AN IMPROVED MEANS OF GLAZING OR FIXING SHEETS OF GLASS IN GREENHOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, SKYLIGHTS, ROOFs,
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Chaffin, of Charlcombe, Bath, in the County of
Somerset for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED MEANS OF GLAZING OR FIXING
SHEETS OF GLASS IN GREENHOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, SKYLIGHTS, ROOFs,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Chaffin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August 1882.
JAMES CHAFFIN, of Charlcombe, Bath, in the County of Somerset, "AN IMPROVED
MEANS OF GLAZING OR FIXING SHEETS OF GLASS IN GREENHOUSES, CONSER-
VATORIES, SKYLIGHTS, ROOFS, RAILWAY STATIONS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES
"
My present Invention relates particularly to improvements upon that for which
I obtained Provisional Protection dated 14th March 1882 N° 1228.
It consists essentially in cementing or otherwise fixing upon both edges and
upon both sides of the sheets or panes of glass a layer of Croggan's or other suitable
felt, india rubber, or other soft waterproof material.
In the process of glazing the sheets or panes of glass fitted with the felt or other
material at their edges as described, are laid in rows side by side, their edges resting
on the wood or metal rafters or sash bars, and being arranged so as to leave a space
between the contiguous edges of each two adjacent sheets or panes to allow for the
expansion and contraction of the glass.
At the top on the upper surface the felt is cut away at both edges for the distance
which the next row of sheets or panes of glass is required to overlap, so that when
one row of sheets or panes is placed in position with the lower edge overlapping
the row immediately below it, the felt on their upper surfaces will be brought as
nearly flush as possible.
The edges of each two adjacent sheets or panes when placed in position are
covered with a strip or covering of zinc, corrugated iron, wood or other material,
placed over the felt and secured by screws to the rafters on which the sheets or
panes rest, such screws passing in the space left between the adjacent sheets or
panes.

page_text: The top end of this strip or covering forms a kind of stop for the lower edge of
the row of sheets or panes immediately above it, and its bottom end overlaps the
top end of the strip or covering of the row of sheets or panes immediately below it
sufficient to allow of a screw being passed through the two strips, thus fastening
the lower row of sheets or panes securely in position.
The principal advantages of this system are: 1st Providing a watertight joint
between the different sheets or panes of glass; 2nd Providing the sheets or panes
of glass ready for placing in position without requiring special work, such as laying
and securing felt, etc.; 3rd Great economy in construction, with durability, and
facility for removing and replacing broken sheets or panes; and 4th Great security
from breakage of the sheets or panes during carriage or transit, and also whilst
fixing them in position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Chaffin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd February
1883.
JAMES CHAFFIN, of Charlcombe, Bath, in the County of Somerset, "AN IMPROVED
MEANS OF GLAZING OR FIXING SHEETS OF GLASS IN GREENHOUSES, CONSER-
VATORIES, SKYLIGHTS, ROOFS, RAILWAY STATIONS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES"
My present Invention relates particularly to improvements upon that for which
I obtained Provisional Protection dated 14th March 1882, No 1228.
It consists essentially in cementing or otherwise fixing upon both edges and
upon both sides of the sheets or panes of glass a layer of Croggan's or other suitable
felt, india rubber, or other soft waterproof material.
In the process of glazing the sheets or panes of glass fitted with the felt or other
material at their edges as described, are laid in rows side by side, their edges resting
on the wood or metal rafters or sash bars, and being arranged so as to leave a space
between the contiguous edges of each two adjacent sheets or panes to allow for the
expansion and contraction of the glass. The edges of each two adjacent sheets or
panes when placed in position are covered with a strip or covering of zinc,
corrugated iron, wood or other material placed over the felt and secured by screws
to the rafters on which the sheets or panes rest, such screws passing in the space
left between the adjacent sheets or panes.
The top end of this strip or covering forms a kind of stop for the lower
edge of the row of sheets or panes immediately above it, and its bottom end overlaps
the top end of the strip or covering of the row of sheets or panes immediately below
it sufficient to allow of a screw being passed through the two strips, thus fastening
the lower row of sheets or panes securely in position.
The principal advantages of this system are: 1st Providing a watertight joint
between the different sheets or panes of glass; 2nd Providing the sheets or panes
of glass ready for placing in position without requiring special work, such as laying
and securing felt, etc; 3rd. Great economy in construction, with durability, and
facility for removing and replacing broken sheets or panes; and 4th Great security
from breakage of the sheets or panes during carriage or transit, and also whilst
fixing them in position.
But in order that my Invention may be fully understood I will proceed to
describe the same by the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig 1 is a vertical section taken through the centre of the rafters or sash bars
on which the edges of the sheets or panes of glass rest; Fig 2 is a plan view,
and Fig 3 a transverse section of the same on the line x-x of Fig 1.
A, A, represent the sheets or panes of glass provided with a layer a of Croggan's
or other suitable felt, india rubber or other soft waterproof material, cemented or
otherwise secured to both edges and upon both sides of the same.
The panes A are laid in rows side by side their edges resting on the rafters or
sash bars B, and are so arranged as to leave a space C between the contiguous
edges of each two adjacent sheets or panes, to allow for the expansion and
contraction of the glass.
The edges of each two adjacent sheets or panes are covered with a strip or
covering D of zinc, corrugated iron, wood or other material placed over the felt and
secured by screws E to the rafters or sash bars B, such screws passing in the space C
left between the sheets or panes.
The top end of this strip or covering D forms a kind of stop for the lower edge
of the row of sheets or panes immediately above it, and its bottom end overlaps the
top end of the strip or covering of the row of sheets or panes immediately below it

page_text: sufficient to allow of the screws E passing through the two strips and thus fasten
the lower row of sheets or panes securely in position.
The strips a of felt or other material are preferably continued beyond the tops
of the panes or sheets of glass so as to fill up the space left between the upper
surface of the edges of one row of the sheets or panes, and the lower surface of the
edges of the sheets or panes overlapping them, whereby any leakage due to the
water being drawn back under the lap is entirely prevented.
Fig 4 is a transverse section on the line y-y of Fig 1 and shows the upper layer
of felt or other soft waterproof material secured to the underside of the strip or
such
covering D, instead of to the upper side of the sheets or panes of glass A, upper
layer being preferably the same width as the strip or covering D, so as to bear on
the adjacent edges of two contiguous panes.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is: The
mode of glazing Greenhouses, Conservatories, Skylights, Roofs, Railway Stations
and other structures, with panes or sheets of glass provided with a layer of felt or
other soft waterproof material secured to the underside of the edges which rest on
the rafters or sash bars used to support them; the upper sides of such edges being
either similarly provided with a layer of felt or other soft waterproof material
against which bears the strip or covering employed to secure the sheets or panes in
position, or such upper layer of felt or other soft waterproof material may be
secured to the underside of the said strip or covering, all substantially as herein
described and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Chaffin have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this second day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three..
JAMES CHAFFIN (L.S.)