Improvements in Apparatus for Opening and Closing Fanlights, Skylights, and Casements, and for Retaining them in any Desired Position.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
TROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Opening and Closing Fanlights,
Skylights, and Casements, and for Retaining them in any Desired
Position.
I, ARTHUR ILLIDGE, of 16 Church Street, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, brass founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention refers to adaptations or arrangements of mechanism whereby a
worm operated by a pulley and cord or chain is made to open and close a fanlight
skylight or casement, and to securely retain it in any position whether closed or
fully or partially open, as desired.
I will describe the invention as applied to a fanlight, its application to skylights and
casements being practically identical therewith.
According to one modification of this invention the worm is carried in bearings in
a suitable frame or case, and a pulley is fixed on the axis of the worm and is revolved
so as to operate the worm, by means of a cord (or chain). A lever is pivotted to or
within the frame or case and its inner end engages or gears with the worm, for which
purpose it may be formed as a toothed quadrant; and its outer end is connected by means
of a link with the fanlight, or direct to a bracket fixed to the fanlight. The frame or
case is formed in such manner that it may be fixed to the joinery with the axis of the
worm lying in a direction at right angles, or approximately so, to the plane of the
fanlight (when closed) which it is desired to operate, and the apparatus is fixed in
such position, and the lever is so carried in relation thereto, and is of such length, that
when it is connected with the fanlight the fanlight may be readily opened or closed by
revolving the worm and thus operating the lever; and such fanlight may be securely
held by the worm in any desired position into which it may be moved.
It is not essential to construct and fix the frame or case so that the axis of the worm
or screw shall be at right angles, or approximately so, to the plane of the fanlight, as
it may be otherwise constructed and fixed, in which case the lever is bent or cranked so
that the outer arm operates in the proper direction in relation to the fanlight.

page_text: According to another modification of this invention a toothed wheel, or toothed
segment, which gears with the worm is substituted for the lever referred to in the
modification previously described, and the axis of this wheel or segment coincides with
that of the fanlight pivots, and one of the pivots forms also the axle of the wheel or
segment. In this modification it is convenient to let the frame or case into the joinery
forming the frame of the fanlight, the cord pulley standing out therefrom on the
projecting end of the axis of the worm, so that both sides of the cord (or chain) pass
down near to the wall. A short arm fixed at one end to the pivot and gearing at its
other end with the worm may be substituted for the toothed wheel or segment
described with reference to this modification.
According to a further modification of this invention the pivot of the fanlight may
be operated by means of bevel or mitre gear from the axis or spindle of the toothed
wheel or segment or short arm described with reference to the modification described
in the last preceding paragraph, in which case the plane of the pulley will be at right
angles to the plane of the fanlight.
According to a further modification of this invention the worm in being rotated is
caused to move sideways within a case or guide a sliding block which is itself geared
with the inner end of a lever which operates the fanlight in the manner described
with reference to the modification first described, or with the end of an arm fixed to a
pivot of the fanlight, in such a manner, either by means of a lug on the lever or arm,
or on the block, entering within an inclined, curved or twisted slot in the block, or in
the lever or arm, or by means of an inclined, curved or twisted key on the lever or
arm, or on the block, entering within a notch in the block or in the lever or arm, as
that the lever or arm will be moved by the block to open or close the fanlight
according to the direction in which the worm is rotated.
. 012
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STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Opening and Closing Fanlights,
Skylights, and Casements, and for Retaining them in any Desired
Position.
I, ARTHUR ILLIDGE, of 16 Church Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
brass founder, 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 refers to adaptations or arrangements of mechanism whereby a worm
operated by a pulley and cord or chain is made to open and close a fanlight, skylight,
or casement, and to securely retain it in any position whether closed or fully or partially
open, as desired.
An apparatus forming one modification of this invention is illustrated by figures 1,
2, and 3 of the drawings herewith, of which figure 1 is a vertical section through the
apparatus and through a fanlight frame and fanlight to which it is applied. Figure 2
is a front elevation of the apparatus; and figure 3 a back view of the lower part
thereof with the cap-plate of the case removed. An arm A is is pivotted at a within
the case B which is fixed to the fanlight frame C. The upper end of the arm A is
connected by a link c with a bracket d fixed to the fanlight D. A worm E having a
cord or chain wheel, formed therewith or mounted on the axis thereof, is carried
within the case B, and the inner end e of the arm is formed to gear with the worm, as
shown. An endless cord or chain passes around the pulley fand through an opening g
in the bottom of the case, and the arm is drawn outwards and inwards to open and
close the fanlight by pulling the cord or chain and thus turning the pulley and worm
in the required direction. The worm securely holds the arm in any position into
which it may have been moved.
The periphery of the worm is formed to a concave curved shape longitudinally to
ensure the proper gear therewith of the inner end of the arm notwithstanding the
movement of such end in a curved direction as it is operated by the worm.
The inner
end of the arm may, however, be formed as a toothed segment, if desired, in lieu of
being formed plain-ended as shewn, in which case the worm is formed parallel to gear
with the teeth of such segment. The arm is shewn to be cranked sideways in front
elevation so as to admit of the case being fixed somewhat to the side of the fanlight;
and when such is done it is not necessary for the case to be fixed below the fanlight,
as shewn. The upper end of the arm may be slotted, if desired, and thus connected
direct with a pin carried by the bracket.
The pulley may, of course, be carried outside the case, if desired, on a short length
of spindle projecting from the worm through the front of the case.
A modification of the above-described apparatus is shewn in plan by figure 4,
according to which a bracket F carrying a pivot his fixed to the fanlight, and the
pivot projects through the side of the case B into a hollow axis formed in an arm

page_text: corresponding to the end e of the arm A. before-described. The pivot is formed square,
or of analogous shape, in section and fits within a correspondingly shaped hole in the
axis of the arm, so that as the worm is operated the pivot is turned and the fanlight
opened or closed, as the case may be. This pivot may form one of the pivots on which
the fanlight turns, in which case the apparatus is fixed at, or about at, the middle of
the fanlight vertically, and immediately on one side thereof; but the apparatus may,
if made of sufficient strength, be applied in connection with a hinged joint, by gearing
a hinge-pin or corresponding part fixed to or formed with the turning flap of the hinge,
with the axis of the arm e, as described with reference to the pivot h.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate, in side elevation (with the side of the case removed),
in front elevation, and in plan, respectively, an apparatus constructed according to this
invention, which is mortised into the fanlight frame so as to operate a pivot projecting
from the fanlight at a point between the inner and outer face thereof.
An arm e
pivotted within the case and having a hollow axis a, of square or analogous shape in
section, into which the pivot (correspondingly-shaped) projects, is mounted within
the case B and gears with a worm E also mounted within the case. The worm is
operated by the pulley on a part of its axis which extends through the front of the
case. The endless cord or chain is guided between rollers and within a cap or
bridle j'.
The pivot may be conveniently carried by an angle bracket F. The
arme is shewn with a notch at its outer end to fit over the thread of the worm, but it
may be formed to fit within the groove of the worm as in the previously described
modification.
Figures 8, 9, and 10, illustrate in side elevation (with the cap-plate removed), in front
elevation, and in plan, respectively, a modification corresponding to that last above
described, but with the apparatus constructed for fixture against the joinery so as to
operate a pivot carried by a bracket projecting from the face of the fanlight. In this
case the pulley may be carried within the case, and the cord or chain pass through
an opening g in the bottom thereof. The illustration is so clear, taken in conjunction
with the description of figures 5, 6, and 7, as to require no detailed description.
#
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate, in plan and in front elevation, respectively, a modi-
fication of this invention in which the cord or chain pulley is operated at right angles
to the plane of the fanlight. In this modification a worm E is mounted within the
case B, and the pulley is mounted, as in the previous modifications, on the axis
of the worm. The worm E gears with a worm wheel within the case, and is
therefore formed parallel-sided to gear with such wheel. The inner face of the
worm wheel is formed as a bevel or mitre wheel and gears with a corresponding
wheel l. An angle bracket F, fixed to the fanlight, carries a pivot which
enters within a hollow axis of the wheel l, so that it may turn with the wheel.
A block m, formed upon the cap-plate n, carries the inner ends of the axes or
spindles of the wheels and 2. In lieu of operating the pivot direct from the
wheel, as described, an arm, corresponding to the arm A of the first-described
modification, may be carried on the end of a spindle on which the wheel / may be
fixed, and such arm will operate as in the case of the arm A previously described."
Figures 13, 14, and 15 illustrate, in side elevation (with the cap-plate removed), in
front elevation (with the front of the case cut away), and in plan, respectively, a
further modification of this invention in which the pulley is operated at right angles to
the plane of the fanlight. The apparatus is shewn to operate by means of an arm, as
in the modification first described, but is applicable, also, for directly operating the
pivot of a fanlight. A worm E is operated by a wheel as in the former modifications,
and moves a sliding block through which it is screwed. The sliding block gears
with an inclined or helical projection on the inner end of an arm A which
corresponds with the arm A of the first-described modification.
This apparatus
may be used to operate direct the pivot of a fanlight, by omitting the upper
portion of the arm A and fitting the pivot into a hollow axis of the part a on
which the inclined projection is formed.
It will be seen that in several of the modifications above described bearings
have to be formed in the case at right angles to the cap-plate. Examples of the

page_text: manner in which this is performed are illustrated by figure 16, which is a
detached vertical section of the case shewn by figure 1, but with the mechanism
therein omitted, and by figures 3 and 6 before described. Referring to figures
16 and 3, one half of each bearing is formed by part ss cast within the case,
and the other half by projections & cast or formed upon the cap-plate n. Referring
to figure 6, one half of each hearing is formed by an opening formed in from
the edge of the case, and the other half by a projection ¸¹ (shewn by broken lines),
on the cap-plate, fitting into the opening in the case.
It will readily be understood thai in applying this invention to a casement
(which is hinged or pivotted vertically) the apparatus above described are used in
positions to suit the vertical hinging or pivotting of the casement; and the apparatus
described as employed directly with a pivot (hinge-pin or corresponding part) of a
fanlight are correspondingly employed with a vertical hinge pin or corresponding part,
fixed to the turning flap of a casement hinge, or a vertical pivot of a casement. When
the modifications shewn by figures 11 to 15, inclusive, are used in this manner, guide
pulleys must be used to guide the endless cord or chain into a vertical position from
its horizontal passage around the cord or chain pulley.
It will be obvious that, in all cases in which the pivot or corresponding part is
described above as fixed to the fanlight, skylight or casement, or to the hinge thereof,
such part may be fixed to or formed with the part of the apparatus by which it is
directly operated and gear with a hollow axis carried by the fanlight, skylight, or
casement; or such pivot or corresponding part may engage with the axis or nave of the
turning arm of the apparatus and with the fanlight, skylight, or casement, respectively,
in any convenient manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improvements in apparatus for opening and closing fanlights, skylights, and
casements, and for retaining them in any desired position, substantially as herein
described and shewn (according to several modifications) by the drawings herewith.
2. In an apparatus for opening and closing a fanlight, skylight, or casement, and
for retaining it in any desired position, a worm carried in a suitable case for fixture
to the framing or corresponding part to which the fanlight, skylight, or casement is
hinged or pivotted, and provided with a cord or chain wheel by which it is operated,
in combination with an arm pivotted to such case and gearing at its inner end with
the worm and connected at its outer end with the fanlight, skylight, or casement,
substantially as described; and, also, (alternatively) the modification of such apparatus
in which the outer end of the arm is dispensed with and the axis or nave of the arm
gears direct with or carries one of the pivots (or a corresponding part) of a fanlight,
skylight, or casement, substantially as described.
3. The apparatus referred to in the last preceding claim, when the same is
constructed with a plain or notched-ended arm for gearing with the worm, having
such worm formed to a hollow curved shape longitudinally, substantially as described,
for the purpose set forth.
4. In an apparatus for opening and closing a fanlight, skylight, or casement, and
for retaining it in any desired position, a worm carried in a suitable case for fixture
to the framing or corresponding part to which the fanlight, skylight, or casement is
hinged or pivotted, and provided with a cord or chain pulley by which it is operated,
in combination with a worm wheel gearing with such worm and carrying or having a
portion thereof formed as a bevel or mitre wheel which gears with a similar wheel, said
latter wheel directly operating a pivot (or corresponding part) of a fanlight, skylight,
or casement, or operating an arın connected with a fanlight, skylight, or casement,
substantially as described.
5. In an apparatus for opening and closing a fanlight, skylight, or casement, and
for retaining it in any desired position, a worm carried in a suitable case for fixture to
the framing or corresponding part to which the fanlight, skylight or casement is

page_text: hinged or pivotted, and provided with a cord or chain pulley by which it is operated,
in combination with a sliding block moved by the operation of the worm, said block
operating, through the medium of an inclined or helical surface, a part which is
mounted within bearings in the case and which is provided with an arm connected at
its outer end with the fanlight, skylight, or casement, or which gears direct with or
carries a pivot (or corresponding part) of such fanlight, skylight, or casement,
substantially as described.
STEPHEN WATKINS.
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicant.