US716151A - Fireproof window. - Google Patents

Description

fNo. 7|6,l5l. Patented Dec. 16, I902.

F. VDIGTMANN&. S. H. POMEROY. FIREPBDOF WINDOW.

(Application filed Jan. 20, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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UNITE STATES FIREPRQOF wmoow.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,151, dated December 16, 1902.

Applicationfiled January 20,1902. Serial No. 90.480. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern:

Beitknown that we,FRANKVoIeTMANNand SILAS H. POMEROY, residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Windows, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fireproof windows and refers more specifically to improvements in fireproof windows of that type in which the sash open and close by a sliding movement as distinguished from pivoted or hinged constructions.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fireproof structure which may be opened or closed by the impact of a jet or stream of water thrown thereagainst from a firemans hose, so that in the case of a sudden fire which renders access to the window impossible the latter, if open, may be forced into closed position by directing a stream of water against'the same.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a simple equipment for an ordinary fireproof window,which equipment may be either a partof the window as originally constructed or may be applied thereto after the window has been otherwise completed; to provide a construction of the character referred to which will interfere with the diaphanous character of the window to the least practicable extent; to provide a construction which is devoid of recesses and cavities in which wa-- l ter and ice might lodge and be retained, and

in general to provide a simple and improved construction of the character referred to.

To the above ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and the same will be more readily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure is a perspective view of a window and window-casing equippedwitha preferred embodiment of our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the equipment which is adapted to be applied to a sash otherwise completed, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal or transverse sectional view taken in a plane through the sashrail and equipment in the plane indicated by in, the latter being designated as a whole 2 and 3, respectively. In the preferred embodiment of our invention said sashes are interconnected, by means of cables and pulleys, as indicated at 4, in such manner as to counterbalance each other, this arrangement being a common one and well understood by those skilled in the artthat is to say, the cables 4 lead from the lower sash upwardly over pulleys 4, thence downwardly and around guide pulleys 4, and finally upwardly and over supporting-pulleys 4" and thence to the upper sash with which they are connected, it being understood that the pulley arrangement is duplicated on each side of the window-casing.

The sash 2 and 3 may likewise be of any suitable fireproof construction, that shown herein being one in which the frame or rail members of the sash are of hollow sheet-metal construction, as best indicated in Fig. 4, while the glazing is of the ordinary fireproof wire-glass, as indicated at 5, it being understood that the glazing is held in position by means of metal clips, which are not destructible by fire, one of said clips being indicated at 6, Fig. 4.

7 designates as a-whole an impact device or attachment which constitutes the essential and novel feature of the present combination. As shown in the present instance, this attachment comprises a plurality of slat-like strips secured in a suitable frame to extend across the upper portion of each sash and to stand in planes approaching a right angle to the face of the glazing, but preferably inclined downwardly and outwardly slightly, so as to shed water, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. The object of these impact strips or members, which are severally designated 8 'and 9, is to form surfaces against which a stream of water thrown from a hose may act r to force the sash upwardly, and to this end the strips are extended entirely across the upper portion of the sash and spaced at a short distance apart, while the outer margin of each strip is downturned to form a lip, as indicated at 10, which serves to additionally confine the jet of water and impart the mo: mentu n1 of the water more effectively to the sash. These impact-strips may be secured in suitable position in various ways; but in the preferred construction shown herein their ends are joined with side frame members 11, which are in turn riveted or otherwise made rigid with the proximate faces of the sashrails, as shown clearly in the several figures of the drawings, and in order to reinforce and stiffen the impact strips an intermediate frame member or space-rod 12 is provided, which extends from the top rail of the sash downwardly through the strip 8 and into bearing with the lower strip 9. Each attachment7 may be independently constructed, as shown in Fig. 3, as a complete attachment to be applied to the window and suitably bolted or riveted in position, or it may be formed integrally with the sash-rails when the sash is originally constructed. In either case the device is so disposed that the impact ribs or slats project outwardly from the outer face of the glazing in position to be acted upon by the stream of water, as described.

In the preferred embodiment of our construction, in which the upper and lower sash are arranged to counterbalance each other, as described, we provide impact attachments for both the upper and lower sash, as shown clearly in Fig. l, the object of this arrangement being to enable the sash to be either opened or closedthat is to say, in the case of a sudden fire, which renders access to the window impracticable or impossible, the window, if open, may be closed by directing a stream of water from a firemans hose against the attachment applied to the upper sash, thereby forcing the latter upwardly and at the same time lowering the lower sash. In the same manner after a fire, if the building is so filled with smoke as to render it practically impossible to reach and open the windows, the firemen may readily open the sash by simply directing a jet of water against the impact device of the lower sash, thus raising the latter and lowering the upper sash so that the smoke may escape.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the exact construction of the impact device is not essential, and that although its arrangement at the upper ends of the respective sash is most conducive to securing the full advantages and best results of the invention,yet, nevertheless, it may be otherwise located and still be operative. This is especially true where it is desired to equip only one of the sash members with the impact device. It will be further understood from the foregoing that the impact members are not necessarily constructed in the form of slats or strips, since differently-formed impact members might be provided for securing thesame results. The construction described herein is, however, deemed superior, for the reason that it interferes to the least possible extent with the light passing through the window, is of sufficient area to be readily struck and acted upon by the firemen without calling for extreme accuracy, and is so arranged as to secure a very large proportion of the full effect of the inertia of the stream of water.

We claim as our invention- 1. In combination with a sliding sash, an impact membersecured to theexteriorthereof, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a fireproof window, the combination with the metal casing and fireproof sash arranged to slide therein, of an impact device secured to the exterior of the window in position to be acted upon by an upwardly-directed jet of water, substantially as described.

3. In a fireproof window, the combination with the casing and a pair of sliding sash arranged therein, and counterbalanced so as to move readily into closed position, of an impact device secured to the exterior of one of said sash members, and interconnections whereby the sash are caused to move together.

4. In a fireproof window, the combination with the window-casing, and a pair of sash arranged to slide therein and provided with cable and pulley connections whereby they counterbalance each other, of an impact device secured to the outer face of the upper part of the upper sash, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a fireproof window, the combination with the window-casing, of upper and lower sash arranged to slide vertically therein, cable and pulley connections whereby said sash members act to counterbalance each other and impact devices secured to the outer sides of both upper and lower sash members for the purpose set forth.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an attachment for windows consisting of a frame adapted to be secured to the outer portion of the sash and one or more impact members rigidly mounted within said frame.

7. As a new article of manufacture, an impact device comprising a pair of side frame members and a plurality of slat-like members arranged to extend between and rigidly secured to said side frame members, substantially as described.

8. In a fireproof window, the combination with a casing and a sash arranged to slide therein, said sash being counterbalanced so as to move'readily into closed position, and an impact device secured to the exterior of said sash, for the purpose set forth.

FRANK VOIGTMANN. SILAS H. POMEROY. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. GRAVES, FREDERICK O. GooDwIN.

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