Improvements in Fire-escape Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-escape Apparatus.
1, GEORGE BRAY of the Steam Wheel and Van Works, Deptford Green, in the
County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to fire-escapes and is designed to improve the construction of
the same.
According to my said invention I provide improved means for adjusting or altering
the position of the ladder of a two-wheeled fire-escape apparatus with relation to the
carriage, and thus permit the said ladder to be moved so as to balance it upon the
said carriage thereby enabling the said apparatus to be easily wheeled from one
place to another, and moreover affording a fulcrum for tilting the ladder and raising
it to an upright position.
In carrying my said invention into practice I arrango the ladder to move upon
suitable rollers provided upon the carriage. I provide moreover a rollor or drum
carried in suitable bearings in the suid carriage, and upon which is adapted to wind
a rope wire chain or the like, the other extremity of which is attached to the foot
or lower extremity of the ladder. Upon the shaft or spindlo of this roller or drum
is keyed or otherwise fixed a toothed wheel connected with another toothed wheel
upon the axle carrying the wheels of the apparatus by means of a chain or in any
other suitable manner. The said axle is arranged so as to be free to rotate in its
bearings and is provided with a ratchet and pawl or other suitable device by means
of which it can be firmly locked in position or rendered immovable, or reloased
and permitted to rotate freely in the boxes of the wheels for the purpose herein-
aftor mentioned. When the said axle is locked or fixed and rendered immovable
the apparatus can be moved as desired by rolling the said apparatus in the usual
manner upon its wheels. One extremity of the said axle is provided with an
extension having a suitable square adapted to receive the socket of a crank handle
by means of which the said axle can be rotated.
When it is desired to bring the ladder into a suitable position upon the carriage
for elevating, the pawl or other locking device is released, and the axle boing
rotated in the boxes of the wheels by means of the crank handle winds the ladder
up into the desired position upon the carriage through the hereinbefore mentioned
chain goaring, roller or drum and rope wire or chain.
In some instances I provide at each end of the carriage a suitable shaft or
spindle, supported in suitable bearings therein. Upon these shafts or spindles are
keyed or otherwise fixed toothed wheels or rollers carrying at each side of the
carriage an endless chain or band. To this chain or band I attach a cross piece or
cross bar, which is coupled to the foot or extremity of the ladder by means of a
suitable connecting rod. One of the toothed wheels or rollers is provided with a
crank handle by means of which the said toothed wheels or rollers can be rotated and
the endless chains or bands caused to movo in one or the other direction, and
through the medium of the cross piece or cross-bar and the connecting rod above
mentioned move the ladder to or fro upon its carriage.
It is obvious moreover that I can somewhat further modify my said apparatus
without in any way departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance
I can employ any other suitable gearing for connecting the axle with the roller or
drum. Instead of connecting the said roller or drum to the wheel axle, I can
provide a shaft or spindle arranged to rotate in any suitable part of the carriage
and provided with a convenient crank handle for that purpose.

page_text: In some cases 1 dispensa with the internesliate roller or drum and so arrange the
apparatus that the rope wire chain or the like may be wound directly upon the
wheel axle, which may be provided with a suitable enlargement for that purpose,
and which in this instancu forms the drum or roller.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-escape Apparatus.
I, GEORGE BRAY, of The Steam Wheel and Van Works, Deptford Green, in the
County of Kent, Engineer do hereby declaro 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 :-
My invention relates to fire-escapes, and is designed to improve the construction
of the same.
According to my said invention I provide improved means for adjusting or altering
the position of the ladder of a two-wheeled fire-escape apparatus with relation to
the frame or carriage thereof so as to permit the balancing of the suid ladder upon
the carriage to enable the apparatus to be easily wheeled from one place to another,
and facilitating moreover, the tilting of the ladder and the raising of the same into
an upright position or the lowering of the said ladder from this position.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form or modification of my improved
apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan the extensible Inddor being removed.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line,
Figures 1 and 2.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the frame or carriage, B is the axle, 0, 0, are the road or travelling wheels,
D is the extensible ladder.
a, a aro antifriction rollers secured upon suitable spindles supported in bearings
provided in the frame or carriago A. is a drum the spindle c of which is
supported in bearings d also attached to the said frame or carriage. is a wire or
other rope chain or the like one extremity of which is socured to and is adapted to
wind upon the said drum, and the other extremity of which is attached to the foot
or lower extremity of the extensible Indder D. Upon one extremity of the spindle c
is keyed or otherwise fixed a toothed whool or chain wheel connected with another
toothed wheel or chain wheel g keyed or otherwise secured upon the axle B by
means of a chain h. The said axle B is arranged so as to be normally free to
rotate in its bearings upon the frame or carriage A. i is a ratchet wheel keyed or
otherwise secured upon
the spindle c with which is adapted to engage a pawl j
pivoted to a bracket attached to the said frame or carriage A and provided with
spring By moving the pawl into gear with the ratchet wheel as shown in
full lines in Figure 1 the said spindle and consequently also the axle B can be
firmly locked in position or rendered immovable. When the said axlo is locked or
fixed and rendered immovable in the manner above described the apparatus can be
conveniently moved from place to place as desired by rolling the said apparatus in
the usual manner upon the wheels C. Upon one or both extremities of the axle B
is provided an extension B formed of a square hexagonal or other suitable slumpo
and adapted to receive the socket of a crank handle by means of which the said
axle can be rotated the ratchet wheel i having been previously released by throwing
the pawl out of goar by moving it into the position shown in dotted lines in
Figure 1. The extensible laddor Dmuy then be adjusted relatively to the frame or

page_text: carriage A for elevating or for balancing it thereon by rotating the axle B in the
boxes of the wheels by means of the crank handle and thus winding the said
ladder up into the desired position upon the said frame or carriage through the
horeinbefore mentioned wheels f, g, chain h roller or drum 6 and wire or other rope
or chain e.
Although I have hereinbefore described a convenient and advantageous method of
carrying my said invention into practice it is obvious that I can somewhat modify
my improved apparatus without however in any way doparting from the nature of
iny said invention. For instance I sometimes provide at each extremity of the said
frame or carriage a shaft or spindle supported in suitable boarings attached to the
said frame or carriage. Upon the extremities of the said shafts or spindles are
keyed or otherwise secured toothed wheels or rollers carrying endless chains or bands
placed longitudinally relatively to the frame or carriage and on either side thereof.
To these chains or bands are attached a cross piece or cross bar which is coupled
to the foot or extremity of the ladder by means of a suitable connecting rod or rods.
One of the shafts or spindles carrying the said toothod wheels or rollers is provided
with a crank handle by means of which it can be rotated and the endless chains or
bands caused to move in one or the other direction, and through the medium of the
cross piece or cross bar and the connecting rod above mentioned move the ladder
to or fro or adjust it upon its frame or carriage.
Any other suitable gearing for connecting the axle with the roller or drum may
be employed, and instead of connecting the said roller or drum to the wheel axle, I
sometimes provide for that purpose a shaft or spindle arranged to rotate freely in
suitable bearings provided in any convenient part of the frame or carriage and fitted
with a convenient crank handle.
In some cases I dispense with the intermediate roller or drum and so arrange the
apparatus that the wire or other rope, chain or the like may be wound directly upon
the wheel axle, which may be provided with a suitable enlargement for that
purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The improved means for moving or adjusting the ladder of a fire escape
relatively to the frame or carriage thereof, comprising the wire or other rope or
chain, the drum, the chain or other gearing, and the axle adapted to be rotated by
means of a suitable crank handle substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. The modification of my invention wherein endless bands or chains, a cross
piece or cross bar, and a connecting rod or rods are employed for moving or adjusting
the ladder, substantially as described.
Third. The modification of my invention in which the wire or other rope or chain
is so arranged that it can be wound directly upon the axle, substantially as described.
Fourth. The improved fire-escape substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawing and operating in the manner hereinbefore specified.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1880
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.