Improvements in Means for Retaining Railway Carriage and other Window Sashes in a Closed or More or Less Open Position.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr.. 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Retaining Railway Carriage and other
Window Sashes in a Closed or More or Less Open Position.
I, WILLIAM SHEARS, of No. 8, Andrew Villas, New Station Road, Byfleet, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means for retaining railway carriage
and other window sashes in a closed or more or less open position, and has for its
object primarily to dispense with the costly and troublesome counterbalance
weights and other devices hitherto employed for this purpose, and also, in some
cases, to facilitate the cleaning of the windows.
In carrying the invention into effect, when dealing with ordinary. house windows,
the sashes are mounted in an independent frame arranged within the ordinary
frame and hinged thereto as hereinafter more fully described.
Each sash at one side thereof or it might be at both sides is provided with a
vertical groove in its edge and in this groove is placed a metal bar preferably
a steel bar twisted into the form of a quick threaded screw and at its ends provided
with centres mounted in bearings carried by angle plates or fittings countersunk in
the top and bottom of the sash.
One end of the twisted bar is formed cylindrical for a suitable distance and upon
this cylindrical part is placed a coiled spring one end of which engages a projection
upon the cylindrical part of the twisted bar and the other end is fixed to a
projection carried by the adjacent fitting in which the cylindrical end of the bar
is mounted.
In the inside frame of the window is formed a horizontal dovetailed and wedge-
shaped groove in which is fitted a correspondingly shaped bar which carries a
projecting stud or clip formed with an open ended slot shaped to fit the twisted bar
and previous to placing the slotted stud or clip in engagement with the twisted bar,
the latter has a partial or it might be an entire turn, or several turns given thereto
according to circumstances, which has the effect of more or less uncoiling the spring
and thus causing the same to continuously exert a rotating or turning force upon
the twisted bar.
By this arrangement of parts, upon a sash being moved vertically in the frame
to open it, the clip or slotted stud which is held stationary by the inner frame will
give one or more turns to the twisted bar, thereby further uncoiling the spring and
increasing the force exerted thereby upon the twisted bar, and the device is so
arranged with relation to each sash that the opening of the sash in all cases causes
the storing of the power in the spring.
By these means, the pressure exerted by the spring through the twisted bar
upon the slotted stud will be sufficient to retain the sash in any position in which it
may be placed and thus the use of the expensive and cumbersome leaden weights,
and the trouble which always accompanies the continually breaking sash lines will
be avoided.
Furthermore, by dispensing with the sash weights and lines, and the usual
boxing to receive the same, it is possible to adopt the arrangement of inner frame
to carry the sashes heretofore described, and by which arrangement when it is
desired to clean the windows it is merely necessary to turn the inner frame upon its
hinge when the frame and sashes will swing into the room and then will be easily

page_text: accessible for cleaning purposes without the necessity for resorting to the common
and dangerous expedient of cleaning the window from the outside.
Although the invention is herein before described in connection with ordinary
house windows it will be obvious that the invention is equally applicable to railway
carriage and other windows...
Dated this 14th day of April 1896.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Means for Retaining Railway Carriage and other
Window Sashes in a Closed or More or Less Open Position.
I, WILLIAM SHEARS, of No. 8, Andrew Villas, New Station Road, Byfleet, in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman, 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 said invention relates to improvements in means for retaining railway
carriage and other window sashes in a closed or more or less open position, and has
for its object primarily to dispense with the costly and troublesome counterbalance
weights and other devices hitherto employed for this purpose.
In carrying the invention into effect, when dealing with ordinary house windows,
the sashes are sometimes mounted in an independent frame arranged within the
ordinary frame and binged thereto as hereinafter more fully described.
Each sash at one side thereof or it might be at both sides is provided with a
vertical groove in its edge and in this groove is placed a metal bar preferably a
steel bar twisted into the form of a quick threaded screw and at its ends provided
with centres mounted in bearings carried by angle plates or fittings countersunk in
the top and bottom of the sash.
One end of the twisted bar is formed cylindrical for a suitable distance and upon
this cylindrical part is placed a coiled spring one end of which engages a
projection upon the cylindrical part of the twisted bar and the other end is fixed to
a projection carried by the adjacent fitting in which the cylindrical end of the bar
is mounted.
In the inside frame of the window is formed a horizontal dovetailed and wedge-
shaped groove in which is fitted a correspondingly shaped bar which carries a
projecting stud or clip formed with an open ended slot shaped to fit the twisted
bar and previous to placing the slotted stud or clip in engagement with the twisted
bar, the latter has a partial or it might be an entire turn, or several turns given
thereto according to circumstances, which has the effect of more or less uncoiling
the spring and thus causing the same to continuously exert a rotating or turning
force upon the twisted bar.
By this arrangement of parts, upon a sash being moved vertically in the frame
to open it the clip or slotted stud which is held stationary by the inner frame will
give several turns to the twisted bar, thereby further uncoiling the spring and
increasing the force exerted thereby upon the twisted bar, and the device is so
arranged with relation to each sash that the lowering of the sash in all cases causes
the storage of the power in the spring.
By these means, the pressure exerted by the spring through the twisted bar
upou the slotted stud will be sufficient to retain the sash in any position in which it
may be placed and thus the use of the expensive and cumbersome leadeu weights,
and the trouble which always accompanies the continually breaking sash lines will
be avoided.
Furthermore, by dispensing with the sash weights and lines, and the usual

page_text: boxing to receive the same, it is possible to adapt the arrangement of inner frame
o carry the sashes as hereinbefore described, and by which arrangement when it
s desired to clean the window it is merely necessary to turn the inner frame upon
ts hinge when the frame and sashes will swing into the room and then will be
asily accessible for cleaning purposes without the necessity for resorting to the
common and dangerous expedient of cleaning the window from the outside.
Although the invention is hereinbefore described in connection with ordinary
ouse windows it will be obvious that the invention is equally applicable to railway
arriage and other windows.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
eadily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings,
nore fully in describe the same

page_text: of its length, that is to say, about co-extensive with the fitting d, and upon this
cylindrical part e' is placed a coiled spring which at its centre engages a stud
or projection e' upon the cylindrical part ol of the twisted bar e, whilst the ends
of the spring f. work in long slots d³ in the fitting d. which forms an abutment
thereto.
In the inside frame a of the sash b. and above the meeting rail of the lower
eash is formed a horizontal dovetailed and tapered or wedge-shaped groove a in
which is fitted a correspondingly shaped har g, which carries a projecting stud or
clip g' formed with an open ended slot g' therein shaped to fit the twisted bar a.
or two short studs or an equivalent device might be substituted for the clip or
slotted stud gl as will be readily understood and which in the vertical movements
of the sash . will give a rotary motion to the twisted bar c.
Previous to placing the slotted stud or clip g' in engagement with the twisted
bar c, the latter that is the twisted bar c, has a partial or it might be an entire
turn or several turns as may be found necessary given thereto which has the
effect of more or less uncoiling the spring f. thus causing the same to continuously
exert a rotating or turning force upon the twisted bar c.
A similar set of parts is employed in connection with the upper sash & and for
facility of identification the letters of reference which are also similar are in all
cases followed by a star, the only difference being in the arrangement of the
parts; that is to say, in the upper sash, the fitting d. is placed at the top thereof
and the stud or clip g' near to the bottom thereof thus reversing the position of
the parts with relation to the sash &, such arrangements being necessary in order
to enable the sashes b.b* to open to their full extent or approximately so.
By this arrangement of parts, upon the sash being moved vertically in the
frame a to open the window the clip or slotted stud 9 which is held stationary
by the inner frame a* will give several turns to the twisted bar c* thereby further
uncoiling the spring and increasing the force exerted thereby upon the twisted
bar whilst the closing of the sash . will produce a similar result with relation to
the twisted bar c. and spring f. and the device is so arranged with relation to each
sash b. * that the lowering of the sash in all cases causes the storage of the power
in the spring f.
By these means the pressure exerted by the springs /. / through the twisted
bars c. cupon the slotted studs gl *1 will be sufficient to retain the sashes b. in
any position in which they may be placed and thus the use of the expensive and
cumbersome leaden weights and the trouble which always accompanies the
continually breaking sash lines will be avoided.
Furthermore, by dispensing with the old-fashioned sash weights and lines and
the usual boxing to receive the same, it is possible to adapt the arrangement of
inner frame a* to carry the sashes b. bas herein before described, and by this
arrangement when it is desired to clean the window it is merely necessary to turn
the inner frame a upon its hinges a when the frame a* and sashes b. 6* will
swing into the room, and then will be easily accessible for cleaning purposes
without the necessity for resorting to the common and dangerous expedient of
cleaning the window from the outside.
Although the device is hereinbefore described in connection with an inner
or independent frame a it will be evident that such inner frame may if desired
be dispensed with and the device fitted to the ordinary or outer frame a.
In the example given at Figure 12 to 14, the device is shown applied to the
window of a railway carriage door.
In this case, the device and its arrangement are substantially the same as those
hereinbefore described with respect to the previous figures, except that instead of
the twisted bar c. being carried within a groove in the sash b. it is enclosed within
a chamber & formed by a curved guard plate d from the fitting d. which in this
example is at least co-extensive with the sash b, and in order to admit of the
full traverse of the sash b. in the opening and closing of the window, the slotted
stud gl is placed as low as possible on the frame a, and the offsets or brackets d' d

page_text: of the fitting d. together with the spring f. are by a downward extension of the
fitting d. lowered a corresponding distance so as to allow of the full traverse of the
sash b.
A further slight modification consists in forming the fitting c. which constitutes
the upper bearing for the twisted bar c. as a screw plug to screw into an offset or
bracket from the fitting d.
In the example given at Figures 15 and 16. which represents the application of
the device to the window of an ordinary road carriage, the parts are substantially
the same as those lastly herein before described except that the fitting d, twisted
bar c. and connected parts are carried by the frame a. of the door, whilst the
slotted stud g' is carried by a bracket 9. from the sash b. whilst the fitting d. is.
similarly extended below the sash, and the slotted stud g' is placed in a
corresponding position to allow of the full traverse of the sash b.
In the example given at Figures 17 and 18, the twisted bar c. instead of
being mounted with capability of revolution is by its ends el fixed to the sash b..
and instead of the stud or nut 9' being fixed with the wedge g. it is formed
circular and flanged but with an opening or slot
described to facilitate the placing of the same upon the
with capability of revolution by means of a forked
wedge g. and is held in place by a screw pin 93
fork 9.
therein as hereinbefore
bar c. whilst it is supported
bearing g fixed with the
engaging the ends of the
In this case, the lower end of the spring f. is fixed with the nut g' whilst the
upper end thereof is fixed with a bracket go from a wedge-shaped fitting g* similar
to g. and previous to placing the nut upon the twisted bar c. the spring is.
partially uncoiled as described with respect to the previous figures whilst the
action of the device is similar.
It will be obvious that the details of construction and arrangement of the
device may be still further inodified without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In means for retaining a window sash in an open or closed position with
relation to its frame, a device comprising a spring controlled twisted bar adapted.
to be pivotally mounted upon one part and a clip or the like adapted to be fixed.
upon the other part and to engage the twisted bar, the spring being so arranged
that the lowering of the sash will store the power of the spring, substantially as.
herein shown and described.
2. In means for retaining a window sash in an open or closed position with
relation to its frame, a device comprising a twisted bar carried by one part, a.
nut or the like carried by the other part and engaging the twisted bar and a
spring for controlling the twisted bar or the nut so that the lowering of the
sash will store the power of the spring, substantially as herein shown and
described.
3. In means for retaining a window sash in an open or closed position with.
relation to its frame, a device comprising a twisted bar pivotally mounted upon
oue part, a spring coiled around the bar and arranged so that the turning of the
twisted bar will store the power thereof and a clip or the like fixed with the other
part and engaging the twisted bar so that the raising or lowering of the sash will.
turn the twisted bar, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 14th day of January 1897.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant..