US316415A - Fire-escape ladder - Google Patents

Description

2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. SWENSON.

FIRE ESCAPE LADDER.

No. 316,415. Patented Apr. 21, 1885.

WITNESSES: d.% .1;

m .KV WW WQWML ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. SWENSON.

FIRE ESCAPE LADDER.

No. 316,415. Patented Apr 21, 1885.

' b INVENTOR.

, 1 :2: r NWU M, Q ax v i aft N fi UNITED. dramas LORENS SWVENSON,

' Parana (Enrica.

OF CRESCO. IOWA.

FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

si ncrrrcarrom forming part camel's Patent No. 316,415, dated 21, less. Application filed April 11, 18;. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LORENS SwENso a citizen of the United States, residing at Oresco, in the count-y of Howard and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escape Ladders, of which the following is aspccification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in portable fire-escape ladders and hose-elevators; and it consists in the construction, arrangement,'and operation of the several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the specification, and pointed out in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my device, showing the ladder in its raised position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the hoisting mechanism. Fig. 3is asection of same; Fig. 4, a side elevation of one part of the hoistinggear; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the truck with the lad der folded thereon, and Fig. 6 a detail side view of the spring-drum.

The upper sections of the ladder are extended or raised on the same general principles as the extension-ladder granted to me in Letters Patent of the United States No. 284,683, September 11, 1883. The means for raising the first section differ materially therefrom, as will be explained.

The ladder here shown is mounted upon a truck consisting of the runninggear frame A and wheels B. I have here shown only twov sections, 0 C; but the principle is the same for any suitable number of sections. These sections 0 C may be of wood or metal, as de sired. The lower sections, 0, are mounted on the transverse axis L, upon which are also mounted the hosedrurn H and the gear-wheels m a. A flange, h, at one side and the flange of the wheel m at the opposite side of said drum H prevent the hose from slipping. A coiled spring, (one or more,) K, is secured to and is wound upon the drum, having flanges K K Fig. 3. The gear-wheels in a mesh with the wheels m a on the shaft M, upon which is wound the rope k, which raises and lowers the upper ladder-sections, as in my former patent before referred to. The rope for raising the basket D is secured at one end to and is wound upon the drum or shaft G, which can be actuated at either side of the truck by i suitable cranks, such as g. The upper end of cordl passes over the pulley g. and has secured to it sustaining-ropes for the basket or platform D. This basket is preferably covered with asbestus cloth, so as to prevent heat- 111 lower end of the hose E hasa coupling for attac'hing the hose to an engine-coupling pipehose or to a coupling-hose for a fire-plug in such places where water-works are used. The hose passes along the first section, 0, over a roller, h, secured to the frame by the staybands orhousingf, the upper end-of the hose being secured to the upper section by a stayband, z. The drum of coiled spring K being rigidly mounted upon shaft L, when this shaft is moved the spring is wound or unwound, as follows: The shaft M, upon which the rope la is wound, is secured to the sect-ion O by means of the straps 1/, attached to the bearings U, Fig. 2. This shaft carries the meshing wheels m n, and is actuated by the crank T. A cogwheel, S, is also mounted upon said shaft at one side, and is controlled by a dog, 0, and clutch s. A cogwheel, Q, is mounted upon the shaft Q at the outside of the frame, and a pinion. q, engaging with the segment 1), is secured to said shaft on the inside, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4. The toothed segment is rigidly secured to and moves with the section 0. Suppose now the sections are in'their closed positions, as in Fig. 5, the cords or ropes wound upon their respective drums, the spring and hose also wound on their drums, and it is desired to raise the ladder. It can be done in two ways-first, automatically; second, by hand. The springs I K will raise the sections automatically as follows: The spring K, as before described, is wound on a drum or shaft, H, and therefore exerts a force to turn said shaft. Now release the dog B, Fig. 4, and the dog '0 and clutch 8, Figs. 1 and 5, which prevent the cog-wheels S and Q from moving. This action tends to release the spring Kfrom its confined position, and by its resiliency it acts to unwind. As it does so it turns the shaft L, and therefore the wheels m it. These in turn move the wheels m a and turn shaft M, and cause the lower section to be elevated; but as this is moved to an upright position the segment 19 engages with pinion q,causing it to move. Of

Fvhen the ladder-sections are extended. the

' course, as the first section moves up the other sections move out at the same time and at a differential rate of speed. This action of the sections draws up the hose and the basket D.

The ladder may be raised at once vertically or at any desired angle of inclination. The pawls and the dogs before described may be thrown into engagement with their respective cog-.

wheels at any desired point and the ladder held in that position. It is of course obvious that the ladder can be raised by means of the crank-arms attached to the endsof the respective shafts, as shown and described.

The truck can be stopped at the side of the street opposite the fire, the ladder raised to the desired height and inclination, and then the truck moved forward or backward, as the Y necessities of the case require; or the truck can be'run'up quickly to a burning window, a person or persons be taken on the basket D, and the truck run quickly back,and the basket then lowered without the danger of descending past the lower windows. Again,when the hose is placed inthis positionthe fireman or pipe-man at the top of the ladder can direct the water without effort to any particular point, this being done by the men at the cranks and trucks,who can change the inclination and position of the ladder very quickly.

If the basket D is not needed, it can be disengaged from the ladder.

When the sections descend, the shafts L'M are turned in the opposite direction from that just described, and the spring K again wound up, ready for use.

7 turned back upon the truck-frame.

The sections are then wheels m n and m n,meshing into each other, and spring K,with suitable pawl-and-ratchet gear at the ends of the shafts L M to control the motion of said shafts, whereby the sections of the ladder and hose-pipe are elevated at the same time, substantially as described.

2. In a fire-escape ladder, the combination of the truck A B and sections and G, fitting within each other, and having at the lower end the mechanism for elevating the hose,the mechanism for elevating the section of the ladder, as also the mechanism for elevating the safety-basket, and provided at its top with a pulley, h, and clamp i'for holding and guidingthe hose, and pulleys e g for the elevatorrope, all substantially as described, for the purv pose specified.

3. In a portable fire-escape ladder, the combin-ation, with the truck and movable sections of the ladder, of a hose-drum and gear-wheels m n on the axis of the movable sections, said drum being provided with side flanges to prevent the slipping of the drum, substantially as set forth.

4. In a portable fire-escapeladder, the combination,with the truck and movable sections,

of a flanged hose-drum and gear-wheels m n,

and one or more coiled springs wound upona drum provided with flanges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a portable fire-escape ladder, the combination,with the truck and movable sections, of a hose-drum, ashaft for the rope of theladder-sections and'gearing therefor, a shaft for the basket-rope and gearing therefor, and a revolving shaft on the truck,to which one or more coiled springs and gearing therefor are attached, whereby the ladder may be raised, lowered, and adjusted substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LORENS SWENSON:

Witnesses:

JOHN F. LYDON, H. A. AXTELL.

Images