Improvements in Litters or Ambulance Stretchers, and in Vehicles for the Conveyance of same.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Litters or Ambulance Stretchers, and in Vehicles
for the Conveyance of same.
I, WILLIAM HALLAM, of the Eckington Colliery, Eckington, near Chesterfield, in
the County of Derby, Colliery, Sub-Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows:-
Although my invention is primarily designed for use in collieries or other
subterranean works it is nevertheless applicable to a variety of purposes in which
litters and ambulance appliances may be required.
My invention is twofold in character the first part relating to improvements in
litters or ambulance stretchers and the second part to the carriage or wagon for
supporting the said litter or stretcher whilst it is conveyed along the underground
roads and workings or elsewhere.
With regard to the first part of my invention it may be stated that litters or
stretchers as ordinarily used are constructed with two longitudinal bearers with
handles at each end, canvas or other suitable material being secured to each of the
said bearers so as to form a stretcher of sufficient length and width for an injured
person to be laid horizontally upon it and lifted or carried by two or more
individuals taking hold of the said handles.
Litters or stretchers so constructed for use in conjunction with an ambulance
wagon are usually provided with small rollers on the underside for the convenience
of sliding it in and out of the wagon.
Now my improvement in litters or stretchers of this description consists in
providing the longitudinal bearers with hinged joints at a convenient distance from
one end to allow of that end of the stretcher being raised either in a vertical or
angular position so that in some cases a person may be carried in a sitting or semi-
reclining position, as for example when being conveyed up a staircase or steep
incline. When constructed with a hinged joint as herein described I provide
adjustable stays by which the desired angular or vertical position of the raised end
of the stretcher may be maintained, secured, or varied.
I likewise provide two supplementary handles which I secure to the underside of
that portion of the stretcher which remains in a horizontal position, these handles
being utilized for securing the hinged part of the stretcher in a horizontal position
when it is not required to use the angular arrangement. I effect this by providing
a suitable leather or metallic strap or clip by which the horizontal position of the
stretcher may be maintained and secured when so desired.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that when one end of the
stretcher is turned up the two last named supplementary handles are brought into
use and I make these supplementary handles of sufficient length in the shank to
allow of a considerable angle of adjustment in the hinge portion of the stretcher.
The second part of my invention relates to the frame or carriage on which my
improved stretcher may be laid when being conveyed in underground workings
many of which are so restricted in height as to render it difficult and in some cases
impossible for the attendants to carry a stretcher in the ordinary way.

page_text: My improved framing consists of light wooden longitudinal transverse and
vertical bars or in some cases I employ metallic tubes the said bars or tubes being
secured to each other by means of T formed metallic sockets. This frame I so
construct that it may be provided with flanged wheels to correspond with the gauge
of the underground roads on which it will be used and as the gauge of these under-
ground roads sometimes vary in the same collieries, I construct the axles of the
wheels or the transverse bars of the framing or both, telescopically so that by
slackening set screws on the adjustable tubes or axles the gauge may be varied.
In some cases this variation of gauge may be regulated by screwed sleeves or
sockets fitted upon the transverse bars or axles of the wheels or both as the case
may be, such screws being made right and left handed so that by turning the said
sockets or sleeves the gauge of the wheels or width of the framing may be regulated.
From the upper longitudinal bars of a frame or wagon constructed as herein
described suspend two or more transverse bearers upon which the litter or
stretcher may be laid. The connection between the bearers and the said longitudinal
bars being made with springs and straps so that the injured person being carried
may ride without unnecessary jolting.
As a modification of the last named arrangement I sometimes construct the
carrying frame so that it may be easily adapted to an existing corve or underframing
of an existing corve and as a further modification I sometimes provide the carrying
frame with interchangeable wheels and axles so that for surface work light wheels
of a much larger diameter may be employed.
In conjunction with the apparatus herein described I sometimes employ a box,
case or drawer, for containing surgical and ambulance appliances such as a
tourniquet, splints, bandages and the like and the said receptacle may be either
made separately or so as to form a part of the frame or wagon.
Dated this 27th day of September 1897.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Litters or Ambulance Stretchers, and in Vehicles
for the Conveyance of same.
I, WILLIAM HALLAM, of the Eckington Collieries, Eckington, near Chesterfield, in
the County of Derby, Colliery Sub-Manager, and Superintendent of Saint John's
Ambulance Brigade, Eckington Centre, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :--
Although my invention is primarily designed for use in collieries or other
subterranean works it is nevertheless applicable to a variety of purposes in which
litters and ambulance appliances may be required.
My invention is twofold in character, the first part relating to improvements in
litters or ambulance stretchers, and the second part to the carriage or wagon for
supporting the said litter or stretcher whilst it is conveyed along the underground
roads and workings or elsewhere.
With regard to the first part of my invention it may be stated that litters or
stretchers as ordinarily used are constructed with two longitudinal bearers with
handles at each end, canvas or other suitable material being secured to each of the
said bearers so as to form a stretcher of sufficient length and width for an injured
person to be laid horizontally upon it and lifted or carried by two or more individuals
taking hold of the said handles.

page_text: Intters or stretchers so constructed for use in conjunction with an ambulance
wagon are usually provided with small rollers on the underside for the convenience
of sliding it in and out of the wagon.
My invention will be better understood on reference to the accompanying sheet
of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 represents one of my improved litters or stretchers laid in a horizontal
position upon the transverse bearings of one of my improved ambulance frames or
carriages.
Fig. 2 represents the same litter or stretcher and ambulance frame or carriage,
the litter having one end raised in an angular position.
The same letters refer to similar parts in both views.
Now my improvement in litters or stretchers of this description consists in
providing the longitudinal bearers, A, with hinged joints, B, at a convenient
distance from one end to allow of that end of the stretcher being raised either in a
vertical or angular position so that in some cases a person may be carried in a
sitting or semi-reclining position, as for example when being conveyed up a staircase
or steep incline. When constructed with a hinged joint as herein described I
provide adjustable stays, C, by which the desired angular or vertical position of
the raised end of the stretcher may be maintained, secured, or varied.
I likewise provide two supplementary handles, D, which I secure to the under-
side of that portion of the stretcher which remains in a horizontal position, these
handles being utilized for securing the hinged part of the stretcher in a horizontal
position when it is not required to use the angular arrangement. I effect this by
providing a suitable leather or metallic strap or clip, E, by which the horizontal
position of the stretcher may be maintained and secured when so desired.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that, when one end of the
stretcher is turned up, the two last named supplementary handles are brought into
use and I make these supplementary handles. of sufficient length in the shank to
allow of a considerable angle of adjustment in the hinge portion of the stretcher.
The second part of my invention relates to the frame or carriage on which my
improved stretcher may be laid when being conveyed in underground workings,
many of which are so restricted in height as to render it difficult, and in some
cases impossible for the attendants to carry a stretcher in the ordinary way.
My improved framing consists of light wooden longitudinal, transverse and
vertical bars, F, or in some cases I employ metallic tubes, the said bars or tubes
being secured to each other by means of T formed metallic sockets, G. This frame
I so construct that it may be provided with flanged wheels, H, to correspond with the
gauge of the underground roads on which it will be used and as the gauge of
these underground roads sometimes vary in the same collieries, I construct the
axles of the wheels or the transverse bars of the framing or both, telescopically so
that by slackening set screws on the adjustable tubes or axles the gauge may be
varied.
In some cases this variation of gauge may be regulated by screwed sleeves
or sockets fitted upon the transverse bars or axles of the wheels or both as the case
may be, such screws being made right and left handed so that by turning the said
sockets or sleeves the gauge of the wheels or width of the framing may be
regulated. From the upper longitudinal bars of a frame or wagon constructed as
herein described I suspend two or more transverse bearers, I, upon which the litter
or stretcher may be laid. The connection between the bearers and the said
longitudinal bars being made with springs, J, and straps, K, so that the injured
person being carried may ride without unnecessary jolting.
As a modification of the last named arrangement I sometimes construct the
carrying frame so that it may be easily adapted to an existing corve or underframing
of an existing corve, and as a further modification I sometimes provide the carrying
frame with interchangeable wheels and axles so that for surface work light wheels
of a much larger diameter may be employed.
In conjunction with the apparatus herein described I sometimes employ a box,

page_text: case, or drawer, L, for containing surgical and ambulance appliances such as a
tourniquet, splints, bandages, and the like and the said receptacle may be either
inade separately or so as to form a part of the frame or wagon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In litters or ambulance stretchers the arrangement and combination of parts
and appliances by means of which one end of such litter or stretcher may be raised
from a horizontal, into a vertical or augular position and secured, in the manner
and for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. In vehicles or in the frames of vehicles for the conveyance of litters or
ambulance stretchers, the arrangement and combination of parts and appliances
by means of which the said litters or stretchers may be supported and conveyed
along underground roads and workings, which are restricted in height, or elsewhere,
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
3. The combination of an improved litter or ambulance stretcher, as set forth in
Claim 1, with an improved vehicle for supporting and conveying the same, as set
forth in Claim 2, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
Dated this 27th day of June 1808