IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LADDERS FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, ALSO APPLICABLE AS A FIRE ESCAPE
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Oharles Martin, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, and George Owen Mew, of
Charterhouse Square, in the City of London, Wine Merchant, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LADDERS FOR
GENERAL PURPOSES, ALSO APPLICABLE AS A FIRE ESCAPE."
Sealed the 26th May 1871, and dated the 30th November 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Martin and
George Owen Mew at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 30th November 1870.
We, CHARLES MARTIN, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Civil Engineer, and GEORGE OWEN MEW, of Charterhouse Square,
in the City of London, Wine Merchant, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LADDERS
FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, ALSO APPLICABLE AS A FIRE ESCAPE," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction
and arrangement of ladders especially adapted for operations in which
it is necessary to reach lofty elevations, as in erecting, repairing, and
cleansing buildings, and also for the purposes of firo escapes.

page_text: One great advantage arising from this Invention is, that the ladders
are capable of being moved through narrow passages and places of low
height with ease and rapidity. The ladders are constructed in sections
which in the aggregate may amount to any desired length to attain the
requisite elevation, such sections being formed of varying widths and a
sliding within one another with a telescopic action, each length or
section as it slides out from that below it firmly fastening itself to the
latter by means of stops or other mechanical contrivances as well under-
stood. The lengths or sections are enabled thus to slide within each
other by means of grooves and tongues, dovetailed or otherwise, or by 1
means of analogous arrangements. On the back of each length or
section is a rack plate into which works a pinion actuated by a winch
at the lower part of the apparatus, and on the spindle of which winch
is fixed a ratchet or some other of the known mechanical contrivances
adapted for the purpose, and by which the lengths or sections as they ]
slide out from one another are prevented from running back.
The combination of ladders before described is attached to or mounted
on a stage provided with suitable wheels by which it can be moved
from place to place, and it is obvious that by proportioning the
lengths of the sections of the ladders to the circumstances under which
the apparatus is likely to be employed, the latter, when the ladders
are lowered within each other, may be of any desired size. At the sides
and front of the ladders folding arms are, by preference, placed, and
which when unfolded project sufficiently to make the ladders when
extended safer from falling. Attached to the frame in front of the a
apparatus is placed an ordinary crate roller, on to and from which an
iron wire rope is connected and which passes over a pulley on the
upper part of the topmost length of ladder. From this rope is suspended
a cage which may be used for lowering or raising persons or goods or
materials.
I

page_text: and GEORGE OWEN MEW, formerly of Charterhouse Square, in the
City of London, but now of Crutched Friars, in the said City, Wine
Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Charles Martin and George
Owen Mew, Her special licence that we, the said Charles Martin and
George Owen Mew, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Charles Martin and George Owen Mew, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LADDERS FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, ALSO APPLICABLE AS ▲
FIRE ESCAPE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Charles Martin and George Owen Mew, out executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Martin and George Owen
Mew, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon; that is to say :-
Our said Invention consists of certain improvements in the con-
struction and arrangement of ladders especially adapted for operations
in which it is necessary to reach lofty elevations, as in erecting,
repairing, and cleansing buildings, and also for the purposes of fire
escapes.
One great advantage arising from our said Invention is, that the
ladders are capable of being moved through narrow passages and places of

page_text: low Leight with ease and rapidity. The ladders are constructed in sections
which in the aggregate may amount to any desired length to attain
the requisite elevation, such sections being formed of varying widths
and sliding within one another with a telescopic action, cach length
or section as it slides out from that below it firmly fastening itself!
to the latter by means of stops or other mechanical contrivances as
_well understood. The lengths or sections are enabled thus to slide
. within each other by means of grooves and tongues, dovetailed or
otherwise, or by means of analogous arrangements. On the back of each
length or section is a rack plate into which works a pinion actuated by
a winch at the lower part of the apparatus, and on the spindle of which
winch is fixed a ratchet or some other of the known mechanical
contrivances adapted for the purpose and by which the lengths or
sections as they slide out from one another are prevented from running
back.
-
The combination of ladders before described is attached to or mounted
on a stage provided with suitable wheels by which it can be moved
from place to place, and it is obvious that by proportioning the lengths
of the sections of the ladders to the circumstances under which the
apparatus is likely to be employed, the latter, when the ladders are
lowered within each other, may be of any desired size. At the sides.
and front of the ladders folding arms are, by preference, placed, and
which when unfolded project sufficiently to make the ladders when
extended safer from falling. Attached to a frame in front of the
apparatus is placed an ordinary crane roller, on to and from which
an iron wire rope is connected and which passes over a pulley on the
upper part of the topmost length of ladder. From this rope is sus-
pended a cage which may be used for lowering or raising persons or
goods or materials.
We will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings from which
the nature of our said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2, an end elevation of the
apparatus, Figure 3 being a plan view of a portion thereof. In these
Figures the same letters of reference indicate similar parts.
A, A, A, A, A, A, are the several lengths or sections of the ladders;
B is the stage on which the apparatus is mounted. The rack plates are
shewn at a, and the pinions at 6; and C is the winch with the ratchet
arrangement and the chain c for actuating the pinions. At D one of
.

page_text: the folding arms before mentioned is represented; E is the crane roller
and e the wire rope which passes over the same and over the pulley f
as before described.
said
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would
observe in conclusion that what we consider novel and original and
therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to us by the said
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination and
arrangement of parts and mechanism substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described and set forth, or any mere modifications
thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Martin and George Owen
Mew, have hereunto our hands. and seals, this Thirtieth day of
May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-one.