Improvements in Means Applicable for the Counterbalancing of Window Sashes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 12th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
Improvements in Means Applicable for the Counterbalancing of
Window Sashes.
I, PROCTER BARRETT of Barnoldswick in the County of York, Builder, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
It has reference to those sashes which are arranged in such a manner that one sash
counter-balances the other, ono being moved upwards as the other is being moved
downwards, in a manner well understood; said invention consisting of the application
thereto of means whereby window sashes at present in use may be made so to counter-
balance each other, and further, whenever desired the upper sash may be moved for a
suitable distance downwards, as for ventilating purposes &c. without necessitating the
upward movement of the lower sash.
To attain this, the bearings, for the grooved pulleys over which pass the cord or
chains coupling the two sashes together as is well known, are formed so that they
may be attached to the top rail of the window framing, on the inner side of the
upper sash and about perpendicularly above the lower sash, the ends of the cords or
chains being attached to the inner surfaces of the top as well as bottom sash, so that
alterations in the formation of either sashes or fraining from those in present and
common use not required.
The ends of chain or cords attached to the lower sash are done so with suitable
lever attachments fulcrumed on bearings in order that when desired these Levers may
be moved allowing the chain to ascend on one side its pulley and descend on the
other with the desired result of allowing the upper sash to descend.
Or instead of these lever attachments, small drums may be employed, upon which
portions of the chains or cords may be wound; said drums being held by a catch and
catch wheel arrangements so that they will not allow said cord &c. to unwind.
72
11007

page_text: -
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means Applicable for the Counterbalancing of
Window Sashes.
I, PROCTER BARRETT of Barnoldswick in the County of York, Builder 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, that is
to say :-
It has reference to those sashes which are arranged in such a manner that one sash
counter-balances the other by means of the one being joined to the other with chains
or cords which are made to pass over a pulley, one of said sashes being moved upwards
as the other is being moved downwards, in a manner well understood; said invention
consisting of the application, thereto, of means whereby window sashes at present in
use may be made so to counterbalance each other, and further, whenever desired, the
upper sash may be moved for a suitable distance downwards, as for ventilating
purposes etc. without necessitating the upward movement of the lower sash.
In the accompanying drawings, fig. 1 is the front view of a window frame and its
two sashes which are arranged to counterbalance each other by the employment of
means and parts constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view to fig. 2 but
illustrates the sashes in a different position. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail drawings herein-
after referred to.
Fig. 6 is a similar view to fig. 1 but illustrates the upper sash in a slightly lowered
position. Fig. 7 is a sectional side view of fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a sectional side view illustrative of means for allowing the bottom sash
to be moved outwardly for cleaning or other purposes.
Fig. 9 is a detail drawing of a modification hereinafter described.
The object of this invention is attained by forming the bearings a a¹ in which are
respectively mounted the grooved pulleys bb¹ so that they may be attached as by
screws or nails being passed through the plate part c, to the top rail d of the window
framing. The positions of these bearings a a² with their respective pulleys 6 b², is
such, that when mounted to the rail d, the chains e e¹ which are made to pass around
said pulleys bb respectively will be in suitable positions for their outer ends e³ and e³
to be attached to the inner surfaces of the top and bottom sashes f and f¹ respectively
and yet allow the portions of chain intervening the places where thus attached to these
said sashes, to extend about perpendicularly until they come in contact with their
respective pulleys 6 61, thus entirely avoiding the necessity of altering either the
framing or sashes, of any windows at present in use, to which these improved parts
may be applied.
The ends of the chains e are attached to the sash fi by means of the levers g g¹
which are hinged or mounted in the bearings h h¹ see detail drawings figs. 4 and 5, in
order that whenever desired these said levers may be moved to allow the upper sash f

page_text: to descend as illustrated by figs. 6 and 7 without necessitating any upward movement
of the lower sash f¹, said levers 9 gl being secured in their other positions, shewn
by figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8, by means of the thumb-and-finger piece or button i as will be
well understood.
Instead of the levers 9 g¹ and bearings h h¹ being employed small drums p one of
such being shewn by fig. 9, may be used; the outer ends of the chains é e¹ being
wound around said drums, as will be seen, which (said drums) are held in proper
position or prevented from rotating only when they are required so to do, by means of
the ratchet wheels k (one of which is attached to each of said drums p) and
the ratchet 1, by these means the upper sash may be lowered without moving the
lower one.
For cleaning and other purposes the lower sash f¹ may be moved into the position
shewn by fig. 8. The beads m being hinged loosely to the framing of the window to
enable said movement as may be desired, the buttons n n (see fig. 1) keeping said
beads m in proper position when the sash is in its usual place.
It will readily be seen that instead of the chains e e¹ being employed, cords or
leather straps may be used.
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 1
claim is:
1. The bearings a a¹, the pulleys bb, the chains (cords or leather straps) e e¹, the
sashes ff, the levers g g¹ and the bearings h h to which are attached the buttons i i,
in combination, the same being formed and arranged to operate in the manner and
for the purposes substantially as herein specified.
2. The bearings a a', the pulleys bb, the chains (cords or leather straps) e e¹,
sashes ff, the drums p, ratchet wheels k, and ratchets in combination the same
being formed and arranged to operate in the manner and for the purposes substantially
as herein specified.