GB2259945A - Pivotable window assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A window installation for a railway carriage comprises a mounting frame 14 to which are mounted a lower fixed window assembly 10 and an upper hopper window assembly 12. The hopper window assembly 12 comprises a self-contained assembly pivotally mounted relative to a sub-frame which is itself secured to the mounting frame 14. The hopper window is biased with an overcentre action between open and closed positions, and vice versa, by one or more leaf springs 80 located within a lower horizontal pivot housing for the window. The housing includes a removable cover plate 72 for ready access to the pivot mounting and the springs 80. Seal 86 may be provided, and drain holes 52 allow condensation to exit from sloping floor 80. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Pivotable Window Assembly This invention relates to a window assembly and particularly but not exclusively to a window assembly installable in a vehicle such as a railway carriage.

Railway carriage window assemblies comprise either wholly fixed glazed frames or comprise a combination of part fixed glazed frame and part opening glazed frame. The opening part of such part opening assemblies are known to be provided as what are known in the art as hopper windows which comprise an upper glazed window frame pivotally mounted relative to a lower fixed glazed window frame about a horizontal axis. The length of the upper pivoted frame is substantially equal to that of the lower fixed frame and the upper frame is pivotable inwardly of the vehicle between two laterally spaced guard plates extending inwardly of the vehicle, such guards providing stops limiting the pivoting movement of the upper frame inwardly of the vehicle to an angle which is typically 250 from the vertical.

One known form of railway carriage hopper window has the upper part of its frame adapted to bear directly against a frame surrounding the window aperture for the hopper section thereof but such frame has been of a differing configuration from the frame mounting the lower fixed part of the window installation. Such a construction presents difficulties in assembling and sealing the two frame sections together at the position at which the upper edges of the lower fixed window abut the lower pivotally mounting for the hopper window.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved construction of window assembly.

In accordance with the broadest aspect of the invention there is provided a window assembly comprising a glazed window frame pivotal about a horizontal axis between a fully open and a fully closed position and vice versa, and spring means disposed to bear on the window frame and to move with an over centre action as the frame is pivoted from its open position towards its closed position and vice versa whereby the frame is biased by said spring means towards its fully open position or towards its fully closed position as the case may be.

Preferably there is provided a pivot housing providing a fulcrum for said window frame and containment for said spring means, said spring means acting between said housing and said window frame. Said pivot housing preferably provides a mounting for one end of the spring means, said mounting being formed integrally in said housing with said fulcrum and, preferably, said spring means comprises one or more leaf springs.

The or each said leaf spring may be of arcuate form having a first end thereof mounted to said pivot housing and a second end thereof mounted to said window frame, said second end of the or each spring being movable through an over centre position relative to a line between said first end of the or each spring and the fulcrum of the window frame when the frame is pivoted between its fully open and fully closed positions and vice versa.

Said housing conveniently includes a removable cover member providing access, when removed, to the spring means contained in said housing.

Said housing conveniently includes a base portion having an upper surface thereof inclined to the horizontal downwardly and outwardly of the window frame and provided with a plurality of drain channels so as to communicate, when the assembly is installed in a window aperture in a body, between the interior and exterior of said body. The lower part of the window frame conveniently includes a pivot element engaged with said fulcrum in the pivot housing and a said lower part of the window frame conveniently includes a flexible sealing element engaged with said upper surface of the base portion of the pivot housing.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description given herein solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front elevation from the outside of a railway carriage window installation including a pivotable hopper window constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line III-III of Figure 1 with the hopper window in its fully open position; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the window installation of Figure 1 showing, in chain dot outline, the hopper window in its fully open position; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line VI-VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line VII-VII of Figure 1;; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 1 with the hopper window removed; and Figure 9 is a scrap front elevation taken from the inside of the railway carriage in the direction of arrow J of Figure 4.

A window assembly constructed in accordance with the invention and as shown in the drawings is particularly suitable for use as a railway carriage window although the invention is not limited to window assemblies for use in rail vehicles. As described and illustrated herein, the window assembly includes a glazing panel made up of two spaced apart panes of glass but it should be appreciated that window assemblies constructed in accordance with the invention may include glazing panels which comprise less than or more than two panes of glass.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a railway carriage window installation comprising a lower wholly fixed window assembly 10 and an upper pivotable window assembly of the type known as a hopper window 12. Both upper and lower window assemblies are mounted within a peripheral mounting frame 14 secured around a window aperture provided in the carriage bodywork, the frame 14 being secured around the window aperture on the interior side thereof. Such a window aperture is typically of around 1450 mm width and 850 mm height, the frame 14 itself being of approximately 50 mm in width.The pivotal axis of the hopper window 12 comprises a horizontal axis extending along the upper edge of the lower window assembly 10 whereby the upper hopper window assembly may be pivoted inwardly of the railway carriage to a stop position in which the plane of the hopper window is at an angle to the vertical which is typically of the order of 250.

Figure 2 of the drawings shows a complete cross sectional view through the window installation of Figure 1 from top to bottom thereof. From Figure 2 it will be seen that the peripheral frame 14 visible in Figure 1, which may conveniently be formed as an aluminium extrusion, is secured such as by bolting to T-slots 16 provided in cantrail extrusions 18 around the window aperture.

Alternatively the frame 14 may be secured to the extrusions 18 by rivetting, welding or by any other suitable form of attachment. This frame 14 is sealed as by sealant 20 to the outer peripheral edges of the cantrail extrusions 18 and provides a mounting frame to which the whole of the window installation comprising the upper and lower window assemblies 12 and 10 may be secured.

The mounting frame 14 is conveniently provided in an upper half and a lower half being bent through a small radius at each of its respective upper and lower corners or, alternatively, the frame 14 may be provided as four separate lengths of straight material adjacent pieces of which are joined together at corners by mitre joints or the like. The cross-sectional profile of the frame 14 is uniform throughout and comprises a base portion 22, an outer peripheral flange 24 substantially normal to the surface of said base portion 22, and an inner flange 26 by means of which the frame 14 is bolted or otherwise secured to the cantrails 18. The innermost edge of the surface of the base portion 22 has a continuous groove 28 formed therein with an open mouth directed parallel to the plane of the window aperture. The inner face of the peripheral flange 24 also has a continuous groove 30 formed therein having an open mouth directed normal to the plane of the window aperture and inwardly thereof.

The lower fixed window assembly 10 is glazed directly to the frame 14.

As is best seen from the lower part of Figure 2 of the drawings, a lower glazing panel comprising inner and outer glass panes 32 and 34 respectively, separated by a spacer 36, is glazed to the frame 14 by means of an outer sealing bead 38 in the groove 30 and an inner sealing bead 40 in the groove 28. When assembled, the lower glazing panel is retained in the frame 14 by the sealing bead 40 pressing against the outer face of the inner pane 32 thus to press the outer face of the outer pane 34 against the sealing bead 38. Thus the glazing panel is retained between the peripheral outer flange 24 and the inner sealing bead 40 along the bottom horizontal edge of the glazing panel (as seen in Figure 2) and along its two vertical edges (as seen in Figure 7).The vertical edges and the bottom horizontal edges of the glazing panel panes 32 and 34 may be supported relative to the base portion 22 by means of a thin spacer, and the bottom horizontal base portion 22 of the frame 14 may have a plurality of drainage holes 42 (see Figure 2) communicating with the exterior of the carriage bodywork in which the window aperture is provided.

An upper frame element 44 of the fixed window assembly 10 of Figure 2 comprises an aluminium extrusion providing a pivot and pivot housing for the upper hopper window assembly 12 and providing also an outer retaining flange 24 and grooves for sealing beads 38 and 40 whereby the upper horizontal edge of the lower glazing panel may be secured thereto in a similar manner to that described above with reference to the lower horizontal edge and vertical edges of the lower glazing panel.

Said upper frame element 44 includes a continuous upwardly extending outer flange 46 providing, on its inner surface, a continuous arcuate bearing groove 48 extending horizontally over the full length of the frame element 44.

The frame element 44 provides also a base portion 50 having an upper surface inclined downwardly towards the outside of the railway carriage and including a plurality of drain channels 52 therein. The base portion 50 extends inwardly of the window aperture beyond the plane containing the frame flanges 26 and, at its innermost free extremity, said base portion is provided with an upwardly extending continuous projection 54 defining a continuous recess 56 for mounting one end of a spring as will be further described below.

The upper hopper window assembly 12 comprises a two-pane glazing panel mounted and sealed at its edges (apart from its lower horizontal edge) within a channel-shaped frame 58 having an outer face engagable in the closed position of the window with a sealing strip 60 carried within a groove in a peripheral flange 62 of a sub-frame of the hopper window which is itself secured, such as by stitch welding 63 for example, to the flange 24 of the frame 14. The sub-frame is secured in a water-tight manner to the flange 24 by means of a sealing strip 65 carried in a groove in the flange 24. The lower part of the hopper window assembly (see Figures 2 and 3) comprises a pivotable extruded mounting element 64 including an upwardly directed rectangular channel within which the lower horizontal edge of the glazing panel is sealed and mounted.Below said channel the mounting element 64 is of complex profile and includes an outwardly projecting continuous bead 66 having a part spherical head engaged within the arcuate bearing groove 48 of the housing 44. Opposed to said bead 66 there is provided a rectangular recess 68 providing a mounting for the other end of a spring as will be further described below.

That part of the element 64 adjacent the outer face of the inner pane 32 of the glazing panel is of generally triangular cross-sectional form and is provided with a plurality of apertures 70 whereby an elongated cover plate 72 may be mounted thereto. Said cover plate 72 includes a removable cover strip 74 permitting access to screw attachment means 76 and has an upper generally horizontal surface, and an inner downwardly projecting curved portion 78 which overlies the innermost extremity 54 of the base portion 50 of the pivot housing 44.

From Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the lower part of the pivot mounting 64 includes a wiper seal 86 projecting downwardly therefrom to engage the sloping face of the base portion 50 of the housing 44. Such wiper seal 86 comprises an anti-draft baffle and is conveniently of castellated form to provide drainage spaces at positions remote from the drain channels 52.

One or more bow leaf springs 80 are mounted to extend between the lower fixed frame element 50 of the fixed window assembly 10 and the lower pivotable mounting 64 of the hopper window assembly 12. The or each bow leaf spring 80 includes a scroll end frictionally mounted within a correspondingly recessed mounting element, conveniently formed of plastics material, each of which is received respectively within the recess 56 in the outer extremity 54 of the fixed base portion 50 and the recess 68 in the pivotable mounting 64. The or each bow leaf spring 80 is assembled so as to be convex downwardly and, in use, the or each such spring will pass through an over-centre position as the hopper window is pivoted inwardly of the vehicle from the fully closed position shown in Figure 2 to the fully open position shown in Figure 3.The or each spring will also pass through its over-centre position during the reverse movement of the hopper window so that it will always be spring biased either towards its open position or towards its closed position.

Thus, comparing the spring positions shown in Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that in the fully closed window position of Figure 2 the recess 68 is located above a line extending between the recess 56 and the fulcrum provided by the bead 66 engaged within the groove 48. Conversely, in the fully open window position of Figure 3, the spring 80 has moved with an over centre action so that the recess 68 is located below the said line extending between the recess 56 and the fulcrum.

In the fully open position, as shown in Figure 3, the hopper window is inclined at a typical angle of 250 to the vertical and is restrained against further movement by means of a pair of spaced apart guard plates 82 having inturned stop buffers 84 as shown in Figures 5 and 5.

Centrally of the upper edge of the hopper window assembly 12 there is provided a catch assembly 88 and handle 90 as can be seen from Figure 4. The catch assembly 88 and handle 90 are carried by the upper frame 58 to which the upper edges of the glazing panel of the hopper window assembly are secured. A latch plate 92 is secured to an inner downwardly depending flange 94 of the hopper window sub-frame. As will be seen from Figures 4 and 9 of the drawings, the operating handle provides a curved inner surface and is conveniently formed as an aluminium extrusion having two end plates 96 conveniently formed of a plastics material.Release of the latch from the latch plate from the position shown in Figure 4 will permit the hopper window to be pivoted inwardly of the carriage with a spring assisted action towards the fully open position in which the vertical edges of the frame elements of the hopper window glazing panel will abut the guard plate buffers 84.

Thus, awindow assembly constructed in accordance with the invention may be fitted to a single mounting frame 14 since the lower window assembly 10 is directly glazed to such frame and the upper hopper window assembly 12, comprising a self-contained assembly with its own sub-frame may also be mounted directly to the main frame 14. Such main frame 14 may comprise an aluminium extrusion having a single uniform profile provided either at an upper and a lower part each with radius corners or as four straight parts with mitred corners.

The specific form of hopper window assembly includes simple bow leaf springs the number of which may be varied to suit the required spring biasing characteristics to be applied to the hopper window frame. The top removable cover of the pivot housing enables access to be gained for initial assembly and subsequent repair or replacement of the springs and their mountings.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in the terms or means for performing the desired function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (10)

1. A window assembly comprising a glazed window frame pivotable about a horizontal axis between a fully open and a fully closed position and vice versa, and spring means disposed to bear on the window frame and to move with an over centre action as the frame is pivoted from its open position towards its closed position and vice versa whereby the frame is biased by said spring means towards its fully open position or towards its fully closed position as the case may be.

2. A window assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a pivot housing providing a fulcrum for said window frame and containment for said spring means, said spring means acting between said housing and said window frame.

3. A window assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pivot housing provides a mounting for one end of the spring means, said mounting being formed integrally in said housing with said fulcrum.

4. A window assembly as claimed in either one of claims 2 or 3 wherein said spring means comprises one or more leaf springs.

5. A window assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the or each said leaf spring is of arcuate form having a first end thereof mounted to said housing and a second end thereof mounted to said window frame, said second end of the or each spring being movable through an over centre position relative to a line between said first end of the or- each spring and the fulcrum of the window frame when the frame is pivoted between its fully open and fully closed positions and vice versa.

6. A window assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein said housing includes a removable cover member providing access, when removed, to the spring means contained in said housing.

7. A window assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said pivot housing includes a base portion having an upper surface thereof inclined to the horizontal downwardly and outwardly of the window frame and is provided with a plurality of drain channels so as to communicate, when the assembly is installed in a window aperture in a body, between the interior and exterior of said body.

8. A window assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lower part of the window frame includes a pivot element engaged with said fulcrum in the pivot housing, said lower part of the window frame including a flexible sealing element engaged with said upper surface of the base portion of the pivot housing.

9. A window assembly constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.