Improvements in the Manufacture of Glass Plates.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1895-Accepted. 22nd June, 1895
Improvements in the Manufacture of Glass Plates.
A communication from abroad by TALMA LEFÉVRE and LOUIS MICHAU, both
of 5, Boulevard de la Chapelle, Paris, France, Glass Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County
of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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 relates to a new article of manufacture and to the mode of
making the same. This article is formed of two or more layers of translucid or
opaque glass cast one upon the other so as to form a single plate or sheet upon
which letters or designs of any kind, form, or dimensions may be formed by
moulding or impressing.
The number of layers of glass of different colours may be more or less large
according to circumstances. The thickness of these layers may also be varied.
Our new article of manufacture is made as follows, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing, which is a vertical side elevation of apparatus for this
purpose:-
Upon a table T of any suitable kind, but provided with a number of rollers,
there is first poured a certain quantity of glass V', which is rolled out into a plate,
sheet, or layer of the desired thickness by moving either the table T or the
roller R¹.
Upon the plate or sheet of glass rolled out to the desired thickness, but not
yet cooled, there is poured a quantity of glass V2 which, when flattened out by
passing under the roller R2, forms a second layer of glass o³ that adheres perfectly
to the layer v¹. When the layers and v² are of different colours, the plate
of glass thus produced is composed of glass of two colours superposed one on the
other.
The thickness of the layers V₁ and V2 may be increased or diminished at will.
This thickness is regulated by the distance between the table T and the rollers R¹
and R², the latter being, with this object, mounted in bearings capable of being
raised and lowered; but any other suitable arrangement may be employed for this
purpose. The number of rollers R1, R2 is, of course, the same as that of the
superposed colours.
The plate or sheet of glass of several colours produced as herein before stated, is
subsequently moulded or impressed in such a manner as to produce varied designs
or, more particularly, letters of large size. This may be effected in various ways,
and particularly in the manner now about to be described.
Above the table is arranged a metallic plate P the lower surface of which is cut
so as to form projections and recesses corresponding to the designs or letters it is
desired to produce. This plate is connected to a lever which enables the plate P
to be lowered and raised with its surface in a perfectly horizontal position. The
vertical motion of the plate P may, however, be produced by any other suitable
means.
The cast composite sheet or plate being still in a pasty condition, the plate P is
[owered towards the table so as to enter more or less deeply into the glass-mass and
o impress therein its design or letters. If the plate or sheet is composed of glass

page_text: of two colours for instance white and blue the ornaments may be impressed as far
as the white glass so as to produce a white decoration upon a blue ground.
When several colours are superposed, one on another, the arrangement may
be such as to produce letters or designs of different colours according to the
respective depths of impression.
Instead of proceeding as just described, a table may be employed which is itself
provided with the desired prominences and recesses for producing the ornaments.
In this case it is the bottom layer that is impressed.
The impression may also be effected by means either of the flattening roller or of
another roller arranged behind the said flattening roller.
It is obvious that the designs may be arranged in such a manner as to extend
through the plate from side to side. In this case open-work ornamentation is
produced. This method may be applied to a plate or sheet of glass of a single
colour (for example white or polished); in this case the letters or designs extend
completely or partially through the glass, and enamels are cast into the recesses
thus produced so as to produce coloured letters or designs, which, being on a
different ground, will be rendered conspicuous by transparency or translucency.
In the foregoing description it has been assumed that the plate or sheet consists
solely of two layers of glass of different colours. It is, however, obvious that
three, four, or a larger number of superposed layers may be used.
As examples of articles for the manufacture of which glass-plates or sheets such
as hereinbefore described are particularly suitable, we may mention sign or name
plates, translucid or transparent tablets, and decorative panels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The herein described manufacture, by casting, of a composite plate or sheet of
glass composed of layers of glass of different colours superposed one upon another,
substantially as set forth.
2. The moulding upon or impressing into a composite plate or sheet of glass of
the kind specified in the preceding claim, of a letter or design in such a manner as
to form a letter or design of one colour upon a ground of a different colour,
substantially as set forth."
Dated this 16th day of May 100
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.