Improvements in Fire Escape Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escape Apparatus.
I, JAMES ROWLAND BROUGH, of 29, Alexandra Villas, Finsbury Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :--
This invention has reference to apparatus designed to be packed within a small
compass ordinarily in readiness for use in case of an outbreak of fire in a building
and to be easily applied for escape of inmates of a building when the ordinary
means of egress are unavailable.
In carrying out my invention I provide a series of links, or parts which pack
closely and conveniently when not required as a means of egress within a box or
case of limited size.
The box or case may form an anchor or attachment for the end of the connected
links within the building whilst the chain of links is passed out at a window and is
dependent from the sill or preferably from a fixed support at the side of the
window so as to facilitate first foot hold or this attachment may be constituted by a
spring hook in the wall or floor, or otherwise.
The forms of the separate parts of the chain are such as shall be adapted to
afford the most convenient hold or support to the feet and hands of the user when
inserted in turn in one after another of the links or successive parts.
These links may be formed of plain rings each engaged in the next, or grooved
rings of semi-cylindrical cross section may be used but I find it convenient to give
them a somewhat oblate shape; or I form the rings with a twist at parts so that
when laid together they may as in puzzle rings fit the closer together, when in their
case or the rings may be connected, when in an extended form they lie in 'one
plane, by flat or other short links or hinging pieces so that they fold side by side
into a laminated cylinder and can be passed into a leather or wooden or other tube,
and ready fastened to the wall below each window.
Other forms of links may be employed such as short straight, jointed links with
cross bars, stirrups or resting irons for hands and feet of user, and so designed as
to fold and pack into a suitable receptacle."
The material of the links and connecting parts may be steel, iron or other metal,
or bamboo, cane wood or other sufficiently tough and rigid material or combination
of materials, such as described; or rings of manilla hemp stiffened with wire, cane
or otherwise, to secure to the hands and feet good and fairly comfortable foot hold
in the descent or use.
The lengths of chains would be adapted to the distances of the windows to which
they were applied, by measurement.
The lid or cover of the case might be transparent so that whilst protecting the
enclosure from dust and damp its contents might be visible and directions for use
in case of need applied thereto.
This lid might be secured by a suitable fastening and further the opening illicitly
might be prevented by the lid being in electrical or other signalling connection with
a bell or signal which should by such opening of the case set the signal in
continuous motion to the alarm of the other inmates or of the watchman or others
in charge.
In case of the fire breaking through a window in a line directly below that from
which the user of the escape is descending I divert the line of fall of the line of
linked holding pieces by first passing it over or drawing it towards a staple hook
pin or projection from the building out of the line of the flame.
The case with its contained packed means of descent could be fired, from a

page_text: suitable howitzer or similar projecting means which may be operated by a small
explosive charge or by compressed air or by spring pressure or otherwise adapted
to deliver the packed ladder in say a thick wadding or felt casing into a high
window ready for use of the inmate..
Dated the 20th day of Max 1890.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the. Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escape Apparatus.
I, JAMES ROWLAND BROUGH, of 29, Alexandra Villas, Finsbury Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Merchant, 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 invention has reference to apparatus designed to be packed within a small
compass ordinarily in readiness for use in case of an outbreak of fire in a building
and to be easily applied for escape of inmates of a building when the ordinary
means of egress are unavailable.
In carrying out my invention I provide a series of links, or parts which pack
closely and conveniently when not required as a means of egress within a box or
case of limited size.
The box or case may form an anchor or attachment for the end of the connected
links within the building whilst the chain of links is passed out at a window and is
dependent from the sill or preferably from a fixed support at the side of the window
so as to facilitate first foot hold or this attachment may be constituted by a spring
hook in the wall or floor or otherwise.
The forms of the separate parts of the chain are such as shall be adapted to
afford the most convenient hold or support to the feet and hands of the user when
inserted in turn in one after another of the links or successive parts.
These links may be formed of plain rings each engaged in the next, or grooved
rings of semi-cylindrical cross section may be used, but I find it convenient to give
them a somewhat oblong shape; or I form the rings with a twist at parts so that
when laid together they may as in puzzle rings fit the closer together when in
their case, or the rings may be connected when in an extended form they lie in one
plane, by flat or other short links or hinging pieces so that they fold side by side
into a laminated cylinder and can be passed into a leather or wooden or other tube
or receptacle, already fastened to the wall below each window.
Other forms of links may be employed such as short straight, jointed links with
cross bars, stirrups or resting irons for hands and feet of user, and so designed as
to hold and pack into a suitable receptacle.
The material of the links and connecting parts may be steel, iron or other metal,
or bamboo, cane wood or other sufficiently tough and rigid material or combination
of materials such as described; or rings of manilla hemp stiffened with wire, cane
or otherwise, to secure to the hands and feet good and fairly comfortable foothold
in the descent or use.
The lengths of chains would be adapted to the distances of the windows to which
they were applied, by measurement.
The lid or cover of the case might be transparent so that whilst protecting the
enclosure from dust and damp its contents might be visible and directions for use in
case of need applied thereto.
This lid might be secured by a suitable fastening and further the opening illicitly
might be prevented by the lid being in electrical or other signalling connection
with a bell or signal which should by such opening of the case set the signal in
continuous motion to the alarm of the other inmates or of the watchman or others
in charge.

page_text: In case of the fire breaking through a window in a line directly below that from
which the user of the escape is descending I divert the line of fall of the line of
linked holding pieces by first passing it over or drawing it towards a staple hook pin
or projection from the building out of the line of the flame.
The case with its contained packed means of descent could be fired from a
suitable howitzer or similar projecting means which may be operated by a small
explosive charge or by compressed air or by spring pressure or otherwise adapted
to deliver the packed ladder in say a thick wadding or felt casing into a high
window ready for use of the inmate.
or projection from the building out of the line of the flame.
The case with its contained packed means of descent could be fired from a
suitable howitzer or similar projecting means which may be operated by a small
explosive charge or by compressed air or by spring pressure or otherwise adapted
to deliver the packed ladder in say a thick wadding or felt casing into a high
window ready for use of the inmate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a face view of a linked ladder adapted for carrying out my
invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
Figure 3 is a diagram of a form of box in which such a linked ladder escape
may be stowed by assembling the links on edge, and be packed or folded closely
together.
a, a show two oval links, but the number of these links may be varied and the
lower one of the set is secured to the cross piece b by passing through the central
eye, whereas the outside eyes or loops pass through the top link of the ladder.
The next link of the ladder grasps and hinges on the lower bar of the upper one,
and so on. Some of these links as b' b' may be of less depth than others as b².
The purpose of making some of these links shorter is to facilitate their resting on
the window-sill or other places, whilst the longer links as 62 are better adapted for
the height of tread or handling of the user. c is a cord which may if desired be
attached to the lower end of the ladder and be first thrown to the ground to enable
a person there to assist in its adjustment. The box d for containing the apparatus
may be formed with a lid d¹ which may be locked or secured in any suitable or
convenient manner. The end link a may be attached to any suitable hook or
fastening inside the box d, or outside on the wall or in any suitable situation
and the escape ladder thrown say over a window-sill as e pendent to the street or
place below.
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 :-
:-
A fire-escape apparatus consisting of linked parts capable of being folded or
packed within a small compass in readiness for use, as and for the purposes herein-
before set forth.
th.
he 18th day of February 1891.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
18th day of February 1891.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.