Improvements in Fireproof Shutters and Weight-chains for use therewith.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 14th Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fireproof Shutters and Weight-chains for use
therewith.
I, WILLIAM RAYMOND KINNEAR, of Columbus, in the County of Franklin, and
State of Ohio, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a blind or shutter for windows, doors, or
partitions which may be economically constructed, readily put up, and easily operated
and which shall afford efficient protection against fire and water.
My invention also embraces, an improved counter-balancing weight-chain for
attachment to curtains.
As I shall prefer to construct these curtains of metallic slats, my invention further
consists of an improved flexible joint connecting the slats so that they may roll com-
pactly onto rollers arranged in the upper and lower parts of the window frame and at
the same time when unrolled be completely waterproof.
My invention consists in details of construction and mechanism for operating the
curtains all of which are hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my curtain in its single form.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the curtain in its double form, that is where an air space
is provided to increase its efficiency as a fire-proof curtain.
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the application of my curtain to a
door, as of a warehouse or factory through which vehicles may be driven or heavy
things moved.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing the construction providing grooves
for the reception and movement of the edges of the double curtain.
Fig. 5 is a detail in cross section illustrating the construction of the flexible joint
of the slats.
Figs. 6 and 7 are views illustrating my counter-balancing weight chain.
Like characters of reference in the different views designate corresponding
parts.
Referring to the construction illustrated in the first view 1 designates one side of a
window. In the upper part of this is journaled horizontally a roller 2 having fast on
one end a small sprocket wheel 3 and a larger sprocket wheel 4, and in the lower
part is journaled horizontally a roller 2 having a sprocket wheel 31 fast therein.
Secured vertically on the opposite sides of the window are metallic strips bent to
form grooves 5 which receive the edges of the curtains designated 6. In Fig. 1 the
curtain is shown to be of two parts that are attached to the upper and lower rollers
respectively.
The two parts of the curtain are made of such length that when unrolled they
shall meet at about the middle of the window, and their free or movable ends are

page_text: each provided with a strip of angle iron the horizontal faces of which lap when they
come together. The lower angle iron may be furnished with pins and the upper one
with holes through which the pins project to prevent lateral separation, and any
suitable means may be employed for locking the strips together when the curtain is
closed. The curtain rollers are each protected by inclosing sheet metal. shields
substantially as shown.
The two parts of the curtain are operated by means of sprocket chains. According
to the construction shown in Fig. 1 there are two chains 7 and 71 one passing around
the sprocket wheel 3 and one around the sprocket wheel 3', and power applied to one
roller is communicated to the other by means of the intermediate geared sprocket
wheels 8 and 81 journaled on a plate secured to the side of the window frame.
Brackets or bent arms 9 are secured to the sprocket chain 71 and the upper edge of
the lower part of the curtain is connected with said arm by means of coil springs 10.
These springs allow a cushioned contact of the two parts of the curtain when they
come together. The two parts of the curtain are operated by means of a sprocket
chain 11 passing around the large pulley 4 which may be manipulated at any
convenient point in the room.
Instead of the two chains 7 and 7' and the two genred' sprockets 8 and 8' I máy
use simply a crossed single chain belt passing around the, roller sprockets 3 and 34
and thus secure the simultaneous and contrary movements of the parts of the
curtain. The weight of the upper part of the curtain largely, if not quite, supplies
the power required to raise the lower part of the curtain and so renders: easy the
operation of the same.
In Fig. 2 I have illustrated my improvements as embodied in a double or two-fold
curtain, that is one in which each of the parts composing the curtain extends the
entire length of the window. In this instance the parts of the curtain move up and
down in separate grooves somewhat separated so as to afford an air space between
them. The upper curtain is attached to the roller as before. A single chain passes
around and connects the sprockets of the upper and lower rollers and the curtain on
the lower roller is connected directly to an arm or bracket secured to the chain. In
this instance as in the first the weight of the curtain on the upper roller supplies
nearly if not quite all the power required to lift the curtain on the lower roller and
so renders very easy the operation of the curtain. In this instance also the rollers
may be protected by sheet metal shields.
Where the curtain is to be used in the door of a warehouse, as illustrated in Fig. 3,
the lower roller is placed under the floor and the curtain moved up or down through
a 'slit made for that purpose. In this case the upper edge of the curtain on the lower
roller will be furnished with a strip of T-iron the head of which will rest in a slot
countersunk so that the upper face of the T-iron shall be flush with the floor, thus.
allowing unimpeded passage of vehicles into and out of the building. In putting up
my curtains I propose also to encase in sheet metal all exposed wood-work of the
window casing, thus preventing ingress or communication of fire to the building.
Where the double curtain is employed the entire length of the windows and doors
arid a good air space left between the parts of the curtain the ignition of the
interior of a building or of its contents from the outside will ordinarily, be
impossible.
The slats of which I prefer to construct my metallic curtains will be of substantially
the form shown in cross-section Fig. 5. The opposite longitudinal edges will be bent
in opposite directions to form grooves 19 of rectangular or elliptical hook forth in
cross section.
The edge portion of the slat will constitute tongues 20 lying on opposite sides of
the general plane of the slat so as to form water-shedding joints at both edges of the
same, and the body of the slat will be bent across the mouth of the groove to form a
shoulder 21, a small narrow opening being left for the insertion in a longitudinal,
direction only of the tongue of another similarly formed slat. When the slats are
thus connected the shoulder 21 prevents lateral separation of the slats, but permits
their movement upon each other with a hinge-like movement. Thus the curtain.

page_text: may be rolled compactly upon a roller and when unrolled will forin a completely
water-proof curtain.
My improved counterbalancing weight-chain 1 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is
constructed of links of block form with a perforated eye 1 on each end at opposite
sides of the block, the length of the two eyes being less than the width of the block,
and they are hinged together by means of a bolt passed through the adjoined eyes
and secured by a nut. The ends of the block have flanges which are preferably
beveled as shown at 11 and form shoulders which abut against each other, and when
lifted the chain assumes a zig-zag form which insures the folding of the links into a
pile when the curtain is raised and the chair. lowered in its pocket. The flanges also
increase the weight of the chain. The uppermost link of the chain will preferably
be made about half the length of the others so that the draft of the lifting cord
will be substantially in a line centrally through the chain. As the curtain is lowered
at one side of the roller the weight cord is wound up and the chain lifted at the
opposite side thereof. A weight heavier than the links may be attached to the lower
end of the chain.
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
claim is:
1. In a window or other opening, a curtain or blind composed of two parts, rollers
in the upper and lower parts of said opening upon which said parts of the curtain
may be rolled or unrolled, a belt or chain connecting said rollers, the part of the
curtain on the lower roller being connected to said belt, whereby the movement of
said belt shall cause the movement of said curtains in contrary directions to
open or close the opening in which the curtainor blind is placed, substantially as
described.
2. In a window or other opening, rollers journaled in the upper and lower parts of
said opening, a double or two fold curtain one part being secured to each roller,
separate channels or grooves for said parts of the curtain, a chain or belt for
operating said curtain, the lower part being connected to said chain, substantially as
described.
3. A metallic blind or curtain composed of slats having tongues and grooves
formed at their opposite edges, shoulders 21, and slits between the edges of the
tongues and shoulders, the tongues lying on opposite sides of the general
plane of the slat, whereby the slats may be joined by sliding the tongues
longitudinally in the grooves and a water-shedding curtain formed, substantially
as shown.
4. A variable counter-balancing chain for rolling blinds constructed of metallic
blocks of parallelopiped form having the beveled abutting shoulders extending
entirely across their ends, and eyes and pintles for
for connecting the
blocks located centrally in the adjoined ends of the blocks, as and for the
purpose explained.
Dated this 92nd dox of November 1906