IMPROVEMENTS IN SHUTTERS OR LOUVRES FOR CHURCH BELFRIES AND SIMILAR BUILDINGS
Year: 1884

page_text: I EDMUND EDWARDS of the firm of Edwards and Co:-Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHUTTERS OR LOUVRES FOR CHURCH BELFRIES AND SIMILAR BUILDINGS" to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object, a novel method of constructing and operating
moveable venetian blinds or doors in the openings of church towers or other
buildings, so that snow and rain may be prevented from entering, and also so that
when the Invention is applied to belfries the sound of the bells is at liberty to
extend as far as it can be heard without meeting any obstruction, whilst when the
bells have ceased to ring, the openings can be at once closed up.
In order to put the Invention in operation, 'I arrange in each of the openings in
the church tower, belfry, house, or other building, a venetian blind consisting of
horizontal transverse boards or laths pivotted at their extremities into a frame
upon centres preferably nearer their upper than their lower edge, these lower edges
being provided with weights by which, when released, the latter are closed.
Inside the venetian blinds is arranged a window frame fitted with vertical
windows or doors turning upon hinges in the sides of the frame, and filled in with
wire gauze or net, sheet metal, or other suitable material. These hinged doors are
fitted with helical or other springs by which they are drawn together and closed.
The several laths of the venetian blind are connected together by a vertical bar
hinged to their upper edges so that all open and close simultaneously, and another
bar is connected to that last described at its upper end whilst its lower end is
connected to a bar projecting inwards at right angles from the lower part of the
vertical bar, and having fixed at its inner extremity friction rollers and the end of
a chain or cord the other end of which is attached to the hinged window or door.
A cross bar parallel with the laths of the blind is also fixed to the bar last
described and is provided with a roller at each end, its length being proportioned

page_text: to the width of the window or opening. The bar to which it is attached as
described is guided by a fixed guide. A cord is fastened to the vertical bar which
connects the several laths as described, by pulling the lower end of which the
venetian blind is opened, whilst on releasing it they are closed. The cords from
two or more windows or openings fitted as described may be brought together and
connected to a single cord so that all can be operated simultaneously.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
If the cord described is pulled down it depresses the vertical bar and the upper
edges of all the laths which are consequently opened. At the same time the rollers
at the ends of the cross bar are forced against the hinged doors so as to thrust
them inward and so open and keep them opei. The mechanism as described of all
the windows or openings upon a single floor or storey may be connected to a single
wooden frame to the centre of which is fixed a cord which is in turn also attached
to a similar wooden frame actuating all the windows or openings in the floor or
storey below, and so on through all the floors.
In order to close the openings, it is sufficient to release the cord, when the
counterweights upon the latter turn the laths upon their pivots and close them.
The chains described above, and the springs, attached to the hinged doors, at the
same time draw the latter together and close them as soon as they are no longer
held open by the crossbar when the latter has returned to its first position.
Instead of a weight upon each lath, a single weight sufficiently heavy may be used.
In order to open or close any single opening it is only necessary to pull or release
a cord connected with that particular opening.
Dated this 8th day of Tenuary 1984

page_text: I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co-Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHUTTERS OR LOUVRES FOR CHURCH BELFRIES AND SIMILAR BUILDINGS" and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has for its object, a novel method of constructing and operating
moveable venetian blinds or doors in the openings of church towers or other
buildings, so that snow and rain may be prevented from entering, and also so that
when the Invention is applied to belfries the sound of the bells is at liberty to
extend as far as it can be heard without meeting any obstruction, whilst when the
bells have ceased to ring the openings can be at once closed up.
In order to put the Invention in operation, I arrange in each of the openings in
the church tower, belfry, house, or other building, a venetian blind consisting of
horizontal transverse boards or laths pivotted at their extremities into frame
upon centres preferably nearer their upper than their lower edge, these lower edges
being provided with weights by which, when released, the laths are closed.
Inside the venetian blind is arranged a window frame fitted with vertical
windows or doors turning upon hinges in the sides of the frame, and filled in with
wire gauze or net, sheet metal, or other suitable material. These hinged doors are
fitted with helical or other springs by which they are drawn together and closerl.
The several laths of the venetian blind are connected together by a vertical bar
hinged to their upper edges so that all open and close simultaneously, and another
bar is connected to that last described at its upper end whilst its lower end is
connected to a bar projecting inwards at right angles from the lower part of the
vertical bar, and having fixed at its inner extremity friction rollers and the end of
a chain or cord the other end of which is attached to the hinged window or door.
A cross bar parallel with the laths of the blind is also fixed to the bar last
described and is provided with a roller at each end, its length being proportioned
to the width of the window or opening. The bar to which it is attached as
described is guided by a fixed guide. A cord is fastened to the vertical bar which
connects the several laths as described, by pulling the lower end of which the
venetian blind is opened, whilst on releasing it it is closed. The cords from two or
more windows or openings fitted as described may be brought together and
connected to a single cord so that all can be operated simultaneously.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of the Invention, Figure 1 being
a vertical section and Figure la a horizontal section, showing the shutters closed.
Figure 2 is a vertical section and Figure 2a a horizontal section shewing the
shutters open. In all the Figures the same letters of reference indicate the same
parts.
A are the moveable laths, their lower edges a being weighted so as to form
counterbalances. B shows the frames of the hinged inner doors, b is a spring by
which these doors are closed. C is a vertical bar connecting together the several
laths of the shutters. D is a stay connecting the bar C to the piece E, the latter
being fitted to the bar C and provided at its inner ends with friction wheels and
with a chain or cord e attached at its other end to the frame B.
In Figures 1 and 2ª E¹ is a cross bar fixed upon E and having at each of its
ends a roller e the length of the bar being proportioned to the width of the
opening. F is a fixed guide for the piece E, and G, G, G, are cords by which the

page_text: bars C can be pulled down, in the several windows or openings. G₁ is a special
cord by which the shutters in each window can be worked independently of the
others.
H, H, are cross stays between the piece E and the crossbar E¹.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
If the cord G is pulled down it depresses the vertical bar C and the upper edges
of all the laths A which are consequently opened. At the same time the rollers e¹
at the ends of the crossbar E¹ are forced against the hinged door B so as to thrust
them inward and so open and keep them open, as shewn in Figures 2 and 2a.
The mechanism as described of all the windows or openings upon a single floor or
storey may be connected to a single wooden frame to the centre of which is fixed
a single cord G which is in turn also attached to a similar wooden frame actuating
all the windows or openings in the floors or storeys below, and so on through all
the floors.
In order to close the openings, it is sufficient to release the cord G, when the
counterweights a upon the laths A turn the latter upon their pivots and close
them. The cords or chains e and the springs b, attached to the hinged doors B, at
the same time draw the latter together and close them as soon as they are no
longer held open by the crossbar E¹ when the latter has returned to its first
position, as shewn in Figures 1 and 1ª.
Instead of a weight upon each lath, a single weight sufficiently heavy may
be used.
°
In order to open or close any single opening it is only necessary to pull or
release a cord G₁ connected with that particular opening.
The laths may have their pivots fitted into two bars or plates of iron, as shewn
in Figure 3, the pivots being introduced into their sockets in theso bars through
side grooves as shewn.
A gutter of lead or zinc is arranged in the window or opening to collect and
carry off any water. The cords may in some cases be worked by a lever or by any
other suitable mechanical means..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The method of and apparatus for closing and opening shutters or louvres in
windows or openings in church belfries and other places, substantially in the manner
described and shewn in the Drawing.
2. The method of and apparatus for opening and closing the hinged inner
door frames, either in combination with the outer shutters or louvres or alone,
substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.
Dated this 16th day of August 1884.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Patentee.