Year: 1898

page_text: WILLIAM JAMES WORTH, "Arkendale," Littledown Road, Bournemouth, "Cabinet
Manufacturer," do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of actuating and arranging
safety stops on fire escapes having two, three or more sliding ladders which stops
prevent the ladders accidentally running down when extended and so arranging that
each and all of the stops can be controlled by one rope from the foot of the main
ladder or the back handle bar or other convenient position. Hitherto it has been the
practice where safety stops are used to actuate them by separate cords or ropes to
each stop.
A stop being placed at the head of the main and second ladders when three
ladders are used, and at the head of third ladder when four ladders are used. Some
difficulty is experienced with these ropes as they must be payed off from the ground
as the ladders extend and coiled up as they descend.
In my invention the stops or pawls can be of similar construction to those now in
use and can be formed on a spindle or cross bar, the ends of which pivot in bearings
fixed between the sides of ladders. The pawls can engage with the spokes of ladders
when descending and check their descent. The spokes of the ladders knock up the
stops or pawls in ascending, and when the spokes have passed the pawl, springs or
weights, or the weight of the pawls bring the pawls into position to prevent the
ladders return.
On the pawl or stop-spindles a lever or stud is fixed to which a rope is attached by
which they can be drawn out and held out of gear with the spokes when it is desired
to lower the ladders. In escapes with three ladders I fix one stop at or near the top
of main ladder and engaging with the spokes of second ladder. The second stop can
be placed at or near the lower end of third ladder and engages with the spokes of
second ladder-and in escapes with four ladders I place third stop at or near the upper
end of third ladder engaging with the spokes of fourth ladder. Thus as the ladders
extend the stops engage with their respective ladders and prevent accidental return.
When the ladders have been extended and it is desired to lower them the stops are
pulled out of gear in the following manner-
I attach a rope or cord to the handle bar or to the foot of main ladder in any con-
venient position and it passes up the main ladder to the first stop and is there
attached to the lever or stud provided on stop for pulling it out of gear. The rope
then passes over a pulley near top of main ladder and descends to and over a pulley
fixed at bottom of second ladder the pulley being large enough in diameter to pass
the rope up the back side of spokes or treads of third ladder. The rope is then
attached to the lever or stud on stop at bottom of third ladder and there passes up
to top of third ladder and is attached to lever or stud stop at head of third ladder.
The rope can be attached directly to the lever or stud or stop or by a short branch
rope. It will be seen that when using the ordinary wire rope extending gear that if
the controlling cord or rope is taut when the ladders are down and the rope is also
connecting the stops together, then a pull on the rope will draw the stops out of

page_text: gear. Thus also as the ladders extend the rope will remain taut in any position of
the extension of the ladders and a pull on the rope similarly affects the stops. Thus
with one rope I command the stops for two, or three sliding ladders of a fire escape
and no slack or paying out occurs to the controlling rope.
This apparatus can be applied to various forms of sliding ladders and stops of
various designs can be used. I can adjust the length of controlling rope by a rigging
screw or similar device. The rope can be pulled by a lever or crab or by a bend in
the rope between a fixed point and a pulley and the rope can be pulled out and held
by hand or fixed out automatically.
Dated this 5th day of February 1898.
Improvements in Fire Escapes and Apparatus relating thereto.
WILLIAM JAMES WORTH, Arkendale, Littledown Road, Bournemouth, "Cabinet
Manufacturer," 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of actuating and arranging
safety stops on fire escapes having two, three or more sliding ladders which stops
prevent the ladder accidentally running down when extended, and so arranging that
each and all of the stops can be controlled by one rope from the foot of the main
ladder or the back handle bar or other convenient position.
Hitherto it has been the practice where safety stops are used, to actuate them by
separate cords or ropes to each stop. A stop being placed at the head of the main
and second ladders when three ladders are used, and at the head of the third ladder
when four ladders are used.
Some difficulty is experienced with these ropes as they must be payed off from the
ground as the ladders extend and coiled up as they descend.
In my invention the stops or pawls can be of similar construction to those now in
use and can be formed on a spindle or cross bar, the ends of which pivot in bearings
fixed between the sides of ladders. The pawls can engage with the spokes of ladders
when descending and check their descent.
The spokes of the ladders knock up the stops or pawls in ascending and when the
spokes have passed the pawl, springs or weights, or the weight of the pawls bring
the pawls into position to prevent the ladders return.
On the pawl or stop spindles a lever or stud is fixed to which a rope is attached by
which they can be drawn out and held out of gear with the spokes when it is desired
to lower the ladders. In escapes with three ladders I fix one stop at or near the top
of main ladder and engaging with the spokes of second ladder. The second stop can
be placed at or near the lower end of third ladder and engages with the spokes of
second ladder-and in escapes with four ladders I place a third stop at or near the
upper end of third ladder engaging with the spokes of fourth ladder. Thus as the
ladders extend the stops engage with their respective ladders and prevent accidental
return.
When the ladders have been extended and it is desired to lower them the stops are
pulled out of gear in the following manner. I attach a rope or cord to the handle bar
or to the foot of main ladder in any convenient position and it passes up the main
ladder to the first stop and is there attached to the lever or stud provided on stop for
pulling it out of gear. The rope then passes over a pulley near top of main
ladder and descends to and over a pulley fixed at bottom of second ladder the pulley

page_text: according to my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation shewing the head and foot of ladder to an
enlarged scale, with a modified arrangement of controlling rope.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Similar letters refer to similar parts in
all the figures.
(A) is the main ladder with spokes or treads (B¹).
(A) is the second ladder with spokes or treads (B2).
(A3) is the third ladder with spokes or treads (B³).
(A) is the fourth ladder with spokes or treads (B+).
The stop (C) fixed to the head of main ladder (A¹) and working on the pivot or
spindle (D) supported in brackets (E¹) engages with the spokes (B2) of second
ladder (A2). The stop (C²) fixed at or near the end of third ladder (A3) and working
on the pivot or spindle (D2) and brackets (E²) engages with the spokes (B2) of second
ladder (A2) and the stop (C³) fixed at or near the head of third ladder (A³) and
working on the pivot or spindle (D³) and brackets (E3) engages with the spokes (B+)
of the fourth ladder (A').
The stops (C) (C2) (C3) are kept in gear or in that position shewn in the drawings
by the action of the tensional springs (FI) (F2) (F³) or counter balance weights
(Ğ¹) (G2) (G³)—one end of each of the springs (FI) (F2) (F³) being attached to studs
or levers (H) (H2) (H³) on the stops (C') (C3) (C³) or spindles (D') (D²) (D³). The
opposite end of each of the springs (F1) (F2) (F3) being fixed to a part of the
ladders (A¹) (A³). When the ladders (A2) (A³) (A') are being extended and
the rising spokes (B2) (B³) (B4) successively approach and come into contact with the
stops (C¹) (C²) (C3) these are thrown back until the spokes (B²) (B³) (B') have passed
clear of the stops (C¹) (C2) (C³) which will then return to their normal position under
the action of the springs (FI) (F2) (F³) or weights (G¹) (G2) (G3) and thus prevent
the return of the ladders (A2) (A³) (A)-also when the controlling rope (I) is pulled the
stops (C) (C) (C³) are thrown out of gear in which position they are shewn in dotted
lines Fig. 2, being quite clear of the spokes (B2) (B3) (B) and in the proper position
for lowering ladders (A2) (A³) (A4). The rope (I) being released the stops (C¹) (C2) (C¹³)
return to the normal or in gear position in the manner previously described.
Referring now to Fig. 1 the controlling rope (1) being attached to the handle
bar (J) first passes round guide pulley (K) at foot of main ladder (A¹) then rising

page_text: .
along the face of main ladder (A¹) is attached to the lever or stud (H) of stop. (C').
The rope (I) being then continued upwards and over the pulley (L) passing down-
wards at the back of the spokes (B1) of main ladder (A¹) and round the pulley (M)
fixed to the foot of second ladder (A2)-this pulley (M) being of such diameter as to
carry the rope (I) clear of the spokes (B2) (B3) on the second and third
ladders (A2) (A3). A branch rope (12) is passed over the pulley (N) and is attached
to the lever (H2) on the stops (C2) or spindle (D2). The rope (I) is continued
upwards to the top of third ladder (A³) and passing over the pulley (0) is attached to
the lever (H) on the stops (C3) or spindle (D³). Modified arrangements of working
the controlling rope (1) are shewn in dotted lines (P) is a crab with handle (Q) and
ratchet (R) the end of rope (I) being attached to the drum (S), or a lever (T)
vibrating on a pin (U) and having a handle (V) with rope (I) attached at a
point (W).
In another arrangement the rope (I) is fixed near the foot of main ladder (A¹)' as
at (X) and passing upwards under a pulley (Y) also fixed to the main ladder (A¹).
In this arrangement the stops (C¹) (2) (C) would be operated by pulling the rope
at a point (2) and in the direction indicated by the arrow head forming the bend in the
rope shewn in dotted lines. (R¹) (R) are rigging screws to adjust the length of rope
between the stops (C¹) (C²) & (C²) (C3). Figs. 2 and 3 shews a modified arrangement
of connecting the controlling rope (I) with the stops (C¹) (C2) (C³). The pulley (L)
Fig. 1 at the head of main ladder (A¹), is dispensed with, and in the place thereof a
pulley (L) carried, on the lever (H¹) of the stop (C¹). Likewise in connection with
the stop (C2) at the foot of third ladder (A3) the pulley (N) and branch rope (12)
Fig. 1 is dispensed with and the pullies (N¹) (N2) substituted, the pulley (N¹) being
fixed to a spoke (B3) of the third ladder (A3) and the pulley (N2) being carried on
the stop (C2). The rope (1) from this point is carried upwards at the back of
spokes (B2) of 2nd ladder (A2) and over the pulley (0¹) at the head of third ladder (A³)
and is finally attached to the stop (C³).
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
1
Firstly. The arrangement of working safety stops on fire escapes having two, three
or more sliding ladders by means of one rope which may be continuous or branched
or jointed and arranged so as to follow the extension of the ladders. A pull on the
rope disengaging all the stops on the ladder, the release of the rope engaging them
all as illustrated and described.
Secondly. The means of controlling the rope by lever, crab and bend as illustrated
and described.
amber 1908