IMPROVE- MENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tiviotdale, of Eldon Chambers, Cheny Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwickshire, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tiviotdale at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th September 1880.
GEORGE TIVIOTDALE, of Eldon Chambers, Cheny Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwickshire. " IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
My improvements consist in arranging a telescope ladder made in two, three, or
four lengths on a universal joint placed at about the middle of the length of main
ladder, this universal joint being fixed to a standard placed on a four wheeled
carriage which can be drawn by horses. The top end of ladder can be lowered to
pass under telegraph wires, and the ladder can be raised and swivelled to any
position when turning corners in narrow streets. The escape is raised and lowered
without detaching it from the universal joint or the carriage, and also can be
turned about in any desired position without moving the carriage. A sack of fire
proof material is attached to top ladder, and by means of ropes and pullies is used
to lower rescued people to the ground. The carriage is fitted to carry the men
necessary to work the escape, also two light ladders on the sides of carriage to
reach the first and second floor windows. To either of these ladders the top
ladder of escape with sack lowering arrangement may be attached, and thus form
a light escape to be used in narrow courts where the main escape could not enter.
The ladder may be constructed of wood or metal. The carriage can also be
arranged to carry hose, jet pipes, etc., etc. By a simple arrangement the main
escape can be detached at the universal joint from the carriage and used inde-
pendently of it.
I claim arranging a telescope ladder, as described, or of other construction on a
universal joint fixed to a standard on a four wheeled carriage drawn by men or
horses; the carriage to carry the men to work the escape; also hose, jet pipes,
and other articles, and also the side ladders used in the manner and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said George Tiviotdale in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th-April 1881.
GEORGE TIVIOTDALE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
My improvements consist in arranging a telescopic ladder made in two, three,
or four lengths on a universal joint, as seen at (a), Fig, 2 in full line, and in
dotted line Figure 1, which joint is placed at about the middle of the length of
the main ladder, this universal joint (a) being fixed to a standard (b) placed on
a four-wheeled carriage (c) which can be drawn by horses. The top end of the
ladders can be lowered to pass under telegraph wires, and the ladder can be raised
and swivelled to any position when turning corners in narrow streets. Or if the
ladders are made about the same length as shewn upon the Drawing, it will not
be necessary to lower them in such cases. The escape is raised and lowered without
detaching it from the universal joint (a) or the carriage (c), and also can be turned
about in any desired position without moving the carriage. A sack of fire-proof
material is attached to the top ladder, and by means of ropes and pulleys is used
to lower to the ground rescued people or articles to be saved. The carriage is
fitted to carry the men necessary to work the escape; also two light ladders (d)
on the sides of carriage to reach lower windows. To either of these ladders the
top ladder of escape with sack-lowering arrangement may be attached, and thus
form a light escape to be used in narrow courts where the main escape could not
enter. The ladders may be constructed of wood or metal. The carriage can also
be arranged to carry hose, jet pipes, and other requisites. By withdrawing the
bolt (e) or any other simple arrangement the main escape can be detached at the
universal joint from the carriage and used independently of it.
The arrangements above described may be fixed to a standard on a light carriage
to be drawn by men.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be carried into effect, I claim, without limiting myself to
these precise details, the attaching of a telescopic or other ladder by means of a
universal joint to a carriage, so that the ladder when required to be used may be
placed in any desired position without leaving the carriage or detaching the ladder
therefrom.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tiviotdale, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
GEORGE TIVIOTDALE. (L.S.)