Improvements in Fire-escapes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
Improvements in Fire-escapes.
I EDWARD HODSON BAYLEY of 42 Newington Causeway, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in a novel construction of Fire Escape, whereby it may be
quickly adjusted for use.
The Fire Escape is made with a double ladder, the one fitted to slide on the face
of the other. The sliding ladder passes through a guide at the top of the main-
ladder, and to its bottom rung or step is attached a wire rope, which passing over a
pulley on the main ladder, is secured to a winch barrel carried by cast iron bracket
supports from the main ladder, and provided at one side with suitable power gear
and at the other with a winch handle.
The main ladder, constructed of trussed side bars, for lightness, is securely carried
by iron struts and stays on a carriage frame mounted, by means of scroll arms and
springs, in the usual manner, on the axle of a pair of large wheels.-To the bottom
of the main ladder, which is provided with a pair of small wheels or trucks, is hinged
the carriage lever frame, its front rail forming a handle bar or shaft by which the
Fire Escape can be tipped on the axle of the wheels, and pushed forward by hand,
or lowered, until the small wheels of the main ladder rest on the ground, thereby
holding the main ladder at a suitable working inclination.
The carriage lever frame stands out at right angles from the main ladder, and
is secured in that position by stay rods binged to the side of the main ladder, and
taking into sockets on the sides of the carriage lever frame.-By unshipping the stay
rods, the carriage lever can be folded against the front of the main ladder, when the
apparatus is not in use. To enable the apparatus to be securely fixed in a position
for immediate use, with the least possible delay, I provide the wheels with swinging
scotch blocks. These scotch blocks are secured the required distance apart by a tie
rod or bar, and they are carried from the axle of the wheels by a pair of radius rods,
which are attached loosely to the axle by a ring and jointed connection, and held out
of scotching action by chains brought up from them, and attached to the handle bar
of the carriage lever frame, or other part of the apparatus. A second pair of loose
scotch blocks may be carried upon the back of the carriage frame, and may be used,
in case of need, to further secure the Escape in a fixed position. The carriage
wheels of the Fire Escape can be thus securely scotched immediately the apparatus
reaches its destination, the attendant simultaneously ceasing to propel the vehicle and
slackening the chains of the scotching blocks.-The sliding ladder may then be raised
by turning the winch handle, and all may be effected without any loss of time.
Dated this 24th day of June 1889.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-escapes.
I EDWARD HODSON BAYLEY of 42, Newington Causeway in the County of Surrey,
Engineer 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 the construction of a light, portable fire-escape, with
the view of combining the greatest facility of transport with quick adjustment

page_text: In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated a fire escape constructed according
to my invention.
Fig. li s a side elevation of the Fire escape,
Fig. 2 is a front view of part of the ladders,
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a special scotching device, detached.
The Fire-escape consists of a double ladder A A', the one ladder fitted to slide
on the face of the other.The. sliding ladder A¹ passes through guides at the top of
the main ladder A, and to its bottom rung or step a¹ is attached a wire rope b,
which, passing over a pulley a on the main ladder, is secured to a winch barrel B,
carried by wrought iron bracket supports from the main ladder, and provided, at
one side, with suitable power gear, and at the other with a winch handle.
The main ladder, constructed of trussed ladder sides, for lightness, is securely
carried by iron struts and stays on a carriage frame C, mounted, by means of scroll
arms and springs, in the usual manner, on the axle of a pair of large wheels.
To the bottom of the main ladder A, which is provided with a pair of small wheels
or trucks a² a², is hinged or jointed the carriage lever frame D, its front rail d
forming a handle bar or shaft by which the Fire-escape can be tipped on the axle of
the wheels, and pushed forward by hand, or lowered until the small wheels of the
main ladder rest on the ground, thereby holding the main ladder at a suitable
working inclination.
The carriage lever frame stands out at right angles from the main ladder, and is
secured in that position by stay rods d¹ binged to the side of the main ladder, and
taking into sockets on the sides of the carriage lever frame. By unshipping the stay
rods d, the carriage lever D can be folded against the front of the main ladder A
when the apparatus is not in use.
To enable the apparatus to be securely fixed in a position for immediate use with
the least possible delay, I provide the wheels with swinging scotch blocks ee
(see
Fig. 3). These scotch blocks, which are fitted with lips to hold the blocks firmly in
position when in use, are secured the required distance apart by a tie rod or bar e¹,
and they are carried behind the running wheels, from the axle thereof, by a pair of
radius. rods e e², which are attached to the axle by rings loosely embracing the same.
The scotch blocks e e are held out of scotching action while the escape is running, by
chains brought up from them, and attached to the handle bar d of the carriage lever
frame D, or other part of the apparatus.
These chains fare fitted at such a length that the tipping of the carriage, to wheel
it along by means of the lever D, will draw the scotch blocks e e out of action, and
hold them clear of the running wheels, this being permitted by the looseness of the
swinging frame attached to the axle.-The chains are, however, by preference,
capable of being let out to allow of the scotch being dropped into place should the
apparatus be laid down when put away.
A second pair of loose scotch blocks 9 g may be carried upon the back of the
carriage frame, and may be used, in case of need, to further secure the escape in a
fixed position.
Immediately the apparatus reaches its destination, and is wheeled into position, the
lever D is lowered to place the small wheels on the ground, and with it the scotch
blocks e e, which thus automatically drop into position beneath the running wheels,
and prevent all back movement. The scotching is completed by fitting the blocks g 9,
before mentioned, into position by hand..
The sliding ladder may then be raised by turning the winch handle, and all may be
effected without any loss of time.
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. A Fire-escape constructed and arranged as shown and described with reference
to the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 2. The application to a Fire-escape, of a swinging frame carrying a pair of
scotching blocks, which drop automatically into place beneath the carriage wheels
immediately the apparatus is set in position for use, in the manner shewn and
described.
Dated this 92nd day of Datober 1880
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.