Improvements relating to Portable Fire-escapes and Fire-ladders.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Portable Fire-escapes and Fire-ladders.
1, GEORGE BRAY of the Steam Wheel and Van Works, Deptford Green in the
County of Kent, engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My invention relates to portable fire-escapes and fire-ladders.
The main object of my said invention is to provide means for automatically
effecting the scotching of the wheel or wheels of a portable fire-oscape or fire-ladder
when the ladder is raised and placed against a building, and the withdrawal of the
scotches when the ladder is lowered.
For this purpose I combine, with the fire-escape or fire-ladder, one or more scotches
which are attached by chains or other suitable means to the axle of the wheels and
also to the ladder in such a manner that, when the said ladder is raised the scotches
will be lowered into their places beneath the wheels and, when the ladder is lowered,
the said scotches will be raised.
The scotch is preferably so connected with the ladder that it can be readily dis-
connected therefrom.
Moreover I sometimes provide suitable means whereby the scotch may be lowered
into or raised from its operative position by hand. For this purpose I can use ropes
or chains or levers and links connected in any convenient manner with the scotch.
I prefer to make the scotch so that it will engage with the wheel and move
thereon when raised or lowered, and to attach it to the axle by two chains one on
each side of the wheel.
I sometimes use two scotches in combination with each wheel and with means
whereby the said scotches will be automatically lowered into and raised from their
operative positions as above specified.
AL
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Portable Fire-escapes and Fire-ladders.
I, GEORGE BRAY, of the Steam Wheel and Van Works, Deptford Green, in the
County of Kent, 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 :-
My invention relates to portable fire-escapes and fire-ladders.
The main object of my said invention is to provide means for automatically
effecting the scotching of the wheel or wheels of a portable fire-escape or fire-ladder,
when the ladder is raised and placed against a building, and the withdrawal of the
scotches when the ladder is lowered.
For this purpose I combine, with the fire-escape or fire-ladder, one or more scotches
which are attached by rods, links, chains or other suitable means to the axle of the
wheels and also to the ladder in such a manner that, when the said ladder is raised,
the scotches will be lowered into their places beneath the wheels, and, when the
ladder is lowered, the said scotches will be raised from the ground and disengaged
from the wheels. By these means I provide for greatly expediting the placing and
securing of fire-escapes or fire-ladders in any position in which they are required
for use.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing one form of my
scotching-apparatus applied to a fire-escape.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end elevation showing another form or modification of my scotching-
apparatus, and
Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a further modifica-
tion thereof.
A is the lower part of the fire-escape, B, B are the wheels, C is the lever or
projecting bar of the fire-escape, D is the axle.
a, a are the scotch-blocks which are provided with lugs a¹ to engage with the
wheels B, and are supported upon a cross-bar b, one of the said blocks being secured
upon each extremity of the said cross-bar.
c, c are connecting rods or links attached
at one extremity to the bar b and having at the other extremity an elongated hole or
eye c through which extends the axle D. The said elongated hole or eye allows a
certain amount of endwise motion of the rods c on the axle D. d, d are chains
coupled to the cross-bar at the points d' in any convenient manner and connecting
the said cross-bar with the free extremity of the lever C.
It will be seen that, on raising the ladder from the position shown in dotted lines to
that shown in full lines in Figure 1, the connecting rods or links c will move down-
ward carrying with them the cross-bar band scotch-blocks a, which, moving about
the axle as a pivot, are thus automatically lowered into the position shown in
Figure 1. Any slight additional adjustment of the scotches that may be required
can be given by hand or otherwise. On lowering the ladder into the position
indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, the blocks a are automatically raised out of
contact with the ground by the chains d and disengaged from the wheels B, the
elongated holes or eyes c permitting such disengagement.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figure 3, instead of employing rigid
connecting rods or links c, I use chains e for the purpose of connecting the cross-
bar with the axle D, the operation being similar to that of the apparatus shown in
Figures 1 and 2.
The scotching-blocks a are secured upon the cross-bar by means of screw-nuts
or otherwise so that they can be readily disconnected therefrom when desired.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figure 4, hooks fare provided
on the frame or carriage of the fire-escape, and chains & are attached to the scotching-
blocks a and are secured to these hooks. Instead of the hooks, I sometimes provide
suitable eyes through which the chains can be passed to the lever of the fire-escape.
It will be seen that, by these means, either scotching-block can drop independently
of the other block, and I am enabled to dispense with the cross-bar employed
in the forms or modifications of my device shown in Figures 1 and 2, or in
Figure 3.
I sometimes provide suitable means whereby the scotch may be lowered to, or
raised from its operative position by hand. For this purpose I can use ropes or
chains, or levers and links connected in any convenient manner with the scotch.
In some instances, I use two scotches in combination with each wheel and means
whereby the said scotches will be automatically lowered into, and raised from their
operative positions as above specified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed I wish it understood
that I claim :—
$
First A fire-escape or fire-ladder provided with one or more scotching-blocks
and with suitable means whereby, when the ladder is raised and lowered, the said
blocks will be automatically applied and withdrawn, for the purpose above specified.
Second The improved device comprising one or more scotching-blocks connected
by rods, links or chains to the axle of a fire-escape or fire-ladder and to the rear or

page_text: lower end of the ladder, frame or carriage, substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 and 2 or with reference to Figure 3 or to Figure 4 of the drawings
and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dated this 30th day of October 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.