IMPROVEMENTS IN GREENHOUSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Mortimer Wood a Citizen of the United States
residing in Natick County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GREENHOUSES
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edmund Mortimer Wood at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th December 1883.
EDMUND MORTIMER WOOD a Citizen of the United States residing in Natick,
County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts. " IMPROVEMENTS IN GREEN-
HOUSES."
•
In the cultivation of greenhouse plants such as roses, azaleas, etc., weather for the
plants themselves or their flowers or fruit, it is essential in order to produce well
seasoned stocks, to ensure vigorous flowering or fruiting and larger and more
abundant products, that they be at seasonable times fully exposed to the open air.
Heretofore this result has been effected by one of two methods; either the plants
have been removed from the greenhouse to the open ground outside, or the glazed
sashes have been removed entirely from the house so as to permit free entrance of
light and sun.
The same result has been imperfectly accomplished by providing ventilation at
the top or bottom or sides, but this latter method induces unequal drafts of air
through the house, which endangers the perfection or the life of the plants.
The removal of plants to the open ground, or the removal of the sashes from
the roof, is attended with considerable expense, and the larger and more valuable
plants cannot be removed readily, and in either event the plants are exposed to
Huctuations in the weather,
My invention is intended to give perfect control over the glass covering of the
house, enabling such house to be changed at a moments notice from a tightly closed
condition to an entirely open one or a partially open one, thereby ensuring any
desired degree of ventilation without injurous drafts-the inflowing air being
more perfectly controlled and evenly distributed and heated before having access
to the plants. By my construction also the sashes may be presented to the rays of
the sun in a position to obstruct the latter as little as possible.

page_text: In the construction of my house, I employ a series of sashes of practically
ordinary form, and arranged side by side to form the roof, in number, according to
the length of house desired, and I place several of these rows of sashes in tiers
one above the other, with the lower bar of one tier of sashes overlapping the upper
bars of the tier next below, with the exception of the lower tier, the lower rails of
which rest upon the side walls of the structure.
The series of sashes of each tier are connected together by spline and groove, or
other tight connection, and are secured at about their centers to a horizontal rock
shaft extending the entire length of the house, and constituting a common pivot
whereby the sashes of the entire roof may be opened simultaneously to any desired
extent, the swinging of the tier, being effected by suitable mechanical devices under
the control of a single attendant.
The shaft which supports the different tiers of sashes are mounted in bearings
upheld by trusses, preferably of light wrought iron in order to impart a light and
graceful appearance, these trusses being supported at intervals upon vertical columns
erected upon the floor or foundation of the house, or imbedded at their lower ends
in the earth; these trusses in addition to being light and graceful in appearance,
offering little obstruction to rays of the sun or light, and occupy little space in the
house.
Each tier of sashes is provided with suitable locking devices at proper intervals
to maintain a close joint with the next tier, these locking devices being situated
within the house and operated simultaneously by a common connecting rod, in
order that as little time as possible may be consumed in fastening or unfastening
the said tiers of sashes.
I prefer also to add to the top of the exterior of the roof a locking device to
securely close the upper edges of the upper tier of sashes, these locking devices
being operated by suitable mechanism. The locking device is or may be a series
of turn buttons located upon the inside of the house, but operated from the outside,
and to effect this I secure each button to a rock shaft which extends upward
through a slot in the sash and is secured at its upper end to one side of an arm, the
opposite end of such arm being pivoted to a shipper rod extending the length of the
house and connecting and operating the entire series of buttons; the various rock-
shafts being each swiveled in a saddle plate disposed upon the outside of the apex
of the roof and so situated as to cover the slots in the sashes when the latter are
closed.
My object in mounting and operating the sashes in the above manner is to
enable such sashes to be opened easily and expeditiously, and present them edgewisc
to the rays of the sun, in order to obstruct the latter as little as possible and not
remove the sashes entirely.
In the case of a very short house, or even of a long one, each tier may be a single
sash and in fact when all are connected to their common shaft they are a single
shaft to all intents and purposes. In practice to secure economy and ease of con-
struction, I employ sashes of the ordinary width, three feet, and I connect them
with tongues and grooves, which provide a tight joint and ensure
connection.
a firm
The drawings accompanying this specification represent in Figure 1 a vertical
cross section of one side of a green house containing my improvements. Figure 2. is
a section of a portion of one of the trusses and the ridge. Figure 3. is a section of
a portion of one of the walls and of one of the trusses. Figure 4 is an enlarged
section of the ridge. Figure 5. is a section and Figure 6. a plan of the locking
device supported by the ridge. Figure 7. is a plan of the inner locking devices.
Figures 8. and 9. are sections of the device for rotating the shipper rod. Figure 10.
is a view of a modified manner of pivoting the sashes. Figures 11. 12 and 13
represent enlarged cross sections of various parts.
In the above named drawings A A represents the side walls of a green house,
and B the floor or foundation of the same, substantially after the manner of green-
houses as heretofore constituted. In carrying out my invention I employ a series

page_text: C. C etc of sloping trusses of light wrought iron, of the form substantially as shown
in Figure 1, that is with an inner longitudinal chord a lateral cross ties or braces bb,
and diagonal ties or braces cc, the latter sloping in a direction to permit of opening
of the sashes as hereinafter explained.
I do not confine myself to this precise form of truss, as it may be varied from to
considerable extent without the exercise of inventive skill. The braces c c may
be omitted but to obtain great strength I prefer to retain them and permit the
upper edges of the sashes to open inward and downward, these diagonal braces
are arranged obliquely to the longest plane of the truss sloping inward at bottom.
The lower ends of the trusses C are secured to the tops of the walls A by bars d,
while the upper ends of the side bars or of said trusses are connected together as
shown at e.
To support the truss C firmly in position I employ vertical columns E E disposed
at proper intervals, these columns resting upon the floor or foundation of the house,
or imbedded in the ground at their lower ends, while their upper ends are securely
connected with the rails a of the trusses.
The ridge of the house at F as a V shaped metallic plate B² extending the length
of the house and upheld at intervals by vertical supports a¹ making part of the
trusses, the sides of this saddle overlapping the upper rails of the upper tiers of
sashes as shown in Figure 4. of the drawings.
G, G in the accompanying drawings represents a series of rock shafts extending
the entire length of the house and parallel with the roof of the latter, these shafts,
like the columns E and for the same reasons, being composed preferably of iron gas
pipe, and for the additional reason that I may wish to avail myself of the interior
of the shaft as a conductor of condense water, as hereinafter explained.
These Rock-shafts G G are mounted in bearings jj etc. in the trusses C and are
disposed one above the other in number equal to the number of tiers of sashes
employed.
Each shaft G may be rocked independantly; but I prefer to operate the entire
shafts upon each side of the house simultaneously by mechanical means under the
control of a single attendant, and to this end I employ a screw threaded rotary
shaft H journaled in bearings k k etc. in one of the trusses C, preferably the one in
or nearest the center of the house-and to the lower end of this shaft I secure a
hand wheel I which is within convenient reach of the attendant. I prefer that
the shaft H shall be arranged parallel with the slope of the roof.
J J represents a series of rigid covered arms in number equal to the number of
tiers of sashes, one to each, the lower ends of these curved arms being screw
threaded and screwing upon the shaft H, while each at its upper end is pivoted as
shown at to the lower end of a link K being in turn pivoted as shown at m to
the free end of an arm L, the base of such arm being secured to the rock shaft G.
The several tiers of sashes are shown in the drawings at M M etc. as arranged
one above the other longitudinally of the roof, with the lower bar or bars n of each
tier overlapping the upper bar or bars o of the next tier below as shown in
Figure 1.
These sashes may be of metal in order to increase their durability, reduce the
size of the bars, and when open, to offer less obstruction to the rays of the sun.
As shown in the accompanying drawings however, the sashes are composed of
wood in the usual manner, and of the ordinary width, (three feet) these sashes
being laid side by side in tiers extending the entire length of the house or each
section of the house and jointed together at their abutting edges by tongue and
groove joints which exclude external air and convert the entire series of sashes of
each tier into practically one sash.
Each tier M of sashes is secured at about its center to the respective shaft G by
cheeks PP secured to the inside of each tier and enclosing the shaft.
Rocking of the shaft G (on either side of the house) in one direction by means
of the screw feed shaft H, arms J, links K, and arms L, tends to turn the entire
series of sash tiers upon their supports and open them to any desired extent, By

page_text: this means almost the entire, and in fact practically the entire roof is open to
entrance of air, and sun, as the sashes may be swung at right angles to the pitch
of the roof and very little surface is presented to obstruct the rays of the sun.
I prefer to place the pivotal shaft G somewhat above the center of each tier of
sashes in order that the weight of such tier may be exerted to close it, and in
order that the greater area below the shaft may be acted upon by the wind in
manner tending to close, rather than open, the tier.
To the inside edge of the lower rail of each tier of sashes I secure a gutter N
which arrests any condense water dripping from the inside of the roof, thereby
protecting the plants from such water. This gutter is preferably of metal, standing
out from the sash in order that if the lower bar of the sash is of wood it may be
protected from the water standing in the gutter. Or the gutter may be disposed
flush with the glass of the sash, in order to offer the least obstruction, or it may be
ploughed out of the material of the upper rail of the sash.
To remove the condense water collecting in the gutter the latter may connect
with the interior of the adjacent shaft G (when the latter is tubular) by a suitable
pipe, and the ends of this tubular shaft may extend entirely through the end
walls of the house, in order to discharge the water outside the latter. Or a flexible
pipe connecting with the gutter may discharge into vessels inside the house to
receive the water. I do not confine myself to any arbitary construction or
arrangement of the gutters, as I consider this feature of my invention to consist
in the combination with a sash adapted to rock upon its supports of a gutter for
intercepting the condense water dripping from such sash when closed or nearly
closed.
I have now described the general structure of my house and the method of
supporting and operating the sashes, and I would here remark that in lieu of
pivoting the sash tiers upon a support extending longitudinally of the house and
opening the entire tier or sections of tiers in the direction explained, an alternative
method would be to pivot each individual sash upon a support extending laterally
of the roof and longitudinally of the sash, but operating the entire sashes of a tier,
or section of a tier, simultaneously.
I have described the entire sashes of a tier as secured together and operating
as one sash, and my own extensive cluster of houses are operated in this manner;
but it may be found desirable in some instances to divide up the tier into sections
of two or more sashes, and operate each section independently.
In the case of a jog in the house it will be necessary also to employ a train of
gears or their equivalent to connect the shafts G of the various sections of the
house, if it is desired to connect and operate the entire series of tiers simultaneously.
This latter arrangement is also shown in some of my own houses.
I will now describe the manner of fastening or locking the sashes when closed,
to seal the joint between them, and prevent entrance of external air. At suitable
intervals throughout the length of each tier or section of sashes I apply a device
consisting as follows-To the lower rail n of each tier I secure at intervals a
swinging latch s pivoted to a brackett secured to the underside of such rails, the
nose of this latch taking under the upper rail o of the sash next below, thereby
preventing rising of the lower part of each tier. In the case of the lower tier of
sashes, the latch s is employed; but is pivoted to the top of the wall, and upon its
nose is formed a lip u to engage a lug formed upon a plate q secured to the
lower rail n of the lowest tier of sashes (See Figure 3 and 4 of the drawings.)
With each tier of sashes I employ a horizontal shipper rod P running the entire
length of the house, or section of house, and I swivel the lower ends or tails v of
each range of latch bars s to the shipper rod as shown at w, thereby connecting
and simultaneously operating the entire latches of the tier. Prior to opening the
sashes the attendant seizes one end of the shipper rod P and shugs the same and
in the proper direction, thereby releases the latches 8 from the lugs and unlocks
the entire tier of sashes. A shug of the rod P in the opposite reverses the
motion of the latches and locks the sashes. If it is desired to simultaneously

page_text: operate the locking devices of all the tiers, the various shipper rods P must be
moved in unison. To effect this I connect such shipper rods as follows-to each
I secure (preferably at the center of the house on each side of the latter) a sprocket
wheel which is mounted upon a horizontal shaft y between the ears of a
bracket Q secured to a proper part of one of the trusses C, see Figures 8 and 9 of
the drawings.
I prefer as before stated for perfect security to add a locking device to the upper
bars of the uppermost tier of sashes. In carrying out this feature, I add to the
ridge F of the roof opposite each truss upon each side a saddle R against the
underside of which the upper part of the upper sash tier closely abuts, this saddle
having a central rib S pendant from it (see Figure 5) which extends between the
adjacent side rails of the two opposite upper sash tiers, these bars being rebated
or notched at this point as shown at S³, or in lieu of this continuous rib S a hub
may be employed to each fastening. To the underside of the saddle opposite each
truss I add a turn button T which is secured to the lower end of a rock shaft U
which extends upward through a bearing in the saddle, and has affixed to its upper
end above such saddle the base of an arm V, the free end of each arm V being
pivoted to a common shipper rod X which extends the entire length of the roof,
and by means of which the entire series of buttons T are operated. This shipper
rod may be operated by hand or by suitable mechanical means from the outside or
inside of the house as may be preferred.
The width of each turn button is somewhat less than the width of the opening S¹,
between the opposite sash tiers, while the length of each button is considerably
greater than the width of such opening, consequently when the buttons are turned
by their common shipper rod to a position lengthwise with this opening the sash
tiers are unlocked and may be opened. Reversing the position of the buttons
causes them to span the openings S¹ and lock the sash tiers. The saddle R or
wings of the same covers the openings S¹ and prevents access thereat of external
air or dust.
If the sashes are to be pivoted independantly at right angles to the longest plane
of the house I shall to the inside upper and lower parts of each and centrally
thereof, or about so (see Figure 10) a bracket j, which encloses and is secured to a
shaft journaled at its ends in bearings secured to or formed upon vertical
columns m² n' etc, erected upon the floor of the house. To the upper ends of the
central column m¹ I secure the ridge which in this instance, and with the other
construction of house also, may be an inverted V shape as shown in Figure 4. In.
this form the ridge constitutes a gutter to arrest a certain amount of moisture
falling upon the roof.
CLAIMS.
1 In greenhouses, and as a support to the roof, light metal trusses of suitabe
n

page_text: 6th The inverted ridge covering the roof of the house and operating as a gutter
to collect water.
7th In greenhouses a series of tiers of sashes pivoted at about their centers to
their supports and operated collectively and simultaneously to swing inward at
the top.
8th The inverted ridge in combination with conductors for carrying off the water
arrested by said ridge.
9th In greenhouses a roof composed of two or more tiers of sashes pivoted at or
near their centers and adapted when closed to overlap one another.
10th In combination with a sash adapted to swing at or about at their centers, a
tubular shaft constituting the pivotal support of such sash, and provision for
conducting drip water from the sash to the interior of such sash.
11th In combination with a sash adapted to swing at or about at its center upon
its supports, the screw shaft H arm J and L, link and shaft G constituting the
support of such sash.
12th The saddle in combination with the pivotal sashes and the trusses
supporting the same when such saddle constitutes the supports or bearings of the
device for locking the upper sashes.
13th The saddle in combination with the pivotal sashes and the trusses
supporting the same, when such saddle constitutes the support of the devices for
locking the upper sash and a covering for the openings in or between such sashes
through which the said locking devices operate to fasten the sash.
14th The device herein explained for locking the upper sash, consisting of the
shafts U and turn buttons T, the shaft being mounted in the saddle R and
provided with the arms V which are connected and operated by the rod X.
15th The openings S¹ in the sashes, in combination with the saddle R or its
equivalent.
16th The device herein shown and explained for locking the sashes, consisting of
the latches & with their lips u and the plates q with their lugs 7, the latches being
preferably connected and operated by the rod P.
g
17th In greenhouses containing two or more tiers of sashes so arranged that the
lower edge of one tier overlaps the upper edge of the tier next below, a series of
devices for locking such edges together when such series of devices are operated
collectively by mechanical means.
In witness whereof I the said Edmund Mortimer Wood have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 14th day of December 1883
EDMUND MORTIMER WOOD (re)