IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RAISING WINDOW SASHES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Langridge, of Eastbourne, in the County of
Sussex, Joiner, for an Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RAISING
WINDOW SASHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Langridge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st October 1880.
PHILIP LANGRIDGE, of Eastbourne, in the County of Sussex, Joiner. "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR RAISING WINDOW SASHES."
The object of the present Invention is to facilitate the raising of window sashes
by means of a novel application of coiled springs, whereby the inefficient and
costly system of cords and weights hitherto employed may be dispensed with.
The apparatus by which I attain my object consists of two or more pairs of
spring boxes mounted loosely on spindles which are carried by standards, preferably
situate above the sash to be lifted. As these spring boxes are each alike in con-
struction and operation, I will proceed to describe one of them, and the manner in
which it works.
Each spring box consists of a circular case, preferably of metal, having a groove
formed on its outer periphery for the reception of a cord or a metal band or tape,
one end of which is made fast in the groove of the spring case, the other being
attached to the sash. The case is fitted internally with a coiled spring of suitable
strength, one end being made fast to the spindle on which the case is loosely
mounted, and the other being attached to the inner periphery of the said case. The
spindle on which the spring case is mounted, is rigidly fixed in standards which are
united at top by a tie-piece.
Each spring case is provided with a ring of ratchet teeth on its exterior, and a
pawl engages with these ratchet teeth, and may be held in contact therewith by a
weighted lever or by a spring, and it may be released therefrom at pleasure by
a cord passing over a small pulley.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Assuming it to be applied to the top
sash, as an example, a pair of such spring boxes and their attachments having been
fixed above the level of the top bar of the upper sash, the spring contained in each
such case should be allowed to expand to its full extent. The cord or metal tape
Dr C71

page_text: which is to be attached to the window, must then have one end made fast in the
groove of the spring case, and after being wound closely around the said case, its
other end inust be attached to the sash. On depressing the sash, the metal tape or
cord will be unwound, causing the spring box to rotate and the spring inside it to
be wound up, at the same time the pawl will engage with the ring of ratchet teeth
on the spring case, preventing its reverse motion, and the sash will be retained in
any desired open position.
When it is wished to close the sash, it will merely be necessary to disengage the
pawls of the pair of spring boxes by means of the cord attached thereto, or in any
other convenient manner, whereupon the springs will give off their power, causing
their cases to rotate and winding up the tapes attached to the sash, which will thus
be automatically raised to the closed position. For windows of ordinary size and
weight, one pair of such spring cases will be sufficient for each sash,
To prevent the sashes from rising with too much force, it may be desirable to
employ one or more bow-springs on either side of the frame in which the sashes are
placed, each of such springs consisting of a simple piece of curved steel ribbon slotted
at either end and retained in place by means of pins which are embraced by the
said slots.
It may also be desirable, with a view of diminishing the friction of the side
frames on the sashes, and of ensuring the latter running up smoothly, to insert one
or more small wheels of wood or metal in the lower part of each side of the said
sashes, or it may be in the framework of the window.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Langridge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st April
1881.
PHILIP LANGRIDGE, of Eastbourne, in the County of Sussex, Joiner. "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR RAISING WINDOW SASHES."
The object of the present Invention is to facilitate the raising of window
sashes by means of a novel application of coiled springs, whereby the inefficient
and costly system of cords and weights hitherto employed may be dispensed
with.
The apparatus by which I attain my object consists of two or more pairs of
spring boxes mounted loosely on spindles which are carried by standards, preferably
situate above the sash to be lifted.
In Sheets I. and II. of the accompanying Drawings, I have shown the construction
and operation of these spring cases and their general position with respect to the
window sashes to be lifted.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of so much of one side of the top of a window frame,
with a pair of spring boxes mounted thereon, as will serve to explain my Invention;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same partly in section, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal
section of a pair of these spring cases. In these Figures, A is a metallic case of
substantially cylindrical form, mounted in standards B which are screwed to the
frame of the window. These standards B are slotted at b to receive the ends of
the spindles C, C, which pass through the spring cases A. Each of the spring
cases A has grooves a formed on its exterior, such grooves being preferably arranged
in a spiral after the manner of a fusee, for the purpose of imparting a uniform pull
upon the cord a', which is laid around the said grooves. One end of the cord a! is
attached to the spring case as at a³, the other end being attached to the sash to be
lifted. Each case is fitted internally with a coiled spring D of suitable strength,
one end thereof being securely attached to the spindle C, on which the case A turns
freely, and the other end being attached to the inner periphery of the said case as
shewn at d and respectively.
In order to enable the initial tension of the spring D to be varied to suit the
weight of the window sash to be lifted, the end of the axle C terminates in a squaro
to which a key may be applied, as shown at Fig. 2. The axle C having been
rotated by this key to the required extent, a wedge shaped pin b¹ is passed through
a slot or hole c formed in the said square end of the axle C, and serves in
conjunction with the stops or pins 62 projecting from the cheek of the standard B to
prevent the further rotation of the axle. By this arrangement for partially charging
the springs D they may be set to any desired initial tension.
In lieu of this arrangement however the charging of the springs may be effected
by making the bearing portions of the spindles, where they rest on the standard,
square instead of round as shewn, and by then turning the spring case until the
required strength is obtained. In this case the spring must be charged before the
cord is attached to the sash, but where the key is employed, the spring may remain
uncharged until the cord is fixed.
To retain the sashes in place when pulled down, a simple ratchet and pawl may
be employed, or an ordinary friction strap operated, by a cord, but I prefer to
employ the clutch arrangement shewn in Figures 1 and 2, at E, E. These clutches
are each mounted loosely upon a spindle, and are thrust upwards against the spring
cases A by means of springs e, and are capable of being pulled downwards by
means of a hand cord or cords attached to their free ends.
These clutches will be conveniently operated by separate cords, but I do not lay
any claim to novelty in this arrangement of clutch.

page_text: It will thus be seen that on depressing the sash F the spring case A will be
rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, and the clutch e will yield and allow
it to pass freely, but on releasing the sash the clutch will hold the spring case from
being rotated by the spring within it until the said clutch is pulled down by the
cord attached thereto. This clutch arrangement inay be used with good effect when
the sashes are well made and properly fitted, but should there be imperfect
workmanship, or any great swelling of the wood the sashes will bind sufficiently
without these clutches.
I would remark, that if preferred, with the view of obtaining additional strength,
the standards B may be increased in height, and connected together by a horizontal
tie-piece, but standards of the construction herein shown have been found to answer
their purpose well. Spring cases of the full size, shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, will
impart a lift of four feet six inches to sashes each weighing one hundred pounds.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Two pairs of such spring boxes and their attachments having been fixed above
the level of the top bar of the upper sash, one pair on either side of the window,
and the cords or metal tapes having been attached to the spring cases and to the
sashes, the springs contained in each such case should be adjusted by the key as
above explained so as to charge them to the required extent. If however a key is
not used and the spindles C are mounted in square bearings so as to be fixed, each
cord or metal tape a' which is to be attached to the window sash must first have
one end made fast to the spring case as at a³, and after being wound closely around
the said case, and within the spiral groove a, its other end must be attached to the
sash F (as seen best in Fig. 2) after the spring case A has been turned round so as
to sufficiently charge the spring D. On depressing the sash F, the metal tapo or
cord a¹ will be unwound, causing the spring box A to rotate upon the axle C and
the spring D inside it to be wound up; at the same time the spring clutch E will
yield to allow of the spring case rotating freely, but will serve to prevent its reverse
motion, and the sash will be retained in any desired open position.
When it is wished to close the sash it will merely be necessary to disengage the
spring clutch E or an equivalent locking device by means of the cord attached
thereto or in any other convenient manner, whereupon the spring D will give off its
power, causing the case A to rotate and winding up the cord or tape a¹ attached to
the sash, which will thus bo automatically raised to the closed position.
For the lower sashes of windows it will be understood that the springs will be in
tension when such sashes are shut down, and in order to open them it will therefore
merely be necessary to pull down their controlling clutch or clutches, whereupon
they will be automatically raised or their weight bo counterbalanced according to
the degree of tension imparted to the springs when fixing them.
It will be understood that by means of the spiral groove or fusee arrangement of
spring case the increasing power of the springs is compensated, and that as the sashes
pull down the cord will operate to less advantage, as the spring increases in power
until the sash is in its lowest position. A converse action takes place on its ascent,
thus preventing the sash running up violently as it nears the top.
For windows of ordinary size and weight one pair of such spring cases will be
sufficient for each sash.
In Figures 4 and 5, Sheet II., I have shewn a convenient method of employing
one spring only to each sash,
It will be seen in this arrangement that each of the cases A takes the form
externally of two shallow cones or halves joined base to base and grooved spirally
on their exterior to receive each a separate cord, which is led over a simple grooved
axle pulley G, passes through a hole in the frame, and is attached to the sash to be
lifted. The interior construction and method of mounting these doubly grooved
spring cases being the same as has been already described will not require further
explanation.
To prevent the sashes from rising with too much force it may be desirable to
employ one or more bow springs on either side of the frame in which the sashes

page_text: are placed, each of such springs consisting of a single piece of curved steel ribbons
slotted at either end, and retained in place by means of pins which are embraced
by the said slots.
It may also be desirable, with a view of diminishing the friction of the side
frames on the sashes, and ensuring the latter running up smoothly, to insert one
or more small wheels of wood or other material in the lower part of each side of
the said sashes or it may be in the framework of the window.
The above described apparatus offers the following advantages over the present
system of hanging sashes besides its automatic action in raising the sashes:-It
effects a great saving in joiners' work, no preparation of the pulley style being
necessary, and all side linings or boxing for weights being dispensed with. It
enables side reveals in stone or brick work to be dispensed with, the whole apparatus
being easily accessible on removing one piece of lining or architrave at the top of
the frame.
Having now set forth the nature of my said Invention of "Improved Apparatus
for Raising Window Sashes," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent I claim, the means, substantially as herein shewn and described, for raising
window sashes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Langridge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.