Improvements in the Construction of Glass Roofing.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 31st Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Glass Roofing.
I, JOHN EDGCUMBE RENDLE, of 49 Gresham House, Old Broad Street in the
City of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The invention consists of improvements in the construction of glass roofs for
various structures such as railway stations, goods sheds, baths, covered ways,
verandahs, greenhouses, carriage yards, warehouses, billiard rooms, &c. &c.
By this improved construction all cement, putty, india rubber, felt, cord, tar,
paint, &c. usually employed to fix the glass in position and to keep out the weather
is dispensed with.
According to my present invention I construct of sheet zinc of the requisite
strength a double channelled bar formed with central vertical webs of sufficient
depth and distance apart, connected together at the top and having channels formed
along the outsides of the lower parts thereof. These channels are preferably square
and the top or upper portion of the bar connecting the central vertical webs
rounded. On the outer lips or edges of the aforesaid channels I affix smaller
gutters of lighter metal, by hooking them on; these smaller gutters are for the
purpose of carrying off any condensation water that may rest against the said
channels. On the lips of the channels on either side of the zinc bar I place the
glass which may be of any thickness or quality. To keep the glass in position
I fix metal capping over the bars by means of bolts and nuts which should be
placed from about 9 inches to 12 inches apart vertically of the bars and capping.
The channelled bar, gutters and capping are preferably made of zinc but they
may be made of copper or other metal and the dimensions of the channelled bar
will be governed by the length and thickness of the glass used.
To finish off the ends or hips of a roof I use a half section of the channelled
metal bar which is secured by means of brass screws at intervals against a piece of
timber flashed with zinc or lead.
To secure the upper portion of the channelled bar I fix a screw in each channel
on the side of the ridge piece or purlin.
To secure the bottom portion on the first purlin (if there be more than one)
I screw the channelled bar in a groove in said purlin and I fix by means of screws
or nails on either side of the channelled metal bar a galvanized iron. or other metal
clip at suitable distance from the said bar of strength to suit the thickness of the
glass and of length according to the size of the purlin. Should there be more than
one row of glass I form a space or recess in the purlin underneath the aforesaid
channelled bar to receive the upper end of the next channelled bar which I secure
by means of clamps, screws or other means of fixing, the lower portion of the said
bar being secured as above described and so on for each row of glass.
For longer lengths of glass for horticultural and other purposes a channelled
metal bar formed as above described may be placed on a wooden or metal sash bar
which will thereby carry the said channelled bar and the glass, the only difference
being that in this case I secure the channelled and capping to the wooden or metal
sash bar by means of a bolt and nut passing horizontally through said bar, capping
and channelled bar.
The rows of glass are overlapped in the ordinary way horizontally, the panes of

page_text: glass being kept in position by means of S shaped hooks, for securing the lower or
bottom edges of the glass I use clips of galvanized iron or other metal.
Dated February 11th 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Glass Roofing.
I JOHN EDGCUMBE RENDLE of 49 Gresham House Old Broad Street in the
City of London Engineer 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 :-
The invention consists of improvements in the construction of glass roofs for
various structures such as railway stations, goods sheds, baths, covered ways,
verandahs, greenhouses, carriage yards, warehouses, billiard rooms &c. &c.
By this improved construction all cement putty india rubber, felt, cord, tar
paint &c. usually employed to fix the glass in position and to keep out the weather
is dispensed with.
According to my present invention I construct of sheet zinc of the requisite
strength a double channelled bar formed with central vertical webs of sufficient
depth and distance apart connected together at the top and having channels formed
along the outsides of the lower parts thereof.
These channels are preferably square and the top or upper portion of the bar
connecting the central vertical webs rounded. On the outer lips or edges of the
aforesaid channels I affix smaller gutters of lighter metal, by hooking them on;
these smaller gutters are for the purpose of carrying off any condensation water
that may rest against the said channels. On the lips of the channels on either side
of the zinc bar I place the glass which may be of any thickness or quality. To
keep the glass in position I fix metal capping over the bars by bolts and nuts
which should be placed from about 9 inches to 12 inches apart vertically of the bars
and capping.
The channelled bar, gutters and capping are preferably made of zinc but they
may be made of copper or other metal and the dimensions of the channelled bar
will be governed by the length and thickness of the glass used.
To finish off the ends or hips of a roof I use a half section of the channelled metal
bar which is secured by means of brass screws at intervals against a piece of timber
flashed with zinc or lead.
To secure the upper portion of the channelled bar I fix a screw in each channel
on the side of the ridge piece or purlin.
To secure the bottom portion on the first purlin (if there be more than one) I
screw the channelled bar in a groove in said purlin and I fix by means of screws or
nails on either side of the channelled metal bar a galvanized iron or other metal
clip at suitable distance from the said bar of strength to suit the thickness of the
glass and of length according to the size of the purlin. Should there be more than
one row of glass I form a space or recess in the purlin underneath the aforesaid
channelled bar to receive the upper end of the next channelled bar which I secure
by means of clamps screws or other means of fixing the lower portion of the said
bar being secured as above described and so on for each row of glass.
For longer lengths of glass for horticultural and other purposes a channelled
metal bar formed as above described may be placed on a wooden or metal sash bar
which will thereby carry the said channelled bar and the glass the only difference
being that in this case I secure the channelled and capping to the wooden or metal

page_text: sash bar by means of a bolt and nut passing horizontally through said bar capping
and channelled bar.
The rows of glass are overlapped in the ordinary way horizontally the panes
of glass being kept in position by means of S shaped hooks for securing the
lower or bottom edges of the glass I use clips of galvanized iron or other metal.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure I. Is a section of the metallic bar with condensation channels and
glass.
Figure II. Is the same section of the metallic bar, the only difference being that
it rests on wood to add strength. I now proceed to explain the invention.
"A." Is the metallic bar which can be made of zinc copper or any metal made
of lengths varying from 4' to 6'. The thickness of the metal is governed by the
length of the bar.
"B." Is a small channel bar, fixed to the lips of the larger one which is for the
purpose of carrying off any condensation that may fall from the glass which would
be thus conveyed to the panes of glass below or into the gutters.
$5
These channels
need only be of thin zinc or other metal as no strength is required.
C." Is a capping or covering for the glass which can be made of thinner metal
than the central bar "A."
It will be seen by the drawing that there is a curve at the lower portion of this
capping which is to get perfect contact with the glass, by means of the T bolt E and
nut D as seen in drawing Figure I. These bolts and nuts are placed about every
foot apart.
"F" Is the glass which can be used of any thickness up to 3" but for this
particular section " is of sufficient strength.
Figure. II. Is precisely similar to Figure I. The only difference being the
method of fixing the metal capping which will be seen by the letters "E. D." also
that it rests on a sash bar to give to it additional strength for longer panes of glass
which could be up to 10'.
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
I. I claim that the nature of my invention is quite original.
II. It obviates the use of all materials for securing the glass such as putty cement
india rubber cord &c.
III. As only glass and metal are exposed to the weather it is perfectly inde-
structible.
IV. Not being firmly cemented puttied &c. it allows full play for the glass in
case of expansion or contraction of the frames (wood or iron) on which the glazing
rests.
V. By the construction of the glazing all condensation on the under side of the
glass is carried off to the upper side of the pane of glass below and so off the
roof.
Dated November 11th 1890.
J. E. KENDLE,
Per C. Sewell.