IMPROVEMENTS IN GLAZING FOR ROOFS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Dewranco, of 176, Great Dover Street, Borough,
in the County of Surroy, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GLAZING
FOR ROOFS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by tho said John Dowrance at the Office
of tho Commissioners of Patents on the 10th July 1880.
JOHN DEWRANCE, of 176, Great Dover Street, Borough, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GLAZING FOR ROOFS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in glazing for roofs.
I arrange the sash bars, which in some cases also serve as rafters, to follow the
inclination of the roof. The top of cach sash bar is formed with a central ridge,
and a channel or gutter on either side of the ridge. The panes of glass rost upon
the sash bars between the ridges, which serve to prevent them moving laterally.
The ridges of the sash bars riso somewhat above the surface of the glass, and strips
of lead are attached to the ridges over the glass. The leaden strips are of about the
same width as the sash bars, and their edges aro bent downwards on either side of
the ridge until they come into contact with the glass. The lower end of each pane
overlaps the upper end of the pano next below until the bottom of the roof is
reached. To allow of this overlapping, and at the same time to admit of the glass
resting flat upon the sides of the sash bars, the sash bars are stepped down at the
upper end of each lower pane to allow this pane to enter beneath the lower edge of
the pane above. In order to form stops to prevent the panes of glass sliding down
the roof between the sash bars the upper end of each strip of lead is folded to a
sufficient thickness, and is fixed to the ridge of the sash bar in such a position as to
support the lower corners of two panes, one on each side. Each strip of lead passes
down the sash bar for the length of a pane, or somewhat more, and overlaps the
next strip of lead, which is commenced in a similar manner with a folded end
forming a stop.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Dewrance in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th January
1881.
JOHN DEWRANCE, of 176, Great Dover Street, Borough, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GLAZING FOR ROOFS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in glazing for roofs.
I arrange the sash bars, which in some cases also serve as rafters, to follow the
inclination of the roof:-The-top-of-each. sash bar is formed with a central ridge,
and a channel or gutter on either side of the ridge. The panes of glass rest upon
the sash bars between the ridges, which serve to prevent them moving laterally.
The ridges of the sash bars rise somewhat above the surface of the glass, and strips
of lead are attached to the ridges over the glass. The leaden strips are of about
the same width as the sash bars, and their edges are bent downwards on either sido
of the ridge until they come into contact with the glass. The lower end of each
pane overlaps the upper end of the pane next below until the bottom of the roof is
reached. To allow of this overlapping, and at the same time to admit of the glass
resting flat upon the sides of the sash bars, the sash bars are stepped down at the
upper end of each lower pane to allow this pane to entor beneath the lower edge of
the pane above. In order to form stops to prevent the panes of glass sliding
down the roof between-the-sash-bars-the-upper_end_of_each_strip of lead is folded
to a sufficient thickness, and is fixed to the ridge of the sash bar in such a position
as to support the lower corners of two panes, one on each side. Each strip of lead
passes down the sash bar for the length of a pano, or somewhat more, and overlaps
the next strip of lead, which is commenced in a similar manner with a folded ond
forming a stop.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
Figure 1 is a section of a roof glazed in accordance with my Invention; Figure 2
is a transverse section of one of the sash bars or rafters, drawn of the full size; 3
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, the section being on the line A, B, in Figure 2;
and Figure 4 is a section on the lino C, D, in Figure 2.
a, a, are the sash bars or rafters, they are supported in any convenient manner,
as, for example, in the manner shown in Figure 1; they may be continuous from
the top to the bottom of the roof, or they may be joined at intervals. If joined
the stepping of the upper surface of the sash bar or rafter, by which, as already
explained, the overlap of the glass is obtained, occurs at the joint. a' is the central
ridge of the sash bar or rafter, and a", a", are gutters or channels on either side of
the central ridge. b, b, are the panes of glass resting upon the sash bars or rafters.
c, c, are strips of lead fixed by screws or otherwise upon the central ridges a¹, a' ;
they are fashioned so that their edges rest continuously upon the glass at some
distanco from the central ridge a¹. The glass being thus held down to the sash
bars or rafters by a gentle but continuous nip applied at some distance from the
edges of the glass there is little risk of the glass breaking. The upper end of each
strip of lead also forms a stop, as is seen at c¹ in Figure 3, and the lower end of the
next pane of glass above rests against it; the lead is here doubled on itself to give
the requisite thickness. Each strip of lead extends so far as to overlap the stop c¹
forming the upper end of the next strip below. The glass is thus securely held
and prevented from moving in any direction, either laterally, or upwards, or along
tho sash bar or rafter either way.

page_text: d, d, are clips or bent copper which may be applied to connect and hold the ends
of the panes of glass between the sash bars or rafters. By means of them the glass
can be laid in place from top to bottom of the roof before the lead is put on, and
even a considerable area of the roof may be so covered, as it is a feature of my
Invention that the exterior of the roof remains easily accessible after the glass is
on by means of staging, which can be laid upon the ridges a', a', of the sash bars
or rafters. It will be observed that the strips c serve also to cover tho parts of the
wooden sash bars or rafters between the panes of glass, which otherwise would be
exposed.
In consequence of the complete covering and protection of the whole of the
wood work from the weather, roofs glazed in accordance with my Invention will
prove very durable.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would state that distinct and novel features of my Invention
are, the central ridges upon the rafters which prevent the glass from moving laterally
and allow of ladders and planks being laid upon the roof to give access for repairs;
also the slips of metal covering these ridges continuously (so that none of the wood-
work is exposed to the weather) and resting on the edges of the glass continuously,
so that whilst the glass is very securely held in its place by the metal strips the
glass is no where too rigidly nipped.
I make no claim to any glazing for roofs in which these features are absent, and
I claim ny improvements in glazing substantially as described and illustrated by
the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Dewrance, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN DEWRANCE. (L.S.)