Year: 1885

page_text: We JOHN ERICKSON SANDBERG Stone Cutter and MAGNUS AKESON Carpenter
both of Butte City; in the County of Silver Bow, and Territory of Montana,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide a new and improved fire escape which
can easily be transported to the fire, elevated to reach to the tops of the highest
buildings, and inclined toward or from the buildings, as necessity may require.
The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts and details,
as will be fully described hereinafter.
The improved fire escape is carried upon a platform or truck mounted on two
pairs of wheels the axles of one pair of wheels being made U shaped, or bent at
the ends so as to bring the bottom of the platform, as near to the ground as
possible. A pivot is fitted to turn in the platform and on the top of said pivot a
base section is secured, which is adapted to turn on the platform. To the base two
side plates are secured, which are united by end pieces the side pieces and the end
pieces forming a box. On one edge of the top of the base the lower edge of the
bottom section of a telescopic tower is hinged, the said telescopic tower being
formed in sections and the uppermost section consisting of a pole. One section
slides within the other and all of the sections are of the same height so that when
the telescopic tower is lowered the upper ends of the several sections will be flush.
A winding drum is journaled in the side frames of the box and on the end of said
drum a cog wheel is mounted, which engages with a pinion on a shaft having
crank, which shaft also carries two ratchet wheels with which locking pawls
engage, A hoisting cable is secured on the drum, passing over a pulley on
the top of the lowest telescopic section and secured to the lower part of the
section next above. On the opposite side of the tower a cable is secured to
the upper part of the lowermost section passing over a pulley on the top of the
section next above and having its lower end secured to the lower part of
the section next above. The remainder of the sections are similarly connected
one to the other by cables passing over pulleys as described.
a
In the forked upper end of the pole or uppermost section a pulley is journaled
which has spikes on its rim. A pulley is also hung on the uppermost section or
pole a short distance from the upper end of the same, and over the said pulley a

page_text: rope or cable is passed from one end of which a strong wire basket or cage is
suspended, which has one side flattened so that it can slide up the side of the
building. The other end of the rope is secured to and wound on a drum on
the side of the bottom section of the tower and made fast to a cleat provided
for the purpose. The hoisting rope is always arranged at that side of the bottom
section of the tower which is hinged, and on the opposite side a cable is secured
to the said bottom section, at the top and bottom, and is passed a number of times
around two winding drums one of which is provided on its end with a cog-wheel
engaging with a pinion on a shaft having a crank handle on one end. The shaft is
also provided with ratchet wheels with which pawls engage. To prevent tilting
before raising the tower the truck is stayed by means of struts spiked at their
lower ends and engaging by their upper hooked ends in staples on the end plates
of the box. Strong brace rods are also hinged to the ends of the truck frame
for the purpose of staying the apparatus in the other direction, said rods being
supported when not in use on hooks provided for the purpose. Pins are also
provided which can be inserted in the apertures in the truck platform or frame
for the purpose of holding the box at the bottom of the extensible part in place
when the same is swung transversely to the platform or truck.
A greater or less number of telescopic sections may be used in the construction
of the telescopic tower, according to the height it is desired to reach by means of
the tower.
The operation is as follows: The apparatus is drawn to the fire, and the truck
is placed in front of the building and parallel with the same, and then the base
and the side and end pieces uniting them are turned on the pivot until the side
pieces are at right angles to the building. The telescopic tower is then raised by
winding the cable on the drum which pulls upward the lower section which in
turn pulls up the next section, and so on, all the sections being raised at the same
time. If desired the tower can be swung against the building until its pulley rests
against it, the spikes on the said pulley preventing the upper part of the tower
from swinging laterally.
To swing the tower in the manner set forth, the winding drums are revolved by
means of the crank in such a manner as to wind that part of the rope connected
with the bottom of the lowermost section upon said drums and to unwind that
part connected with the top part of the bottom section. The tower can be tilted
more or less as may be desired. To rescue persons, the basket is raised by winding
the rope on the drum, and when the persons are all safe in the basket, it is lowered.
In case the lower stories are on fire, the basket can be held from the building by
suitable guy ropes. When all the persons have been rescued, the lowest section of
the tower is swung down on the base, the hoisting cable is unwound from the
drum, so as to permit one section to slide down into the other, the side pieces are
turned with the base so as to rest on the truck, and the apparatus is drawn away.
The telescopic tower can be erected or lowered in a very short time. The entire
apparatus can be made of wood or metal. If made of wood, the end parts of the
sections must be strengthened and protected by means of suitable irons.
The raised tower can also be used as a flag pole.

page_text: We JOHN ERICKSON SANDBERG and MAGNUS AKESON, both of Butte City in
the County of Silver Bow, Montana Territory, United States of America do
hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of our invention is to provide a new and improved fire escape which
can easily be transported to the fire elevated to reach to the tops of the highest
buildings and inclined towards or from the buildings as necessity may require.
The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts and details
as will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be bad to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Figure 1 is an end view of our improved fire escape showing the same raised.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional elevation of the same also raised.
Figure 3 is a side view of the same lowered.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the same also lowered.
The waggon platform A is provided with the axles A¹ carrying wheels A³ one of
which axles is inade U shaped or bent at the ends so as to bring the bottom of the
platform A as near to the ground as possible. A pivot B is fitted to turn in the
platform and on the top of said pivot a base section C is secured which is adapted
to turn on the platform A. To the base C two side plates C¹ are secured which
are united by end pieces C³ the side pieces C¹ and the end pieces C² forming a box.
On one edge of the top of the base Ċ the lower edge of the bottom section D₁ of
the telescopic tower D is hinged the said telescopic tower being formed of the
sections D¹, D3, D3, D4, D5, D6, and the uppermost section or pole D7. One section
slides within the other and all of the sections are of the same height so that when
the telescopic tower is lowered the upper ends of the several sections will be flush
as shown in figures 3 and 4. A winding drum F is journaled in the side pieces C¹
and on the end of said drum a cog wheel F¹ is mounted which engages with a
pinion G on a shaft G' having a crank G³ which shaft G₁ also carries two ratchet
wheels H with which locking pawls H₁ engage.
A cable J is secured on the
drum F passing over a pulley K on the top of the lowest section D1 and is secured
to the lower part of the section D'. On the opposite side of the tower D &
cable J is secured to the upper part of the section D¹ which passes over a
pulley K¹ on the top of the section D2 and has its lower end secured to the lower
part of the section D³. A cable J is secured to the top of the section D² passes
over a pulley K2 on the top of the section D³ and has its other end secured to
the lower part of the section D'. A cable J³ is secured to the upper part of the
section D³, passes over a pulley K³ on the top of the section D' and has its lower
end secured to the lower part of the section D. A cable J' is secured to the
upper part of the section D₁, is passed over a pulley K' on the top of the section D³

page_text: and has its other end secured to the lower part of the section Dº. A cable J³ is
secured to the upper part of the section D5 passes over a pulley on the top of
section D and has its other end secured to the lower part of the top section or
pole D7.
In the forked upper end. of the pole or uppermost section D' a pulley L is
journalled which has spikes on its rim. A pulley M is held on the uppermost
section or pole D7 a short distance from the upper end of the same and over the
said pulley a rope or cable N is passed from one end of which a strong wire basket
or cage O, is suspended which has one side flattened so that it can slide up the side
of a building. The other end of the rope N is secured to and wound on a drum P
on the side of the bottom section D¹ on which bottom section a cleat P¹ is also
provided for fastening the rope N. The hoisting rope J is always arranged at
that side of the bottom section D' which is hinged and on the opposite side a
cable is secured to the bottom section D¹ at the top and bottom and is passed
a number of times around two winding druns Q1, Q of which the latter is
provided on its end with a cog wheel R engaging with a pinion R¹ on a shaft R2
having a crank handle R³ on one end. The shaft R2 is also provided with ratchet
wheels R' with which pawls R³ engage.
A strong staple S projects from the top of each end piece C² and serves to receive
a hook T¹ on the upper end of a brace T provided on its lower end with a spike T.
On each end of the truck frame A a strong brace rod W is hinged in such a manner
that its end can be rested on the ground or rested on a suitable book W' on the.
end of the truck frame. Pius V are provided which can be inserted in the
apertures in the truck platform or frame A for the purpose of holding the box at
the bottom of the extensible part in place when the same is swung transversely
to the platform or truck.
A greater or less number of telescopic sections may be used in the construction of
the telescopic tower according to the height it is desired to reach by means of the
tower.
The operation is as follows. The apparatus is drawn to the fire and the truck is
placed in front of the building and parallel with the same and then the base C and
the side pieces C¹ and end pieces C uniting them are turned on the pivot B
until the side pieces Care at right angles to the building. The telescopic tower
is then raised by winding the cable J on the drum F. The cable J pulls upward
the section D2 which in turn pulls up the section D³ and so on, all the sections
being raised at the same time. If desired the tower can be swung against the
building until its pulley L rests against said building the spikes on the said pulley
preventing the upper part of the tower from swinging laterally.
To swing the tower in the manner set forth the drums Q1, Q, are revolved by
means of the crank R³ on the shaft R in such a manner as to wind that part of
the rope connected with the bottom of the section D' on the drums Q¹, Q³, and
to unwind that part connected with the top part of the bottom section. The tower
can be tilted more or less as may be desired.
To rescue persons, the basket ( is raised by winding the rope N on the drum P
and when the persons are all safe in the basket, it is lowered.
In case the lower stories are on fire the basket can be held from the building by
suitable guy ropes.
When all the persons have been rescued the lowest section D¹
of the tower is swung down on the base C the cable J is unwound from the
drum F so as to permit one section to slide down into the other the side pieces C¹
are turned with the base C so as to rest on the truck and the apparatus is drawn
away.
Before raising the tower the lower part is securely braced by means of the
braces T and the bolts or braces W on the ends of the truck to prevent tilting in
either direction. The telescopic tower can be erected or lowered in a very short
time. The entire apparatus can be made of wood or metal. If made of wood the
end parts of the sections must be strengthened and protected by means of suitable
irons. The raised tower can also be used as a flag pole.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A fire escape consisting essentially in a truck having a body A, a base C
swivelled thereon and having sides C and ends Cs a series of telescopic sections I)',
D3, D3, D4, D5, D6, the lower one of which is binged at one edge to one side of the
swiveled base C, the drum F journaled in the sides C the pulley K on the upper
end of the bottom section D₁ the cable J passed from the drum over pulley K to
the lower end of the section D³ the cables J¹, J³, J³, J, connecting the remaining
sections in the manner set forth the top piece D' and its cable J5, the pulley M on
the top piece the drum P on the bottom section D' the cable N passed from the
drum P over the pulley M and having the basket O the cable Q secured at both
ends to the lower telescopic section D¹ the drums Q1 Q3 around which said cable is
wound between its ends and the operating shaft R' substantially as set forth.
2. In a fire escape the combination with the base and the hinged section D¹
secured thereto of the cable Q secured at its opposite ends to the upper and lower
ends of said section, the drums Q' Q', around which said cable is wound between
its ends and the operating shaft and gear substantially as set forth.
Dated this yth day of December 1609,
J. E. SANDBERG.
M. AKESON.
By A. M. & W Clark, Patent Agents,
53, Chancery Lane, London.