Improvements in Moveable Structures for Ambulances and similar Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Moveable Structures for Ambulances and
similar Purposes.
:
I, HENRY PELLERIN DE LASTELLE, of Paris in the Republic of France, Director
of the Company "La Société Nouvelle de Constructions système Tollet," do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of moveable structures for
ambulances and the like wherein the framework is so arranged as to enable the
structure to be erected in about 25 minutes while it can be taken to pieces and
arranged in parcels in about 20 minutes.
For this purpose, the framework consists of eight curved metal ribs of quadrant
shape, which are arranged in two groups of four each, so as to form two semi-dome
shaped structures facing each other, with a certain space intervening between them,
these structures being tied together at top by a horizontal ridge piece, which may
be of wood, while the lower ends of the ribs rest upon an oblong octagon shaped
base formed of flat metal bars, with transverse tie bars. The ribs are also tied
together at an intermediate point of their height by horizontal tie bars. The above
described framework is covered by a canvas covering, and when the structure
is taken to pieces it is formed into six packages, namely a box containing the
covering and small accessories, such as pegs, cords &c, two packages of base plates,
two packages of ribs, and a package of ties.
The quadrant shaped ribs, which are by preference of trough shaped section,
have an eye or loop fixed to their upper ends, so that when the four ribs of each
group are placed in position, the eyes of the ribs are situated closely one below the
other, so that they can all be secured together by a screw bolt passing through
them. The upper end of the bolt is formed as an upright jaw, into which fits the
end of the ridge piece, which is secured therein by a pin passing through the jaw,
and held by a chain. The lower ends of the ribs are provided with slotted foot
pieces rivetted or bolted thereto and secured to the base plates by screw bolts
passing through both parts, which bolts also serve to secure the separate plates of
the base together.
The nuts of the screw bolts are formed as butter-fly nuts so as to be readily
screwed and unscrewed. by hand, and they are prevented from screwing off by a
linch pin passed through the end of the bolt. A square washer is interposed
between the slotted foot of the rib and the nut, the washer being made to bear
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page_text: against projections on the end of the foot. In dismounting the structure, the
screws securing the bases of the ribs are first loosened sufficiently to allow the
slotted bases to be withdrawn, after which the nut securing the eyes of the upper
ends is loosened sufficiently to allow all the ribs to be turned upon the bolt as a
pivot so as to lie close together. In like manner the plates forming the base are
folded together on their connecting bolts, serving as pivots.
The canvas covering, which is provided with a door at each end, and with a
ventilator at the top of each group of ribs, is secured to the ground by means of
tent pegs or other suitable fastening. At the middle of its length it has pieces let
into it formed of any suitable translucent fabric to admit sufficient light. It may
also be provided with an inner lining secured by loops or rings to hooks attached
to the ribs.
According to another modification, the framing is constructed of two groups of
only three ribs each, the lower ends of which are formed with feet that are secured
directly to the ground, such feet consisting of a plate to which the rib is secured
by angle irons and which has a slotted hole through which a peg is driven into the
ground. The plate also has two eyes formed on it serving for the attachment of
the covering. For facilitating the transport of the ribs, these may be divided into
two pieces in their length, the one length having a cheek rivetted to it, the pro-
jecting end of which is slotted so as to receive a screw bolt situated in a slotted
hole in the contiguous end of the second length, so that for unfixing the two parts
the thumb nut of the bolt only has to be loosened and the bolt slid in its slotted
hole so as to come out of the slot of the cheek. The tie bars, which may be tubular
or of any other section may also be formed of two separate lengths, one of which
has a socket piece fixed on it, into which fits the end of the other length, which is
secured by a bolt or key. The separate lengths of the ties as also the ridge piece
may be formed with a hinge joint at their middle so as to fold together.
Dated this 7th day of December 1885.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: similar Purposes.
I HENRY PELLERIN DE LASTELLE, of Paris in the Republic of France, Director
of the Company "La Societé Nouvelle de Constructions systèime Tollet do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to an improved construction of moveable structures for
ambulances and the like, the frame work being so arranged that the structure can
be erected in about 25 minutes, and that it can be taken to pieces and packed in
parcels in about 20 minutes.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings represent respectively a side
view, a front view and a plan of the metal frame work of an ambulance according
to this invention. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are respectively a plan a longitudinal section
and a front view of the frame work with its cover of fabric. Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10
and 11 shew details of the jointings of the frame work. Two sets, each con-
sisting of 4 bent bars of trough section, A, B, C, D, and A¹, B¹ C¹ D¹ are
respectively jointed together at their tops E and E¹, and connected at their bottoms
by an octagonal sill framing jointed to them at F, G, H, I'and F, G, H, I, the
joints IF and 1' F¹ being also connected by cross ties each made in two parts
joined together at the middle. There are also intermediate ties of tube or hollow
bar J, K, L and J, K, L' and a roof ridge O of wood. When the ambulance is
taken to pieces it is packed in six parcels, namely
One case containing the covering fabric and the small accessories such as pickets
and cords.
Two parcels consisting of the sills F G, G H &c.
Two parcels of the bent bars A, B, C &c.
One pawl of the cross and intermediate ties.
At each of the tops E E¹ the bars A B C D, and A¹ B¹ C¹ D₁ are connected (see
Figs. 7 and 8) by bolts M passing through pieces N, N¹, N*, N³, that are rivetted
to the trough shaped bars. The head a of the bolt M is forked to receive the
ridge piece O which is held by a cross pin R secured by a chain S. The lower ends
of the bars A B C &c are fixed to the sills by bent feet T, (see Figs. 9, 10 and 11)
which are rivetted or bolted to the bent bars and are held to the sills by bolts V
passing through slots b in the feet T. These bolts V also hold together the sill
pieces. Under each thumb nut c there is a plate f, and the sides of the slot b
terminate with shoulders e against which the plate f fits. The top of the bolt V
should have a cross pin d to prevent the nut c from being taken quite off.
In order to dismount the ambulance, the cover of fabric being first removed, the
wood ridge O and ties J K L &c are separated and packed up. All the nuts c are
then loosened and the bent bars A B Ċ &c are separated from the sill pieces; the
nuts g are also loosened thereby disengaging dowels h allowing each set of the
bars A, B, C, D, A', B¹, C¹, D¹ to be folded together into a parcel. For packing
the sills the bolts V at two opposite points such as I F¹ or I¹ F are taken out so

page_text: At each
permitting the octagonal sill to be divided into two separate parts, each consisting
of 4 of the bars constituting the octagon and one of the divided cross ties, which
are all folded together, making two parcels. The case which bolds the fabric and
accessories can serve as a scaffolding to aid in erecting or dismounting the structure.
The fabric can be held down at its lower edge either by hooks r on the sills or by
cords passed through holes S (see Fig. 10) in the feet T of the bent bars.
end of the ambulance there is an opening X arranged as a tent door; there are
also through the roof two ventilating apertures Y fitted with screens that can be
covered when desired by a hood Z made in two parts that can be drawn forwards
or back by cords. The middle width t of the fabric n is a transparent sheet for
lighting the interior. There may be an inner lining fabric x provided with rings
by which it can be attached to hooks y on the bars A B &c. By the use of such a
lining there is provided a layer of air which mitigates the effects of changes of
temperature.
The sill pieces may be dispensed with by making the bent bars with shoes to
rest on the ground, and the framework may be arranged to pack in two parcels.
This modified construction is shewn in side view by Fig. 12, in plan by Fig. 13
and in end view by Fig. 14. One of the shoes is shewn to an enlarged scale in
side view at Fig. 15 and in plan at Fig. 16. It consists of a plate A on which are
rivetted two pieces of angle iron B having rivetted between them one of the
bars C of the frame work which may be of trough or other section. Through the
plate A there is a hole a through which can be driven a picket b (see Fig. 12) to
keep the shoe in position. Also at the plate A are rivetted eyes c, one of which
is shewn in Fig. 17, to receive cords for fixing the fabric cover. For convenience
of packing and transport the parts are jointed together as shewn in Figs. 18, 19, 20.
Two of the bent bars C C¹ which constitute the frame work meet end to end; to
one of them C is rivetted a plate d having at its end a notch e which receives a
bolt that is engaged in a slot cut in the other bar C. The bent bars are steadied
by intermediate ties, made each in two pieces D D¹ jointed together, as shewn in
Fig. 21 by a sleeve E which is rivetted to the one piece D, and is secured to the
other D by a pin h. Or the ties may be hinge-jointed together as shewn at
Fig. 22. The wooden ridge piece F is made in two parts hinge jointed at i, and
is steadied by oblique ties j.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
The construction and use of a moveable structure for an ambulance or the like
purpose, having a frame work made in parts that can be readily put together or
separated and packed for transport, substantially as herein described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
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