US874900A - Automatic window-closing device. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED' DBG. 24;, .1907.

J. F. RUTH. I AUTOMATIC WINDOWCLOSING DEVICE.

APLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1907.

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JOHN F. RUTH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW-GLOSIN G 4DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1907'.

Application led April l. 1907. Serial No. 365,766.

To all whom it may concern: A

Be it known that I, JOHN F. RUTH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain 5 new and useful Improvements in Automatic W'indow-Olosing Devices, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

"` My invention relates to an automatic window closing device, and the particular obj ect of my invention is to provide simple, inexpensive devices whereby the upper sash of a window, or a vertically moving fire shutter, is automatically closed when certain of the devices are released by the excessive heat of' alnladjacent fire, which destroys a fusible To the above purposesfmy invention consists of certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the upper right hand corner of a window frame, and showing my improved device in position on said frame Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and showing the automatically operating clutch in plan view; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the clutch, after the same has been released and clamped upon the fiexible connection between the window sash and weight.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings 1 designates the window frame, 2 the sash, 3 the usual pulley attached to the frame, 4 the flexible connection, which is usually in the form of a steel tape or chain, and which is secured at one end to the window sash, and, passing over the pulley 3, is provided on its lower end with a weight 5, which counterbalances the weight of the sash.

The form of clutch I prefer to make use of comprises a pair of horizontally disposed plates 6, spaced a suitable distance apart by a block 7, having a corrugated face 8; and

. the lower corners of the plates 6, to the left of this block 7, are spread apart to form bearings 9, which engage against the inner face of the window frame 1 when the clutch is in proper position thereon.

Rigidly fixed to the upper left hand corners of the plates 6 is a horizontally disposed finger 10, which, when the clutch is in position for use, projects through the opening 11 formed in the frame 1 and connected to the outer end of said finger 10, by readily fusible material, is a vertically disposed finger 12, forming a hook by means of which the clutch is held in proper position against the window frame.

J ournaled upon a pin 13, which has its ends seated in the plates 6, is a segmental block 14, having a corrugated face 15; and passing through a block 16 fixed to the plates 6, immediately above the block 14, is an adjusting screw 17, by means of which the position of the block 14 is changed.

A pin 18 is transversely arranged between the right hand ends of the plates 6, Aand depending therefrom is a chain 19, to the lower end of which is attached an auxiliary weight 20.

When the clutch of my improved device is in position for use, the Enger 12 passes through the aperture 11 so as to act as a hook to maintain the clutch in a horizontal position immediately beneath the pulley 3; and the tape or chain 4 passes between the plates 6, and between the block 7 and eccentric 14.

By means of the set screw 17, the segment 14 is adjusted to bring its corrugated face 15 adjacent the tape or chain 4, and the weight 20 pulling downwardly on the right hand end of the clutch, normally maintains the same in a fixed horizontal position.

The sash or fire shutter to which the flexible connection 4 is attached can be raised and lowered in the usual manner, without interference, and without disarranging the clutch or any of the parts carried thereby.

Assuming that the window or shutter is open, and that the heat from an adjacent fire fuses or melts the connection between the fingers 10 and 12,A the pull of the weight 20 will swing the clutch into an inclined position, with the outwardly bent corners 9 of the plates bearing on the window frame; and, as said clutch swings into this position, the corrugated face 15 of the segment 14 is brought against the flexible connection 4; and, as the clutch starts to move downwardly by reason of the weight 20, the segment 14 will automatically swing upward so as to very rigidly clamp the flexible connection against the corrugated face 8 of the block 7, and thus the weight of the clutch and of the auxiliary weight 20 will be transferred to the flexible connection 4 to co-act with the weight 5 thus greatly overbalancing the weight of the sash 2 and quickly closing the same.

It will be readily understood how the clutch of my improved device may be changed in detail without departing from the spirit of the invention, it only being essential that the auxiliary weight be provided, which is automatically clamped to the flexible connection 4 when the fusible joint or connection is broken.

I claim 1. The combination with a window frame and sash arranged to slide therein, of a counterbalancing weight, a flexible connection between the upper sash and the weight, an auxiliary weight, a clutch supporting said auxiliary weight, a pair of clamping jaws arranged in the clutch for engaging the flexible connection when the clutch is released, and a fusible connection on the clutch for holding the same and the auxiliary weight in normal positions.

2. The combination with a window frame and sash arranged to slide therein, of a counterbalancing weight, a flexible 'connection between the upper sash and said weight, an auxiliary weight, a clutch through which the flexible connection passes and which clutch supports the auxiliary weight, a jaw fixed in the clutch on one side of the flexible connee* tion, a pivoted jaw in the clutch on the opposite side of the flexible connection, and a fusible connection arranged on the clutch for holding the same and the auxiliary weight in normal positions.

3. The combination with a window frame and sash arranged to slide therein, of a counterbalancing weight, a flexible connection betweenvthe upper sash and said weight, an c uxiliary weight, a clutch through which the flexible connection passes and which cluteh supports the auxiliary weight, avjaw 'fixed in the clutch on one side of' the flexible connection, a pivoted jaw in the clutch on the opposite side of the fiexible connection, means whereby the engaging face of the pivoted jaw is adjusted to and from the engaging face of the fixed jaw, and. a fusible connection arranged on the clutch for holding the saine and the auxiliary weight in normal positions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed iny name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. RUTH. Vitnesses M. P. SMITH, E. L. WALLACE.

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