IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PROTECTION OF FIREMEN IN THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES AND APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A FIRE ESCAPE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co. Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PROTECTION OF FIREMEN IN THE
DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES AND APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A FIRE ESCAPE "
communicated to him from abroad by Samuel Richards of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE
PROTECTION OF FIREMEN IN THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES AND APPLICABLE FOR
USE AS A FIRE ESCAPE" communicated to me from abroad by Samuel Richards,
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
The object of this invention is to prevent the spread of fires in cities and
towns; to afford protection to firemen against the heat of the fire while engaged
in the discharge of their duties; and to furnish an efficient portable fire-escape.
The said invention consists partly in the combination with a carriage, of a frame
mounted thereon, supporting a blanket or cloth which covers the exposed side of
the said frame and carriage and a water distributer, arranged at the top of the
said frame and adapted for connection with a water supply
It also partly consists in the combination with a carriage, and a frame fixed
thereon, of one or more adjustable frames, arranged to telescope within the fixed
frame; blankets or cloths applied to the said frames, and a water distributer
arranged above the said blankets or cloths and adapted to be connected with a
water supply; the whole forming a portable and adjustable shield as hereinafter
described.
It also partly consists in the combination of the fixed frame the adjustable
frames, and the devices for adjusting the said frames as hereinafter specified.

page_text: It also partly consists in combining with the carriage one or more water-tight
drawers which serve to hold the blankets or cloths when they are not suspended on
their frames and also as receptacles for water to supply a force-pump, the said
force-pump being located on the carriage for the purpose of elevating water to
the distributer at the top of the blankets or cloth frames when the apparatus
is used in towns and places having no water works, stand pipes, or water under
pressure.
It also partly consists in combining a force pump (located on the carriage
platform) and a water tight drawer in the body of the carriage with the fixed
frame or fixed and adjustable frames for the blankets or cloths as hereinafter
specified.
-
It also partly consists in constructing the carriage platform upon which the
said adjustable frames are supported so that the said platform can be inclined or
elevated on one side for the purpose of bringing the top of the series of elevated
frames against the side of a building when it is desired to use the apparatus as a
fire-escape.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1. is a side view of apparatus constructed according to this invention
showing two of the adjustable frames elevated.
Figure 2 is a top view or plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on the line x, y, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, and
Figure 5 is a plan of the carriage platform with the lowermost frame permanently
fixed thereon the other frames being removed.
Figure 6 is a sectional plan drawn to an enlarged scale, of the ends of the
frames showing the telescopic arrangement of the several frames when lowered
within the fixed frame.
*Figure 7-is-a-vertical section drawn to an enlarged scale of one end of the
several frames showing the ratchets and spring pawls by which the frames are kept
in an elevated position.
Figure 8 is a plan drawn to an enlarged scale of the ends of two of the frames
and showing in section a loose clamp such as may be applied to each frame near the
bottom thereof (after such frame has been elevated) to keep the frame from
spreading and to give additional strength to the structure.
Figure 9 is an end view of the apparatus showing the several frames as partly
elevated and adjusted in a leaning position with the top of the uppermost frame
resting against a building when the apparatus is to be used as a fire escape.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a indicates a platform mounted on wheels forming a carriage like an ordinary
hook and ladder carriage. The said platform is attached on one side by hinges to
the axles; as shown in Figure 9; b b₁63 6³ are open frames for supporting blankets
or cloth made of wool or other fibrous material. These frames are strengthened by.
arched braces c, c¹, c², c³, and corner braces d, ď¹, d³, d³.
The frame b which is the bottom and outside frame is permanently fixed in an
upright position on the platform as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and the frame b' is
arranged to rest within the frame b, and in like manner each interior frame, when
lowered down to the platform as shown in Figure 6.
d', d d are racks secured to the inner edge of the opposite ends of the frames
respectively as shown in Figures 1. 2, 3 and 6.
e, e¹ are shafts supported by the standards g and g¹ The said shafts e and e¹ are
angular in cross section and carry the pinions h and h¹ which are adjustable thereon
longitudinally being moved in front of the said racks on the different frames so as
to engage with them as it is desired to elevate these frames respectively. The
pinions h and h' are fixed in place by thumb-screws & Figure 6
The shafts e and e' also carry the fixed bevel gear-wheels; and which engage
with the bevel gear-wheels k and ' fixed on the shaft 7 which is supported by the
standards. gg projecting from the platform a and by brackets f,f¹, Figures 1

page_text: and 3, attached to the inside of the lowermost frame b, as shown in
Figure 3.
In Figures 1 and 3, p indicates a pipe fastened to the frame b³; the said pipe
is slotted or perforated on the underside and provided with an elbow q and a
union ŕ for, connecting it with a hose leading to a water supply.
The blankets or cloths t of the frames 65 and 6³, are shown in Figures 1 partly
broken away. The cloths of the lowermost frame b hang down to the ground in
order to protect the carriage, the cloths of the frame bª hanging down sufficiently
to cover this frame and overlap the joint between it and the frame b³, and the
cloth of the frame 63 hanging down sufficiently to cover this frame and overlap the
joint between it and frame b' and so on in respect of the several frames.
A platform v is placed on the top of the carriage platform & and extends on one
side of the frame b for the whole length of the carriage, and is provided with the
steps w by which the said platform v is reached.
Several staples marked z (Figure 1) are attached to the platform a underneath,
at each side. Through these staples, bars a³, Figure 3, or the like, slide under the
bottom of the platform a when the apparatus out of use, and are drawn out as
shown in Figure 3 when the apparatus is in use; m², m³ indicate detachable stay
rods which are hooked into eyes in the ends of the bars a¹, the pointed ends of
the rods m³ entering the ground; the bars a¹ and stay rods m³ being used for the
purpose of widening the base of the apparatus when the adjustable frames are
elevated.
Drawers p¹ for containing the blankets or cloths when they are off the frames
are located underneath the platform a on opposite sides of the same.
These
drawers, one of which is shown in Figure 1, are preferably made water tight so
that the blankets can be conveniently wetted in them before they are applied to
the frames; and also so that they can be used as reservoirs to hold water to supply
an ordinary force-pump p' which is located on the platform a, for the purpose of
supplying water to the perforated distributer p at the top of the uppermost frame
when the apparatus is used in localities which have not a supply of water under
pressure.
o o, Figures 1, 4, 7. 9., indicate ladders by which the tops of the frames are
reached, and which come into use also when the apparatus is employed as a
fire-escape.
m m, Figure 6, are guides formed of V-shaped metallic plates attached
permanently to the frames and extending from the tops to the bottoms thereof
respectively. These guides slide in corresponding V-shaped grooves n also formed
of inetallic plates fastened to the frames opposite the guides, all as indicated in
Figure 6.
uu Figure 7 indicate ratchets fastened to the fixed or bottom frame b and to
the adjustable frames b' b² 6ª, and u¹ are springs attached to the frames b¹ b²
and 63, opposing and fitting into the teeth of the said ratchets for the purpose of
holding the frames at any degree of elevation required. ², Figures 6 and 7, are
hand wheels pivotted excentrically and connected by rods or wires to the springs u'.
When the wheels u² are moved the springs u' are drawn in, thus allowing the
opposing frames to slide down.
In Figure 9, h³ indicates a segmental rack, projecting downwardly from the
carriage platform; and h³ a pinion gearing into the said rack and intended to be
operated by an ordinary hand-lever. The drawing shows these last named devices
as located at one end only of the carriage, but similar devices are intended to be
placed at the opposite end of the carriage. The said devices constitute the
machinery for inclining the platform a and thus bringing the top of the uppermost
frame 6 against the wall h of a building from which it may be desired to rescue
persons in case of fire.
It is preferable that the drawers 2' should be made water-tight to form reservoirs
as above described, but this is not essential, since a separate vessel of any kind
may be used as a reservoir for the pump supply.

page_text: It is sometimes desirable to use the single fixed frame b in connection with its
blankets or cloths, and the force-pump, all mounted on the carriage as described
and the water reservoir for the pump, omitting the adjustable frames, their blankets
and other adjuncts.
When the apparatus has been drawn near to the place of the fire, it is made
ready for use by first attaching hose to the slotted or perforated pipe p; then
hooking the blankets on the top rail of the frame 63; then, by means of the
crank q', raising the said frame and applying the blankets or cloths to the other
frames and raising them successively until the desired number has been elevated.
Water is then admitted or forced into the pipe p and through the slots or
perforations therein the water running down and saturating the cloths or blankets.
As soon as the apparatus has thus been made ready, it is drawn into the required
position opposito the fire. The wet cloths form an incombustible barrier to the
spread of the fire, and by sheltering the firemen from the heat, enables them to get
near to, and continue at, their work
Guy ropes indicated by dotted lines a³, Figure 3, may be attached to
hooks a³ at the top of the uppermost frame and to the platform a or to
the bars a¹ or to the ground to strengthen the frames after they have been
elevated
The apparatus above described comprises one fixed and three adjustable frames,
but it is obvious that the number may be increased or diminished by enlarging. or
lessening the size of the fixed frame, so that the adjustable frames shall fit and
telescope within it when lowered, and, by correspondingly increasing or diminishing
the number of the frame-racks, and the length of the shaft of the pinion operating
such racks.
I prefer to use blankets or cloths made of wool but these cloths may be made of
asbestos, cotton, or other fibrous material.
Instead of the slotted or perforated pipe p a slotted or perforated trough may be
used as the water distributer, but I prefer the pipe.
The water distributer arranged above suspended cloths or blankets and
connected with a water supply, substantially as described, for the purpose of
keeping such cloths saturated with water, may be used to advantage in connection
with a single supporting frame fixed on a carriage and also in connection with
fixed and adjustable frames, modified in form and in respect to the appliances for
operating them. The importance of mounting the blankets or cloths on a carriage
as above described, arises from the facility thus afforded, not only for getting the
apparatus where it is needed on sudden emergencies, but also, and more especially,
for moving the apparatus about in proximity to a fire.
Having thus,fully described the said invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I Claim.
"
First. The combination with a carriage, of a frame mounted thereon supporting
a blanket or cloth which covers the exposed side of the said frame and carriage,
and a water distributer, which is arranged at the top of the said frame and
adapted to be connected with a water supply, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Second. The combination of a carriage and a frame fixed thereon, one or more
adjustable frames, telescoping within the said fixed frames, blankets or cloths
applied to the said frames and the water distributer arranged above the said cloths
and adapted to be connected with a water supply, the whole forming a portable
shield for protecting firemen while in the discharge of their duties, substantially as
set forth.
Third. In combination with the carriage, and the cloth covered frames and a
water-distributer supported thereon, the bars a' and the detachable stay-rods m² for
widening, the base of the apparatus, when the said frames are elevated, substan-
tially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the carriage, the fixed frame b, the adjustable

page_text: frames b¹ 62 6³, the racks d' d³ d³, the pinions h h³, the shaft l, the guides m, the
ratchets u, the springs u¹ and the pivotted cams u³ substantially in the manner,
and for the purpose, set forth.
Fifth. In combination with the carriage, one or more water-tight drawers,
arranged under the platform thereof to serve as a place of deposit for the
blankets or cloths, and as a temporary reservoir for water, substantially as set
forth.
Sixth. In combination with the carriage, one or more frames mounted thereon,
the blankets or cloths covering the frame or frames, the water distributer at the
top of the said frame or frames and the pump located on the carriage platform,
with or without one or more water tight drawers, the whole forming a fire-shield
adapted for use in localities, not supplied with water under pressure, substantially
as set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.