Improvements in or relating to Skylights and Windows or the like,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Skylights and Windows or the like,
I, CHARLES EDWARD MANNING, of No. 296, West Madison Street, Chicago,
Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, a Citizen of the United
States, 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 improvements in illuminating panels for windows,
transoms, skylights, and the like, and has for its object to provide an illuminating
panel which has good light reflecting qualities and light refracting qualities and
combines cheapness with utility.
My invention comprises an illuminating panel fitted into a narrow, or, if
preferred, wooden margin or frame, and made up of narrow strips of sheet glass
fitted together in such a manner as to preserve the refracting and reflecting
qualities of sheet glass, and contemplates the use of waste strips and cuttings from
large sheets.
Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same parts are
indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.
Figure 1 represents a view in elevation of a window pane of illuminating
glass according to the simplest form of my invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2, 2 in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing how the strips of glass are built up
one upon another, the ends of the upper strips being broken away to more clearly
show the form of the strips.
Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the arrangement of
the strips and the surfaces of the panel as covered with a soluble or easily melted
glass which flows into the corrugated surface and welds into the edges of the
strips.
Figure 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale when the strips are placed
with the faces perpendicular to the surface of the pane.
In the simplest form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, 2 and 3, the illuminating
panel is made up of rectangular strips of ordinary sheet glass of greater width
than thickness, built up together, and the width of the individual strips forming
the thickness of the panel of illuminating glass. Hitherto, it has been customary
to grind the edges of the strips so as to form a smooth surface to the panel;
but the present improvement leaves the rough edges of the strips until the panel
is enclosed in a metallic frame and then by sprinkling the surface with powdered
glass and exposing the panel to sufficient heat the powdered glass melts and
fills in the rough surface of the panel to a smooth and impervious surface.
Fig. 4 shows the space filled by the melted glass on an enlarged scale, the
strips A, A being the strips of the composing glass and B, B the surfaces composed
of powdered glass metal into a solid mass covering the faces of the panel and
filling the cavities therein.
In Fig. 5 the composing strips A, A are laid flat and have rough edges;
and C. C represents the surface finish when applied with a brush using a soluble

page_text: glass for this purpose; this soluble glass is very thick and viscid when applied,
and only touches the edges or corners of the strips at D, D. The same result
would be obtained when a sheet of glass heated to a high temperature were
placed over the composing strips; the points or narrowed edges D, D; Fig. 5
would weld into the surface sheet, thus forming a solid and compact illuminating
panel.
Instead of glass, any form of transparent varnish or similar surfacing sub-
stance which would accomplish the same result as the applied glass may be
used, being the same in effect as to produce an impervious surface.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In an illuminating structure, a panel formed of a series of transparent
blocks assembled in permanent relation, and a transparent sheet of solidifying
material applied in a softened state to the face of the panel, substantially as
described.
2. In an illuminating structure, a panel formed of a series of transparent blocks
assembled in permanent relation, and having a rough surface, and a transparent
sheet of solidifying material applied in a softened state to the surface of the
panel, substantially as described.
3. In an illuminating structure, a panel formed of a series of transparent blocks
arranged one in contact with another in permanent relation, and transparent
sheets of soluble glass covering the light receiving and light discharging surfaces
of the panel and united with the edges of said blocks, substantially as described.
4. In an illuminating structure, a panel formed of a series of transparent
blocks arranged one in contact with another in permanent relation, and a trans-
parent sheet of glass applied in a softened state to the surface of the panel and
united with the edges of said blocks, substantially as described.
Dated this 15th dow of
at 1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
31, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
31, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.