US129336A - Improvement in fire-escapes - Google Patents

Description

2 Swheets--Sheet1.

1.1. HARTMAN.

Improvement in Fire-Escapes.

Patented July 16,1872.

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scale 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. J.v J. HARTMAN.

Improvement in Fire-Escapes.

No. 129,336. PatentedJuly16,1872.

J4 thinl- Mu:- enkov UNITED STATES JOHN J. HARTMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN FlRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,336, dated July 16, 1872.

Specification describing a certain Improved Fire-Escape Apparatus, invented by JOHN J.

HARTMAN, of the city and county of St. Louis and State of Missouri.

The first part of my invention relates to the manner of supporting and of raising the ladder, which is swiveled upon a compound derrick, whose legs are pivoted to the front and rear bolsters, and the bolsters are connected by a reach which slides through the same. The rear bolster is drawn toward the front one by ropes passing around a Windlass in the front bolster; said windlass also carrying a rope, which extends out through the front of the bolster, and may be attached to a hook upon the double-tree, so that when the hammerpin is drawn out and the horses driven forward the rear wheels and bolster will be drawn toward the front bolster and the derrick and ladder raised. The second part of my invention relates to the construction of the Windlass by which the ladder is extended and the basket raised and lowered. This Windlass has a central portion carrying the rope on which the basket is suspended, and upon the same shaft are two sleeves carrying the ropes by which the extensional member of the ladder is operated. These sleeves are connectable by pins to disks upon the winch-shaft, and may be disconnected therefrom by removal of the pins so as to allowthe independent raising and lowering of the basket.

Figure l is an elevation of the apparatus when in condition for service. Fig. 2 is a side elevation when arranged for travel. Fig. 3 is a top view. Fig. 4 is an axial section of the hoisting-Windlass. Fig. 5 is a diagram, showing the operation of the chock bars. Fig. 6 is a top view of the Windlass for raising the derrick and ladder, the top of the front bolster being removed to exhibit the same.

A are the front wheels, and A the rear wheels; B,the front axle, and B the rear axle. G is the front bolster, and D the rear bolster. The front bolster has an interior cavity containing a Windlass, E, carrying at its central portion a rope, F, which extends through the front of the bolster, and may be connected to the double-tree G, as shown in Fig. 6, when it is desired to draw the rear bolster and wheels toward the front ones, which is done by means of the ropes H, carried upon the Windlass E,

and extending to the rear bolster. I is the reach, passing through both bolsters and limiting their separation by nuts 2'. The reach slides freely in both bolsters except when held by the setscrews J, which are screwed down when the apparatus is in traveling condition. Upon the reach are sliding collars K held fast upon the reach, when desired, by set-screws k, and to these collars are attached the ends of the sway-chain L, passing at its midlength beneath the saddle lof the swivel M the latter being attached to the center of the reach and having an adjustingscrew, m. N O are the four legs of the derrick, two of which, N, are hinged to the front bolster, and the other two, 0, to the rear bolster, the pivot-pins being shown at n 0. The ends of the legs N O are connected by a hinge, P, to which is attached the swivel Q, and to the swivel is hinged the cross-bar 1' of the lower section B of the ladder. In the lower section R of the ladder slides an extensional section R, to whose stiles or sides are attached the ends of ropes S, which pass over pulleys s in boxes or brackets s attached to the upper parts of the ground section R. The other ends of the ropes S are attached to the sleeves T of the Windlass U at the lower end of the section B. The sleeves T may turn freely on the winch-shaft of the Windlass, but may, when required, be connected to said shaft by pins 1., which pass through disks t on the shaft and into the sleeves. (See Fig. 4.) T are pawls, which engage ratchets on the sleeves to prevent the retrograde rotation of the sleeves and sustain the section B of the ladder. The lower end of the section B has foot-spikes 1", which screw into the lower ends of the sides so as to be adjustable to an uneven surface. V is a rope, passing around the Windlass U and extending over a pulley in a block, 1), and between two guidepulleys, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, where aportion of the side of the ladder is broken away to show the block. The rope V supports a basket, W, preferably of metal, and having two sliding doors, 'w. The arrangement for guiding the rear wheels is similar to that already in use, and is operated by a key, X. Y-

are bars, having at one end a fork, 3 which spans the axle when in use, (see Fig. 5,) and the bar carries, near the lower end, a lockchain, Z, which passes around the rim of the fore wheel to prevent the wheel turning, and draw down the end of the bar firmly against the ground, when the rear wheels are drawn forward to raise the ladder.

- the derrick and the ladder. The rope F is then belayed on the cleat 2. The foot of the ladder is then turned around into position and the brace 3 applied to prevent any danger of the upsetting of the apparatus before the spikes 7' have bearing against the wall of the building. The pins it being inserted, connecting the sleeves T to the Windlass U, the said Windlass is turned and the extensional member It raised up, and when the spikes 1' rest in proper position against the wall of the house the pins t are drawn out, thus disconnecting the sleeves T from the rest of the Windlass U, the pawls T preventing the retrograde rotation of the sleeves.

When the sleeves T are disconnected from the Windlass U the latter may be applied sole- 1y to the use of the basket W.

The Windlass E,by which the derrick is elevated, may, if desired, be turned by hand in place of being turned by the horses, as described, one or both ends of the shaft being made angular and accessible from the outside for the application of a winch.

The apparatus may be moved some distance or adjusted in position without lowering the ladder.

In restoring it to its traveling condition, the extension R is first lowered and the rope F loosened upon the belaying-cleat 2, the weight of the ladder expanding the derrick and forcing the bolsters apart. The ladder descends on the spring-bars, and the seat and basket may be placed upon it and lashed fast, the basket constituting the seat of either the driver or the steerer of the rear wheels.

The ropes used are preferably of wire.

Claim.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the swiveled ladder R and derrick N O P hinged to the bolsters O D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the bolsters O D and derrick N O P hinged thereto, of the sliding reach I, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the bolsters O D, derrick N O P, hinged thereto, Windlass E, and ropes F H, arranged and constructed substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of the Windlass T T U, pins 15 t with the ladder R R, ropes S V, and basket or other containing-vessel, W, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony of which invention I have here unto set my hand.

JOHN J. HARTMAN.

Witnesses SAML'. KNIGHT, W. A. BRAWNER.

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