AN IMPROVED APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE AS A FIRE-ESCAPE
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and C, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED
FOR USE AS A FIRE-ESCAPE and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
This Invention relates to apparatus chiefly designed for use as a fire escape.
The said apparatus comprises a series of tubes which can be extended to various
heights according to the height of the floor of a building which it is desired to
reach.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is an elevation of apparatus constructed according to this Invention
shown extended.
Figures 2 and 3, are views, at right angles to each other of the extending tubes.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus as arranged for travelling.
Figure 5 is a plan of the same.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are views of details hereinafter described.
The apparatus is composed of a number of tubes A A¹ A³ Figure 1, of various
lengths and thicknesses and either round, square octogonal or of other suitable shape.
These tubes are arranged one within the other, sufficient space being left between
them to permit the cords and chains necessary for expanding and contracting the
apparatus, to pass.
This apparatus may be made of metal, or wood, or metal and wood combined.
When the tubes are made of wood they are covered with textile material in order
to ensure their greater solidity.
Each tube carries at its lower part (see Figures 2 and 3) stop pieces b which abut
against other stop pieces c on the next outer tube, thereby arresting the downward
movement of a tube. The power of ascending is communicated from one tube to
that which is placed above it, by means of the pulleys p p the rollers d d and the
ropes C which pass over the said pulleys.

page_text: The collar B of each tube can be removed or caused to slide upon the tube
situated immediately above it, when the cords are being arranged or changed.
These covers are provided with rings or hooks e for the attachment of the ropes
or hawsers, which assist to maintain the apparatus in equilibrium when it is
extended to a great height or in windy weather.
The cords used for extending the apparatus are attached at the lower part of
the tube A passing thence over the rollers d (Figures 1, 2 and 3, upon the collar B
of the tube A!; following this tube A¹ on each side they pass over the pulleys p,p
on the lower end thereof and raise the tube A¹. The said cords then pass, on the
opposite side of the tube to that which they followed when descending, over the
rollers d of the third tube A2, descending by the side of the same and passing over
the rollers p p on the tube A³. The said cords are connected in a similar manner
to that above described to the last tube, when they are wound upon a windlass
arranged at the rear of the carriage H which windlass facilitates the manoeuvering
of the ropes.
As it may sometimes occur that the cords will be stiff, thereby
interfering with the regular descent of the tubes one into the other, an independent
cord E is fastened to the lower part of the small upper tube A, which cord
descends inside the apparatus, and, passing through the lower part of the large
lower tube, is wound upon a drum G placed on the carriage; this cord unwinds
itself when the apparatus ascends.
In order to facilitate the transport of the apparatus it is mounted upon a
carriage H (Figures 4 and 5) which can be arranged according to the purposes for
which the apparatus is intended, the said apparatus and its elevating mechanism
constituting the essential part of this Invention.
The apparatus may be placed in an upright position-on-the-carriage,-or-may-bo-
laid down upon it; in the latter case-as shewn in Figure 4-it is supported by
an iron bar F provided with collars I 1. The said rod which is placed by the side
of the tube is mounted upon the pivot o, so that the tubes can readily be caused to
assume a vertical position. For this purpose, a windlass K placed behind and
below the carriage draws the lower end of the tube down by means of a rope or
chain L. When the tube is being raised the carriage is inclined, and is supported
at the back by a double prop M, Figure 5, which assists in giving the carriage a
suitable inclination to attach the hooks g to the point which it is intended to
reach. The screw-threaded rod N which is placed in front of the vehicle at the
extremity of the handle permits any irregularities of the ground upon which the
apparatus is placed to be compensated for.
The carriage carries chests or baskets in which are deposited the ladders, small
and large bags, cables, cords, hawsers, various looks, a fork to remove the hooks,
and all implements necessary for use with the apparatus.
The hooks are of two different kinds, that shown in Figure 6 being adapted
for attachment to balconies, and that shown in Figure 7 for walls. The said hooks
are mounted upon wooden pegs P which fit into the upper part of the small tube A.
The books used for walls (Figure 7) can be moved upon the said peg so as to take
the necessary inclination in order to be cramped perpendicularly. The extremities
of the teeth g may be provided with rollers to facilitate their removal in cases
where the apparatus is placed against old walls.
At the lower part, and slightly below the hooks, is placed a ring h, to which any
object such as a ladder can be hooked. A pulley k is also provided over which
passes the cable Q to which are attached, by means of clamps and screws T, two
bags or other receptacles S Figure, 8, being about the height of a man, the said
bags or other receptacles being raised and lowered by the said rope. By means of
the screws T the position of the bags on the rope may be altered when required
according to the height of the floors from the ground. These bags are provided
with iron hoops at their upper parts so that they should be presented fully open
to receive people. The upper extremity of a ladder can be attached to the upper
hook whilst its lower end is attached to the carriage. The tubular escape, when
extended, may serve as a speaking tube; to this end an aperture is formed at 2,

page_text: within the reach of an operator at the lower part of the large lower tube and under
an indicator plate.
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
The apparatus provided with extensible tubes which may be raised to any
desired height in order to support a ladder, and a pulley serving to support a cable
carrying bags or other receptacles which may be raised and lowered, substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
Dind t
1 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.