IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBINATION OF GLASS WITH IRON OR OTHER METALS TO SERVE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOORS, WALLS, AND ROOFS, OR PARTS THEREOF, OR OF WINDOWS FOR BUILDINGS, AND ALSO OF TRANSLUCENT PAVEMENTS, LIGHTS FOR SUBTERRANEAN APARTMENTS, AND FOR ANY PURPOSE FOR WHICH A TRANSLUCENT MEDIUM POSSESSING GREAT STRENGTH IS DESIRABLE
Year: 1853

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th August 1853.--A communication.
I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street, Pr
Sp
Holborn, City, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBINATION OF GLASS WITH IRON OR
OTHER METALS TO SERVE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOORS, WALLS, AND
ROOFS, OR PARTS THEREOF, OR OF WINDOWS FOR BUILDINGS, AND ALSO OF
TRANSLUCENT PAVEMENTS, LIGHTS FOR SUBTERRANEAN APARTMENTS, AND
FOR ANY PURPOSE FOR WHICH A TRANSLUCENT MEDIUM POSSESSING GREAT
STRENGTH IS DESIRABLE," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to the securing of lenses or
other pieces of glass in openings in a grating of cast iron or other
metal by means of a malleable metal packing or plastic cement in
such a way as to make the packing or cement hold the glass in place,
form a water-tight joint, and prevent the contact of the glass and

page_text: metal, and thereby prevent the liability to fracture of the glass. It
consists in making rebates round the openings in the grating, which
are large enough to receive the glass, with a band of packing or cement
extending all around and under or inside it, and in making the sides of
the glass and of the rebate of such form that when the packing or
cement is in place the glass cannot be withdrawn.
The second part of my Invention relates to the employment of the
combination of glass and metal above mentioned in structures where
it is required to extend it over a larger area than is practically con-
venient with a grating consisting of a single casting. It consists in
the employment of what may be either termed "panes" or "tiles,"
according to their position, of iron and glass in sashes or frames, either
in an upright, inclined, or horizontal position, the said "
resembling the panes in an ordinary window sash, and the said "tiles"
being placed in frames serving to make ornamental tesselated trans-
lucent pavement.
panes"
The accompanying Drawings illustrate my Invention in its varied
applications.
Fig. 1, is a face view of four "panes" or "tiles" constructed by
combining the glass and metal according to the first part, and inserted
in a sash or frame according to the second part of my Invention.
Fig. 2, is a back view (on a larger scale than Fig. 1,) of one of the
"panes or "tiles" detached from the sash or frame.
Fig. 3, is the section of the same and part of its sash or frame.
Fig. 4, is a face or top view of a vault cover constructed according to
my Invention.
Fig. 5, is a section of the same.
Fig. 6, is a back view of that form of glass light shown in
Figs. 1, 2, & 3.
Fig. 7, is a front view of a light of a different form.
Fig. 8, and 9, are sections of Figs. 6, and 7.
Fig. 10, is a front view of a light of another form.
Fig. 11, is an edge view of the same.
Fig. 12, and 13, are front or top views of another form of light, the
latter Fig. showing a metal packing ring round it.

page_text: Fig. 14, is a section of Fig. 12.
Fig. 15, is an edge view of the same light, with the packing ring in
section.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of
the different Figs. in which they are used.
A, A, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) are gratings of cast iron, having a
number of circular openings, each of which is surrounded by a rebate a,
(see Fig. 3,) on the upper or outer side, the said rebate being a little
enlarged at the back, and thus giving the sides a form of a hollow
frustum of a cone.
B, B, are the glass lights, which fit in the rebate in A, A, and are
therefore of circular form, and in order to prevent their being with-
drawn from the rebates they are made conical, the back part being the
largest, and just small enough to pass through the front or smaller part
of the rebate. This causes an annular space to be left between the
glass and the sides of the rebates when the glass is in place, and this
space is intended to receive the cement which is to hold the glass in
place. It is not absolutely necessary to enlarge the rebate at the back
or bottom, as the roughness of the casting will be sufficient to hold the
cement if the sides of the rebate are parallel.
C, D, (see C, Fig. 7, and 9, and D, in Figs. 10, and 11,) are
hexagonal shaped glasses, which are intended to fit in hexagonal
openings and rebates; their sides may be made parallel or tapering, like
those B, B, and the rebates of the gratings intended to receive them
will be similarly enlarged or tapered at the back. All the above
glasses with tapered sides are intended to be secured in place with
cement. The forms of the glasses may be varied indefinitely.
The cement which I prefer to employ, for the reason that after a
series of experiments I have found it best for the purpose, is a mixture
of one part of coal tar by weight and two parts sulphur. I mix the
coal tar with the sulphur in a powdered state, and when I use it I
warm the mixture till it acquires a sufficient degree of fluidity to run
freely. I then lay the gratings in a horizontal position, with the face and
the rebates upwards, and insert the glasses, raising them by any con-
venient means above the bottoni of the rebate, so that the cement will
P
S₁

page_text: enter between the glass and the said bottom, and thus prevent the
contact. I afterwards pour in a sufficient quantity of the cement to fill
the space between the glass and the rebates. The cement is shown in
Fig. 3, in brown color.
When a metal packing is employed to unite the glass and iron the
glass lights are made in the form shown in Figs. 14, and 15, which
form resembles two frustums of cones united at their bases, giving the
sides a section of the form of the letter V. The rebates to receive
them are made considerably larger, but they have parallel sides, as
shown at b, b, in Fig. 5, in the vault cover E, though their bottoms
may be conical. The packing ring C, is of lead; it may be cast round
the glass G, in a mould before being placed in the rebate, or it may
be cast round the glass G, after it has been put in its place, in either
case it requires to be caulked to make it close and solid, and to make
t fill the inequalities in the surfaces of the rebate which holds it in
place. Great care must be taken to prevent the contact of the glass
and iron.
The glasses may be in the form of lenses, or of any other form that
may be desirable, either plain or ornamental, and should stand with
their outsides nearly level with or not much above the surface of the
metal, especially for pavements. In pavements for public places it will
be advisable to have the metal studded between and around the glasses
with numerous small bosses d, d, as shown on the vault cover E. These
bosses will serve the double purpose of protecting the glass, and giving
a good foothold. I do not confine myself to the use of the metal or the
cement packing in any particular positions, as either kind may be used
under all circumstances.
F, (Figs. 1, and 2,) represents either a window sash or a frame con-
taining "panes" or "tiles," as the case may, the construction being the
same whether it is used as a window or part of the wall or the roof of a
building, or as a floor or pavement. It is provided with suitable com-
partments to receive the "panes' or "tiles," which are secured by
pins e, e, as shown in the Drawing, or by other suitable means. The
joints may be made tight with iron cement. The sash or frame may be
made of any convenient size, and when properly supported a number
"

page_text: Spe
of them may form the whole side of a building. A highly ornamental Pro
tesselated pavement or floor may be made by supporting a number of
such frames on suitable girders or joists, and filling them with "tiles,"
of which the iron parts or gratings are enamelled with white and black
or other colors arranged in any order to suit the taste. The "
The "panes'
or "tiles" admit of the use of iron and glass in this way in some cases
in which it would otherwise be impracticable.