IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ESCAPES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by. George Clarke at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th August
1867.
I, GEORGE CLARKE, of Southwell House, Lower Heath, Hampstead, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ESCAPES," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to the well-known fire-escapes constructed by
me, and for certain improvements upon which I registered a design on the
12th March 1863, numbered 4543.
One of my present improvements consists in strengthening the main ladder
against twisting strains by means of a diagonal wire truss at the back of the
ladder, the upper ends of which truss are fixed to the brackets upon the end
of the ladder, whence the wire ropes or rods pass diagonally to the opposite
ends of the transverse stay bar of the guiding quadrants; here they are led
over pulleys attached to the bar, and then again crossing each other they pass
down to the framing at bottom, to which they are attached by screw bolts
arranged so as to be capable of tightening the truss when requisite.
Another improvement consists in providing each of the two guiding
quadrants for the levers, to the fly ladder, with three pullies, instead of only

page_text: one as heretofore, over which the two side wire trusses are made to pass, so
as to render both the quadrants and the side trusses more rigid.
Another improvement consists in forming the two levers for working the
fly ladder with two arms, or as "split" levers, to one of which arms the
ordinary rope for raising the fly ladder is attached, such rope being worked
by a small windlass fixed to the main ladder at bottom in place of working
the rope by hand as heretofore. To the second arm is attached a check rope
for preventing the fly ladder when raised to the vertical position from falling
forward too rapidly.
Another improvement consists in substituting for the canvas and wire
gauze-trough heretofore employed attached to the main ladder a collapsible
tube of fire-proof canvas, netting, or other suitable limp fire-proof fabric or
material, held open at the upper and lower ends by a framing fixed to the
ladder. By the employment of such tube in place of the trough the great
resistance that the fire-escape now meets with when travelling against a high
wind will be obviated. In order to cause the tube to collapse to the smallest
possible dimensions india-rubber rings may be fixed at intervals down the
same, which would be readily distended by the passage of persons or objects
down the tube; or the lower end of the tube may be made capable of being
turned so as to twist the tube together when travelling, and to untwist it
"when wanted for use. Metal bands fixed to the main ladder may be passed
round the tube at intervals down its length to keep it from sagging...
Another improvement consists in providing the "fly ladder" with a second
sliding ladder working in grooves or between guides formed thereon; and
capable of being slid up beyond the fly ladder by means of ropes worked
from below when this requires to be extended, instead of having to lower
the fly ladder again and to attach another ladder thereto as has at present
to be done when the fly ladder itself is found not to be of sufficient length.
Another improvement consists in forming the front wire stays (which at
,present are attached at the upper end to the end of the main ladder, and at
the lower end to the extremity of the hand lever) so as to be serviceable as
hand rails for the main ladder. For this purpose projecting brackets or arms
are attached in front to the upper end of the main ladder, and to these are
connected the upper ends of the stays, which pass down over similar projecting
arms on the lower part of the ladder, and are then connected by tightening
screw bolts to the framing. If requisite one or more intermediate arms may
be fixed to the ladder for supporting the stay.
:
Another improvement consists in preventing the fire-escape from shifting
when placed in position by providing two "scot blocks" placed behind the

page_text: wheels and provided with flanges, between which the wheels fit so as to
prevent their sliding off sideways.
Another improvement consists in providing the escape with a hose reel,
by preference placed on the axle of the wheels, upon which reel a considerable
length of fire hose may be wound.