Method of Mounting and Combining Prism Sections to Form a Window Prism Plate.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
Method of Mounting and Combining Prism Sections to Form a
Window Prism Plate.
J, JOHN MEIGGS EWEN, of No. 1129 The Rookery, Chicago, County of Cook,
State of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to the production of window glass where the complete
glass is made up of a series of sections or tiles, as in the case of stained glass,
prismatic glass, and the like; and has for its object to provide suitable means for
50 framing up such sections, and a complete glass so built up or framed.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a plan view of the working table with a sheet of glass partly built
up;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a finished sheet of glass, the smooth side up;
Figure 3 is a similar view with the prismatic side of the glass up;
Figure 4 is a section through a portion of the same;
Figure 5 is a series of details of the prismatic glass tiles in connection with
which I have illustrated my invention;
Figure 6 is an end view of the table and arrangements;
Figure 7 is a plan view of the follow board;
Figure 8 is a cross-section of a portion of the same;
Figure 9 is a detail of strip securing device.
Figure 10 is a cross-section through a portion of the device.
Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all of the figures.
A is the table upon which the work is to be done. This table is preferably
supported by the trunnions, B B on the standards C. D is a follower plate having
the ribs E E and the margin F, the ribs being in this case adapted to be received
within the slots E' E' formed between the prismatic ribs on the glass when the
sheet has been set up. GG are clamps whereby the follower may be attached
to the table so that the table can then be turned on the trunnions and the com-
pleted work be reversed. H is a table supported on the legs H¹ H in any desired
manner, and adapted to be put underneath the table A when the latter has been
reversed so as to receive the follower plate I) with the glass thereon for the second
stage in the preparation, as hereinafter referred to. The table A has fixed about
its edge a suitable margin J. This margin is cut out at J, and in like manner
from end to end at suitable distances, and is so attached to the table that the
bottom of the slots J₁ is in substantially the same plane as the surface of the
table A. Along the margin J are pivoted the metal locking devices K, having
each the slot K¹ which does not quite register with the slot J¹. Each of these
devices has the handle K2 whereby it may be conveniently controlled. The
strips L L which in part form the frame are received into the two slots J', K',
passing therethrough and being clamped therein by reason of the fact that the

page_text: In
slots do not quite register, and such strips are then turned over at the ends K³
whereby such ends are securely fastened in the margin piece J. M is a movable
piece adapted to slide on the frame and provided also with an angular slot.
making up the frame, a series of the strips L are secured as indicated to the margin
piece and then their other ends M¹ are forced into the angular slots, care being
taken to have them of proper length and practically all the same length.
The
glass tiles, having preferably been brought to practical uniformity in size and
shape, are inserted between the strips, a series of them being placed along the
strips in proximity to the margin J. I prefer to place a series of blocks N
between the outer tile sections and the margin J, such blocks N being of sub-
stantially the same thickness as the marginal portions of the tile. After the
first series of tile pieces N¹ N¹ are laid in position, short metallic strips N N³ are
interposed between the strips L L and another series of parallel tile sections N³
are placed in line, and so on until a sufficient number of tile sections have been
thus set in to complete the glass as desired. Blocks and wedges N N are then
inserted between the margin piece M and the last of the tile sections, and by
driving such wedges together, the whole frame can be brought up into a secure
sheet of tightly fitting sections and strips. This stretches the strips and tightens
and straightens all the parts, but does not make or build a frame. Nor are these
several parts in any manner at this stage secured to the glass sections. All this
work is done with the ridged surfaces of the tile upward, as indicated in Figure 1.
The next process will be best explained by referring to Figure 3. A series
of washers O, preferably stamped metal washers, having each a central aperture,"
are now laid and set with solder over the angles formed by the strips. I prefer to
apply these washers only at such points as indicated in Figure 3, though they be
applied also around the margin.
I now lay along the margins of the glass strips 01 01, which thus as indicated
lie upon the thin margins of the tile and overhang the same a considerable
distance. This is shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3.
Each of these strips
is preferably provided with an aperture into which a quantity of solder 03 may be
dropped, so as to thus fix the strip L or N3 as the case may be and the strip 01
together, as indicated in Figure 10. Broadly speaking, the term washer would
apply to the two methods of attachment which I have described, either that
indicated in Figure 10, or that indicated by O in Figure 3, and either is inter-
changeable, and either can be applied in either of the two positions, but I prefer
the arrangement indicated and above described. The object, however, is to
tentatively complete the frame, so as to have the glass held loosely in position,
each piece in its proper place.
When all this has been done, the follow board may be applied as indicated in
Figure 6, thus holding all of the parts in position. The whole may be reversed
and the follow board be deposited on the table H, the clamps G be loosened, and
the table A be removed, thus leaving the glass sections with their flat sides
upturned, as indicated in Figure 2.
To free the partially finished glass plate from the table on which it is first
formed as above described, it will be necessary of course to cut the strips at the
proper time and in any suitable manner.
We now place and set the strips and washers similar to those described in
Figure 3 on the plate thus tentatively finishing the frame. The plate can then be
handled, if care be taken, the follow board being first tipped into nearly a vertical
position and the compound plate of glass being carefully handled in slings or
loops, the strips 01 being first cut on the dotted lines as indicated in Figure 2.
Each edge of the plate is then dipped in Paraffine, for example, so as to form
between the strips 01 01 and about the margin of the compound glass plate a
body of paraffine P. The outer edge of this paraffine can then be coated, for
example, with plumbago, as indicated at P, whereupon the whole plate is ready
to be subjected to the action of the electrolytic bath. The effect of this bath will
be to form a coating R about the strips and the plumbago and paraffine P¹ P,

page_text: thus forming a complete sealed metallic margin about the finished compound
plate.
This action at the same time, however, forms a sealing and securing deposit
between the preferably roughened margin edges S of the sections of prismatic
glass and the opposed edges of the strips L and N. This action also sets all the
washers and securely fixes them in position. This process, if continued long
enough and it may be if desired, will also form an overhanging ridge or ledge
along the margins of the metal strips, as indicated at T T, thus further com-
pleting the frame and holding the glass securely in position.
When these several processes have been completed, it will be found that the
result is a strong, stiff, firm, weather-proof compound sheet of glass. It will
also be found that in no other preparation of this kind has there been such narrow
or almost imperceptable opaque lines of separation between the several sections
of glass.
I have spoken of cutting the strips off. It is better to cut them off leaving a
certain amount of length so that they can be bent over and their bent down ends
will thus lie between the marginal strips and within the groove formed thereby.
The fastening devices, in one instance being a washer and in the other the mass
of solder, are arranged so as to overhang the glass or the marginal strip and be
secured to the framing strips.
If, as indicated in Figure 4, the prisms are nearly as long as the body of the
glass, then the deposited metal will flow into the angles between such prisms and
hold the parts in position.
I have spoken of framing strips. Of course I mean to include anything which
would serve the purpose, and I have even used wires, about which the metal will
build up. The short strips I prefer to use; but they might, of course, be made
longer, and the two intersecting strips be notched, but such strips would be less
easily used in my present method of operation.
The edges of the sections are commonly beveled, as indicated in the upper view
of Figure 5, and when ground off to be vertical, the grinding is preferably done
with such a stone and in such a manner as to leave the edge roughened as
indicated. The exact effect cannot well be produced in the drawing, but will be
easily understood. This tends to hold the metal when the electro-deposition takes
place.
I have spoken of dipping the edge so as to fill the groove between the marginal
strips in paraffine; but, of course, I mean to reserve the right to use any sort of
proper filling substance. Paraffine seems at the present moment to be satisfactory.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A compound sheet of glass comprising the following elements: a series of
sections of glass, metallic framing strips between their opposed edges, overhang-
ing strips secured about the exterior edges of the marginal sections so as to form a
sort of marginal groove, a filling substance in such marginal groove, electro-
deposited metal about the strips and the filling substance and between the inter-
posed strips and the edges of the glass sections, and over-hanging ledges of
deposited metal on the framing strips so as to form each of them into a sort of
I-beam.
2. A compound window glass comprising a series of sections having roughened
edges with interposed framing strips between such edges, a suitable surrounding
frame, electrically deposited metal between the strips and the roughened edges so
as to form a weather-proof and holding connection between the strips and the
glass, and electrically deposited metal on the framing strips overhanging the edges
of the glass to form a sort of I-beam.
3. The method of producing a compound window glass which consists in making
a frame work of strips and corner securing devices which hold the strips together

page_text: and project beyond their edges, putting glass sections loosely in the spaces between
the strips and then subjecting the whole to the action of an electrolytic bath, thus
depositing metal upon and about the metal portions and between the metal
portions and the opposed glass surfaces to make the frame weathertight and firm.
Dated this 13th day of July 1897.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.