Improvements in Fire Escapes and Water Towers.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes and Water Towers.
We, MICHAEL WILLIAM HENNESSEY Machinist and WILLIAM JOSEPH
HENNESSEY (Engineer) both of 203, Sands Street, Brooklyn, in the County of Kings
and State of New York, United States of America; do hereby declare the nature
of this Invention to be as follows:-
The object of the Invention is to provide a combination fire escape and water
tower arranged to permit of coveniently raising and lowering a platform to make
connection with windows so as to enable firemen to enter the upper storeys of a
building and to throw streams of water from the raised platform into the burning
building.
The combined fire escape and water tower is mounted on a four-wheeled truck
on the sides of the frame of which are secured brackets in which are fulcrumed
lugs secured to the sides of a platform frame adapted to be swung into a level
position whenever the truck stands in an inclined position. In order to move the
platform frame into this position we provide the rear end of the frame with a
swivelled nut in which screws à screw rod fulcrumed at its lower end to the rear
end of the truck frame the upper end of the said screw rod being provided with a
hand wheel for turning the said rod to impart a swinging motion to the platform
frame until the latter is level. The forward end of the said frame normally rests
on a cross bar carried on two arms pivoted to the sides of the truck frame and
resting on a cross bar connecting the sides of the said frame with each other.
When the platform frame is moved to a horizontal position at the time the truck
stands down an incline the front end of the said frame moves away from the cross
bar. When however the truck stands up an incline the arms with the rod are first
swung into a vertical position to permit the front end of the platform frame to
pass downward between the sides of the truck frame.
It is to be understood that when the device is to be used the platform frame must
stand in a level position irrespective of the position of the truck.
The platform frame carries two pairs of connected lazy tongs of which the lower
members are pivotally connected with a stationary part or bracket on the said frame
and the other lowermost members are pivotally connected with a cross piece fitted
to slide longitudinally in suitable bearings in the frame, the said cross piece being
formed with screw threads or nuts in which screws a longitudinally extending
screw rod turning in bearings in the ends of the frame. The outer rear end of the
said screw rod carries a hand wheel under the control of the fireman so as to turn
the said screw rod to cause the cross piece to move forward or backward in the
frame to ensure a closing or opening of the lazy tongs. The uppermost members
of each lazy tong are pivoted to the side of the platform near its forward edge
while the remaining uppermost members of the lazy tongs are each provided at
their free ends with a friction roller loosely engaging the under surface of a main
platform provided on its sides and ends with posts adapted to carry removable
chains for forming a railing for the said platform. On the main platform is

page_text: mounted to turn a turntable secured to the said platform by a pin on the turn-
table and engaging one of a series of openings formed in the platform. Thus on
withdrawing the pin the turntable may be swung to any position and then locked
in place by again inserting the said pin. One end of the turntable is extended a
suitable distance from the centre and on the under side of this extended portion
is arranged a roller travelling on the top surface of the main platform. On the
free end of the extended portion of the turntable is pivoted one end of a ladder
engaged near its free end by a yoke connected with a rope passing over a pulley
journalled in the upper end of a post attached to the turntable. The rear end of
the rope winds on a windlass carried on the said turntable. Thus by manipu-
lating the windlass the ladder may be swung into any desired angular position so
as to connect the turntables and platform with the window of the building, to
permit the firemen to enter for rescuing persons. The ladder may be of he exten-
sion kind and a suitable railing may also be provided for the said ladder. On
the front end of the platform frame is journalled a reel one end of the shaft of
which is hollow to permit of connecting the outer end of the hollow shaft by a
coupling with a water pipe connected with a suitable source of water supply, the
inner end of the said hollow shaft being connected with one end of a hose normally
wound on the said shaft. The other end of the hose extends upwardly and con-
nects with a threaded pipe secured to the main platform and adapted to receive a
hose nozzle to permit the firemen to throw a stream of water directly from the
platform into the burning building.
In order to steady the lazy tongs of the platform and parts supported thereby
at the time the lazy tongs are extended we preferably connect the sides of the said
lazy tongs to guy rods which may be secured to the ground. When the device is
used the turntable can be swung into the desired direction to face the building an
the corresponding chain on this side of the platform is then unhooked and removed
to permit of manipulating the ladder as above described.
Dated this 16th day of March 1897.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London Chartered Patent Agents,
Improvements in Fire Escapes and Water Towers.
We, MICHAEL WILLIAM HENNESSEY (Machinist) and WILLIAM JOSEPH
HENNESSEY (Engineer) both of 203 Sands Street Brooklyn, in the County of Kings
and State of New York United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
our 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 the invention is to provide a new and improved fire escape and
water tower, arranged to permit of conveniently raising and lowering a platform
to make connection with windows, so as to enable firemen to enter the upper
stories of a building for rescuing persons, and to enable the firemen to throw
streams of water from the raised platform into the burning building.
The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same,
as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement;
4

page_text: Figure 3 is a transverse section of the improvement on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a reduced side elevation of the improvement with the truck in an
inclined position; and
Figure 5 is a detail section to be hereinafter described.
The combination fire escape and water tower is mounted on a truck A, having
a suitable frame A¹, and front wheels A2 and rear wheels A³.
On the sides of the frame A¹ are secured brackets B, in which are fulcrumed
lugs C secured to the sides of a platform frame C, adapted to be swung into a
level position whenever the truck A stands in an inclined position, as indicated
in Figure 4.
In order to move the platform frame C into this position we provide the rear end
of the frame with a swiveled nut C, in which screws a screw rod D, fulcrumed at
its lower end at D' to the rear end of the truck frame A', as plainly shown in
Figures 1 and 2, the upper end of the said screw rod being provided with a suit-
able hand wheel D², for conveniently turning the said rod to impart a swinging
motion to the frame C until the latter is level.
The forward end of the frame C normally rests on a cross bar E, carried on two
arms E pivoted to the sides of the frame A¹, the said arms resting on a cross
bar connecting the sides of the frame A¹ with each other.
When the frame C is moved to a horizontal position, at the time the truck A
stands down an incline, as shown in Figure 4, the front end of the said frame C
moves away from the cross bar E. When, however, the truck A stands up an
incline, the arms E with the rod E are first swung into a vertical position (as
shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) to permit the front end of the frame C to pass
downward between the sides of the truck frame A'.
It is to be understood that when the device is to be used, the platform frame C
must stand in a level position irrespective of the position of the truck A.
The platform frame C carries two pairs of connected lazy tongs F, of which the
lower members F¹ are pivotally connected with a stationary part or bracket F
on the said frame C, and the other lowermost members F3 are pivotally connected
with a cross piece G fitted to slide longitudinally in suitable bearings in the
frame C, the said cross piece being formed with screw threads or nuts G, in which
screws the longitudinally extending screw rod G³, mounted to turn in suitable
bearings in the ends of the frame C. The outer rear end of the said screw rod G³
carries a hand wheel G³, under the control of the operator so as to turn the said
screw rod G2 to cause the cross piece G to move forward or backward in the
frame C to insure a closing or opening of the lazy tongs F.
The uppermost members F of each lazy tong are pivoted to the side of the
platform near its forward edge while the remaining uppermost members F5 of the
lazy tongs are each provided at their free ends with a friction roller F, loosely
engaging the under surface of the main platform H. The platform H is provided
on its sides and ends with posts H¹, adapted to carry removable chains H³, forming
a railing for the said platform.
On the platform H is mounted to turn a turntable I, adapted to be secured to
the said platform by a pin I, on the turntable engaging in one of a series of open-
ings H³ formed in the platform H. Thus, on withdrawing the pin I¹ the turntable
may be swung to any position, and then locked in place by again inserting the
said pin I.
One end of the turntable I is extended a suitable distance from the centre, and
on the under side of this extended portion is arranged a roller 12, travelling on the
top surface of the platform H. On the free end of the extended portion of the
turntable is pivoted one end of a ladder J, engaged near its free end by a yoke K,
connected with a rope K', passing over a pulley L¹ journaled in the upper end of
a post L, attached to the turntable I. The rear end of the rope K¹ winds on a
windlass K², of any approved construction mounted on the said turntable I.

page_text: Thus by manipulating the windlass K2, the ladder J may be swung into any
desired angular position so as to connect the turntables I and platform H with the
window of the building, to permit the firemen to pass from the said platform and
turntable to the building, for rescuing persons. The ladder J may be of the exten-
sion kind by having additional sections J³; and a suitable railing J¹ may also be
provided for the said ladder.
On the front end of the frame C is journaled a reel N, one end of the shaft N¹ of
which is hollow, to permit of connecting the outer end of the hollow shaft by a
coupling N, with a water pipe connected with a suitable source of water supply the
inner end of the said hollow shaft being connected with one end of a hose O, normally
wound on the said shaft. This construction is shown in Figure 5. The other end
of the hose O extends upwardly and connects with a threaded pipe 0¹, secured to
the platform H and adapted to receive a hose nozzle to permit the fireman to throw
a stream of water directly from the platform H into the burning building.
In order to steady the lazy tongs of the platform and parts supported thereby,
at the time the lazy tongs are extended we preferably connect the sides of the said
lazy tongs to guy rods F (see Figure 3) which guy rods may be secured to the
ground. It is understood that when the device is used, the turntable I can be
swung into the desired direction to face the building, and the corresponding
chain H2 on this side of the platform then unhooked and removed, to permit of
manipulating the ladder J, as above described.
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. A fire escape, provided with a platform adapted to be raised and lowered,
a turntable mounted on the said platform, a ladder pivoted on the said turntable,
a yoke connected with the said ladder, a rope connected with the said yoke, and a
windlass carried on the said turntable and on which winds the said rope, substan-
tially as shown and described.
2. A fire escape, provided with a platform adapted to be raised and lowered, a
turntable mounted on the said platform, a ladder pivoted on the said turntable,
a yoke connected with the said ladder, a rope connected with the said yoke, a
windlass carried on the said turntable and on which winds the said rope, and a
post carrying a pulley over which passes the said rope, the said post being held on
the said turntable, substantially as shown and described.
3. A fire escape, provided with a truck, a platform frame pivoted on the said
truck, and a cross bar adapted to support the free end of the said platform frame,
the said cross bar being held on arms pivoted to the truck frame, substantially
as shown and described.
4. A fire escape, having a wheeled frame, a platform frame located above the
wheeled frame and pivotally connected thereto on a transverse axis, a transverse
cross piece movable longitudinally with reference to the platform frame, a longi-
tudinally extending screw revolubly mounted in the platform frame and passing
through the cross piece whereby the cross piece is moved, lazy tongs one member
of which is pivoted to the cross piece and a second member of which is pivoted to
the platform frame, a platform supported on the lazy tongs, and means connecting
the wheeled and platform frames whereby the platform frame may be adjusted on
its pivot, substantially as described.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.