Improvement in Sash-balances.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act, 1
boing date of firot Foreign Application (in (20th Feb, 1892
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 29th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 29th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE DIMUITICAHUN.
Improvement in Sash-balances.
I, JAMES WILLIAM SHEPPARD, of 12 Oriole Street, in the County of Monroe,
and State of New York, United States of America, Carpenter-builder, 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 relates to that class of sash-balances in which the spring-drums for
the suspending tapes or bands are placed in the upper part of the casing of the
window over the middle of the sashes.
The object of my invention is mainly to reduce the number of parts usually
employed for balancing or suspending the sashes and the expense in manufacturing
the device.
The invention consists in the improvement of the parts and the arrangement
thereof hereinafter described, the novelties and combination of the parts being
particularly pointed out.
Referring to the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a window, showing my improved sash-balance in
place, the casing being vertically sectioned as on the dotted line 1, 1 in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a top view, parts of the casing being broken away.
Fig. 3 is a vertical central section taken on the dotted line xx in Fig. 2, viewed
as indicated by the arrow pointed thereon.
Fig. 4 shows more clearly the method in which the tapes are wound upon the
drums.
Figs. 5 and 6 show the method of joining the parts of a spring-drum.
Referring to the parts shown, A is the casing of the window, which is ordinarily
constructed, B and C being respectively the upper and lower sashes.
D is my improved device for balancing and suspending the two sashes placed
centrally over the window in the upper part of the casing. This sash-balance
consists of a horizontal plate a, held by screw b to the casing, so as to have its
lower surface even with the lower surface of the contiguous part of the casing.
This plate holds rigidly three standards c c and d, projecting vertically upward
in an opening e in the casing. These standards are bifurcated at their upper ends
to receive a central horizontal shaft f, as shown, said shaft being held motionless.
gg are two spring-drums, substantially of common construction, held to turn
independently upon the shaft f, each drum being connected with and adapted to
balance a sash.
hh are coiled springs of common construction in the respective drums, each
spring being attached at one end to the shaft and at the other end to the interior of
the drum to turn the latter in the usual manner. Each drum is provided with a
circular end piece or cap i, formed with a heavy projecting flange k, which slips o.1
over the outside of the drum, as shown.

page_text: are tapes or bands of fibrous material or thin metal wound upon the respective
drums, each of which tapes leads to and supports a sash.
n is a brake for the drums, made to partly encircle the latter, it being preferably
made of spring metal, as hard brass or steel. This brake is divided longitudinally
into two parts or branches throughout most of its length, it being solid or in one
piece for a distance upward from its lower end o. The end o is secured to a
horizontal rod or loop p, rigid with the plate, the brake being preferably turned
or bent around the rod, as shown. The free ends of the brake are held by
adjusting-screws r r, passing upward through the plate a, each screw being provided
with a nut s above the horizontally turned end of the brake. The brake is of such
width as to cover the two flanges kk, one branch or part of the brake being over
each flange. The divided parts or branches of the brake are each preferably
provided with a pad u, of fibrous or other soft material, to bear directly upon the
flange to modify the actions of the drums upon the sashes.
The bands or tapes are wound directly upon the respective drums at the sides of
the flanges, and one essential part of the invention consists in the manner of
winding the tapes upon the drums. In placing a tape upon the drum I double it at
the middle and secure the doubled end t, Fig. 4 to the periphery of the drum by
some simple means, as by inserting it in an opening formed in the drum. Both
ends or parts of the tape are then carried around the drum in the same direction,
as clearly shown in Fig. 4, one end being finally carried to the right and secured to
the right hand side of the sash and the other end being carried to the left and
secured to the left hand side of the sash. These ends of the tape after leaving the
drums are carried downward through openings v in the plate a and turned oppositely
in horizontal directions around anti-friction rollers wo w, secured to the plate.
Thence they pass around other anti-friction rollers y y in the corners of the casing
and so vertically downward being secured to the opposite edges of the upper and
lower sashes, respectively, by any common and convenient means.
The two parts
of each band thus unreel from the same side of the drum when the sash is pulled
downward, and they are reeled onto the drum at the same side by the action of the
spring when the sash is raised.
As shown in Fig. 6 the loop or cylindrical part of each drum is formed with one
or more projecting tongues a at its edge, and the end piece or cap i, Fig. 5 is
formed with circular slots z to receive said tongues. By this means the two parts
when put together are locked, so that both must turn together. These two parts
of the drum are fitted lightly together, so as to hold to place by friction.
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. A sash balance secured centrally over the sash, consisting of a rotary spring-
drum and a band secured to the latter, said band being doubled at its middle point
and secured thereat to the periphery of the drum, both ends of the band being
carried around the drum in the same direction and thence to the respective opposite
edges of the sash, in combination with anti-friction rollers for the bands to turn on,
substantially as shown and described.
2. A sash-balance secured over the sash, consisting of rotary spring-drums
turning independently of each other and bands secured to the drums, said bands
being doubled and secured to the peripheries of the respective drums, both ends of
each band being carried around its drum in the same direction and thence to the
sash, in combination with a brake divided longitudinally throughout the greater
part of its length, one branch being over each drum and adapted to bear thereon,
substantially as described.
3. A sash-balance secured over the sash, consisting of rotary spring drums
turning independently of each other and bands secured to the drums, said bands
being doubled and secured to the peripheries of the respective drums, both ends of
each band being carried around its drum in the same direction and thence to a

page_text: sash, said drums being each provided with a peripheral projecting part or flange,
in combination with a divided brake, a branch being over each of said flanges and
provided with a pad adapted to bear thereon, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of September 1892.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.