IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING AND LOWERING WINDOW SASHES, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF APPLIANCES THEREFOR”
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Lewis, of the Town of Halifax, in the
County of York, Sanitary Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAISING AND LOWERING WINDOW SASHES, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT
OF APPLIANCES THEREFOR”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Lewis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1881.
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIS, of the Town of Halifax, in the County of York, Sanitary
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING AND LOWERING WINDOW SASHES, AND.
IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF APPLIANCES THEREFOR."
On the outer side or face of each sash, that is, opposite the window frames, I
provide a rectangular groove, and in the frame or casing corresponding grooves
with rectangular worm-threaded racks adjusted and arranged so as to be capable
of being moved laterally therein into the opposite grooves in the frame or casing.
At the back of the grooves in the frame or casing I affix in suitable bearings, and
on both the right and left hand side of the frame, a pair of vertical shafts having
each of them a worm and pinion together with a horizontal shaft and double bevel
wheel so arranged that this latter shaft with its wheel can be caused to gear into
either of the pinions on the.vertical shafts. To keep the horizontal shaft in gear
with either of the vertical ones I provide a forked pawl or catch in combination
therewith.
By rotating two handles fixed at the ends of the horizontal shafts simulta-
neously, two of the worms, one on each side of the frame, are caused to revolve,
and the two corresponding racks becoming geared into these worms the sash in
connection with them is caused to descend or ascend agreeably with the direction
of the worms.
The remaining pair of worms and racks and the other sash are actuated after
a similar manner. By adjusting the racks within the grooves in the sashes and
out of gear with the worms the sashes may be removed out of their frames or
casings, or by the application to the bottom rail of each sash of two sunk bolts
arranged so that the latter may be shot into the window frame, and the sashes
pivoted on the said bolts and fixed at any angle inwards towards the room to
allow them to be cleaned. I propose in the case of wide windows to connect the
two handles by a link in such manner that when one handle is turned by the
hand a corresponding motion is given to the other handle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John William Lewis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd September 1881.
JOHN WILLIAM Lewis, Sanitary Engineer, of Halifax, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING" AND LOWERING WINDOW SASHES, AND IN THE
ARRANGEMENT OF APPLIANCES THEREFOR."
On the outer side or face of each sash, that is, opposite the window frames, I
provide rectangular grooves, and in the frame or basing corresponding grooves with
rectangular worm threaded racks adjusted and arranged so as to be capable of
being moved laterally therein into the opposite grooves in the frame or casing. At
the back of the grooves in the frame or casing I affix in suitable bearings, and on
both the right and left hand sides of the frame, a pair of vertical shafts having
each of them a worm and pinion, together with a horizontal shaft and double faced
bevel wheel so arranged that this latter shaft and its wheel can be caused to gear
into either of the pinions on the vertical shafts. To keep the horizontal shaft in
gear with either of the vertical ones I provide a forked pawl or catch in combina-
tion therewith. By rotating two handles fixed at the ends of the horizontal shafts
simultaneously, two of the worms, one on each side of the frame, are caused to
revolve, and the two corresponding racks becoming geared into these worms the
sash in connection with them is caused to descend or ascend agreeably with the
rotation of the worms.
The remaining pair of worms and racks and the other sash are actuated after a
similar manner. By adjusting the racks within the grooves in the sashes and out
of gear with the worms the sashes may be removed out of their frames or casing,
or by the application to the bottom rail of each sash of two sunk bolts arranged so
that the latter may be shot into the window frame, and the sashes pivotted on
the said bolts and fixed at any angle inwards towards the room to allow them to
be cleaned. I propose in the case of wide windows to connect the two handles by
a link in such manner that when one handle is turned by the hand a corresponding
motion is given to the other handle.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention, in order that the
same. be clearly understood I have hereunto annexed one Sheet of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference,
the same letter referring to the same part in the various views.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of sashes and frame having my improvements
attached.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 shewing sashes.
7
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of details of apparatus for lifting and lowering sashes,
also of apparatus for adjusting the racks in their slots or grooves.
Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 shews sashes, disc, and connecting rod operating the horizontal shafts.
A¹ is the top sash; A³, the bottom sash; B is the frame for the sashes; C, C, are
the grooves in the frame; in the above grooves are toothed racks D, D, adjustable.
by means of the screw studs L, L, to move laterally in the grooves of sashes and
frame, and so to either allow the sashes to be withdrawn from the frame for the
purpose of cleaning, or keep the sashes in position and the racks in gear with the
worm wheel E and E³, which are placed at each side of the frame mounted on
vertical shafts F¹ and F, on which are bevel wheels G and G, to either of which
motion is imparted (by sliding the double faced bevel wheel'H fixed upon the
horizontal shaft J). in or out of gear with the hevel wheels G¹ and
•
a finger or

page_text: pawl engaging in either of the two necks or notches on the shaft retains it in the
position required. The horizontal shafts J, J, may either each have a handle K, K,
in the inside of the window to be turned by both hands, as shewn in Fig. 1, or
each have a disc L and a connecting rod P from one to the other, so that only
one hand is required to turn both shafts, see Fig. 6. The lifting and lowering
mechanism described is mounted on a plate with suitable bearings, and fixed in
each side of the window frame; but for moderately narrow windows under thirty
inches wide it is only necessary to fix the racks and lifting apparatus on one side
the sashes and frame, the friction pulleys or runners being fixed at the top corners
of the sashes opposite the rack, and at the bottom corners on the same side as the
rack; these friction pulleys I prefer to be fixed so as to run upon the sides of the
frame and not within the grooves of the same. The racks are adjustable laterally
in the slots or grooves by means of screw studs L, L, with collars M bearing against
plates N, so that the racks are moved forwards or backwards in the grooves or slots
according to the direction the screw studs are turned.
For heavy windows I find it convenient to provide the sashes with bolts to
shoot into the grooves and so serve as pivots, straps might also be used to
advantage to hold them in any required position while being cleaned.
•
Having thus fully described and particularly ascertained the nature of this my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same may be performed or carried
in practical effect, I would have it understood that what I claim as the Invention
to be secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,--
Firstly. The employment of the movable racks such as D, D, adjustable laterally
within grooves such as C, C, in the manner and for the purpose as shewn and
described.
Secondly. The arrangement of doubled faced bevel wheel H upon shaft J operating
either of the vertical shafts F' and F in the manner and for the purpose as
described and illustrated; the combination of screw studs such as L, plate N,
and rack D, arranged in the manner and for the purpose as described and
illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Lewis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord_
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one
Witness,
JOHN E. WALSH,
Patent. Agent,
Crossley Street, Halifax,
and 30, East Parade, Leeds.
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIS. (L.S.)