IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ESCAPE AND EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS ??
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
.
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ESCAPE AND EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS ??
A communication from abroad by Lorenzo Dow Butters Shaw, of the United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1882.
FIRE ESCAPE
AND
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London " IMPROVEMENTS IN
EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS [A communication from abroad by Lorenzo
Dow Butters Slaw, of the United States of America.]
"
This invention relates to improvements in that class of fire-escapes in which a
telescopic column is employed for elevating a ladder to any required height, and
when so elevated to enable the column and ladder to be inclined in any direction
towards a building in flames, so as to enable persons in such building to escape by
means of such ladder in perfect safety and without danger of falling, and also to
admit of the removal of articles of value from the upper stories of buildings in
flames.
In connection with the elevating column and ladder is a hose which is also
elevated with the ladder, and from which a stream of water may be thrown upon
or into a burning building at any required height.
My improved apparatus is constructed as follows, that is to say I provide a
frame the two ends of which are connected at the lower portion by bars.
At the front end of the frame is a standard by which the frame is supported on
an axle and wheels. The rear end of the apparatus is supported by bars on an axle
and wheels.
A frame is journalled at each end in bearings in the upright portions of the
main frame so as to admit of said frame being tilted from side to side of the main
frame.

page_text: On the underside of the front part of the tilting frame is a toothed sector the
teeth of which engage with a pinion on a shaft to which is also attached a toothed
wheel engaging with a pinion operated by a crank by turning which the tilting
frame, which supports the telescopic column, may be inclined to either side of the
apparatus as desired. To the pinion is attached a notched wheel or disc which is
held in any desired position by a spring-pawl so as to hold the toothed wheel in
position as the column and ladder are inclined to either side, and whereby the
latter are maintained in their inclined or upright position as required.
In order to counterbalance the superincumbent weight of the telescopic tubing
and ladder, and to steady the motion of the same while being inclined in their
elevated position, I connect the tilting frame with a series of strong coiled springs
arranged and operating as rollows:-To the lower end of the rear portion of the
tilting frame is attached a wire rope or chain which passes between two horizontal
pulleys in the main frame, and extending to the rear, passes around a pulley
attached to a bar and then inclining upwards, is secured to the rear of the main
frame. The bar not being fixed is allowed an up and down notion and it has
secured to it the end of a series of stout coiled springs arranged horizontally, and
attached at their opposite ends to a plate which is connected to the main frame by
means of curved rods or bars, or in any other suitable manner. As the tilting
frame is tilted, the rope or chain will be drawn through the main frame causing
the springs to yield to the pressure exerted by the inclining tube and ladder, thus
serving as a yielding counterbalance and steadying the movement of the tube and
ladder.
A table or platform is journalled at its sides in bearings on the tilting frame so
as to tilt horizontally or in the opposite direction from the main frame. To the
journal of the table at one side, is attached a toothed sector which gears with a
pinion the shaft of which latter passes through, or is journalled in, the tilting
frame and has upon its outer end a toothed wheel engaging with a pinion operated
by a crank. To the crank on the same shaft with the pinion is attached a notched
disc to which is fitted a spring pawl to hold the pinion in position, and by means
of which the table is held at any desired inclination.
A similar appliance of springs as that used in connection with the tilting frame
is also employed in connection with the tilting table as follows :-
To the front end of the table is attached a wire rope or chain which passes
between two pulleys one above the other, in a standard on the front end of the
frame; from thence the chain passes up over a pulley, attached to a bar supported
upon two upright bars or standards attached to the main frame; from this pulley
the chain passes down under..another pulley and then, passing upwards, is secured
to a cross-bar. The uprights pass through holes in a cross-bar which allows the
latter to move up and down on the said uprights. To the underside of this bar
are attached four coiled springs the lower ends of which are firmly secured to the
main frame. As the table is tilted to the front or rear, the springs will act as a
counterbalance, through the rope or chain and the several pulleys, to steady the
movement of the table and the extended tube and ladder. The springs in front
and at the rear of the apparatus act conjointly in counterbalancing and steadying
the movement of the elevated ladder in its several inclinations from front to rear
and from side to side.
To the upper side of the table or platform is firmly secured a section of thin
metal tubing composed of drawn brass or other thin metal.
Ropes or chains extending from the ends of the table to eyes on a band attached
to the tubing serve as stays to hold the tube in position on the table. Within the
stationary tubing are arranged a series of telescopic tubes of sufficient length
respectively to enable the column when extended to reach to, any desired height.
The sections of tubing are elevated in the following manner. To the lower end of
the upper section of tubing is firmly attached a rack which is made in sections
hinged together. These sections, when straightened out, constitute a column of
sufficient rigidity to sustain the several sections of tubing when extended to their

page_text: entire height. The sectional rack is wound upon a drum which is mounted upon a
screw shaft having its bearings in hangers attached to the table.
The drum is so arranged and connected with the screw-shaft as to move
horizontally on the latter when it is rotated and cause the toothed rack to pass tip
centrally through the tubing as it is being elevated. The rack engages with a
toothed wheel mounted on the same shaft with a bevelled gear-wheel and the other
gear-wheel. One gear wheel engages with another gear-wheel on the shaft to
which the bevel gear-wheel is attached, and, engaging with the bevel gear-wheel is
rotated by means of the shaft to which the crank is attached, the said shaft being
mounted in standards on the surface of the table. The lateral movement of the
drum on the screw-shaft is effected by means of gear-wheels and the bar. The
shaft carrying the bevel gear-wheel and to which the crank is attached is prevented
from turning, by means of a ratchet-wheel on the shaft and a spring pawl secured
to the table. A pawl is thrown out of connection with the ratchet-wheel by means
of a lever pivoted to the pawl and having a cam-shaped end which is made to bear
against the tube to push back the pawl when a lever is depressed.
To the upper end of each section of the telescopic tubing is firmly secured, by
means of a collar and radial arms, a circular frame or metal ring and between each
fixed ring, are a series of rings connected together and to the fixed rings by means
of chains or other suitable flexible and fire-proof material. Between each metal
ring I propose to surround the chains with india-rubber bands which will allow the
chains to assume a perpendicular position when the column is extended but which
when the column is lowered will serve to draw the chains inward to admit of the
rings being more readily folded together and prevent entanglement of the chains:
These rings serve as rungs in a ladder and admit of persons descending and climbing
up on the inside or outside, as desired. Descent on the inside may be effected with
perfect safety with moderate care.
At the rear of the telescopic column, on the table is mounted in suitable bearings
a reel upon which is wound a hose of india-rubber or other suitable material one
end of which is attached to the upper end of the uppermost section of the telescopic
column, and is provided at the upper end with a coupling device for the attachment
of a pipe or hose if required. As the telescopic column is elevated, the hose will
be carried up at the same time, and be ready for immediate use. When the
telescopic column is lowered the hose is wound upon the reel by means of a crank
handle.
In order to prevent the apparatus when extended for use from overcoming the
centre of gravity and to ensure a firm support to the carriage I employ a series of
double hinged folding braces, attached to each corner of the frame and also to the
rear end, so that the same can be extended outwards on both sides of the frame
and also at the front and rear. At the outer end of each double brace is attached
a hollow standard within which is arranged a bar to slide up and down. The
lower part of the bar is provided with ratchet teeth and to the side of each standard
is attached a spring provided with a tooth or projection which engages with the
rack to hold the bar when drawn up within the standard. When the folding braces
are extended for use, the bars are let down upon the ground, and are designed to
hold the braces firmly in position, and when the braces are to be folded up, the bars
are drawn up and held by the toothed springs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th October 1882.
FIRE ESCAPE AND
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
IN
"IMPROVEMENTS
Southampton Buildings, London
EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS A communication from abroad by Lorenzo
Dow Butters Shaw, of the United States of America
"
This invention relates to improvements in fire escapes in which a telescopic
column is employed for elevating a ladder to any required height, which ladder so
elevated is capable of being inclined in any direction towards a building in flames,
- so as to enable persons in such building to escape by means of such ladder in
perfect safety and without danger of falling; and also to allow the removal of
articles of value from tlie upper stories of buildings in flames.
In connection with the telescopic column and ladder is a hose which is elevated
with the ladder, and from which a steam of water may be thrown upon or into a
burning building at any required height
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus embodying this invention
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same shewing the position of the telescopic
column and ladder when closed and not in use
Figure 3 is a plan of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a section on the line 8, 8, of Figure 2
Figure 5 is a view of the sectional rack and accompanying operating
mechanism.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the telescopic column and its elevating
mechanism.
Figure 7 is a transverse horizontal section of the circular ladder.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings
The two ends A A of the main frame of the apparatus are connected together
at the lower portion by the bars E, E
At the front end of the frame is a standard B (see Figure 2) by which the
frame is supported' upon the axle D, and the wheels C, C. The rear end of the
apparatus is supported by bars DD" upon the axle D' and wheels C' C¹.
A frame F is journalled at each end in bearings G G in the upright portions of
the main frame A, so as to admit of being tilted from side to side upon the said
main frame A
On the underside of the front part of the tilting frame F is a toothed sector G¹
(Figure 4) the teeth of which engage with the pinion H on a shaft H¹, to which
latter is also attached the toothed wheel I, engaging with a pinion K operated by
a crank K¹ by turning which the tilting frame F which supports the telescopic
column, may be inclined to either side of the apparatus as desired. To the pinion K
is attached a notched wheel or disc L (Figure 1) which is held in any desired
position by a spring pawl M so as to hold the toothed wheel I in position as the
column and ladder are inclined to either side, and whereby the latter are maintained
in their inclined or upright position as required."
In order to counterbalance the super-incumbent weight of the telescopic tubing
and ladder and to steady the motion of the same while being inclined in their
elevated position the tilting frame is connected with a series of strong coiled
springs arranged and operating as follows:-To the lower end of the rear portion
of the tilting frame F, is attached at Q' a wire rope or chain Q Figure 2, which

page_text: passes between two horizontal pulleys in the main frame A and extending to the
rear passes around a pulley R, Figure 3, is attached to a bar N¹ and then inclining
upwards is secured to the rear of the main frame A at Q. The bar N' not being
fixed is allowed an up and down motion and it has secured to it the ends of a
series of stout coiled spiral springs P P arranged horizontally and attached at their
opposite ends to a plate N, which is connected to the main frame by means of
curved rods or bars O, O or in any other suitable manner. As the frame F is.
tilted, the rope or chain Q will be drawn through the frame A causing the
springs P P to yield to the pressure exerted by the inclining tube and ladder, thus,
serving as a yielding counterbalance and steadying the movement of the said tube
and ladder.
A. table or platform S is journalled at its sides in bearings T T on the frame F,
so as to tilt in the opposite direction to the latter. To the journal of the table S
at one side is attached a toothed sector U, which gears with a pinion U¹ Figure 3
the shaft of which latter passes through, or is journalled in the frame F and has
upon its outer end a toothed wheel U engaging with a pinion Uill operated by &
crank V. To the crank V on the same shaft with the pinion U is attached a
notched disc q to which is fitted a spring pawl 10, to hold the said pinion in
position and by means of which the table S is held at any desired inclination.
A similar application of springs to that used in connection with the tilting
frame F is also employed in connection with the tilting table S, that is to say-to
the front end of the table S is attached a wire rope or chain & Figure 4, which
passes between two pulleys &, d¹ one above the other, in a standard d¹ on the
front end of the frame F, from thence the chain d passes up over a pulley b,
attached to a bar a supported upon two upright bars or standards, attached to
the main frame A, from this pulley b the chain passes down under, another
pulley o and then passing upwards is secured to the said cross bar a (see Figures 1
and 4). The uprights z, z, pass through holes in the cross bar x which allows the
latter to move up and down on the said uprights. To the underside of the bar, x
are attached four coiled springs Y, Y, Figures 1 and, 2) the lower ends of which
are firmly secured to the frame A, as the table S is tilted to the front or rear, the
springs Y will act as a counter-balance through the rope or chain d and the
several pulleys, to steady the movement of the said table and the extended tube
and ladder. In Figure 1 the telescopic tube and ladder are shewn in an upright
position, the springs Y being retracted and in their normal position. In Figure 2
the tubing and ladder are shown in a position inclined to the rear the springs Y
being distended, which is effected by the drawing up of the bar x by means of the
rope or chain attached to tho end of the table S. The springs Y Y in front,
and P, P at the rear of the apparatus act conjointly in counterbalancing and
steadying the movement of the elevated ladder in its several inclinations from.
front to rear and from side to side.
To the upper side of the table or platform S, is firmly secured a section of
tubing e composed of drawn brass or other thin metal. Ropes or chains i, i
extending from the ends of the table S to eyes on the band attached to the
tubing e serve as stays to hold the tubing in position on the table S. Within the
stationary tubing e are arranged a series of telescopic tubes e¹, ell, ell, el111 of
sufficient length respectively to enable the column when extended to reach to any
desired height.
The sections of tubing are elevated in the following manner, to the lower end of
the upper section of tubing ell is firmly attached a rack which is made in
sections hinged together as shewn in Figure 6. These sections k k when
straightened out constitute a. column of sufficient, rigidity to sustain the several
sections of tubing, when extended to their entire height. The sectional rack is
wound upon a drum 7 which is mounted upon a screw shaft t having its bearings
in hangers mim. attached to the table S as shewn in Figure 5. The drum is so
arranged and connected with the screw-shaft t as to move horizontally on the latter
when it is rotated, and thus cause the toothed rack. to pass up centrally through
=

page_text: the tubing as it is being elevated. The rack k engages with a toothed wheel n
mounted on the same shaft with a bevelled gear wheel p¹ and the gear wheel n¹;.
the bevel wheel pl engages with the bevel pinion p₁ on the shaft q to which the
bevel wheel p is attached, the latter engages with the bevel pinion p and is rotated
by means of the shaft v¹ to which the crank 1 is attached, as shewn in Figure 5.
The said shaft being mounted in standards on the table S. The lateral movement
of the drum on the screw shaft t is effected by means of the gear wheels n¹, r, r
and s and the bar u. The shaft carrying the bevel wheel p and to which the
crank 1 is attached is prevented from turning by means of a ratchet wheel v on
the shaft and a spring pawl w secured to the table S. The pawl w is thrown
out of connection with the ratchet wheel by means of a lever w¹ (Figures 2
and 3) pivotted to the said pawl and having a cam-shaped end which is made to
bear against the tube e to push back the pawl w when the said lever is depressed.
To the upper end of each section of the telescopic tubing there is firmly secured
by means of a collar and radial arms h, ha circular frame or metal ring f and
below each of the said fixed rings are a series of metal rings f' connected together
and to the fixed rings f by means of chains g or other suitable flexible and fire
proof material. Alternately with each metal ring I surround the chains with an
india-rubber band f" which will allow the said chains to assume a perpendicular
position when the column is extended by reason of the weight as shewn in
Figure 1 but which when the column is lowered, will serve to draw the chains
inwards to admit of the rings being more readily folded together, and prevent
entanglement of the said chains. A plan of a fixed ring and arms is shewn in
Figure 7. The rings ff and f¹ f¹ serve as rungs in a ladder and admit of persons
descending and climbing up on the inside or outside as desired. Descent on the
inside may be effected with perfect safety with moderate care
At the rear of the telescopic column on the table S is mounted in suitable
bearings a reel x¹, upon which is wound a hose y of india-rubber, or other suitable
material, one end of which is attached to the upper end of the uppermost
section of the telescopic column and is provided with a coupling device y¹
Figure 6 for the attachment of a pipe or hose if required. As the telescopic
column is elevated the hose will be carried up at the same time, and be ready for
immediate use, when the telescopic column is lowered the hose is wound upon the
reel by means of the crank handle 2.
In order to prevent the apparatus when extended for use from overcoming the
centre of gravity, and to ensure a firm support to the carriage, I employ a series
of doubly hinged folding braces 3, 3, attached to each corner of the frame and also
to the rear end, so that the same can be extended outwards on both sides of the
frame and also at the front and rear as shewn in Figure 3. In Figure 2 the braces
are shewn as folded together when not in use. At the outer end of each double
brace is attached a hollow standard 6 as shewn, in Figures 1 and 3 within which
is arranged a bar 7 to slide up and down, the lower part of the bar 7 is provided
with ratchet teeth 4, and to the side of each standard 6 is attached a spring 5,
provided with a tooth or projection which engages with the rack 4 to hold the
bar 7 when drawn up within the standard 6. When the folding braces 3, 3, are
extended for use the bars 7 are let down upon the ground and are designed to hold
the braces firmly in position and when the braces are to be folded up the bars 7
are drawn up and held by the toothed springs 5
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim, in a fire escape:-
First. The collapsible and extensible cylindrical ladder composed of rungs
substantially circular, flexible connections, rigid radial arms and an interior
supporting column, as set forth.
Second. The combination of the sections of telescopic tubing, the supporting
arms h, and the ladder, as, and for the purpose, specified.
Third. The combination of the cylindrical telescopic tubing, the circular ladder

page_text: supported thereby, and the extensible supporting column attached at its upper end
to the upper sectional tube, the movable drum l, and gear wheel n', substantially
as set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with the extensible column, the tilting table and
tilting frame, and the mechanism substantially as set forth for extending and
retracting the said column, of an extensible ladder carried by the said column,
substantially as specified.
Fifth. The combination, with an extensible cylindrical ladder, of a hose adapted
to be elevated and lowered simultaneously with the said ladder, substantially as
set forth
Sixth. The combination, with a tilting table S, of a series of springs Y attached
to the frame A, and operating in connection with a chain or rope d, substantially
as, and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the tilting frame F, of springs P connected to a
bar N at the rear of the apparatus,-and operating in connection with a chain Q,
attached to the lower portion of the said frame, as and for the purpose, specified
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Fifth day of October in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.