in expanding apparatus made by combining a number of lattices or lazy-tongs, and in apparatus for rendering the same useful for the purposes mentioned
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1887
Complete Left, 10th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
do hereby declare, me nauite of my sau mYCOON C
My invention relates to improvements in expanding apparatus made by combining
a number of lattices or lazy-tongs, and in apparatus for rendering the same useful for
the purposes mentioned.
In the specification of a patent granted to me A.D. 1885 (No. 15699) 1 claimed
as of my invention certain means of combining, and combinations of, lazy-tongs and
lattices, and apparatus and machinery for rendering the same useful for certain
purposes, chiefly in vertical or more or less erect positions.
My recent invention, which I now describe, relates to further improvements in the
same and similar expanding apparatus and in apparatus and machinery for rendering
the same useful for certain purposes, in horizontal, inclined, and vertical positions.
When my improved lattices are made with meshes or openings too small for men
to pass through, I sometimes make them with a certain number of larger openings,
surrounded with stronger slats, (in some cases) to serve as men holes.
For combining lattices and lazy-tongs, I generally use angle plates, hinges, and
eye-bolts as described in my aforesaid specification No. 15699, but in some cases I now
replace with, or substitute for, one or more of the lattices, rib-like angle plates or
connectors extending from one corner to another.
In the following description, the word Tower (whether its position in use be vertical
or horizontal) is understood to signify an expanding apparatus consisting of two or
more lattices or lazy-tongs combined and united or connected by any of the before
written means; generally alluded to however as four sided, though it may be made
of two, three, or more than four sides, and with slats of varying lengths so as to
expand in an archlike or cambered shape; Vertical is understood to signify vertical
or thereabout; and Horizontal is understood to signify horizontal or thereabout.

page_text: For use as a combined Military Observatory and pontoon bridge, my Tower is
sometimes enclosed in a box-like carriage or wagon, horizontal or vertical. The
boxes are made waterproof so as to be used as boats rafts or floats, for the Towers,
which serve as bridge or pontoon. The wheels are arranged to serve for transport
in and out of water, and in horizontal or vertical position, so that this apparatus may
be used also as an observatory and ladder for scaling forts, and other purposes. The
Tower may be expanded by being pulled open while horizontal upon land or water,
or forced across a river or upwards by means of screws, levers, ropes, and chains.
Man holes or watertight doors are arranged in these boxes for passing implements
through, and on the top of the wagon is sometimes carried a boat which may contain
oars, boat hooks, ropes and other necessaries. Air bags or air vessels are sometimes
used as floats for the bridge, placed under and about, instead of or in connection with,
the box or other floats.
Sometimes these Towers are used in pairs pushed or pulled across, or out into the
water in a shape, fastened together at the apex, and to land at the base. These
may rest on their own wheels on the bottom of the river or sea or be floated on raft,
boat, or my improved box. Sometimes the two bridges are placed parallel to each
other, like girders, and planked over to form one wide bridge.
The planking or flooring for these bridges, piers, and staps, is sometimes made as
hinged flaps or shutters, (with or without hand guards) which stand out parallel to
each other when the tower is closed, and lie upon, are hooked or fastened to, or butt
against, each other, when expanded, forming at once a floor or roof and a continuous
stiffening for top, bottom, or both, when used in a horizontal position.
In some cases these Towers, when expanded, are stiffened by means of chains,
ropes, or tie rods, made to draw into place, and fasten together, or to the lattices or
their connectors automatically, in other cases the stiffening and tension ropes chains
bars or rods are attached by hand. Tension chains and ropes are used longitudinally
for stiffining a tower when horizontal, and transversely when vertical,
When one or more of these Towers are used for launching a life boat or other
boat from land, the boat is fastened to or upon the seaward end of the apparatus
(generally of a shape) which is pushed out by means of screws or otherwise, while
resting on its own wheels, until the boat floats and is released automatically or by
hand. When launching a boat from a ship or vessel the wheels are not necessary.
On board ship this apparatus adapts itself to varying heights from deck to water
when used as a ladder and for launching boats. When used as a swing or balanco
bridge it may be fixed in the centre and expanded both ways, balancing itself upon a
pier and across two spans.
When the tower is used as fire-escape, sometimes I arrange a cage, of whickerwork,
wirework, perforated metal, or other suitable material, which is drawn up and let
down inside the combined lattice tower, by men at bottom or top, with rope or chain
passing over suitable pulleys drums or rollers. The cage is sometimes made with
loose bottom, held to the body of the cage by catches which can be released at the
bottom of the apparatus, so that the body may be withdrawn from about its occupant.
Catches hold the cage at the top of the tower when required but they cannot be
disengaged except when the cage is held up by the rope or chain which lowers it.
In using a rope for expanding a tower, I cause it to pass over pulleys attached to
fixed objects at both ends and to the lattices, in such manner that, when the rope is
tightened and pulled it first exerts an opening effect in passing over the pulleys near
top and bottom, and when the lattice is partly open the part of the rope
which passes
round about the compound lattice tower exerts a gripping effect tending to close in
the sides and elongate the tower.
I also use a screw with collar and nut to expand contract and fix my towers; some-
times the collar and nut clip to or against, or are fastened to the joints or corners of
the lattice; at other times or in other cases, they are fastened to a chain or rope
which encircles the tower; and in both cases causes it to expand or contract as the
screw is turned one way or another.
Sometimes two, three or more towers may be joined together at the top with their

page_text: bases distant from each other and be expanded simultaneously, or otherwise, in a
pyramid like position, sufficiently rigid to support platform shed, instruments of an
observatory, or other objects.
For scaffolding 1 sometimes attach to or place upon vertical towers, one or more
towers in a horizontal position, to serve as platform or girder for platform.
I sometimes mount a tower on a trestle like support, with or without wheels, to
give headway over a footpath. The tower is contained in this trestle and may be
fixed at or near the top while horizontal, or forced upwards or outwards by means of
chain, rope, ratchet, or screw; and I sometimes mount the towers on turntables or
trucks for horizontal and vertical use.
For expanding these my improved towers I sometimes use hydraulic power from
water mains or pumps, in telescopic tubes, and cylinders with pistons.
It is obvious, that this my improved expanding apparatus, supplied with the before
named appendages, is capable of being used for all the purposes before mentioned, as
well as for landing pier or gangway to and from ships and boats, for gathering fruit,
lopping trees, scaffolding and general use inside Churches, Halls, Railway Stations,
Theatres, and the like; fishing piers, and bridges, and many other purposes.
10th L 1907
GEORGE EDWARDS.

page_text: I, GEORGE EDWARDS, of Whitby Lodge, Thornton Heath, Surrey, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 improvements in expanding apparatus made by combining
a number of lattices or lazy-tongs, and in apparatus for rendering the same useful for
the purposes mentioned.
Having described (in my provisional specification No. 8398-1887) the nature of
the said invention, I proceed to describe more particularly in what manner the same
is to be performed by aid of the accompanying drawings; in which description
" lattice" is generally used to signify lattice or lazy-tongs; tower to imply my
improved combination of lattices, whether used vertically, horizontally, or inclined;
"vertical" to signify vertical or thereabouts; "horizontal" to signify horizontal or
thereabouts; "cornerplate to signify any of my improved connectors for joining
lattices together; "ropes "to signify ropes chains cords bands belts or rods ; river
to signify any water.
::
Fig 1, elevation of a composite tower, composed of lazy-tongs and lattices, shewing
various screw expanders and stiffeners, and other stiffeners and stays.
Fig. 24, plan of gland strap stiffener.
Fig. 2B, details of part of a chain tightener with lever hook.
Fig. 3, tower with pneumatic and hydraulic tubular expanders.
Fig. 4, elevation of tower with rope expander.
Fig. 5, view of clip nut and collar.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, cornerplate connectors.
Fig. 17 closed, & fig. 18 expanded, elevations of an expanding bridge.
Fig. 19 elevation of a tower leaning against an edifice, shewing cage and truss for
stiffening.
Fig. 19 elevation of a tower fitted as a fireman's ladder.
Fig. 22, details of cage safety hook.
Fig. 23, plan, fig. 24 elevation, of a trestle carriage.
Fig. 25, elevation shewing chain gearing.
Fig. 26, elevation of towers combined as a pyramid.
Fig. 27, elevation of a combination of towers for use as scaffolding and the like

page_text: Fig. 27" details of truss stretchers.
Figs. 28 to 35, diagrams illustrating the application of my invention to observatories
signal stations, bridges, and the like..
S, (figs. 1, 19, 19, 29) man holes in lattices. They may also be made in the corners
of a tower.
C, (fig. 8) cornerplate connectors, or webbed cornerplates for connecting or joining
towers together; being placed at the ends, facilitate the junction of towers or parts
of towers by means of suitable bolts through the holes y, in the web .c.
Figs. 6 & 7 shew in perspective my ordinary rigid and hinged cornerplates.
My improved means and apparatus for expanding and stiffening or sustaining
lattice towers are shown at figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 27",
29, 32, 33; R, ropes as trusses for stiffening and strengthening towers when used in
vertical or horizontal positions; R¹ struts or stretchers of the truss; these trusses may
be used on one or more sides of the tower, and the stretchers R' are sometimes made
to form a girdle to embrace and retain the tower within the space R R (fig. 27B)
the stretchers being fastened together by any suitable means. Fig. 24, gland strap
stiffener to encircle the tower, and is tightened with screw, cotter, or any suitable
means. E, (fig. 1) collar, E' nut attached to the lattice; when the screw Dis
rotated the lattice is stiffened, contracted or expanded. G, rope or chain girdle em-
bracing the tower and is tightened or slackened. by means of the screw G. F, screw
link tightener, also encircling the tower. F1, supports or guides for girdle, made
with or without rollers as required. G (fig. 26) chain and cords tied, and leather
strap buckled round towers for stiffening girdles. F" (figs. 1 & 2B) lever coupling
hook for joining and tightening chain and rope girdles stiffeners, and trusses; by
moving the lever F, as shewn by the dotted line fig. 2B, the chain is tightened, and
may be kept so by means of the chain G, or other suitable means. 2, (figs. 1, 27)
latch-like stiffeners, arranged to lock automatically. Fig. 5 shews my improved clip
or hinged nut or collar for screw expanders and stiffeners, by means of which the
screws D, D, (figs. 1, 3, 19, 194, 25, 26) may be easily attached and detached. At
figs. 3 & 214, are shewn my improved telescopic screw, and tubular expanders ;
D telescopic screw, E collar, E' nut; this screw may have the desired number of
lengths. L, telescopic tube which may be placed in the centre of the tower as shewn,
and guided at the top or other suitable parts with levers A' arranged to expand and
contract with the tower, or the tabes may be placed at or near one or more corners
or sides of the tower, and the tower expanded by forcing air or water into the tubes
by means of a piston L and suitable valves inside the fixed tube or otherwise ;
these tubular expanders may be used in conjunction with screws to regulate and fix
the tower, and in some cases they may be locked at the joints by suitable means
(not shewn) as each tube is forced out to its full length or extent, and so constitute
a support for the tower endways, while the tower sustains the tube sideways; these
telescopic tubes, in some cases, are fitted with swivel or flexible hoses, valves or cocks,
.and connectors for hose pipes, (not shewn,) so that water from the watermains or
pumps, may be used to expand the tower, and for extinguishing fires and other
purposes. (fig. 3) cylinder, L", piston rod, shewing another form of pneumatic and
hydraulic expander which may be placed at suitable parts of the tower, and, by means
of small flexible tubes (not shewn) to convey air or water, may be used to expand or
to aid the screw and other apparatus to expand the tower. Fig. 4 shews my improved
rope expander M, drums, N, rope passing over pulleys O, which are fixed to the
carriage and platform, (in this case shewn as a box like wagon in two parts)
P, PP, P, are pulleys attached to joints of the lattices; when (the tower being
closed) the rope is tightened and in passing over the pulleys O, and those at P, P1, P1
(lower part of the apparatus) exerts a lifting effect which raises, first P, then P₁, out
of the box, and, when the tower is partly expanded, that part of the rope
across, or round about the tower, as shewn at N, exerts a gripping effect tending to
close in the sides of, and expand the tower; in like manner the upper part of the
tower is acted upon by the same rope; the rope may grip the tower in many places
which
passes

page_text: to distribute the strain. When several screw expanders are used at different sides of
parts of the tower I sometimes use an endless chain J¹ (figs. 2, 23, 24 & 25) which,
passing round or about chain wheels J, rotate the screws simultaneously; in the case
shewn (fig. 25) where 4 screws are placed at corners, and rotated by pulling the
chain or turning one of the screws, the slack chain would be taken up by a tightening
pulley or other suitable means; while in the case shewn fig. 2 the chain, after passing
round the wheel at one end, and over guide pulleys K, at the joints of the lattices to
the other end, it returns in a similar manner, but preferably upon one of the other
lattices; while on its way up or down it may encircle other intermediate chain wheels
(not shewn) and so rotate several screws placed at intervals throughout the length of
the tower this arrangement (fig. 25) can be worked from either end or any convenient
part of the tower.
d, (fig. 19) cage raised and lowered inside the tower from below by means of cord
which passes over a hanging pulley at 6 when the cage is raised to the top it may
be caught at holes e, or other suitable catches, by hooks e¹ (fig. 22) attached to the
platform. Similar hooks e' hold up or disengage the bottom part d' (fig. 19) of the
cage, so that on arriving at the base of the tower the body of the cage may be
unhooked and drawn from about its occupant; the notch e (fig. 22) prevents the
cage being disengaged from the hooks except (when at the top) the rope e is tight
enough to hold it up, and (when at the bottom) the rope c is slack enough for the
cage to rest on the base; and in some cases the carriage T (fig. 19) is made with an
aperture for the cage to pass through to the ground.
When required to use my improved apparatus where a footpath or other passage
must be left clear, I sometimes mount it on a trestle carriage; T (figs. 23 & 24)
frame to which the tower is fastened at V. This frame T, which forms the base of
the tower, (not shown) is raised to T¹ by means of 4 screws D₁ being rotated by
pulling the chain J".
Fig. 27, diagram to shew a combination of various kinds of my improved towers
applicable to scaffolding and other purposes. The upper arch shaped lattices are
fastened together parallel by means of tie bolts at the required number of joints like
the steps of a ladder, which is a known means of joining lattices together so as to
expand in a straight form, but my invention consists in the arrangment of the joints
of the lattices, at varying distances so as to cause them to expand in a curved or
cambered form as shewn. A horizontal girder, here shewn as attached to the sides,
may be used on the top of the two vertical towers.
Fig. 27 shews in plan how two lattices A and two lazy-tongs A¹ may be united by
means of my improved corner plates C. This form is mostly useful for bridges and
for ladders whose width must be limited.
Figs. 28 to 35 shew an arrangment of my improved expanding apparatus for military
and other purposes as observatory and pontoon, sometimes combined; g, g¹ box wagon
to contain the tower when closed (upon which box wagon is sometimes placed a boat g¹¹).
These boxes when made watertight serve as boats to Hoat a bridge upon water. When
used in a vertical position for observatory and other purposes g may be removed, the
apparatus raised on end, expanded (as fig. 29) and retained by any of the means
described herein; communication between persons below and those on or in the tower
may be made by means of dispatch bag j and rope c, by telegraph, telephone, speaking
tube, signals, and any suitable means.
·
For use horizontally as a bridge, the tower is expanded as shewn at fig. 30, when
the boxes are placed as at fig. 31, and fastened to the tower at k, in which state the
whole may be taken to the water and launched as shewn fig. 32, then pulled across
the river by ropes, and moored to land as a bridge (fig. 33) or it may be expanded to
its full length before it is launched. Air bags m (figs. 32 & 33) may be used in aid of,
or instead of, my improved wagon box boats. The wheels under my improved box
boats serve to transport the tower on land, and in water until the boxes float, and in
some cases lids with watertight packing (or without packing) would be fastened to
the boxes so that they might be submerged without filling with water. One of these

page_text: lids is shewn at 0¹ (fig. 35) 0" grooves for studs (fastened to suitable joints in the
lattices) to slide in; when the lid is tastened to the box by any suitable means, and the
studs are placed in the grooves 011, the bridge is thereby fastened to the boat box in
such manner that it may be expanded or contracted. Otherwise the bridge and boxes
or boats may be joined by any suitable means, and the bridge or tower may be used
and transported in or on any suitable form of wagon or carriage.
When the bridge is expanded to the length required, rope or chain ties may be
applied as shewn R (figs. 18, 27, 29, 33) and screw or other struts, girdles, props,
and other strengtheners, affixed according to the strain it is required to resist.
In certain cases stiffening ropes or chains R, and struts R', may be placed upon the
apparatus before it is launched (fig. 32) which, when drawn across the river, are
tightened automatically or otherwise as shewn fig. 33.
m, (figs. 32, 33) additional air bags or floats.
In other cases I use props of wood or any suitable material as supports, resting
upon or driven into the river bed, and in other cases I support my bridges with or
upon my improved lattice towers A" fig. 33. A" (fig. 32) shows how these supporting
towers may be attached to the bridge as expanding piers, before the bridge is launched;
when in place they are allowed to expand by their gravity to the bed of the river, and
are then stiffened by any suitable means.
In certain cases a pair of towers are used as shewn fig. 34, one end of each of which
is supported on my improved box boat, or other boat, float, or raft, at n; the two
towers, as bridges, are pushed out with screws or other expanders to the opposite side
of the river, where they are placed parallel as girders, and may be propped, supported,
stiffened, and planked, to form one wide bridge as shewn at O.
In like manner a life or other boat p may be launched, the boat being supported
upon, however, instead of supporting, the towers or girders, which are carried upon
their own wheels and forced out till the boat floats and is released from them.
Bridges and gangways made of these my improved lattice towers may be provided
with any kind of floor planking, on the top outside, or on the bottom inside, to serve
as flooring, and sometimes the flooring is attached to, and forms part of, the bridge,
as shewn on the top of figures 17 and 18. This planking may be made like hinged
floor plates or flaps of wood, steel, or other suitable material, flat, corrugated or buckled,
and fastened to the lattice with hinge-like attachments w.
Three varieties are here
shewn; to adapted to serve with variable elongations of the bridge, the flaps being
long enough to lie upon each other at the extreme elongation, and return automatically
to a vertical position as shewn q, fig. 17. In like manner the flaps to s, are
automatic and capable of use with variable expansion; as shewn figure 18 the floor is
close jointed and flush; and if the bridge were more elongated the flaps would still
be flush but open jointed, and if the bridge were made shorter, one flap would rise
upon the other, by means of the beveled edges and take the position shewn fig. 17.
In certain cases the flooring is made to butt, as from s to t (figs. 17, 18) when it adds
stability to the structure.
This my improved expanding apparatus, adapted for use in vertical, leaning, inclined
and horizontal positions, is obviously useful for fire-escape, fireman's ladder, salvage
ladder lader for pruning, lopping trees, gathering fruit, and general purposes; for
military and general observatory; surveyors, photographer's and artists and signal
station; scaffolding, posts, girders, pontoon and other bridges, bridge piers, life and
other boat launching, expanding substitute for swing bridge; landing boating and
fishing piers, and many other purposes.
The size, proportions; strength, and material, of the various parts of these apparatuses
may be varied to suit special or general uses.
Lattices, here shewn with 3, 4 & 5 holes or joints in cach slat, may be, wholly or in
part, made with slats of any suitable number of holes or joints.
The towers may be pulled open while horizontal, and used as ladders without other
appendages than those for locking and stiffening them.
Guyropes, chains, wires and rods may be used, when required, to steady, remove,
and adjust, the apparatus.

page_text: 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 :-
1st. Compound, arched or cambered, lattice girders (fig. 27).
2nd. Lattices and lazy-tongs combined (figs. 1 & 274) and man holes in latices whose
meshes are too small for persons to pass through.
3rd. Combinations of my improved expanding apparatus in pyramidal forms
(fig. 26).
4th. Cage, safety hook, and accessories (fig. 19 & 22).
5th. Trestle carriage (figs. 23 & 24).
6th. Clip, or hinged, nut and collar, (fig. 5).
7th. Apparatuses for trussing strutting, stiffening, expanding and contracting my
improved expanding apparatus, in horizontal, vertical, and inclined positions; parts of
which are applicable for hydrants as well as for expanders.
Sth. Apparatus and accessories for adapting my improved expanding apparatus for
use as observatory, pontoon, bridge. girder, vertical and horizontal piers, supports,
props and like purposes, as shewn by the figures 17, 18, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,
34, & 35.
Which said claims are substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.