IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES AND LADDERS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Christopher Oates at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th September
1867.
I, CHRISTOPHER OATES, of Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester, Land
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIRE ESCAPES AND LADDERS," to be as follows:-
My said Invention consists in arranging the parts of fire escapes and
ladders in the manner herein-after explained, whereby great efficiency and
rapidity of action are secured combined with great simplicity of construction.
Upon the axle of a pair of wheels, which serve as the means of transport of
the fire escape, two parallel levers are mounted, the axle serving as the
fulcrum on which the levers turn. The longer arms of the levers serve as
handles with which to push the fire escape about on its wheels, as well as to
raise and depress the short arms of the levers. The said handles are connected
near their ends by a cross piece; the said levers, axle and wheels, and cross
piece constitute a carriage, on which the ladder of the fire escape is supported
and carried. The ladder of the fire escape is compound, consisting of two or
more ladders sliding within one another, telescope fashion, the inner ladder
being raised within the outer one by means of an endless chain, which passes
over pulleys at the top and bottom of the outer ladder, to which chain the
inner ladder is fastened near its lower end. One of the rounds of the outer
ladder is made of iron and carries a sliding hook, which may be hooked in one
of the links of the chain so as to fix the raised ladder in its position, The

page_text: compound ladder is carried by the levers described in the followingmanner:-To
the outer ladder and ata distance from its bottom,about equal to the height of
the axle of the wheels a horizontal axis is fixed, and on the short arms of the
levers open bearings are made. When the fire escape is not in use the ladders
lie between the levers, the axis of the outer ladder engaging in the said open
bearings, the middle of the ladders resting on the cross piece joining the long
arms of the levers. When the parts are in the respective positions described
the fire escape is wheeled to the place where it is to be used. In using it the
upper end of the compound ladder is raised from between the levers, and
turned upon its axis until it passes the vertical position, when its lower end
comes against the axle of the wheels, and if the levers are supported in a hori-
zontal position the ladder stands at an angle ofabout forty-five degrees removed
from a vertical line. The sliding ladder or ladders can now be raised from
within the outer one and fixed at the required height; the top of the extended
ladder being brought against the window or other place from which persons
are to descend the ladder; the handles, or long arms of the lever are depressed;
the bottom of the ladder is thereby made to rest firmly on the ground, and
the bearings being lowered from the axis near the bottom of the ladder the
carriage or levers and wheels are detached from the ladders and can be
wheeled away.
When the fire escape is no longer wanted the carriage is
brought back, the handles raised, and the bearings brought under the axis of
the ladders. By depressing the handles the said axis is engaged in the said
bearings, when the ladders can be shut down within the outer ladder and
folded on the carriage and removed. The carriage and compound ladder
described may be used for other purposes than as a fire escape.