Improvements in the Construction of Glazed Roofing and Frames for Horticultural and other Uses.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Glazed Roofing and Frames
for Horticultural and other Uses.
I HERMANN BECKER, F.R.H.S. Nurseryman, Fruit-grower, Florist and
Landscape Gardener, of Imperial and Caesarean Nurseries and 13 Beresford
Street, Jersey, Channel Islands do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in the construction of glazed
roofing and frames for horticultural, and other uses, so as to dispense with the use
of putty in the glazing of such structures and to dispense with or minimize the
use of paint, by simply modifying the construction and arrangement of the bars
or supports for the glass and thereby to facilitate repair or replacement of broken
"lights" or panes of glass.
By dispensing with painting and repainting of the roof bars great labour and
cost is avoided.
In carrying out my invention I use a series of wooden, iron or other suitable
metal bars which bars when made of wood, for economy, I prefer to be of an
ordinary rectangular form say an oblong shape with the greater depth arranged in
a vertical plane on section and having the lower angles chamfered off to avoid
sharp corners, avoiding all rabetting and consequently the expense of same in
preparing the timber.
If iron bars are preferred and employed they should be constructed in more or
less the shape of half a hollow, rectangular or reversed trough or other suitable
section; using the level part for the adjusting of the glass outside of the structure.
This shape of bar most effectively provides for lightness and strength.
The glass panes are bedded upon a strip of felt, or other suitable pliable material,
preferably treated or prepared with a suitable preservative composition, or dressing.
The edges of the glass panes are prevented from actually abutting by means of
stop pieces, which may conveniently be constituted by small pads or pieces of cork
or equivalent material laid and held between the panes and serving as spacing
blocks. Over the edges of these glass panes another strip of felt, or like material
to the bedding strip, is placed and upon these a strip, or rib of galvanized iron, or
its equivalent, this strip of metal being of, or approximately of the width of the
wooden or metal bar below. The whole-wooden or metal bar, under felt, glass,
over-felt and metal strip-is then held tightly in position by means of bolts and
nuts, screws or such like means of connection.
I have found bolts with half round heads and screw nuts when passed through
the parts from the outside and the nuts screwed up on the inside to answer well for
large constructions; whilst for small wooden frame-lights screws with half round
heads screwed into the wooden frame from the outside, locking down the iron strip
I have found to be sufficient.
By these means everything or substantially everything requiring paint, or
protective dressing remains protected from the external influences, excepting the
edge of the top bed of the packing strip which edge would scarcely exceed about
one eighth of an inch in thickness when all is tightened up and when these strips
have been prepared by impregnation, or dressing with a suitable waterproofing
solution or preparation, such edges will be weather resistent.

page_text: The impregnation or dressing may be effected in the strip, or when the felt or
the like, is in the roll, introducing the edges of the strip in roll form into the
preparation and then drying the same.
An oir colour preparation of any kind suited to the material of the strip may be
employed.
This method of construction will enable glass roofed structures to be rapidly and
economically erected from materials prepared all in readiness, the bolt holes in the
strips being all prepared in readiness, whilst, the parts in quantity will be very
cheap in manufacture.
Amongst other advantages appertaining to this invention is the facility it affords
for reglazing roofs glazed on-the ordinary..principle.
Dated the 13th day of January 1896.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
..55 & 56 Chancery. Lane, London, 'Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Construction of Glazed Roofing and Frames
for Horticultural and other Uses.
I HERMANN BECKER, F:R.H.S. Nurseryman, Fruit-grower, Florist and
Landscape Gardener, of Imperial and Caesarean Nurseries and 13 Beresford
Street; Jersey, Channel Islands, 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 reference to improvements in the construction of glazed
roofing and frames for horticultural and other uses, so as to dispense with the use
of putty in the glazing of such structures and to dispense with or minimize the
use of paint in the ordinary manner of its application by simply modifying the
construction and arrangement of the bars or supports for the glass and thereby
to facilitate repair, or replacement of broken "lights" or panes of glass.
In carrying out my invention I use a series of wooden, iron or other suitable
metal bars, which bars when made of wood for economy, I prefer to be of an
ordinary rectangular form say an oblong shape with the greater depth arranged
in a vertical plane on section and having the lower angles chamfered off to avoid
sharp corners avoiding all rabbetting and consequently the expense of same in
preparing the timber.
If iron bars are preferred and employed they should be constructed in more or
less the shape of half a hollow, rectangular or reversed trough, or other suitable
section using the level part for the adjusting of the glass outside of the structure.
This shape of bar effectively provides lightness and strength.
In the case of single or abutting panes the glass panes may be bedded upon a
stripe or layer of paint or other suitable dressing material of that character on
which the glass will safely bed itself but this is not essential.
The edges of the glass panes are prevented from actually abutting by means of
stop pieces, which may conveniently be constituted by small pads or pieces of cork
or equivalent material laid and held between the panes and serving as spacing
blocks.
Over the edges of these glass panes is placed a strip, or rib. of galvanized
iron, or its equivalent; this strip of metal being of, or approximately of the width
of the wooden or metal bar below, and coated or striped with paint or equivalent
dressing to make a tight joint with the glass. The whole-wooden or metal bar,
glass and metal strip with the interposed paint or dressing layer is then held tightly
in position by means of bolts and nuts, screws or such like means of connection.

page_text: I have found bolts with half round notched or slotted heads and screw nuts when
passed through the parts from the outside and the nuts screwed up on the inside to
answer well for large constructions instead of slotted heads to hold the bolt from
turning while screwing up, I may sometimes employ. bolts with square necks fitting
into square holes in the metal capping; whilst for wooden structures generally as
well as for small wooden frame-lights screws with half round heads screwed into
the wooden frame from the outside, locking down the iron strip I have found to be
sufficient.
sufficient.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows by a sectional view one form of glazed roofing according to my
improvements in which the metal cap is fastened to the glazing bar by means of
a bolt and nut.
Fig. 2 shows a like view of a modification in which a screw is used to fasten the
cap to its seat. This form is used for light structures.
Fig. 3 shows a like view of another modification where the glazing bar is made
of galvanized iron. "
Fig. 4 is a sectional view in perspective of the form shown in Fig. 1 but
somewhat modified, having a channel or groove in the supporting bar.
Fig. 5 shows the bolt and nut separately.
Fig. 6 shows a portion of the metal capping separately, by an underside view.
Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and sectional views respectively showing the overlapping
at the joints.
Fig. 9 shows by plan view a length of the galvanized metal capping complete,
a portion of the length being shown broken away for the convenience of the.
drawing.
Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the same, the section being taken on the
line -y, Fig. 9.
A is the glazing or supporting bar, B the metal cap, (preferably galvanized)
with flanges B, CC are the sheets of glass, D is a bolt with nut E, D' is a screw,
D2 D2 are holes in the capping B for the reception of the bolts D or screws D¹..
F is a piece of cork to form a distance piece between the edges of two sheets of
glass, G is a groove or channel to facilitate the carrying off of moisture.
Presuming that the glass A for a glazed roof requires to be used in sections or
short lengths and must overlap one another on a gradient I would employ metal
caps B of the same length. as the glass one for each individual pane of glass.
Supposing for example that the coinmon size of glass employed for greenhouses
20 inches x 12 inches is being used, I would employ bars A with a level upper
surface, place my panes of glass C upon two neighbouring bars A allowing for
ample space between two adjoining panes for screw D' or bolt D; then put cap B
of the same length upon the two panes covering with the flanges B' of the cap a
portion of each pane of glass, then secure the cap B by means of screw D or
bolt D. I find it unnecessary to use any thick material such as felt for either top
or bottom bedding to the glass.
It is sufficient for the purpose of making a watertight joint to apply a thick
dressing of thick oil paint or like dressing to the underside of the flange B¹ fitting
upon the glass C. This causes a true joint by means of adhesion of the liquid
paint, between metal cap B and glass surface. I avoid the expense and danger of
the use of felt or other padding and find the result satisfactory.
I depend upon the true level of the metal cap B employed for holding the
glass C in position by means of screws D' or bolts D.
In fixing each cap B upon, the panes of glass C I allow sufficient space on the
upper end of glass free to take the overlapping of the next pane.
This next one will be held in position by the two caps B B holding the pane
below on both sides.
The caps act as a kind of stopper to prevent the upper pane from sliding
down.

page_text: When the second pane is placed in position the next cap B is applied and again
screwed down after having the dressing of oil paint applied to the underside of the
flange B¹.
The whole roof is so glazed, always beginning from the bottom end of the
bars A.
It will be seen that by this means no perishable woodwork is left exposed to
outside influences and no painting of the bars will hereafter be required.
It is also an easy matter to replace any pane of glass by simply removing the
two or more screw's securing each cap serving individual panes of glass, thereby
releasing the broken pane which after a sound one being simply laid in its place is
replaced by the simple means of fixing the metal caps upon the edges of the glass
by means of screws or bolts. To further avoid any possibility of adjoining panes
upon the supporting bars coming in contact with the screws, a spacing block F of
the thickness of the glass and of the width desired to be obtained between two
panes may be a bit of cork of about one inch in length.
It may also in some cases be an advantage to groove the supporting bar in the
centre, as at G, with a view of carrying off any moisture that may gather between
glass and cap but in the majority of cases is not necessary.
By these means everything or substantially everything requiring paint, or
protective dressing remains protected from the external influences.
In the case of single or abutting panes an oil colour preparation of any kind
suited to form a bed for the glass may be employed.
This method of construction will enable glass roofed structures to be rapidly and
economically erected from materials prepared all in readiness, the bolt holes in the
strips being all prepared in readiness whilst the parts in quantity will be very cheap
in manufacture.
The operation of replacing a broken pane of glass is now reduced to a minimum
of labour. A lad can accomplish it by slackening it or removing the screws or
nuts employed, slipping the pane up into position and tightening the former again.
No labour such as chipping out old hard bedding putty, with its adherent frequent
extra breakages, nor painting over the repair, being required.
The means of glazing or unglazing described will prove of immense advantage
to florists and fruitgrowers for the various purposes of:-
Renewing and manuring tomato and vine borders.
Cleaning down houses infested by insect pests and washing the glass.
Ripening the wood of roses, vines, peaches etcetera, planted under glass by
unglazing the house during the ripening period.
This new glazing system will prove most advantageous to tomato growers, by
means of exposing without great expense a" tomato sick" border to the influences
of open air, thereby restoring the soil in one season to its original fertility.
To owners of extensive ranges of glass houses it will be a great advantage in
annually leaving one house unglazed whilst using the glass on another. By this
means the soil in all will in rotation become refreshed and invigorated at small
expense.
The cost of the parts is very low when manufactured in quantities.
Any extra cost over and above the cost of putty simply, is by far outweighed
by the saving of labour in glazing, painting and repainting as. well as repairing
breakages with the addition of making a plaut house practically a movable one; in
fact a tenants fixture in the true sense of the word namely:-Movable without the
need and expense of skilled labour and minus the unavoidable accidents in
uncovering a putty glazed glass house.
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 :-
The construction and use of-glazed roofing and frames for horticultural and

page_text: other uses with the use of outside metal capping and without the employment of
putty or exposure of the more perishable portion of the construction to outside
influences, as set forth.
Dated the 12th day of October 1896.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.