Year: 1889

page_text: I, JOHN DENIS MACDONALD, M.D., F.R.S., Inspector General of Hospitals and
Fleets, R.N., residing at La Maisonnette, Claremont Road, Surbiton, in the County of
Surrey, 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:-
It is designed for the purpose of conveniently and safely lowering patients from the
tops and from deck to deck on board Ship, or for the like use in Hospitals, Asylums,
Docks, Mills, Mines, for escape in case of fire, or wherever an Ambulance Lift may
be required; and it may be used as a Stretcher for carriage by bearers. It consists
of hinge-jointed frame pieces, which are adjustable to any required angles of inclina-
tion, and steadied there by means of supporting lines. The frame is provided with
canvas fittings conveniently arranged; and the apparatus is provided with slings or
ropes for suspension which are so connected with the main lifting rope as to hold its
centre of gravity in any angle of inclination that may be required. The frame pieces
are also provided with loops to receive poles for bearers by which the Lift may be
readily converted into a comfortable Stretcher for carriage.
I. The Frame Pieces. (See Fig. 1). These are composed of light tough wood or
of steel tubing or other suitable material. They consist of three sets on each side,
and are distinguishable as, The back or body piece, (1), the seat or middle piece, (2), and
the front or leg piece, (3). The middle piece is provided with hinge flanges (m m³)
to receive counterparts with which the back and the front pieces are provided so that
the sets of pieces on either side may be bolted together to form moveable hinge
joints. The joint (m) for the body piece is on the upper side of the seat piece, while
the joint (m) for the leg piece is on the under side of the seat piece. The pivots on
which the hinge joints turn are extensions of rods passing from the pieces of each
set to their fellows on the opposite side.
11. The supporting Lines. These are two on either side and are severally perma-
nently attached to the middle pieces as shewn at a and d¹ Fig. 1. The elevation
of the back piece is determined by carrying the line a backwards to b and passing
it round a holdfast there and thence carrying it downwards to a where it is

page_text: belayed. The slope of the leg piece determined by carrying the line from the
fixed point d' forward to e and passing it round a holdfast there, and thence carrying
it upwards to F where it is belayed. Thus further extension and also reversal are
prevented, and any slope or inclination that may be desired is given with facility
to the hack pieces or leg pieces separately or to both.
III. The Canvas Fittings. (Fig. 1 g 9 g). The three pairs of frame pieces have
distinct canvas fittings, which pass under the patient, and are extended on either
side outward to form lapels which are tied or buckled over his body forming for
him a comfortable wrapper and retaining him safely in his position. The back pieces
of the frame are moreover provided with canvas lapels (g') for the improvision of
a pillow by inclosing in them a portion of the patient's clothing or any suitable
material which may be within reach. Eyelet holes are pierced in longitudinal folds
of the canvas to connect it with the frame by separate lashings, which are preferable
to continuous lacing. Outside the eyelet holes pieces of rátan or ribbon steel are
enclosed in a fold of the canvas. Thus tension is equalised and rending prevented.
IV. The Foot Piece. (Fig. 1 (4)). This is designed to give the patient a com-
fortable support when the Lift is in position more or less vertical. It consists of a
foot-board with canvas sides and a lanyard attached, by which it can be drawn
upwards or downwards on the leg piece so as to adjust it to the length of the
patient's legs. The lanyard leads to the cross rod of the leg pieces and is there
belayed.
V. The Slings. (hi.) These are pieces of rope of sufficient length to form a
loop of convenient size, and provided at the ends with safety hooks of the pattern
used in the Slings of my Patent Ambulance as described in Specification No. 1548,
of the year 1888. These hooks are locked upon rings one of which is fastened upon
the middle piece of the frame at ¹ Fig. 1, and the other on the back piece at . Or
the ends may be permanently noosed round the frame pieces with an eye-bolt or
staple to retain them in position. In connecting the slings with the suspension
rope (p) the bight of each sling is hitched on to a double safety hook as shewn in
Fig. 2. Or the running Eye shewn in (Fig. 1, o & Fig. 3 a. b. c) which is a permanent
fitting, will serve the purpose. This consists of a loop or eye connected by a short,
neck with two other loops or eyes placed side by side under it. The sling rope being
passed through these two lower loops (Fig. 3 a) provides for the bight being taken
up at any point necessary to give the Ambulance the required slope or inclination.
In preparing the slings for connection with the main suspension rope the bight is
drawn upwards, twisted once, then passed over the eye shewn at 6 Fig. 3, so as to
embrace the neck below it, also shewn at e.
VI. Provision for Stretcher Poles. Staples are conveniently fixed in the several
pieces of the frame to receive rope loops or leather straps so buckled as to form
loops through which poles may be passed to convert the Ambulance Lift into a
Stretcher. When thus used the rope slings may be detached or carried under the
frame and fastened there to a hook attached to the middle of the rod connecting the
fore pieces, and the slings of my Patent Ambulance will come with advantage into
requisition.
The New Combination Ambulance Lift and Stretcher is contrived to occupy the
smallest space consistent with efficiency. This is now the more necessary since the
size of the hatchways in some of our modern war ships is so much reduced as to
preclude the use of the ordinary stretcher or of the ship's cot in carrying patients
below. It also combines lightness with strength. And when folded for stowage the
length of the apparatus is only forty inches and its width about twenty-one inches.
Moreover the fittings are contrived in the nautical way so that repairs, when needed,
might be effected with the resources available on board ship.
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 construction and arrangement of an adjustable frame as above described.

page_text: 2 The provision and arrangement of supporting lines to regulate and determine
the slope or inclination of the parts of the frame, and to prevent further extension
and reversal, as above described.
3 The arrangement of the canvas fitting in separate pieces with extensions to form
lapels for wrapping round the patient, and the provision of lapels to improvise a
pillow, and the provision of separate lashings to secure equable tension.
4 The provision and arrangement of a foot piece adjustable to the length of the
patient's legs, to give him support when he is slung into a position inclining to the
perpendicular.
5. The arrangement of the slings with their attachments so as to find the centre of
gravity for the Lift at any angle of inclination required either by the double hook or
by the running eye as above described.
6. The provisions for converting the Ambulance Lift into an Ambulance Stretcher;
and the arrangements for compactness in folding for stowage, as above described.
Dated this 30th day of April 1889.
JOHN D. MACDONALD.