Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov. 1894
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
A communication from FERDINAND JOHNSON, Mechanical Engineer, of New
London, County of Chester, State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Ageut, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to fire escapes and has for its objects the better security
of such structures, the reduction of cost in making, and greater facilities of erection
by persons of limited skill in the mechanical arts by making the same form inter-
changeably fitted parts so prepared at the place of manufacture, as by selecting
and assembling the pieces in different arrangements or order, the fire escapes are
readily adapted to buildings of different heights or numbers of stories.
The apparatus is secured to the wall of the building preferably a pier thereof
between two vertical lines of windows, or windows and door in the wall of the
building.
A balcony extends across the pier, and in front of the window, in the third
story, this is provided with a guard rail, and is of such width as to permit a
door, to open outwardly on the balcony, and permit. ingress to the fire escape
casing.
Narrow balconies in front of the windows of the second story are provided with
guard rails, and permit ingress through doors, through the side of the casing, to
the fire escape.
The last named doors are preferably hinged on the side toward the wall or pier,
so as to prevent any flames and smoke issuing from the windows, from entering the
casing and endangering persons on the fire escape.
The columns supporting the steps are formed tubular and the sections whose
lengths are multiples of the height between the steps.
The bases or steps in or on which the lower ends of the columns rest, are of
sufficient size to prevent their sinking in the earth, and have a socket or recess to
receive the lower end of the column, and an aperture leading outwardly at the side
for the escape of water.
When applied to buildings having a projecting terrace or first story as in houses
having beneath them stores with projecting windows, the support may be made to
rest on the terrace or cornice and instead of the enclosed steps in the first story a
ladder to be lowered may be provided to reach the ground.
Dowel pins, tapered at both extremities are provided so as to easily enter the
contiguous ends of the column-sections and hold them in line, and each of these is
provided with a small collar or flange of less diameter than the outer diameter of
the columns, formed conveniently at mid-length on them, which serves to prevent.
the dowel from falling into the lower section of columns in case of fitting loosely
therein before being clamped as hereinafter described.
A clamp formed of two principal parts, which engage with each other by
booked shaped grooves and tongues and having a partly circular groove fits upon
one side of the column and parallel therewith, and another of greater radius, in.

page_text: which are fitted two eccentric wedges, which being forced apart by a tapered key,
secure the clamp on the column.
The wedges may be forced apart by a taper-pointed, set-screw instead of
the key.
When the key is used, the thicker edges of the wedges and the edges of the
key which move against them in driving the key should be helical in the form of
their surfaces, that is to say in the form generated by a radial line progressing both
angularly and in the direction of its axis like the side of a thread of a quick
pitched screw, and the key may be grooved and the wedges rounded on the edges
opposed to the key, so as to accommodate it to the changed positions of the wedges
as they spread apart in the clamping operation.
On the side of each clamp, there is formed an eye into which the vertical end of
the brace is inserted; the brace is secured conveniently by a screw to the inside of
the casing, which it braces diagonally and thus holds it against the wall or pier
and beyond the screw is bent inwardly and terminates in a socket or ring, through
which a vertical handrail passes.
On the side of each clamp, there is also formed a projection of a form adapted to
lock in an aperture or book on each step bracket.
The step bracket is provided with a brace, having a lower forked end adapted
to rest against the front of the appropriate column and connected to the hooked
portion by a brace.
With each pair of the step brackets is formed a step from which depend other
steps of which there may be any desired number, say from one to six, so that by
using brackets with different numbers of steps, any desired height between and
before mentioned clamps, and brackets can be obtained to suit the different heights
or numbers of stories.
The steps may be formed by casting them integrally with the brackets, of
ductile metal such as malleable cast iron, but are preferably made of wrought iron
or steel; when made of wrought metal, tongues may be cut in them which when
bent are interlocked or hooked into the curled ends of the upturned parts of the
next step, each step being formed with similar upturned parts having curled ends
so as to interlock with the curled tongues of the step above.
A modified form of step consists of side plates having slots cut in them, into
which tenons on each end of each step fit and are retained in position by buttons
or heads formed on the tenons, the upper ends of the slots being made of sufficient
width to permit the heads to pass through the lower portion of the slots of such
width as to fit closely on the necks of the tenons.
The upper step of each set or section being attached to brackets secured cach
to one of the before described clamps, the slots into which the tenons of the upper
step fit are made with the wide ends downward so that the side plates when
suspended on these tenons will fit with the narrow parts of the slots thereof on the
necks of said tenons.
The steps and side plates may be made of castings, but are preferably formed of
ductile metal.
The tread portion of the step may be bent convexly upward, and has preferably
a number of openings or slits in it, which render it less slippery to the feet.
The step should be far enough from the wall or pier to permit the toes and
ball of each foot to pass over the edge of the step toward the building, and
allow the weight of the climber to rest upon the sole, or heel and sole of the foot.
The side plates may be made of channel iron with apertures cut in them to
receive the ends of angle iron steps, a tongue formed conveniently from the
material of the web of the channel iron passing through an opening in the angle
iron step in which it may be rivetted or otherwise secured, this form of construction
being very light and substantial.
The columns are attached to the front of the pier conveniently by passing
through eye bolts, this form being well adapted for brick buildings already
erected; another form in which the plate having an eye or opening is slit at the

page_text: rear end, and the ends bent upwardly and downwardly at right angles, can be used
in brick buildings in course of erection; this form is cheaper than the eye bolt and
avoids the labour of forming a hole through the wall. For attachment to wooden
buildings eye-headed wood screws may be used.
The entire structure as described is enclosed in a casing of sheet metal which is
stiffened by horizontal channel iron bars or frames screwed or otherwise secured to
the plates of iron.
Steel or other metal may be substituted for the channel iron; or angle bars may
be used instead of channel bars with like effect..
Corrugated iron plates with the lines of corrugation in vertical direction are
preferable on account of their superior stiffness and lightness, but flat plates may
be used.
Doors are provided at the level of each balcony opening outward upon the
verandahs or balconies, in the upper stories, and to the ground in the lower
stories.
These doors are braced by bars of channel or angle iron or other metal secured
conveniently by screws or rivets at the upper and lower parts, one end of each bar
being flattened and formed into a hinge, and an intermediate bar also of angle or
channel iron or steel or other metal is formed with a hinge at one end and a latch
at the other, which latch engages a keeper or catch.
The casing when formed of flat or plain sheet metal may be stiffened at the
corners with vertical channel or angle bars fastened by rivets thereto and which
are made in sections united by a splice block or bar fitted in the channels or angles
near the contiguous ends of the sections and secured by screws or other means; to
each splice block there is attached a hook which, fitting in an eye supports
the case.
The latches on the upper doors are preferably placed on the outside of the doors,
whilst that of the lower or ground floor door is preferably on the inside, and this
may be supplemented with a fastening, so controlled as to prevent egress of thieves
and dishonest persons with their baggage.
Sectional columns may be used in the front angles of the casing as well as in
the rear, and the columns may be braced to each other at proper distances apart
by link plates resting conveniently on the clamps having apertures through which
the coluinns pass.
The ends of the link plates having apertures in them project through the casing
and furnish pivotal supports for the door hinges and the means of holding the
doors closed, by hooks.
Semicylindrical brackets in the columns with offsets or bends in the shanks
may serve to support cylindrical tubular or solid cross bars to suspend the step
frames or side plates and are neater in appearance than the clamps and brackets.
The doors may be suspended upon screw eyes inserted in the pipe columns pins
being provided on the cross bars or inserted in them so as to form hinges and
similar screw eyes inserted in the columns answer the purpose of fastenings to
engage the hooks or latches of the doors.
By making the several sections of columns of definite multiples of length, as
measured by the height of the steps and making the couplings and braces to
fit interchangeably and providing lateral support from the building, and vertical
support directly from the ground through the columns, the assembling of parts
with the eye bolts in proper location on the building, provides an efficient and
secure and cheap fire escape without requiring any special mechanical skill for
its erection.
Dated this 20th day of February 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Fire Escapes.
A communication from FERDINAND JOHNSON, Mechanical Engineer, of New
London, County of Chester, State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent 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 fire escapes and has for its object the better security of
such structures, the reduction of cost in making, and greater facilities of erection
by persons of limited skill in the mechanical arts by making the same from inter-
changeably fitted parts so prepared at the place of manufacture, as by selecting and
assembling the pieces in different arrangements or order, the fire escapes are readily
adapted to buildings of different heights or numbers of stories.
The construction and application of this invention is hereinafter fully described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a building with this invention applied
thereto, shown as with the front upper portion of the casing removed.
Figure 2 a side elevation in section of a building with this invention applied
shown with a part of the side casing removed.
Figure 3 a plan view.
Figure 4 a plan view of a coupling for the uprights or pillars of the fire escape.
Figure 5 a side view thereof with a step supporting bracket, and step attached
thereto.
Figure 6 a dowel for facilitating the alignment of the sections of supporting
columns.
Figure 7 an enlarged plan view of a step.
Figure 8 shows an enlarged front view of same.
Figure 9 shows a plate of wrought metal as cut out preliminary to forming into
a step.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 show the step brackets with modified means of attaching
them to the clamps in the supporting columns.
Figure 13 shows the section of the channel iron used for bracing or stiffening
and attaching casing.
Figure 14 shows a plan of a combined diagonal brace for the casing, and support
for handrail.
•
Figure 15 shows an elevation thereof.
Figure 16 shows a door for entering the fire escape from the balconies and the
construction of combined braces, hinges and latch therefor.
Figure 17 shows, in vertical section, a bottom step or foundation block for the
columns.
Figure 18 an eye bolt with washers and nut for attaching the columns to the
wall of the building.
Figure 19 a modified form of eye bolt.
Figure 20 another modified form of eye bolt adapted for use on wooden
buildings.
Figure 21 shows a plan view of a case in which sectional columns are used in the
front corners of the enclosing case.
Figure 22 shows a plan view of a case in which channel bars are applied
vertically to the case at the angles to stiffen and support it.
Figure 23 shows an enlarged elevation of a part of the vertical channel bars
illustrating the mode of uniting the sections of channel bars to each other.

page_text: Figure 24 shows the enlarged view of a plate for bracing the sectional columns
in pairs and furnishing eyes for the attachment of the case fastenings and door
hinges and door fastenings.
Figures 25 and 26, 264 and 26B show perspective elevations of portions of fire
escapes embodying this invention with the casing of the upper part removed so as
to exhibit the construction of the ladders or steps which are of modified forms.
Figures 27, 28 and 29 show a modified form of step and side plate construction.
Figure 30 a modified means of suspending the steps from the columns and
Figure 31 a modified means of securing the door hinges and latches to the tubular
columns.
1. represents a pier in the wall of the building between two vertical lines of
windows 2 or windows and door in the wall of the building.
3 is a balcony extending across the pier 1 and in front of the window 2, in the
third story, this is provided with a guard rail 4 and is of such width as to permit a
door, the location of which is indicated in dotted lines 5 in Figure 1, to open
outwardly on the balcony 3, and permit ingress to the fire escape casing 6.
7, 7, are narrow balconies in front of the windows 2, 2 of the second story,
provided with guard rails 8, 8, and permit ingress through doors 9, 9, through the
side of the casing 6, from the balcony 7, 7 to the fire escape.
The doors 99 are preferably hinged on the side toward the wall or pier 1, so as
to prevent any flames and smoke issuing from the windows 22 from entering the
casing and endangering persons on the fire escape.
10 10 are tubular sections of columns made in lengths of multiples of the height
between the steps 11 11.
12 are bases or steps in or on which the lower ends of the columns 10 rest, and
are of sufficient size at the bottom 13, to prevent their sinking in the earth, and
have a socket or recess 14, to receive the lower end of the column 10, and an
aperture 15, leading outwardly at the side for the escape of water.
When applied to buildings having a projecting terrace or first story as in houses
having beneath them stores with projecting windows, the support may be made to
rest on the terrace or cornice 66 as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, aud
instead of the enclosed steps in the first story a ladder 67 to be lowered may be
provided to reach the ground.
16 are dowel pins tapered at both extremities so as to easily enter the contiguous
ends of the colunin-sections 10 10 and hold them in line, and each of these is
provided with a small collar or flange 17, of less diameter than the outer diameter
of the columns 10, formed conveniently at mid-length on them, which serves to
prevent the dowel 16, from falling into the lower section of columns in case of
fitting loosely therein before being clamped as hereinafter described.
18 is a clamp formed of two principal parts, 19 and 20 which engage with each
other by hooked shaped grooves and tongues 21 and 22, and have a partly circular
groove 23 which fits upon one side of the column 10 and parallel therewith, and
another groove 24 of greater radius, in which are fitted two eccentric wedges 25,
which being forced apart by a tapered key 26 secure the clamp 18 on the
column 10.
The wedges 25 may be forced apart by a taper-pointed set-screw 27 as indicated
in dotted lines in Figure 4, instead of the key 26.
When the key 26 is used, the thicker edges of the wedges and the edges of the
key, which move against them in driving the key, should be helical in the form
of their surfaces, that is to say in the form generated by a radial line progressing
both angularly and in the direction of its axis like the side of the thread of a quick
pitched screw, the key may be grooved and the wedges rounded on the edges
opposed to the key, so as to accommodate it to the changed positions of the
wedges 25, as they spread apart in the clamping operation.
On the side of each clamp 18, there is formed an eye 27* into which the vertical
end 28 of a brace 29 is inserted; the brace 29 is secured conveniently by a
screw 30 to the inside of the casing 6. which it braces diagonally and thus holds it

page_text: against the wall or pier 1, and beyond the screw 30, it is bent inwardly and
terminates in a socket or ring 31, through which a vertical handrail 32 passes.
On the side of each clamp 18 there is also formed a projection 33 of a form
adapted to lock in an aperture 34, or book 35 on each step bracket 36.
Each step bracket 36 is provided with a brace 37 having a lower forked end 38,
adapted to rest against the front of one of the columns 10 and connected to the
hook portion 35 or 34 by a brace 39.
With each pair of the step brackets 36 is formed a step 11 from which depend
other steps 40 of which there may be any desired number, say from one to six, so
that by using brackets with different numbers of steps, any desired height between
clamps 18, and brackets 36 can be obtained to suit the different heights or numbers
of stories.
The steps 11, may be formed by casting them integrally with the brackets 36, of
ductile metal such as malleable cast iron, but are preferably made of wrought iron
or steel.
Figure 9 shows a plate of wrought metal cut to make a step; tongues 41, may
be cut in it, which when bent as shown in Figures 7 and 8 are interlocked or
hooked into the ends of the parts 42 of the next step which are bent upwardly and
curled at the ends 43, so as to interlock with the curled tongues 41 of the step
above.
The modified form of steps shown in Figures 26 and 26 and 26B consists of side
plates. 73 having slots 74 cut in them, into which tenons 75 on each end of each
step 76, fit and are retained in position by buttons or heads 77 formed on the
tenons 75, the upper ends of the slots 74 being made of sufficient width to permit
the heads 76 to pass through and the lower portion of the slols 74 of such width as
to fit closely on the necks of the tenons.
The upper step 79 of each set or section being attached to brackets 78, secured
each to one of the before described clamps 18, the slots 80 into which the tenons 75
of the upper step fit are made with the wide ends downward so that the side
plates 73 when suspended on these tenons 75 will fit with the narrow parts of the
slots on the necks of the tenons of the step 79.
The steps 76 and 79 and plates 73 may be made of castings, but are preferably
formed of ductile metal.
The tread portion 44 of the step may be bent convexly upward, and has preferably
a number of openings or slits 45, in it, which render it less slippery to the feet.
The steps 11 should be far enough from the wall or pier 1, to permit the toes and
ball of each foot to pass over the edge of the step toward the building and allow
the weight of the climber to rest upon the sole, or heel and sole of the foot.
The side plates 73 may be made of channel iron as shown in Figure 27 with
apertures 81 cut in them to receive the ends 82 of angle iron steps 83 shown in
Figure 28 a tongue 84 formed conveniently from the material of the web of the
channel iron passing through an opening 85 in the angle iron step 83 in which it
may be rivetted as shown in Figure 29 or otherwise secured, this form of construction
being very light and substantial.
The columns 10 are attached to the front of the pier 1 conveniently by passing
through eye-bolts 46 as shown in Figures 2 and 18, this form being well adapted
for brick buildings already erected; another form 50, shown in Figure 19 in which
the plate 1 is slit at the rear end, and the ends bent upwardly and downwardly at
right angles, can be used in brick buildings in course of erection; this form is
cheaper than the eye bolt shown in Figure 18, and avoids the labour of forming a
hole through the wall. For attachment to wooden buildings eye-headed wood
screws 53 such as shown in Figure 20, may be used.
The entire structure as described is enclosed in a casing of sheet metal 6 which is
stiffened by horizontal channel iron bars or frames 54 screwed or otherwise secured
to the plates of iron.
Steel or other metal may be substituted for the channel iron; or angle bars may
be used instead of channel bars with like effect.

page_text: Corrugated iron plates with the lines of corrugation in vertical direction are
preferable on account of their superior stiffness and lightness, but flat plates may
be used.
Doors 55, are provided at the level of each balcony opening outward upon the
verandahs or balconies 3 and 7 in the upper stories, and to the ground in the lower
stories.
These doors are braced by bars of channel or angle iron 56 or other metal
secured conveniently by screws or rivets at the upper and lower parts, one end of
each bar 55 being flattened and formed into a hinge 57, and an intermediate
bar 58, also of angle or channel iron or steel or other metal is formed with a
hinge at one end and a latch 59 at the other, which latch engages a keeper or
catch 60.
The casing shown in plan view in Figure 22 is formed of flat or plain sheet metal
and may be stiffened at the corners with vertical channel or angle bars 61 fastened
by rivets thereto and which are made in sections united as shown in Figure 23 by a
>plice block or bar 52 fitted in the channels or angles near the contiguous ends of
the sections and secured by screws or rivets 63 or other means; to each splice
block there is attached a hook 64 which, fitting in an eye 65 supports the case 6.
The latches on the upper doors are preferably placed on the outside of the doors,
whilst that of the lower or ground floor door is preferably on the inside, and this
may be supplemented with a fastening, so controlled as to prevent egress of thieves
and dishonest persons with their baggage.
Sectional columns 10 10 may be used in the front angles of the casing as well as
in the rear, as shown in Figure 21, and the columns may be braced to each other
by link plates 68 shown in Figure 24, having apertures 69 through which the
columns 10 pass and resting conveniently on the clamps 18 brace the columns 10 to
each other at proper distances.
The ends 70 of the link plates 68 having apertures 71 in them project through
the casing 6, and furnish pivotal supports for door hinges and the means of holding the
doors closed by hooks 72.
Semicylindrical brackets 86 such as shown in section in Figure 30 in the
columns 10 with offsets or bends 87 in the shanks may serve to support cylindrical
tubular or solid cross bars 88 to suspend the steps frames or side plates 73 and are
neater in appearance than the clamps and brackets. The doors may be suspended
upon screw eyes 89 inserted in the pipe columns 10 and 32 pins being provided in
the cross bars 56 and 58 or inserted in them so as to form hinges and similar screw
eyes 90 inserted in the columns answer the purpose of fastenings to engage the
hocks or latches of the doors.
By making the several sections of columns of definite multiples of length, as
measured by the height of the steps and making the couplings and braces to fit inter-
changeably and providing lateral support from the building, and vertical support
directly from the ground through the columns, and assembling of parts with the
eye bolts 46 in proper location on the building,, provides an efficient, secure and
cheap fire escape without requiring any special mechanical skill for its erection.
Having now particularly described and illustrated the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. A fire escape consisting of series of sectional supporting columns couplings for
uniting the sections of said columns and bases for supporting the same in combination
with a series of brackets and connecting steps adapted to hook on said couplings
and braces also hooked to said columns arranged to strengthen surrounding casing
and support handrails substantially as described and shown.
2. In a fire escape the series of tubular sectional columns centering flanged dowels
and contractible clamps provided with projections adapted to support step-supporting
brackets in combination with said step supporting brackets arranged to hook on and
interlock with the projections on said couplings substantially as set forth.

page_text: 3. In a fire escape a series of steps attached to and dependent from each other in
combination with supporting brackets attached to the upper step of the series and
provided with projections adapted to interlock with corresponding projections upon
supporting clamps substantially as described and set forth."
4. In a fire escape the supporting columns contractible clamps on said columns
provided with eyes adapted to receive and hold braces for stiffening an enclosing
case, in combination with said braces and enclosing case constructed and arranged
substantially as shown and described.
5. In a fire escape contractible clamps secured upon supporting columns and
provided with eyes adapted to receive braces for supporting handrails, in combination
with said braces and handrails constructed and arranged substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
a
6. In a fire escape one or more pairs of supporting columns contractible clamps
secured on said columns and braces inserted in said clamps in combination with
surrounding casing provided with horizontal metallic bracing bars and provided
with doors for ingress and egress and hinges braces and fastenings therefor
substantially as shown and described.
7. In a fire escape the sectional supporting columns united by clamps and
arranged in pairs in combination with said clamps and link plates resting on said
clamps constructed and arranged to operate as set forth.
8. In a fire escape the combination of sectional columns arranged in pairs
contractible clamps arranged to unite the sections of each column and eye bolts
adapted to secure said columns to a building in combination with link plates
adapted to connect the said columns in pairs to rest on said clamps and provided
with pivotal support for doors and attachment for door fastenings substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 17th day of October 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.