A Fire Escape and Ambulance Combined.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1891-Accepted 24th Dec., 1891.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Fire Escape and Ambulance Combined.
I, SAMUEL FRYER of 97 Queen Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, in the County of
Hants, Manager of "The London Steam Dye and Laundry Works" Portsea, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
It is a machine constructed for the purpose of spreading a net under the windows
of a burning building to enable the inmates to escape by jumping into it, and it
becomes an ambulance when closed up.
The machine is made to run on wooden wheels with springs, and can be drawn
by a horse or pushed by men, being light in construction. It is made to run back-
wards or forwards and the wheels, which work under an iron plate at each end in
precisely the same manner as those in the front of an ordinary brake, are secured
at the opposite end to which the horse is attached, by the insertion of iron pins.
The plates are connected underneath by a sufficiently strong iron bar. On the top
of each of the plates, two lines of sockets are fixed into which are inserted rods of
iron, iron piping or wood bars on either side. The two inside lines of sockets are
opened to admit of a wire rope, next described, fixed to the iron rods or wooden
bars, running freely. These are connected by another bar of iron or wood, each
side running at right angles, thus forming a square when opened. The outer
portions of the square overlap at the corners.
The inside edge of each plate and the inside bars which run into the sockets are
connected by galvanised steel wire rope, the ends of which are secured by india
rubber rings so as to act on the same principle as a spring mattress.
This portion
of the machine forms the ambulance and three mattresses cover the whole of the
wire rope. The sockets are placed so as to allow the bars to run in and out side
by side, and when opened or closed, the bars are secured by pins. The machine is
closed by pushing in these iron or wooden bars. A seat fixed to the iron plate at
each end is provided for the driver. One pair of shafts only are needed and they
are constructed to fix to either end.
At each corner of the square iron uprights are erected with two holes at the
top-one under the other-& in each hole a small iron sheave is placed. Through
the sheave holes of each upright is passed galvanised steel wire rope secured at the
end of each overlap, with steel springs. A rope net with a small square mesh is
attached by strong india rubber rings to these wire ropes. It is into this net that
persons may jump from windows &c.
Wire ropes are attached to the lower parts of the uprights so as to prevent
patients from rolling out when the ambulance is. used. On the top of each upright
a coloured light is placed, thus clearly directing the persons jumping, to the middle
of the net. To prevent rebound, a piece of wire rope is fastened to the underneath
part of the rope net, passing through the mattress and between the bottom wire
ropes, then through the iron rod connecting the front and back part of the machine.
At the end of this rope is attached a weight, so that when the machine is used the
weight draws the wire rope through, an iron clip is fixed so as to keep the net from
coming up again into its proper position until its release, which is effected by pulling
a rope which is attached to the clip.
Dated this Twenty-first day of February 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Fire Escape and Ambulance Combined.
I SAMUEL FRYER of No. 97 Queen Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Laundry
Manager, 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 :―
This is a machine constructed for the purpose of spreading a net under the
window of a burning building to enable the inmates to escape by jumping into it;
and it becomes an ambulance when closed up.
The machine is constructed to run on four wood wheels, with springs and can be
drawn by a horse or men from either end; it being light in construction and built
the same front and rear.
The driver's position is shown at O. A locking bolt at B and is only used at
the rear end when driving, one pair of shafts only will be required and provision is
made for them at P.
The structure is composed of two parts, the upper, when fully extended forming
the escape, and the lower when closed forming the ambulance.
The upper or escape, is composed of a hempen rope netting "C" attached to
wrought iron rods by seventy two (72) steel spiral springs with hook ends as shown
at D and ropes are connected from the centre of the hempen netting passing through
the mattress to a spiral spring fixed on the iron bar N to prevent any rebound that
may take place; the side iron rods are fixed to the stanchions & the front and
rear ones run through holes at the top of the centre stanchion T. immediately
under each other. The corner stanchions are forged to the corner picces and
screwed into the telescopic tubes A. The side ones have wrought iron foot pieces,
screwed into tubes forming the sides.
The lower or ambulance portion is formed of two parts each part being similar
in construction, being composed of four steel telescopic tubes A at the front and
rear ends and secured by iron clips to the base plate I.
When used as an ambulance or being transported along the roads it is closed as
shewn on No. 3 Sheet; wire ropes R are attached to the lower part of the side
stanchions to prevent patients from falling out. Hempen ropes S are hooked to
the side bars at the top; to prevent the hempen rope netting from falling on the
patients. But when used as an escape the telescopic tubes are drawn out to their
full extent and secured by pins F. and it is then ready for use. It can be opened
or closed in a few seconds by any person it being simple in construction.
Angle irons K are secured to the iron base plate I from which the centre
mattress E is stretched.
The wing or upper mattresses H are secured to angle irons and bolted to eye
bolts M fixed to the telescopic tubes. The two bodies are held together by a bent
iron bar N.
Lamps are fixed to the corner stanchions to throw a light on the apparatus
when used at night to direct the patient where to alight.
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
Claim 1. The combination of ambulance and fire escape.