Improvements in Means for Opening, Closing, and Fixing Fanlights, Windows, Shutters, Ventilators, Doors, and other analogous Articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Opening, Closing, and Fixing Fanlights,
Windows, Shutters, Ventilators, Doors, and other analogous
Articles.
I, HENRY CLARKE PRUCE, of the Firm of A. Brown and Company, of Small-
brook Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has relation to means for opening, closing and fixing in their
adjusted positions, fanlights, windows, shutters, ventilators, doors and other
analogous frames and articles, and has for its object, to effect such operations
by pneumatic and hydraulic appliances.
In carrying out one form of my invention in connection with a pneumatic force
for the before mentioned purpose, I take a drum or cylinder, open at one end and
closed at the other and having at the closed end, an inlet fitted, if necessary,
with a check valve or similar appliance, and with a small-bore inlet pipe in com-
munication with a piston-operated or other air pump, worked by a lever or
otherwise for the forcing of air either into the cylinder, or into a sack enclosed
within the cylinder as hereinafter described.
This cylinder, which is a fixture to brackets or the like, is telescoped by a ram
tube, closed at the outer end and open at the inner end and which may be of
a diameter equal to the said cylinder and is adapted to reciprocate within or over
the same. Its outer end is connected either directly, or through a system of
links, rods, jointed levers, chains, cords or equivalents, to a fanlight or the like
to be opened, closed and regulated, whilst located within the interior of the two
telescoping cylindrical parts is an elastic air sack, extending to any suitable dis-
tance, but preferably to an extent a little greater than the traverse of the ram
tube, although in some cases, it may extend from the closed end of the fixed
cylinder up to the closed end of the sliding ram tube. The ends of the said sack,
into which air passes through the inlet in the cylinder, are sealed, so that the air
forced into the same cannot escape, or the said sack may be so made that the
air is self-trapping.
The fixed or stationary cylinder may be made to turn upon a pivot in order
that it may accommodate itself to any necessary angular movement required by
the opening mechanism, but where there is no angular movement, then I may
arrange for the ram tube to slide or traverse within guides which prevent its
rotation within the cylinder.
Assuming that the ram tube is collapsed into the cylinder, then the flexible
air tube is also shut up or collapsed to relatively corresponding dimensions. The
forcing of air into the cylinder distends the ram tube and with it the air tube,
which is pressed close up to the interior parts of the ram tube and cylinder

page_text: confining it, whilst the said ram tube constitute the means of communicating
motion direct to the opening mechanism, whilst for operating the mechanism in
the other direction for closing, I propose that the pump, or the nozzle or other
part of it, should be fitted with a shunt valve or equivalent to admit of the
releasing of the compressed air from the cylinder and of the withdrawing of the
whole of the said air from the cylinder and am tube to create a vacuum therein
so that the external air pressure would then be employed for starting the motion
in the reverse direction.
This creation of a vacuum within the telescoping parts may be utilized for
both opening or closing.
The pump may be double-barrelled and so arranged that the one barrel or
cylinder will compress air whereas the other will exhaust. The apparatus may
be fixed in any convenient position approximate to the framing of a fanlight or
the like and may be operated from either a short or long distance by arranging a
suitable length of flexible or other tubing between it and the air pump.
In carrying out my invention in connection with hydraulic apparatus, I con-
struct the apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described, but I employ water
as the operating fluid instead of air.
Dated this 16th day of January 1899.
HENRY CLARKE PRUCE,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Means for Opening, Closing, and Fixing Fanlights,
Windows, Shutters, Ventilators, Doors, and other analogous
Articles.
I, HENRY CLARKE PRUCE, of the Firm of A. Brown and Company, of Small-
brook Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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:
-
This invention has relation to means for opening, closing and fixing in their
adjusted positions, fanlights, windows, shutters, ventilators, doors and other
analogous frames and articles, and has for its object, to effect such operations
by pneumatic and hydraulic appliances.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a front elevation of a double-
acting pneumatic apparatus for opening and closing a pair of windows or lights,
constructed arranged and operating in accordance with one form of my invention.
In this view the several parts are shown in the positions which they respectively
assume when the windows are closed.
Figure represents an end view, partly in section, of the said apparatus, with
the parts in the same position as Figure 1, whilst Figure 3 is a similar view to
that of Figure 2, but showing the window partially opened, the necessary move-
ment for operating the levers connected with the windows being obtained from a
rod, which is caused to slide or traverse vertically by compressed or pumped-in
air acting against a piston or plunger provided at one end of the said rod and con-
tained and working within a fixed cylinder or casing in communication with an
air or force pump.
The return movement of the levers, for closing the window,
in effected by raising the sliding rod by means of a second pneumatic force
arranged at its lower end and into which the compressed air from the air pump

page_text: is diverted by means of a suitable shunt valve or switch cock provided in con-
nection with or between the respective air pipes of the opening and closing
cylinders.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said figures 1,
2 and 3.
a, a, are the windows to be opened, which are hinged at a', to turn inwards and
are each connected to a shaft or rod b (common to both windows) by means of a
pair of links c, whose inner ends are jointed at c¹, to brackets, on the window
frame, and their other ends are connected at 3, to arms or levers d, made fast
to and turning with the said shaft, which is mounted within suitable bearings e
secured to a wall or the like underneath the said windows. This rod also has
made fast to it, another arm or lever f, from the upper end of which a jointed
link or connecting rod g, proceeds to an attachment h, adjustably fitted to a
vertical rod or slide i. The said slide works within one or more guides such
as h', fixed to the wall and its upper and lower ends respectively terminate in or
attached to pistons or plungers j, k, the former of which works within a cylinder
or air tight casing ¹, securely attached by brackets, or the like, to the wall,
whilst the lower plunger k works within a similarly-mounted cylinder . The
top cylinder and piston constitute the opening force by which the sliding rod i is
forced downwards on air under pressure being pumped into the cylinder whilst
the lower cylinder and piston is the closing force and effects the return move-
ment of the rod. Each cylinder is provided with its own independent air
pipe 3, 3, made of flexible or other tubing and both leading away to an air-
shunt valve or switch cock m, connected with a hand operated pump n, con-
veniently situated for use by a person desiring to open or close the windows or
the like. The said valve is provided with a rotatable plug, which, when turned,
directs the air forced into the valve from the pump into the communication pipe
of either the closing pneumatic force or the opening force, according as to whether
the windows are to be opened or closed.
Thus, assuming that the several parts of the apparatus are in the positions
represented in Figure 1 and that the windows require to be opened, a person
places the plug of the shunt valve into such a position as to shut off air from the
closing force but to open communication between the air-pump and the opening
force. He then operates the pump and the compressed air passes along the
pipe, and enters the top of the cylinder j and forces down the plunger or
piston j, connected with the slide i, which also moves down and its motion is
communicated through the link g, and lever h, to the rock shaft b, and thence by
the levers d, and link-rods c, to the windows which are turned or swung upon
their joints and opened to an extent governed by the time for which pumping is
continued. By this movement of the slide, the bottom plunger k, working in
the cylinder k¹, is made to descend within the said cylinder to the same extent
as the top plunger has moved within its cylinder so that to again close the
windows, the plug of the shunt valve is turned to cut off the "opening" force
from the air pump and open communication between the said pump and the clos-
ing cylinder. Then on again operating the pump, air is made to impinge against
the underside of the piston k, and lift it, the slide i, being thereby raised, the
several parts returned to their normal positions and the window fully or par-
tially closed as may be desired.
The windows or fanlights are maintained in their fully opened or closed posi-
tions, or in any intermediate position, by the pressure of the compressed air against
the top of the opening piston, or the underside of the closing piston, or both,
without any auxiliary fastener or locking means being required although, if
desired, I may provide a spring or springs in connection with each window or the
like to counterbalance its weight and assist in keeping the same closed or in any
partially opened position and in order to gradually relieve the back pressure of
air underneath the closing piston when the latter is made to descend by the pres-

page_text: sure of air within the opening cylinder acting upon the other piston, I may
arrange within the shunt valve, or other suitable part of the system, a small
escape hole or valve which is opened before pumping is commenced to open the
window and closed when the air pressure is diverted into the other cylinder for
closing.
This form of pneumatic apparatus is applicable for the opening, closing and
retaining in position of all kinds of windows, fanlights, louvres, shutters, venti-
lators, doors and other analogous fittings, whether arranged singly or in series
and whether hinged at top, bottom or middle to open inwards or outwards. The
system of levers or other means employed for transmitting the motion of the
pneumatically-traversed slide or rod to the windows or the like may be arranged
in any manner according to the character or mounting of the said windows.
Figure 4 represents a front elevation of another form of pneumatic apparatus
constructed in accordance with my invention and adapted to open, close and retain
in their adjusted positions, a pair of swinging windows or fanlights.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the said apparatus.
Figure 6 is a section of the double-barrelled force and exhaust punip employed
in this arrangement, and
Figure 7 represents a section of the expanding cylinder or force by which move-
ment is imparted to the sliding rod and system of levers. connected with the
windows.
In this modification, I employ a drum or cylinder o, open at one end o¹, and
closed at the other o2, with the closed end having a small-bore air inlet pipe 2
in communication with an air pump g, adapted to force air into a sack V. enclosed
within the cylinder.
This cylinder o, which is a fixture to brackets or the like, is telescoped by a
ram tuber, closed at the outer end ¹, and open at the inner end, and which
may be of a diameter equal to the said cylinder and is adapted to reciprocate
within or over the same. Its outer end is connected through the medium of a
sliding rods, and a system of links and levers similar to that described in the
first arrangement to the pair of fanlights t, or the like to be opened, closed and
regulated, whilst located within the interior of the two telescoping cylindrical
parts is the elastic air sack y, which is extensible to any suitable distance, but
preferably to an extent a little greater than the traverse of the ram tube, with
one end q', of it secured to the closed end of the fixed cylinder and the other
end, to the closed end of the sliding ram tube. The ends of the said sack, into
which air passes through the inlet in the cylinder, are sealed, so that the air
forced into the same cannot escape, or the said sack may be so made that the
air is self-trapping.
The fixed or stationary cylinder may be made to turn upon a pivot in order
that it may accommodate itself to any necessary angular movement required by
the opening mechanism, but where there is no angular movement, then I may
arrange for the ram tube to slide or traverse within guides which prevent its
rotation within the cylinder.
Assuming that the ram tube is collapsed into the cylinder, then the flexible
air tube is also shut up or collapsed to relatively corresponding dimensions. The
forcing of air into the cylinder distends the air tube, or sack, which is pressed
close up to the interior parts of the ram tube and cylinder confining it, and at
the same time, the ram tube is forced outwards and its motion is communicated
to the mechanism for opening the windows through the medium of the sliding
rod as represented. The ram tube is guided in its movement within or upon the
cylinder, by two or more guide rods such as 7, working through corresponding
eyed lugs, on the other part, or other equivalent means may be provided for
the same purpose, to the opening mechanism, whilst for operating the mechanism
in the other direction, for closing, I propose that the pump may be so constructed
as to admit of the releasing of the compressed air from the cylinder when desired
and of the withdrawing of the whole of the said air from the cylinder and ram

page_text: tube to create a vacuum therein so that the external air pressure would then be
employed for starting the motion in the reverse direction.
The construction of pump represented in Figure 6 shows a convenient arrange-
ment by which air may be pumped into the force or expanding cylinder for open-
ing, or exhausted for closing, as and when desired.
This pump has two barrels u, r, so arranged that the one barrel or cylinder,
with its piston u¹, will compress air into the force cylinder whereas the other
barrel with piston r, will exhaust therefrom. The apparatus may be fixed in
any convenient position approximate to the framing of a fanlight or the like and
the air may be forced to or exhausted from either a short or long distance by
arranging a suitable length of flexible or other tubing, between the pumps and
the force.
Each pump barrel is provided with a check or non-return valve at ², and
pipes, proceed from the two cylinders to a shunt valve u, provided with a
turning plug, by the rotation of which either the air pump or the exhaust pump
may be put in communication with the air piper, according as to whether the
apparatus is to be operated for opening and closing.
This form of apparatus is equal for operating any suitable arrangements of
levers, links, cords, chains or the like provided in connection with various open-
ing and closing articles or fittings, whether singly or in series.
The creation of a vacuum within an expanding and contracting cylinder, or
a fixed cylinder containing a piston or plunger may be utilized for either closing
or opening purposes.
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:-
FirstOpening and closing fanlights, windows, shutters, ventilators, doors,
and other analogous articles, from a distance, by the direct action of compressed
air upon one or more pistons or plungers connected with the opening mechanism,
substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly-Opening and closing fanlights, windows, shutters, ventilators, doors
and other analogous articles, from a distance, by the direct action of compressed
air upon one or other of a pair of plungers or pistons, respectively located within
a pair of cylinders or casings and coupled to move together by a rod or slide from
which motion is transmitted to opening and closing mechanism, substantially as
described and set forth.
_
Thirdly Opening and closing fanlights, windows, shutters, ventilators, door
and other analogous articles, from a distance, by the direct action of compressed
air upon one or other of a pair of plungers or pistons, connected together by a
rod or slide from which motion is transmitted to the opening mechanism, and
working respectively within cylinders or casings, each having a separate air-pipe
terminating in a shunt valve or switch cock, by which compressed air from a
single force pump Is directed to one cylinder or the other, as required, substan-
tially as herein described and set forth in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Fourthly Opening and closing fanlights, windows, shutters, ventilators, doors
and other analogous articles, from a distance, by the exhaustion of air from a
cylinder or cylinders, which may either be expansible and suitably connected
with the closing apparatus, or be fitted with pistons or plungers, with rods or
slides connected to the closing apparatus, substantially as described and set forth.
Fifthly Apparatus for opening and closing windows, fanlights, shutters,
ventilators and other analogous articles, from a distance, consisting of an expan-
sible air-tight or sealed cylinder or chamber, connected with the closing
mechanism, an air pump for forcing air into the cylinder to expand the same for
imparting motion in one direction, and an exhaust pump to remove air from the
cylinder to admit of motion in the other direction, with a shunt valve or valves

page_text: or equivalent means whereby either pump may be placed in communication with
the expansible chamber, substantially as described and set forth in Figures 4,
5, 6 and 7.
T מבד
US
way
13001
1000.
HENRY CLARKE PRUCE.
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.