Improvements in Fire-escapes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Sept., 1888
Improvements in Fire-escapes.
I, JOHN LACEY SAVAGE Deputy Superintendent of Fire Brigade, of Chief Fire
Station Manchester do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of fire escapes and is
specially adapted to the form known as telescopic. It consists of a simple arrange-
ment by which the ladder may be placed at a greater or less angle with the ground
than the normal working angle without moving the carriage and by which the ladder
can be brought into a horizontal position for quick transit and for passing under
bridges &c., and by extending the rising ladder the escape is made to balance.
I effect my purpose by securing the main ladder to the carriage frame at two points
one being a pin or other device at the foot of the ladder and the other at, or near, the
top of the frame.
Assuming the escape to be "pitched" at its normal angle, by removing the attach-
ment near the top of the frame the ladder may be moved radially on the attachment
at the foot as a centre and may thus be brought into a more perpendicular position
without moving the carriage.
By fixing the ladder at the foot and swinging it on the upper attachment as an axis
it may be brought into any position at a less angle with the ground or horizontally,
if required.
The fixings for attaching the ladder to the carriage may be of a suitable form but
preferably for the foot of the ladder two separate pins, one through each side,
threaded into eyes on the carriage; and for the upper attachment U shaped fittings
on the carriage engaging with the ladder round immediately opposite, which is
prevented from leaving the same by pins.
dali. Tinkth day of November 1887

page_text: I, JOHN LACEY SAVAGE Deputy Superintendent of Fire Brigade of Chief Fire
Station Manchester 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 improvements in fire escapes & is specially adapted to the
form known as telescopic It consists of a simple arrangement by which the ladders
may be placed at a greater or less angle with the ground than the normal working
angle without moving the carriage, and by which the ladder can be brought into a
horizontal position for quick transit and for passing under bridges, and by extending
the rising ladder the escape is made to balance.
Referring to the drawing, the main ladder A. is attached to the carriage B at the
two points C&D; at C. a pin or gudgeon is fitted on each side of the ladder &
engages in a U shaped bracket fixed on each side of carriage, each gudgeon being
kept in position by a pin threaded through the U piece as shown in the drawing.
The connection at D is made by a pin through each side of ladder also engaging
in the piece forming the foot of the frame.
If when using the ladder it be found desirable to bring it into a more vertical
position, this may be done by removing the pins at C when the gudgeons will leave
the piece and the ladder may be swung on the centre D as shown by the dotted
lines E. If on the other hand it be necessary to bring the ladder into a less vertical
position, or even to render it horizontal, for passing under bridges &c. the pins D must
be removed, when the ladder will swing on the gudgeons C to the positions shown in
dotted lines F.
To facilitate the working of the ladder as described I provide a winding drum at G
fitted with a rope or chain passing over a pulley at H and attached to foot of ladder
at J thus by turning the handle at G the ladder when horizontal may be raised into
the position A.
By the arrangement of attachment described, when it is not possible for the escape
to be taken up a narrow passage, the pins may be removed and the ladders are carried
to the point required.
In the drawing K represents the winch used for raising the extending ladder as
usually employed.

page_text: Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1st. The method of attaching the ladder to the carriage at the points C & D in order
that on disconnecting them at either point the ladder may be swung radially on the
other as a centre for the purpose of bringing the ladder to a vertical or a horizontal
position or to any angle, without moving the carriage, as may be required-substantially
as described.
D
1
. A