Improvements in and connected with Windows, Louvres, and Doors of Railway and other Carriages.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
Improvements in and connected with Windows, Louvres, and Doors
of Railway and other Carriages.
I, WILLIAM JAMES BURTON, of Gover Street, North Adelaide, in the Province
of South Australia, Pharmaceutical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
My invention relates to certain improvements in and connected with windows,
louvres and doors of railway carriages, and other carriages, the special object
of the invention being to construct and arrange certain mechanism whereby the
windows and louvres whether fitted into the sides of the carriages or the doors
In order
thereof can be raised with greater facility than is at present the case.
to achieve the object of my invention I cause the sashes to slide vertically in
suitable grooves as is at present the usual system, and I attach weights to such
sashes by means of chains, cords, catgut, or other suitable material such weights
being decidedly heavier than the said sashes. I moreover provide locking
mechanism whereby the sashes can be automatically held in any desired
position, such catches being operated by the simple pressure of a button or knob.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now describe
the same by aid of the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the framework of the sash showing a louvre
in its uppermost position, and also illustrating the arrangement of the weights
and cords.
Figure 2 similarly illustrates a window in its uppermost position, as applied
to a railway carriage door, the arrangement of the cord and weight being such
as will obviate interference with the present locking gear of the door.
Figure 3 illustrates a louvre in its uppermost position also showing a con-
venient location for the press buttons;
Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of the above.
Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the press button, rack, pinion, and pawl or
catch as most convenient for heavy glazed windows.
Figure 6 is a modification of same on still larger scale;
Figure 7 is a detail of press button and catch as most convenient for lighter
windows and louvres.
Figure 8 sectional plan of window and louvre illustrating arrangement
of press buttons and lever rods connected therewith, for actuating the gearing
illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
Figure 9 part sectional plan showing arrangement of press buttons and lever
rods on larger scale.
Throughout the drawings similar letters of reference are used to denote similar
or corresponding parts wherever they occur in the various figures.
In this respect A is the framework of the structure. B the sliding louvre.
C the sliding window. D the cords, and E the weights. E¹ weight guides used
when my appliance is fitted to carriage doors.

page_text: The
Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings, F is
a rack provided with teeth as illustrated. This rack is let into and secured to
the sliding sash of either the louvre or window. Upon a suitable pin or axle
the tooth pinion G is free to revolve but the teeth of said pinion engage with and
are geared into the rack F above mentioned. H is a catch or pawl which swings
upon a pin H¹ and is governed by a spring J, the tendency of such spring being
to throw the point of the catch or pawl H into the teeth of the pinion G so that
the latter cannot revolve. K is a press button which when under pressure acts
upon the pawl H in a direction opposite to that of the spring J, so that when
pressure is exerted thereon the pawl or catch is thrown out of gear and takes
the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5, thus leaving the pinion free:
Referring now to Figure 6 it will be seen that the catch takes the place
of the catch or pawl H, and of the pinion wheel G, and being governed by a
suitable spring performs the functions of a pawl and pinion combined.
operating rods and levers are connected with the pin h² attached to the catch h.
Referring now to Figure 7 which is more particularly designed for light
windows and louvres which do not require so much holding, the rack F, pinion G,
and pawl H (of previous figures) are dispensed with, and a frictional grip is
applied in lieu thereof. This grip is obtained by means of the double ended
eccentrically shaped wedge g which is so arranged that the spring J exerts its
pressure in such a manner as to throw the larger diameter of the eccentric circle
against the side of the sash thereby securely holding the same in the required
position by friction, but when the pressure on the press K exceeds that of the
spring J the friction is diminished, and the catch relieved as in the previous
devices so that the sash can move freely. In using this mechanism with the
back or outside sash I find it convenient to insert an additional short lever K'
for connecting the press to the wedge, and if two wedges are used they can be
worked simultaneously by connecting them together with a square shouldered
bar. It will readily be seen that by connecting the sashes in the manner indi-
cated with the sash weights E (which are decidedly heavier than the sashes)
the said sashes will automatically slide upwards if free to do so, but that the
pressure of the springs J when exerted upon the holding mechanism herein-
before described, will cause the locking gear to come into play so that it holds
the sash in any desired position, unless and until the said pressure is overcome
by the press K. It therefore follows that the sash will be automatically lifted
by the mere action of pressing the button K inwards, but directly the said pres-
sure is removed the locking mechanism coming into play again will retain the
sash in any required position.
In order to enable the catch mechanism to be operated on both sides of the
front sash as well as upon both sides of the rear sash, I arrange a system of levers
which I have more particularly illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings.
In the front part of Figure 8 a press button is arranged in the middle of the
window frame and operates the levers L L by direct action, the said levers being
fulcrumed at L'. This action causes the extremities of the levers to act upon
the locking gear and in releasing the same allows the sash to automatically rise,
but as soon as the pressure is relieved, the springs N come into play and acting
in an opposite direction cause the locking gear to hold the sash in the desired
position. In the back portion of Figure 8, the levers for the louvre are placed
and are operated by a press which passes through the framework clear of the
sliding parts. The back levers are connected together at L2 so that locking gear
on both sides of the louvre are engaged. This construction is more particularly
applicable to the carriage doors so that the parts are clear of the carriage lock.
In Figure 9 I have illustrated a still further modification of the levers by inter-
posing the short lever K², but in all other respects the various parts are sub-
stantially similar to those hereinbefore described. It is to be understood that
where necessary the holes in the levers are elongated to allow for radial move-
ment.

page_text: Having now 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 improvements in and connected with windows, louvres and doors of rail-
way and other carriages wherein the sashes are more than counterbalanced by
the sash weights, the herein specified automatic locking mechanism consisting
of the press button K, levers L, and springs N the pawl or catch H, the catch
spring J, and the pinion and rack G and F, substantially as described and as
illustrated in the drawings, and shown in detail in Figure 5.
2. In improvements in and connected with windows, louvres and doors of rail-
way and other carriages, the herein specified automatic locking mechanism con-
sisting of the press button K, levers L, and springs N, the catch h, connecting
pin and rack F, substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings,
and shown in detail in Figure 6.
3. In improvements in and connected with windows, louvres and doors of
railway and other carriages wherein the sashes are more than counterbalanced
by the sash weights, the herein specified locking mechanism consisting of the
press button K, levers L, and springs N, the double ended eccentrically shaped
wedge y, catch spring J and lever K, substantially as described and illustrated
in the drawings, and shown in detail in Figure 7.
4. In improvements in and connected with windows, louvres and doors of
railway and other carriages, the herein specified locking mechanism in combina-
tion with the sliding sash, the heavy weights, and weight guides substantially
as described and illustrated as and for the purposes set forth as a combination
of parts.
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.