IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Drummond of the City and County of
Edinburgh, North Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Drummond at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1882.
ALEXANDER DRUMMOND of the city and county of Edinburgh, North Britain,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR SECURING GLASS TO ASTRAGALS AND SASH
BARS
"
This Invention relates to improvements in appliances for securing glass to
astragals and sash bars for roof-lights and for window frames generally, in
substitution of the use of putty.
In carrying out the Invention the astragal or sash bar employed, (which may be
of wood or metal) is formed with a central ridge between the bearing shoulders on
which the glass rests. A groove or channel forming a gutter for the escape of
water or moisture may or may not be provided between the bearing shoulder and
the central ridge of the astragal. Over the entire length of the central ridge is
fitted a retaining strip of zinc or similar sheet metal bent to the shape of the ridge
and terminating at the lower ends, over the glass, in curved lateral retaining wings,
which in cross section are semi-cylindrical or nearly so with the concave side
facing the glass. Between each lateral wing and the upper surface of the glass a
thin tube of rubber or similar elastic material is inserted and held tightly against
the surface of the glass, the curved contour of the sheet metal strip serving to
retain the elastic tube. In case, however, the retaining zinc strips may not be
curved to hold the elastic tubes, they may be fixed to the zinc by means of shellac
or other adhesive substance. The zinc or sheet metal strips are fixed to the
astragal or sash bar, after the rubber tubing is inserted to bear on the glass, by
means of screws or other fastenings, and the glass is firmly secured thereby, the
rubber serving as a soft cushion between the retaining sheet metal strips and the
glass, and also preventing the passage of water or moisture to the edge of the
glass

page_text: In sloping or curved roof-lights the sheets of glass are usually made to overlap,
and the astragals or sash bars are stepped to correspond. To prevent the glass
sheets from slipping downwards in such roof-lights, I provide retaining end pieces
of brass or other metal. The retaining pieces are cut to pass over the astragal and
form a lateral web or rib round it, against which the lower edges of the glass and
of the retaining sheet metal strips abut. The retaining end pieces when fitted to
hold the lowest pane or sheet of glass may be formed of metal plates bearing
against the ends of the astragals, and openings may be made in the plates for the
outlet of water from the channels formed in the astragals. In each case upper or
side plates are formed on the retaining pieces by which they are secured to the
astragals or sash bars.
These retaining end pieces may be fitted in combination with or apart from the
retaining ridge strips.
For vertical glazing, that is, for fixing glass in vertical or highly inclined window
frames, the improved retaining sheet metal strips and rubber cushion may also be
used with advantage; and at the sides of window frames or sashes, the retaining
strips may be single to hold one edge of the glass, but to give greater security and
prevent ingress of water, the outer edge of the sheet metal may be bent over, and
· inserted into a groove or incision cut in the frame.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Drummond in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th January 1883.
ALEXANDER DRUMMOND, of the city and county of Edinburgh North Britain
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR SECURING GLASS TO ASTRAGALS AND SASH
BARS
"
My said Invention relates to improvements in appliances for securing glass to
astragals and sash bars for roof lights and for window frames generally, in
substitution of the use of putty.
In carrying out the Invention the astragal or sash bar employed which may be
of wood or metal, is formed with a central ridge between the bearing shoulders on
which the glass rests. A groove or channel forming a gutter for the escape of
water or moisture may or may not be provided between the bearing shoulder and
the central ridge of the astragal Over the entire length of the central ridge is
fitted a retaining strip of zinc or similar sheet metal bent to the shape of the ridge
and terminating at the lower ends over the glass, in curved lateral retaining
wings, which in cross section are semi-cylindrical or nearly so, with the concave
side facing the glass.
Between each lateral wing and the upper surface of the glass a thin tube of
rubber, or similar elastic material, is inserted and held tightly against the surfaco
of the glass, the curved contour of the sheet metal strip serving to retain the
elastic tube. In case, however, the retaining zinc strips may not be curved to
hold the elastic tubes, they may be fixed to the zinc by means of shellac, or other
adhesive substance.
The zinc or sheet metal strips are fixed to the astragal or sash bar after the
rubber tubing is inserted to bear on the glass by means of screws or other fastenings,
and the glass is firmly secured thereby; the rubber serving as a soft cushion
between the retaining sheet metal strips and the glass, and also preventing the
passage of water or moisture to the edge of the glass.
In sloping or curved roof-lights, the sheets of glass are usually made to overlap,
and the astragals or sash bars are stepped to correspond. To prevent the glass
sheets from slipping downwards in such roof-lights, I provide retaining end pieces
of brass or other metal. The retaining pieces are cut to pass over the astragal and
form a lateral web or rib round it, against which the lower edges of the glass and
of the retaining sheet metal strips abut. The retaining end pieces when fitted to .
hold the lowest pane or sheet of glass may be formed of metal plates bearing
against the ends of the astragals, and openings may be made in the plates for the
outlet of water from the channels formed in the astragals.
In each case upper or side plates are formed on the retaining pieces by which
they are secured to the astragals or sash bars.
These retaining end pieces may be fitted in combination with or apart from the
retaining ridge strips.
For vertical glazing, that is, for fixing glass in vertical or highly inclined window
frames, the improved retaining sheet metal strips and rubber cushion may also be
used with advantage; and at the sides of window frames or sashes, the retaining
strips may be single to hold one edge of the glass, but to give greater security and
prevent ingress of water, the outer edge of the sheet metal may be bent over, and
inserted into a groove or incision cut in the frame.
In order that my said Invention may be more readily understood, I have here-
unto appended a sheet of explanatory drawings representing various modifications
of my improvements.
In these drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section of a sash bar or astragal,
showing the glass secured by my improved appliances. The bar or astragal A is
formed of wood with a central ridge A' and a groove a on each side between the
the ridge A¹ and the shoulders a¹ which support the glass B.

page_text: The glass is secured by a cap or long strip C of zinc or other sheet metal fitting
over the ridge A', and terminating in lateral wings c, between which and the
surface of the glass are fitted strips or lengths of rubber tubing d, or of similar
elastic or soft material, such, for example, as strips of cotton soaked in oil. The
tubing or soft material d is pressed against the glass by the zine ridge_strip C. c.
which is secured at intervals to the ridge of the wooden astragal or bar A¹ by
screws é or similar devices. The mode of securing the edge of the glass next the
outer side of the sash bar is also illustrated in this Figure, the sheet metal
strip C. c in this case extending down at one side to hold a rubber strip 6 against
the glass and on the other side fitting over into a groove all in the sash bar A.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a stepped sash bar showing the glass over-
lapping, and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a sash of similar construction
as applied for a roof light.
The securing zine or sheet metal caps or strips O. c, are of the construction shown
in cross section in Figures 4 and 5. The upper edge of the glass is fitted into a
groove 6 in the sash and is held water tight by pressing against a tubular strip of
rubber d¹
Figure 4 shows a zinc or other sheet metal strip or cap C for holding down the
outer edge of the pane of glass, and Figure 5 shows the section of a strip suitable
for fitting over the ridge of an astragal to hold down the edges of panes of glass
resting at each side.
The rubber bearing strips d are shown attached to the zinc or sheet metal strips
or caps C. Figures 2 and 3 also illustrate my improved mode of retaining the
panes at the overlapping edges in inclined or vertical roof lights. The lower edge
of each pane where it overlaps the succeeding pane, is held by a retaining piece E
of brass or other metal, which is made in the form of a short strip secured by screws
to the astragal or sash bar, and formed with a lateral web or rib E' passing down
each side of the astragal where it is shaped to cover the end of the zinc strip C,
which is fitted over it, while also forming a good bearing for the lower edge of the
pane of glass.
'
Various forms of these retaining pieces E, E¹. are shown in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9
and 10. Figures 6 and 7 show retaining pieces E. E', suitable for fitting over
astragals and retaining the overlapping edges of panes on each side. These pieces
are adapted for retaining the lowest panes of a series, the lateral web E¹ in such
cases not requiring to be cut to fit over the astragal, but having small holes e¹ cut
in them, if necessary, to permit of the escape of water or other moisture which
collects in the gutter a of the astragal or sash bar. Figure 8 shows a retaining
piece with a single web E' for use at the side bar of the sash to retain the glass
pane on one side only of the bar. Figures 9 and 10 show retaining pieces in
which a backward extension E2 of the lateral web is made to retain the glass, and
is adapted for retaining the overlapping edges of any of the panes.
This form has the advantage of allowing the zinc or sheet metal strip C, which
covers the lower part of the stepped astragal, to pass under the retaining piece to a
slight extent, while the strip covering the upper part of the astragal thus overlaps
the lower strip as shown in Figure 2, and prevents the admission of water at the
joint. The sheet metal strips C are secured over the retaining pieces by screws e
passing through them and into the astragal. Washers are fitted below the head of
the screws to prevent the admission of moisture.
Figures 11 and 12 are respectively a longitudinal elevation and a cross section
of an iron astragal showing my improvements applied. Strips C of lead are shown
fitted over the ridge A¹ of the astragal and are secured by bolts or screws e³, which
are inserted in dovetailed recesses in the ridge A'. These screws pass out through
the strips C; and are fitted with washers and nuts e* outside. .
Figure 13 shows an iron astragal of inverted T section with the glass secured in
accordance with my improvements. The sheet metal strip C, may be combined
with rubber or similar elastic material to bear on the glass, but in the examples
showing the iron astragals, and in Figure -14, which shows a wooden astragal, the

page_text: edges of the panes of glass are fitted into the strips F of sheet metal of angle or
L-shape with the vertical sides bent over on to the top of the glass. These metal
strips F are either fitted with rubber strips or partially filled with putty, or other
soft or plastic material, and the edge of the glass B afterwards pressed into the
strips to form a water tight joint, as indicated in Figures 12, 13, and 14. These
strips F are covered by the sheet metal ridge strips or caps C, which may bear on
them. In Figure 13 the lower sides of the sheet metal strips F serve as a cushion
between the glass B and the iron astragal A.
In Figure 14 a short lateral bearing part is formed on each side of the ridge A',
the groove a being formed beyond it, so that moisture collecting on the surface
of the glass may readily pass into the groove or channel a and be carried off.
Figures 15 and 16 are a section and side elevation showing one, mode of securing
the glass at the joint where the panes do not overlap.
A rigid sheet metal strip G of channel shape is fitted below the butt joint
formed by the panes, and to the inside of the strip G is soldered the lower edge of
a double strip of lead H, which is passed up through the joint between the panes
and folded over the edge of each pane of-glass, and thus prevents the ingress of
water. The channel strip G below serves as a gutter to carry off the moisture
which may collect on the lower surface of the glass and which may enter the
gutter by the small openings g formed in its sides.
Figures 17 and 18 are corresponding views showing another mode of securing
the glass at the butt joints.
The sheet metal strip G fitted under the joint is in this case bent over to form
a gutter below the edge of the glass pane, and is then passed through the joint and
folded over the upper sheet of glass.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The arrangement and combination of parts of sash bars or astragals with
glass retaining ridge caps or strips, and devices for retaining the panes at their
joints and lower edges, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The combination with astragals and sash bars, of ridge strips or caps
of sheet metal fitted with strips of rubber tubing or similar elastic or soft material d
to bear on and secure the glass in roof lights and other similar structures, substan-
tially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The combination with astragals and sash bars of metallic retaining
pieces formed with lateral webs or ribs to retain the overlapping or lower edges of
the panes of glass in roof lights and other similar structures, substantially as herein
described, and illustrated by Figures 6 to 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
In Witness Whereof, I the said Alexander Drummond, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness,
W. R. M.. THOMSON
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
ALEX DRUMMOND (L.s.)