A New or Improved Method of Raising and Lowering Fire Escapes and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of Raising and Lowering Fire Escapes
and the like.
I, DAVID ROCHE 50 Ranelagh Road Ealing Middlesex. Retired Mariner. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a new or improved method of raising or lowering fire
escapes and the like, and consists of a movable bearing carried upon wheels which by
being moved will raise or lower a structure or erection which is movably secured to a
platform, and which is supported in the movable bearings aforesaid. Moving bearing
surfaces are provided upon the platform so that the wheels aforesaid may rest upon
same when required. A basket or cage is provided which is raised or lowered by
means of a winch or other convenient means, a travelling bar or rod being employed
for the purpose of varying the position of the basket when being raised or lowered.
The whole may be be moved about upon the wheels aforesaid for purposes of
transit.
A New or Improved Method of Raising and Lowering Fire Escapes
and the like.
I, DAVID ROCHE 50 Ranelagh Road, Ealing Middlesex, Retired Mariner. 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 consists of a new or improved method of raising or lowering fire
escapes and the like, and consists of a movable bearing carried upon wheels which by
being moved will raise or lower a structure or erection which is movably secured to a
platform, and which is supported in the movable bearings aforesaid. Moving bearing
surfaces are provided upon the platform so that the wheels aforesaid may rest upon
same when required. A basket or cage is provided which is raised or lowered by
means of a winch or other convenient means, a travelling bar or rod being employed
for the purpose of varying the position of the basket when being raised or lowered.
The whole may be moved about upon the wheels aforesaid for purposes of transit.
For purposes of illustration I will now refer to the annexed drawings, in which :—
Figure 1. is a side elevation of my invention.
Figure 2. front elevation.

page_text: Figure 3. plan view of movable bearing surfaces.
Figure 4. enlarged view of movable bearing.
a, a, are two limbs or uprights of suitable material forming a structure or erection,
which are pivoted at b to a platforin or support g. care stop pieces or the like which
are provided with locking catches of any suitable forin for securing the frame in its
vertical position when required. d are the movable bearings having the rollers d¹
upon woich the limbs a rest, this movable bearings being supported upon the axle e
which carries the weeels f. The platform g carries the winch h and pulley i. jis
a cord which is attached to the movable bearaing at any convenient part thereof and
to the platform g through the medium of the pulley blocks and is wound upon the
winch h for the purpose of raising or lowering the structure or erection. l is a
travelling bar or carrier which can be raised or lowered upon the structure or erection
by means of the rope or the like through the medium of any convenient means
such as a pulley or the like which may be operated by means of a handle or crank or
other suitable means. The rope or the like m is attached to the cage or basket n and
passes through the pulley o for the purpose of enabling the cage n to be raised or
lowered. This rope also passes through a pulley on the travelling bar or carrier l,
and thus the cage may, if desired, be caused to move in a direction parallel to that of
the structure or erection a. pare movable surfaces which may be caused to project
from the sides of the platforing for the purpose of receiving the wheels when the
structure or erection is being raised or lowered.
It will be seen that after the structure or erection has been raised to, its vertical
position, by further operating the winch the platform may be raised from the ground
and thus enable the whole to be readily turned upon the bearing wheels.
When it is required to move or transport the structur. or erection the movable
surfaces are withdrawn from under the wheels and the whole inay then be moved
upon the wheels. The structure or erection may be jointed in one or more places as
indicated by the dotted lines q, any convenient form of joint or hinge being
employed so as to enable the same to be folded when required for transport.
It will also be seen that this form of erection is particularly suitable for use as a
fire escape, as the cage may be manipulated so as to be available in situations in
which an ordinary fire escape is useless owing to the same being operated through
the medium of the travelling bar or carrier.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The method of raising or lowering a structure or erection by means of a
movable bearing carried upon wheels; said movable bearing being operated by cords
and pulley blocks or any other well-known and convenient arrangement; said
structure or erection being pivoted or hinged to a platform having movable bearing
surfaces for the reception of the wheels aforesaid when required, said structure or
erection being provided with a travelling bar or carrier for the purpose of enabling
the position of the basket or cage to be regulated.
2. The combined construction and arrangement of the various parts substantially
as described and illustrated herein.
D