Improvements in Fire Proof Stages for Theatres and other Buildings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Proof Stages for Theatres and other
Buildings.
I, WILLIAM HARGREAVES, of No. 2867 North Front Street, City of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America,
Physician, do hereby declare the nature of this-invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a fire proof stage for theatres or other public buildings
where large audiences are apt to congregate; and the objects of the invention
are to provide simple and effective means to confine a fire within the limits of a
stage and prevent the fire, smoke and steam from spreading into the auditorium of
the structure and at the same time provide for the ready escape of the occupants
of the stage into the auditorium; secondly, to provide means whereby the stage
can be quickly flooded with water flowing in a large number of streams over the
whole surface of the stage, to assist in extinguishing the fire thereon; and thirdly
to so construct the stage as to prevent the spread of fire to the walls and roof of
the structure and at the same time facilitate the escape of the smoke and steam by
causing an up draft through the water spreading appliances.
To the accomplishment of these ends, I construct the stage as follows: At the
sides and back of the stage platform are erected walls composed of metal plates
or columns, bricks or masonry, and at the front of the platform the proscenium
walls are likewise built of brick, masonry or other fire proof material. At suitable
points within the vertical walls are erected vertical columns, on which are supported
horizontal beams or girders situated at the sides of the stage and at a suitable
height above the same. Over the stage is placed an inner roof or cover, situated
below the roof of the theatre and sustained by the horizontal beams or girders,
and this inner roof or cover is made of a suitable fire resisting material. Said
inner stage roof or cover slopes or inclines to meet at an angle or apex at the
centre thereof, and from this apex rises an outlet pipe or vent flne that passes
through the roof of the theatre or structure to permit of the escape of the smoke
and steam from the stage into the outer air.
To afford a convenient means for extinguishment of a fire on a stage, I provide
a series of tanks or shallow receptacles which are situated over the stage, below
the inner roof or cover, and these tanks extend across the stage from one side
thereof to the other, said tanks having perforated bottoms through which the water
can pass in streams upon the stage so as to flood the same and assist in putting
out a fire thereon. The tanks are supported by the horizontal columns or girders,
and they are separated or spaced apart relatively to each other to provide inter-
mediate passages between the tanks through which an up-draft is created to draw
all the smoke and steam from the stage between the tanks and through the vent
pipe to the outer air.
These elevated spreader tanks are supplied with water by a series of vertical
pipes that discharge into said elevated tanks and which pipes have their lower ends
connected to branch pipes that communicate with supply mains extending to the
outside of the theatre so that they can be coupled to the city mains; said supply
mains may have branch pipes to enable a hose to be coupled thereto for supplying
water to the mains from a fire engine.
At the front of the stage, I provide a fire shield that can be quickly and easily
adjusted to close the front of the stage and cut off communication between the
stage-platform and the auditorium of the theatre. In this fire shield is constructed

page_text: one or more doors that are arranged to open outward from the stage and are
normally held in closed positions by a spring or springs to permit the actors or
other occupants of the stage to readily escape from the same into the auditorium.
I preferably construct the fire shield in sections arranged in guides to move or
slide vertically, and these sections are adapted to drop or fall by gravity and to be
raised by hoisting cables, chains or ropes which run over suitable guides or pulleys
to a windlass arranged at a convenient accessible place and provided with locking
devices which can be quickly adjusted to release the windlass and allow the fire
shield to be dropped across the front of the stage.
Dated this 21st day of April 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Proof Stages for Theatres and other
Buildings.
I, WILLIAM HARGREAVES, residing at No. 2867 North Front Street, in the
City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Physician,
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 a fire proof stage for theatres and other public buildings
where large audiences congregate; and the objects of the invention are, first, to
provide simple and effective means which can be easily and quickly brought into
service to confine the fire within the limits of the stage and prevent the fire, smoke
and steam from spreading into the auditorium, and at the same time provide for
the ready escape of the actors or occupants from the stage into the auditorium ;
secondly, to provide means whereby the stage can be quickly flooded with water in
comparatively thin streams over the whole surface of the stage, to operate in
extinguishing the fire; and thirdly to construct the stage in a novel manner to
prevent the spread of fire to the walls and roof of the structure and at the same
time facilitate the escape of the smoke, steam, &c., by causing a draft through the
water spreading appliance.
With these ends in view my invention consists in the series of elevated tanks
arranged or separated from each other to leave intermediate spaces which form
draft flues designed to create an upward draft and permit the smoke and steam from
the fire to pass between the tanks; a cover for the stage made of metal or other
fire-resisting material and secured to fire proof columns and the walls of the building
to prevent the fire from spreading to the roof of the building, and an outlet pipe
rising from the stage cover or roof and extending through the roof of a building, the
outer end of a pipe having a cap which is situated above the pipe and secured
thereto by braces whereby the smoke is permitted to escape and rain prevented from
baving access to the stage through the exit pipe.
In lieu of the tanks arranged and constructed as herein described, I may employ
a series of horizontal pipes extending parallel to each other across the stage and
provided with perforations arranged to discharge water in all directions over the
stage; and these discharge pipes are connected to one or more vertical supply
pipes which have branches extending either back from the stage or from the sides
thereof, through the walls of the theatre or building. To these branch pipes may
be.connected the hose from a fire engine so that the stage can be flooded with
water; or said perforated distributing pipes can be connected to an elevated tank
adapted to supply water to the distributing pipes before the arrival of engines at
the scene of the fire.

page_text: My invention further consists in a fire shield situated at the front of the stage, and
said shield constructed in sections which are fitted to slide in fixed ways and guided
by suitable link guides on the sections themselves, whereby the sections are adapted
to slide one upon the other and within the ways. With this sectional fire shield is
combined mechanism adapted to raise the sections by power and to permit the
sections to drop or close by gravity across the front of the stage. I prefer to
construct this lifting mechanism with a differential hoisting drum or windlass, and
with a separate cable or chain for each section of the fire shield, each cable or chain
being attached to one section or part of the differential drum and to one section of
the fire-shield, so that all the sections of the shield will be simultaneously raised
or lowered; all the shield-sections reaching their upward or lowermost limit of move-
ment at the same time. This hoisting mechanisin is provided with means for
locking the drum and shield-sections in their raised positions, and with a brake by
which the descent of the shield-sections can be regulated or by which they can be
held at any desired point.
And the invention consists further in the combination of devices and construction
and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in
the claims.
To enable others to more readily understand my invention, I have illustrated
different embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of
this Specification, and in which,―
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a building in which the
stage is erected, and showing my improved fire shield in transverse section.
Figure 2 is a view looking at the proscenium of the stage and showing the fire
shield lowered into position to cut off the passage of fire, smoke and steam from
the stage into the auditorium.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the proscenium and
showing the means whereby the sections of the fire shield may be elevated, the
shield being shown in an elevated position.
Figure 4 is a vertical cross section through the stage on the plane indicated by the
dotted linex of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of my invention, with the imper-
forate stage roof omitted, showing another form of the water distributing pipes and
another means for lifting the shield-sections.
Figure 6 is a detail view of the hoisting drum or windlass designed for use in
connection with the hoisting cables or chains shown by Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a detail view of two sections of the fire shield to show the link
guides by which the sections of the fire shield are properly guided to slide upon
one another.
Like letters and numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the
figures of the drawings, referring to which,-
A is the stage and B, B, are the vertical walls forming the proscenium of the
stage. These walls may be made of metallic plates or columns, which are preferably
constructed to provide spaces within the columns for the operating devices of the
fire shield; but I may construct the hollow walls of the proscenium of masonry or
brick work which are designed to be erected while the building is in process of
construction. In rear of the proscenium walls, and near the corners of the stage,
are erected vertical columns D, D, and to the upper ends of the columns and the
proscenium walls are united the horizontal beams E, E, on which are supported
the water-spreader tanks and the roof or cover F of the stage. This roof or cover
is made of fire resisting material, for instance, metallic plates; and the cover or
roof F is situated between the stage and the roof of the building in which the
stage is placed. The walls of the stage-roof or cover F are made to slant or
incline upwardly from the beams E to the center of the stage, and from the apex
or crown of the stage roof rises a vertical exit pipe G which extends through the
roof of the building and terminates a sufficient distance above the same for the
escape of smoke and steam from the stage. The upper extremity of the exit pipe

page_text: is crowned by a cap g which is sustained a short distance above the pipe by means
of the arms g, thus affording a convenient means for ventilating the stage and
preventing the ingress of rain, snow or the elements upon the stage.
The walls of the building are erected alongside of the vertical columns D, D,
or the latter may be built in the walls, and when the shield is lowered across the
front of the stage, the latter is wholly inclosed within metallic or masonry walls
which are designed to be fireproof, whereby the fire is prevented from spreading
beyond the limits of the stage, and if it is not smothered by cutting off the necessary
air to support the combustion, it can be quickly extinguished by flooding the stage
with water from the elevated spreader tanks and at the same time the smoke and
steam can escape through the exit pipe rising centrally from the fire proof roof or
cover of the stage.
I will now proceed to a detailed description of the improved fire shield adapted
to be quickly lowered across the front of the stage and which is constructed to
permit the occupants of the stage to escape therefrom into the auditorium. This
fire shield G¹ consists of a series of sections of any desired number, one of which
sections is made stationary while the other sections are designed to slide vertically
in suitable ways provided in the columns or proscenium walls on opposite sides
of the stage at the front thereof. In the drawings I have shown the fire shield
as consisting of three sections H, I, and J, but I would have it understood that
I do not restrict myself to the employment of any particular number of sections
as the number can be changed to suit the height of the stage.
The upper
section H of the fire shield is stationary, being secured in any suitable fixed way to
the proscenium walls B, B, at the front of the stage, while the other sections I, J,
are fitted at their ends to slide in vertical ways i, i, formed in the walls B, B. The
intermediate section I is arranged in rear of the fixed upper section H so that its
upper edge will overlap the upper section, and in like manner the lower sliding
section is arranged in rear of the intermediate section I so that the upper edge
of the lower section will overlap the lower edge of the intermediate section and the
latter section is arranged in the path of a forwardly extending ledge or flange 'j at
the lower edge of the lower section. This arrangement of parts is important as
the sections, when lowered, form a shield through which the fire and smoke cannot
pass into the auditorium; and when the lower section is raised, by means presently
described, the ledge or flange; thereon will bear against the lower edge of the
intermediate section I so as to lift the latter section as the lower section is raised
to its fullest limit. The intermediate section is thus automatically raised by and
with the lower section, and it is sustained or held in its elevated position thereby ;
but when the suspending ropes or cables are slackened the intermediate and lower
sections are quickly dropped by gravity, the lower section resting on the floor of
the stage while the intermediate section is arrested by its ends coming in contact
with the fixed abutments, provided in its way or groove i in which said
intermediate section slides or is guided, as will be readily understood.
The sliding sections of the fire shield are normally raised to their fullest limits so
as to avoid obstructing the view of the stage from the auditorium of the theatre,
and as a convenient means for upholding and raising the sections I have adopted
the suspension cables K, K', which are connected at their lower ends to the lower
section J of the fire shield, thence pass over guide pulleys provided near the
upper end of the columns D or the proscenium walls B, B; thence said ropes or
cables extend down to similar guide rollers 1, 1, provided near the bottom of the
walls B or the front columns D, and thence the ropes extend beneath the stage
and are connected to a common power drum L, one end of one cable being connected
to the drum to be wound or coiled in one direction thereon while the similar end of
the other cable is connected to said drum to be wound in the reverse direction
thereon, whereby the cables are adapted to wind or unwind in reverse directions on
the drum L at the same time. The shaft of the drum is provided with a ratchet
wheel l with which it is adapted to engage a pivoted detent or pawl ". By turning
the drum (by a crank cr other convenient contrivance), the ends of the cables can

page_text: he wound thereon and the pull of the cables raises the lower section J until its
ledge abuts against the intermediate section I, and both sections can thus be
raised to their highest elevated positions in rear of the fixed section H of the
shield, after which the pawl is dropped into engagement with the ratchet to prevent
5 the weight of the sections from pulling on the cables to reverse the drum, thus
locking the sections I, J, in their suspended positions. When a fire breaks out on
the stage, it is only necessary to throw the pawl out of engagement with the
ratchet, thus freeing the drum and allowing the sections 1, J, to drop or fall by
their own weight, whereby the shield can be easily and quickly lowered across the
front of the stage to prevent the fire, smoke and steam from passing into the
auditorium of the theatre or other structure.
In Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, I have illustrated another embodiment of
my fire shield and the hoisting apparatus therefor by which the several movable
sections of the shield are all elevated or lowered at different speeds so that each
section reaches the limit of its movement, either up or down, at the same time with
'the other sections.
In this embodiment of my fire shield, each of the four sections H, I, J, J', thereof
is movable vertically, and each of said sections has its vertical edges fitted in the
grooves or ways i, i, formed in the opposing faces of the vertical guides or
columns I, I erected on the stage just in rear of the front thereof. To these
sections H, I, J, J', of the shield are attached the hoisting cables or chains 1, 2, 3, 4,
which are passed over the four sets of guide sheaves or rollers 5, 6, 7, 8, supported
at the top of the stage, thence pass down the sides of the stage and through the floor
thereof, and thence pass around the two sets of guide sheaves 9, 10, beneath the
floor, and thence connected to the differential hoisting drum 11, corresponding to
the drum L shown by Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. Each set of guide sheaves consists
of four sheaves which correspond in number to the sections of the fire shield and to
the hoisting cables or chains, and said sheaves of each set are loosely mounted on a
shaft 12 supported by suitable bearings. The sets of guide sheaves 5, 6, are
situated over and in the path of the sections of the fire shield, but at a suitable
distance above the upper limit of movement of said shield sections, and the other
upper sets of rollers 7, 8, are preferably situated beyond the vertical line of the fire
shield but in substantially the same horizontal plane or line with the other sets of
sheaves 5, 6. The lower sets of guide sheaves 9, 10, are disposed below the stage
preferably in the vertical line of the two sets of sheaves 5, 6, and the differential
drum or windlass 11 is disposed between the lower sets of guide sheaves 9, 10, said
differential drum constructed with members or sections of different diameters all
integral with the drum or rigid with the shaft and said drum-sections or members
corresponding in number to the number of shield sections, the hoisting cables or
chains, and the sheaves of each set. Each cable or cord has the ends attached to
the upper edge of one of the shield sections at short distances from the ends of said
shield-sections, as at 13, and from thence the cable or chain passes up over two of
the sheaves, 5 and 6, thence over two sheaves 7, 8, thence down and beneath the
sheaves 9, 10, and through an opening or attached to the proper member or section
of the differential drum 11. The cable or chain of the upper shield section H is
attached to the smaller section or member of the differential drum as the movement
of the shield-section H is less than the vertical movement of either of the other shield
sections; the cable or chain of the second shield-section I is attached to the next largest
of the sections or members of the differential drum, and likewise the chains or cables
of the shield sections J, J', are respectively attached to the third and fourth
members of said differential drum, whereby the shield sections are raised or lowered
at different speeds and the respective sections reach their upper or lower limits of
movement at the same time. This improved means for raising the section shield
distributes the weight and strain of the several devices to enable the shield to be
easily raised without straining any of the parts.
The sections of the shield are guided on each other by link guides, or by "tongue
and groove" guides shown by Figure 7 of the drawings, in which figure the

page_text: numeral 14 designates a guide, bar or strip, of irregular cross section, which is fixed
to each of the sections at or near the middle thereof and 15 designates a groove or
way in the adjacent section of the shield in which the vertical guide bar or
strip 14 is fitted and adapted to slide or move freely therein.
The differential drum-shaft is journaled in suitable bearings below the stage-floor,
and to this drum shaft is secured a gear wheel 16, with which meshes a gear pinion
on the power shaft 17, also journaled in bearings below the stage. On one end of
this power shaft is secured a crank-disk 18, provided with a hand crank for its
convenient manipulation, and this shaft also carries a drum 19 which is provided
with a ratchet wheel 20. Around this drum is fitted a brake band 21, one end
of which is fastened to a stationary support 22 while the other end of the brake
band is attached to an operating lever 23, fulcrumed at 24 to a suitable support,
said lever 23 being further provided with a pawl-lip 25 adapted to engage with
the teeth of the ratchet wheel 20. This lever can be thrown away from the
shaft to tighten the friction brake on the drum 19 and thereby control the
rotations of the shaft, the drum 11, and the movement of the sections of the shield;"
but by throwing the lever over toward the ratchet wheel, the pawl lip 25 is
adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel to lock the shaft and the
drum and thus hold the shield-section at any desired elevation.
Water is
I will now proceed to describe the preferred construction by which the stage
can be quickly flooded with water to extinguish the fire. The means I have
adopted consists of a series of tanks or shallow receptacles M which extend
across the stage, from one side thereof to the other. These spreader tanks are
suitably secured to the horizontal beams E supported by the upright columns D,
and in the bottoms of the tanks are provided a multiplicity of perforations or
openings m, through which the water is allowed to pass in comparatively thin
streams upon the fire on the stage as well as the scenery thereon.
supplied to these elevated spreader tanks through the vertical pipes N, N, two
pipes being preferably provided for each tank, one at each end thereof; and the
lower end of these connecting pipes N communicate with horizontal pipes O arranged
beneath and alongside of the stage. The ends of these pipes O are connected to supply
mains P, P, P, at the front and rear of the stage, and these mains are connectel
by pipes with the street mains of the city water-service pipe. These supply mains P
are also provided with pipes Q which extend through the side, front or rear walls
of the building and to which can be connected lines of hose that lead from the fire
engines, so that water can be pumped into the elevated spreader tanks at a faster
rate than can be supplied by the pressure from the service mains.
The elevated spreader tanks are preferably arranged parallel with each other,
and at short distances apart to leave spaces or flues R, S, between the tanks, and
these spaces serve to permit the smoke and steam to pass freely between the tanks
and to escape through the exit pipe rising from the center of the fire proof stage
roof and extending through the roof of the building, as has been explained.
These spreader tanks may be supplied with water from an elevated tank situated
above the stage or in the roof of the building, so that the stage can be flooded before
the arrival of fire engines at the scene of the fire; but in lieu of the spreader tanks,
I can use the perforated distributing pipes V, V, shown by Figure 5, of the
drawings. A series of these distributing pipes V may be arranged across the stage,
in parallel positions to each other, and these pipes V are provided with perforations v,
arranged spirally or in any other suitable manner to spread the water over different
portions of the stage. These distributing pipes V may be supplied with water from
an elevated tank, or from vertical supply pipes which have branches leading beneath
the stage to a suitable main or to the outside of the building so that a fire-engine-
hose can be coupled to said branch pipes and the supply of water led over the stage
to the pipes V by which the water can be distributed over the whole stage.
To facilitate the escape of the occupants of the stage into the auditorium of the
structure or theatre, I provide the lower section of the fire shield with openings
which are closed normally by the doors T, any suitable number of which may be

page_text: provided to meet the emergencies of the service. In the drawings I have only
shown two doors T, but the number can be increased to any desired limit. The
doors are preferably hinged to swing outward from the stage into the auditorium,
and said doors are normally closed by pressure springs U which are secured to
the door stile and press against the doors to normally force them inward so as to
close the openings in the lower section I of the fire shield and which also serve
to prevent the spread of the fire or the escape of smoke and steam into the
auditorium.
The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood and
appreciated from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings.
I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and details of
construction of the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described can
be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the same,
and I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications or alterations as fairly
fall within the scope of the invention.
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 proof stage, the elevated spreader-tanks arranged at suitable intervals
from each other and forming between themselves the up-draft passages, an
impervious stage-roof or cover situated over said tanks and having an outlet-pipe
extending through the roof of the building, and a source of water supply to said
elevated spreader tanks, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a fire proof stage, the combination of the elevated spreader-tanks arranged
at suitable distances from each other and forming between themselves the up-draft
passages, the impervious stage-roof or cover above said tanks and provided with
the outlet pipe which extends through the roof of the building, a fire shield
situated at the front of the stage and adapted to cut off communication between
the stage and auditorium, the source of water supply leading to said elevated tanks,
whereby the fire can be confined within the limits of the stage and the smoke
and steam are free to escape through the up-draft passages and the outlet pipe, as
set forth.
3. In a fire proof stage, the combination of the columns at the sides of the stage,.
the stage-roof or cover sustained by the columns below the roof of the building,.
an exit pipe rising from the stage roof and extending through the roof of the
building, the flooding tanks supported over the stage and arranged to leave spaces.
or flues between said tanks for the escape of smoke or steam, and a fire shield at
the front of the stage to shut off communication between the stage and the
auditorium, whereby a fire on the stage can be confined within the limits thereof,.
substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. A fire proof stage having the columns at the sides thereof, the horizontal
beam sustained by said columns, the flooding tanks supported by said beams and
spaced relatively to each other to provide the intermediate smoke and steam
passages between said tanks, the imperforate stage-roof sustained by the beams
above said tanks and having an exit pipe which extends through the roof of the
building, and a fire shield arranged at the front of the stage, to close the front part
thereof, and having the exit doors for the escape of the occupants of the stage into.
the auditorium, substantially as described.
5. A fire proof stage having the columns at the sides thereof, the horizontal
beams sustained by said columns, the perforated flooding tanks supported by the.
beams, extending over the stage, and spaced relatively to each other to form the
intermediate smoke and steam passages between said tanks, the imperforate stage.
roof sustained by the beams above the tanks and provided with an exit pipe which
extends through the roof of the building, the supply mains below the stage having
the side pipes, and the vertical connecting pipes extending from the side pipes and.
discharging into the flooding tanks, substantially as described.

page_text: 6. In a fire proof stage, the combination of perforated water-distributing
appliances situated over said stage, an imperforate stage-roof or cover over said
water-distributing appliances and having an outlet for steam and smoke, and a
vertically movable fire-shield at the front of the stage, for the purposes described
substantially as set forth.
7. In a fire proof stage, the combination with an imperforate roof or cover
having a steam or smoke outlet, and a foldable fire shield at the front of the stage,
of the water-distributing appliances situated below the roof or cover and perforated
to distribute the water in different directions over the stage, substantially as
described.
8. The combination with a sectional fire shield, of mechanism substantially as
described for imparting simultaneous vertical movement to all the sections of the
shield, as and for the purposes described.
9. The combination with a sectional fire shield, of hoisting mechanism for
imparting simultaneous movement to the shield sections, comprising a differential
drum and cables or chains connected to the respective members of the shield and
to the members or sections of said differential drum, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
10. In a stage, the combination with a sectional fire shield, of a differential
hoisting drum, the guide sheaves, and cables or chains attached to the members of
said drum and to the sections of the shield, substantially as described.
11. A sectional fire shield having the interlocking liuk guides on its members,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
12. The combination with a fire shield, of a hoisting drum, connections between
said drum and shield, and a brake and ratchet mechanism having a lever which
operates to apply the brake or to engage the ratchet, substantially as described.
13. The combination with a fire shield, a boisting drum, and connections between
the drum and shield, of the brake drum and ratchet on a shaft of said hoisting
mechanism, a friction band adapted to the brake drum, and a lever to which the
friction head is connected and provided with a pawl to engage the ratchet, substan-
tially as described.
Dated this Twentieth day of January 1894.
WILLIAM HARGREAVES.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.