IMPROVEMENTS IN CAST-IRON SASH WINDOWS TO BE ADAPTED TO PURLIN, TILE, OR SLATE ROOFING
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Victor Vandroy, of No. 15, Passage des Petites
Ecuries, in the City of Paris, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAST-IRON SASH WINDOWS TO BE
ADAPTED TO PURLIN, TILE, OR SLATE ROOFING."
Sealed the 31st May 1867, and dated the 5th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Victor Vandroy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th December 1866.
I, VICTOR VANDBOY, of No. 15, Passage des Petites Ecuries, in the City
of Paris, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAST-IRON SASH WINDOWS TO BE
ADAPTED TO PURLIN, TILE, OR SLATE ROOFING," to be as follows:-
This sash is composed according to the style of roof in which it is to be
fitted, whether such roof be covered with tiles, slates, lead, or zinc, the sash
being cast so as to reproduce and follow the grouping and fitting of the tiles
or other covering of the roof; it is in fact a part of the roof made of cast iron,
and in the middle of which is a skylight lifting on a snuff box hinge. This
sash is cast in a mould taken in plaster from the roof; in other words, my
sashes are cast so as to reproduce in cast iron tiles, slates, or other forms
according to the style of roofing for which they are intended, the object being
that they shall adapt themselves to the style of roof, and thus fit close enough

page_text: It is
to prevent infiltration of water into rooms immediately beneath a roof.
on this principle and this means of taking the shape which is the natural
reproduction of the tiles or slates grouped on a roof that my system of sash
is based.
My sashes are made in one or several parts according to their size, they
are usually in four parts, two horizontal and two vertical. The upper
horizontal part unites the two vertical parts by a tenon bolted on each side
through its mortise; these bolts are fixed in the tenon in the casting. The
two vertical parts carry similar tenons which tie them to the other horizontal
piece. By this means I give in breadth as great a distance as the cast iron
will take in extent and in length indefinite numbers by adding to the vertical
parts other similar parts or fractions of parts; thus varying both the number
and the shape I can satisfy every commercial requirement. To render my
sashes lighter I suppress on the side on which they are fitted all the useless
cast iron.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Victor Vandroy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, VICTOR
VANDROY, of Number 15, Passage des Petites Ecuries, in the City of Paris,
in the Empire of France, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Victor Vandroy, Her special licence that I, the said Victor Vandroy, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Victor
Vandroy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CAST-IRON SASH WINDOWS TO BE ADAPTED TO PURLIN, TILE, OR SLATE ROOFING,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Victor Vandroy, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the

page_text: nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Victor Vandroy, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto
annexed, and forming part of this my Specification, and to the figures and
letters of reference placed thereon.
This Invention consists of an improved system of cast-iron sash for skylights
or roof windows of the styles known as the "tabatière" and the"" belle
voisine" for pantile, slate, tile, lead, and zinc roofing, and generally for all the
forms of material used to cover roofs. This system is essentially based on the
various forms to be given to the contours of sashes, such forms or shapes
being similar to the covering of the roof on which they are to be placed. The
result of the identity of form of sash and roof is an equal multiplicity of points
of contact, and an equal security against leakage.
For pantile roofs the sashes are composed of cast-iron pantiles cast together
to accord with the fitting and arrangement of those of the roof; they are, in
fact, parts of roofs, in the middle of each of which is made an opening, is raised
a skylight or "tabatière;" it is the result of a casting of pantiles in a mould
taken in plaster from the pantiles themselves. For slate, tile, lead, and every
other form of roof I proceed in the same manner, following the same principle
of opening and adopting the same means.
It is the same for the sashes with pointed pediment known as the "belle
voisine," which differ from those known as "tabatière" only in the sub-
stitution for this part called "tabatière," of a projection with more or less
abutment, intended to tie to it by means of rivets or bolts, sheets of irou, or
planks of wood, to construct the belle voisine. The shape of this projection
which regulates that of the whole may be modified according to taste and the
fancy of the founder. These sashes are composed of one or several parts
according to the size to be given to them and the facility of execution, and
attain indeterminate dimensions; they are usually in 4 parts, two horizontal
and two vertical. These parts are superposed and tied together by bolts
passing through tenons in their mortise. These sashes fit on to the roofs in
the same manner as the materials which cover them and form the models
for the sash; and for further security against their falling the bolts which tie
For sashes modelled
the parts of the sash pass through the laths or boards.

page_text: from roofing materials of some thickness, such as certain pantiles, tiles, and
other forms, the tenons may be placed under the overlaying parts, and the
bolts may if desired be countersunk in the casting. In the other case the
tenons should project on the sashes to prevent the water penetrating by the
bolts.
For small sashes of a single piece the nose of the pantiles, tiles, and other
models is replaced by hooks equally applicable if desired to the other larger
ones. To render the sashes lighter all the useless cast iron is suppressed in
moulding the side on which they are laid; the same end may also be attained
by reducing the breadth of the contours or surroundings, for example, by
using a third instead of a half breadth for the pantiles. To increase the
security in large sashes the breadth may on the contrary be increased. The
raised part of the sash, or that part called "tabatière," carries a pediment'
under which the top of the cover or lid lodges, as well as two bearings on
which the spindles or pivot pins of the lid work. The bearings are placed in
the centre of the pediment or towards the middle or at different parts of the
"tabatière," they are against the pediment for the lid with direct lever
towards the middle for the swing lids, and against the pediment towards the
middle, or at different parts for the superposed lids, with rods rising under the
roof in the interior, which rods are or are not provided with counterweights
intended to equilibrize and facilitate the movement, which is equally applicable.
also to sashes with a single lid by rendering the top of the lid similar. All-
the sashes may be partly or entirely arranged as fixed sashes, that is to
say, without moveable lid or cover, simply glazed parts. The lids carry some-
what deep flanges and terminate in the shape of a reversed pediment, except
for those superposed, which are composed of a greater or lesser number of
small pieces of wood according to the breadth of the sash and the desire of the
founder. The levers are of an undulating or corrugated shape, and are let
into a sort of mortise made at the bottom of the "tabatière," to be held and
extended by a wedge on one of the sides. The projections or edges of the.
"tabatière" and those of the pediment may be more or less raised, and the
diameter of the spindles or pivot pins more or less great, according to the
breadth of the sash, and according to whether they are to give passage to a
greater or lesser quantity of water. The vertical parts of sashes of flat shape,
such, for example, as those for slates, may be of lead instead of cast iron, in
order to fit closer on the slates of the roof. The lids may be of wrought iron
or of wrought and cast iron, to be lighter and stronger, and the pediment of
the "tabatière" and the reversed one of the lid in some cases less broad, in
order to lessen their weight. By this principle of opening my "belle voisine."

page_text: and "tabatière" sashes. may be of any dimensions; of all shapes of roofing, and
of different lids.
Figure 1 is a plan view of .a sash for a pantile roof, the cover or lid being
closed; Figure 2, elevation of the pantiles on a single plane without succession
of pantiles in order to render the Drawing more intelligible; Figure 3, end
view with succession of pantiles, and with lid open and stretched out by its
lever.
a, b, c, d, sash for pantiles reproduced by the casting of the pantiles in a
mould taken from those fitted on the roof; e, bolts sunk in the tenons and
passing through the pantiles, where they are secured by nuts and join the doors
of the sash; f, hooks holding the sash on the laths; g, hole through which
passes the lever of the lid (the dotted line indicates the separation with the
wedges); h, wedge which holds the lever against the "tabatière" or raised
part of sash; i, fraction of the "tabatière" which receives the lid beneath it;
j, rounded extremities of the lid to resist the wind; k, the two spindles or
pivot pins of the lid in their bearings; l, mortises which prevent the pins
leaving their place; m, grooves formed on the sockets of the pantiles to
facilitate the running off of the water; n, small projections to direct the
water in its proper course; o, end of the pediment passing beyond the breadth
of the cover to keep the water from the "tabatière ;" p, small stops to prevent
the descent of the window; q, lid of the skylight moving on pivots and ending
at the bottom in the shape of a reversed pediment; r, ring bolt receiving the
hook of the lever; t, end where the wedge fixes the lever; s, lever corrugated
to fix against raised part or "tabatière" of the sash; u, another swing lever
which is riveted at the top of the lid and carries at its other extremity a ring
by which it is set in motion.
The sash in form of slates differs from that formed of tiles only by its
dimensions. It is composed of four parts, but it might be made of only one
or of more than four. These parts are superposed and tied together by bolts
passing through tenons slightly projecting to prevent the water penetrating by
the bolts; these bolts should be long enough to pass at the same time through
the planks which keep the slates on the roof.
Figure 1 shews one of these sashes in plan, elevation, and end view.
a, b, c, d, sash formed of slates differing from that for tiles only in its
dimensions; e, f, represent a sash having four hollow spaces left to receive the
slates of the roof; g, h, spaces left for the same object; i, rounded projections
of the skylight and the pediment; h, projections on the lid to keep off the
water; s, t, u, v, x, slates placed on and between the spaces left by the sash,
and thus closing the space prepared on the roof for the reception of the sash.

page_text: Figure 2 plan and end view of a sash m having two superposed lids and
two levers with counterweights.
Figure 34, plan and elevation, ordinary size, of a small sash shewing section
of part of pediment, shape, and arrangement of the lid on its pivots, and at o
small plates which may be fitted to direct from the side of the pivots or spindle
the water coming from the pediment.
Figure 4, plan, elevation, and edge view in section of a sash in the style
known as the "belle voisine" on a leaden foundation, which is equally
applicable to every form of roof; P, projection forming the starting point of
the "belle voisine;" q, ribs projecting more or less to receive the planks;
r, sheet iron or planks which let into q, and which begin the head of the
"belle voisine."
In witness whereof, I, the said Victor Vandroy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
VICTOR VANDROY. (L.S.)