IMPROVED COMPACT FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE AND USEFUL LADDER WITH CARRIAGE
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 17th Aug., 188
JAMES BROWN ARCHER Marine Engineer 103 Stanhope Street Newcastle-upon-
Tyne and GEORGE DAVID BAGLEY THOMAS 8 Hawthorn Street Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
;-
The objects sought by our invention of an IMPROVED COMPACT FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE
AND USEFUL LADDER WITH CARRIAGE is to provide a safe, easily worked, compact and
readily transported Fire escape or useful ladder which can be either drawn by manual
labour horse or steam power.
On a specially designed platform on wheels or carriage the hinged ladders are attached
and folded one over the other and by connecting levers are raised or lowered at pleasure
by means of an elevating apparatus in connection with carriage and worked by hand.
The ladders can be constructed of composite, wood, steel, papier mache or any other-
light and rigid material.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Compact Folding Fire-escape and Useful Ladder with
Carriage.
JAMES BROWN ARCHER, Marine Engineer 103 Stanhope Street Newcastle-upon-
Tyne and GEORGE DAVID BAGLEY THOMAS, Draughtsman, 8 Hawthorn Street
Newcastle-on-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The objects sought by our invention of an Improved compact folding Fire-escape
and useful ladder is to provide a safe easily worked, compact and readily transported
Fire-escape or useful ladder (which can be either drawn by manual labour, horse or
steam power on a specially designed platform on Wheels) or carriage. The hinged
ladders are attached and folded one over the other, and by connecting levers are raised
or lowered at pleasure by means of an elevating apparatus in connection with carriage
and worked by hand.
The ladders can be constructed of composite wood, steel, paper mache, or any other
light and rigid material.
These objects are attained by having a series of ladders hinged at the ends, so that
the second folds over the first, the third over the second, the fourth over the third, and
so on, until the length required is attained. These ladders are connected to elevating
levers, at or near the centre of their length, which levers work outside the ladders,
and fold over each other in the same manner as the ladders.
Fig. 1. shows a section of fire-escape or useful ladder, and elevating levers, consist-
ing of two lengths of each; A A represents ladders, B B elevating levers. The bottom
length of ladder has a bush fitted to it at C, which works upon a shaft D (see
Figs. 4 & 5) fixed across the end of carriage, the other end of ladder being fastened
by a hinged joint, to the next length of ladder which folds over it. The elevating
levers B B are connected to the ladders upon the outside by a fulcrum bar, A, which
passes through the ladders and levers at or near the centre of their length and upon
which they work. The lower length of elevating lever has a bush fitted to it at E
which works upon a shaft F, (see Figs. 4 & 5) which traverses the carriage upon
rollers G G (see Figs. 4, 5, and 7) which rollers travel in guides H H (seo
Figs. 4, 5, and 7) upon carriage.
Fig. 2, shows this section of ladder extended: this is done by bringing the lower ends of
elevating levers nearer to the lower ends of ladder by means of a screw shaft through
centre of carriage or by means of a winch and chain or wire ropes, the winch being
placed either at the front end or centro of carriage.
Fig. 3 shows front elevation of section.
Fig. 4 shows plan of carriage with elevating apparatus consisting of a wheel and
screw: K represents screw-shaft working in a nut L either fixed to or being part of
the shaft F. One end of shaft K is squared for a wheel or cranked handle by which

page_text: means the screw is revolved and the shaft F is traversed upon the rollers G G,, from
end to end of the guides H H.
Fig. 5 shows the same object attained by means of a winch and chains, or wire
ropes: I represents a pall-rack the whole length of carriage, upon which the pawl M
fixed on the shaft F works; in case of the chains or wire ropes giving way the pawl M
would hinder the ladder from collapsing.
N represents winch and gearing worked at O by a cranked handle, and P pawl upon
winch placed outside for convenienco (see Fig. 7).
Fig. 6 shows end view of carriage.
Fig. 7 shows four wheeled carriage and fire-escape folded ready for transport.
Fig. 8 shows fire-escape in position, which is effected by bringing the levers B B
closer to the ladders and nearer the opposite end of the carriage, by means of the
elevating apparatus described in Figs. 4 and 5. This ladder consists of five sections, or
lengths of 8 feet each, reaching to a height of about 40 feet or such other height as
required.
The joints at R R both on ladders A A and elevating levers B B are fitted with bolts
easily removed, so that for a less height the lengths of ladders and elevating lovers
not required could be removed before elevating the fire-escape.
Short detached ladders can also be carried on the carriage at each side above the
guides H H.
This carriage is applicable for use parallel or alongside the building, as well as at
right angles.
Fig. 9 shows front elevation.
Figs. 10, 11, 12, different views of useful ladder.
Fig. 10 shows ladder folded ready for transport; although there are only two
lengths of clevating levers there are four lengths of hinged ladders, the topmost ladders
may be shorter than the lower two ladders.
The top one being extended as in Fig. 12 the ladder is raised by means of the screw
shaft K bringing the levers nearer the ladder at the bottom, as thereby the ladder is
elevated in Fig. 12 forming the staging from which various kinds of work may be
performed. The supports S S are fastened to the top-length of ladder before elevating
and are carried upon the top of ladders or at each side above guides H, H.
Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16 show the useful ladder as an ice-ladder, the difference from the
fire-escape being that the levers are brought closer to the ladders and projected out in
a horizontal direction.
X represents spreading arms connected to outer length of ladder, which are extended
at each side of ladder when in use (Fig. 16) and folded alongside ladder when not
required.
Fig. 17, shows the useful ladder as an army reconnoitring or escaling ladder.
T represents a movable seat at the end of ladder for signalling or reconnoitring purposes,
which seat may be occupied before the ladder is put into position, so that the occupier
may be elevated with the ladder. This ladder may be drawn upon a four wheeled
carriage, the same as shown in Fig. 11 of the useful ladder. W represents wheel upon
screw-shaft for elevating ladder. Y represents movable anchor stays for securing
carriage, Z carriage rests to fold under carriage.

page_text: JAMES B. ARCHER,
Marine Engineer,
103, Stanhope Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
GEORGE D. B. THOMAS,
Draughtsman,
8, Hawthorn Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Dated this 19th day of March 1888.
JAMES B. ARCHER,
Marine Engineer,
103, Stanhope Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
GEORGE D. B. THOMAS,
Draughtsman,
8, Hawthorn Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.