IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Albert Brown Houghton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1878.
ALBERT BROWN HOUGHTON, of Frederick Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
The standard, which is mounted upon a four wheeled carriage, consists of three
cylindrical uprights parallel to each other which are held together by tic belts and
so placed that a transverse section cuts them in three circles, the centres of which
are at the angular points of an equilateral triangle. The standard is still further
strengthened by bracings or stiffeners. At the upper end of the standard is the
top belt. This circular belt is of the following construction:-Two metal circles of
unequal radii are placed so that they are concentric and are connected by three
radii at angles of 120° to each other, but these radii do not actually reach the centre
of the belt, but terminate at the circumference of the inner circle. The radii are of
sufficient breadth to allow of being pierced near the points where each meets the
circumference of the circles of the belt. In these pierced holes are placed pulleys,
the axes of the pulleys being at right angles to their respective radii. There are
therefore two pulleys supported by each radius, but instead of the two pulleys one
larger pulley supported by each radius may be used.
The lower end of the standard terminates in a circular base plate. Three or more
grooved rollers turn upon pivots projecting from the circumference of the base plate
(hereafter called the circumferential pivots), these pivots being in the direction of
corresponding produced radii of the base plate. Three or more pivots project per-
pendicular to the lower face of the base plate, each one of these pivots being equi-
distant from the centre and on or near a radius bisecting the angle, which a pair of
circumferential pivots subtend at the centre of the base plate. On each of these
pivots turns a grooved roller. These grooved rollers run on two circular rails
raised from a strong circular platform, the circumferential rollers on one circular
rail, and the second set upon the other circular rail, so that the base plate and
standard are capable of revolution upon the platform. The platform at one part of
its circumference is fixed to a strong shaft, and the shaft is placed transversely to
the length of the carriage, and turns in bearings springing from the frame of the
C

page_text: carriage. The shaft is made to revolve by means of multiplying gear, and thus the
platform and with it the standard are tilted forward when necessary.
The standard will not fall over when tilted as it is kept in position by the second
set of rollers in combination with the circular rail above described. A stage slides
up and down the standard the stage being directed by a stage guide. The stage
guide is provided with grooved rollers which run upon the cylindrical uprights of
the standard. The stage is raised or lowered by the persons upon it in the following
way
A chain has one extremity firmly fixed to the belt at the top of the standard.
The chain now passes downwards, and after passing twice round a windlass withi
which the stage is provided, travels on to the base plate to which it is also firmly
attached.
The chain is in a state of tension so that by turning the windlass motion is
imparted to the stage. Three other chains are attached to the stage. Each of these
chains passes up over a pulley in the top belt of the standard, if there is only one
pulley supported by each radius (but if two, then each pair of pulleys has a chain
passing over it) and then down inside the standard, when they are knotted together,
and finally attached to a weight which acts as a counterpoise to the weight of the
stage and the people upon it. The stage which projects at right angles to the
standard can be lengthened or shortened between convenient limits; this is pro-
cured by making the stage in three parts which can slide along each other.
Finally a long lever projects from the lower end of and perpendicular to the
standard, and after clearing tlre carriage bend downwards towards the ground. The
straight part of this lever is parallel to the length of the stage, and when the stage
descends it rests upon this lever.
At a fire the carriage would usually stand so that its length is parallel to the
plane of the front of the house. Then by means of the lever the standard, and with
it the stage are made to revolve till the stage runs perpendicular to the plane of the
front of the house. The stage is raised to the required height, and being lengthened
to the necessary extent forms a means of exit for persons from a window or other
position.
When the persons stand on the projecting stage, there will be a tendency of the
fire escape to fall over on that side on which is the projecting stage. But in the
end of the lever which bends downwards towards the ground, threads are cut in
which works a screw; by turning the screw its end is brought into contact with the
ground, and thus support is given to the machine.