Improved Elevating Apparatus for Builders', FIREMEN'S AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd September 1872.-A communication from abroad by Ignatz
Lindenblith, of Paris, France.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "Improved Elevating Apparatus for Builders', FIREMEN'S
AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to an improved builder's elevating apparat u
applicable also for saving life at fires, and other uses.
In the accompanying Drawings I have represented two arrangements
of the apparatus, which is in both cases telescopic and serves to support
a platform at any desired height.
Figure 1 shows an elevation of the apparatus with the platform
slightly raised, and Figure 2 a horizontal section of the lower part of
the apparatus. The reference letters apply to both Figures.

page_text: a, base plate on which the apparatus is mounted, and which may bc
carried on wheels for the purpose of moving from place to place; b, b,
sliding sections dovetailed together and supporting the platform c. Each
of the telescopic sections b, b, is provided with one or more racks d. A
hood or covering may be placed over the platform c to form a shelter
for the workmen; f, extensible ladder for ascending to the platform;
g, g, bearings fitted to slide on plate a by the action of springs or
by other means; h, h, horizontal shafts turning in bearings g, 9, and
provided with toothed wheels i gearing with racks d of sections b ;
j, shaft for transmitting motion to shafts h, h, either by the aid of bevil
pinions k, k, by endless chains, or otherwise. On rotating the driving
shaft j, the pinions i in gear with the racks of the innermost or upper
section 6 of the framework raise the same simultaneously by sliding it
on the next section, with the racks of which the pinions are then caused
to gear by the action of springs on their bearings g, and so on succes-
sively for the remaining sections until the whole are raised. A catch is
applied at the bottom end of each section for securing the same when
raised. In this manner the platform c may be elevated to any height
desired.
Figures 3 and 4 show side and end views of a modified arrangement
of the apparatus consisting of a frame 6 on wheels c, on which is
mounted an open frame b'. Within frame bare four other frames or
sections a sliding telescopically in each other; i, vertical screw on which
works a nut fixed in a plate or follower j carrying four rods f united at
top by a plate h, this latter also carries two sliding cross bars which may
be caused to take under the upper part of any one of the sections or frames;
g, guide rods for the plate j. Each section is supported when raised by
pins e at bottom engaging in hooks d on the top bar of the succeeding
section. The screw i above mentioned is shown as operated by bevil
gearing m, n, from a shaft o carried in bearings p and driven by manual
or other power. A clutch is also provided to throw the pinion n out of
gear with the screw i to allow the plate ; to descend at an increased
speed after raising each section of the framework. Instead of the screw
i an hydraulic press may be used for raising the sections.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 show an elevation, section, and plan of a wheeled
platform a, b, used for raising and shifting the elevating apparatus on to
a higher level, a footpath for example. It is provided with hinged

page_text: sloping ends c to facilitate the placing of the clevator thereon. The
hinged ends c are ribbed at d, d, to give increased foothold; e, plate
hinged at one side of the platform to form a bridge between it and the
path or other raised surface f, on which the elevating apparatus is to
be placed.