IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ESCAPES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Shand, of 75, Upper Ground Street, Blackfriars
Road, London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ESCAPES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Shand at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1880.
JAMES SHAND, of 75, Upper Ground Street, Blackfriars Road, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
My improvements refer to telescope fire escapes, and consist of making the
ladders of iron, brass, steel, or other metals, of forms & sections to be described.
I construct the main ladder in the form of a box-girder, the sides being made of
strip iron with angle iron rivetted along each edge; to the angle irons on that edge
which will be the face of the escape are rivetted tubes with the ends flattened
where they come on the angle irons, thus uniting the sides and also forming the
steps of the ladder, and to the angle irons at the edge of the sides towards the back
of the escape I rivet stays formed of tubes flattened at the ends, or diagonal
stays of flat or other shaped iron, thus uniting the sides at the back of escape.
This construction forms a box girder, and within this I place a sliding ladder of
similar box girder construction, and within this first sliding ladder a second sliding
ladder, and so on as many more as I may require lengths to the escape. Each
sliding ladder is guided by the ladder immediately outside it, and as they slide one
within the other they present when collapsed a compact appearance and a small
side surface to the wind. I can construct the top sliding ladder of an H section
if necessary, the sides being made of strip iron with an angle iron rivetted to the
edges of each strip; bent tubes with their ends flattened are rivetted to the angle
irons and unite the sides of ladder and form the steps. These tubes are so formed
as to prevent the sides from buckling, and in section appear as the web of the
girder. I can form the sides of strip brass or other metal, the angle pieces also ;
the tubes may be of other metal than iron. The escape is raised or lowered by
means of wire ropes in a way similar to other telescope escapes. I can place wire
stays if necessary, altho' the strong structure thus formed by my mode of
construction will not require them. Rollers can also be introduced to diminish the
friction of one ladder rubbing on that outside it. The steps of ladders need not be
made of tubes nor the stays at back of ladders; altho' I find this shape most
convenient, other sections may be used, such as angles, tees, or flats.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Shand in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th July
1880.
JAMES SHAND, of 75, Upper Ground Street, Blackfriars Road, London, in the
County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
My improvements refer to telescope fire escapes, and consist of making the ladder
of iron, steel, brass, or other metal, of form and section to be described. I construct
the main ladder in the form of a box girder, the sides being made of lengths of strip
iron with angle iron rivetted along each edge; to the angle iron on that edge
which will be the face of the escape are rivetted tubes with the ends flattened where
they come on angle iron, thus uniting the sides and also forming the steps of the
ladder, and to the angle iron at the edge towards the back of the escape I rivet stays
formed of tubes flattened at the ends, or diagonal stays of flat or other shaped iron.
This construction forms a box girder, and within this I place a sliding ladder of
similar construction, and within this first sliding ladder a similar but smaller sliding
ladder, and as many more as I may require lengths to the ladder. Each sliding ladder
is guided by the ladder immediately outside, and as they slide one within the other
they present when collapsed a compact appearance, and a small surface sideways to
the wind. I can construct the top sliding ladder of an H section if necessary, the
sides being made of strip iron with two angle irons rivetted to the edge of each
strip; bent tubes with the ends flattened are rivetted to the angle irons, unite the
sides of the ladder, and form the steps. These tubes are so formed as to keep the
sides from buckling, and in section appear as the web of the girder. I can form
the sides with strips of brass or other metal, and the angle pieces also; the tubes
may be of other metal than iron. The escape is extended or lowered by means of
wire ropes in a way similar to other telescope escapes. I can place wire stays if
necessary, altho' the strong structure thus formed will in most cases not require
them. Rollers can also be introduced to diminish the friction of one ladder rubbing
on that outside it.
My Invention is clearly represented in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a front elevation of one arrangement of escape:
and Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section of the ladders; Fig. 4 is a side elevation,
Fig. 5 a front elevation, and Fig. 6 an enlarged cross section of ladder used in my
Recond arrangement. In Fig. 1 (a) is the main ladder, and (b) the sliding ladder
(there may be more than one sliding ladder). The ladder (a) is formed of two
plates (c) with angle irons (d) rivetted on. Spokes (e) formed of tubes flattened at
the ends are rivetted on the angle irons and unite the plates, as shewn, forming a
box girder. To this is attached a D shaped shoot (ƒ) of wire netting or perforated
iron sheets or similar material, and within this ladder is placed a smaller ladder of
similar description, the smaller ladder sliding within the larger one and on hanging
pieces (g) attached to sides of main ladder. As the ladder is extended the shoot (f)
is continuous from top to bottom. More than one sliding length may be used, and
the shoot (f) may be made of other materials than wire netting, as perforated iron,
zinc, etc. The ladder is extended or lowered by means of two ropes, one on the
right and one on the left hand of main ladder, and attached to a drum on axle of
escape, or other convenient arrangement may be used.
In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 (j) is the main ladder; (k), the first and (2) the top sliding
ladder. The main ladder (j) is formed of two plates or strips (m) on which are
rivetted angle irons (n), and to the angle irons on the top side are rivetted tubes (o)
having their ends flattened, which form the steps of ladder, and at the back are
rivetted flat diagonal stays, thus forming a box girder. Within this is placed a
smaller ladder of similar construction, and within the second can be placed another.
The top ladder (l) I prefer to make as shown, there being two plates (p) with angle
irons (q) rivetted on and united by spokes (7) flattened at the ends and of the form

page_text: shown, thus forming a girder of H section. The escape is extended and lowered
by means of ropes in any convenient arrangement.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I declare
that I claim,-
1st. The telescope escape having the sliding ladders arranged within the main
ladder and sliding therein as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, & 3.
2nd. The telescope escape having the sliding ladders arranged within the main
ladder in the manner described in Figs. 4, 5, & 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Shand, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.