Improved Means for Raising and Lowering Vertically Sliding Frames such as Window Sashes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Raising and Lowering Vertically Sliding Frames
such as Window Sashes.
I, SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Montague Barnett, and Barend Barnett, both of
No. 407, Collins Street, Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Importers,) 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 been devised for the purpose of providing means whereby
window sashes and other vertically sliding frames may be raised and lowered in a
more convenient manner than heretofore.
It is well known that the ordinary arrangement for balancing window sashes is
simply a pair of counterbalance weights connected each by a cord with said sash
With this
and arranged to slide up and down in the window framing.
arrangement the operation of raising and lowering the sash is
inconvenient one.
a somewhat
Now the essential feature of this invention consists in balancing such window
sashes or vertically sliding frames by means of a pair of weights one of which is
considerably heavier than the other. A cord is attached to the heavier of these
two weights and passes over a conveniently arranged pulley at the top of the
framing of the window in such a manner as that by pulling said cord such weight
is raised so as to allow the window to fall whilst to the underside of the second
and lighter weight is secured another cord which is likewise passed around a
suitable arrangement of pulleys and which can be drawn down so as to cause the
window to rise as will be well understood from the following description reference
being had to the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window frame fitted with two vertically
sliding sashes the upper one of which is adapted to be operated according to my
invention whilst,
Figures 2 and 3 are elevations of the right and left hand sides respectively of
said window frame.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A represents the upper vertically sliding sash which it is required to provide
with means whereby it may be conveniently raised and lowered whilst B repre-
sents the comparatively heavy weight on the one side of the sash and C the
comparatively light weight on the opposite side. Each of these two weights is
connected to the sash A. by a cord b and c respectively passing over a sheave or
pulley b and c in the ordinary manner. These two weights B and C are prefer-
ably made the one about ten pounds heavier than the other, it being understood
that their total weight must be approximately equal to that of the sash to be
balanced. For instance assuming that the sash weight say forty pounds, then it is
desirable that the heavy weight B should weigh about twenty five pounds, and the
lighter weight C about fifteen pounds.
In order that the sash may be raised I provide means whereby the effect of the
heavy weight B may be decreased and in order that the sash may be lowered I
provide means whereby the effect of the light weight C may be increased. To
attain these objects a cord D is connected to the upper end of the heavy weight B
and is passed over a pair of small pulleys & d' supported at the top of the outer
window framing as clearly illustrated in the drawings and is allowed to hang down
inside the room as shewn. The lower depending end of this cord D is preferably
provided with a handle d or other contrivance to enable it to be easily drawn

page_text: down. A somewhat similarly arranged cord E is secured to the lower end of the
lighter weight C and is passed under a small sheave or pulley eat the bottom of
the window frame and thence up over small sheaves or pulleys e e¹ and is allowed
to hang inside the room as illustrated in Figure 1. A convenient way of supporting
these small pulleys d d³, e el is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, that is each pair of
said pulleys is mounted in a small case or box e³ ³ (Figures 2 and 3 respectively)
said cases or boxes being provided each with a short projecting nose or pin d'e
arranged to fit in a recess or hole provided for it in the back lining of the window
frame as clearly illustrated in said figures.
It will be readily understood from the foregoing description that if it be required
to lower the window sash A it is merely necessary to pull down the lower end of
the cord D, the effect being to tend to raise the heavy weight B, and so to a
certain extent neutralise its action upon said sash, it being obvious that if a pull
equal to ten pounds is put on the cord D that the effect of such heavy weight B
upon the sash will only be equal to the remaining ten pounds, and as the sash
weighs thirty pounds it will obviously raise the two weights B and C and will
continue to fall until the cord D be again raised. If it be required to raise the
window sash A, it will merely be necessary to increase the effect of the lighter
weight C by pulling down the cord E as will be well understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. The herein described means for raising and lowering vertically sliding
frames such as window sashes consisting essentially of a pair of counterbalance
weights (such as B and C) one being considerably heavier than the other although
their total weight is approximately equal to that of the frame or sash to be operated
said weights being connected to said frames or sashes by cords passing over pulleys
in the ordinary manner substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained and as illustrated in my drawings.
Second. The combination with a window sash or other vertically sliding frame
(such as A) connected by a cord (such as b) passing over sheaves or pulleys (such
as ) to a pair of counterbalance weights (such as B and C) one of which is con-
siderably heavier than the other, of a pair of cords (such as D and E) connected
to said weights in such a manner as that the effect of the heavier one may be
neutralised whilst the effect of the lighter one may be increased at will substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in my
drawings.
Third. The combination with a pair of counterbalance weights (such as B
and C) connected to a window sash or other vertically sliding frame (such as A)
of a pair of sheaves or pulleys (such as d d¹) mounted within a case or frame (such
as d³) fitted within the window framing and provided with a projecting pin or stud
(such as d) fitting into a corresponding recess or hole in the back lining of said
frame substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in my drawings.
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