DDAUDHENIS IN FIRE ESA
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Kitson, Book-keeper, and John Naylor,
Plumber, both of Halifax, in the County of York, for the Invention
of TDDAUDHENIS IN FIRE ESA "
Sealed the 4th September 1874, and dated the 11th March 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Kitson and John
Naylor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 11th March 1874.
We, ALFRED KITSON, Book-keeper, and JOHN NAYLOR, Plumber, both
of Halifax, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the construction of fire escapes
telescopically, so that the same occupies but little room when not in
actual use, and are much more portable; that provision is made for the
ascent or descent without danger, and that a number of persons may
descend at one time.
We construct the outer cases telescopically, by preference in three
lengths, the lower one being the one in which the others are received

page_text: when the escape is not in use. A suitable bearing and conveying cart is
provided on which the escape rests; a segment rack catch and levers
serve to clevate the first length of the apparatus, and a windlass and
endless chains connected with the other lengths serve for the purpose of
drawing these out and in as required.
Another endless chain passes along the interior and exterior of the
escape, on which are a number of bearers or network receivers and stop
pieces on which the person or persons leaving a building are received; a
break worked by an attendant at the foot of the escape prevents the too
rapid descent. Each person has a separate receptacle, and passes
gradually to the foot of the escape. This chain and bearers may be
reversed by windlass, and then serves to convey upwards firemen or
others to the windows or roof of the building.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Alfred Kitson and John Naylor in the Great Seal 1
Patent Office on the 11th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALFRED
KITSON, Book-keeper, and JOHN NAYLOR, Plumber, both of Halifax, in
the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 2
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Alfred Kitson and John Naylor, Her
special licence that we, the said Alfred Kitson and John Naylor, our 2
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Alfred Kitson and John Naylor, our 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 thercin expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United 3
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that we, the said Alfred Kitson and John
Naylor, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: under our, 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 we, the said Alfred Kitson and John Naylor, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :—
This Invention has for its object the construction of fire escapes
telescopically, so that the same occupies but little room when not in
actual use and are much more portable; that provision is made for the
ascent or descent without danger and that a number of persons may
descend at one time.
We construct the outer cases telescopically, by preference in three
lengths, the lower one being the one within which the others are received
when the escape is not in use. A suitable bearing and conveying cart is
provided on which the escape rests; a segment rack catch and levers
serve to elevate the first length of the apparatus, and windless and
endless chains connected with the other lengths serve for the purpose of
drawing these out and in as required.
Another endless chain passes along the interior and exterior of the
escape, on which are a number of bearers or network receivers and stop
pieces on which the person or persons leaving a building are received; a
break worked by an apendant at the foot of the escape prevents the too
rapid descent. Each person has a separate receptacle and passės
gradually to the foot of the escape. This chain and bearers may be
reversed by windless, and then serves to convey upwards firemen or
others to the windows or roof of the building.
In order that this Invention may be fully understood, we herein give
reference to accompanying Sheets of Drawings, marked with Figures and
letters of reference, the same letters referring to the same parts in the.
various views or Figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved escape; Figure 2 an end
elevation of parts thereof; Figures 3 and 4 are details. ·

page_text: The escape consists principally of three cases or cylinders A, A', A², so
constructed as to fit and slide telescopically. The lower case A is
attached to a shaft or rod B mounted in bearings or pedestals C. A
lever D attached to the rod D₁ mounted in the bearings E, serves to
elevate the tube or casing to any desired angle, the end of the lever D
working in a slot or groove F in the bar F¹ fixed under the case A.. The
lever D is operated by the hand levers G also attached to the rod D¹, and
when the desired elevation is reached the catches H are allowed to take
or fall into the teeth of the racks J, and so keep or sustain the tubes in
the elevated position, additional support being derived from the struts K,"
which are made in two parts so that they may readily be lengthened or
shortened by means of the catch L, and rack shown in dotted lines, L'
being the cord for releasing the catch which is pressed into the teeth
by spring M. To each of the tubes or cases A1, A2, is attached a
chain N, N¹, (for protecting the tubes) which pass over pulleys P, P¹,
the two chains being joined together at P². The chain N passes under-
neath a pully Q, and is wound on to the drum R. To the top of the
tube or case A2 is attached a chain S (for contracting the tubes), which
passes underneath a pully by the side of the pulley Q, and thence to the
drum S. To the cases A and A2 are attached two chain wheels T, T¹,
and upon the shaft or axis carrying the wheel T is a hand wheel T2 and
brake wheel T. Over these wheels T and T¹, passes an endless chain U
to which are hinged a series of gratings V, the construction of which
will be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4. The construction is such
that when outside the tubes or casings the gratings lic flat upon the
chain, but as soon as they enter the tube they take a position at about
right angles thereto. This chain is composed of a number of parts, so
that it can readily be lengthened or shortened, the chain being held
during the process by catch U¹. To the under side of the tube A² is
a fixed grapnel X. The whole of the apparatus is mounted upon a
carriage Y provided with wheels Z, and can be moved from place to place
by any convenient power.
The principal features of the apparatus having been alluded to, we will
now describe the method of proceeding. The apparatus is conveyed to.
the desired locality, the casing being shut up and resting in a nearly hori-
zontal position upon the body of the carriage. The point of rescue being
determined, the apparatus is brought to a standstill, the wheels blocked,
and one or more operators mount the carriage and project and elevate tho

page_text: tubes or casing as required, when there remains supported by the means
before described. The endless chain is then adjusted to the proper
length, being made in parts with snap joints for this purpose; one of the
operators controls the working of the chain by the hand wheel and
brake, and the escaping party enters the casing at the top, taking hold
of or leaning against the grating, and is gradually lowered, another
following as soon as another grating has passed the chain wheel, and so
on until all the parties have been lowered. By reversing the motion of
the hand wheel a person may be conveyed upwards inside the tube or
casing, or he may ascend on the outside thereof whilst others are
descending in the inside.
Having thus described the nature of this our said Invention, and
shown by Drawings how the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practice, we would have it understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise details of construction or arrangement of
apparatus, as the same may be variously modified, but what we claim as
our Invention is the use and employment of fire escapes constructed
telescopically in manner, substantially as shown and described.
In witness whercof, we, the said Alfred Kitson and John Naylor,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Tenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-four.
Witness,
J. W. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
Halifax and Bradford.
ALFRED KITSON. (L.S.)
(L.S.)
JOHN NAYLOR.