IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLIED TO HOUSE AND CARRIAGE WINDOW SASHES FOR THE WORKING AND FASTERING THEREOF
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander John Fraser, of Water Lane, Great Tower
Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS APPLIED TO HOUSE AND CARRIAGE WINDOW SASHES FOR THE
WORKING AND FASTERING THEREOF."
Sealed the 8th December 1863, and dated the 16th June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander John Fraser
7 at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th June 1863.
I, ALEXANDER JOHN FRASER, of Water Lane, Great Tower Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLIED TO HOUSE AND CARRIAGE WINDOW
SASHES FOR THE WORKING AND FASTENING THEREOF," to be follows:-
My improvements in the furniture or fastenings of windows relate to
windows sliding upwards, such as windows that are hung and balanced
by cords and counterbalance weights; but such counterbalance is not
Price 8d.1

page_text: necessary, as such furniture or fastenings may be applied to windows the
weight of which is not counterbalanced, or only partially so.
My improved fastening or furniture consists of a metal or other suitable
ratchet toothed rack, which I apply to the inside of the window frame; this
extends from top to bottom of the sash, one for each sash. The rack has its
ratchet teeth so disposed that the horizontal part of each tooth is above. On
the window sash I apply a spring bolt, which is so fixed as to abut its end
against the rack, and by the pressure of its spring is kept up thereto, and is
at same time free to recede. The effect of this bolt is that on raising the sash
the bolt slips over the inclined faces of the teeth freely, catching at each one,
and prevents the sash again descending from any intermediate distancetowhich
it may be raised, or at full height. Thus, in opening a window, it is simply
necessary to lift the window to the required height. If it is desired to lower
the window, it is simply necessary to withdraw the bolt from contact with the
rack teeth and lower it down. When closed, a hole is provided in the rack at
that point to receive the end of the spring bolt, which shoots into such hole
aud
I prevents the window from being again raised until the bolt is withdrawn,
which of course can only be done from the inside. Supposing it is desired to
fix the window sash open a few inches so that it cannot be further opened
from the outside, I add another bolt at the top of the sash, which will abut on
one of the teeth of the rack, and thus secure the window at the height desired;
or a cross latch may be applied to the spring bolt, which may be fixed thereby
in manner of fixing the bolts of ordinary Chubb or other latch locks. In order
to prevent noise of the bolt in the rack as it passes the teeth rapidly in
succession, I form the bolt somewhat short, so that it does not bottom in the
rack, that is to say, the nose does not strike the bottom of the teeth, the blow
and force of the spring being received ontheshoulderof the bolt, between which
and the plate it strikes an india-rubber or other soft substance is interposed.
The advantages in this mode of fixing and supporting window sashes are that
the window cannot be opened from the outside, and that the counterbalance
weights and boxes may be dispensed with in ordinary windows; for very heavy
sashes I prefer that they should be partially counterbalanced. Instead of
mounting the bolt on the sash, and the ratchet teeth on the framing, I some-
times reverse these positions, and fix the ratchet teeth on the sash, in which
case the position of the teeth will be inverted. In this case the whole appa-
ratus may be hidden from view, the ratchet teeth being sunk into the sash,
and the spring bolt within the lining of the window framing, it being actuated
by hand by means of a handle or knob turned in the manner of a door handle,

page_text: in order that it may be locked, or the bolt may be locked by a key being
used in addition to the said, knob handle.
Further improvements in fitting window sashes consist in the employment of
a rack, which may have teeth similar to ordinary spur gear; but I prefer teeth
with semicircular tops and bottoms. Into this rack gears,a wheel or rotary
catch. This wheel is mounted on a spindle in the window frame, and has a
series of pins projecting from the side, which, with a pendant arm, forms a
kind of escapement, which permits the rotation of the wheel in one direction,
but, unless such pendant arm be removed, prevents the retrograde motion of
the wheel,and so sustains the window. As the retrograde motion is necessary;
to the closing of the window, a projecting thumb knob is provided for.
retaining the pendant arm from the wheel.. A second catch is provided for
the retaining toothed wheel, to prevent its rotation in the opposite direction,
which it would take in opening the window which is self-acting, and for the
purpose,of fixing the window when closed and preventing its being opened
from the outside. This catch is lifted out of gear by pressing on a bolt before
opening the window; immediately the window is slightly opened it bears on
both, which is thereby thrown back, and sustains the catch out of contact
with the wheel; and permits the free opening of the window. To secure the
window in any desired position, a catch bolt is provided, which, when thrown
into gear, , takes into one of a series of holes or pins in the wheel, or it may be
in the teeth thereof, and prevents it rotating, and therefore fixes the window
in any position desired.. When the window is closed, the bolt sustaining the
catch before mentioned shoots out, allowing the catch to drop, and so secures
the wheel from rotation and the window from opening. In addition to the
wheel being a means of sustaining and fixing the window as described, I
sometimes counterbalance the weight of the sash by applying a coiled spring
to its axis in the case of heavy windows, which spring, in coiling up,
sustains the whole or part of the weight of the sash. In the several plans
of sash windows described I fix pieces of metal to the side of the sash at top
and bottom, the edges of which are turned at right angles, and run in a rebate
cut on the inside of the bead or part of the framing in order to keep the sash
up on the opposite side, and cause it to work parallel with the window,
frame. I place these plates on that side on which the fixing apparatus is.
leoed

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander John Fraser in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
JOHN FRASER, of Water Lane, Great Tower Street, in the City of London
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alexander John Fraser, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander
John Fraser, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I
the said Alexander John Fraser, 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 APPARATUS APPLIED TO HOUSE AND CARRIAGE WINDOW SASHES
FOR THE WORKING AND FASTENING THEREOF," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander John Fraser, 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 nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander John Fraser, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereof (that is to say):-
My improved fastenings or furniture consists, first, of a metal or other suitable
ratchet toothed rack, which I apply to the inside of the window frame; this
extends from the top to bottom of the sash, one for each sash. This rack has its
ratchet teeth so disposed that the horizontal part of each tooth is above. On
the window sash I apply a spring bolt, which is so fixed to abut its end against
the rack, and by the pressure of its spring is kept up thereto, and is at same time
free to recede. The effect of this bolt is that on raising the sash the bolt
slips over the inclined faces of the teeth freely, catching at each one, and

page_text: preventing the sash again descending from any intermediate distance to which
it may be raised, or at full height. Thus, in opening a window, it is simply
necessary to lift the window to the required height. If it is desired to
lower, it is simply necessary to withdraw the bolt from contact with the
rack teeth and lower it down. When closed, a hole is provided in the
rack at that point to receive the end of the spring bolt, which shoots into
such hole, and prevents the window from being again raised until the bolt
is withdrawn, which of course can only be done from the inside. Supposing it
is desired to fix the window sash open a few inches, so that it cannot be further
opened from the outside, I add another bolt at the top of the sash, which isshot
into one of the several holes which receive'it, and secure the window sashatthe
height desired; or a cross latch may be applied to the spring bolt, which may be
fixed thereto in manner of fixing the bolts of ordinary Chubbor other latch locks.
The advantages in this mode of fixing and supporting window sashes are that
the window cannot be opened from the outside, and that the counterbalance
weights and boxes may be dispensed with in ordinary windows. For very
heavy sashes I prefer that they should be partially counterbalanced. Instead
of mounting the bolt on the sash and the ratchet teeth on the framing, I
sometimes reverse these positions, fixing the ratchet teeth on the sash, in which
case the position of the teeth will be inverted. In this case the whole appa-
ratus may be hidden from view, the ratchet teeth being sunk into the sash,
and the spring bolt with the lining of the window framing, it being
actuated by hand, by means of a handle or knob turned in the manner of a
door handle, and this may further be operated by a key instead of a handle,
in order that it may be locked, or the bolt may be locked by a key being used
in addition to the said knob handle.
Further improvements in fitting windowsashes consist in the employment of
a rack, which may have teeth similar to ordinary spur gear, but I prefer teeth
with semicircular tops and bottoms. Into this rack gears a wheel or rotarycatch.
This wheel is mounted on a spindle in the window frame, and into which wheel
a pendant arm or pawl takes, forming a kind of escapement, which permits the
rotation of the wheelin one direction, but unless such pendantarm be removed.
prevents the retrograde motion of the wheel, and so sustains the window.
As the retrograde motion is necessary to the closing of the window, a pro-
jecting thumb knob is provided for releasing the pendant arm from the wheel
A second catch is provided for the rotating toothed wheel, to prevent its
rotation in the opposite direction, that is, as in opening the window, which is for
the purpose of fixing the windowclosed,and preventing itsbeing opened from the

page_text: outside. This catch is lifted out of gear from the inside before opening, and
immediately the window is slightly opened it bears on a bolt, which is thereby
thrown back, and sustains the catch out of contact with the wheel and permits
the free opening of the window. To secure the window in any position a
catch. is provided, which, when thrown into gear, acts on the pendant arm or pall
of the wheel, and holds it in the teeth of the wheel,and so prevents its rotation,
thus fixing the window at any desired height. In addition to, the wheel being
a means of sustaining and fixing thewindowas described, I sometimes.counter-
balance the weight of the window by applying a coiled spring to its axis in the
case of heavy windows,which spring,in coiling itself up,assists in sustainingthe
weight of the sash.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a view of a window with its sashes, fitted and furnished
according to the first part of my Invention. a, a, is the lower sash of the
.window fitted to a frame b, having a rack of ratchet teeth c fixed thereto; this
is sunk into the frame, as seen. d is the sliding bolt fixed to the lower rail
of the sash, and which is constantly pressed towards the rack c by a suitable
spring in its, lowest position; this bolt is forced forwards into a hole in or
below the rack, so that its inclined nose passes beyond the bottom of the
teeth, and so fixes, the window. Holes may be made in the rack at different
height in order that the bolts d may slide forward in such holes, and so fix
the sash at any height desired, or a second bolt may be fixed to the sash at
the top for that purpose.
To the upper sash, in Fig. 1, I have shown the rack applied on the window
sash and the bolt placed in the framing (which may also be the case in the
lower sash if desired). When the rack is on the sash the teeth of the rack
are in an inverted position as contrasted with the lower sash arrangement and
the bolt flet into the framing of the window; this may either be a simple
spring bolt with a thumb knob projecting through a slot in the framing to
press it back when it is desired to lower the sash, or it may be a turning knob
to withdraw it similar to the action of a door handle. In raising these
sashes, it is simply necessary to raise the sash by hand as in ordinary, the
spring bolts slipping into the several teeth, and bolding the sash at the points
to which it may be raised; in lowering the bolt dorf is withdrawn and the
sash held at same time and lowered by hand.
Fig. 2 represents an edge view of sash; Fig. 3 represents a front view
partly in section, of a window with sashes fitted and furnished with racks and

page_text: counterbalances according to my Invention. 9 is a rack fixed to the side of
the sash; it is an ordinary toothed rack, with round top and bottom teeth,
which take into a wheel i, fitted to rotate in a box h, inserted in the window
frame. This box is separately represented in front view at Fig. 4, with part
of the sash in section; Fig. 5 is a lateral section of Fig. 4, & Fig. 6 a
transverse view of the box. The box h, which is made of metal, is furnished
with a toothed wheel i, which takes into rack g; this wheel is mounted on
and rotates freely on a spindle k. On one side of the wheel i is placed a spring
barrel containing a coil spring like an ordinary clock spring, the one end of
which spring is fixed to the spindle and the other to the barrel l, containing
it. In applying the barrel to the window, the spring is wound partially in
tension with the sash (lower sash) in the highest position, and the rack entering
the teeth of the wheel; on lowering the sash the rack will cause it to rotate,
and so completely wind up the spring, so that the sash will be almost or quite
counterbalanced when down; thus, in afterwards lifting the sash, it will be at
all times more or less counterbalanced. The wheel i has two catches taking
into it, one, m, which drops into the teeth when it is released from a bolt n,
and prevents it rotating in the direction of the arrow, while the other is a
kind of pawl r, which prevents it rotating in the direction reverse to that
indicated by the arrow. The bolt n is forced towards the sash a, by a spring
and when the sash is down enters a recess therein, as seen in Fig. 4, when the
catch m prevents its being raised. To permit the sash to rise the bolt n is
withdrawn by a knob p, projecting through a slot in the box h and lining of
the window to the position shown dotted; the bolt slides in a bearing q, and
through catch m, which rests on an incline in the bar of bolt n, which when
pressed back keeps the catch up and out of contact with wheel i; it is there-
fore free to rotate in the direction of the arrow, and the sash may be lifted; so
soon as the sash is slightly lifted, the knob p may be released, the bolt n being
kept back by the edge of the sash pressing against it. When the window is
lowered the bolt n again projects and releases the wheel catch m, which falls
by its own weight and takes into the teeth of the wheel i. To prevent the
lowering of the window sash the pawl prevents the retrograde movement of
the wheel i, which pawl holds up the sash at any points of its elevation; when
the sash a is to be lowered the pawl is removed from wheel i by a knobs,
fixed on a stem projecting through a slot in the box hand the lining of the
window. In order to fix the sash in any position and prevent it being opened
from the outside, I applya catch bolt t, which may be slid down when required,
and which stops the action of the pawl", and consequently prevents thewheeli

page_text: .
rotating in either direction, and so fixes the window; u is the spring of bolt n.
The wheel and rack may be of metal, hard india-rubber, or other suitable
material. For heavy windows I prefer to employ one of these spring barrels
with rack teeth and wheel on either side of the sash, so as to counterbalance it
more equally; the bolts, pawl,and catches would only be necessary in one side of
-the window. When only one barrel, wheel, and rack is used, I apply a brass
plate to the sash near the upper part, as seen in the several sashes, which
plate has a part projecting at right angles, best seen in horizontal section,
Fig. 7, which part takes a bearing in a rebate formed for its reception in the
bead w of the window; in the upper sash it takes into the mid-bead or feather,
or it may be on the outside of the window and take in the outer bead. This
plate being placed near the upper part of the sash keeps the sash up and
makes it work square, even although counterbalanced on one side only. I
sometimes apply two such plates to each'sash, as seen, 'at top & bottom. For
the upper sash the bolt n, catch m, and knob p may be dispensed with, it's
normal position being at the top, the pawl r serves every purpose; the window
can be lowered and sustained by it in any position by the catch t, 'fixing
pawl in any position desired. All the other parts of the apparatus is the
same as before, and its position indicated, as seen in Fig. 3, a little above the
top of the low r sash.
Fig. 8, represents a lateral section of wheel, box, and part of sash of a
simpler arrangement than the foregoing, while Fig.9 is a transverse section of
the same. In this case the wheel and rack are the same as before, but without
spring barrel or double catches; in this case the wheel i, rack q, and sash o
are fixed by a stop or catch a sliding across the wheel i; it is fitted on a square
tube stem j, sliding on a stud pin y, and is constantly pressed forwards by a
spring z, as seen in Fig. 9. A knob 1 is screwed into the fore end of the
stem, which knob projects through the window frame or lining, and on being
pressed back it releases wheel i, when the sash may be freely, raised or
lowered; when the pressure is removed from the knob sliding bolt the
catch enters the teeth of i, and so fixes the sash in any position desired.
The containing metal box h in this case is sunk in the framing of the windows
somewhat in the positions in which the former apparatus h is represented in
Fig. 3.
Fig. 10 represents the interior of a railway carriage door, or it may be of
other kind of carriage having a sash fastening applied to it; such as described
'and represented at Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is a lateral section, and Fig. 12 a
transverse section of the same. The rack, as seen, is fixed to the sliding sash,

page_text: and the box h in the frame with the knob 1 projecting, or it may be sunk
flush in the wood. While lifting the sash, the knob 1 is pressed on, and
when the sash is elevated to the desired position, the knob is released and holds
the sash. When the sash is to be lowered, the knob 1 is pressed on, and the
sash allowed to fall to the bottom, or it may be lowered to another elevation,
and fixed by releasing the knob 1 when the sash is at the point desired. As
this sash is not thrown outwards when elevated to the top, as usual, I provide
two inclined abutting surfaces 2, 3, covered with or formed of vulcanized
india-rubber, best seen in the transverse section Fig. 12, one on the sash,
another on the frame, these come in contact, and being elastic, the joint may
be made quite weather-tight. To prevent rattle of the sashes also, I insert
four pieces of solid india-rubber, one near each corner of the sash, in notches
or recesses cut across the thickness of the sash, which prevents it touching the
sides of the grooves. The grooves are made to allow the india-rubber plenty
of room to slide, and although loose, the shake in them will be comparatively
noiseless from any shaking of the carriage. Fig. 13 is a lateral section of the
box enclosing a modification of the rack and wheel apparatus to be applied to
carriage and other sashes; in this case the wheel is provented rotating by the
fixed spring 4, which takes into the teeth, as seen; this springexerts sufficient
force to hold up the weight of the sash, but on any extra force being applied
it gives way and allows the wheel to be rotated in the other direction; the
spring 4 is so arranged, and its tension is such, that about equal force is
required to be applied either to raise or lower the sash, irrespective of the
weight of the sash.
Fig. 14 represents a lateral section of a box and apparatus which may be
substituted for that described at Fig. 13. 5 is a ratchet bolt forced forward
by spring 6; it slides on a pin and slot 7, and is constantly held in an upward
direction by a strong spiral spring 8. The bolt 5 is held forward in the
ratchet teeth fixed on the sash, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In raising a sash so
fitted, the bolt 5 slips back as the inclined teeth of rack pass it, as seen dotted,
while in lowering the sash it is simply pressed downwards, overcoming the
force of the spiral spring 8, which is otherwise sufficient to sustain the weight
of the window sash; the bolt 5 assumes the dotted position in which it has
turned on the pin 7 as a fulcrum, the teeth of the rack slipping past the bolt;
thus the sash may be raised or lowered by a simple pressure upwards or
downwards, and will remain in any position without other fixing of any kind.
Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of perform-
ing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by

page_text: theherein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the application and arrange-
ment of apparatus to house and carriage window sashes for the working and
fastening thereof, all as herein-before described and represented in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
theherein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the application and arrange-
ment of apparatus to house and carriage window sashes for the working and
fastening thereof, all as herein-before described and represented in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I the зaid Alexander John Fraser, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
W. CLARK,
Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
ALEX. J. FRASER. (L.S.).