An Improved Fire-escape.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire-escape.
I, RICHARD GOTTSCHALK, of Chemnitz, Saxony, in the Empire of Germany,
Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide and fit improved fire escapes to houses
and other buildings, so constructed as to be ready for use at a moment's notice; to
be completely concealed from view, when not in use; and to be proof against
improper use by burglars and others.
My improved fire escape consists of a vertical metallic ladder, built into a recess
in the wall of the house. The recess is sufficiently near to the windows, or other
openings in the wall, to be available for persons escaping therefrom.
The rungs of the ladder are formed of metal, which are riveted or otherwise
fixed to metallic sides. One or more metallic door or doors, is or are fitted to the
front of the recess, so as to screen, and securely enclose the recess containing the
ladder. The doors are hinged to one side of the ladder, or otherwise secured in
front of the recess, and spiral or other springs are fitted so as to open the doors
outwards on their being unfastened from the inside.
When the escape is not in use, the doors are locked by means of a series of
latches fitted to or forming part of a vertical longitudinal bar, extending from the
top to the bottom of the recess. The doors are fitted with a corresponding number
of hooks, into which the latches fall, when fastened.
By the side of each window or other opening; inside the building: a lever is
fitted. By lowering any one of these levers, by hand, the whole of the doors are
unlocked, and simultaneously fly open. Persons desiring to escape by the ladder
can then step from the window to the ladder and thereby descend to the ground.
ניז
A L 1000
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire-escape.
I, RICHARD GOTTSCHALK, of Chemnitz, Saxony, in the Empire of Germany,
Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide and fit improved fire escapes to houses
and other buildings, so constructed as to be ready for use at a moment's notice; to
be completely concealed from view, when not in use; and to be proof against
improper use by burglars and others.
My improved fire escape consists of a vertical metallic ladder, built into a recess
in the wall of the house. The recess is sufficiently near to the windows, or other
openings in the wall, to be available for persons escaping therefrom.
The rungs of the ladder are formed of metal, which are riveted or otherwise fixed
to metallic sides. One or more metallic door or doors, is or are fitted to the front
of the recess, so as to screen, and securely enclose the recess containing the ladder.
The doors are hinged to one side of the ladder, or otherwise secured in front of the
recess, and spiral or other springs are fitted so as to open the doors outwards on
their being unfastened from the inside.
When the escape is not in use, the doors are locked by means of a series of
latches fitted to or forming part of a vertical longitudinal bar, extending from the

page_text: top to the bottom of the recess. The doors are fitted with a corresponding number
of hooks, into which the latches fall when fastened.
By the side of each window or other opening: inside the building: a lever is
fitted. By lowering any one of these levers, by hand, the whole of the doors are
unlocked, and simultaneously fly open. Persons desiring to escape by the ladder
can then step from the window to the ladder and thereby descend to the ground.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, showing the application of my invention to an ordinary
house, the escape being shown open and ready for use.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing the same closed and secured, out of use.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 1-2 of Fig. 2. and Fig. 5 is a
horizontal section, on the line 3-4 of Fig. 3.
hh are iron plates fitted in a recess in the wall m, the recess being formed as
close as convenient to balcony doors, windows, or other openings. Attached to
these plates are fitted rungs or steps o o, in such a manner that a vertical metallic
ladder is thereby formed ready for escape in case of fire. tt, are iron doors fitted
to the plate by hinges c c. ff are springs fitted to rods carried by the plates h'.
These springs throw open the doors tt, when unlocked. rris a longitudinal
plate attached to the plate h, so as to be capable of sliding up and down, in the
brackets gg.
are hooks, formed in one with the plater.
When the doors are closed, and the plate is lowered, the hooks engage the
hooks kk fixed to the inside of the doors t, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and thereby
secure the ladder against intruders. ee are levers extending into the building,
whereby the plater may be raised or lowered, thereby releasing and opening all
the doors simultaneously. The levers ee have forks ei e' which engage pins fitted
to the plater, for raising and lowering the same.
The levers e e are fitted to each floor of the building, in such a manner that they
may be operated from a balcony door, window, or any other opening near enough
to conveniently step therefrom upon the ladder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The improved method of fitting buildings with permanent fire escapes, con-
sisting of metallic ladders, constructed in recesses provided for the same, and
enclosed by means of doors, capable of being locked and unlocked from the inside
of the buildings, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
2. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of an improved fire escape, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 16th January 1901
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.