Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 10th Feb.. 1893-Accepted. 18th Mar.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I, JAMES HENRY KENNEDY, a Farmer, residing near Milburn, in the Parish
of Avoyells, State of Louisiana, one of the United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
My invention relates to an improvement in a fire escape, and its novelty will be
fully understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the
annexed drawings; and the objects of my invention are to provide a portable fire
escape, which will enable occupants of a building, when on fire, to escape safely.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which :-
Figure 1 is a side view of extension slide, which rests on top of fire escape.
Figure 2 is a top view of extension slide.
Figure 3 is a top view of fire escape.
Figure 4 is a side view of fire escape closed.
Figure 5 is a front view of one of the ladders, with rails compressed or folded.
Figure 6 is a side view of fire escape elevated.
Figure 7 is a sectional top view of elevating screw, and extension arms.
Figure 8 is a front view of fire escape elevated.
Figure 9 is a sectional front view of step on side of fire escape.
Figure 10 is a side view of step when in position for use.
Figure 11 is a sectional side view, showing step when raised.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In the drawings, A refers to pole for attaching horses. B front wheels, which
are so constructed as to permit a short turn. C are rear wheels. D is a circular
shaped metal plate, which is held in position by means of a bolt; extending across
the plate D are arms E, which are provided with legs F, being so constructed as to
fold in the manner shown Fig. 7, and occupying the position shown in Fig. 6 when
fire escape is in use. G being a bolt which forms a hinge for F, the head of said
bolt being concave. His a right and left handed screw, provided with wheels 1
and 2, and crank L in front, and crank K in rear for operating same. M showing
frame pieces which connect the front and rear wheels. N are metal arms placed
upon screw H, and which are thrown apart or nearer to each other by rotating
screw; attached to end of arms N are levers or lazy tongs O, and to which are
attached slotted cross arms P, and working within said slots are connecting rods Q,
upon one end of arms P are rests or platforms R, up to which a pair of steps or
ladder S is connected, said steps or ladder being provided with hinges (not shown),
and will enable railing to be compressed or folded when fire escape is not in use,
said steps S are also provided in their rear with wire netting or heavy canvas
(which is also not shown), resting upon top of fire escape is a platform U, and
upon which there is placed a sliding platform V, and when fire escape is in position
for use, as shown in Fig. 6, said sliding platform V can be placed in a window of a
building; platform V is also provided with wings, or pivoted extension arms, which
may be opened should the fire escape be in such a position as not to permit the
platform V to be extended into a window in the manner shown in Fig. 6.
W are
guy ropes placed on each side of fire escape, and which are connected to a shaft
and crank X on each side of fire escape. Z is a slide which partially covers
opening in platform U, and may be moved back and forth at will.
When
When fire escape is not in use its normal position is as shown in Fig. 4.
in alarm of fire is given, horses are attached to pole A, as to an ordinary fire
engine, and the machine is drawn to the burning building or buildings, and placed

page_text: in such a position that it may be enabled to render effective service. The step
ladders Y, which are swung upon the side of the machine, are placed in position, as
shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and by means of the screw H, cranks L and K, the
levers or lazy tongs are elevated to the position shown in Fig. 6, the rods Q moving
in slotted arms P, as the machine is raised or lowered. The steps or ladders
occupying the position shown in Fig. 6, and the railing T is opened, and when
necessary the platform V is extended. Where it is desired to extend the fire
escape its full length, in order to use same to its full capacity, the arms E are
drawn out, and the legs F placed in position, as shown in Fig. 6, thus giving an
increase of base of machine. Where desired the arms E may be provided with
extension slides, thus enabling an increase of base capacity to be given. It will be
readily seen that the occupants of a building can pass down the steps or ladders
safely. When there is no further service required of the fire escape at the burning
building or buildings the extension levers or tongs are lowered by means of
screw and cranks L and K, until position of machine is such as shown in Fig. 4,
and is again drawn by team of horses, or other motor power, to its repository, until
it is again necessary to put same in use.
A striking advantage of my invention is its economical construction, and ease by
which same can be used.
Dated this 27th day of April 1800
HUELSER & Co.,
Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I, JAMES HENRY KENNEDY a Farmer residing near Milburn in the Parish
of Avoyells, State of Louisiana, one of the United States of America, 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:-
My invention relates to an improvement in a fire escape and its novelty will be
fully understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the
drawings annexed to the Provisional Specification, and the objects of my invention
are to provide a portable fire escape, which will enable occupants of a building on
fire, to escape safely.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the aforesaid drawings, in
which-
Figure 1 is a side view of extension slide, which rests on top of fire escape.
Figure 2 is a top view of extension slide.
Figure 3 is a top view of fire escape.
Figure 4 is a side view of fire escape closed.
Figure 5 is a front view of one of the ladders with rails compressed or folded.
Figure 6 is a side view of fire escape elevated.
Figure 7 is a sectional top view of elevating screw and extension arms.
Figure 8 is a front view of fire escape elevated.
Figure 9 is a sectional front view of step on side of fire escape.
Figure 10 is a side view of step when in position for use.
Figure 11 is a sectional side view, showing step when raised.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In the drawings—
A refers to pole for attaching horses. B front wheels which are so constructed
as to permit a short turn. C are rear wheels. D is a circular shaped metal plate,
which is held in position by means of a bolt; extending across the plate D are
arms E which are provided with legs F, being so constructed as to fold in the
manner shown in Figure 7, and occupying the position shown in Figure 6 when

page_text: fire escape is in use, G being a bolt which forms a hinge for F, the head of said
bolt being concave. H is a right and left handed screw, provided with wheels 1
and 2, and crank L in front and crank K in rear for operating same,
M showing
frame pieces which connect the front and rear wheels. N are metal arms placed
upon screw H, and which are thrown apart or nearer to each other by rotating
screw; attached to end of arms N are levers or lazy tongs O and to which are
attached slotted cross arms P, and working within said slots are connecting rods Q,
upon one end of arms P are rests or platforms R up to which a pair of steps or
ladder S is connected, said steps or ladder being provided with hinges (not shown)
and will enable railing to be compressed or folded when fire escape is not in use,
said steps S are also provided in their rear with wire netting or heavy canvas
(which is also not shown), resting upon top of fire escape is a platform U, and
upon which there is placed a sliding platform V, and when fire escape is in
position for use, as shown in Figure 6, said sliding platform V can be placed
in a window of a building; platform V is also provided with wings or pivoted
extension arms, which may be opened should the fire escape be in such a position
as not to permit the platform V to be extended into a window in the manner
shown in Figure 6. W are guy ropes placed on each side of fire escape and
which are connected to a shaft and crank X on each side of fire escape. Z is a
slide which partially covers opening in platform U and may be moved back and
forth at will.
When fire escape is not in use, its normal position is as shown in Figure 4.
When an alarm of fire is given, horses are attached to pole A as to an ordinary
fire engine and the machine is drawn to the burning building or buildings, and
placed in such a position that it may be enabled to render effective service. The
step ladders Y which are swung upon the side of the machine are placed in
position, as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, and by means of the screw H, cranks L
and K, the levers or lazy tongs are elevated to the position shown in Figure 6,
the rods moving in slotted arms P as the machine is raised or lowered. The
steps or ladders S occupy the position shown in Figure 6 and the railing T is
opened and, when necessary, the platform V is extended. Where it is desired
to extend the fire escape its full length in order to use same to its full capacity,
the arms E are drawn out and the legs F placed in position as shown in Figure 6,
thus giving an increase of base of machine. Where desired, the arms E may
be provided with extension slides, thus enabling an increase of base capacity to
be given. It will be readily seen that the occupants of a building can pass
down the steps or ladders safely. When there is no further service required
of the fire escape at the burning building or buildings, the extension levers or
tongs are lowered by means of screw H and cranks L and K, until position
of machine is such as shown in Figure 4, and is again drawn by team of horses
or other motor power to its repository, until it is again necessary to put same
in use.
A striking advantage of my invention is its economical construction and ease
by which same can be used.
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. In a fire escape, such as described, a screw mounted upon four wheels by
suitable means, having its ends threaded, and provided with cranks L and wheels 1
and 2 in front and crank K in rear, arms N placed on said screw and connecting
with levers or lazy tongs O, as set forth.
2. In a fire escape such as described, a series of levers or lazy tongs, two or
more slotted cross arms P lying in a horizontal position, and having a rest or
landing R in diagonal positions above each other, with steps or ladders having
folded railing thereon leading to said rests, as set forth.
3. In a fire escape, such as described, a platform U resting upon levers or lazy

page_text: tongs O, an opening in said platform with a slide Z, a detached slide V resting on
said platform, provided with wings or extension arms pivoted thereon, as set
forth.
4. In a fire escape, such as described, the extension arms E having legs F
attached thereon by means of pivots G, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th day of February 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.