AN IMPROVED FIRE-ESCAPE, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RAISING LOADS FROM MINES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedge
and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FIRE-ESCAPE,
Sealed the 15th December 1865, and dated the 21st June 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st June 1865.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No.
11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED FIRE-
ESCAPE, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RAISING LOADS FROM MINES AND OTHER PURPOSES,"
(a communication to me from abroad by Xavier Philippart, of Namur,
Belgium,) to be as follows:-
The improved apparatus, the subject of this Invention, consists essentially
of a double series of lazy-tong levers, the base of one series being supported.
on the fore and the other on the hind part of a four-wheeled carriage,

page_text: transverse rods passing from one series of levers to the other in the direction
of the length of the carriage to connect and strengthen them. To the common
centre or pivot of the first pair of each series of levers is fixed the top of a
sliding rack, into which gear pinions actuated by toothed wheels all on the
same shafts, which pass fore and aft the carriage, so that the racks work
together. The top series of these levers carries a platform having a rail or
gallery on all its sides, the lateral galleries being so made that they may be
thrown down to a level with the platform and form a bridge when required;
this platform further carries a windlass, with rope or chain, and bucket, and
also a rope or a sliding ladder, or both.
The action will be as follows:-While the carriage is being drawn by hand
or horse power to the building on fire, the lazy-tong levers being folded one
on the other, the platform rises but a few feet above the carriage; but when
arrived at the scene of action, on one or more men turning a crank placed at
the hind part of the carriage the toothed gearing is set in motion and the
pinions cause the racks at each end of the carriage to rise, elongating the
lowest pair of each series of lazy-tongs and necessarily the rest, which move-
ment lifts the platform to the desired height, when on a man or men raised
with it throwing down one of its lateral railings or galleries a bridge is formed
to the desired spot, the persons to be rescued walk upon the platform, and
are lowered by the windlass or descend by a ladder. The firemen may also
direct their hose from this platform. Strong crows' feet, or pawls, placed on
each of the two lowest levers of each series, take into teeth on the framing at
each end of the carriage, and in combination with click work taking into the
toothed gearing keep the levers and platform from lowering until required.
This apparatus may be used for raising loads from mines, and for other pur-
poses, by placing the lever arrangement on a fixed base and using a suitable
platform.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditious of the Letters. Patent, filed.
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I, the said
William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN IMPROVED FIRE-ESCAPE, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RAISING LOADS
FROM MINES AND OTHER PURPOSES," communication to me from abroad by
Xavier Philippart, of Namur, Belgium, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE; that I, the said William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 fire-escape, the subject of this Invention, can be passed under archways
and into narrow courts and alleys where an ordinary fire-escape, from its
great length and general unwieldiness cannot be brought at all, or only with
such difficulty that it often arrives too late to be of any service; it can be
brought rapidly by hand, horse, or other power to the scene of conflagration ;
it may be raised with the greatest ease to a height of seventy-five feet or more;
and is so arranged that it can be arrested at any given point between its
base and its greatest elevation, which is a very great advantage over the
ordinary fire-escape, which is almost useless in a narrow street when required
to reach a height much less than that for which its lower part is constructed, and
which, when a greater elevation must be reached, can only do so by means of an
unprotected ladder, slight and dangerous. From the platform of this improved
fire-escape the firemen can direct their hose upon any given point, and it is
further provided with the means of lowering the rescued occupants of the
building on fire, and raising additional hose, or other requisite instrument or
article, without the necessity of lowering the platform, and arresting, even
momentarily, the operations of the firemen occupying it. This improved fire,

page_text: escape consists essentially of a double series of lazy-tongs supported on a
moveable carriage and carrying a platform which they raise to any desired
height by means of racks, pinions, and toothed gearing.
The following is a description of the construction and combination of this
apparatus, reference being had to the accompanying: Sheets of Drawing
forming part of this Specification, and to the figures and letters of reference
placed thereon, similar letters of reference denoting similar parts in each of
the Figures respectively.
Figure (Sheet 1) of the Drawing represents a side elevation of this
improved fire-escape shewing the base of the series of lazy-tongs and gearing
by which they are elongated; Figure 2, side elevation of platform supported
and raised by lazy-tongs; Figure 3 (Sheet 2) side view of Figure 1, and
Figure 4 side view of Figure 2. I have not illustrated the series of lazy-
tongs in their continuity, as the number of pairs used will depend upon the
height to be attained or the breadth of the carriage, and because those
immediately attached to the platform, and such as are in connection with the
actuating gearing will I think sufficiently shew the construction and working
of the apparatus. A, Figures 1 and 3 (Sheets 1 and 2) carriage supporting
the entire arrangement; B, B, plates fixed one at each end of the carriage, and
on which is mounted the toothed gearing; C, C, racks attached at K, K, to
the common centre or pivot of the first pair of lazy-tongs O, O; D, D,
toothed wheels with pinions d, d, taking into racks C, C, and both on the
same shaft E, which passes longitudinally across the carriage; F, F, cranks
on shaft G, which carries the pinions H, HI, gearing into the toothed
wheels D, D; I, I, ratchet wheels and pauls for keeping rack at the desired
position; J, J, guides for racks; K, K, pins or bolts by which the racks C, C,
are attached to the lazy-tongs 0, 0, and on which these latter pivot; L,
catches or supports attached to the levers N, N, and taking into the
teeth M, M, to further assist in keeping the lazy-tongs extended as desired;
N, N, levers forming base of series of lazy-tongs O, 0; P, transverse bars
passing from one series of lazy-tongs to the other to connect and strengthen
them and give greater stability to the entire arrangement when extended;
Q, bolts by which each pair of lazy-tongs is connected to the other, and which
form the hinges on which they pivot in lengthening or closing; R, Figure 4,
(Sheet 2), pendant bars from top pair of lazy-tongs S; Figures 2 and 4, (Sheets
1 and 2), platform suspended by 'the bars R from the top pair of lazy-tongs O.
It will be understood that the platform S is supported in the same manner by
the opposite series of, lazy-tongs; a round rod. or bar T (drawn in red) may
extend from the centre of each end of the platform S. to the top of each end

page_text: rail or gallery, and sliding in a ring or slot formed in an extension of the
pivot pin Q, serve to guide and steady the platform in its ascent and descent.
U, Figure 2, (Sheet 1), side galleries or rails secured in a vertical position
by the pins V, and when lowered to a horizontal position level with the
platform S, supported by the iron bars W. The course of the pieces W, and
of the galleries in lowering, and their position when lowered, are indicated by
the dotted lines and arrows Figure 4, (Sheet 2); X, windlass by which any:
article may be raised or lowered in the bucket Y; or a rope or a sliding
ladder may be let down from the platform. Lamps or torches may be placed
at each of the corners of the platform if desired, and it may carry supports to
assist the firemen in directing the hose. The side galleries.U may have
hinged to their top rail a flap, which, hanging inside when the gallery is
vertical, may, when it is horizontal be thrown over on to the building on fire,.
or level with the platform, so that if the side gallery be not long enough this
flap may form a supplementary bridge. for the passage of the tenants or of the
firemen. While the fire-escape is being drawn to the scene of action the
lazy-tongs lie folded one on the other, and the platform S rises but a few
feet above the top of the carriage A, but when arrived and the side of
the carriage placed as near the building on, fire as may be practicable.
or desirable, the cranks F. F, are turned, the pinions I, I, set the
wheels D, D, in motion, and their pinions d,. d, which gear into the
racks C, C, cause these latter to rise, and in rising to elongate the lazy-
tongs constituting each series,. no matter what their number, and the
platform S is thus carried up to the desired height, the ratchet wheels and
pauls I, I, and the catches L retaining it in that position as shewn
Figures 1. and 3 of the Drawing. When it is desired to lower the platform S,
the pauls are thrown out of the ratchets I, I, and the catches L, L, out of
the teeth M, M; the rack C, C; being then no longer forced upwards by
the toothed gearing descend under the weight of the lazy-tongs, and the
load which they carry, until these latter are folded close together on the carriage,
or the descent of the platform may be arrested at any moment by again
throwing the pauls and catches into gear. The catches L, L, when thrown
out of the teeth M, M, may be upheld by hinged pins on the lowest pair of lazy-
tongs, or by any other mechanical device. The carriage may be made with a
wooden or an iron framing, and the breadth between the wheels should be as
great as convenience will permit, the lazy-tongs, platform, rails or galleries and
appurtenances are made in preference of wrought iron, but I do not confine
myself to any particular metal or material, using that which will give me the
greatest amount of strength, combined with lightness and non-inflammability.

page_text: To ensure greater steadiness the lazy-tongs might gradually decrease in weight,
that is to say, the lower ones of each series be the heaviest, and the top ones
the lightest; but this will only be necessary under special circumstances.
The lazy-tongs might be placed longitudinally with the carriage instead of
transversely as shewn, but the carriage wheels would then obstruct the
working of the cranks, and such arrangement would in many respects be less
advantageous than that described and illustrated.
All that is required to adapt the apparatus above described to raising loads.
from mines and other analagous purposes, is to place it upon a fixed base in
lieu of a moveable carriage, and the toothed gearing may be set in motion by
steam or other power instead of hand labour.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which it is carried into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein given and illustrated on the
diagrams hereto annexed, as such may be modified without departure from
this Invention, and that I lay no claim to the exclusive use of lazy-tongs for
lifting and lowering weights or bodies, as I am aware that they have been
before used for such purpose; but I claim the exclusive use of the mechanical
arrangement above set forth and illustrated on the annexed Sheets of
Drawing when combined substantially as described and shewn, and forming
an improved fire-escape applicable also to raising loads from mines and other
analagous purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of December in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
WE GEDGE
TO