Improvements in and connected with the Method of and Means for Securing Glass, Metallic, and similar Coverings in and upon Structures.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Method of and Means for
Securing Glass, Metallic, and similar Coverings in and upon
Structures.
I, HENRY SHELDON DE FOREST, of 143 Liberty Street, New York, in the
State of New York United States of America Mechanical Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement.
My invention is a system of glazing in which putty and similar cements are
dispensed with. The objects of the invention are to improve such systems of
glazing now in use and to provide a method of applying the glass by which it may be
done quickly and efficiently. The invention involves the use of a glazing bar of
common construction in combination with a cap, between which and the bar, the
edges of the glass are beld, a novel form and arrangement of fastening device
for the cap and novel means and material for sealing the joints.
In the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 is a sectional perspective of the apparatus constituting my invention,
showing the construction and relative arrangement of the parts, as practically
applied.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal, central section through the glazing bar.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the glazing bar and assembled parts, showing a
modification of the invention, and
Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections of the cap strip shown in Fig. 3.
Referring to the drawing by letter, A represents a glazing bar which will
ordinarily be constructed of steel or iron, but which in some instances may be made
of wood or other suitable material. It is provided with a central vertical web a,
at the base of which and on each side is formed the horizontal shoulders or
ledges a', upon which the edges of the glass rest. Outside of each ledge there is
also formed a gutter a², which drops below the surface of the ledge at its lowest
point, and the outer edge of which is slightly below the horizontal plane of the ledge.
Between the two gutters, and immediately below the central web, sufficient stock is
left in which to drill holes for the reception of fastening bolts. These bolts will
ordinarily pass through a purlin B, or part of a frame upon which the glazing rests
and will be threaded into the holes in the underside of the bar. Heretofore it has
been customary to secure the bar in place by means of hooks which are secured to
the purlin and extend up and over the outer edges of the gutters. But this method of
securing the bar is objectionable because the end of the hook which projects over
into the gutter checks the passage, and causes overflow of water whenever a large
quantity is flowing in the gutter. It will be observed that by placing the bolts
centrally beneath the bar, the gutters are left perfectly free.
C, C represent the plates of glass or other material of which the structure is
made. Before placing the glass in position, I prepare it in the following manner :
Its side edges which rest upon the bar are bound by strips or sheets of lead c,
which are compressed solidly against the glass on the upper and lower surfaces
thereof and against the vertical edge. This is done by any suitable tool, and if
the outer surface of the glass is corrugated, as shown, as is commonly done, the lead
is forced into the corrugations. The glass thus prepared is laid upon the ledges a',
in the position shown. Next a sheet metal continuous cap D is placed longitudinally
over the vertical web a, which projects upward between the edges of the glass.
The cap straddles the web and rests on each side thereof upon the lead strip on the
surface of the glass. The lower edges of the cap are formed so that they will

page_text: impinge at two points upon the lead and present an upwardly curved ridged between
the bearing points. One of these bearings is the extreme edge of the cap, while
the other is the point where the cap first strikes the lead.
When the cap has been placed in position the outer edge of the lead is turned up
over the edge of the cap by means of a beading tool, or in any other suitable
manner, so that water will be prevented from passing between the lead and the edge
of the cap.
e represents a clip, the function of which is to secure the cap in place
and to tighten all the joints between the parts. This clip consists of a straddling
piece similar in cross section to the cap. It is, however, made in short lengths
and placed at intervals over the cap. It is secured in place by a bolt el which is
fastened at its inner end to the top of the web a and extends through a
perforation in the cap and another perforation in the clip. Outside of the clip the
bolt is provided with a nut e' which is screwed down with any degree of pressure.
The edges of the clip only bear upon the cap and these rest upon the lateral edges
of the cap.
When the nut is screwed down the pressure is applied through the
clip directly upon the feet or edges of the cap where they bear upon the lead.
Owing to the shape of the clip this pressure is to some extent yielding and is
therefore the best for this purpose. The outwardly turned edges of the clip extend
over the turned over edges of the lead and a portion of the pressure is therefore
applied to the top of this lead beading and holds it in place; this is one of the
features of the invention. If it were not for this protection to the beading, the
strains which a skylight are subjected to would be likely to lift the beaded edge of
the lead and thus open the joint. Another feature of the invention is the construc-
tion of the clip itself whereby it is greatly strengthened. It is provided with one
or more ribs e³ which are preferably formed by pressing or embossing the metal.
The rib extends from the point on one side where the clip rests upon the cap, and
to the same point on the other side, and the bolt is preferably passed through this
rib so that the pressure will be transmitted directly through the rib. The clip will
ordinarily be several inches long, but may have any length desired, and the number
of ribs will be determined somewhat by the length of the clip. It will be under-
stood of course that the clip may be a forging or casting and the rib then made
solid, but such construction would not be as good as that herein referred to, because
of its flexibility. The clip should not rest upon the top of the cap as that would
reduce its resilient effect.
A modification of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, in which the
clips are dispensed with. In this form each edge of the cap is folded into two or
three zig-zag layers ff', f. The folds occupy planes one above the other and as
the cap is of spring metal they may be forced together. The lower fold or layer
is preferably made shorter than the others and inclines slightly more. Its edge is
also, preferably, sharp or formed with a burr which will cut into the packing
material. This sharp edge, however, need not be specially formed, as the ordinary
edge on the sheet material of which the cap is made will serve the purpose. The
cap is secured to the bar by means of bolt e', which, at its inner end, is secured to
the top of the central web of the bar and projects upward through a perforation
in the top of the cap. It is provided with a nut e² by means of which the cap may
be forced downward towards the glass with any degree of pressure. In assembling
the parts, as the nut is screwed down, the folds in the edges of the cap gradually
come together, and as the pressure is increased the edge of the lower fold cuts
into the packing material, prevents any sliding or spreading of the cap, and tends
to stretch or force the packing material into or against the glass. The uut should
be screwed down until the folds are flattened down into contact with each other
and with the top of the packing. In this position there will be a constant, heavy.
but yielding pressure upon the packing material all the time and the joint will be
water tight. The bolts will be placed as near together as is necessary to maintain
a tight joint throughout the length of the cap.
Fig. 4 shows the folds in the edges of the cap made with round turns at each
edge and this is the form illustrated in Fig. 3 also, but in Fig. 5 the turns

page_text: are sharp. This, of course, is a matter of choice and expediency. In some cases
it may be desirable to make the first fold inward towards the bar instead of outward,
but this is a mere matter of choice and it is intended that my invention shall cover
this form.
It is also pointed out that the packing may be entirely dispensed with where
a specially tight joint is not required, or where the covering or structure is made
of some other material than glass. If metallic sheets are used a very good
joint may be made without packing and an excellent joint may be made where
wooden sheets are used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a glazing system, the combination with the glass, of a glazing bar
provided with ledges against which the glass rests, a cap straddling the bar and
resting upon the glass on each side of the bar, and a clip straddling the glass
with its edges only bearing upon the edges of the cap, whereby a spring pressure
is applied to the edges of the cap, substantially as described.
2. In a glazing system, the combination with the glass, of a glazing bar
provided with ledges against which the glass rests, a cap straddling the bar and
resting upon the glass on each side of the bar, a clip straddling the cap and with its
edges only bearing upon the edges of the cap, and a packing of lead interposed
between the edges of the cap and the glass, whereby the cap is held against the
lead with a yielding pressure, for the purpose set forth.
3. In a glazing system, the combination of the glass, a glazing bar, a cap covering
the bar, the glass being held between the cap and the bar, and a packing of lead
interposed between the glass and cap, the outer side of said packing being
turned over the edge of the cap, substantially as described.
4. In a glazing system, the combination of the glass or other material, a glazing
bar, a cap straddling the bar, the glass or other material being held between the
cap and the bar, packing material interposed between the glass and cap, the outer
edge of the packing material being turned over the edge of the cap, and a clip
straddling the cap and bearing at its edges on the top of the turned over edge of
the packing material, for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination of the bar, the glass, and the cap, the glass being held
between the bar and the cap, packing material interposed between the cap and
glass, said packing material being turned outwardly over the edge of the cap, a
clip provided with a strengthening rib and bearing at its edges upon the edges of
the cap and upon the turned over edge of the packing material, and a bolt secured
to the bar and holding the clip, cap, and bar together, substantially as described.
6. In a glazing system, the combination of the bar, the glass, the cap straddling
the bar, and a clip straddling the cap, the clip being provided with a laterally
arranged strengthening rib, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
7. The combination with the glazing bar and glass or other material supported
thereby, of a cap straddling the same and having folded edges, the folds of which
are arranged one above the other, packing material located between said folded
edges and the surface of the glass, and devices for forcing the edges of the cap
against the packing material, and at the same time compressing the folds together
to create a spring, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of December A.D. 1893.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.