IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thornton Fowler, of Kensington, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thornton Fowler at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th August 1878.
EDWARD THORNTON FOWLER, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
This Invention relates to improvements on fire escapes, in which an iron chain
ladder is employed, wound round the barrel or winch fixed against a house or
building. It consists in mounting on the parapet or top of the front or back wall
of a house or building, midway between two vertical tiers of windows, the barrel or
winch, round which is wound the iron chain ladder, whereof the treads or rungs
are composed of iron bars at convenient distances apart fixed to and extending
between the two side chains of the ladder.
In combination with the winch or barrel is a bell or gong so arranged that it is
sounded by the treads or rungs of the ladder coming in contact therewith, or other-
wise actuating it, as hereafter described.
To the lower end of the chain ladder is attached the upper end of a chain (or
wire rope), which hangs down loosely between each tier of windows within easy
reach of a person's hands from either window.
The outer end of the axle of the winch or barrel is provided with a handle for
winding up the chain ladder on to the barrel or winch when not in use.
On a fire breaking out in a house or building a person from either window takes
hold of the loose pendant chain, and pulling it down draws with it the chain ladder,

page_text: unwinding it from the winch or barrel to its full extent.
Each tread or rung
during its descent strikes against or otherwise actuates the bell or gong, thereby
raising a loud and continued alarm, the person or persons meanwhile being able to
escape by the ladder to the ground.
A house or building may be supplied with more than one of these escapes, if
desirable, according to the arrangement of the various windows, care being taken to
fix each escape so that the ladder is pulled down in front of the brickwork, and not
across the windows, as heretofore.
This Invention is also applicable for giving an alarm and means of escape in case
of burglary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Thornton Fowler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th February 1879.
+
$
EDWARD THORNTON FOWLER, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
This Invention relates to improvements on fire escapes, in which an iron chain
ladder is employed wound round a barrel or winch fixed against a house or building.
It consists in mounting on the parapet or top of the front or back wall of a house
or building, midway between two vertical tiers of windows, the barrel or winch,
round which is wound the iron chain ladder, whereof the treads or "rungs are
composed of iron bars at convenient distances apart, fixed to and extending between
the two side chains of the ladder.
"
In combination with the barrel or winch is a bell or gong so arranged that it is
sounded by the treads or "rungs" of the ladder coming in contact therewith, or
otherwise actuating it, as hereafter described.
To the lower end of the chain ladder is attached the upper end of a chain (or wire
rope) which hangs down loosely between each tier of windows within easy reach of
a person's hands from either window.
The outer end of the barrel or winch is provided with a handle for winding up
the chain ladder on to the barrel or winch when not in use.
And in order that my said Invention may be well understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, reference being made to the accompanying
Drawing, like letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
i
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved fire escape, and Figure 2 a side view
thereof.
Figure 3 shows the escape wound up when not required for use, and mounted on
the parapet of a house; and Figure 4 is a similar view of the escape unwound or
extended for use.
"
A represents the barrel or winch mounted on its spindle in the side brackets or
bearings B, B. Round the barrel or winch A is wound the iron chain ladder C,
whereof the treads or
་་ rungs a, a, are composed of iron bars at convenient
distances apart, fixed to and extending between the two side chains of the ladder C,
as shewn.
In combination with the barrel or winch A is a bell or gong D, which may be so
arranged that it is sounded by the treads or "rungs" a, a, of the ladder C coming
in contact therewith, but which in the present case is mounted on a framework
above the barrel or winch A, and from it projects an arm E, to the end of
which is attached a light rope or chain F, extending downwards and secured to the
end of a double lever G; the other arm of this lever is lifted at each revolution of
the barrel or winch by a tappet pin or stud c projecting from the cheek of the
barrel or winch A. The rope or chain F is then passed under and over pullies
d, d', suitably arranged (or in any other desired manner), and hangs down parallel
to the chain ladder C (when unwound, as in Fig. 4) within easy reach of either
window.
To the lower end of the chain ladder C is attached the upper end of a chain or
wire rope H (Fig. 3), which bangs down loosely between each tier of windows, so
as to be reached by a person's hand from either window when required.
The outer end of the axle of the barrel or winch A is provided with a handle e
for winding up the chain ladder C on to the barrel or winch A when not in use
(as in Fig. 3).
On a fire breaking out in the house or building a person from either window
takes hold of the loose pendant chain H, and pulling it down draws with it the
chain ladder C, unwinding it from the barrel or winch A to its full extent, the

page_text: tappet pin or stud c at each turn of the barrel or winch A meanwhile actuating
the bell or gong D, thereby raising a loud and continued alarm, the person or persons
at the same time being able to escape by the ladder C to the ground. This alarm
may be continued by pulling on the rope or chain F, and so actuating the bell or
gong D without the aid of the tappet pin or stud c.
By means of another light rope or chain I acting as a brake to the barrel or
winch A, and hanging down parallel to the chain ladder C, the latter can be checked
in its descent, or kept stationary at any point, as desired.
A house or building may be supplied with more than one of these escapes, if
desirable, according to the arrangement of the various windows, care being taken to
fix each escape so that the ladder is pulled down in front of the brickwork, and not
across the windows, as heretofore.
This Invention is also applicable for giving an alarm and means of escape in case
of-burglary.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the construction and arrangement of fire escapes in combination with a
bell or gong and with brake, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before.
described, and illustrated by the Drawing.
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'. -In' witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thornton Fowler, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 26th day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-nine.
Witness,
.E. T. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
123, Chancery Lane,
London.
EDWARD THORNTON FOWLER. (L.S.)