Improvements in Sash Balances
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept.,. 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sash Balances.
Communicated to me by THE MARSHALL IMPROVED WINDOW FURNITURE
COMPANY, of San Francisco, California, United States of America.
I WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of No. 11 Wellington Street, Strand; London; in
the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 that class of sash balances in which a spring is employed.
and which operates a pinion engaging a rack.
The invention consists in certain improvements which will be hereinafter fully
explained and which may be briefly stated to be a connection of the pinion and'rack,
which while holding. the two together, permits the proper travel of the former on the
latter the peculiar attachment of the rack; the location of the spring when desired
in the sash stile and the connections rendering this location practicable.
Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of this
invention
-
Figure 1 is a horizontal section of the sash stile, showing the sash balance from
the top..
Figure 2 is a perspective view from the inside, a portion of the sash stile being
broken away to show the sash balance at each end.
Figure 3 is an elevation from the direction of the arrow in Figure 1.
A is a torsional spring, one end of which is to be attached to a fixed bearing in
the sash and the other end is connected with a rotary turn rod S carrying a bevel
wheel F which gears with a bevel wheel on a spindle B which carries a pinion C
engaging a rack D.
As the sash is moved the spring affects and is affected by the rotation of the
pinion so that the latter travels in the rack and the spring is wound.
The rack is carried by either the casing or the sash and the pinion is carried by
either the sash or the casing, one being on one part and the other on the other part.
It has been the practice heretofore to carry the pinion on the sash and secure the
rack to the casing. In any previous arrangement the pinion and rack were not
otherwise connected than by the meshing of their teeth. There resulted from this
a disadvantage in that as allowance had to be made for the shrinking of the wooden.
parts and the necessary slight freedom of the sash, no very intimate engagement
could be had and the pinion could not run closely in the rack.
Undue noise resulted and in some cases the engagement of the rack and pinion
was not insured, as where the sash and pinion became very loose.
It is necessary, therefore, to effect a positive connection between the two; parts
which while allowing the sash its proper play, and making provision for skrinkage,
will yet hold the pinion closely in the rack under all circumstances.
This connection has to be a sliding one, and may be formed of any frame or piece
secured to one and fitting the other.
A sleeve or band E is here shown, which is firmly secured to the pinion frame or
housing and embraces and slides on the rack.
This sleeve holds the teeth of the two parts closely in mesh.
The rack has to be connected to its support in such a way as to permit the free
movement of the sleeve upon it, and for this purpose it is best to secure it. at
each end.
This union of these two parts is also advantageous in connecting all the parts of
the sash balance making a single article, and providing for its sale complète and
fitted to the sash, requiring then only the attachment of the rack to the casing.

page_text: Now, as far as the connection of the rack and pinion is concerned, to effect the
above results, it is immaterial whether the rack be carried by the casing or by the
sash, or the pinion be carried by the sash or by the casing, as it, is applicable to
either location of sash balance and will be of advantage alike in either case.
The fastening of the rack may be a rigid one, and when applied top and bottom
the yielding of the rack in its own length will sufficiently provide for the necessary
play of the sash to avoid cramping or binding. It is better however to secure the
rack freely. For this purpose there is secured to the casing above a perforated or
socketed plate F, and below a socket is formed or a screw eye or staple G is
.sccured.
The upper end of the rack is formed with a suspending hook d and the lower end
with a point d¹.
The hook of the upper end is adapted to be readily fitted to the plate F whereby
the rack is suspended and bears the weight of the sash, and the lower point of the
rack fitting freely in the eye or staple G prevents the rack from having undue
movement though still permitting it to swing slightly and thus give the sash all the
play necessary.
This connection of the rack results in another advantage, namely, forming a hinge
about which the sash can be turned for the purpose of window washing.
The upper and lower connections of the rack being pivotal ones, and said rack
being connected through the sleeve E with the parts secured to the sash will form
the hinge pintle or shaft to permit the turning of the shaft when the inside stop of
the casing on the other side is removed.
To further this connection and steady the sash when turned, there is an arm fon
the sash pivoted in a socket f' in the plate F¹.
It has heretofore been the custom to seat the spring A in a bore in the sash rail
and, as far as the improvements heretofore described are concerned, this location
may still be preserved and the advantages set forth realized. But for some purposes
it may be found better to seat the spring perpendicularly either in the casing or
preferably in the sash rail, and in this position it is here shown. The pinion lies in
the old position, but receives the power of and affects the spring through the inter-
vention of beveled gears H.
The principal advantage of this improvement lies in the economy in the application
of the device to the sash. A bore in the rail is avoided, which has a tendency to
weaken the tenons, and the employment of a skilled workman to apply the balance
to sashes in place, is obviated, and there is no need to send new sashes to any
particular place to prepare them for the device. Instead of this an extended groove
need only be made in the sash style and the spring and connected parts dropped
into it and properly secured.
When in place the rack connected by the sleeve with the other parts is in good
position to be readily hooked to plate F and dropped in staple G when the sash is
fitted to the casing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion, (communicated to me as aforesaid) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A sash balance, having a spring actuated pinion, a rack with which said pinion
engages, and a sleeve, band, or other suitable device connected with one of said parts
and sliding on the other whereby the two are held together in the movement of one
on the other, substantially as herein described.
2. A sash balance consisting of a spring actuated pinion, a rack with which said
pinion engages, said rack having a suspension connection at one end, enabling it to
swing and a sleeve, band, or other suitable device connected with the pinion and
sliding on the rack whereby the two are connected and held together in their move-
ment the one on the other, substantially as herein described.
3. A sash balance, having the rack with a suspension connection at one end and
a limiting stop at its other end, a spring actuated pinion and a sleeve, band, or other

page_text: connection by which the pinion and rack are held together in their sliding movement
the one on the other, substantially as herein described.
4. A sash balance consisting of a spring actuated pinion, a rack with which the
pinion engages, said rack being pivotally connected with its support whereby it may
turn axially, and a sleeve or band connecting the pinion with the rack, substantially
as herein described.
5. A sash balance comprising a vertical rack, a pinion engaging it, a vertically
disposed torsional spring and gearing between the spring and pinion whereby they
are reciprocally affected, substantially as hercin described.
Dated this Twenty-third day of June 1801
W. E. GEDGE.