IMPROVEMENTS IN MOVEABLE PARTITIONS FOR THE INTERIORS OF BUILDINGS, AND IN SHUTTERS FOR SUCH WIDE OPENINGS IN THE OUTSIDE WALLS OF BUILDINGS AS REQUIRE NO GLASS OR LIKE SUBSTANCE
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Douglas Joseph Williams, of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MOVEABLE PARTITIONS FOR THE INTERIORS OF BUILDINGS, AND IN SHUTTERS
FOR SUCH WIDE OPENINGS IN THE OUTSIDE WALLS OF BUILDINGS AS REQUIRE
NO GLASS OR LIKE SUBSTANCE."
Sealed the 1st March 1870, and dated the 9th September 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Douglas Joseph
Williams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 9th September 1869.
I, DOUGLAS JOSEPH WILLIAMS, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MOVEABLE PARTITIONS FOR THE INTERIORS OF BUILDINGS, AND
IN SHUTTERS FOR SUCH WIDE OPENINGS IN THE OUTSIDE WALLS OF BUILDINGS
AS REQUIRE NO GLASS OR LIKE SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
To a beam or beams (eitlier in the ceiling where there is one, and

page_text: of any convenient height from the floor), or in some cases to the side
walls alone, I fix a bar or rail of iron, hard wood, or any suitable
material running over the top and in the direction of the required
partition or shutters, the top of which bar or rail is either grooved or
rounded in order that rollers the peripheries of which are grooved or
rounded to roll on the top of the bar or rail, may not be twisted from
off it by any action herein-after explained. The partition or shutters
above-mentioned consists or consist of a number of slabs, rectangular
by preference, made of wood or other suitable material or combinations
of materials. Each slab is suspended by means of a link and swivel from
a pin passing through the centre of one of the rollers (mentioned before
as rolling on the bar or rail), by which means it may be moved along
the bar or rail which bears its weight. The bottom of each slab is
guided either by a plain round pin projecting downwards from the
bottom of the slab into a groove in the floor or (which is preferred) by a
horizontal roller working on a pin similar to that just named, having its
periphery rounded and working in a groove tapering smaller towards
the top, by which means the bottom of the slab cannot be moved far
out of its vertical position, as in that case the horizontal roller would
rise into the smaller part of the groove and tighten itself until liberated
by the top of the slab being also moved forward; or the bottom of the
slabs may be guided by any equivalent of mechanism to either method
described above accordingly as the nature of the building may require,
whether above or below the floor. When it is required to remove the
partition or shutters, the key slab (which is constructed to admit
thereof) is turned at right angles or any suitable angles to the bar or
rail (described as running over the top of the partition or shutters),
and thus the other slabs may now be turned also at right angles or
other suitable angles to the bar or rail, and either all of the slabs be
pushed or moved flat against one wall or side of the opening, or part of
the number against each wall or side of the opening as may be more
convenient. Where convenient a recess may be left in one wall or side
of the opening or in each wall or side of the opening, to receive the
slabs composing the partition or shutters, or in some cases a casing
having the appearance of a pilaster or otherwise may be constructed
against one wall or side of the opening or against each wall or side of
the opening, but in schoolrooms and certain other buildings a recess
or casing may be dispensed with, the front slab being fastened so as to
keep the remainder as placed. The bar or rail aforesaid may be con-

page_text: cealed where required by a timber casing, moulded cornice, or whatever
may be in keeping with the peculiar architecture of the building to
which the partition or shutters is or are applied. When closed the
partition or shutters may be fastened together by means of. bolts or
other fastenings, or they may be so constructed that the key slab being
fastened will fasten all the rest, or by any of the means so used for
ordinary shop window shutters or by any suitable means.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Douglas Joseph Williams in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I, DOUGLAS
JOSEPH WILLIAMS, of Fifty-nine, New Street, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year,
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Douglas Joseph Williams, Her
special licence, that I, the said Douglas Joseph Williams, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Douglas
Joseph Williams, 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 MOVEABLE PARTITIONS FOR
THE INTERIORS OF BUILDINGS AND IN SHUTTERS FOR SUCH WIDE OPENINGS IN THE
OUTSIDE WALLS OF BUILDINGS AS REQUIRE NO GLASS OR LIKE SUBSTANCE,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Douglas Joseph
Williams, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu-
larly 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Douglas Joseph Williams, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My Invention has for its object an improved method of carrying
or suspending the parts or divisions (termed slabs in the Provisional
Specification) composing a moveable partition or shutter (as in the title),
and consists in suspending each of the said parts or divisions from a
friction roller or in certain cases a double roller formed by two rollers
working on the same pin, rolling on a bar or bars, which said bar or bars
is or are fixed above the said moveable partition or shutter, and in
effecting the said suspension by means of a link and swivel, or an equi-
valent of mechanism, so that each of the said parts or divisions may
be turned at right angles or any suitable angles to the said bar or
bars. The said parts or divisions are guided at the bottom by a some-
what similar method to that employed for the top, but inverted, or
by means of a pinion, top and bottom, of the same diameter, each
working in horizontal racks, and both fixed on to the same upright
spindle, which passes up through the centre of the said part or division.
The lower pinion is kept in gear by the bottom of the said upright
spindle running in a groove or by any suitable means. As before stated,
each of the said parts or divisions may be turned at right angles or any
suitable angles to the said bar or bars, which being effected, either all
of the said parts or divisions may be rolled against one wall or side of
the opening, or half or part of their number against each wall or side
of the opening, as may be more convenient. Where convenient a
recess may be formed in one wall or side of the opening, or in each wall
or side of the opening, to receive the said parts or divisions composing the
said moveable partition or shutter; or a casing, having the appearance
of a pilaster, or otherwise, may be constructed against one wall or side
of the opening or against each wall or side of the opening; but in school-
rooms and certain other buildings a recess or casing may be dispensed
with, the front part or division of the said moveable partition or shutter
being fastened so as to keep the remainder as placed. The said bar or
bars may be concealed where required by a wood casing, moulded
cornice, or whatever may be in keeping with the peculiar architecture
of the building to which the said moveable partition or shutter is
applied. When closed the said parts or divisions may be fastened

page_text: together by means of bolts or other fastenings, or they (the said parts
or divisions) may be constructed with dowels or otherwise, so that one
of the said parts or divisions forms a key, which being fastened fastens
all the rest, or by any suitable means so used for ordinary shop window
shutters, or by any convenient method.
By the above arrangement the opening and closing of moveable
partitions and shutters, as before specified for buildings is facilitated,
and space is gained where the said arrangement is substituted for the
wide hinged doors now in use.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I now proceed
more particularly to describe the manner of performing the same,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
My first modification is illustrated by the Drawings on Sheet 1.
Figures 1 and 2 are sectional plans, and Figure 3 is an elevation, partly
sectional, of a moveable partition fitted to a schoolroom or other plain
building, and are all drawn to a scale of one inch to a foot. Figure 1.
shews the parts or divisions composing the partition arranged in such a
manner as to leave an opening of about the width of two of the said
parts or divisions in the centre of the room or building. Figure 2 shews
one half of the number of the said parts or divisions to be pushed against
one wall, while the remainder or other half are shewn in the position
required when the partition is closed. Figure 3 shews in elevation the
said parts or divisions as arranged in Figure 2 before explained. The
arrangement of the rollers and bar at top and bottom is also shewn in
this view. Figure 4 is a side elevation (partly sectional), and Figure 5
a front elevation of a full size detail arrangement for effecting the
suspension of the top and guidance of the bottom of the said parts or
divisions, and this with its equivalents of mechanism, as herein-after
illustrated and explained, is the Invention I claim.
The bar A, which is shewn is section in Figure 4, is connected to a
beam B when such an arrangement is convenient, otherwise the said bar
is made sufficiently strong to support the weight by itself; C is a link,
which is suspended from the friction roller D. The said link C carries
a swivel pin E, which pin is connected to the part or division to be
suspended by means of lock nuts, as shewn on the Drawing, or by means
of a spring and plate, which will herein-after be explained as being

page_text: preferred for the parts or divisions composing the moveable partition for
a better class of room or building, the main object of the said lock nuts
being to adjust the length between the top and bottom rollers, and as
this may be effected by the said lock nuts at the top, they (the said lock
nuts) may be dispensed with at the bottom of the part or division to be
guided, a plain head or collar only being used, and the pin held firmly
to the link by a nut or its equivalent.
My second modification is illustrated by the Drawings on Sheet 2.
Figure 6 is a sectional plan, and Figure 7 an elevation (partly sectional)
of a moveable partition fitted to a room in a private dwelling house or
any building where architectural effect has to be considered, and are
both drawn to a scale of one inch to a foot. Figure 6 shews the parts
or divisions composing the moveable partition arranged with one half
of their number rolled into a wood casing, which together with a slight
recess in the wall of the building is of sufficient depth to receive the
required number of the said parts or divisions, as also a sill to carry the
bars for the bottom rollers, which said sill is used where a groove in
the floor is objectionable, and for such rooms or buildings as require a
carpet or other floor covering, and will be herein-after explained. The
remainder of the said parts or divisions, together with a sill as mentioned
before, are shewn in the position they occupy when the partition is
closed. Figure 7 shews in elevation (part in section) the said parts or
divisions as arranged in Figure 6. F is a sliding panel whch is pressed
down between the joists when the sill carrying the bars above named is
lowered on to the floor, carpet, or other floor covering; but when the
said sill is raised into the casing above mentioned the sliding panel F
rises and closes the aperture through which the said sill passed.
sliding panel F is shewn to be pressed up by means of a spiral spring.
Figure S is a full size sectional elevation through one of the said parts
or divisions, the ends only being shewn for convenience. The top and
bottom connections are shewn in their relation to the said part or
division. A double bar and roller are used top and bottom, and the
weight of the said part or division is carried by means of a spiral spring
of steel, though any suitable elastic substance may be used. The swivel
is formed by the pin working through a plate at the bottom of the said
spiral spring. At the bottom of the said part or division a similar
arrangement is shewn, but inverted and the spring dispensed with. This
arrangement or that before explained and illustrated for the parts or
divisions composing the moveable partition for a schoolroom may be
The

page_text: used for the top of the part or division now under consideration where
the said spring is not required. Where a carpet or other floor covering
is used, as before referred to, a sill, as shewn in section in Figure S,
carries the double rail and rollers at the bottom, and is divided in the
middle and hinged at each end, so that half the number of the said parts
or divisions being placed within the recess or casing, as shewn in
Figures 6 and 7, the half of the said sill may be turned upon its hinges
The
against the front part or division of the said moveable partition.
doors of the casing are then closed, and half the number of the said
parts or divisions, together with the said half of the said sill, are entirely
concealed. When the moveable partition is to be closed the said sill
must be fixed firmly, either by rigidly connecting the two halves by
bolts or otherwise, or by fixing them to the floor by any suitable means.
Where required provision is made at one end of the bar or bars afore-
said by leaving a space between the end of the said bar or bars and the
wall for rolling the said parts or divisions off, so that each one may be
put on or taken off separately; a stop being placed at the end of the
said bar or bars to prevent the said parts or divisions from being rolled
off accidentally, or floor boards both at top and bottom may be removed
and the rollers may then be fixed.
My third modification is illustrated by the Drawings on Sheet 3.
Figure 9 is a full size detail arrangement for effecting the suspension of
the said parts or divisions, and is similar to that illustrated by Figure 8,
but in this case the rollers at the bottom are not required, and the lower
part of the said part or division is prevented being pushed from under
the upper part by means of two pinions A, A, of equal diameters fixed
on to an upright spindle B, and working in two racks C, C. The lower
pinion is shewn kept in gear with the rack by the side of the groove in
the floor, which is lined with hoop iron. The boards H; H, represent
either the floor, or the top of a hinged sill similar to that illustrated in
Figure 8 accordingly as may be required to suit the room or building,
and which has been herein-before explained. A collar D on the said
spindle B bears the weight of the said part or division, and the said
spindle B turns freely in bearings E, E, which are fixed in the said part
or division, and also in a bearing F in the crosshead which is carried by
the rollers. A plan of the bottom pinion and rack is shewn immediately
below Figure 9. Figure 10 is a full size section through the centre post
of one of the said parts or divisions. The said post is shewn made in

page_text: two pieces in order that the hole passing through the centre for the
upright spindle may be conveniently made. Figure 11 is a front
elevation of one of the said parts or divisions, and is drawn to a scale of
one inch to a foot. The top and bottom connections as arranged in
Figure 9 are also shewn in this view in front elevation.
The rollers for all the modifications as above described may be flanged
on each side instead of as shewn, the bars being flatter on the top, or
where the double rollers are used they may be flanged on one side only,
or in the latter case the rollers may be plain and the bars flanged.
The arrangements as above described with certain modifications
necessary to varying conditions may be used for moveable partitions and
shutters (when admissable, as in the title,) for buildings generally.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the construc-
tion and application of machinery or apparatus arranged and combined
substantially as above described for the purpose of facilitating the
opening and closing of moveable partitions and shutters (as above) for
buildings generally.
Where the word buildings occurs in this Specification, unless other-
wise explained in the particular occurrence, it is used as applying to
ships and other structures, as well as to buildings more commonly so
called.
In witness whereof, I, the said Douglas Joseph Williams, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Patent Office,
Wolverhamptoм.
DOUGLAS JOSEPH WILLIAMS. (L.S.)