IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS AND WINDOW FITTINGS FOR CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Charles Gover, of South Hill Park, Hampstead,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS
AND WINDOW FITTINGS FOR CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Charles Gover at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th March 1878.
HENRY CHARLES GOVER, of South Hill Park, Hampstead, in the County of
Middlesex, “IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOWS AND WINDOW FITTINGS FOR CARRIAGES
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to windows adapted more particularly for use in carriages,
but which are also applicable in steamboats, dwellings, and in other like places, and
it consists in rendering the ordinary glazed sliding sash capable of being opened
outwards on either side, that is to say, either to the right or to the left by turning
on a vertical axis.
In carrying out my Invention, I construct the frame of the sash with a bead or
projection on each side (that is to say, on the right and left hand edges of the inner
side), which beads or projections engage respectively in corresponding grooves
formed in the window frame, along which they traverse when the sash is being
used as a sliding one; and I also provide the window frame on each side (that is to
say, on the right and left hand edges of the outer side), with a movable bead or
projection, which beads or projections are capable of being adjusted by means of
bolts or other suitable devices, so as to cause them to overlap the frame of the sash
or be moved back clear and out of the range of the same as required.
The two sets of beads or projections on each side constitute hinges when the sash
is being used as a pivotted one, one of the movable beads or projections of the
window frame being moved back clear and out of the range of the sash, so as to
admit of the latter turning outwardly, whilst the other bead or projection is retained
in gear with the sash, and forms in conjunction therewith, and with its bead or
projection and engaging groove for the time being, the hinge or vertical axis around

page_text: which it turns. Facility is thus afforded for opening the window outwards to
either the right or left, by utilizing one or other of sets of beads or projections,
as the temporary hinge or axis, whilst when both of the beads or projections of the
window frame are in gear with the sash, the latter is capable of being slid after the
manner of an ordinary sliding sash.
The sash is retained in its elevated position by means of a ledge which may be
moved by the act of depressing a lever or otherwise out of the range of the sash
when it is required to lower the latter, the ledge returning by gravitation to its
normal position when the sash is again elevated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ienry Charles Gover in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th September 1878.
HENRY CHARLES GOVER, of South Hill Park, Hampstead, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDows and WinDOW FITTINGS FOR CARRIAGES
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My said Invention relates to windows adapted more particularly for use in
railway and other carriages, but which are also applicable in steamboats, dwellings,
and in other like places, and it consists in rendering the ordinary glazed sliding
sash capable of being opened outwards on either side, that is to say, either to the
right or to the left by turning on a vertical axis.
By these means greater facility is afforded for ventilation, the window being
capable not only of being raised and lowered in the usual manner, but also when
elevated of being opened horizontally to either side, as may be desired, either to
shield off the wind or catch it, according to the position and requirements of the
occupants of a vehicle or apartment.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Fgures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a vertical section of a railway
carriage door having my said Invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section drawn to a larger scale, the section being taken
through the window and through the mechanism herein-after described for effecting
its horizontal motion.
And Figure 3 is a vertical section taken through the apparatus herein-after
described for retaining the window elevated.
A is a railway carriage door fitted with a sash B, glazed at C, the said sash when
released being free to slide down and up a recess C in the usual manner. When
the sash is in its elevated position as shewn in the Drawing, I maintain it in that
position by means of a falling ledge D, which is mounted so as to be capable of
4

page_text: turning on hinges E carried by the door. The ledge D is connected by means of a
link a to the pendant arms b, of a double lever G, pivotted at d to the door, the
other arms e of which double lever are united by a cross pin f. On the axis d of
the lever is mounted a roller g, over which and between it and the cross pin f
passes the ordinary strap H, which is attached to the sash, so that by the act of
lifting the said strap the lever will be turned upon its centre & into the position
shewn by dotted lines in Figure 3, thereby drawing back the falling ledge and
allowing the sash to fall. When the sash is elevated, the ledge falls back into its
position beneath the sash by gravitation.
The sash may be retained at any required height by the usual means.
The window as thus constructed is simply capable of sliding so as to be raised
and lowered after the manner of ordinary sliding sashes.
The principal object of my said Invention however consists as before mentioned
in rendering the sliding sash capable of being opened outwards on either side, that
is to say, either to the right or to the left (as indicated by the two sets of dotted
lines in Figure 2), by turning on.a vertical axis, and this object is effected in the
following manner:-
At each side of the window I provide a moveable bead I mounted on hinges at h,
carried by an attachment K to the door. These beads are both capable of being
moved from the position shewn in full lines to that represented by dotted lines in
Figure 2, in order to admit of the window B being turned horizontally into either
of the open positions indicated as herein-after more fully described; and when in the
position shewn by full lines, the said beads are retained therein by springs i.
When it is required to draw in either of the beads I, it is simply necessary to
apply pressure to the bolt of the corresponding sides, the end of which is thus
caused to act upon a projection on the bead overcoming the force of the spring i,
and the bead will be accordingly drawn back into the position indicated by the
dotted lines.
When it is desired to open the window at, say, the right-hand side, the right-hand
bead is moved back, and vice versa, and the opposite bead (the left-hand one in the
example assumed), formus with the addition of auxillary devices a vertical hinge or
axis upon which the sash may turn. These devices consist of a metal projection
on the edge of the sash B at each side, and of a groove or recess m in which the
said projection works. When either of the beads I is withdrawn, the window may
be opened at the corresponding side, the projection at the opposite side describing
an arc of a circle in the groove or recess m, whilst the bead I at that side retains
the sash in its place, at the same time admitting of its turning as on a vertical
hinge or axis. When both the beads I are in gear with the sash, the latter is
capable of being slid after the manner of an ordinary sliding sasli.
It will thus be seen that whilst the window is capable of being raised and lowered
in the usual manner, increased facilities for ventilation are afforded, as the window,
when elevated, may be opened horizontally to either side, according to the position
and requirements of the occupants of the vehicle or apartment.
The two beads may be connected by a bar n as shewn by dotted lines, so as to
ensure that both shall not be disengaged simultaneously, the said bar being slotted
at n¹, in order to admit of the separate action of the two beads.
Projecting ledges L' may be provided above and below the window of a width
equal to the required range of the sash, openings being formed in the said ledges if
necessary for the escape of any water that may collect thereon. One of these ledges,
as for example, the upper one as shewn, may be fitted with a spring stop o for
regulating the degree of opening of the window.
The hinge devices may extend for a portion only of the height of the sash if
desired, and may be made of any required shape.
Any convenient arrangement may also be adopted for fitting the moving parts to
the door.
In the example illustrated, a metal frame K is employed at each side of the door,
thus forming a facing to the wood to which the moving parts may be fitted. This

page_text: arrangement may however be modified as desired, and the details generally may be
varied according to circumstances.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. Constructing window sashes so that they shall be capable both of sliding
and of being opened outwards on either side, by turning on a vertical axis
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
Secondly. Supporting sliding sashes when in their elevated position by means of
a falling ledge, the sash being engaged automatically and released by hand, sub-
stantially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Charles Gover, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY CHARLES GOVER. (L.S.)