Improvements in the Construction of Self-adjusting Accommodation Ladders for Ships' Use and for other Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1903-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1900
Improvements in the Construction of Self-adjusting Accommodation
Ladders for Ships' Use and for other Purposes.
: -
I, ALBERT EDWARD FAIRMAN, of Wellington Street, Dunoon, North Britain,
Naval Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of self adjusting
accommodation ladders for ship's use and for other purposes, and to that class
of ladder the treads of which retain a horizontal position irrespective of the
angle at which the ladder may hang from the ship's side, which is effected by
pivotting or hinging the back of the treads to a frame, the top of which is hung
from the under side of the platform at a distance from the hinge of the strings
in accordance with the varying depths of the strings; under this construction,
the sides or ends of the treads being pivotted to the strings.
Hitherto the said back frame has been constructed of say five longitudinal
wooden straps to which cross irons have been secured by means of wood screws,
the ends of the said cross irons being turned in, in such a manner as to provide
the necessary means for pivotting the backs of the treads.
According to my present improvements, I dispense with the said longitudinal
wooden straps and in lieu thereof I employ straps, or bars, of metal, of any suit-
able section, whereby I obtain greater strength and durability as I am able
to dispense with the wood screws which have hitherto been used for attaching the
wooden straps to the cross irons which screws are liable to work loose, whereas
my improved metal straps are rivetted or bolted to the cross irons whereby
strength and durability is effected and there is less liability of this part of the
ladder getting out of order.
Improvements in the Construction of Self-adjusting Accommodation
Ladders for Ships' Use and for other Purposes.
I, ALBERT EDWARD FAIRMAN, of Wellington Street, Dunoon, North Britain,
Naval Architect, 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 improvements in the construction of self adjusting

page_text: accommodation ladders for ship's use and for other purposes, and to that class
of ladder the treads of which retain a horizontal position irrespective of the
angle at which the ladder may hang from the ship's side, which is effected by
pivotting or hinging the back of the treads to a frame, the top of which is hung
from the under side of the platform at a distance from the hinge of the strings
in accordance with the varying depths of the strings; under this construction,
the sides or ends of the treads being pivotted to the strings.
Hitherto the said back frame has been constructed of say five longitudinal
wooden straps to which cross irons have been secured by means of wood screws,
the end of the said cross irons being turned in, in such a manner as to provide
the necessary means for pivotting the backs of the treads.
According to my present improvements, I dispense with the said longitudinal
wooden straps and in lieu thereof I employ straps, or bars, of metal, of any suit-
able section, whereby I obtain greater strength and durability as I am able
to dispense with the wood screws which have hitherto been used for attaching the
wooden straps to the cross irons which screws are liable to work loose, whereas
my improved metal straps are rivetted or bolted to the cross irons whereby
strength and durability is effected and there is less liability of this part of the
ladder getting out of order.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification, Fig. 11
is a sectional side elevation of the ladder arranged at an angle.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view, the ladder hanging plumb.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged under-plan of one of the steps.
Fig. 4 is an under-plan of the frame of platform and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ladder when used as a gangway.
In the said figs. A are the strings of the ladder which are hinged to the
platform B at the point b. C are the steps pivoted at c to the strings and also
at e to the knees of the cross irons D) which are rivetted or bolted to the metal
bars or straps E. The said metal bars or straps E are shewn one made of Tone
of flat and the other of iron but any other equivalent section may be employed
possessing the desired rigidity.
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 general arrangement, construction and combination of parts constituting
the self adjusting accommodation ladder for ship's use, and for other purposes.
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. The self adjusting accommodation ladder for ship's use, and for other pur-
poses, in which the cross irons D carrying the real pivots of the steps, are rivetted
or bolted to the metal bars or straps E, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1900.
JOHNSONS,
Applicant's Agents, 115, St Vincent Street, Glasgow.