IMPROVEMENTS IN STEP AND OTHER LADDERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Beale, of Taunton, in the County of
Somerset, Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEP AND
OTHER LADDERS."
Sealed the 3rd November 1868, and dated the 5th May 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Beale at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th May 1868.
I, WILLIAM BEALE, of Taunton, in the County of Somerset, Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEP AND OTHER LADDERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, 1st, to constructing ladders used for building
and other purposes in two or more parts or sections, by means of which
they may be readily increased in length and rendered much more
portable than heretofore. To effect this I construct each section of
the ladder of a frame formed of side pieces connected by cross bars
and sufficiently large to enclose the section above, which slides therein,

page_text: the lower section receiving the whole when the ladder is lowered, in
which form it may be readily transported from place to place. The
several sections are provided with rungs as usual. At the upper part
of each of the lower sections I place a pulley over which I pass a
rope or chain, the one en1 being attached to the bottom of the section
above aud the other end to the section below. The rope of the bottom
section is operated on by hand or other suitable power, by which means
the whole of the sections may be raised simultaneously. Double spring
pawls may be attached to the several sections of the ladder taking under
the rungs during the ascending movement for the purpose of relieving
the ropes or chains of the strain upon them, said pawls being released
by hand or otherwise when the ladder is lowered.
When required the ladder above described may be converted into a
pair of steps, to effect which I fix a trunnion on either side at the top of
the second section which trunnions drop into bearings at the top of the
first section on the descent of the said second section. I further make
the transverse bars or framework at the back of the first section movable
and so that the second section enclosed by said framework may be
extended outwards to form a pair of steps or trestles, the pivots or trun-
nions at the top of the second section being secured in their bearings by
suitable catches. The sections may also be readily detached one from the
other and form short ladders when required. To limit the extension of
the steps the rope which is attached to the bottom of the second section
is removed from the first pulley, over which it passes and is attached
to the bottom of the first section, thus connecting the two together at
the base. When the ladder is composed of two sections only I pivot
an adjustable step at the top of the second section serving to rest against
the wall when used as a ladder or forming the top step of the trestles.
When the steps or trestles are required of great height two ladders are
combined by pivotting the two top sections together and connecting
the two bottom sections by stretcher bars or struts, said stretchers
connecting the bottom of the one section with the top of the other.
The stretcher bars may be made in parts to extend if required. Instead
of employing cords and pullies for raising the sections as before I may
when more than two sections are employed raise them by means of
endless chains and chain wheels operated by winch handles mounted
at the lower part. Each of the lower sections is provided with an
endless chain passing over a chain wheel at top and bottom, said chain

page_text: being also attached to the bottom of the section above. The lower
chain wheel of the intermediate section or sectious in addition to
carrying the chain works in a rack on the section below, which as the
chain wheel rises with its section causes said wheel to rotate and with
it the endless chain working thereon for the purpose of elevating the
section above. By reversing the motion of the winch that of the chains
Instead of
will also be reversed and the sections thereby lowered.
connecting each endless chain to the section above I may cause each
of the upper chain wheels to work in a rack on the section above for
the purpose of raising the same, the chains merely serving to rotate
said wheels. Instead of using chain wheels gearing with the racks in
the manner before described 1 may carry the shafts of said chain wheels
across and provide them with a pinion at each end gearing with racks
on the side frames of the sections for the purpose of raising or lowering
the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Beale in the Great Seal l'atent Office
on the 5th November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BEALE, of Taunton, in the County of Somerset, Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Beale, Her special licence
that I, the said William Beale, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Beale, my 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
STEP AND OTHER LADDERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Beale, my executors or administrators, by an instru-

page_text: ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six
calender months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said William Beale, 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, reference being had to the two Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
My Invention relates, first, to constructing ladders used for building
and other purposes in two or more telescopic parts or sections, by means
of which they may be readily increased in length and rendered much
more portable than heretofore. To effect this I construct each section
of the ladder of a frame formed of side pieces connected by cross bars,
and sufficiently large to enclose the section above, which slides therein,
the lower section receiving the whole when the ladder is lowered, in
which form it may be readily transported from place to place. The
several sections are provided with rungs as usual. At the upper part
of each of the lower sections I place a pulley over which I pass a ropo
of chain, the one end being attached to the bottom of the section above,
and the other end to the section below. The rope of the bottom section
is operated on by hand or other suitable power, by which means the
_several sections may be raised simultaneously. Double spring pawls
may be attached to the several sections of the ladder, taking under the
rungs thereof during the ascending movement for the purpose of relieving
the ropes or chains of the strain upon them, said pawls being released
by hand or otherwise when the ladder is lowered.
When required the ladder above described may be converted into a
pair of steps, to effect which I fix a trunnion on either side at the top
of the second section, which trunnions drop into bearings at the top of
the first section on the descent of the second section. I further make
the transverse bars or framework at the back of the first section movable,
and so that the second section enclosed by said framework may be
.extended outwards to form a pair of steps or trestles, as before men-

page_text: tioned, the pivots or trunnions at the top of the second section being
secured in their bearings by suitable catches. The sections may also
be readily detached one from the other and forin short ladders when
required. To limit the extension of the steps the rope which is attached
to the bottom of the second section is removed from the first pulley over
which it passes, and is attached to the bottom of the first section, thus
connecting the two together at the base. When the ladder is composed
of two sections only I pivot an adjustable step at the top of the second
section serving to rest against the wall when used as a ladder, or forming
the top of the steps or trestles. When the steps or trestles are required
of great height two ladders are combined by pivoting the two top sections
together and connecting the two bottom sections by stretcher bars or
struts, said stretchers connecting the bottom of the one section with the
top of the other. The stretcher bars may be made in pieces to extend
if required. Instead of employing cords and pullies for raising the
sections as before I may where more than two sections are employed
raise them by means of endless chains and chain wheels operated by a
winch handle mounted at the lower part. Each of the lower sections
is provided with an endless chain passing over a chain wheel at top and
bottom, said chain being also attached to the bottom of the section
above. The lower chain wheel of the upper section or sections in addition
to carrying the chain works in a rack on the section below, which as the
chain wheel rises with its section causes said wheel to rotate and with
it the endless chain working thereon for the purpose of elevating the
section above. By reversing the motion of the winch the movement of
the chains will also be reversed and the sections thereby lowered. Instead
of connecting each endless chain to the section above I may cause each
of the upper chain wheels to work in a rack on the section above for
the purpose of raising the same, the chains merely serving to rotate said
wheels. Instead of using chain whicels gearing with the racks in the
manner before described the shafts of said chain wheels may be carried
across and be provided with a pinion at each end in gear with racks
on the side frames of the sections for the purpose of raising or lowering
the same.

page_text: is fitted to slide in the lower part B) being partially raised. The parts
A, B, of the ladder are constructed in the usual way of side plates
connected by cross bars or rungs. The upper half A is guided in its
sliding motion by tongues a, a, as shown in the horizontal section,
Figure 2, running in grooves b, b, of part B, and serving to secure the
whole together and prevent spreading under great pressure. In order
to raise or lower the sliding section A of the ladder I provide a pulley
at the top of the lower section B, over which I pass a rope or chain c,
one end being attached to the bottom of section A, while the other
which is provided with a hook or catch d depending in front of the lower
section, is secured at any suitable point of the same after pulling the
cord or chain c by hand for the purpose of raising the upper section A.
Figure 3 shows the twofold ladder opened out to form a pair of trestles,
for which purpose I provide pivots or trunnions e at the top of the upper
section A, which pivots. drop into bearings at the top of the section B
when the section A is lowered, and are secured by sliding catches at f.
This being done the section is slightly raised so as to release the
tongues a from the grooves b of the side plates and then extended as
seen, the rope or chain c being at same time disconnected from the
pulley and attached to the lower end of the section B for the purpose of
limiting the spread of the ladder limbs. I further provide the twofold
ladders with an adjustable step at top, which is jointed so as to
enable it to rest Hat against the wall when the ladder is extended, and
also forms the top step of the trestles, as seen in Figure 3, and on an
enlarged scale in detached view, Figure 4. Ladders of this kind may
be made in two or more sections sliding one in the other, and where of
moderate length and lightness may be readily raised and lowered by
means of cords or chains and pulleys in the manner above described.
Further in order to relieve the strain on such ropes or chains at any
moment in raising the sections I provide double spring pawls C as
shown in detached front and side views at Figure 5. These pawls, which
may be fitted to each section, are formed with notches or teeth con-
tinually pressed forward under the rungs by the aid of springs, their
notion being however limited by the pawls abutting against the sides
of the ladder. The pawls are released by a hand lever
to admit of the ladder being lowered. The frames of the
fold ladders may be provided with transverse bars at the
or otherwise,
three or four
back of each

page_text: lower section to hold them together when lowered and also prevent
their spreading or becoming disconnected when extended, but I prefer.
to employ the tongue and groove a, b, before referred to in lieu of the
above arrangement, or it may be in combination therewith. When
transverse bars are employed those at back of the bottom section.
would be made movable to admit of the. upper section being opened
out to form steps or trestles. The several sections of the ladder may be
readily detached and used separately or combined as desired, or they.
may be pivotted together in the manner before.described to form trestles.:
When these are required to be of great height two ladders are pivotted.
together, and the bottom sections connected by diagonal adjustable.
struts or stay bars, such as used in my elevating apparatus, for which
I obtained Letters Patent, No. 2969, October 22nd, 1867.
Figure 6 shows a back view of a modified arrangement of telescopic
step ladder composed of two sections, the upper one being slightly raised
in dotted lines; Figure 7 is a horizontal section of same on an enlarged
scale to show the tongue and groove a, b, before referred to. In this
arrangement the one section A is provided with steps and the other
section B with rungs, but both may be similarly provided with either
steps or rungs as desired. The lower section is provided near the top
with a cross shaft i carrying pawls kone on either side, acted on by a
spring or springs 1, and entering notches or recesses in the back of
the upper section, which notches are disposed at regular distances
throughout its length for the purpose of holding said upper section at
any height desired. The hand is placed at point n in raising the upper
section when the pawls are free to enter one or other of the recesses, and
thus securely hold the section in the elevated position, and in order to
lower the same the lever handle o fixed at one end of pawl shaft i is
simply raised, freeing the catches from the recesses m and allowing the
upper section to slide down within it.
Figures S and 9 shows, detached back and side views on an enlarged
scale of the pawl gearing i, k, and adjustable step g, before described,
while Figure 10 shows a transverse section of the step ladder with the
upper section dotted out to form steps. The same principle of spring
catches i, k, may also be applied to three and four fold ladders when of
moderate length. and lightness and raised by hand. I employ endless
chains and racks for raising heavy three or four fold ladders, as repre-

page_text: sented in Figure 11 of the Drawings, which shows a transverse section
of a ladder in three sections A, B, B'. The sections B, B', are provided
with endless chains p, p, turning on chain wheels 22, 1³, at top, and
bottom, each chain being attached to the bottom of the section above.
The lower chain wheel of section B, in addition to carrying the chain,
works in a rack 7 on section B', which as the chain wheel på rises with
its section causes said wheel to rotate, and with it the endless chain p
working thereon for the purpose of elevating section A. The chains and
racks are operated by a winch handler mounted near the bottom of the
lower section B', by reversing the action of which the several sections
are readily lowered when desired. Instead of connecting each endless.
chain to the section above I may make the upper chain wheels p³, p³,
cach to work in a rack on the section above, as at u, ¹, for the purpose.
of rotating the same, the chains merely serving to rotate said wheels.
Lastly, Figure 12 shows a front view of another arrangement of
gearing for raising the ladder sections, the rungs being omitted at the
upper part to avoid confusion. In this case instead of making the chain
wheels,, to gear with the racks, as above described, I extend the
shafts s of said wheels across the ladder and mount a pinion tat either
end gearing with racks on the side frames of each section for the
purpose of raising and lowering the same by the aid of a winch handle r,
as before. The chain wheels may either be placed in the centre of the
ladder, as seen, or at the side as in the preceding case. Figure 11 also
shows a scaffold D) attached to a bar fixed at the top of the ladder by
means of hooks, as seen; Figure 18 being a side view of said scaffold
detached. Spring pawls i, , before mentioned, are also applied to the
ladders, raised by rack and chain gear, for the purpose of fixing them
at any height desired.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. Constructing step and other ladders in two or more parts sliding
one in the other, substantially in the manner shown and for the purposes
described.
Secondly. I claim the several arrangements of gearing for raising and
lowering such telescopic ladders herein described and represented in the
accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Thirdly. I claim adapting such ladders for use as steps or trestles,
substantially in the manner shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Beale, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
A. M. CLARK,
Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
WM. BEALE. (L.S.)