Improvements in or relating to Portable Fire Ladders.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left. 17th June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Portable Fire Ladders.
I, OSCAR WITZEL of Hinter dem Rathhaus No. 5, Langensalza, Germany,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention which relates to improvements in portable fire
ladders, a platform is connected by means of lazy tongs with the framing of a
carriage so that it can be raised and lowered as desired, by adjusting the tongs.
Special straining ropes which can be tightened by means of a crank and, if desired,
specially provided supports, serve to stiffen the connection between the raised
platform and the carriage framing, which is constructed in such a manner that the
platform can be adjusted in a horizontal position, and be raised and lowered by
means of a windlass attached to the carriage framing. Rope ladders, provided
with rigid rungs, are led over horns on the platform and are fixed at the bottom to
withdrawable rods, and ensure a convenient ascent to the platform and serve as
additional means of stiffening the latter.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the fire ladder with the platform partially raised,
the rear carriage wheel being shown dotted for the sake of greater clearness of the
carriage framing;
Fig. 2-is a front elevation showing the ladder in the same position as in Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line A B Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation with the platform lowered and ready for transport;
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on the line C D Fig. 3;
Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line E F Fig. 3; and
Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line G H Fig. 3.
The platform a is connected with the lower carriage framing b by means of two
laterally arranged pairs of lazy tongs c, the lower arms d of which are capable of
rotation about the shaft e secured to the channel iron f of the carriage framing b
whilst the other lower arm g of the tongs is capable of movement by means of
running rollers between the flanges of the channel iron f. The upper arm k of
the tongs is also capable of rotation at i, whilst the running rollers on the other
upper arm m of the tongs are movable in the channel iron n.
The links o of the tongs and the transverse links p of the two pairs of tongs are
suitably connected by through-rods. The platform a is provided with a railing q
running round the same, and carries two horns r over which the climbing ladders s
are laid. The attachment of the latter to the carriage framing will be hereinafter
described.
The carriage framing b carries first the channel irons which receive the lower
guide rollers h of the arm g of the tongs, and which, at the same time, constitute
the pivots for the lower arms d of the tongs. The channel irons are connected
by means of transverse girders t so as to form a frame.
The shaft e constitutes the pivot for the channel irons of for adjustment of the
latter which rest in supports u on the girders of the middle framing v. Adjusting
screws w serve to raise or depress the front end of the channel irons ƒ for the
purpose of adjusting the same horizontally in the longitudinal direction. The
middle framing composed of longitudinal girders and transverse girders, is
capable of movement about a middle longitudinal shaft a, which also serves as
the driving shaft of the windlass y. The shaft carries a worm z¹ between
suitable bearings which engages with the worm wheel z mounted on the drum axle
of the windlass. Screws a' arranged at both sides of the middle framing and
adjustable therein, bear against the underframe b¹ of the carriage framing and allow
2'

page_text: of the partial rotation of the middle framing about the shaft x as an axis,
whereby the adjustment of the fire ladder is effected.
The supports are attached to the under frame b¹; and the supports d' are
attached to the middle framing v. The movable lower arms of the tongs are by
means of a windlass moved nearer to or further from the arm d. The windlass
comprises two drums e¹ and e² mounted on a drum shaft f' which is operated by
means of a worm wheel from the shaft x. Ropes which are attached to
the shaft e and to the drums e¹², pass round pulleys h¹ and h² mounted on the
lower shaft which connects the movable arms g with each other. Straining
ropes pass from the outer upper ends i and of the tongs c diagonally to
the opposite ends of the carriage framing and are actuated and tightened by
means of small windlasses with crank and ratchet wheels 13.
On the under frame are also provided in suitable guides m² m², with-
drawable rods n' n' n² n² which are provided with hooks o' to which are attached
the rope ladders ss which are laid over the horns r.
The rods n¹ n' n² n² are drawn laterally out of the carriage, the rear rods n¹ n¹
passing through the spaces between the spokes of the rear carriage wheels p¹
and chocking the same. The forward carriage framing q' is capable of turning
in a circle so that the ladder can be turned round in a circle as desired. Spirit
levels indicate the horizontal adjustment of the upper framing ft; a second
spirit levels indicates the horizontal adjustment of the middle framing v.. The
cranks for operating the windlass y are arranged at the front and rear sides of
the carriage framing so as to facilitate working.
In using the fire ladder, it is drawn in its folded or collapsed condition to the
place where it is to be used, then first the platform a is adjusted by arranging
the middle framing horizontally in a transverse direction by means of the
screws a' and then the frame ft is arranged horizontally by means of the
adjusting screws w. Then the rope ladders s which have been brought along on
the platform are laid over the horns r, and the rods n' n' n² m² are drawn out, the
rods n passing through the spaces between the spokes of the rear carriage wheels so
that the carriage is made fast at the same time. Then by rotating the cranks x¹
of the hoisting device, the pulleys 2 are pulled whereby the arms g of the tongs
are brought near to the arms d and the platform a is raised to the desired height
by reason of the well known movement due to the jointed mechanism of the tongs.
The rollers of the upper tong levers m move during this operation in the upper
channel irons n. When the ladder has been brought to a desired height, the
straining ropes k² ² are drawn tight by means of the windlasses, the rope
ladders s are hooked on the rods n' n' n² n², and the ladder can then be easily climbed.
For the purpose of increasing the stability of the platform when raised to a
considerable height, there may be provided in addition supports y' the lower ends
of which are made fast in the supporting brackets by means of pins passed
through the same in any suitable manner, it may be so that the supports y' are
either removable or are so arranged that their lower ends can slide by means of
rollers on special channel irons and can be fixed upon the latter.
The fire ladder according to this invention has the advantage of being extremely
compact, that is to say, when in its folded or collapsed state it can be drawn
through the gateways of the yards of houses and can be set up therein which
is not possible with the extensible portable climbing ladders hitherto usually
employed. By the use of the adjusting mechanism on the frame ft and on the
middle framing v, the platform can be brought into a horizontal position or can be
inclined as desired, according to requirement.
The rope ladders s allow of conveniently climbing on to the platform and of
working the ladder at various heights. By means of the rope ladders & s and the
straining ropes k¹ k², the platform is prevented from swaying.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Portable Fire Ladders.
I, OSCAR WITZEL of Hinter dem Rathaus No: 5 Langensalza, Germany,
Merchant, 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 a construction of portable fire ladder in which a
platform is connected by means of lazy tongs with the framing of a carriage in
such a manner that it can be raised and lowered as desired, by adjusting the tongs.
Special straining ropes which can be tightened by means of a crank and if desired
by special supports, are provided to stiffen the connection between the raised
platform and the carriage framing. The said framing is constructed in such a
manner and the arrangement is such that the platform can be adjusted into a
horizontal position, and be raised and lowered by means of a windlass attached to
the said carriage framing. Rope ladders, provided with rigid rungs and fixed at
the bottoms to withdrawable rods, are led over horns on the platform and serve as
a convenient means of ascent to the platform and also as additional means for
stiffening the latter.
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fire ladder constructed according to this invention
the platform being shown partially raised and the rear carriage wheel being shown
dotted for the sake of greater clearness of the carriage framing.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the ladder in the same position as in Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line A B Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 4 is a plan;
Fig. 5 is a side elevation with the platform lowered and ready for transport.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on the line CD Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line EF Fig. 3; and
Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line G H Fig. 3.
a is the platform connected with the lower carriage framing b by means of two
laterally arranged pairs of lazy tongs c the lower arms d of which are capable of
rotation about the shaft e secured to the channel iron of the carriage framing b,
whilst the other lower arms g of the tongs is capable of movement by means of
running rollers h, between the flanges of the channel iron f. The upper arm k of
the tongs is also capable of rotation at i, whilst the running rollers on the other
upper arm m of the tongs are movable in the channel iron n.
The jointed parts o and p of the two pairs of tongs are suitably connected by
through-rods. The platform a is provided with a railing a running round the same,
and carries two horns over which the climbing ladders s are laid. The attachment
of the latter to the carriage framing will be hereinafter described.
The carriage framing b carries first the channel irons f which receive the lower
guide rollers h of the arm g of the tongs, and which, at the same time, constitute
the supports for the lower arms d of the tongs. The channel irons fare connected
by means of transverse girders t so as to form a frame.
The shaft e constitutes a pivot for the channel irons of which rest in supports u on
the girders of the middle framing . Adjusting screws w serve to raise or depress
the front end of the channel irons f for the purpose of adjusting the same
horizontally in the longitudinal direction. The middle framing composed of
longitudinal and transverse girders, is capable of movement about a central
longitudinal shaft x which also serves as the driving shaft of the windlass y. This
shaft carries a worm ¹ arranged between suitable bearings and engaging with a
worm wheel mounted on the drum axle of the windlass. Screws a¹ arranged at
both sides of the middle framing » and adjustable therein, bear against the
3

page_text: underframe 6 of the carriage framing and allow of the partial rotation of the
middle framing about the shaft r as an axis, whereby the vertical adjustment of
the fire ladder is effected.
The supports c¹ are attached to the under frame b¹; and the supports d¹ are
attached to the middle framing v. The movable lower arms g of the tongs are by
means of a windlass moved nearer to or further from the arm d. The windlass
comprises two drums e¹ and e² mounted on a drum shaft which is operated by
means of the worm wheel ¹ from the shaft. Ropes g¹² which are attached to
the shaft e and to the drums e¹ e² pass round pulleys and mounted on the lower
shaft which connects the movable arms with each other. Straining ropes k
pass from the outer upper ends i and of the tongs c diagonally to the opposite
ends of the carriage framing and are actuated and tightened by means of small
windlasses with crank 12 and ratchet wheels 13.
On the under frame bare also provided in suitable guides m² m², withdrawable
rods n', n², n², n² which are provided with hooks o' to which are attached the rope
ladders ss which are laid over the horns r.
The rods n n' n² n² are drawn laterally out of the carriage, the rear rods n¹ n¹
passing through the spaces between the spokes of the rear carriage wheels p' and
chocking the same. The forward carriage framing 7 is capable of turning in a
circle so that the ladder can be turned round in a circle as desired. Spirit
levels¹¹ serve to indicate the horizontal adjustment of the upper framing ƒt ;
and a second spirit level s serves to indicate the horizontal adjustment of the
'middle framing v. The cranks for operating the windlass y are arranged at the
front and rear sides of the carriage framing so as to facilitate working.
In using the fire ladder, it is drawn in its folded or collapsed condition to the place
where it is to be used. The platform a is then adjusted by arranging the middle
framing horizontally in a transverse direction by means of the screws a¹ and then
the frame ft is arranged horizontally by means of the adjusting screws w. The
rope ladders s, which will have been brought along on the platform, are then laid
over the horns r, and the rods n' n¹n² n² are drawn out, the rods n' passing through
the spaces between the spokes of the rear carriage wheels, so that the carriage will
be made fast at the same time. By then rotating the cranks of the hoisting
device, the pulleys h¹² will be operated whereby the arms g of the tongs will be
brought near to the arms d and the platform a will be raised to the desired height
by reason of the well known movement of lazy tongs. The rollers of the upper
tong levers m move during this operation in the upper channel irons n. When the
ladder has been brought to the desired height, the straining ropes ¹² are drawn
tight by means of the windlasses, the rope ladders s are hooked on the
rods n n' n² n², and the ladder can then be easily climbed.
For the purpose of increasing the stability of the platform when raised to a
considerable height, there may be provided additional supports y¹ the lower ends of
which are made fast in the supporting brackets 2 in any suitable manner,
by means of pins passed through the same.
may be
The supports y are either removable or are so arranged that their lower ends
can slide by means of rollers on special channel irons and can be fixed upon the
latter.
A fire ladder constructed according to this invention has the advantage of being
extremely compact, that is to say, when in its folded or collapsed state it can be
drawn through the gateways of houses and set up in the yards thereof, which is not
possible with the extensible portable climbing ladders hitherto usually employed.
By the use of the adjusting mechanism on the frame ft and on the middle framing v,
the platform can be brought into a horizontal position or can be inclined as desired,
according to requirement. Furthermore the rope ladders s allow of conveniently
climbing onto the platform and of working the ladder at various heights, and by
means of these rope ladders and the straining ropes k¹³, the platform can be
prevented from swaying.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A portable adjustable fire ladder in which a platform'a is connected by means
of lazy tongs c with a carriage framing b capable of adjustment in a horizontal
plane and is stiffened by means of diagonal straining ropes k' k³, the movement of
the lower arms g of the lazy tongs being effected by means of a hoisting device x y z
substantially as described.
.
2. In a fine ladder of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, the arrangement
of the rope ladders ss with rigid rungs, which are passed over horns on the
platform a and are fixed at their lower ends to and held by withdrawable
rods n' n' n² n² substantially as described.
3. In a fire ladder of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the arrangement of the
withdrawable rods n¹ n¹ n² n² for making fast the rear running wheels substantially
as described.
4. In a fire ladder of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the arrangement of the
windlasses with ratchet mechanism for tightening and fixing the platform a.
5. In a fire ladder of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the arrangement of the
adjusting device w for adjusting the framing ft horizontally and the adjusting
device a for horizontally adjusting the middle framing v which is arranged to turn
about the driving shaft substantially as described.
6. In a fire ladder of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the arrangement of the
supports y which are connected with the parts o' of the lazy tongs c and which are
fixed in supporting brackets on the framing ft, for the purpose of further stiffening
the tong arms substantially as described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved fire
ladder substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 17th day of June 1892.
OSCAR WITZEL,
By L. W., per F. B.