AN IMPROVEMENT IN FIXING OR CEMENTING GLASS TO METAL
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Kestell, of Burnham, in the County of
Bucks, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN FIXING OR CEMENTING
GLASS TO METAL."
Sealed the 16th June 1854, and dated the 1st April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Kestell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
April 1854.
I, WILLIAM KESTELL, of Burnham, in the County of Berks, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN FIXING OR
CEMENTING GLASS TO METAL" to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to employ ornamental or other devices on
glass, whether by transfer, printing, painting, coloring, or otherwise, and to fix
such glass to metal in such manner that the metal may form the back, and the
device or devices on the sheet or piece of glass show through, by reason of
the transparency of the glass. The improvement consists in the means of
fixing the glass to the metal; for which purpose, if sheet metal be used, it is
bent at the edges, so as to form a tray of the proper size to receive a piece or
sheet of glass with the device or devices thereon; or cast metal may be used.
Between the metal and the glass a cement is applied; that which is preferred
is composed of red and white lead, mixed with oil, and dissolved india-rubber.
The glass and metal having been placed together are put into a chamber,

page_text: which can be rendered vacuous: The metal and glass are pressed together by
weights or otherwise when in the chamber, which is rendered vacuous by an
air pump or otherwise; the glass and metal will by these means be very
securely fixed together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Kestell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
September 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
KESTELL, of Burnham, in the County of Berks, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Kestell, Her special licence that I, the said William Kestell,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Kestell, 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN FIXING
OR CEMENTING GLASS TO METAL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Kestell, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Kestell, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof (that is to say):-
The object of this Invention is to employ ornamental or other devices on
glass, whether by transfer, printing, painting, coloring, or otherwise, and to
fix such glass to metal in such manner that the metal may form the back, and
the device or devices on the sheet or piece of glass show through by reason of
the transparency of the glass. The improvement consists in the means of
fixing the glass to the metal; for which purpose, if sheet metal be used, is

page_text: bent at the edges, so as to form a tray of the proper size to receive a piece or
sheet of glass, with the device or devices thereon; or cast metal may be used.
Between the metal and the glass a cement is applied; that which is preferred
is composed of red and white lead, mixed with oil, and dissolved india-rubber.
The glass and metal having been placed together are put into a chamber, which
can be rendered vacuus. The metal and glass are pressed together by weights
or otherwise when in the chamber, which is rendered vacuus by an air pum
or otherwise; the glass and metal will by these means be very securely fixed
together.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure is a longitudinal section. A, the vacuum chamber; B, the bed
plate, which is planed very smooth and true; it is supported on a strong iron
frame. The flanges D of the upper part of vacuum chamber are also planed
very smooth and true, between which are placed thin vulcanized india-rubber E.
The four screws Q are for raising and lowering the vacuum chamber R, the
exhaust pipe leading to the air pumps or apparatus for exhausting the chamber
S, the vacuum guage to ascertain the degree of vacuity; and I prefer to obtain
as good a vacuum as may be. H, H, are two perforated hollow cylinders or
rollers, coated with india-rubber, which is also finely perforated, to distribute the
fluid evenly over the glass F, and also for pressing the design G smooth to the
glass. The device or design may be on thin tissue paper, which I believe to be
the most suitable material for the purpose; but glass having devices painted or
otherwise produced thereon may be used. Motion is produced to the cylinders
by a barrel M, containing a strong spring, which is wound up through the
stop-cock P, and is to be liberated by an electro-magnet N, when put in con-
nection with a galvanic battery, which unlocks the wheel O, and the bevil
wheels are set in motion by the power of the spring barrel M. The screw works
in three small friction rollers T, and propels the cylinders H, H, over the glass,
with applying fluid below the design. The spiral spring J gives an equal
pressure to the rollers.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the vacuum chamber. Y, Y, are pieces of
strong glass inserted into the sides of the chamber for the workman to sec
through. V, V, are small pipes to supply the perforated cylinders or rollers H
from vessels which are attached to the frame over the rollers, and carried with
them. , a tube, open at each end, and inserted in the cylinders H. In the tube

page_text: s is a diaphragm of vulcanized india-rubber, containing a small portion of air
hermetically sealed; T, T, are pistons which move freely in the tubes, as shown
in Figure 5. The diaphragm inserted into the tube s is inactive when under
atmospheric pressure, but as vacuum is produced, the diaphragm becomes
expanded longitudinally; which presses against the pistons T, T, and opens the
small conical valve U by pressing it against the spiral spring W, and lets the
fluid through the pipes V, V, into the perforated cylinders or rollers H, H; the
cylinders or rollers are therefore only supplied with the fluid when a vacuum
is produced, and immediately the atmosphere is again admitted, the diaphragm
becomes contracted, and the spiral spring closes the valve..
The sheet of glass thus coated with a device is then removed, and when dry
the glass is cut into the sizes and forms required, and they, with suitable
cement, are placed in metal trays or recesses, in which they are to be fixed by
cement. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the vacuum chamber, with the
cylinders H, screw, and wheels removed, and the chamber is shown packed with
materials.
Figure 7 is a section showing the glass and cement in a frame or case; c is
the case of galvanized or enamelled iron or any other suitable metal; a, the
cement; e, the glass, which is placed on the cement; f, a piece of wood on the
top of the glass in each frame. The wood is of two thicknesses glued together
with the grain of one piece crossing the other, to prevent warping; after they
are piled in the vacuum chamber, as in Figure 3, and heavy weights A, A, A,
have been placed on each pile, a vacuum is to be produced, when the weights
will press out the superfluous cement, and the glass will become hermetically
sealed; after remaining in vacuum a short time, the air is gradually admitted
at the stop-cock P, and the vacuum chamber is to be opened.
The vertical section, Figure 4, shows the vacuum chamber filled with garden
and other small labels; in which case one portion of the wood is cut to fall
within the frame, which consequently in each case presses the glass below the
rim, leaving a projecting bead, as shewn in section, Figure 6.
When it is required to cement parts of large frames or surfaces, I use gutta
percha to cover the article, and I fix the edges of the gutta percha all round
on to a bed plate air-tight, and I apply weights on the outside of the gutta
percha on those parts where the cementing or extra pressure is required, and I
obtain a vacuum on the under side between the gutta percha and the bed
plate.
The cement for hermetically sealing I compose of one part of litharge or
minum mixed with four parts of ground white lead, mixed to a proper con-

page_text: sistency with one part of boiled linseed oil to five of raw ditto, with or without
dissolved india-rubber. I do not claim or confine myself to this cement, as
other's may be employed. I use, for fixing the designs on the glass, gum, copal,
and other transparent gums in any of their solvents.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to the
parts of the machinery separately, nor do I confine myself to the <letails herein
described; but what I claim is, the fixing or cementing glass to metal by
pressure aided by vacuum, as herein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Kestell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
WILLIAM KESTELL. (L. s.)