Improvements in Certain Fire Extinguishing Apparatus, also applicable as a Fire Escape.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification-Left, 8th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1900
Improvements in Certain Fire Extinguishing Apparatus, also
applicable as a Fire Escape.
I, CHARLES GRAYSON, of 3, Brearton Street, Manningham Lane, in the City
of Bradford, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of fire extinguishing
apparatus and fire escapes consisting of a number of sections sliding the one
within the other and its object is to provide a simple and convenient apparatus.
For this purpose I employ a suitable carriage constructed to be moved or
drawn by animal or other power and made as light in weight as is consistent
with the strains to which it is liable to be exposed. The telescopic sections are
preferably made of rectangular cross section principally of wood, and the outer
one is mounted by side trunnions in bearings formed in the carriage sides. A
screw in the carriage engaging a nut linked to the outer section is provided to
enable the sections to be raised from an approximately horizontal position (in
which they are placed to increase their portability) to a vertical position. The
screw may be driven at an increased speed by gearing. Hinged end struts may
be provided to more rigidly fix the sections in this position. These struts may
be hinged to the carriage and engage racks upon the outer sections and may be
automatically moved into position."
The sections are arranged to slide one within the other and suitable anti-
friction rollers are pivoted preferably upon the outer sections to facilitate guid-
ing the sections working up and down within them. I find three sections to
be a convenient number and to raise and lower them I may employ two wire
ropes connected to a barrel or drum mounted in bearings preferably located
at or near the bottom of the outermost section. These ropes pass under pulleys
located near diagonal corners of the lower end of the outer section then over
pulleys at the same corners near the top of such section and down under pulleys
mounted upon the lower end of the intermediate section. The ropes are then
passed over pulleys upon the top of the intermediate section under two pulleys
each on the lower end of the inner-most section and over pulleys on the top of
the intermediate section and are then carried down and adjustably connected
to the top of the outer section. By turning the drum by means of a winch
handle or handles and suitable gearing provided for the purpose the inner-most
section is first drawn up until its independent upward movement is further
prevented by suitable stops engaging the intermediate section and then the
latter moves up to the limit allowed by stops engaging the outer section. A
ratchet is preferably provided on the drum to engage a pawl to hold the sections
in the raised position.
A platform is constructed on the top of the inner-most section and hand rails
inar be fixed round or partly round it,

page_text: Standards or their equivalent are provided on the top of the platform having
swivel and tiltable bearings or holders to support the "branch" or nozzle and
relieve the firemen from their weight and recoil as well as the weight of the
hose.
A swing or sliding gangway may be carried on the platform to facilitate
reaching the building and a suitable crane or the like may also be provided to
facilitate lowering rescued persons.
Improvements in Certain Fire Extinguishing Apparatus, also
applicable as a Fire Escape.
I. CHARLES GRAYSON, of 3. Brearton Street. Manningham Lane, in the City
of. Bradford, Gentleman, 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 that class of fire extinguishing
apparatus and fire escapes consisting of a number of sections sliding the one
within the other. and its object is to provide a simple and convenient apparatus.
To fully describe my invention, reference is made to the accompanying sheet
of drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of
reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the views.
Figure 1, is a side view of my improved fire escape in its collapsed form.
Figure 2, is a vertical section of the same fully extended.
Figure 3, is a sectional plan on the broken line a, b Figure 2.
The carriage 2, mounted on wheels 3 is constructed to be moved or drawn by
animal or other power and is made as light in weight as is consistent with the
strains to which it is liable to be exposed.
The telesconic section 4 slides freely within the middle section 5 and the
latter slides within the outer section 6. The section 6 is provided with trunnions 7
by which it is mounted in bearings 9 fixed to the sides of the carriage. A
screw 10 is mounted in bearings 11. 11 which confine it longitudinally but
leave it free to be turned by a winch handle or its equivalent. A nut 12 on
the screw is pivoted in the forked end 14 of the link 15 hinged to the bottom of
the outer section 6. By means of the nut and screw the collapsed sections can
he raised from the inclined position shown in Figure 1 (in which they are
placed to increase their portability) to a vertical position. The end strut 17
hinged to the top of the carriage is provided to engage the rack 18 after the
sections have been raised to the vertical position. Then to rigidly fix the
section 6 the screw is slightly reversed to bring pressure against the strut.
When not in use the strut is turned down to the position shown in Figure 1.
Anti-friction rollers 20 which may be adjustable are provided to engage the
sides of the movable sections and faciltate them sliding one within the other and
to raise and lower the sections I employ two wire ropes 21 and 22 connected to
a barrel or drum 23 mounted in bearings formed in the outer section preferably
at or
near the bottom. The ropes 21 and 22 pass off the drum 23 under
pulleys 24, 24 mounted near diagonal corners of the lower end of the outer
section as shown in Figure 3. The rope 21 is then passed over a pulley 25
mounted near the top of the same corner of the outer section and down under a

page_text: pulley 27 mounted upon the lower end of the middle section 5. The rope is
then passed over a pulley 28 at the top of the intermediate section under two
pulleys 30 on the lower end of the section 4 and over a pulley 32 on the top
of section 5 and is then carried down under a pulley 33 on the bottom of
section 5 and the end is adjustably connected to the top of section 6. The
rope 22 takes a similar course up the other side of the sections. By turning
the drum by means of a winch handle or other means on the end 35 of its
shaft 36 the section 4 is first raised until its independent upward movement is
further prevented by its cross pieces 40 engaging the underside of the cross
pieces 41 of the section 5, then the latter moves up to the limit allowed by its
cross pieces 42 engaging the underside of the cross pieces 43 of section 6. A
pawl 50 is preferably pivoted to section 6 to engage the ratchet wheel 51 on
the drum 23 to hold the sections in the raised position.
A platform 55 is formed on the top of the section 4 and hand rails 56 are
preferably placed partly round it.
A number of standards 60 are provided on the top of the platform having
swivel and tiltable bearings 62 or holders to support the "branches" and relieve
the fire-man of their weight and recoil as well as the weight of the hose.
A ladder 70 is fixed to the side of the section 6 to give access to the platform 55.
A swing or sliding gangway may be carried on the platform to facilitate
reaching the buildings, and a suitable crane or the like may also be provided
to facilitate lowering rescued persons.
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 and lowering the sections by ropes arranged and
operating substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. A telescopic tower constructed, arranged and operating substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Didth: 5th dow of Tanu 1000
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Patent Agents, Bradford.