IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Paul Krauss Klein and Edward
Ellis Allen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th
September 1882.
PAUL KRAUSS KLEIN of 8 York Buildings Adelphi and EDWARD ELLIS
ALLEN of Cheyne Walk Chelsea both in the County of Middlesex " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE ESCAPES,"
"
Fire escapes as ordinarily constructed consist of a "main" ladder some 30 feet
long, a "fy" ladder hinged upon it about 20 feet long, a separate first floor"
ladder some 15 feet long which may be socketed to the fly ladder or hooked to
main ladder and a "
supplemental "ladder about 10 feet long which may also be
socketed to fly or hooked to main ladder these several lengths being variously
combined so as to reach the points required when the machine rests with its four
wheels on the ground and the ladders are at an angle of about 25 degrees from the
perpendicular; slight differences being made by inclining them more or less. The
shoot" is attached to the main ladder only and is of the same length or
thereabouts, persons rescued from higher points than these to which the main
ladder may be made to reach, being carried by the firemen down the upper ladders,
a dangerous and difficult duty requiring considerable strength and nerve,
especially with heavy persons or those in a terrified or insensible state. In
changing also the position of the machines so as to remove persons from different
floors of a building much time is lost by having to shift the ladders and decide
upon the special ones to be employed.
Our improvement consists of arrangements by which all this danger, difficulty
and loss of time are avoided The total length of ladder, generally about 90 feet,
is divided into three sections, the second or middle one, sliding on the first or
lowest, and the third or top one sliding on the second, so that any altitude can be
at once reached by raising the end of the third section in the first place and in the
second place (if the third and first sections are not long enough) the second section
giving the entire length if required.
Instead of the shoot which as already stated is fixed to the back of the main
ladder only in ordinary fire escapes we arrange a moveable cage which if desired
may be made to contain several persons such cage being carried up when required
ID 571

page_text: with the third or top section of the ladder, and free to be lowered and raised as
often as necessary when the total length of ladder required has been properly
adjusted and ready for use.
This cage is fitted on one side with sliding doors capable of being instantaneously
opened and closed, the bottom, top, sides and front being as nearly as possible
closed ie, formed of sheets of non-combustible material, the back or part next
to ladders being open ie formed of bars or wire work for ventilation and
communication with persons within. The said cage is guided in its ascent and
descent by means of guide ropes of wire attached to the upper part of the third or
top ladder and to a drum fitted on the frame below deep grooved pulleys being
attached to the sides of the cage between which the guide ropes pass.
The ladders are stayed in the ordinary way with wire ropes and are raised and
lowered by means of winches and gearing conveniently placed on the carriage
framing the drums upon which the cage guide-lines are wound are fitted with
springs so that upon the ladders being lowered the said guide lines shall be
automatically coiled up as the ladders shorten. Breaks are also attached to each
winding apparatus so as to save time in lowering either the cage or ladders.
Another part of our improvements consists in the construction of the carriage
which is made in two parts the fore part being readily removed when the machine
is in use but attached when it is required to be moved from place to place, a horse
or pair of horses being employed, the machine being lowered into a nearly
horizontal position. An adjustment is fitted to the frame by which the exact
position of the ladder is fixed or the ladders placed vertically and secured in
position, and adjustable screws are fitted bearing upon the roadway for the purpose
of adjustment on uneven ground. Strong iron rod stays are employed for securing
the lower ladder to the carriage and determining its angle of elevation in relation
to the same. The fore carriage is arranged so as to carry the men attending the
fire escape-seats being arranged upon it as on a fire engine, the seat locker
containing all necessary tools and appliances likely to be required.
By means of the several arrangements above described the fire escape (with five
attendants) can be brought into operation in about two minutes and opportunity
afforded for the rescue of several persons without danger or difficulty from any floor
of a dwelling on fire without the trouble of fixing loose ladders in place or having
to determine which ladders shall be employed so as to reach certain points all
necessity is also avoided of the fireman carrying persons or children down the
ladders or of placing them in the shoot head downwards which has been found
desirable in the case of women so as to avoid the possibility of their clothes
being caught in the shoot and the way thus becoming blocked preventing others
followings.