Improvements in Fire-escapes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-escapes.
I, GEORGE SAMUEL MACDONALD of 48 Carnaby Street Golden Square in the
County of Middlesex Dairyman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a series of extension ladders-to one
or more of which an additional network or shoot is affixed-with greater efficiency
and economy than those at present in use. The first or main ladder is used in my
improved pattern is made with metal-preferably gun-metal-grooves, or channels,
placed one on each side of the main ladder. About two feet from the top of the
main ladder I fix on a bolt or shaft a ratchet lever controlled by a spring and
pulled back by means of an arm actuated by a lever fixed near the bottom of the
main ladder. Immediately below this lever action are placed two sheaves or pulley
wheels over which the wire rope for raising the first extension ladder is passed. To
one end of the wire rope is attached in any convenient manner, a pulley block with
single sheave, with ropes for raising the extension ladders. The first extension
ladder is fitted with network fastened underneath the side of the ladder by eye-
bolts, the netting sliding telescopically into that of the main ladder, and is made
with two metal strips one on each side sliding in the grooves or channels afore-
mentioned. These strips are made with plain sides and the top or upper portion
with a rack or ratchet. Each segment of the rack is sunk square to receive the
end or toe of lever on main ladder. When the extension ladder is raised by means
of the pulleys afore mentioned it is kept in position by the levers pressing against
the indentation in the ratchet.
By slightly raising the extension ladder and moving the lever at bottom of main
ladder in order to disengage the check-lever from the ratchet, the ladder may be
lowered as desired. In order to raise, simultaneously or separately, the second
extension ladder, on the left side of this second extension is fixed a small roller,
over which passes a wire cord or rope also passed through a small iron pulley block
secured to the top rung of the ladder and when this wire cord or rope is pulled
from below the ladder is raised. A roller passes across the face of the first exten-
sion ladder to keep the second extension ladder in place. A wooden groove is
made inside of the second ladder, and the two ends of a metal bar slide therein.
To this bar the rope actuating the top ladder is affixed.
Dated this 25th day of February 1801
JOHN BLACK,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-escapes.
I GEORGE SAMUEL MACDONALD of 48 Carnaby Street, Golden Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Dairyman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide a series of extension ladders, 12 & 3
to one or more of which an additional network or shoot is affixed, with greater
efficiency and economy than those at present in use. The first or main ladder 1 as
used in my improved pattern is made with metal, preferably gun metal-grooves
or channels F placed one on each side of the main ladder. About two feet from
the top of the main ladder 1 I fix on a bolt or shaft a ratchet lever B' controlled
Die 677

page_text: by a spring and pulled back by means of an arm actuated by a lever fixed near
bottom of main ladder. Immediately below this lever action are placed two sheaves
or pulley wheels CC over which. a wire rope.for raising the first extension ladder is
passed. To one end of the wire rope is attached in any convenient manner a pulley
block with single sheave with ropes for raising the extension ladder. The first
extension ladder 2 is fitted with network, fastened underneath the side of the ladder
by eye-bolts the netting, sliding telescopically into that of the main ladder and is
made with two metal strips one on each side sliding in the grooves or channels
afore mentioned. These strips are made with sides plain and the top or upper
portion with a rack or ratchet A. Each segment of the rack is sunk squaresto
receive the end or toe of lever B on main ladder 1. When the extension ladder
is raised by means of the pulleys afore-mentioned, it is kept in position by the
lever B pressing against the indentation in the ratchet A.
By slightly raising the extension ladder 2 and moving the lever at bottom of
main ladder in order to disengage the check lever B from the ratchet A. the ladder
may be lowered as desired. In order to raise simultaneously or separately the
second extension ladder 3, on the left side of this extension ladder 2 is fixed a
small roller over which passes a wire cord or rope also passed through a small
pulley-block secured to the bottom rung of the ladder 3 and when the wire cord
or rope
pulled from below the ladder is raised. A roller passes across the face
of the first extension ladder to keep the second extension ladder in place a wooden
groove G is made inside of the second ladder 2 and the two ends of a metal H bar
slide therein. To this bar H-the rope actuating the top ladder is affixed. A belt
is furnished with the apparatus, to which this rope which is detachable from the bar
is fastened when desirable enabling a fireman to lower any person down in safety
without the fireman himself descending.
In order that my invention be better understood I append drawings in which
Fig. 1 shews a side view of the machine the ladders partly raised to show the
construction.
Fig. 2 broken away at one end to shew the grooves and slides shews part of side
elevation enlarged.
Fig. 3 shews a sectional plan at X X Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 shews a further enlargement of lever and stop action for ladders.
The respective parts are lettered as follows. A, A. is the metal rack as fixed on
the second xtension ladder; B the pawl, B' the lever, and B2 the spring con-
trolling the lever and pawl. C, C is pulley sheaf through which the wire rope D
is passed. is the lever at bottom of escape to which the bottom end of the wire
rope is fixed. F shows the projection on the second ladder passing in a groove Fl
on the first or main ladder. G is a groove on the second or extension ladder, and
H is an iron step or bar which slides in the same drawing the top ladder to its
extended position. The ladders are numbered on the drawings 1, 2, & 3
respectively.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The rackwork and the lever and pawl action, enabling the extension ladder
to be raised in any position.
2. The mechanism for raising and lowering simultaneously or separately the
second extension ladder: and :-
3. A. fire escape constructed as described and illustrated substantially .and
forth. C
as set
Dated this 4th day of May 1891.
JOHN BLACK,
Agent for Applicant.