Improvements in Apparatus for Saving Life and Property.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Saving Life and Property.
I, ERNST WILLHELM FICKLER, of No. 12, Eichwaldstrasse, Frankfurt-on-the-
Main, Germany, Technologist, 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 movable apparatus. for saving life and property
especially at fires, by rendering places in danger easy of access so that a com-
paratively large number of persons or a large amount of property may be saved
with case and quickness.
In order that this invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus ready to be wheeled to a desired place.
Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus with the lower part extended.
Figure 3 is a part sectional side view of the apparatus on the line A-B of
Figure 2, showing the apparatus extended and secured in position for use.
Figure 4 is a rear view of the folding bridge of the apparatus.
This apparatus consists mainly of a wheeled frame a carrying a platform b
which is adjustable as to height and a folding bridge c arranged on the plat-
form band adapted to pivot around its vertical axle to be moved across the plat-
form and to be adjustable at any desired angle to the horizontal.
The platform bis adapted to be adjustable as to height by being connected to
the wheeled frame a by a folding device in the form of lazy tongs.
In Figure 2, d are pivotting points of the folding device on the lower frame a,
e are the hinge pivots, fare pivots sliding in guiding slots of connecting bars h.
In order to ensure great stability at whatever level the platform may be placed,
a left sliding pivot always alternates with a right one; in this manner the fold-
ing and unfolding of the tongs or articulated levers as observed from the middle
of the frame is symmetrical.
This connecting frame consisting of a double system of articulated levers in the
A double
form of lazy tongs is suitably operated by gearing wheels and ropes.
rope drum s, Figure 3, is keyed to both sides of an axle i situated on the frame a
Figure 3. Ropes m can be wound on and off the drums by wheels and a
crank. These ropes m pass over rollera n, provided at suitable parts of the
frame a, in such a manner that the free end of the rope connected to the lowest
levers of the left system of levers,, or of the right system, effects the unfolding
or folding of the whole lazy tongs frame work.
For instance, if the frame is to be brought from the movable condition; Figure 1,
into position for use, Figure 2, the crank and wheels k are rotated in the
direction of the arrows, Figure 1, thus effecting the winding up of the ropes m
in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1. In order to secure the frame in its
elevated position, Figure 2 and to prevent the operation of the before mentioned

page_text: driving mechanism in opposite direction, ratchet wheels o are aranged on the axle i
which can be secured in position by ratchet pawls p. These ratchet pawls p
are suitably secured by loops pivotted to the lower frame and provided with
screws.
If conversely, the frame is to be returned from the position of use Figure 2
into the condition for removal, the ratchet mechanism o jis disengaged and the
double rope drums s are operated in the corresponding direction as shewn by the
arrows of Figure 2.
In order to give the necessary safe support to the vehicle frame when in use.
corner supports r are provided which can be drawn in, for instance by gearing,
if the apparatus is to be wheeled away.
In the centre of the frame a is provided a cylindrical telescoping shaft t, which
by means of valves sucks in air at the ascent of the frame and compresses and
expels air at the descent of the frame, whereby the safe operation of the wheel
and rope mechanism is considerably assisted.
The foundation plate w of the folding bridge adapted to pivot around its
vertical axle is arranged so that it can be moved across the platform b by cog-
wheels and a screw v, in order to be brought nearer or farther away from the
building or other object which it is desired to reach. The sides of the bridge are
constructed similar to the lower connecting frame in the form of lazy tongs, so
that by operating a lever 1 pivotted to the base plate w and the hinged rod 2, the
bridge can be extended or folded together.
Plates of sheet metal 3 form the path of the bridge, they are arranged on the
connecting rods 4 and slide over one another. In order to allow of the adjustment
of the extended bridge as to height a lever 7 is provided on the axle 5 of the
hinged end rods 6, and the rigid piece 8 fixed to the axle 5 serves as support to the
connecting pin 9 and the whole bridge during 'extension, adjustment as to height,
&c. To allow of a more exact adjustment of the bridge as to height, a rope and
crank mechanism 10 is provided, of which the axle 11 may be provided with
spring mechanism to automatically return it into its former position.
The weight of the bridge is taken up by a roller 12 which can be adjusted
according to the angle which is approximately to be given to the bridge, by
gearing 13; one end of the axle being connected to the cogwheel 14 in a suitable
manner: Hooks 15 on the free end of the folding bridge serve to hang the bridge
to the window sill or other suitable object.
When the position of the bridge shown in Figure 3 is to be changed, the
alteration, if large, is effected by the operation of the lever 7 and more exact
adjustment is effected' by the rope and crank mechanism 10, 11; the folding of
the whole bridge into the position shewn in Figures 1 and 2 is effected by throw-
ing back the lever 1. In all three cases the connecting pin 9 slides on the piece S.
As a great preponderance of weight must result at that side of the frame a
over which the bridge is extended, supports are provided which are secured to the
framea by screws 16, and which may be further connected to the frame by
means of chain and a scrow clamping piece 18.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. Apparatus for saving life and property having a platform 6 connected by
a folding frame work in the form of lazy tongs operated by winding and ratchet
mechanism to a wheeled carriage frame, and a folding bridge in the form. of
lazy tongs adapted to be rotated on the platform b around a vertical axis,, so
that it can be extended to a place to be reached, by lever and winding mechanism,
substantially as described.
2. A form of construction of the apparatus claimed in Claim 1, in which pulling
ropes m are connected with the lowest hinged rod of the frame work supporting
the platform, and are wound on or off drumss by wheels, a ratchet device.o p q
securing the apparatus in its raised position, a cylindrical telescoping pneumatic

page_text: arrangement adapted to allow of the steady lowering of the apparatus, sub-
stantially as described.
3rd. A form of construction of the saving apparatus as claimed in Claims 1
and 2 in which the platform b carries an adjustable support 12 for the piece 8 of
the bridge, which latter piece 8 supports the connecting pin 9 of the last members
of the bridge, during the adjustment of the latter by a lever 7 fixed to the axle 5
of the piece or by the mechanism 10, 11, and also during the extension or folding
of the bridge by the lever 1 connected by a hinge piece 2 with the pin 9, sub-
stantially as described.
4th. The arrangement and construction of an extending apparatus for saving
life and property, substantially as described and illustrated in and by the accom-
panying drawings.