Improvements in and connected with Extensible Ladders for use as Fire Escapes and for other purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Extensible Ladders for use as
Fire Escapes and for other purposes.
I, EMILE VIARENGO, of Via St. Gulia 45, Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide an extensible ladder or fire escape
which can be manipulated more expeditiously than apparatus of a similar kind as
heretofore constructed.
In carrying out my invention 1 provide a series of two or more ladders sliding
one upon the other the lowermost ladder, hereinafter referred to as the fixed ladder,
being pivotted upon a suitable carriage. The ladder sliding directly upon this
fixed ladder and hereinafter referred to as the first sliding ladder is raised by means
of chains or the like secured at one end to the lowermost end of the first sliding
ladder and passing around pulleys upon the upper end of the fixed ladder, then
down and around chain wheels secured to a rotating shaft on the carriage and then
up over guide pulleys on projecting arms secured to the fixed ladder the other ends
being secured to other projecting arms on the upper end of the first ladder.
By this arrangement any slackness of the elevating chains is prevented and the
said chains also serve as guards or hand-rails.
When three ladders are used the second sliding ladder is raised simultaneously
with the first sliding ladder by means of chains secured at one end to the lower end
of the second sliding ladder and thence passing around pulleys on the upper end of
the first sliding ladder, the other ends of the said chains being attached to the upper
end of the fixed ladder.
When more than three ladders are used each additional ladder is raised by
similar means to those last described, that is to say, by means of chains secured at
one end to the lower end of the ladder to be raised and thence passing over pulleys
on the ladder next below it the other ends of the chains being connected to the top
of the ladder next but one below it. Each ladder above the first ladder is provided
with a cord or chain forming a hand-rail.
The angular adjustment of the ladders is effected through the medium of screws,
a nut working upon which is designed to be turned in one or the other direction as
required by means of suitable gearing.
sometimes combine with my extensible ladder a shoot through which persons or
articles may be lowered.
This shoot is formed in a number of sections corresponding with the number of
ladders in such a manner that the several sections always constitute a continuous
shoot, and in combination with this shoot I employ an endless chain extending from
the top to the bottom thereof and passing over suitable pulleys in such a manner
that one side of the chain is within the shoot. This chain may be provided with
bags or other means for lowering articles down the shoot and a brake is provided
to prevent the weight of persons or articles from causing the lowering to take place
too quickly.
In order that the endless chain shall always be tight notwithstanding the extent
to which the ladders are extended, I pass the said chain at one part of its length
round two series of pulleys adapted to be more or less separated according to the
mount of slack chain to be taken up. The moveable series of pulleys is controlled
rom the shaft by means of which the ladders are raised, the said pulleys being
onnected by a cord or the like with a drum on the said shaft in such a manner
hat when the ladders are being extended the cord will be unwound so that the
ecessary chain can be given off, and vice versa when the ladders are more or less
owered.

page_text: When I employ a shoot as hereinbefore described, I advantageously make the
ladder considerably wider than the shoot and fix the latter centrally.
I also advantageously combine with my apparatus a reservoir for fire extinguishing
fluid and with a pump for discharging such fluid, which pump may also be used for
throwing water.
Dated the 13th day of November 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
+, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Extensible Ladders for use as
Fire Escapes and for other purposes.
1, EMILE VIARENGO, of Via St. Gulia 45, Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy,
Gentleman, 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 novel construction or arrangement of ladders adjustable
as to height for elevation, also as to angle, and when lowered, suitably arranged for
travelling.
The invention is applicable for being drawn by horses, in which case it is mounted
on a four wheel carriage, or as a hand propelled fire escape upon two wheels.
If intended to be drawn by horses, the carriage can be furnished with tubes
containing fire subdueing chemicals under pressure, and also a pump reservoir kept
charged ready for use for keeping a fire in check until further assistance arrives.
The invention, though described as a fire escape for which it is chiefly intended,
can be conveniently used for other operations, such as a system to build scaffolding,
or to convey comparatively light goods to any desired height.
The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Figure is a side view of the machine in its folded up, or closed state and
mounted on a four wheeled vehicle to be drawn by horses.
Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the ladders partly extended.
Figure 3 a back view of the machine also with the ladders partly extended.
Figures 4 and 5 are plan partly in section and an elevation respectively of brake
gear which I prefer to employ for regulating the descent of inmates when escaping
from a fire.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of a hand propelled machine.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, A. is the carriage, to the rear of which, a couple
of slotted uprights B are attached, and within which slots, gudgeons C can be
moved and set, said gudgeons forming the pivots on which the ladder in a closed or
open state can be held and be secured by latches D. The lower or wider ladder is
supported by the rods E, which are screw threaded and have each a threaded
sleeve over it in gear by bevil wheels to a lifting apparatus turnable by a
handle G.
The lower ends of the sleeves F, F, are journalled on supports H and have a
free movement on the supports to suit the angles at which the ladders can be set,
both in an open and in a closed condition, the rods E which are screw threaded, as
before stated, passing down through slots in the carriage A for that purpose.
When the sleeve is turned to lower the screws into the position shown at Figure 1
and the ladders closed, the ladders are in balance, the upper latch D serving then
only to prevent vibration while travelling.
The middle and upper ladders are telescopic and capable of being raised and
lowered by the winch barrel I and chains J, one end of each chain being secured
to projecting arms K fixed at the upper end of the middle ladder N. Said chains
pass through pulley blocks M, M, and their opposite ends are attached to the lower
end of the middle ladders N which they elevate when the winch barrel 1 is turned

page_text: in the proper direction. There is no slack chain in this movement, because as the
middle ladder is being elevated it moves by the pull of the chain which is always
in tension.
The pulley blocks M, M, have the ends of other chains or ropes P attached by
which the upper ladder Q is supported, these ropes are led over the pullies R, R,
at the top of the middle ladder, so that the raising of middle ladder causes the
upper ladder to be simultaneously raised thereby but at a greater speed.
I also provide an endless chain S which passes over pullies T, T, one at the top
of the upper ladder Q, and one at the bottom of the lower ladder L to enable
articles to be lifted, or persons to be lowered at any elevation the ladders may be
put at.
One end of this rope is affixed to a double sheaved running pulley U, and
is then rove round a fixed pulley V, an additional length of rope W being attached
to the double sheaved pulley U for winding round the barrel I, so that as the ladders
are elevated, the
rope W
gives off the barrel I and allows the double block U to
go up towards the fixed block V, thereby decreasing the quantity of rope between
the two blocks to compensate for the elevation of the ladders. This chain is, as
just stated, an endless chain, and any article can be affixed to it for lowering, or
for elevating, it otherwise having a free run for that purpose.
When the ladders are closed up, as seen at Figure 1, the running pulley block U
is close to the fixed block I.
In order to regulate the speed at which the free chain S can run, I affix a friction
break, as at Figures 4 and 5, to the lower ladder L, this break is composed of a
rimmed wheel X and an adjustable plain wheel Y, the degree of pinch being
regulated by the screw Z.
Each ladder has a central guard plate or screen a on its front face constituting a
shoot, down which, inmates from a burning house may slide and be kept from direct
heat, the screen is at the central part only, so that it does not interfere with the
firemen going up for rescue purposes for carrying a hose from which a stream of
water could be directed downwards on to the fire.
The hose reel can be carried on the carriage A and the gaseous fire extinguisher
in tubes b, b, under it, also a pump c charged with water for instant action by
releasing the supporting chain d from the hooks e. f, f, are side hand rails.
The construction and arrangement, also the method of operating the hand
projection triple ladder are substantially the same as those for the horse triple
ladders, and the several parts bear the same letters to distinguish them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A triple ladder fire-escape having one ladder L pivotted and two ladders N, Q,
sliding, both capable of simultaneous extension therefrom by the action of a rotating
barrel I and two chains J, J, in the manner described and substantially as illus-
trated on the drawings.
2. In a triple ladder fire-escape arranged and acting as before described, the
supporting screws E, E, rotating sleeves F, F, for setting the ladders at the required
angle, whether extended or closed as explained, and substantially as shown on the
drawings.
3. In a triple ladder fire-escape arranged and acting as hereinbefore described,
the endless chain or wire rope S with the double pullies U, V, attachment rope W
as means for preserving the tension on S at all positions of the ladders, as set forth.
The 11th day of September 1891.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Emile Viarengo.