Improvements in the Construction of Fire Escapes and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1893--Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Fire Escapes and the like.
I, JAMES KENNEDY, of Mount Kennedy House, Strabane, in the County of
Tyrone, Shirt Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to certain improvements in fire escapes and has for its
object, the arrangement of the apparatus in such a manner that the ladders may be
supported by a carriage and turned round on the same to any position required,
raised to variable clevations, extended to different lengths, and arranged for the
reception of a cage, which can be raised and lowered on the ladders whilst fixed at
an elevation.
I accomplish my object by mounting on a suitable carriage, an upright support,
provided with a toothed rack, with which engages one of a series of toothed wheels,
by the operation of which, the support may be raised or lowered.
To the upper portion of the before mentioned support, is hinged the sides of one
portion of the ladder, arranged for the reception of a sliding ladder, which may be
extended or withdrawn by a rope or the like.
Within the ladder sides is mounted a cage, connected by a rope or the like to a
pulley, on the rotation of which, the cage is elevated or lowered on the ladder for
the rescue of persons or material from the building.
The before mentioned support is connected to a plate mounted within a circular
path, in a manner that, the upright support can be twisted round in the carriage,
and the ladder pointed in the direction required.
Dated this 15th day of September 1893.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.
Improvements in the Construction of Fire Escapes and the like.
I, JAMES KENNEDY, of Mount Kennedy House, Strabane, in the County of
Tyrone, Shirt Manufacturer 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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in fire escapes, and has for its
object, the arrangement of the apparatus in such a manner that, the ladder may be
supported by a carriage and turned round on the same to any position required,
raised to variable elevations, extended to different lengths and arranged for the
reception of a cage, which may be raised and lowered on the ladder when fixed at
an elevation.
In order that my invention may be understood, I will describe the same in detail
by making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of my improved apparatus.
Fi is front aloxation and

page_text: secured the wheels F. F. gearing into pinions G. G. secured on shaft H. upon the
rotation of which by the operation of the handles J. J. the upright support C is
raised or lowered as desired for the purpose of altering the pitch, angle or inclination
of the ladders M and N.
To the top of the adjustable upright support C. is secured a bracket K connected
by shaft K to brackets L, one bracket being secured to cach side piece of the
ladder M. for enabling the ladder to be moved from an inclined to an horizontal
position when required for transit or the like and for obtaining a varied inclined
elevation.
Near to each end of the staves S₁ between the side pieces of ladder M. are
secured angle plates M' M' between which and the side pieces of the said ladder
rests the adjustable ladder N enclosed within recesses formed by the sides of the
ladder M. angle plates M' and plates M² the latter secured to the top edge of the
before mentioned side picces in the position as shown by section Fig. 4.
The greater part of the adjustable ladder N may be extended beyond the end of
the ladder M. or withdrawn so that a portion of the ladder N is enclosed within
the recesses of the ladder M. This is accomplished by means of a rope or the
like attached to the bottom of the said ladder at Z. the rope O or the like passing
over a grooved pulley P to the winding drum secured on a shaft Q' mounted by
suitable brackets to the ladder M. On the shaft Q is secured a catch wheel K.
and engaging therewith is a movable pawl S for retaining the adjustable ladder N
at any convenient height.
In addition to the before mentioned angle plates M' M' forming guides for the
adjustable ladder N. they also form a path for the runners or small pallies T of
cage U. which may be raised or lowered on the ladders M and N by a rope or
the like V secured to the said cage and passed over a grooved pulley W. to the
winding drum X. on the rotation of which, the said cage may be moved to and fro
on the ladders M and N from top to bottom.
The side pieces of the ladders M and N are provided with plates M² and N²
respectively secured to the top edge of same and project some distance towards
each other, thus forming covers to the recesses for guiding the small pullies T of
the cage U. the plates M' and N3 being in the same line throughout the length of
the ladders support the pullies T of the cage U within the recesses of the ladders
formed in the manner as before described.
By forming the top of the adjustable ladder N curved at N' as shown by detail
Fig. 7. the cage U may be directed for the end of same to enter a window or the
like, or on to the roof of a building, thus placing the cage U in a position as will
greatly facilitate persons entering the same on being rescued.
The upright support C carrying the ladders M and N. is enclosed within the
casing in a
manner that, it is free to be raised or lowered by the gearing
hereinbefore described. The said casing is secured to a base or swivelling plate C
to which is also attached the winding drum X. for hoisting and lowering the
cage U.
The said base or swivelling plate is mounted in and guided by a
circular path C2 formed on the carriage hody A as shown by Fig. 6. thus enabling
the ladders to be turned round and pointed in any required direction without
having to move the carriage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The general arrangement and combination of the parts forming the complete
apparatus constructed substantially in the manner and for the purpose as herein-
before set forth.
2. The ladders M and N prepared for the reception of a cage U capable of being
elevated or lowered thereon by a rope or the like V operated substantially in
the manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore set forth.

page_text: 3. The upright support C combined with ladders M and N. casing Y with
gearing and a base or swivelling plate C2 arranged substantially in the manner and
for the purpose as hereiubefore set forth and shown.
Dated this 17th day of November 1893.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.