IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCOMMODATION & OTHER LADDERS
Year: 1884

page_text: JAMES LINKLETER, 60 Hotspur St., Tynemouth Patentee & Manufacturer, &
THOMAS LINKLETER, 80 Percy St., Tynemouth, Northumberland, Bathing-Machine
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
ACCOMMODATION & OTHER LADDERS to be as follows:-
.
Our invention in an Improvement in the Construction of, accommodation and
other Ladders, whereby the steps are so arranged that they remain perfectly level
at whatever angle the Ladder may be placed, e.g.-When the Ladder is in a
perpendicular position, the steps are (one foot apart) the same distance apart as
the width of the step; if at an angle of 45° they are half this distance apart & thus
they approach each other till at an angle of 90° the steps are flush" up, forming *
a perfectly level gangway the back edge of one step butting against the front edge
of the step immediately above, and occupying just half the space of the ordinary
Ladder.
"
The steps are pivotted into the strings of the Ladder and are kept in position by
a Guide-rod which runs from top to bottom through double-eyes fixed at the back
of each step. This Guide Rod is hinged to the Gangway from which the Ladder is
suspended. These Guide-rods serve in the first place to regulate the working of
the steps into the horizontal position and secondly as strengthening pieces for the
steps, at the same time relieving the strings of the greater portion of the weight.
For the larger sized Ladders, suitable for Landing-stages, Docks, Quays, &
Pontoon Bridges we fix a strong hand-rail. The stanchions supporting this hand-
rail are fixed to the steps instead of to the strings, as in ordinary cases, & so are
always perpendicular. Each stanchion is hinged to the hand-rail, which is guided
by a fixed stanchion on the gangway. At the top and so kept parallel to the
strings of the Ladder.
This Octh of Contai 100%

page_text: We JAMES LINKIETER, Patentee & Manufacturer, 60 Hotspur Street, Tynemouth,
Northumberland, & THOMAS LINKLETER, Bathing Machine Managor, 80 Percy
S reet, Tynemouth, Northumberland do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCOMMODATION & OTHER LADDERS and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of these improvements is to provide a ladder of wood, iron, or steel,
the steps of which will always lie perfectly horizontal at whatever angle the ladder
may be placed; & this is effected by constructing the ladder in the manner
hereinafter described, & shown on the accompanying drawings.
The steps or trends-T-Figures 1 & 1 A-are pivotted into the strings or
sides S of the ladder, & are hinged at their back edges to one or more guide
rods—R—or to the battens forming the back. The rods or battens run the entire
length of the back of the ladder, & are hinged at the top to the gangway or
landing-G-Figure 2. A-from which the ladder is suspended. The rods or
baitens regulate & adjust the position of the steps, always maintaining them
firmly & securely in a truly horizontal position; thus when the ladder is in a
perpendicular position, as shown in Figure 2. P., the steps lie at right angles to the
back & front edges of the strings, & when the ladder is raised or lowered by
tidal action or other means to any angle between the upright & horizontal
positions such as is shown in Figure 2. A-the steps are still kept perfectly level
by the guide rods or back battens, & in raising the ladder the steps gradually
approach each other, as shown by the dotted lines Y. Y. Figure 2, until the ladder
has been lifted to the horizontal position, the steps then lio flush, the back edge of
one abutting against the front edge of the other, thus forming a level gangway as
shown on Figure 2. H. It can then, when used on shipboard, be turned up so as to
lie vertically on its edge against the Rails, Rigging, or Bulwark, as shown in
Figure 2. V.
When constructed for Landing Stages, Docks, Quays, or Pontoon
Bridges, as shown in Figure 3, the ladder may be additionally strengthened by an
increased number of guide rods or back battens, by fitting braces; & a strong
handrail can, also, be secured to tee or other iron, as shown on Figure 3. A., & it
can be supported by stanchions carried down & attached to the steps, instead of
to the strings as in ordinary cases. These stanchions will thus he always upright,
each of them being hinged to the handrail bar, which is hinged to a fixed pillar or
stanchion placed on the gangway at the head of the ladder, & is so kept parallel
to the ladder strings.
As compared with accommodation & other ladders as ordinarily made the
advantages of ladders constructed in the improved manner heroin before described
are numerous.
The steps being rigidly fixed to the strings of ladders as generally used, can only
lie truly horizontal at one angle of inclination of the ladder, usually 45 degrees;
when the ladder is suspended or placed at any other angle the steps either dip to,
or rise from the horizontal. The variations of draught in ships necessitate the
accommodation ladders being suspended at various angles; & at tidal landing stages
the angle of inclination of the ladder varies with the rise & fall of the tide;
when, therefore, the Indder is lying at any other angle than the one at which
the stops have been set in the ladder strings the ascent or descent cannot be
conveniently & safely made, & in the case of ships, tho embarkation & dis-
embarkation of the crow, passengers & others is attended with difficulty & danger.

page_text: By constructing ladders in accordance with the herein before described improvements
the ascent & descent are rendered convenient & safe, as the steps are always
securely held in a horizontal position by the guide rods. The gear for adjusting
the steps, instead of weakening the ladder, adds considerably to its strength, as it
forms stiffening pieces to the steps, & consequently relieves the strain on the
strings. When the ladder is horizontal the steps lie perfectly flat, & the guide
rods or back battens do not project beyond the strings, thus allowing the ladder to
be snugly stowed in about one half the space required for an ordinary ladder. As
ladders constructed on this improved principle can be conveniently used at very
steep angles of inclination, such Indders may be considerably shorter than those in
which the steps are immoveably fixed at an angle of 45 degrees.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said
invention, & in what manner it is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
(1) The guide rods or battens forming the back hinged to the underside of the
gangway or landing, & hinged to the back edge of each step.
(2) The cranking of the hinges so as to allow the steps to form a level surface
when the ladder is horizontal.
•
(3) The working of the handrail with stanchions connected to the steps of the
ladder, to afford assistance to the working of the steps, & to strengthen the
ladder, & distribute the strains thereon.
Dated this first day of December 1884.
JAS LINKLETER.
THOMAS LINKLETER.