Improved Means or Apparatus for Opening, Closing, or Adjusting Fanlights, Ventilators, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Opening, Closing, or Adjusting
Fanlights, Ventilators, and the like.
1, JOHN Row of High Street, Exeter, Ironmonger, do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to enable fanlights, ventilators and similar
elevated objects, to be more conveniently and effectually adjusted than heretofore,
and to ensure of a fanlight when closed being held tightly against its frame and
prevented rattling by outside disturbances, and for that purpose my invention
consists essentially of a cam and rack movement which is readily manipulated and
effective in its operation as hereinafter described.
In accordance with my invention I take a fixed metal casing or frame, more or
less of rectangular formation, and about 6 to 8 inches deep, and in one side of its
iuterior I form a rack or series of ratchet teeth. This casing I fit (by preference)
alongside the fanlight, or other object to be adjusted and within such casing
I arrange a secondary cross shaped casing capable of sliding up and down therein,
and also having a rack corresponding to and coming opposite that in the exterior
casing, but held clear therefrom by reason of said inner casing being a loose fit
in the outer casing. Passing through this secondary casing is the usual operating
rod, and upon such rod (within the inner casing) I mount a cam or eccentric the
edge of which takes into a groove in the secondary casing and so supports the latter
in position.
The said operating rod extends down to a suitable handle for turning and lifting
it, and passes through suitable guiding brackets on the window frame and wall.
At or near the upper extremity of this rod, and also at a part beneath the aforesaid
casing I fix or form a flange of square formation, and both of such flanges taking
into the outer casing retain the rod in a central position. One of these flanges,
preferably the upper one, is formed with a T projection, with the stem or narrow
part projecting through a narrow opening in the front face of the said outer
casing, and capable of sliding up and down therein. Upon one extremity of said
T piece the fanlight stretcher or link rod, is fitted, and thus on said flange and rod
being raised or lowered the fanlight is opened or closed.
If desired the aforesaid flanges may be connected together by a bridge or tie
piece, and such tie piece made with a series of holes or notches, so that the link
rod of the fanlight may be connected at a variety of points and afford a great
variety of adjustments. By applying a quadrant or similar bracket to the fanlight
casement, and forming holes or notches in its curved part, a still greater variety of
adjustments may be obtained, and an ordinary double ended hook used as the
connecting link.
To now lock the fanlight in its open or closed position, or to adjust it at any
intermediate point, the operating rod is raised or lowered, and with it the cam,
inner casing and flanges aforesaid, until the fanlight has reached the required
position, when said rod is given a slight turn or twist, thereby causing the cam to
rotate and press the rack of the secondary casing into gear with the rack of the
outer casing, when the rod is locked in position, and retains the fanlight at the
desired degree of opening.

page_text: To release the rod and again adjust the fanlight, the rod is turned back again
so causing the cam to operate on the opposite wall of the inner casing, and by
pressing upon it to disengage the racks.
To prevent the fanlight rattling through want of being held tightly in its frame,
I provide the cam aforesaid with inclined or "screw" ends, so that as the rod is turned
at its highest point the cam presses it upwards, and causes the fanlight to be held
tightly in its frame.
Dated this 2nd da
100-
Improved Means or Apparatus for Opening, Closing, or Adjusting
Fanlights, Ventilators, and the like.
I, JOHN Row of High Street, Exeter, Ironmonger, 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 has for its object to enable fanlights, ventilators and similar
elevated objects, to be more conveniently and effectually adjusted than heretofore,
and to ensure of a fanlight when closed being held tightly against its frame and
prevented rattling by outside disturbances, and for that purpose my invention
consists essentially of a cam and rack movement as hereinafter described.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings, and
I will now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures
and letters of reference marked thereon.
Ou Sheet 1, Fig. I is a front view, and Fig. 2. a side view (full size) of so much
of a fanlight as is necessary to illustrate the application of my said adjusting device
thereto; Fig. 1 shewing the fanlight closed, and Fig. 2 the fanlight open. Fig. 3 is
a plan of Fig. 1.
On Sheet 2, Figs. 4 to 9 illustrate sectional plans and details respectively, and
Fig. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the complete arrangement of regulator
and fanlight.
In accordance with my invention I fix, by preference, alongside the fanlight (A),
as illustrated, a metal casing or frame (B), the peculiar cross-section of which is
shewn in Fig. (5), and in such frame (B) I fit, fix or form a steel or other suitable
rack (C) with its teeth arranged to lie as indicated more clearly in Fig. (4).
Upou the face of this frame (B) I mount a box or casing (D) which is held to
the frame face by the arms (E), and claws (E2) of the slide (E), shewn separately
in Fig. (9), and by split pins (E³) and rod (G) (hereinafter more particularly
described). Said slide (E) is so formed that the edges (E) of its rear part take
into the grooves (B1) formed by the section of the frame (B), as seen more clearly
in Figs. (5) and (6), and such slide is therefore capable of moving up and down
the face of the frame (B) and of carrying the casing (D) with it. Through the
casing (D), the rod (H) for operating the fanlight passes, and on either side of the
casing is fitted with bosses (1) so that as the rod is pushed up and down by handle (J)
it carries the casing (D) and slide (E) with it.
To the upper part of casing (D) is secured the "stretcher rod",
cranked end aforesaid serves to receive the claws (E2) of the slide (E), and said
or link (G), whose
rod connects the fanlight to the casing.

page_text: It will now be seen that as the rod (H) guided by the guide-eyes (H'), and
casing (B) are raised and lowered by the handle (J) the fanlight is opened, or
closed.
In order now to provide for the locking of the fanlight when so opened or
closed or adjusted to the required degree of opening I provide upon the rod (H),
and upon that part within the casing (D) an eccentrically mounted screw, or
cam (K) (see Fig. (8)) and around, or "yoked" to such screw is a combined "
and rack (L), shewn separately in Fig. (7). The teeth of this rack correspond in
pitch with those of the rack (C), but are arranged in an opposite direction, as.
shewn more clearly in Fig. (4).
nut
The space within the casing (D) is sufficient to allow of the cam, or screw (K).
to rotate, and in so doing, under the twisting of the rod (H) by handle (J) in the
direction of the arrow (a), and with the parts in the position shewn in Figs. 4 & 5
it will be seen that the "nut"-and-rack (L) will be caused to slide towards the
frame (B), and being guided by the parts (E) of the slide (E), to engage with
the rack (C), and owing to the teeth of such rack being oppositely set, to those
of the rack (C) to effectually sustain the fanlight at the desired degree of opening,.
or keep the same closed. Moreover, by reason of the spiral threads (M) of the
cam (K) the "nut "and rack (L) are given a downward movement (or thrust) as well
as a lateral forward movement, which gives to the teeth of the rack (L) a "wedge-
like" action, and thus ensures of the perfect meshing of the rack teeth, with the
consequent advantage of the fanlight being held firmly in its frame, or in its open
position, without rattling. The setting and form of the cam (K) is, by preference,
such as will cause it to bind or abut against the rear wall (L) of the nut when
the handle (J) is at right angles with the wall or window casement, and so that
the movement of the handle to a position parallel with the wall or window.
casement will suffice to throw the racks into gear.
By forming the links or stretcher rod (G) in halves, and joining the same by
coupling pieces (G'), having right and left handed screw threads, the length of
such rod may be varied, or altered to suit various niceties of fixing. In lieu of
the bracket (N), a quadrant bracket may be fixed to the fanlight, with holes
or notches for the stretcher rod to take into one or other in varying its
length.
If desired the rod (H) may be provided with means (such as a spring) for
keeping the racks always in play, so that in case of a "slip" in adjusting the
fanlight, the rack (L) will be automatically locked before the fanlight can fall
fully open.
Although the rack is shewn as applied in close proximity to the fanlight, it
may (with certain modifications for securing the casing (D)) be fixed at a lower
elevation, and the stretcher rod (G) simply connected (linked) to the upper end of
the rod (H).
In lieu of the rack (L), the screw, or cam (K) may be so made as to serve for
directly engaging with the rack (C), but this I should not consider so practicable
as the separate rack.
Lastly, although shewn and described as applied to fanlights, my improved
apparatus may be applied for adjusting ventilators, louvres, shutters (either opening
inwards or outwards), and for other similar purposes.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions or dimensions
of the improved regulating or adjusting apparatus, since the same can be varied
without departing from my invention, and what I do claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent, is :-
1. For opening, closing and otherwise adjusting fanlights, ventilators and the
like, the use or employment of a rack, in combination with an excentric screw,.
or cam, designed to engage therewith, directly or indirectly, and mounted

page_text: and operated substantially as set forth, and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
2. The use of frame (B), containing rack (C), in combination with combined
rack and "nut" (L), excentric screw, or cam (K), slide (E), casing (D), and
rods (G) and (H), all respectively mounted and operating as and for the purposes
set forth.
3. The several, and combined arrangements of parts, as and for the purposes
set forth.
JOHN ROW,
By John G. Wilson & Co., Rgd. P.A.,
55 Market Street, Manchester, Agents.