A New and Improved Method of Glass Roofing.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar, 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Method of Glass Roofing.
I FRANK CAWs of 22 Fawcett Street Sunderland, in the County of Durham,
Architect do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In order to lessen both the first cost and maintenance of glass roofing; and also
to increase its durability and light giving capacity while improving its external
and internal appearance, and rendering it less liable to become dirty, and easier
to clean, I dispense with the usual supporting bars at the vertical edges of the
glass, and unite these edges by lead "cames the horizontal edges of the glass
being supported by horizontal roof bars of wood, iron, steel, or any suitable material
or materials, the lower horizontal edge of the upper thickness of glass overlapping
the upper horizontal edge of the lower thickness of glass; between which two
thicknesses hooks or "tabs," of copper tape, or other suitable material, are secured
to horizontal bars of roof, and are turned up under bottom edge of upper thickness
of glass so as to prevent it from slipping or sliding down the roof slope.
"
:
By this method of roofing, each plate or sheet of glass is held, as it were in
stirrups, at its bottom edge, while its top edge rests on the horizontal roof-bar,
and its side edges are united by lead". cames to its horizontally neighbouring
plates or sheets of glass. And thus the whole number of plates or panes of glass
covering the roof are so interlocked and secured that one cannot be displaced
without disturbing the others. And yet the glass is so fixed as to be free at all
points to expand with changes of temperature, while remaining none the less
firmly bound against the displacing force of wind; and at same time waterproof.
When the roof is thus covered, only the glass, the lead "cames," and the copper
"tabs
are exposed and no paint or putty need be employed either outside or
inside. Also free escape is permitted for condensation; and internal and external
projections from the glass plane, which commonly harbour dirt and obstruct cleaning
operations, are entirely dispensed with or reduced to a minimum.
"
Although glass roofing when thus constructed is much less liable to get out of
repair than other modes of glass roofing now in use, when repairs are required
they can be readily effected by reason of facility of manipulating the lead
66
cames.
"
· Dated this Twenty-first day of June 1893.
FRANK CAWS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Method of Glass Roofing.
I FRANK CAWs of 22 Fawcett Street, Sunderland in the County of Durham,
Architect 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 :—
In order to lessen both the first cost and maintenance of glass roofing; and also
to increase its durability and light giving capacity while improving its external
and internal appearance, and rendering it less liable to become dirty, and easier to
clean, I dispense with the usual supporting bars at the vertical edges of the glass,
and unite these edges by cames of any suitable material, preferably lead, the
1

page_text: horizontal edges of the glass being supported by the horizontal rafters or roof bars
of wood, iron steel or of any suitable material or materials marked P P on the
drawing herewith; the lower horizontal edge of the upper thickness of glass over-
lapping the upper horizontal edge of the lower thickness of glass; between which
two thicknesses, where they overlap, hooks, or tabs, of copper tape or other
suitable material marked TT on the drawing herewith are secured to horizontal
bars of roof, and are turned up under bottom edge of upper thickness of glass so as
to prevent it from slipping or sliding down the roof slope.
By this method of roofing, each plate or sheet of glass marked G G on the
drawing herewith is held as it were in stirrups, at its bottom edge, while its top
edge rests on the horizontal roof bar P, and its side edges are united by cames
marked CC on drawing herewith to its horizontally 'neighbouring plates or sheets
of glass.
The cames are shown in cross section by Fig. of the drawing herewith. Fig. 3
shows in perspective the exterior of the roof glazing.
And thus the whole number of plates or panes of glass covering the roof are so
interlocked and secured that one cannot be displaced without disturbing the others.
And yet the glass is so fixed as to be free at all points to expand with changes of
temperature, while remaining none the less firmly bound against the displacing
force of wind; being at the same time waterproof.
When the roof is thus covered, only the glass, the cames, and the tabs are
exposed; and no paint or putty need be employed either outside or inside. Also
free escape is permitted for condensation; and internal and external projections
from the glass plane, which commonly harbour dirt and obstruct cleaning
operations, are entirely dispensed with or reduced to a miniinum.
Although glass roofing when thus constructed is much less liable to get out of
repair than other modes of glass roofing now in use, when repairs are required
they can be readily effected by reason of the facility of manipulating the cames.
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 substitution of cames for vertical bars.
2. The supporting of glass on roof bars at top and bottom edges only, in
conjunction with cames at vertical edges.
3. The general construction and arrangement of parts, as above described, so as
to secure a cheaper and better roofing of glass than by any methods now in use.
Dated this Twenty-first day of March 1894.
FRANK CAWS.