length. In some cases I form the battens with feet at the ends to
rest in sockets formed upon the tops of the metal bars: the appearance of the
length of prismatic battens being then like one long prism formed with posts or
feet for bearing points upon the grating bars. Where the construction has a lens
face I make lenses on the face of the battens to match the lenses on the face of the
glass plates.
The constructions hereinabove described are made preferably with hydraulic
cement as the bonding material for the joints between all the parts composing the
structure.
Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is :-
First Glass plates formed with abutting channeled edges substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and illustrated. Second combining into illuminating
surfaces channeled edge abutting glass plates substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and illustrated. Third combining concrete with channeled face
glass to produce a safe foot surface for being walked upon substantially as herein
described and illustrated. Fourth. Glass plates formed with feet upon the under
face thereof substantially as and for the purposes herein described and illustrated.
Fifth Metal Gratings for combination with glass, formed with posts or saddles in
lieu of rebates, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and illustrated.
Sixth Combining glass plates with metal gratings made with posts or supports in
licu of rebated bars, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and
illustrated. Seventh. Glass battens as a new manufacture substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth and illustrated Eighth Illuminating constructions
made by combining glass battens with glass plates substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and illustrated Ninth. Fire-proof roof constructions
made by combining roofing tiles with battens made of material substantially the
same in character with the tiles and combining the same with cement (preferably
hydraulic) put into the joints between tiles and battens substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth and illustrated. Tenth All-glass-surface constructions
made by combining channeled face glass plates with each other by close or
abutting sides substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and illustrated.
Eleventh Glass plates channeled to form circular shaped glasses on the weather face
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and illustrated Twelfth
Glass plates clianneled to form ornamental shapes and combining the same with
concrete-filing put into the channels substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and illustrated Thirteenth Glass plates in lozenge form made with
channeled surface and combining same to form illuminating surfaces substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and illustrated. Fourteenth Glass plates
formed with matching sides of irregular shape with reference to the production of
ornamental illuminating surfaces of uniform design, and combining the same to
form illuminating foot surfaces and roofs substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth and illustrated. Fifteenth Illuminating roofs and Roof-pavements

page_text: formed by combining metal gratings with prism glasses in abutting ranges to form
practically continuous prisms substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and illustrated. Sixteenth Glass plates formed with channels and lens face glasses,
and combining the same with concrete or equivalent foot-holding material sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein sctforth and illustrated Seventeenth
Illuminating gratings made by combining cluster-lens glasses formed with feet and
put together with abutting edges and cement substantially as and for the purposes
herein setforth and illustrated. Eighteenth Illuminating pavements formed of
channeled glass plates made with channeled edges so contrived as not to increase
the width of the channels at the junction edges beyond the width of the channels
made upon the face of the plate substantially as and for the purposes herein
setforth and illustrated Nineteenth Channeled face glass plates formed with
roughened or cement holding channels substantially as and for the purposes herein
setforth and illustrated. Twentieth channeled face glass battens substantially as
and for the purposes herein set forth and illustrated Twenty-first Prismatic
battens substantially as and for the purposes herein setforth and Illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said Thaddeus Hyatt have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 23 day of November in the year of our Lord 1882.