Improvements in Fire Escapes, and Carriages for Conveying them.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 14th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes, and Carriages for Conveying them.
JAMES CADOUX HUDSON 75 Upper Ground Street Blackfriars Road London
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the improvements in fire escapes and carriages
for conveying them so as to form a combined fire escape and hose carriage, or fire
escape and manual engine, which together can be rapidly conveyed to a desired
point, and there quickly disconnected and used separately; the carriage to carry a
compliment of men, hose and other fire apparatus.
The carriage has four wheels; the front pair locking round; the body of the
carriage can be formed with well, hose box, side footboards, pockets, and driver's
seat, similar to the carriage of the ordinary manual engine of the London Fire
Brigade, and in some cases I propose to adapt such a manual carriage with the
pumpwork removed, or with the pumpwork retained as the carriage for conveying
or without
the fire escape; or the carriage may be of simple form with
accomodation for carrying hose and fire apparatus.
The fire escape will be of the telescopic construction with one, two or more
sliding ladders extended in the ordinary manner; and as I intend to carry the fire
escape on a carriage to the point where it is to be used, the wheels on which it
moves when detached from the carriage, may be of smaller diameter and lighter
construction than when the escape has to be transported a considerable distance on
those wheels; the framing to which the axle of these wheels is attached can be
simplified and lightened and springs dispensed with.
On the carriage already referred to, and at the rear end of it, I place brackets
with open jaws, and at the back of the escape attached to the framing is an axle
or fulcrum, and when the escape is in the vertical position and on the running
wheels this axle can engage with the open jaws fixed in the carriage; and by
means of sliding bolt or pin the ends of the jaws are closed. The escape then
being inclined towards the horizontal, the bottom of the escape is raised off the
ground, the axle or fulcrum resting on the jaws or brackets attached to the rear
of carriage. The escape is then further inclined until the weight of the front end
rests upon a swivelling cradle or support formed on the carriage, and above the
front wheels and locking; the escape is then carried on the four wheels of the
carriage. The escape can then be secured by straps or other suitable device.
The ladders may be at such an angle as to allow the driver to sit immediately
under them, or a seat at the side of the ladders can be provided. To remove the
escape from the carriage the bottom end of ladders is pressed or drawn down until
the running wheels touch the ground, and the axle or fulcrum can then be raised
out of the jaws after withdrawing the retaining bolts of the jaws. The escape can
be raised from the horizontal, or inclined to the vertical, or lowered from vertical
to the inclined by the firemen weighing down the back end of ladder extending
to the rear beyond the fulcrum, or the same is accomplished by a chain attached to
the bottom of ladders and to a drum on the rear and lower side of the well of
carriage or other suitable position with gearing and handles, by means of which
the bottom end of ladder can be drawn down towards the drum or pulley and the
ladders raised to the vertical, or the action reversed and the ladder inclined, or.
similar manner to the
the extending gear of the fire escape can be adapted in

page_text: curricle fire escape the Patent of which is No. 2696 and granted to me
February 11th 1892.
When the fire escape is detached from the hose carriage or manual engine, the
efficiency of such carriage or engine is in no way impaired.
Dated this 14th day of March 1894.
тощоцю in Fire Escapes, and Carriages for Conveying them.
JAMES CADOUX HUDSON 75 Upper Ground Street Blackfriars Road London
Engineer 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 has for its object the improvements in fire escapes and carriages
for conveying them, so as to form a combined fire escape and hose carriage, or fire
escape and manual engine, which together can be rapidly conveyed to a desired
point and there quickly disconnected and used separately.
The carriage to carry a compliment of men, hose, and other fire apparatus. The
carriage has four wheels, the front pair locking round. The body of the carriage
can be formed with well, hose box, side footboards, pockets, and driver's seat,
similar to the carriage of the ordinary manual engine of the London Fire Brigade,
and in some cases I propose to adapt such a manual carriage with the pumpwork
removed, or with the pumpwork retained, as the carriage for conveying the fire
escape; or the carriage may be of simple form with or without accomodation for
carrying hose and fire apparatus. The fire escape will be of the telescopic con-
struction with one, two, or more sliding ladders extended in the ordinary manner
and as I intend to carry the fire escape on a carriage to the point where it is to
be used, the wheels on which it moves when detached from the carriage, may be of
smaller diameter, and lighter construction, than when the escape has to be trans-
ported a considerable distance on those wheels.
The framing to which the axle of these wheels is attached, can be simplified
and lightened, and springs dispensed with. On the carriage already referred to,
and at the rear end of it, I place brackets with open jaws, and at the back of the
escape attached to the framing is an axle or fulcrum; and when the escape is in
the vertical position and on the running wheels, this axle can engage with the open
jaws fixed on the carriage, and by means of sliding bolt or pin the ends of the
jaws are closed. The escape then being inclined towards the horizontal the bottom
of the escape is raised off the ground, the axle or fulcrum resting in the jaws or
brackets attached to the rear of carriage. The escape is then further inclined
until the weight of the front end rests upon a swivelling cradle, or support formed
on the carriage, and above the fore wheels and locking; the escape is then carried
on the four wheels of the carriage. The escape can then be secured by straps or
other suitable device. The ladders may be at such an angle as to allow the driver
to sit immediately under them, or a seat at the side of the ladders can be provided.
To remove the escape from the carriage, the bottom end of ladders is prèssed or
drawn down until the running wheels touch the ground, and the axle or fulcrum
can then be raised out of the jaws after withdrawing the retaining bolts of the
jaws. The escape can be raised from the horizontal or inclined to the vertical, or
lowered from vertical to the inclined, by the firemen weighing down the back end
of ladder extending to the rear beyond the fulcrum, or the same is accomplished
by a chain attached to the bottom of ladder and to a drum on the rear and lower
side of the well of carriage or other suitable position with gearing and handles
by means of which the bottom end of ladder can be drawn down towards the drum

page_text: or pulley and the ladders raised to the vertical, or the action reversed, and the
ladders inclined or the extending gear of the fire escape can be adapted in a similar
manner to the curricle fire escape the Pateut of which is No. 2696 and granted to
me in the year 1892.
When the fire escape is detached the hose carriage or manual engine the
efficiency of such carriage or engine is in no way impaired.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
ladders inclined or the extending gear of the fire escape can be adapted in a similar
manner to the curricle fire escape the Pateut of which is No. 2696 and granted to
me in the year 1892.
When the fire escape is detached the hose carriage or manual engine the
efficiency of such carriage or engine is in no way impaired.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION of DRAWINGS.
My invention is represented by the accompanying drawings-the same letters
and references indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved fire escape and carriage.
Fig. 2 is a plan of same.
Fig. 3 an elevation looking at the rear end of carriage.
Fig. 4 an elevation looking at the front end of carriage.
Fig. 5 is a detailed side elevation of the bracket and fulcrum on which the
escape pivots & is secured to carriage.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of same.
Fig. 7 is a detailed side elevation of the mode of connecting axle to framing
and for plumbing escape.
Fig. 8 is a back elevation of same.
Figs. 9 & 10 are detailed views shewing modification of arrangement shewn in
Figs. 7 & 8.
Figs. 11 & 12 are side and back elevations in diagram shewing effect of moving
axle and manner of plumbing escape.
Figs. 13 & 14 are detailed side and sectional elevation of back stays at foot
of main ladder of escape.
Figs. 15 & 16 are detailed side elevation and section of the stay bar between
back lever and main ladder.
Fig. 17 is an arrangement for holding together the top and bottom plates of fore
locking.
In Figs. 1. 2. 3 & 4 (A) is a four wheeled carriage, the front wheels (B)
locking round, with body (C.), well (D), hose box (E), pockets (F), and driver's
seat (G), similar to an ordinary manual engine or of simpler design, (H) is a
telescopic fire escape with one, two or more sliding ladders. At the rear end of
carriage I form brackets (J. J), with open jaws (K. K), and at the back of escape
and on framing of same is an axle or fulcrum (L). When the escape is in the
vertical position and on the running wheels this fulcrum (L.) can be placed in the
open jaws (K. K.) on brackets (J. J.) at back of carriage (A.), the escape (H)
can then be inclined towards the horizontal and the running wheels raised off the
ground, the escape being further inclined until the front end rests on a cradle or
rest (M.) formed at fore end of carriage and near driver's seat (G.). The escape is
then secured by a hinged iron strap (N.) or other suitable device. The escape
can be raised again from the horizontal by pressing down the back end of escape
extending to the rear and beyond the fulcrum (L.) or the same be accomplished
by means of a chain (O.) attached to bottom of ladder and to a winding drum (P.)
at rear and lower end of carriage (A.).
In Fig. 1. (Q) is a stay or bracket which attaches the axle (R.) of escape to
the back of carriage (A.) retaining ladder in inclined position when a jet is placed
from top of escape as for a water tower, thus firmly connecting escape to carriage
and giving stability to resist the thrust of water jet.
Figs. 5 & 6 shew details of brackets (J. J.) and fulcrum (L.) the open
jaws (K. K.) are closed by a hook or lever (S.) on a shaft. (T.) on which is a
hand lever (U.) with spring stop (V.) engaging in holes in quadrant (W.) these
holes (X.) and stop (V.) fix the hook or lever (U.) when open or shut.

page_text: In Figs. 7 & 8 it will be seen the axle of escape is pivotted at point (A') in
a bracket on framing, and at another part is pinned to a bracket (B) on framing
having a series of holes (C) when the pin (D') is removed and the axle raised
or lowered and pin (D') put into one of the higher or lower holes, the escape
cau be inclined to the right or left, or when in the centre hole is vertical, this
movement is shewn in diagrams Figs. 11 & 12.
Figs. 9 & 10 shew a modification of Figs. 7 & 8 and where a screw (E) with
hand wheel (F) and bracket (G') attached to framing of escape and a nut (H)
attached to axle (R) allow one end of axle to be raised or lowered this screw and
nut taking the place of pin (D¹) and bracket (B') of Figs. 7 & 8.
Figs. 13 & 14 shew the back stays (J) at foot of main ladder (K') these can be
slid in and out as may be desired and secured in position by spring stop (L').
Figs. 15 & 16 shew a spring stop (M) applied to the stay (N¹) of back
lever, the stop (M') slips into slot (01) in stay when the back levers are
thrown up.
Fig. 17 is a detail of fore locking carriage (C) on the centre pin (P) and at
lower end I place a spring (Q'), which when compressed by nut (R¹) at lower end
of pin (P) draws the top and bottom plates (S) together thus steadying the
locking carriage when the carriage is lightly loaded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
Firstly. The combination of a four wheeled carriage either formed as a manual
engine carriage with or without the pumping works or of simpler construction,
and a telescopic fire escape connected by jaw and pivot or similar device so that
the escape can be placed upon the carriage or easily removed therefrom as
illustrated and described.
.
Secondly. The arrangement of chain and winding drum at rear of carriage for
raising and lowering the escape as illustrated and described.
Thirdly. The arrangement of 'stay or bracket at rear end of carriage which
connects to the axle of escape and thus firmly holds the escape to the carriage
when vertical, and being used as a water tower as illustrated and described.
Fourthly. The arrangement of bracket jaw and fulcrum and manner of locking
same as illustrated and described.
Fifthly. The arrangement for plumbing escape as illustrated and described.
Sixthly. The improved stay bar to foot of main ladder with spring stop for
securing same as illustrated and described.
Seventhly. The improved stay to back lever of escape with spring stop for
securing same as illustrated and described.
Eighthly. The improved spring on centre pin of locking as illustrated and
described.
Dated this 14th day of December 1894.
JAMES CADOUX HUDSON.