Improvements in Fire Escape Ladders.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1894
Improvements in Fire Escape Ladders.
We, WILLIAM ROSE and OTTO FREDERICK VOLLHARD, both of the
Metropolitan Works, Oldfield Road, Salford in the County of Lancaster, Fire
Escape Manufacturers, 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 invention relates to ladders used as fire-escapes and for fire brigade purposes
and its objects are to provide a more convenient arrangement for moving the ladders
longitudinally on the carriage framing, for holding the elevated ladders in position,
and for adjusting the legs of the ladders.
These improvements are illustrated in and by the accompanying drawings to
which reference will be had in the following description.
The arrangement for moving the ladders longitudinally upon the carriage
framing during the process of elevating them is illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, of
which Figure 1 shews the ladders in the position on the carriage which they
occupy when not in use or when being moved from place to place, and Figure 2
shews them as elevated for use only a portion of the lower part of the ladders being
shewn in each case.
A is the under-framing of the carriage, on which the brackets or supports B
and B' are fixed. C is the ladder which runs on the rollers D' mounted upon the
bearers D. E is the lever or frame pivoted or hinged in the usual manner to the
lower end of the ladders.
The movement of the ladders upon the carriage in the process of elevation is
effected by means of a treble purchase lift motion arranged on each side of the
ladders. The treble purchase lift upon one side only is shewn in the drawings and
will be described, it being understood that the arrangement on one side is precisely
similar to that on the other side. A small winch L is mounted upon a shaft which
extends across the frame lever E, so that both winches are simultaneously and
equally rotated by means of a crank handle L'. At the lower end of the ladder
there are carried in suitable bearings a pair of parallel independent grooved
pulleys O, and a single similar pulley O' is mounted at the forward end of the
carriage. A rope M has one of its ends secured at or near O' whence it passes
forward round one of the pulleys O, back round O', again forward round the second
pulley O and thence to the winch L upon which its other end is secured. Each
system of winch pulleys and rope thus constitute a treble purchase lift motion
which makes the elevation of the ladders a comparatively easy matter, whilst the
arrangement being duplicated on each side of the fire escape, the ladders may still
be raised and lowered in the event of one set being damaged.
When the ladders are to be elevated, the bottom or heel of the ladder is lowered
to the ground, the frame E is opened out, and the winches are turned by means of
the crank handle L' thus winding the rope M upon the winches and gradually
raising the ladders. During this action, the ladders move along the bearers D and
finally the escape takes the position shewn by Figure 2, when the ladders are fully
elevated.
:
The device for holding the ladder on the carriage in the elevated position is
represented on an enlarged scale by Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Figures 3 and 4 represent in side view and plan respectively, the side rod F
upon which the catch K is fixed or formed. Figure 6 is a side view of the position
of the catch when the frame or lever E is closed as shewn in Figure 1; Figure 6

page_text: shews the catch just after the lever E has been opened, and Figure 7 shews it
engaged after the ladders have been fully elevated. The rod F, of which there
is one on each side of the lever E, is square or non-circular and moves longitu-
dinally in correspondingly formed bearings G G so that it cannot be rotated. The
two rods Fou opposite sides of the lever E are connected by the cross rod H, the
connection being preferably adjustable as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, by means of
a screwed upper end of the rod F on which eyes on the ends of the rod H are
engaged and held by nuts. This cross rod serves the purpose also of providing
means for simultaneously disengaging both the catches when it is desired to lower
the ladder. Each of the catches K is arranged to automatically engage with an
upper part P of the bracket B or with a similarly placed and arranged bolt or
projection having its forward part preferably rounded or bevelled as shewn by
Figure 7 to enable it to more easily pass under the catch.
In the act of raising the ladders, they are moved by the lifting tackle along
the rollers D¹ mounted upon the bearers D on the carriage A, until the projection P
comes along under the catch which is thereby displaced. As soon as the part P
has passed the point of the catch, the spring J causes the return of the catch
which then holds the projection P and ensures the firm temporary connection and
position of the lever E relatively to the ladders and the carriage as shewn by
Figure 2. To release the catches it is only necessary to draw forward the cross
bar H, the ratchet I of the winch is then released, the frame E is refolded and
the ladders returned to their original position on the carriage.
The rods F may be protected in use by a U-shaped metallic casing F¹ partly
shewn in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
It sometimes happens that an escape has to be employed on a sloping surface,
and various devices have been employed for the purpose of ensuring equal support
for each side of the ladder. Having elevated the ladder, the equal support is
ensured according to these improvements by adjustable legs or supports as shewn
by Figures 8 and 9, of which Figure 8 is a partial front view and Figure 9 a
corresponding side view.
Each leg or support consists of a flat or non-circular bar R adjustable
longitudinally to the ladder sides in guides S S. The central part of each bar is
slotted longitudinally, and through these slots and the sides of the ladders upon
which the legs or supports are mounted, there passes the binding rod T which is
square in cross section to prevent its rotation in the slots. At one end of the
binding rod, outside the leg or support there is a head or nut U, and at the
opposite end, also outside the leg or support on that side, there is a sleeve V,
surrounding & screwed part of the binding rod and at the end of the sleeve a nut
formed in the eye of the crank handle W. Between the legs of the ladder, and
bearing against an adjustable collar X and the inner side of the leg of the ladder
next the sleeve V there is a spiral spring in compression. The lower end of each
leg or support may, and is preferably fitted with a wheel or bowl Z of any
convenient size, or it may alternatively be fitted with spikes.
To adjust the legs or support after the ladder has been elevated, the nut of W is
loosened, whereby both legs are freed and drop to the uneven surface to which they
adjust themselves. The nut is then tightened by the handle W and both legs or
supports are simultaneously thereby locked as they stand.
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. In fire escapes in which the ladder or ladders slide upon the carriage during
the act of elevation, the combination and arrangement with the ladder and carriage
of two winches and treble purchase lifting tackle, one set of the lifting tackle and
a winch being situated on each side of the ladder lever and the two winches being
fixed upon a single transverse shaft, constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. In fire escapes in which the ladder or ladders slide upon the carriage during
the act of elevation, the combination and arrangement with the folding lever or
frame at the foot of the ladder or two spring catches formed on two sliding rods
fixed respectively on the opposite sides of the ladder lever and capable of engaging
5 when the ladder is fully elevated, with projections from the carriage, the catches
also being capable of disengagement by means of a cross bar connecting the two
sliding rods, constructed substantially as herein before described and as illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of January A.D. 1894.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.