An Improved Apparatus for Opening and Closing Windows.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
An Improved Apparatus for Opening and Closing Windows.
I, VICTOR MAHLER of Deutschbrod, Bohemia, Austria, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to construct simple and efficient mechanism whereby
windows and in particular carriage-windows, railway-compartment windows, and the
like, may be promptly and easily opened or closed.
On the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Fig. 1 is a front view
of a railway-carriage door looking from the inside of the compartment; Fig. 2 is a
vertical section of the same; and Fig. 3 shows in section some of the parts drawn to an
enlarged scale. Figs. 4 to 7 show modifications.
Referring to the drawings,
As shown at Figs. 1 and 2 the lower cross stile of the window sash A is made with a
slotted guide B. Working within this guide is a pin c having a roller 83 upon it and
which is secured to the lower arm of a bell crank lever C pivotted at L within the
casing of the carriage-door. The pivot is secured in position by means of a screw L¹.
In order to close the
In Figs. 1 and 2 the window is shown as open, that is let down.
window the handle C¹ of the crank lever C is moved in the direction of the arrow,
Fig. 1, and, as a consequence, the pin c with its roller s³ is caused to move towards the
left hand side working in the slot B. This movement of the pin c raises the window.
The window can be adjusted at any desired height by means of the handle C¹ which
is made to act as a clutch. As shown at Fig. 3 the handle is made of two parts C¹
and C2 which are hinged together. The part 2 is made with a projection C'. A
spring C³ normally presses the two parts C¹ and C² away from each other and so that
the projection C will lock into the notches e of the semi-circular guide E. This guide
is made with a slot 8 in which the handle C¹ works. The arrangement is such that
when it is desired to raise the window the handle C is firmly grasped so as to press
the two parts C and C² together and compress the spring C3 and thereby unlock the
projection C from the notched guide E. The handle can now be moved towards the
right hand side so as to raise the window to the desired position and when this
position has been reached the handle C¹ is merely released whereupon the projection C+
under the action of the spring C³ automatically locks or clutches with one of the
notches of the guide and thereby secures the window in position. In order to lower
the window all that is necessary is to grasp the handle firmly and thereby unlock the
projection C whereupon the handle can be turned towards the left hand so as to
lower the window and relock it at any desired position.
8 is a anti-friction roller mounted on the handle C¹ in order to reduce friction
within the guide 8 when the handle is being moved to either right or left. e¹ is a
metal ring mounted on the handle C'. The object of this ring is to prevent the
entrance of dust and such like into the slot 8. The window sash is preferably fitted
with anti-friction rollers as indicated in dotted lines.
Fig. 4 shows a modification of the device mainly applicable for carriage-windows.
In this case, as shown, the angle at which the two arms of the bell crank are set is
only about 45° so that the guide E can be reduced in length. Instead of being a

page_text: semi-circle it is merely a quadrant. In this case the window can only be half opened
which is quite sufficient for a carriage or coach.
Fig. 5 shows a modification wherein an eccentric m, mounted at L, replaces the bell
crank lever before described. The eccentric is actuated by means of a handle L2 so
as to open and shut the window. The window can be locked in any position by means
of a spring catch o which is capable of locking in recesses in a guard E. The
eccentric m works within a rectangular frame attached to the window as indicated in
dotted lines.
The arrangement shown at Figs. 6 and 7 is a slight modification on that shown at
Fig. 5.
In this case a ring m¹ is fitted round the eccentric m. The eccentric ring is
jointed at the ends by means of a screw m² and is secured to the window sash by
means of a pin mt. By actuating the handle 12 the eccentric m can be turned
around the centre L and as a consequence the ring or strap m³, attached to the window,
can be raised or lowered and at the same time raise or lower the window. The
pin m is of course made to serve as a pivot so as to allow the eccentric ring or strap
to swing or move freely.
The invention has many advantages over the ordinary straps the principal of which
are the manipulation of the window, the easy and efficient mode of locking the
window in position, and the obviation of loose guides in which at present the window
rattles. Owing to the simple mechanical arrangement for raising and lowering the
window the latter can be made to work with comparative tightness within the guides
thereby preventing the rattling to a great extent and excluding draughts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I consider novel
and desire to claim is :-
1. Mechanism for opening and closing windows consisting of a bell crank lever or
its equivalent fulcrumed to the carriage door or other part, said lever having on one
arm a pin or its equivalent which works within a guide or slot at the bottom of the
window and on the other arm a combined clutch-handle whereby the window can not
only be raised and lowered but also locked in position, substantially as herein before
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. The modification of the mechanism claimed in Claim 1 wherein an eccentric
with or without the addition of an eccentric ring or strap is used in lieu of the bell
crank for raising or lowering the window, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 10th d... of M
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