Up: Patent Index

574,843 · Winslow · "Method of Electrolytically Uniting Glass Tiles into a Body" · Page 2 Home  > Prism Glass  > Patent Index  > Page 2

574,843: 2 of 5

E is the deposited metal between the strips and the edges of the sections.     F is the deposited metal overhanging the surfaces of the sections along their opposite edges.     G is a groove-like indentation in the edge of the tile.     H H are similar indentations differently placed.     J is a long and larger and heavier strip, having a heavily deposited mass K along its downwardly-projecting side and a mass of metal L about its upper edge.     P P are the heavy vault-light prismatic tiles associated with such rib J.     R indicates a mass of metal filings inserted between the strip and the edge of the tile-section under certain circumstances before the whole is exposed to the electrolytic bath.     I have not endeavored to give accurate proportions in the illustrations of the several parts above referred to, and they are to be taken as somewhat diagrammatic and illustrative rather than as proportional drawings.     I take a suitable table and place upon it the frame, it only being necessary to have such a frame as will hold the glass in position. I then lay the glass tile-sections on the table within the frame, the frame being of such size as to inclose the number of tile-sections desired to be brought together and so as to leave a slight slot or space between them. Into these slots or spaces the strips M and N are dropped, the intention being that they should fit the slots reserved for them, but leave spaces for electrodeposition. The table, with the glass and strip help in position thereon, is immersed in the electrolytic bath in such a manner as not to disturb the relative position of frame, tile, and strips. The current is now applied. To make the application of the current entirely satisfactory, of course as close contact as possible should be made between the frame portions and the ends of the strips. The current now being applied the electrodeposition takes place, with the result of depositing metal on the surface of the strips between the glass, so as to completely seal and make the joint. At the same time a firm contact is made between the edges and the metal, so as to quite securely hold the tile together. In addition to this, and if, as in the preferred method, the deposit is continued there will be formed on the outside of the glass and upon the metal edge ledges which engage the glass, and thus form, as indicated in the drawings, a binding body of metal on each side. In the case of the vault-light shown in Fig. 5 the downwardly-projecting end of the strip may be covered with wax or the like to prevent electrodeposition, and upon this strip the finished glass body may rest for support. There may be as many of these strips as desired, varying in number and in strength, according to the circumstances of each case, the size of the total body of prismatic vault-lights, and the weight to be put on them.

The grooves shown in Figs. 6 and 7 on the adjacent edges of the tile-sections are adapted to receive ribs on the strips, preferably formed by electrodeposition, and in this case the strips may or may not project beyond the surface of the tile. If they project, overhanging ledges, as in the other cases, may be formed.     The the use of the term "groove" here and elsewhere I mean generally to include such recesses or indentations in the face or one or more of the opposed tile-section edges as will serve to receive a body of greater or less size of electrodeposited metal, this to bind the parts together and to a degree obviate what otherwise might be the necessity of the overhanging mass of electrodeposited metal F.     The strips or ribbons of metal placed between the tile-sections may be wider or narrower than the edges between which they are placed and of any desired thickness, the essential point being that each serves the primary purpose of a foundation cathode electrical conductor for the subsequent electrodeposit.     To facilitate the closing up of the space between adjacent sections of tile, it may be necessary to introduce a metal or the like addition to the ribbons or strips, and I have therefore proposed, where the edges of the glass are somewhat irregular, so as to make the spaces between the tile-sections of varying width, to put into such spaces alongside of the ribbon when in position metal filings or finely-divided filling substances, which will serve, as soon as the electric process begins, to fill up the spaces rapidly at that point.     I do not desire to be limited in the application of my invention to the particular form of tiles used, as any sort of tile or glass can be employed in my invention.     The strips between the tiles are preferably of relatively strong metal separately formed and of sufficient strength to make a loose skeleton frame between which the tile-sections are to be received, and probably the preferred metal would be copper or its alloys. These strips are secured together at their crossing or intersecting points by the action of the electric current.     What I claim is--     1. The method of forming tile-sections into a body, which consists in bring the several sections nearly together edge to edge, but with an open space between such edges, interposing a foundation cathode electrical conductor between the edges but so as still to leave a space to be filled between such edges, then subjecting the whole to the process of electrodeposition while the parts are in such position, and thus depositing a homogeneous mass of metal between the tile edges until the tile edges are permanently secured together by the engagement of the conductor and mass of deposited metal with each other and with the tile between the edges thereof.