IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1882

page_text: "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Gordon at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1882.
JAMES GORDON, of Carlton Hill, Leeds, in the County of York, Coach Builder,
IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES,"
The object of this Invention is the production of a Fire Escape wherein greater
ease, facility and rapidity of both transit and application, and increased strength
with lightness, are combined, and it may be thus described :-
"
I first construct a light but strong and well braced wrought iron and steel
Carriage, with, by preference, four wheels, turn-plate and shafts, or pole, as may
be required, and also in such a manner that either or both of the latter can be
unshipped" for convenience when at work or in use, and for the purpose of
allowing the use of cross bars and ropes, for manual power for moving the "Escape,"
where Horses may not be available. This Carriage is constructed so that its two
sides are about twelve feet long, and ten feet high from the ground, and level and
straight, longitudinally, on their top edges or surfaces; and I fix upon the same, at
a short distance from the back ends, and opposite to each other, a pair of fitted
'pedestals or adjustable journal or pivot bearings, and in front of these, at a
distance of about two feet from them, I fix a pair of brackets, constructed with a
curved slot, in which a roller or a hardened pin can travel, and to these latter
"fixings," I attach a pair of adjustable telescopic, sliding and thrusting springs,
about eighteen feet long.
"
"
I next provide my Ladders, which may be also telescopic, and in other respects
similar to those heretofore in use for the purpose; and, at a distance of about one
third the length from the lower end of the main or lower Ladder, say ten feet,-
I fix, firmly and substantially, a pair of projecting pivots or arms, to fit and turn
freely in the before-described pedestals; and so that the said Ladder, with its
extender," "shute," and other necessary appliances, can be either elevated or
laid down, horizontally, and level with the top of the before-named Carriage
frame.
"
At a short distance from the upper end of this main Ladder, I fix a pair of
brackets or lugs, as joints, and I couple the smaller ends of the before-named
telescopic thrusting springs to these joints or lugs, the whole being so arranged,

page_text: proportioned and constructed, that the weight of the ladders as they swing on
their main centres and bearings, shall be so compensated and balanced by the
thrusting springs, that one man can, at either end of them,-readily and easily
place them at any angle between the horizontal position, when lying upon the
Carriage, or perpendicular, before being placed for for use.
"s
"
I also employ wire or other ropes or chains, both for checking and controlling
the action of these Ladders, and in some cases I employ a wince or winding
barrel and ratchet or break, for the more perfect controlling of all the foregoing
parts and actions.
To render my Invention still more complete and comprehensive and useful,
I attach to, or embody in, the before-described Carriage a commodious box or
"boot," for the reception of hose and other requisites, and I prefer to arrange this
recepticle, which is practically a "hose cart,"-in such a manner that seats for
the driver and four or five other men, form parts of it, say three in front and three
behind; access to the interior and contents being had by folding doors or other
equivalent, in the perpendicular portions of both back and front.