US699689A - Fire-resisting window. - Google Patents

Description

Patented May I3, i902.

T. LEE.

F'IRE BESISTING WINDOW.

(Application led Dec. 80, 1901,)

' (No Model.)

NME Arne Arana OFFICE,

THOMAS LEE, OF HOME CITY, OHIO.

FIRE-RESISTING WINDOW.

SPECIETGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,689, dated May 13, 1902. Application filed December 30, 1901. Serial No. 87,675. (No modali:

To CLU whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS LEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Home City, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eire-Resisting Windows; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference-letters marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of fire-resisting windows having sliding sashes and to the manner of support of these latter, which is such as to cause them, if open, to close automatically upon the advent of a fire.

:;In the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims following is found a full description of the invention, together with its manner of operation, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows in elevation the inner side of a window partly open and provided with the improvements which my invent-ion contemplates. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the preceding figure. Fig. 3 in a similar view shows the window closed. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the window. Fig. 5 is an en- Y larged view showing portions of the preceding gure in detail.

The window-frame and sash-frames itted thereto are made of sheet metal, with the openings in the sashes closed by wire-glass, so that the materials entering into the construction of this window are `both non-combustible and nre-resisting. The elements of which the window and sash frames are cornposed are connected to each other by interlocking joints,like locked and clenched seams, to the exclusion of solder, so as to avoid disintegration of the parts if exposed to a fire or to the heat radiating therefrom.

The window-frame consists of the upright members A A and the horizontal ones being the sillB below and the cap C above. These four members are each independently constructed and connected to each other in any suitable way-as, for instance, by rivets. They are each hollow box-,frame sections with as many of their sides integrally connected as is conveniently possible. As shown in the detail View in Fig. 5, three sides are so connected, the fourth or outer one being connected by lock-seams a. The window-frame so constructed is held in position as a whole by parts projecting outwardly therefrom in a lateral direction-as, for instance, by a nose a', which projects from the outside of the upright members and is surrounded and engaged by the masonry or brickwork of the wall into which this window-frame is set. The space surrounded by this frame is closed by sashes, a lower one D and an upper one E, each having a sliding movement for the purpose of permitting the window to be opened or closed. For such purpose these sashes move in sashways formed on the inner side of the upright frame members A and between projections thereat, which form the guides of such sashways and whereby the sashes are also held to their movement in proper direction. The outer one of these guides may be formed integrally, as shown at a2, or they may be obtained by the attachment of a strip of angle-iron, as shown at a3. The middle one or parting strip is obtained by a fiat strip a, set into a groove a5, formed on the inside of the upright sash-frames. At sill and cap no guides are required, there being simply projections b and c, respectively, to close the interstices between these parts and the sashes when these latter are closed.

The frames of the sashes consist of four substantially box-frame sections, a lower one in each sash designated,respectively, by d and e and an upper one CZ' and e' in each. These horizontal sections are connected by the upright ones d2 d2 and e2 e2, one on each side of each sash, and which sections are fitted into the sashways on each of the inner sides of the window-frame, sections d2 cl2 of the lower sash moving between guides a3 a4 and sections 62 e2 of the upper sash moving between guides a" et?.

Sashes of larger size are subdivided-21s, for instance, by intermediate upright sections (Z3 and eS-to reduce the size of the glass panels F. wire-glass, being glass with wire embedded therein, and for their reception grooves are These latter are preferably of so-called` TOO provided on the inside of the four sash-frame sections which receive this glass. To form these grooves, the metal of these frame-sections is divided at that side and turned in parallel to the glass to form the sides g of these grooves. The bottom of these latter is formed in each case by an independent piece G, which may be held in place as shown in Fig. 5 for section d3, being simply slid down over the outside of the inturned metal forming sides g of the grooves and held thereto by a sliding fit, or, as shown for the other section, the inner edges of these sides g may be turned outwardly again to form flanges g', which are engaged by this bottom piece Gby means of a lock-seam. In order to avoid the friction which would ensue if the side sections would engage the sashways with a full surface Contact, I omit a fourth or closing side thereat altogether, so that engagement is only with the edges of the metal, as shown at h. This required, however, means to support and brace these side sections internally, which is attained by the internal brace H. This gutter-shaped member extends through the entire height of each of the side sections vof a sash and bearing on the inside against member G spreads outwardly and with its outer edges toward the sashway, which edges are engaged by the metal of the section of which this brace forms a part and which metal connects to these edges bybeing turned around them, so as to clench them with a locked scam, as shown at h, and the thinner .or edge part of which only is in Contact with the sashways. To further reduce the friction, especially in case of an uneven movement tending tocrowd a sash nearer to one or the other side, I provide friction-rollers J, supported at the free ends of springs j, which latter are secured within the open space surrounded by this internal brace H and bear with yielding contact against the sashways.

The sashes are hung on rollers K, being supported by chains L, one on each side, they being attached with one end to one sash and passing over said rollers attach to the other sash. In this manner the sashes are connected to each other, whereby movement of one causes also the other to move, so that if the lower sash is made heavier than the upper one the normal tendency of-these sashes is to remain closed. This excess of weight is by preference placed in the `lower horizontal sash-section d and may consist of metal bars M or a cement filling, which may be introduced at the time of construction or later through an opening m, which thereafter is closed. f

To hold the windows open either entirely or partly, as shown in Figs. l and 2, I provide a chain, cable, or rope N, which is connected to the lower sash and passing over a pulley n.

extends down to within convenient reach for manipulation. After the window is opened the lower end of the pull rope or chain is attached in a fixed position to prevent the heavier sash from sliding down into its closing position, and whereby the other sash being connected to this sash is also prevented from closing. To so secure this pull rope or chain, any suitable fastening device, nail, or hook O may be used.

In order to secure the automatic closing of such a window in case of fire, Iprovide means of combustible or fusible material so connected with the sash-sustaining elements as to permit the heavier lower sash to slide down in its ways thereby by reason of its particular connection to the upper sash, raising and closing this latter. By preference I use fusible material in shape of a link P, which is inserted in a manner so that it forms part of the means holding the sashes open. As to position it should be placed as high as possible, and I therefore place it immediately below the cap of the window-frame, since in such position it is sooner susceptible to the effects of heat than if placed lower down. It forms a part of the sash-sustaining means by being used to support the pulleyn, over which chain N passes. Vhenever this fusible link P becomes disrupted in consequence of the rising temperature due to a fire, the means sustaining the lower sash are thus rendered inactive and permit this sash to drop down in it-s ways, whereupon the same by reason of its preponderance in weight and operative connection to the upper sash by means of chains L effects also the closing of such sash. Vhenever the window is so closed in this manner or by a release of the pull-rope N from hook O, it may also be automatically locked by means of a suitable catch device consisting of two complementary parts,of which one, T, is attached to the lower section of the lower sash and the other, is attached in proper position to sill B.

It is conceivable that the pull device N might be connected to the upper sash and by means of guide-pulleys be carried to a position convenient for manipulation, which then would be in reverse direction. Such change, however, would present no particular advantage over the method shown.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. In a fire-resisting window, the combination of an outer frame provided with sashways, an upper and lower sliding sash fitted into these ways and operatively connected to each other so that movement of Yone sash effects also the other, the lower sash being heavier than the upper one, so as to have a normal tendency to drop and close, thereby raising and closing also the upper sash, a pullrope to sustain the sashes in an open position against the action of the heavier sash and a fusible connection connected to this pullrope.

2. In a fire-resisting window, the combina'- tion of an outer frame provided with sashways, an upper and lower sliding sash fitted into these ways and operatively connected to each other so that movement of one sash effects also the other, thelower sash being heav- Ioo' IICI

ier than the upper one, so as to have a normal tendency to drop and close, thereby raising and closing also the upper sash, a pullrope or its equivalent attached to the connected sashes to open them and hold them so, a guide-pulley for this pull device and a support for it, the same being secured Within the window-opening in the highest part thereof and of a material susceptible to destruction at a predetermined temperature.

3. In a fire-resisting window, the combination of an outer frame, provided with sashways, sliding sash-frames fitted thereto consisting each of four hollow sheet-metal boxframe sections, means to support these sashframes, rollers carried by them and interposed between their upright members and the sashways and springs upon which these rollers are mounted and whereby they are yieldingly held in Contact with the sashways.

In a fire-resisting window, the combination of an outer frame consisting offour sheetmetal box-frame sections, the inner sides and two adjacent ones of the upright sections being integrally connected and formed of one piece, so shaped as to contain the sashways,

a recess for the parting-strip between them and a sash-guide, the outer side being connected thereto by clenched seams and having part of it between its upright edges bent outwardly to form a projecting nose adaptedto be engaged by parts of the wall within which this frame is set, thereby holding it in place and sashes fitted to this frame.

5. In a fire-resisting window, the combination of an outer frame, sashes fitted thereto consisting each of four hollow sheet-metal box-frame sections, glass panels tted into these sashes, grooves to receive the edges of these glass panels obtained by turning the edges of the sheet metal of the sash-frames parallel inwardly thereat and then outwardly again forming Hanges and members Gclosing the bottom of these grooves and being held in place by clenching the flanges mentioned.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS LEE.

Vtitnesses:

C. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE.

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