FIRE ESCAPE TO BE MADE OF IRON OR STEEL AND THEREBY FIREPROOF
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1888
Complete Left, 25th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
I STAFFORD CAMPBELL, Shipwright, of 53 North Bridge Street Monkwearmouth in
the Borough of Sunderland in the County of Durham. I hereby declare that the
nature of my Invention of FIRE ESCAPE TO BE MADE OF IRON OR STEEL AND THEREBY
FIREPROOF:-
The Invention and Caso, to be fixed in Theatres or other large buildings. Affording
a passage from Gallery or upper Stories into the Street. The aforesaid Invention,
will have two passages devided longitudinally about the centre for Ingress and Egress
by an Iron, or Steel, partition the top of which will form a hand-rail for the fire-men
to ascend as a means of Ingress to the fire, immediately on the Alarm of Fire,
communication with the Gallery and the Street will be established, and under command
by the Superintendent or who may have charge, can clear the Gallery and upper
Stories by sending the people down the Egress side of the Fire Escape.. Also the
Ingress passage to contain on the Ground near the door a Hydrant having hose
attached, and laid up on brackets up the Ingress passage to the Gallery for instant
use, the Top Ingress & Egress will form a screen or shelter to the firemen, while
they are endeavouring to save the building. The Top of the Escape will also have a
receptacle with shelves for Fire Grenades.
Egress, this division to be fitted up with a Revolving belt, near the width of the
passage, upon which Seats or Steps will be fixed, so that the people can sit upon the
same, will speedily be placed in the Street. The Belt will revolve on rollers top
and bottom, fixed in the Iron or Steel Case, with a bottom the belt revolving over
the same and up the other side, the more people on the belt there will be a counter
check on the revolving apparatus, this division of Egress, will admit one person at a
time to follow each other at a quick walking pace, they cannot crush each other, nor
cannot fall off, and therefore carried safely to the Ground or Street.

page_text: The aforesaide passage will be lighted from top and bottom. In all cases of Fire
in Theatres or other buildings the Gas is extinguished and therefore a separate light
is necessary.
The Fire Escape can be made either a fixture or to be moved about from place, to
as required. The whole of the material of the structure will be of the lightest and
strongest character.
The aforesaid Belt revolving, all seats or steps will be supplied with straps as hand
holds, to steady the people on Escape.

page_text: I STAFFORD CAMPBELL of 53 North Bridge Street Monkwearmouth Sunderland in
the County of Durham Shipwright 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, and shewn in the accompanying
drawings:-
That the same is a safe and speedy escape from Gallerys of Theatres or upper
storcys of other large buildings in the event of fire whereby the persons in danger
may be speedily and safely removed into the street.
The escape will consist of a case composed of steel or other metal and rendered
fireproof and of such dimensions as will contain two passages sufficiently commodious
for ingress and egress. The said case to be fixed in building at a convenient angle
probably from forty to forty five degrees. The lower end of case to form into a porch
from which a door will lead to exterior of building. The door from porch as shown
on drawing may be either in front or side of building. Several keys fitting the lock
on this door to be distributed to persons in connection with the building and likewise
to Members of Fire-Brigades or neighbouring business people such as the proprietors
of the premises approve.
The upper end of case to finish level with the floor of Gallery or upper storey on
the top of which there will be a sliding hatch covering the end of case which hatch
when closed will be fastened in interior of case and cannot be entered from Gallery
thereby ensuring uninterrupted passage for Firemen into the Gallery to conduct the
operation of escape, the top of hatch will of course be protected.
The interior of case will contain two passages one exclusively for ingress the other
for egress, the said passages to be separated from each other by partition, the top of
such partition to be of convenient height to form a handrail for the convenience of
Firemen in ascending ingress passage.
The ingress will be provided with steps of Iron or other material the same to be
bolted or rivetted to case by which steps the Firemen will ascend to the Gallery. In
the porch and near to ingress side of case a Hydrant to be placed to which, a Hose
pipe will be attached, such hose to lead up the side of passage to Gallery on brackets
for the purpose. The key to be chained to Hydrant ready for instant use.
top of passage a shelf will be fixed for Grenades &c.
Near the

page_text: •
under such seats or footholds will be placed small rollers to run on bottom, the belt
will revolve around a separate bottom laid in egress passage raised from the bottom
of case sufficiently to allow the seats and footholds on belt to pass between. On the
side of case and on a line with floor of Dress circle or Boxes there will be a Sliding
Door as shewn in drawing the door to be of convenient height of same material as
case, its sides will be at same angle as case, the top and bottom horizontal...It will
slide on hollowed rollers at bottom running on an iron rod rounded for rollers and
rivetted to side of case and at top of door, a metal sheeve will be rivetted by iron
*strake to corner nearest to bottom of case, the sheeve to be hollowed so as to run
on an iron rod rivetted to bottom and top of case the weight of door being carried
by this rod it will easily slide horizontally. At the top end, the bottom of case,
separate bottom, and belt will extend above floor about three feet for convenience in
getting on to escape. The projecting end to be covered with a substantial cover when
not in use. In front of escape on Gallery floor will be a shelter for Firemen in
extinguishing the fire, the shelter being two or more sheets of iron,. hinged together
to run on rollers and to fold together and house against the wall of building having
holes through which the hose may be wrought.
At lower end and top and on a line with separate bottom there will be a roller
placed to work on Iron or other metal standards, over which rollers the belt will
revolve. At the end of top rollers nearest to ingress will be placed à brake or
regulator to regulate the speed of belt to be constructed as follows.
An Iron spindle probably one and a half inch square will be put through roller upon
which the roller will revolve in standards. The spindle end nearest to ingress will
project beyond standard about one and a half inches and will taper towards point
leaving point about one inch diameter. Another standard will be placed in ingress
passage in a line with centre of roller, through which a screw will be wrought by a
wheel, the end of screw nearest to roller spindle will be formed into a cup to fit the
tapering end of spindle, a lining of leather will be put in cup. By screwing the cup
on to spindle end the escape may be regulated or stopped.
MODE OF OPERATION.
Upon alarm of fire being made, all who are entrusted with key of escape to proceed
to entrance with all speed, when opened Firemen, Policemen, or others who have
practiced the operation of the escape, to ascend ingress steps unbolt and draw back
hatch on top of escape. Officers must gain possession of entrance to escape from
Gallery to prevent crowding. One officer will stand on top of ingress steps to regu-
late the speed of belt and assist to place the people on escape. Another officer to
stand on Gallery floor at side of belt, also to assist to place people on escape, a little
practice will enable officers to perform this with quick despatch. Two or three officers
to be stationed in porch to attend to the removal of persons coming down escape and
to attend to Hydrant &c. Drawings Nos. 1 and 2 accompany this Specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The construction and general arrangement of the parts as specified above.
.. Second. A Fire proof case giving separate ingress and egress passages.
Third. The revolving belt with seats and footholds attached as specified.
Fourth. The cup brake or regulator as specified:*