Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
We,
JOSEPH HENRY BANE, Nurse, of City Hospital, Harrison Avenue Boston
in the County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, and LEONIDE BRODEUR,
Nurse, of Barre, in the County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following Specification :-
My invention relates to an improvement in sash balances, and it has for its
object to provide a device of that character capable of being introduced
expeditiously, conveniently and economically into any window frame, and a further
object of the invention is to provide a balance which will be exceedingly simple,
durable and economic and in which a weight will not be employed, the balance
being so constructed that it can be readily adjusted to counterbalance any window
sash that may be placed in the frame. Another object of the invention is to
provide a balance of the frictional type, under the influence of which the sash may
be readily raised with comparatively little exertion, but wherein in lowering the
sash more exertion will be required and furthermore to provide a means whereby
the sash may be held at predetermined points in its travel and practically locked at
said points.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of
this Specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all views.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the window frame and sash, parts of both being
broken away to disclose the improved balance applied thereto;
Figure 2. is a vertical section taken through a portion of the window frame and
a portion of the sash held to slide therein;
Figure 3. is an enlarged view of the balance, a portion of the housing or casing
being broken away.
Figure 4. is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;
Figure 5. is a face view of the side edge of the window sash; and
Figure 6. is a vertical section through the balance, being taken practically on the
line 6.-6. of Figure 3.
In carrying out the invention, a casing A. is employed, which is preferably of
rectangular shape, and is introduced into a suitable recess made in the hanging
stile of a window frame, and the face plate of the casing is provided with a
longitudinal opening 10. The balance comprises a jacket or housing B. which as
shown in Figs. 2. & 6, is ordinarily made with a top inclined downward in direction
of the rear, the rear wall at the bottom having a forward and downward inclination,
while the front of the housing or jacket is open.
A spring 11. is secured to the upper or straight portion of the back of tho
housing, and extends downward below the rear lower inclined portion, as is also
shown in Figs. 2. and 6. terminating preferably at its lower end in a hook 12. and
a link 13. is attached to the lower or hook end of the said spring, extending

page_text: outwardly substantially parallel with the bottom of the housing and terminating at
its forward end in a sleeve 14. interiorly threaded.
The housing is located in the fixed casing A. which is preferably open at the
back, and is pivotally secured therein by passing a pin 15. through its upper
forward or outer edge portion, as illustrated in Figure 2, and the housing is
adjusted to and from the face plate of the casing by means of an adjusting screw 16,
which is passed through the said face plate and is made to enter the sleeve 14. of
the link 13.
The housing is provided in each side with a circular opening 17. and in each of
these openings a disc 18. is snugly fitted, yet is capable of rotary movement, and
each disk has integral with or attached to its inner face a ratchet wheel 19.
A spindle 20. is passed through the two disks 18. and the said spindle is in
the nature of a screw having one of its ends secured to one of the said disks, as
illustrated in Fig. 4.
A large friction wheel 21. is mounted to turn loosely on the said spindle 20.
between the ratchet wheels 19. and the said friction wheel extends outward through
the opening 10. in the face plate a predetermined distance, or sufficiently to engage
with the side edge of the sash C. held to slide in engagement with the hanging stiles
of the window frame D. as shown in Figure 2; and a series of pawls 22. is located
upon each side of the friction wheel 21. adapted for engagement with the ratchet
wheels 19. The vertical side edges of the window sash C. have preferably a metal
strip 23. countersunk therein, and these strips, as shown in Figure 5, are provided
with recesses 24, into which the friction wheel enters to hold the sash in substantially
a locked position at predetermined heights.
The friction wheels 21 may be made to bear more or less strongly upon the
strips 23. of the sashes, by adjusting the screws 16 connected with the balance,
either inward or outward and in operation when the window sash is lifted the
friction wheel only revolves,. the tension exerted by the said friction wheel on the
window sash being sufficient to balance the same; therefore, but little exertion will
be required in raising the sash. The sash will stop at any point where it is
released, but will be practically locked wherever the friction wheel enters a
recess 24. in the sash.
A little more exertion is required in lowering the sash, since in raising it the
pawls 22 slip over the ratchet wheels 19; but in lowering the sash the pawls are in
locking engagement with the friction wheels, and consequently the disks 18 are
revolved in addition to the friction wheels 21, and therefore more resistance
is offered to the manipulation of the sash.
As heretofore stated the device is simple, economic and durable, and is applicable
to a window frame of any description and the device takes the place of the
ordinary weight, or its equivalent, and also serves as a stop or locking device for
the sash.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion; and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a window sash balance, a pivotal housing, a spring carried thereby, an
adjusting device connected with the spring and adapted for engagement with
a fixed support, a friction wheel mounted to revolve within the said housing and
adapted for engagement with a sash disks mounted to revolve in the said housing
and provided with ratchet wheels, and pawls carried by the friction wheel and
engaging with the said ratchets, as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a window sash balance, a casing adapted to be introduced in the hanging
stile of the sash and provided with an opening in its face plate, a housing pivoted
in the said casing, a spring extending below the pivot of the housing, an adjusting
device carried by the casing and connected with the said spring, a friction wheel
mounted to revolve in the housing and extending through the opening in the face
plate of the casing and friction disks controlled by the friction wheel, when

page_text: said wheel is turned in a predetermined direction, as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 24th day of December 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.