Improvements in Fire-escapes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec.; 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-escapes.
We FRANZ DALLINGER and JOHANN POPP, Manufacturers, both of Gross
Sachsen, Weinheim, Baden, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention has for its object to construct an extensible fire-escape in
such manner that it can readily be operated, adjusted to, and retained in any
position for use, and can be collapsed and lowered on to its wheeled frame for
transport.
The frame of the carriage for supporting the extensible ladder is in the form of
a skeleton triangular prism and the axle of the travelling wheels is mounted on the
under side of the main frame in such position that the frame and ladder balance
about the axle.
The remote angle of the frame is pivotted at its centre to the axle of a pair of
rear supporting wheels which when the fire escape is elevated bear on the ground
and allow it to be readily adjusted to the required position on the ground, but when
the fire-escape is being transported, are raised from the ground.
To this remote angle is pivotted at either end two struts formed in two parts
hinged together. To each hinge pivotted a rack engaging with a pawl on the
main frame so that the two parts can be fixed at any desired angle to one another.
The other or upper ends of the struts are jointed to the upper end of the main or
lower portion of the extensible ladder.
To the lower end of each strut is secured a curved sector passing behind the
axle of the rear supporting wheels and a small hand screw working in the axle
takes into recesses in the plate so that the struts can be inclined at any angle
relatively to the axle according to the side inclination of the ground and be fixed in
this position.
The other or upper angle of the prismatic frame which wheu the ladder is
extended is uppermost is also jointed to the main ladder at such point that when
the parts of the struts form a straight line the ladder is nearly vertical. In order
that the main ladder can be readily forced to its nearly vertical position a cord or
rope passes from a small winch in the frame to the lower end of the ladder or in
order to increase the power it passes over a pulley on the lower end of the ladder
and its end is secured to the remote angle of the frame. A roller or pulley is
provided in the near angle of the frame so as to reduce the friction when the rope
comes in contact therewith during the process of decreasing the inclination of the
ladder. When desired to decrease the inclination of the ladder the pawls are
knocked out of gear with the racks and the rope gradually slackened.
In order to adjust the ladder to the irregularity of the ground a sector is fixed
to the bottom cross piece carrying the rear supporting wheels or feet and pivotted
to the main ladder and has pivotted in jaws at its upper extremity a nut in which
works a screw mounted on the main ladder so that the ladder can be adjusted to
any desired angle with the cross piece according to the side inclination of the
ground, the struts, automatically adjusting themselves to the same inclination and
being afterwards fixed by the hand screws.
The axles of the front supporting wheels are mounted in small brackets connected
together so that the wheels can be made to take any angle with the cross piece to
facilitate manipulation of the ladder when extended.
.
Dated this 15th day of February 1893.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,.
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-escapes.
We, FRANZ DALLINGER, and JOHANN POPP, Manufacturers, both of Gross
Sachsen, Weinheim, Baden, in the Empire of Germany, 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 :-
This two wheeled truck ladder, illustrated by seven figures in the annexed two
drawings and to be described hereafter, exhibits in Fig. 1 its front view and in Fig. 2
its side view: Fig. 3 represents it in its extended form, Fig. 4 in its travelling
condition and Figs. 5-7 show its principal details.
It consists chiefly of a strong and well supported frame which when seen from
the side, appears in the form of a triangle k l m (in the following it will always be
referred to as "the triangular frame"), whose ends k are joined with the main ladder c
by bolts, and the other ends are fastened to the axle of the rolling or supporting
wheel by hinges. The ends are also connected with the upper parts of the
main ladder c by movable supports which are hinged on and consists of two
parts hinged together in a.
Toothed rods d are fixed to the main supports bb in the race or working point a
whose loose ends rest on iron bracket like hooks e (see Fig. 6) which are again
firmly fastened to the iron fitting that also holds the stop gear of the toothed
rods I and is placed near the upper end of the triangular frame. The divided
main supports b b are kept steady in any extended position of the ladder by the two
toothed rods on each side and the stop gear T.
For the purpose of raising the ladder a complete winding apparatus f is fitted
inside the triangular frame at the nether side of its upper beam and it is set in
motion by the hand wheels g working through a cogged wheel. The raising of the
ladder is effected by fastening the rope or chain of the winding apparatus f to a
strong hook on the cross-piece of the small supporting axle at 7 (see Fig. 4.) whence
it is carried on, if the ladder is in its travelling position (Fig. 4) over the roller i
to roller (which is on the crosspiece of the main ladder c) and then back again
over to the winding apparatus f which is now turned. As soon as the ladder
begins to rise the rope or chain coming from leaves the roller i and passes on to h
then it goes back over i to the drum of the winding apparatus. When the ladder
is raised higher, the rope or chain does not touch the roller i any more but passes
from over to the winding gear. In this manner the cross bar of the main ladder
is pulled up (see Fig. 3) the knee of the supports stretches out the axle of the
travelling wheel pp (see Fig. 2) is lifted and the ladder frame rises into its proper
position.
Although the raising of the ladder would be effected alone through the
connection of the rope passing from the travelling wheel axle over i h and back
over to f (see Fig. 4) or over h to f (Fig. 2.) the whole framing receives
additional strength by the connection of the rope with the point which is of special
importance, considering the comparatively light structure of the ladder.
Underneath the triangular frame is the axle p p (Fig. 1) with its wheels pland p²
so placed that the ladder when folded (Fig. 4) together with the different iron
fittings and other contrivances is perfectly balanced.
The counterweight generally required to ensure the stability of the frame in
other mechanical constructions of this kind may be entirely dispensed with here.
Fig. 5 shows an arrangement which facilitates the adjusting of the ladder to
the ground and helps in giving it a side inclination. The same diagram shows how
the front wheels y y are connected with each other by a levor constructed in the
form of a parallelogram which makes it possible to give the ladder when in motion
a sudden but safe turn through the handle z. The ground adjustment is effected in
this way; first there is a semi circular hoop screwed on to the crossbar, which

page_text: at its centre is bolted to the main frame and rotates there; then there is a slotted
levers screwed to the inner side of the upper part of the semi circular hoop r in
whose slots a nut t provided with two side studs moves easily up and down whilst a
spindle worked by the hand wheel effects the required alteration in the position
of ladder and crosspiece respectively. When the front crosspiece of the main
ladder has been adjusted, the claws to to are screwed into the ground and then the
hoop is relieved of its weight.
ס
The back supporting axle (Fig. 7) with its rollers is also made adjustable to the
ground, but here the required adjustment is left to the axle itself. The fastening
of the axle which is pivoted to the supporting frame (as shown in Fig. 7) is done
by two powerful set screws a.
As regards the stopping gear (Fig. 6) it remains to be mentioned, that, in order
to facilitate the throwing up of the catch I from the toothed rods d d when the
ladder is to be put together quickly, a round piece of iron II bent eccentrically is
attached to it which disengages the catch I by a sharp blow against the rod d from
beneath whilst it rests in a groove fixed sideways near the teeth when the ladder
is in use.
It may also be mentioned that in order to check the travelling wheels when on
the open road, a safe acting screw brake is fitted on which can be worked from.
one side of the carriage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a fire ladder truck, the combination consisting of a triangular frame.
carrying a ladder main supports or props bb made in sections hinged together ;.
toothed rods d d pivoted to said props at one end and adjustable on said frame and
self acting stop gear, as described.
2. In a fire ladder truck, the combination consisting of a triangular fraine, a ladder
pivoted thereto at one corner the axle n secured thereto at an opposite corner of
Baid frame, a prop supported on said axle, roller i provided at the remaining corner
of said frame, winding drum within said frame roller at the foot of the ladder
and a raising and lowering rope rove from axle n, under roller 4, the under roller i
to the winding drum, as described.
3. The combination with the foot of a ladder, of the front cross piece pivoted
thereto by bolt, hoop fixed to said crosspiece and provided with a slotted
levers a threaded nut having side studs and free to move in said slot, spindle u
attached to the ladder and adapted to be operated in said nut by hand wheel v,
as described.
4. The combination with the foot of a ladder, of small roller supports y y pivoted
on forked bearings, a lever fixed to the vertical axle of each forked bearing, said
levers so connected as to be always parallel to each other and one lever, prolonged
backward to form handle z, as described.
5. In a fire ladder truck, the combination consisting of a ladder, prop, frame,.
toothed rod provided with a groove adjacent to said teeth, stop gear pivoted on said
frame and provided with the catch I to engage said teeth and with an eccentrically.
bent trip 11 to occupy said groove, as, and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of November 1893.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE.