IMPROVEMENTS IN GANGWAYS OR STEP LADDERS APPLICABLE TO FLOATING BODIES AND OTHER
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Gordon Page, of Whitehall, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, and Charles Lungley, of Deptford, in the
County of Kent, Ship Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GANGWAYS OR STEP LADDERS APPLICABLE TO FLOATING BODIES AND OTHER
Sealed the 23rd March 1860, and dated the 29th September 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Gordon Page and
Charles Lungley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 29th September 1859.
We, GEORGE GORDON PAGE, of Whitehall, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, and CHARLES LUNGLEY, of Deptford, in the County of Kent,
Ship Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GANGWAYS OR STEP LADDERS APPLICABLE TO FLOATING BODIES AND OTHER
USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the class of ladders called step ladders, which are
more particularly applied to ships, landing piers, and other floating bodies to
which they are hinged or are otherwise attached, where a variation in the
level of such floating bodies necessarily entails a variation in the angle of the
step ladder, and consists in so constructing the treads or steps that they may.
always maintain their horizontal position, whatever be the angle at which the
step ladder may be placed. And this is effected by attaching to such end of

page_text: each tread or step at the centre of its width or otherwise, a pivot working in a
bush or socket let into or otherwise secured to the stringers by which the treads
or steps are supported, and round which they turn freely, or where more con-
venient the pivot and bush may be reversed. To each tread or step a lever or
arm is attached, which is connected by a pin or stud to a rod, bar, chain, or
rope, which extends the whole length of the stringers, one end of the rod
or other connecting piece being jointed to the fixed part of the framing from
which the ladder is suspended, or to which it is otherwise attached. By this
rod all the treads or steps are moved simultaneously in the manner of a
parallel rule. The same object may be attained by attaching the treads or
steps to two or more rods, bars, chains, or ropes (in the manner of an ordinary
Venetian blind), which are jointed to the fixed framing at one end of the
ladder by pins or studs, by which the horizontal position of the treads or steps
will be preserved. By these means a more convenient step ladder will be
obtained, always presenting horizontal treads or steps either under every
variation of tide or draught of the floating bodies, or at any angle when it
is used for land purposes, where the height to be ascended or descended is
variable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Gordon Page and Charles Lungley in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th March 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
GORDON PAGE, of Whitehall, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, and
CHARLES LUNGLEY, of Deptford, in the County of Kent, Ship Builder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said George Gordon Page and Charles Lungley, Her special licence
that we, the said George Gordon Page and Charles Lungley, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Gordon
Page and Charles Lungley, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN GANGWAYS OR STEP LADDERS APPLICABLE TO FLOATING BODIES AND
OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said George Gordon Page and Charles Lungley, our executors or adminis
trators, by an instrument in writing under our or one of our or their or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Gordon Page, on behalf of
myself and the said Charles Lungley, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the class of ladders called step ladders or
gangways, which are more particularly applied to ships, landing piers, and
other floating bodies, to which they are hinged on or are otherwise attached,
where a variation in the level of such bodies necessarily entails a variation in
the angle of the step ladder, and consists in so constructing the treads or steps
that they may always maintain their horizontal position whatever be the angle
at which the step ladder may be placed. And this is effected by attaching to
each end of each tread or step, either at the centre or otherwise of its width, a'
pivot working in a bush or socket upon which the tread or step is supported,.
and round which it turns freely; also in attaching to each tread or step a lever
or arm, which is connected by a pin or stud to a rod, bar, chain, or rope extend-
ing the whole length of the ladder occupied by the steps, and to which every
tread or step is attached. One end of the rod, bar, chain, or rope is jointed or
similarly attached to the fixed part of the framing from which the step ladder
is suspended or to which it is otherwise united. By means of this rod, bar,
chain, or rope.the whole of the treads or steps are moved simultaneously in
the manner of a parallel ruler. The same object may be attained by attaching
two rods, bars, chains, or ropes to the treads or steps by pins or studs in the
manner of a Venetian blind. By these means a more convenient step ladder
will be obtained, always presenting horizontal treads or steps under every
variation of tide or draught of water of the floating body, or at any angle where
the step ladder is used for land purposes, where the height to be ascended or
descended variable.
And in order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and

page_text: :
Fig. 1 is a side view of a step ladder or gangway arranged according to this
Invention, as a means of ascending to or descending from a ship's side; Figs. 2
and 3 are a portion of the same, in section (enlarged) to shew more particularly
the detail of its construction.
:
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 are other modifications of the same Invention,
in all of which the same letters refer to similar parts. A is an opening in a
ship's side or gunwale; B is a fixed platform or landing; C is a step ladder or
gangway, consisting of two stringers, and as many treads or steps D as are
required for the height between the surface of the lowest water line and the
opening in the ship's side; E are pivots let on or otherwise to the ends of the
treads or steps D, and firmly screwed thereto; they may be in the centre of
the width, or at or near to one edge, as desired; F are metal sockets, bushes,
or plates screwed to the stringers, and in which the pivots E turn freely; G, a
lever or arm with a strap foot, as in Figs. 2 and 3, screwed to the under side,
and in the middle of the length of the step D, or to one end of the step,-as in
Figs. 4 and 5, or to the end of the prolongued pivot, as in Figs. 6 and 7. In
cases where the treads or steps are of considerable length, it may be advisable
to attach such a lever to each end of the tread or step. H is a pin or stud in
the end of the lever or arm G, to which is attached a bar I, extending the
whole length of the step ladder, and is fixed at one end to a pin or stud in the
platform B. This bar unites the pins or studs in the ends of the several levers
or arms G, and causes them to move simultaneously when the step ladder is
raised or lowered by the tackle K to suit the variation in the level of the
vessel occasioned by an alteration in the draught of water. Where desired the
spaces between the treads or steps may be closed by a loose riser hinged to
the under side of the treads or steps, as in Fig. 4, so as to give the step ladder
the appearance and character of an ordinary stair.
.
Figs. 8, 9, 10 shew another mode of arranging this Invention. Instead of
-independent pivots E at each end of the treads or steps, a continuous axis E
may be substituted, having flanges or plates E attached thereto, for the
seating or fixing the treads or steps D thereon. The pivot is in this Fig., as
in Fig. 7, shewn prolongued through the stringer,
attached thereto, with its pin or stud H and connecting bar I.
and the arm or lever G
Fig. 11 shews another modification of this Invention, in which two bars I
are used in the manner of a Venetian blind, the pins or studs H being attached

page_text: to each end of the pivot carriage or other suitable bar E. Strips of iron or
other metal L are screwed on to the front edge of the treads or steps to protect
them from wear. M is a lower landing, supported on a pivot N attached to
the lower extremity of each stringer; it is suspended by a rod O on each side
of the step ladder, and which are united at the top, and terminating in an eye,
to which an ordinary tackle is applied, the upper block being suspended from a
running ring, which slides freely on a bar P supported on two brackets projecting
from the ship's side. Q is a hand rail, one on either side of the step ladder,
connected by a pin or stud to the top of each of the balusters or stauncheons R,
and is thus maintained parallel with the stringers in every position.
In Fig. 1 the step ladder is shewn in two positions, one being placed at the
light-load line of the vessel, and the other (shewn by dotted lines) at a
deeper draught of water, the steps, nevertheless, preserving their horizontal
position.
Having now described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that what we claim is, the
methods herein described of connecting the moveable treads or steps of step
ladders when used as a means of ascending or descending through variable
heights either on land or afloat, as applied to ships, landing piers, or other
floating bodies.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Gordon Page, on behalf of myself
and the said Charles Lungley, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.
5
Witness,
AMH H. RENTON,
12, Buckingham St.,
Adelphi.
GEO. GORDON PAGE. (L.B.)