IMPROVED ELEVATING APPARATUS FOR FIREMEN'S, BUILDERS', AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th March 1872.-A communiction from abroad by Andrew M.
Patrick, of Long Lane, in the County of Dallas, and State of
Missouri, United States of America.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED ELEVATING APPARATUS FOR FIREMEN'S,
BUILDERS', AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to a new extensible apparatus for elevating
firemen and their material to any desired height and in any suitable
position; and consists in the combination of an extension frame and
operating windlass with a suspended box having a perforated bottom, as
herein-after more fully described.
The supporting frame of the machine is mounted on wheels or
supported directly on the ground, and has downwardly projecting prongs
to prevent it from slipping. In this frame are the bearings of two

page_text: shafts which are united by two sets of gears, one for speed, the other
for power.
One set is thrown out of gear when the other is to be used.
Power can be applied by means of a crank to the upper shaft, and
thence transmitted to the lower shaft, which is a windlass for elevating
the weight. A frame is pivoted at its lower end to the supporting
frame and provided with braces that keep it in an elevated but inclined
position. A horizontal windlass has its bearings at back of the said
pivoted frame. The extension frame is made in several sections, and
is held against the pivoted frame and between projecting ribs at the
sides of same.
Each section consists of two side bars that are connected
by proper transverse pieces, and has sockets at the lower ends of its
side bars for the upper ends of the same bars of the next section below
to fit into. When a section has been placed against the pivoted frame
it can be elevated by means of the windlass at back of said frame, from
which a rope or chain passing over a pulley at top of said frame
connects with such section. When the section has been sufficiently
clevated another section is applied to its lower end and connected with
the said windlass and further elevated until the desired height has been
reached. The uppermost section has friction rollers at its top part to
move easily against the face of a building. The windlass before-
mentioned as being mounted in the supporting frame is connected with
a rope which passes over a pulley that is suspended from the upper part
of the uppermost section. A box can be suspended from this rope and
raised to suitable height by means of the said windlass, either to elevate
firemen and their material, such as hose, to where they can be of most
use, or to lower inmates of burning houses and their property. A hole
is provided in the bottom of the box through which the hose may be
drawn so as to be in the most convenient position for the person
occupying the box.
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The apparatus can also be used for elevating and lowering building
materials, and for other suitable purposes. A screw is fitted to the
supporting frame and bears on a lever which serves as a brake against
the windlass by which the loaded box is elevated, whereby the box can
be arrested at any suitable height.