IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF WINDOW SASHES AND THE LIKE AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hurdle of Southampton in the County of Hants,
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE OPENING AND
CLOSING OF WINDOW SASHES AND THE LIKE AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hurdle at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1882.
GEORGE HURDLE of Southampton in the County of Hants,
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR RELATING TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF WINDOW SASHES AND THE
LIKE AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR,"
The object of this invention is to dispense with the sash weights pulleys and
cords at present in use and to simplify the construction and obviate the objection-
able features of the usual method. By this method also the ordinary sash fasteners
may be dispensed with. A toothed wheel contains in its hollow interior a clock or
similar spring and the teeth of the wheel gear with a rack upon the side of the
sash, panel, or other object to which this apparatus is attached. A suitable framework
is provided to carry the wheel and this is let into the framework of the window etc.
If this apparatus be attached to the top window for example, it will be apparent
that as the window is drawn down, the spring within the wheel is wound up thus
counteracting the weight of the sash without the use of the ordinary sash weights.
As the sash ascends when being closed, the spring unwinds again but has always a
tendency to close the window as the spring is wound up so, that its power is
slightly in excess of the weight of the sash; therefore to open the window it is
forced down against the spring and fastened at the desired height by means of a
suitable stop and to close it the stop is removed and the window closes by the
power of the spring.
In the case of a bottom window the tendency is to open and it is closed against
the spring
Any suitable form of stop or detent may be used to fix the sash at the right
height, but this need only be applied to the wheel at one side of the sash as one

page_text: cannot move without the other. To prevent the unstopped wheel from flying
round in case the sash is removed for cleaning or repairs or otherwise, I prefer to
employ an automatic detent which at such times takes into ratchet teeth upon the
wheel a small plate being so arranged in connection with said detent that when
the sash is lowered for the purpose of removing it, this plate which is usually kept
back by the sash, flies forward and the detent engages with a tooth of the ratchet
and keeps the wheel from turning until the sash is roturned to its place when the
detent is automatically released..
This invention is applicable to other objects or purposes of a similar nature, such
as sliding panels and so forth and may be employed whether the sash & cetera bo
set vertically or otherwise.
The further advantage is obtained by this arrangement that the sash can be
entirely removed from the framework by removing the beads whereas by the usual
method the sash is tied to its place by the cord

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Hurdle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th April
1883.
GEORGE HURDLE of Southampton in the County of Hants "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR RELATING TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF WINDOW. SASHES AND THE
LIKE AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
The object of this invention is to dispense with the sash weights pulleys and
cords at present in use and to simplify the construction and obviate the objection-
able features of the usual method. By this method also the ordinary sash. fasteners
may be dispensed with. A toothed wheel contains in its hollow or interior a clock
or similar spring and the teeth of the wheel gear with a rack upon the side of the
sash panel, or other object to which this apparatus is attached. A. suitable
framework is provided to carry the wheel and this is let into the framework of the
window etc. If this apparatus be attached to a top sash for example, it will be
apparent that as the sash is drawn down, the spring within the wheel is wound up
thus counteracting the weight of the sash without the use of the ordinary sash'
weights. As the sash ascends when being closed, the spring unwinds again but has
always a tendency to close the window. as the spring is wound up so that its power
is slightly in excess of the weight of the sash; therefore to open the window it is
forced down against the spring and fastened at the desired height by means of a
suitable stop and to close it the stop is removed and the window closes by the power:
of the spring.
In the case of a bottom window the tendency is to open and it is closed against
the spring..
Any suitable form of stop or detent may be used to fix the sash at the right:
height, but this need only be applied to the wheel at one side of the sash as one
cannot move without the other.
To prevent the unstopped wheel from flying round in case the sash is removed
for cleaning or repairs or otherwise, I prefer to employ an automatic detent which
at such times takes into ratchet teeth upon the wheel a small plate being so
arranged in connection with said detent that when the sash is lowered for the
purpose of removing it, this plate which is usually kept back by the sash flies.
forward. and the detent engages with a tooth of the ratchet and keeps the wheel
from turning until the sash is returned to its place when the detent is automatically
released.
This invention is applicable to other objects or purposes of a similar nature, such'
as sliding panels and so forth and may be employed whether the sash & cetera be
set vertically or otherwise.
The further advantage is obtained by this arrangement that the sash can be
entirely removed from the framework by removing the beads whereas by the usual
method the sash is tied to its place by the cord.
In the accompanying drawings Fig 1 is an elevation of an ordinary window
fitted with this apparatus; Fig 2 is. a. side. elevation of the wheel with cover.
removed showing the spring inside; Fig 3 is a front elevation of the wheel and
frame plate; Fig 4 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus (except the
stop-pins) part of the frame plate being removed to show the automatic detent.'
Like letters of reference represent like parts.
A is the wheel containing in its interior the clock or similar spring B whose
outer end is attached to wheel. A, the inner end being connected to the arbor C
whose square enda C-passing through the frame-plate D prevent it from turning.

page_text: The teeth of the wheel A gear with a toothed rack P let into or fixed upon the
sash, panel &c to which in moving in one direction winds up the spring-the spring
serving by unwinding to move the sash &c in the opposite direction as will be
readily understood. The holes E in the side of wheel A serve to receive the
end of stop pin F by which it is fixed at any required position. The pin F is
provided with a collar Fbetween which and the plate G is a helical spring which
surrounds the stop pin forcing its end inwards towards the wheel so that it will
enter the first hole that comes opposite to it unless held back by the operators
hand upon the knob which projects slightly forward as shown in Fig 1.
The spring B being partly wound up it is evident that upon the sash being
removed it would at once unwind too quickly for the stop pin F to enter a hol
and stop it, and the automatic detent has therefore been designed to stop this
Upon the wheel A are ratchet teeth H and a paul or detent I is pivotted at K
so as to be capable of dropping into the ratchet teeth a spring or equivalent L
giving it a tendency to do so. At its other end the detent I carries a loop into
which is hooked the jaw M upon the end of the angle plate N which is pivotted
at O. Now when the sash is in place the plate N is pressed in by the sash flush with
the face of the frame plate D, the jaw M forcing forward the back end of detent I
and withdrawing it from the ratchet teeth so that the wheel can turn freely; this
position is represented in full lines in Fig 4. But when the sash is lowered past
the plate N the spring L forces the detent I into gear with the ratchet. teeth H
and stopping the wheel from turning, and projecting the plate N beyond the face
of D as shown in dotted lines in Fig 4. When the sash is replaced it pushes N in
again and releases the detent I and the wheel is again free to revolve.
.
The application to railway windows Carriage Windows and the like is different to
that to house windows. The two wheels are placed in the body of the door, at
the bottom of the sash and gear into the two racks which are attached to the
frame of the window in such a manner that the teeth point to the glass-that is,
the rack is not morticed into the sash as in house windows because the thickness
of the door frame is insufficient for the reception of the wheels. The wheel nearest
the hinge of the door is acted upon, for the purpose of release and arrest by, a
similar detent as that employed for house windows or a detent so constructed by
means of lever and pin that the button is pressed in to release; and returns by the
power of a spring to its normal position to arrest; the said detents gear into a
ratchet, or teeth, moulded on the outside edge or rim of the wheel. Where the
sashes are light, or in other cases, only one wheel may be employed, and two small
rollers let in one side of the sash in place of a rack, the ends of these rollers fit into
amall plates. The application to chandelliers employs one two or more, wheels
according to weight &c and racks are moulded in the inside tube into which the
wheels, affixed to the outside tube, gear; the spring power, thus compensating, for
the weight of the appendago.
The application to sliding panels, doors scenes and the like needs very little
description. A sliding panel is simply a window turned on its side the top whičel
may, or may not, be dispensed with and small rollers may or may not, be employed
in its place.
i
Reasonable modifications can be made without departing froin the spirit of this
invention; for instance the ratchet teeth could be dispensed with and the detent.
be so placed as to engage with the ordinary teeth of the wheel. I prefer, however
to use the ratchet teeth as being more secure and avoiding the risk of the detent
injuring the main teeth of the wheel. The ratchet teeth can be placed on.one or
both sides of the wheel.
;
Having now, described my invention and the method of performing the same I
claim
First: As a means of balancing or operating window sashes sliding panels and the
like without the use of cords and weights the combination of the wheel. A
and spring B situated within wheel A with a rack P attached to said sash
sliding panel or the liko substantially as described and shown,

page_text: ond-In an apparatus for controlling sashes and the like the combination with
the spring wheel A, of the detent I and angle plate N whereby said wheel is
prevented from running down when the sash or equivalent is removed
substantially as set forth and shown.
rd-In an apparatus for controlling sashes and the like the combination with
the spring wheel A. provided with holes E of the pin F whereby said wheel
may be fixed or stopped in the required position substantially as and for
the purposes set forth and shown.
In witness whereof I the said George Hurdle have hereunto set my hand
and seal this sixth day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
GEORGE HURDLE (L.S.)