IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES LADDERS AND VANS to be as follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: I GEORGE BRAY of 54 Prince Street Deptford in the County of Kent Wheelwright
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES
LADDERS AND VANS to be as follows:-
"
The main sides of the ladders are constructed of suitable timber, in two or inore
parts Between each part steel plates, either plain or ribbed, are fixed from end to
end, the whole being secured by bands or clipped plates. The rounds or steps of
the ladders are made with a ferrel at each end fitted into a plato or band, said
plate or band being in the form of half socket so that it will admit the round or
step being taken out without taking the ladder to pieces, the rounds or steps to be
fixed with bolts or screws at each end. The centre of each round or step is trussed,
from end to end of ladder with steel or iron wire rope, each wire rope being secured
with stretching screws at each end. The main sides of the ladders are also trussed
with steel or iron wire rope fixed to projecting arms or stays at each end of ladder
or ladders so that it leaves one side free to slide. At each end of the rope is fitted
a spiral spring made in the form of a stretcher, the sides of the ladder being
provided with a stop or pawl fixed to a plate made in shape of a L. balanced
so that it is in gear at any elevation, and put out of gear by a clutch fixed to the
plate. The axle fits into slides or guide irons fixed to the frame which carries the
ladder, so that the axle moves perpendicularly. To carry the ladders when down,
a frame made of wood or iron is fixed to the van, constructed with springs fitted
with cross bearer to work perpendicular in slides the frame having a projecting
arın fixed to the cross bearer. This arm is carried by a steel or iron wire rope
which passes over the frame and fixed to the van with spiral springs at each end
made in the form of a stretcher. To raise the ladder or escapes from the van there
shall be two projecting arms, one end fixed to van with a joint, the other with a
wheel, kept in position with jointed stays fixed to the side of van. The back part
of van is provided with a winding barrel turned by a handle. Fixed to the barrel
is a clutch or pawl and a wire or steel rope passes over the projecting arm to the
side of ladders so that by turning the handle the ladder rises perpendicularly.
The main parts and sides of ladder are formed of three pieces of timber between
cach part is placed steel ribs or plates. To raise or elevate the ladders telescopically
I provide a barrel or barrels fixed to a shaft on the main carriage of ladders. On
this shaft is a toothed wheel gearing into a worm on a shaft carrying a handle or
lever which is jointed and provided with quadrant or other action to place in or
out of gear. On this shaft is a mitre wheel gearing into another wheel carrying
the said handle.

page_text: I GEORGE BRAY of 54 Prince Street Deptford in the County of Kent Wheelwright
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES
LADDERS AND VANS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings that is to say :—
The main sides of the ladders b are constructed of suitable timber & metal in
two or more parts as shewn at Fig: 2. Between each part steel plates c either
plain or rubbed are fixed from end to end the whole being secured by bands or
clipped plates && provided with bearing Rollers a. The rounds or steps e of the
ladders are made with a ferrel el at each end fitting into a plate or band c² said
plate or band being in the form of half socket so that it will admit the round or
step e being taken out without taking the ladder to pieces. The rounds or steps c
are fixed with bolts or screws e³ at each end. The centre of cach round or step is
trussed from end to end of ladders with steel or iron wire ropes f each wire rope
being secured with stretching screws fat each end The main sides of the ladders
are also trussed with steel or iron wire ropes b as shewn in Fig 1 fixed to projecting
arms or stays 2 so arranged that it leaves one side of the two under Ladders free
to slide. At each end of the rope is fitted a spiral spring inade in the form of a
stretcher . The sides of ladder is provided with a stop or L shaped paul ³ fixed
to a suitable plate ballanced so that it is in gear at any elevation and held out
of gear by a suitable catch fixed to the said plate 61 The axle c fits between slides
or guides irons fixed-to-the-frame-which carries the ladder, so that the axle c
moves at right angles to the frame c². To carry the ladders when down-a-frame-i
as shown at Figs 3 & 5 is made of wood or iron fixed to the van & constructed
with springs fitted with cross bearer to work perpendicular in slides the
said frame having a projecting arm j fixed to the cross bearer or frame this arm is
carried by a steel or iron wire rope j which passes over the frame and is fixed to
the van with spiral springs j' at each end made in the form of a stretcher. To
raise the ladder or escapes from the van there shall bo two or more projecting
arms one end fixed to van with a joint the other end being provided with a
wheel or wheels 2 kept in position when necessary with jointed stays ³ fixed to
the side of van. The back part of van is provided with a winding barrel / turned
by a handle. Fixed to the barrel is a suitable retaining clutch or paul and a wire
or steel rope passes over the projecting arms to the side of ladders so that by
turning the handle the ladder rises perpendicularly.
The main parts and sides of ladder are formed of a piece or pieces of timber
between each part is placed steel ribs or plates, as shewn in Fig 2.
To raise or elevate the ladders telescopically I provide a barrel or barrels m fixed
to a shaft m' on the main carriage c² of ladders.
On this shaft m² is a toothed wheel gearing into a worm m³. On a shaft n
a handle or lover n' is fitted which is jointed and provided with quadrant or other
action to place it in or out of gear as shown at n³ On this shaft n is a wheel n³
gearing into another wheel me For securing the rope that holds the ladder to van
propose a bar o. with hooks o' and lever o in centre When the lever o² is depressed
in bottom of van a bolt p. is shot which secures it in that position. The bolt pis
nctuated by means of bell crank lever p' and hand lever p which is held in position
by a spring or springs p³.
When the ladders are extended at any distance I provide a line or lines g which
is fixed on the top ladder at g' and is worked on the lever part of ladder and is