A NEW OR IMPROVED FIRE ESCAPE AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1884

page_text: ALFRED LESLIE STANLEY LEIGHS Patentee and Consulting Engineer for Life
Saving Contrivances Watsons Cottage New Street Deptford in the County of
Kent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A NEW OR IMPROVED
FIRE ESCAPE AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR FIRE ESCAPES to be as follows:-
My invention consists partly to a number of short ladders composed of iron wood
vulcanite fibre or other material—the peculiarity of which is an hole at each end and
a centre one for pivots figure 1A A & B the direction of the said spokes being
diagonal C to C.
On account of greater strength with less weight I use tubular spokes, fibre
preferred or a band of compound material.
My Invention of ladders when several are pivotted together in conjunction with
an equal number of bars sheets or rods, each with holes at end A A and one in the
centre B. figure 2 forms a complete long ladder of any required length capable of
suspension upwards, or depression to and from the base by movement of a lever or
levers at the base.
Another mode of attaining the same object with less weight of material
I manufacture with the side of before mentioned ladder a number of protruding
steps or attach such steps thereto, thus dispensing with spokes and an extra side
figure 3.
When expence is no consequence in manufacturing my apparatus, I tongue the
ends inserting the cross bar through in lieu of pivotting at outside of such ladders
figure 4.
Another part of my invention of fire escape is a revolving centre plate with stop
teeth on which plate is affixed 2 upright posts or pillars figure 5 A A-B is for
an ordinary break or other suitable contrivance as pulley or otherwise C C stop
breaks D pin on which apparatus revolves.
The top ladder of my invention of fire escape is so shaped as to form a landing
stage A and receptacle for 2 or more persons B and constructed as part and parcel
of the said ladder, figure 6 this receptacle, is pivotted, at top, to keep flat, no matter
what position may be the remainder of ladder, or ladders.

page_text: The truck or conveyance is constructed with a flat surface when tilted up the
wheels and other parts of my invention of extending fire escape are clear.
Upon this flat surface I affix the revolving plate before mentioned, figure 7, the
strengthening bars, or axle, being in rear of the wheels A A, 2 steadying bars, BB
hook up to the handle when not required C C. D D is the position of levers when
extended, fig 7.
Figure 8 represents my extending fire escape or apparatus closed. A A the
position of the levers, B receptacle for extra lengths of ladder & other accessories,
C the position of fig 6 between the ladders.

page_text: I, ALFRED LESLIE STANLEY LEIGHS Patentee and Consulting Engineer for
Life Saving Contrivances Watsons Cottages, New Street Deptford Kent do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for A NEW OR IMPROVED FIRE ESCAPE AND
OTHER APPARATUS FOR FIRE ESCAPES and' in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My improvement is an outside landing or space as exit from fire previous to
descending, lift or ladder extending apparatus, raised from the base by means
of ladders, plates, bars, rods, or levers, each working upon three pivots fixed upon
a revolving plate and surmounted upon a truck, as hereafter described.
Referring to Drawing & Copy left with provisional specification.
One part of my invention is the peculiarity of three holes for pivots, in ladders
shafts rods bars or levers viz a hole in the centre and a hole near each end,
figure A A & B-When several ladders sheets, rods or such bars are pivotted
together in conjunction with an equal number of rods each with three holes for
pivots figure 2 A A & B. forms when united together, a long expanding shaft,
ladder or self supporting apparatus, as shown in figure 7 Drawing & Copy left
with provisional specification.
It is obvious that I may place a number of stepping places to my extending
shaft in lieu of spokes figure 3 or tongue the ends and insert the cross bar fig 2
through figure 4 or pivot up figure 2 between a plate on each side to attain same
object or other arrangement with the three pivots therein.
Another part of my invention is illustrated A figure 7 viz & distance between
top of fire escape and any building and intended for dispatching to and from the
base the inner receptacle B which is pivotted at the top and lowered by rope
or chain either through the platform A or from the said platform or protrusion and
is manufactured with a groove on each side to be utalised when I place a strip of
protruding material upon my extending apparatus and thus to in some cases to
glide down the same. Another detail of my invention is a revolving base plate
figure 5 AA is position of the sockets on which my extending shaft or ladders
are affixed or pivotted, by placing the same leaning backwards the appliance shoots
up perpendicular straight forms an angle as shown in fig 7.
B figure 5 is position of break or other suitable contrivance for working by rope
or chain. D is the pin on which apparatus revolves.
Another part of my Invention, is the design of truck, as shown in fig 7, flat
surface for base plate, on lowering handles, flat surface is raised from the ground,
the right hand wheel is manufactured larger in the box part, whereon is a groove
to admit of a band passing over, should I use extra drawing gear hereafter
detailed which I attach, and detach at O, near a point where the steadying bars
are hinged to the handles, these steadying bars or legs of truck are for the purpose
of keeping down & firm the base flat surface of my escape.

page_text: I also hinge to the side of my said flat surface protruding arms to use when
required to attain same object.
My extra apparatus is composed of any seperate hand or foot contrivances,
the peculiarity of which is a large driving wheel as shown in fig 8 capable of
being attached or detached as O, as before explained.
D. D. is the position of the base levers when my Invention of escape is extended,
as fig 7, fig 8 represents my apparatus closed, A', A the position of levers, thus
showing that the extension and closing is automatical.
Having now particularly described and ascertained & illustrated in former
drawing left with provisional specification the nature of my said Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1 The principle of 3 holes for pivots, in ladders, sheets, bars, rods or levers for
the purpose of fire escape contrivances.
2 Foothold or platform means of escape previous to descent.
3 Revolving base and construction of truck, as described and shewn in and by
the Drawing and Copy left with provisional specification,