US2613738A - Window raising and cleaning unit - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14, 1952 w. A. BOWMAN WINDOW RAISING AND CLEANING UNIT 7 2 SHEETSSHEET l FIG. 2.

FIG.4.

7 Filed Sept. 11, 1950 INVENTOR.

N A M W O B A M M m .L i

FIG. IO

M ATT RNEY Oct. 14, 1952 w. A. BOWMAN 2,613,738

WINDOW RAISING AND CLEANING UNIT Filed Sept. 11, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FIG.9. INVENTOR.

WILLIAM vA. BOWMAN lav/#141114}. M

ATTORN E] Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT 2,613,738 V WINDOW RAISING AND CLEANING UNIT William A. Bowman, Baltimore, Md. 7 Application September 11, 1950, Serial No. 184,318

cation Serial Number 81,375, filed March 14, 1949,

now abandoned and in my Patent Number 2,513,278 to which reference ismade.

In the particular construction shown in the previous application, the window structure includes an adjustable frame and a plurality of sashes that fold up into various angular positions outside of the normal plane of the frame window structure. The sashes are hinged together at the edges where they meet to enable this to be done. They are opened up on their hinges manually and held in any position selected by frictionally engaging the frame with set screws adjustably projecting from the sashes into theframe and by tightening both together. However, the objection tothis specific type of adjustment is that it requires considerable muscular effort to raise or adjust the sashes to a jack-knife position and the frictional engagement is not as positive and safe from unloosening, as desired. In this invention, the adjustment is of different construction, and is of a type that lends itself readily to power operation. It employs a'wor'm and link mechanism having a powerful mechanical movement that is controllable for close adjustment and against slippage while adding appreciably to the appearance of'the window structure.

This invention has amongst its objects to provide a new and improved adjusting mechanism for opening windows, that will avoid one or more or the disadvantages and limitsof the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved adjusting and pane wiping mechanism for window sashes 'opening' in jackknife fashion that will be powerful in action, and effective in operation.

A'further object of thi invention is to provide a new and improved adjusting'mechanism for window sashes opening in jack-knife fashion that can be power operated. I

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved adjusting and pane cleaning mechanism for windows that will be simple in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, and effective in operation.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

For a better. understanding of the invention and I tached to'the upper member b the 1 -3 the objects thereof reference is made to theappended drawings wherein a preferred formof the invention, is illustrated. These drawings together with the following outline emphasize the princ i-- ples and operation of the mechanism, while -"the claims indicate the scopeof 'the invention; Referring to the drawings: Figure In a front view of a window' structure embodying this invention, with the sashesin closed position; g l U Figure 2 is'a sectionalel'evation taken along line 2-2 ofFigure 1; I r

Figure 3 is'a front View similar toFigure' 1, except the sashes are inrai'sed'position;

Figure 4is a sectionalview taken along line 4-4 of FigureB;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of theraisi'ngand lowering mechanism and mechanismfor-operat ing thewindow cleaning device;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5 showing the sash raising and lowering mechanism; 3

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Figure 5, showing the method of "attaching the window cleaning device to the sash;

Figure 8-is a typical sectionahview taken Figure '10 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram.

Similar reference characters refer to parts throughout the drawings.

In the particular construction shown-in the drawings, a conventional window frame ll] of rectangular form is set in a suitable opening'in the wall n of a buildirig. The frame isrriodified by eliminating the usual channels in whic'hi'the window ordinarily slides up and down,"and; inits place a bar of molding 12' ispinstalledagainst which the window sashes l5 and [6 can butt up. The window sashes instead of sliding up and down in opening and closing, move in aja'ck knife movement outward1y.- This is provided for by the upper member I5 of the sash being arranged with similar upper hinges l3'on both sides;'and attached to the inside surface M of the moldingfbar l enables the sash [5 to swing; outwardly andeas'y manner. The bottom member of". the sash I5 also has half 18 of a hinge" 17 an lied to it. The other half 19 of the hinge "I anda pivotable joint made between'tli m by a suitable rounding of themembers toji 'ota te With 'one another. This is on the principl of 'theflball joint. However, the lower member .32 I t I 6 is kept close to the window frame III by means of ribs 33 in the molding I2. These ribs extend laterally from the molding I2 and guide the pins 34 in the lower member 32, vertically up and down. The upper member I5 of the sash moves in conjunction with the lower member of the sash depending on the amount the lower member I6 of the sash is raised.

The raising and lowering of the sashes is done throu h the use of a motor mechanism. The mechanism consists of a pair of saddles that are attached to the upper member of the sash I6..

Saddles 20 carry segment teeth 2| as shown. These teeth mesh with the teeth ona gear 22, that in turning moves the saddles through a predetermined arcuate path and the saddles in turn carry the sashes through the same path assuming the straight or 'apexed positions already mentioned. The gear 22 is mounted and freely rotatable on a shaft 23 that extends horizontally across the sash I5 as indicated, and has clutch fingers 24 projecting from one side of it. The shaft is continuously rotated by a motor 25 through a worm 26 and a worm gear 21. A clutch 28 is operated by a shifter 29 and is keyed at 35;to the shaft -23 so as to rotate continuously with. it. Clutch 28 has teeth-30 on opposite sides adapted to engage in the fingers 24 of the gear 22 on one side and fingers 3| on the opposite side. 'The fingers 3| engage fingers formed on a bevel-gear ,31, The bevel gear ,3! is meshed with two other bevel gears 38 that-rotate individually screw -rods-39 on each side of sashes I5 and IB. Suitable supports hold the rods 39 in place alongthe vertical members of the sashes.

The sashes I5 and lfi have panes M and .42 of glass respectively set in them. The rods39 carry screwed holders 43which carry rubber squeegees 44 of a pair of window cleaners employed for cleaning the window panes on the outer and inner sides of the windows. When the rods are rotated 'by the bevelgears operated by the shaft 23 infclutchcd engagement therewith, they incidently move the window cleaners with them. The direction of movement depends on the counter-clockwise or clockwise operation of the-shaft. The windowcleaners are used when the opening and closing mechanism of the windows is not in operation, this can-be appreciated'by noting the positions of the clutch fingers and the clutch. Clutches 45 have fingers 46 for engaging the flngers35 on bevel'gear 31 and fingers 24 on gear 22. The clutches 46 and 28 are connected by shifter 29 and may be shifted to neutral or to the left or right'of the window asrequired. The shifter is operated from inside the I building through .the use of the handle mechanism 41. The 's'crew'rods' 39 with the .gearsY3'I and 38 are so arra'n'gedthat they can be movedthrough an arcuate path without obstruction andinterference .with the jack-knife movement of the sashes V I5 and {15 7 The structure of the members of the sashes I5 and I8, "are slotted out and otherwise formed to permit 'the cleaning operations without difficulty. e

The motoris operated to run in either direction, through the useiof the double-throw switch 48 and limit switches (not shown) may be provided if desired to shut off the current at suitable points 1 to prevent the windows being opened too much or the mechanism from being stressed unduly.

The'diagram indicates the wiring 50 preferably used for the motorcircuit The mechanism used in this invention is par- I6 from straight line alignment to apexed form, I

. centratiomof others.

ticularly desirable for future building operations, wherein the up and down windows are displaced by the more modern jack-knife type. With this invention the window opening is positively controllable to any degree of opening in a'positive and convenient manner and in all such positions may be cleaned by motive power, eliminating the use of human window cleaners ordinarily employed. This is particularly:desirable because the work of human-windowcleaners is highly dangerous to themselves and others. These men in their work are a source of anxiety and disturbance to office. workers and on-lookers and greatly interfere with the work and commercial con- Further by the use of'this mechanism and its convenience the window panes can be cleanedoff frequently and economically. Also the window may be cleaned in its open or closed position effectively. This is not feasible by ordinary human cleaning methods. The advantages of thejack-knife operation are discussed in previous patented,

The sashes are provided with roller screens and 66 which .inoye'w'ith'the sashes when they are raisedor loweredand keep the window opening closed. against'ithe admission of insects and the like therethrough.

While but one" general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications, it is not desired to limit this application for pa'tenti't'o this particular-form as it is appreciated'that other forms of construction could be made thatfwou'ld use the same principies and comefwithintheiscope of the appended claims. I H

Having thus described the invention, what is freely mountedon said shaft'at, each end thereof and meshing with --said quadrants, clutching means for meshingsaid gears and said shaft, means forguidingthe lower end of the lower sash for. reciprocating movement in the frame, and means for operating said clutching means to cause rotation'of saidgears and quadrants when the shaft rotates-,-to;move the sashes from alignmentto a-jack-"knife position, the motor being reversible to move the sashes from jack-knife position to alignmentwhilethe gears'and quadrants are in mesh.

2. An operating-mechanism asset forth in claim LWhereinsaid-clutch means include a pair of elements at opposite ends of the shaft keyed to and slidable on said shaft,said elements having teeth and said freely mounted gearslhaving axial fingers engageable with said teeth, and the means for operating the clutching means comprise a connection between. said pair of elements and a handle to actuate said connection.

3. In operating mechanism for windows, the combination with a window frame Of an upper sash pivoted "laterally at its' upper, end to the frame, a lowersash, hinge means between the sashes, apair of geared quadrants secured to the lower sash at opposite sides thereof, a shaft carried by and extendingjtra nsversely of the upper sash, means for rotating saidfshaft, a gear freely mounted on said shaft at each end thereof and movement in the frame, apair of squeegees, each of which is reciprocable on each glass pane, gearing means between said shaft and said squeegees, and unitary clutching means selectively operable in one position to mesh the freely mounted gears with said shaft to open the window'in jack-knife fashion, and operable in another position, to mesh said gearing means with said shaft, to operate the squeegees.

4. An operating mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein said gearing means between the shaft and the squeegees include a, pair of bevel gears near opposite ends of the shaft, loosely mounted thereon, a pair of bevel gears meshing with each of the first mentioned bevel gears, one

gear of the second mentioned pair being secured on the upper sash and the other on the lower sash, a screw rod secured at one end to each of said last mentioned bevel gears, and a squeegee holder for each pane riding on a pair of parallel screw rods.

WILLIAM A. BOWMAN REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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