Improvements in Apparatus for Operating and for Locking Window Sashes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1893-Accepted, 13th May, 1893}
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Operating and for Locking Window
Sashes.
1, ROBERT ROBINSON COWL, of Vincent Street, in the City of South
Melbourne, Colony of Victoria, Architect, du hureby 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide a lock whereby windows of dwelling
houses, warehouses, banking institutions and other such places may be rendered
secure against being opened from the outside by burglars or others who have no
right to enter.
To operate my locking gear, it is necessary to use a special form of keys and
another essential feature is the use and arrangement of a wire, secretly extended
from the lock of the window to any part of a household so as to prevent the use of
the aforesaid key for the purposes of either locking or unlocking the sashes, until
such wire is first pulled to release a hinged door which covers a part of the lock
that receives the key.
There are two locks employed for each window, one for the
another for the lower one so that either sash may be opened and
portion of the frame, or they may be raised to any height from o
and there left, for the purpose of ventilation, and cannot be moved
until unlocked.
upper sash and
locked in any
inch upwards
by any person
But in order that my invention may be better understood I will now rafer to the
accompanying sheet of drawings which are to be taken as part of this Specification
and read therewith.
Figure 1, is an inside face elevation of a window frame provided with two
sashes.
Figure 2, is an enlarged sectional view shewing a fragment of the frame in which
is fitted the locking gear for one sash.
Figure 3, is a part elevation of Figure 2, but without the window frame.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate detail views of the mechanism employed for
fastening and unfastening a small door covering the aperture in the frame into
which the key is inserted to operate the locking gear.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts where they
occur in the several views.
In the drawing (A) is an ordinary window box frame provided with two window
sashes (1) and (B) which are balanced by means of two weights (C) and (C),
the former counterbalances the upper sash whilst the latter counterbalances the
lower one.
(D) and (D) are two endless belts arranged one in each of the boxes (E)
and (E) of the said frame. The said belts consist each of two parts namely a
chain (termed a solid link chain) and a steel cable rope connected together so
that the chain portions will engage the sheaves (F) and (F) whilst the cable
engages the upper sheaves (G) and (G). The said belts (D) and (D') connect
with the weights (C) and (C¹) and are fastened to two brackets (1) and (H')
secured to the respective sashes, said sheaves (G) and (G') are suitably sus-
pended from the upper portion of the boxes (E) and (E) whilst in the lower
portion are the sheaves (F) and (F) secured to the horizontal spindles (I)
and (1).
Each horizontal spindle (I) and (1) is carried by a frame (1) con-isting of two
bearings () and (¹) formed upon a suitable foot (J). To facilitate the method
f fixing the said frame, I arrange a base plate (*) provide with guide

page_text: strips (*) and (1), which grasp the foot beforementioned laterally, whilst the
biling screw (J) prevents it from coming forward.
The outer end (K) of each spindle (1) and (1, is made square, so that a square
weket key, may be fitted thereon to operate the lock. To one side of the square
end portion of the said spindle is secured a flat spring paule (1) which is capable
of being engaged with or disengaged from a toothed circular hole formed in the
metal plate (M) secured to the said frame (.). An aperture (N) is made in the
removable block (0) for the purpose of admitting the socketted key before-
mentioned to engage with the spindle (D).
To each of the said blocks (0) is secured a metal plate which is provided
with a hinged door (P) to cover the aperture (N). The said door can be either
fastened or unfastened by means of a catch pin (Q), upon one end of which is a
hook shaped projection (Q³) to engage an eve (Q) upon the door (P. The said
catch is kept intact by the spring Q. Upon the other end of said spindle is
secured a lever arm R, to which is connected a wire (S) that may be carried
through the box in the window frame and secretly extended to any desired part of
the building. (T) is a spiral spring arranged in the bracket, (T secured to the
frame (A) to keep the wire in tension.
The method of operating my invention is as follows:
For the purpose of releasing the hinged door (Ps the secretly laid wire (8) is
tist, palled, which action operates the lever arm (Rint the same time gives a
partial resolution to the catch pin (Q) and disengages the hooked projection (Q)
from the eye upon the door.
To unlock the sash (B) it is only necessary to push a socket key upon the square
end (K) of the spindle (L) until it depresses the spring panlet Li from the toothel
hole of the plate (M). Whilst the key is left upon the spindle (11, the latter
carrying the sheave (F) may now be revolved thereof permitting the endless
belt (1) with the weight to be either raised or lowered to any position.
In order to lock said sash the key is withdrawn from the said spindle during
which action the spring paule (L) engages the toothed plate (M) and locks the
said spindle (1) thereby preventing the endless belt (D) and sash (B) from being
inoved.
When the spindle (1) is revolved, the endless belt (D) is carried by the
sheaves (F) and (G) whilst the weight (C) counterbalances the sash (B).
It may be here explained that the same modus operandi is carried out for the
locking and unlocking of the other sash (B). I wish it to be understool that the
window cannot be opened from the inside until its secret wire is first pulled to
release the door (P) and permit of the key being used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
Firstly. The combination and arrangement with a window sash such as (B) of
an endless belt (D) provided with a weight (C) and carried by the sheaves (F)
and (G) substantially as herein described and as illustrated.
Secondly. The combination and arrangement with a spindle (1) carrying a
shenye (F) of a spring paule (L) to engage a toothed plate (M) substantially as
herein specified and as illustrated.
Thirdly. The combination and arrangement with a spring paule (L) projected
from the spindle (1) of a toothed plate (M) arranged as described and as
illustrated.
Fourthly. The combination and arrangement with a spindle (1) of a framo (J)
provided with a detachable base plate (J) substantially as herein described and as
illustrated.
Fifthly. The combination and arrangement with the hinged door (1) of a catch
pin (Q) provided with a lever arm (R) and the hooked projection (Q') to engage

page_text: the eye (Q) upon the said door (P) substantially as herein described andjjas
illustrated.
Sixthly. The combination and arrangement with a catch pin (Q) of operating
mechanism consisting essentially of a secretly laid wire (S) lever arm (R) and
5 spring (T) substantially as herein described and as illustrated.
Dated this 21st day of March 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.