US1146910A - Method of making glass letters. - Google Patents

Description

R. R. WiLEY & W. S. HOUGH, JR.

METHOD 0F MAKING GLASS LETTERS.

APPLICATION man AuG,1s.1913.

1,146,9l00 Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

E ORJZ. Wye-,y

INVENTORS,

WITNESSES (ff Q/ fm ATTORN EY -R. R. WILEY & W. S. HOUGH, JR.

METHOD 0F MAKING GLASS LETTERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6, I9I3.

Patented July 20, 1915.

`2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

v 7 A f INVENTORS,

ATTO R N EY ROY R. WILEY, F BUFFALO,

- K CATHERINES, ONTARIO,

New YORK, AND

WILLIAM S. HOUG-H, JR., OF ST. i CANADA.

METHOD OF MAKING GLASS LETTERS.

i T0 all whom t may concern I so b acters have long been employed for signs of Be it known that we, ROY R. WILEY and lVILLnxM S. HoUGH, Jr., citizens of `the United States, residing, respectively, at Buffalo and St. Catherines, in the county of Erie an'd Province of Ontario, respectively, and State of'New York and Dominion of Canada, respectively, and useful Method of Making Glass Letters, of which the following is a specification. his invention has reference to improvements in the method of making glass letters and its object is to produce glass letters especially adapted for signs intended to be illuminated at night from a source of light at the rear of the sign'and to be made brilliant in daylight by light reflected from the letters.

The present invention is adapted for the production of other sign characters than letters, but for convenience of description the characters produced will be designated letters, with the understanding that the term employed is to be interpreted broadly enough to include any sign character whether it be a letter of the alphabet or a numeral or some other character imitative or fanciful.

Glass sign letters have been used for many years and relief letters of glass have also een used for many years. Such sign char the type known as illuminated signs where a light giving element or elements are placed behind the letters for making the sign visible at night, but prior to the present invention such signs had inherent defects which greatly marred the artistic effect of the sign, and, moreover, the daylight effect was elther` very poor, or where the attempt was madeto obtain a daylight effect such effect was only imperfectly obtained.

ln accordance with the present invention there is first provided a sheet of glass of substantially even thickness throughout and usually one surface is formed into a great number of prisms having their angles such that light coming from the plane side of the glass will strike the surfaces ofthe prisms and when the rays 'of light are at the proper angles they will be almost totally reflected back through the plane side of the glass, thus imparting to the eye of the beholder the impression of brilliant illumination. When, however, there is a. source of light on one side of the glass sheet and the observer 1s on Specification of Letters Patent.

have invented a new rammed July ao, i915.

Application led August 16, 19113. Serial No. 785,187.

the other side, such source of light is not seen as a localized source' of light, but the light is broken up by the many prisms and reaches the eye of the observer .from various directlonsgivmg the impression of an illuminationfrom a large lightarea. v Street signs are designed to be viewed from a considerable distance and,therefore, are made large, and in most instances are considerably elevated, so that under the ordinary conditions of use different observers Will View the signs from different angles4 and in most instances are below 'the level of the sign, wherefore the letter is made-in relief and when made from a sheet of glass the strokes ofr the letters are hollow and of approximately even thickness throughout, although rounded outwardly or towardthe observer. The result of this is that the light is transmitted at greatly in-l creased angles with respect to the source of light, sol that an observer standing almost in the plane ofthe letterywill still see the strokes brilliantly illuminated as though the source of light was inside the strokes, when as a matter of fact the source of light is located several inches back of the letter.

Any structure of glass which will admit of the illuminating results may be employed, the present invention having to do with the formation of the glass sheet into a hollow letter in relief, this being accomplished in a manner to be described.

he invention will be best understood from a'consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the further understanding that the. structure employed may be variously modified and the procedure described may also be variously mo'dilied,'so long as such modifications mark no departure from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure l is a vertical section of a heating furnace, more orA less schematically illustrated, and showing on'e step of the method. Fig. 2 is a similar viewl showing another step of the method. Fig. 3 form of glass sheet which appears before treatment. front view of a glass sheet such as shown in Fig. after havmg been subjected totreatment 1n accordance with the method ofthe method, as such. Fig. 4 is a.

present invention. Figs. 5 and 6 are views similai to Fig. 1, but showing another manner of practising the invention. Fig. 7 is a view showing the application of the invention to smooth glass.

In the drawings thereJ is shown a furnace 1, the showing being more or less schematic andwithout attempt at showing any particular proportions, and this furnace is supplied with means indicated by the pipe 2 for directing a burning fuel into the furnace in a manner to produce ya desired degree of heat. o

In order yto carry out the method of the present invention there is provided a plate 3 and another plate 4, and also a tool 5 having an extremity 6 bent at an angle to the length of the tool long to permit a Workman to introduce it through an opening 7 inthe furnace,

through which opening the plates 8 and 4 are also introduced, the workman being suiiin relief, and then against this pattern the iron plate is cast and this casting may be sufficiently smooth to permit its use Without expending any particular labor upon it.

' The plate 4 is a plain plate and is free from grooves.

In carrying out the process the plate 4 is 'introduced into the furnace so as to be heated, and the plate 3 is also introduced into the furnace so as to be heated. The plate of glass indicated at 9 is inserted in thefurnace for short intervals and withdrawn until-the plate isA of a uniform temperature throughout and sufficiently heated so that it can be placed on plate 3 without crackin. At the same time the sheet 9 is not sufficiently heated to spontaneously collapse and the operator thereupon, While the plate 3 and sheet 9 are Within the furnace, manipulates the tool 5 in a manner to ca use the end 6 to press upon the glass sheet immediately over the grooves 8, the sheet at this time having the prismatic surface indicated at 10 uppermost. The lass sheet being in a softened condition yields to the pressure applied by the tool end 6 'and is forced into the grooves 8 until seated therein, but at no time does the glass becomesuii'ciently soft ,i to cause obliteration or attening of. the l prisms 10, although the glass'will yield to 'a force applied by the tool 5, the operator being able to follow the outlines ofthe letter accurately, and produce a sufficiently faithand this tool is suiiiciently ful copy'of the die. The Vforcing of the softened but still quitefresistant glass into the grooves causes a partial distortion of the glass sheet 9 so that it -is no longer flat, but 1s more or less wrinkled. This is remedied by the operator flattening the wrinkled portions from time to time 'with his tool,A The operator now withdraws the plate or die 3 with the 'treated glass sheet thereon and yat the same time withdraws the plate 4 and' then by the use of a suitable tool the formed glass sheet is lifted from the die 3 and reversed upon the plate 4, so that' the formed letter is now uppermost land the plate 4 is reintroduced into the furnace for a short time sufficient for the heating of the glass sheet. to cause it to flatten down upon the plate 4 but without sensible effectV upon the relief portions agreeable'to the4 grooves 8. The.

plate 4 is now again Withdrawn from the 'lol furnace and with the letter thereon is placed Ain .an annealing oven where it remains a sufficient length of time, say twenty-fourl hours, more or less, when` itis ready for use. The glass sheet with the"` letter in relief is'indicated at 9*? in Fig,1 4, the letter itself being shown at'll.

The prisms 'in the particularform shown in F ig. 4 are indicated at 12'as arranged in groups 'Where the individual prisms of each group radiatefrom a common center, and this arrangement has been successfully em'- ployed in actual practice, givinga distribution of light in connection with reflecting and toning-down means producing an evenness of illuminationby night that gives to the observer the impression that back of the `letter is .a source of illumination as largev as the letter itself, it being understood that alltliat part of the glass sheet not occupied by the letter is covered 4by opaque material', so that the letter alone is visible.

In the practice of the invention it isfal'l f matter of but a few moment-s time to "pro- `ducel the letter complete and ready for the annealing oven, and Without harmful dstor- .tionv of the prismatic surfacewhether the letter be of the character indicated in Fig.

4 or of some other character, and the glass', L

,o in is in shape for being mounted in 'the` 4sign structure without further treatment,

sheet after having the letter produced therethose portions of the glass plate about the letter serving as means for fastening itinv 4 the sign structure.

vIn forcing the softened glass sheetinto the grooves delineating .the letterf'the tool 5v is moved in various directions as needed to'vk press upon the glass to Vmake it conform "to`- 1 y y the grooves, and While comparatively large4 portions of the glass sheet Where over the distortion. and hence do not sensibly change lgroovesn 21nd therefore,- unsupported, will i' Yyield quite readilyl to the action offtlie tool 5, the-prismatic ridges are more resistant to l Y their shape under the action the tool is blunt and of less l the point of the tool, this being due to the fact that the active end ofA extent than the Width'of the groove, and hence may locally stretch or form the glassfor a considerable distancel from` the point of application of the tool by transmission through the glass rather than the force being all expended, at of contact only, which latter effect would result in the marked distortion, if not the obliteration of the prisms.

The heat employed is not sufficient or is not continued for a sufiicient time to cause any material spontaneous flow of the glass, but only to soften it so as to yield Without fracture to a force tending to cause the glass to conformto the grooves by progressive applications of the force or pressure or an application of the pressure in such manner as to permit the glass to yield without disturbancev of any configuration of the glass. So far as the manner of causing the glass sheet to conform to the grooves is concerned,

this might be applied to glass smooth onv both sides or with the prismatic surface on`Y that side which in -the finished letter is the outside surface.

In the foregoing description reference has been had only to the formation of the sign characters in sunken molds. on the mold, however, may be in relief, so that the glass sheet is in the main forced down upon the body portionof the mold plate, but the sign character itself as formed in the glass sheet is in relief as before. The prisms, however, may be on the face of the plate remote from the forming or working tool, thus relieving them from the action of the tool. Still if it be so desired the prismatic surface may kbe on the outside face of the glass, or the sign character ma be lformed of a glass sheet plain on both fiices `A mold adapted I sign characters of glass prismatic on one face, butwith the prisms out of the path of the forming tool, is shown ini Figs. 5 and 6, where there is indicated a plate 3*l having raised portions 8 defining the sign character and a glass sheet 9 having `a prismatic surface 10 when placed upon the plate 3a withv the raised sign character 8, and when appropriately softened heat may be Worked lby the tool 5 having an ang e end 6, While the mold plate and glass sheetare Within the furnace l and maintained hot by the flame of. burning fuel issuing from the pipe 2.

In Fig. 5 the softened glass sheet is indicated as lying upon the plate 3a and being mol'ded about the raisedportions or ribs 8u defining the sign character, While in Fig. 6

fthe completionl of the operation of molding the glass sheet is indicated. It will be noticed that theforming tool 5 does not come` in contact with the prismatic face of the glasssheet and so there is no tendency to Vsign character or The charactersl to the formation of relief distort ythe prisms.' Still, this tendency is not marked, so that it is possible to mold the sign character with the risms outermost, although usually it is preferred to have the prisms on the rear face of the sign character.

In-either form of mold there is a surface capable of sustaining the glass sheet and there are portions slinken below such surface and such sunken portions are either in the form of a groove or grooves delineating the they form the margins or borders of and so delineate the sign charr acter. It is into such sunken portions that the glass sheet is forced by an appropriate tool to produce a relief sign character, and in either case the sign character is produced by forcibly depressing parts of a glass sheet 1 prismatic face may be 'that presented outwardly or inwardly in the finished sign character, the prismatic surface is preferably the inner or rear face of the sign char` acter.

While the` prismatic glass gives highly' satisfactory results in the formation of relief sign characters, other types of glass free froln prisms, or having substantially smooth surfaces and of a trunsluc'ent nature, such as opal glass or `the like, `may be employed in the practice iof the invention.

In'Fig. 7 there is shown a sheet 9b of smooth glass being subjected to the action of the forming tool 5, whereby relief strokes of the character are made. It will be understood of-coursethatthe structure of Fig. 5

lmay be employed instead of the particular ysheet to soften it while maintaining the temperature at a point less than that produclng fusion or surface flow of the glass. and while the glass sheet so softened is supported upon a die having a sustaining surface for the sheet and. portions sunken below such surface, whereby the die delineates a sign character, and also while the glass is maintained in such softened condition by the continued application of' the heat, applying pressure to the softened glass Where overlying the sunken portions of the die with the pressure exerted in directions both longitudinally and laterally of the lengths of the Character strokes so as to force the softened glass into the sunken portions of the die.

2. The method of producing relief glass sign characters for illuminated signs, which consists in providing a sheet of glass of substantially even thickness throughout, placing such sheet upon-a die having a supporting surface for the glass sheet, and portions sunken below such surface whereby the die dclineates a sign character, heating the glass sheet to soften it and locally and progressively applying pressure to the glass sheet both laterally and longitudinally of the sunken portions until the glass sheet has been depressed into the sunken portions throughout the area defined thereby.

l3. The method of making glass letters, which consists in providing a sheet of substantially even thickness throughout with one face prisniatic, heating the glass sheet to soften it while lying upon a die with the letter delineated by sunken portions and the glass sheet having the prismatic surface uppermost, and applying pressure to tlie-softened glass sheet where overlying the sunken portions to force the glass thereinto,

the'heating being continued during the pressing operation. v f '4. The method of-forming glass letters which consists in providing a sheet of glass of substantially even'thickness throughout, heating the glass sheet to a temperature regulated to cause .the glass to soften without spontaneously flowing, then while the v glass -sheet is supported upon a die with the character delineated therein by high and sunken portions, applying pressure to the glass where overlying the sunken portions to there force the glass into such sunken portions and continuing the pressure progressively both laterally and longitudinally of j the sunken portions until the glass has been forced to the bottom thereof, then inverting the glass sheet upon a fiat surface and submitting it as a whole to a softening temperature less than a ten'i'perature producing spontaneous flowing of the glass, whereby unevenness of those portions of the glass sheet other than the character strokes, which unevenness is due to the molding of the -sheet into the sunken portions, is obliterated.'

5. The method of producing glass characters for signs which consists in providing a sheet of substantiallyv even thickness throughout,heating the glass sheet to a teinpeiature regulated to cause the glass to matic surface uppermost upon a diehayin'g 1 4portions to there force the glass into such sunken portions andcontinuing-the pressure progressively'- both laterally and longitudi- `character to be produced, and also having,v

one surface covered withprisms, heatingthe glass sheet to. a temperature regulated to cause the glass to soften Without spontaneously flowing, and While'. thev glass sheet isy supported upon a die having the character delineated therein by high and sunken portions, and with the glass sheet'having'the prismatic surface uppermost, applying pressure to circumscribedareas of the'prismatic -j? surface of the glassv Where overlying the sunken portions andshifting the point ofgf application of pressure from place to place' both laterally and longitudinally of the sunken portions until the glass sheet where` overlying the sunken portions has been forced to the bottom thereof. l

7. The method 4of producing glass charl acters, which consists in providing afsiieet Y of glass of substantially equal thickness throughout and of greater area than the character to be produced and also having Y one surface covered with prisms, heating the yglass sheet to a temperature regulated to cause the glass to soften without spontaneously flowing, and while the glass sheet is. supported upon a die having the character Qdelineated therein by high and sunken portions `and with the glass sheet having the prismatic surface uppermost, applying pres-y sure to circumscribed areas of the prismatic surface of the glass where overlying'the slinken portions and shifting the point of application of pressure from place to'place both laterally and longitudinally of the sunken portions until the glass sheet where overlying said sunken portions has been forced. to the bottom thereof, the softening temperature being maintained troughout the pressing operation by the continued application of heat to the glass sheet.

48. The method of producing glass letters or character, which constists in providing a sheet of glass of substantially even thickness throughoutwith one surface covered with prisms, and said glass sheet being of greater area than the letter to be produced,

heating the' glass sheet to a temperature to soften the sheet without causing the glass to spontaneously flow, and, `while the softened 'glass sheet is supported with the prisl theV letten-'0r' characterdelineated; therein byhigh and sunkenportion's, applying presi-` L, y

-V`sure to circumseribed areas of the 'prismatic'v surface where overlying the sunken portions" isc over that portion of the glass overlying said slinken portions until the glass sheet is there forced to the bottom thereof, then removing' the glass sheet with the relief letter or character formed therein from vthe die and inverting the sheet. Upon a plane plate, and heating the inverted glass'sheet to cause the spontaneous elimination of irregularities therein produced by the molding of the character.

9. The method of producing hollow glass letters in relief, which consists in placing a glass sheet upon 'a die in covering relation to slinken portions in one face of the die delineating the letter to be produced, the margins of said letter including an area less p than that of the glass sheet wheny the letthe slinken portions of the die ter in relief has been produced therein, maintaining Ythe glass sheet while on the die in a softened condition at a temperature less than that causing spontaneous flowing of the glass,` and while the glass sheet is so softened,` forcing those portions overlying thereinto by the pressure. applied locally and progressively to the said portions ot' the glass sheet overlying the sunken portions of the die, the area of applied pressure being so much less than either the length or width of a sunken portion as to require displacement of such area of pressure both laterally and longitudinally of the sunken portion to completely seat the glass sheet therein.

l0. The. method ot' producing hollow glass letters in relief, which consists in placing a glass sheet of greater area than the letter to be produced and having one face prismatic upon a die in covering relation to a sunken portion or portions produced in one face of the die and deliueating the letter to be produced, maintainingr the glass sheet while on the die in a softened condition by the continued application ot' heat at a telnperature less than that causing the spontaneous flow of the g ass. and forcing the softened glass into the groove or grooves of the die by pressure applied locally and progressively to the glass over said sunken portion by a tool having a single blunt active end with its terminal face ofl less extent than either the interior length or width of the sunken portion to pei-init movements of the tooll both laterally and longitudinally of said sunken portion.

ln testimony` that we claim the foregoing as our own. we have hereto ailixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ROY R. WILEY. WILLIAM h'. HOIGII, Ju. 1Witnesses A. R. Wnrrn, A. J. (roms.

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