US823512A - Ladder. - Google Patents

Description

v PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906. O. GOPLANTZ.

LADDER.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE5, 1905.

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W- 4 QM ac ANDREW. B. GRAN-M C9. PMOYOLIIMDGMPMERS. WASHINGION. D. O.

PATENTED JUNE 1 1 0. GOPLANTZ. 906

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED mm; 5, 1905.

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this angle to accommodate it to the dimen-r UN TED STATES PATENT onnion.

CYRUS COPLANTZ, OF JOLIEI, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-HALF TO A. S. CHEESEMAN, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June-5, 1905. Serial No. 263,682.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, Cynics CoPLANTz, a citizen of the United States, residing at J oliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful lowing isf-a specification.

My invention is concerned .with a novel extensible ladder having sliding sections and adapted especially for firemens use, and is designed to produce a ladder of the .class described that shall be capable ofrapid extension to the required height and which shall be so constructed as to maintain the necessary rigidity and strength in all degrees of extension.

. To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto two sheets of drawings, in which the same reference characters are used to designate identical parts in all the figures, of which 0 Figure 1 is .a side elevation of'the ladder in its unextended and horizontal position as it rests upon the truck while it is being transported. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lower end of the ladder in the same position, but on a slightly-larger scale. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the ladder extended and raised at an .angle,which, how ever, is much less than that at which it is ordinarily extended, it being. illustrated in Improvements in Ladders, of which the folsions of the sheet of drawings. Fig. 4 is .an enlarged sectional view on the line A A .of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line B B of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in section on the line C C of Fig. 2.

Where my invention is used .as a firemens ladder which is to be transported rapidly from place to place, I mount it upon a horizontal base 10, which'may be of any desired construction and which will be provided with the customary wheels and running-gear, so

as to make a complete truck thereof. In

order to secure an ample base in all directions 1 in case itbecomes necessary to raise the ladder at an angle to the plane parallel to the length of the base or truck, I provide it with a i plurality of (preferably four) arms 11,'which 5 are pivoted at the sides of the base 10 in the bearings 12, so that they can be folded along side the base, as shown in Fig. 2, while the apparatus is being transported or so that they shown dotted lines in Fig. '2, when it'is desired to extend the base as suggested. In order to support the outer ends of these arms 1 construct of the slotted ratchet-bars 13,

which are supported from and operated by the levers 14, which carry the spring-held links or dogs 15, which, cooperating with the teeth of the ratchet-bars, enable the outer ends of the arms to be jacked up to any extent that may be necessary in order to give a firm support to the truck-base. As shown in Fig. 2, these lifting-jacks and their operatinglevers are placed on alternate sides of the ends of the bars, and the truck-base is reeessed, as at 15, in order to enable the arms 11 to be folded in'the position shown with-1 out interference. 4

The ladder proper is mounted upon a turn table 16, which preferably consists'of a me tallic disk, which is mounted to rotate about the bearing-post 17 .as a center. In order that this table may rotate easily, 1 preferably mount it upon a plurality of .antifrictionrollers 18, (best seen 'in Figs. 1 to 3,) which are journaled in suitable bearings on the truck-base 1 0, so asto support the turmtable thereon and permit its free rotation.

Projecting upward from the turn-table are the pair of standards 19, which are connected by the generally-U shaped piece 20, which has its ends secured upon the horizontal up per portions of the standards 19. At the centerv of the u-shaped portion is a crosspiece 21, the U-shaped piece being supported beneath the cross-piece by the sleeve 22, surrounding the vertical bearing shaft or rod 17 and having its lower end resting upon the ta- Me 16, being preferably screwed into thenut 'upon the upper sides of the U-shaped piece can be extended at right angles thereto, as

20.. The gear-pinions 27 mi ht 'be provided directly w1th-operating-era= s; but in .order to enable the an le to be changedwith less power and to hol it in any position to which it may be set by the inertia of the mechanism I preferably secure to the gear-pinion 27 a gear-wheel 29, which is driven by the gearpinions 30, one of which is secured to each end of a shaft 31, ournaled in suitable bearings formed adjacent to the bearings for the pintles 28. A crank-handle 32 may be provided for one or both ends of this shaft, as may be found necessary, and by turning this shaft it will be seen that the lowermost section, which, as seen in Fig. 1, normally rests in a substantially horizontal position upon the cross-piece 33 of the support 34, may be vswung upward to any desired position, it

preferably approximating a vertical position when the ladder is in use.

While I do not limit myself to any precise number of sections, I preferably employ three sections, of which the lowermost one is, as I have said, relatively stationary, while the intermediate section 35 is slidable on the lower section and has the under surfaces of its side pieces resting directly upon and sliding over the upper surfaces of the side pieces of the lowermost section. The third section 36 is also slidable, but is preferably narrower, so that its side pieces are within and above the side pieces of the intermediate section and are supported in the manner to be described.

The bottom section has provided at its upper ends the U-shaped bearing-pieces 37, secured thereto, in which are mounted the antifriction-rollers 38, upon which the side pieces of the intermediate section 35 slides. Secured to the outer sides of the side pieces 25, near their upper ends, are the yoke-shaped pieces 39, which have journaled therein the antifriction-rollers 40 and 41 at the proper height above the side ieces so that the side pieces of the mid le section will be free to slide between the upper sides of the side pieces 25 and the rollers and 41. The intermediate section 35 is constructed in a somewhat similar manner at its upper end, it bein provided with the two shafts or bearing-r0 s 42 and 43, which have journaled thereon immediately adjacent the side pieces the antifriction-rollers 44 and 45, respectively, upon which the side pieces of the u ermost section 36 are adapted to slide. he side pieces 35 are provided with the yoke-shaped pieces 46,- similar to the yoke-shaped pieces '39, which are provided with the antifrictionrollers 47 and 48, bearing upon the upper surfaces of the side pieces of the section 36, so that said section will slide freely between the rollers 44 and 45 on its under side and the rollers 47 and 48 on its upper side. The section 35 is provided at its lower ends with the overhanging lugs 49, which prevent any side-' wise movement of the intermediate section relative to the lower section upon which it lugs 49, which are set in flush with the outer edges of the section and cooperate with the inner edges of the section 35 to prevent any angular displacement.

To elevate the upper sections on the lower one, I provide the two pairs of winding- drums 50 and 51, both of which are preferably secured on the shaft 52, journaled in the bearings 53, secured upon the upper surfaces of the lower ends of the side pieces 25. A

ratchet-wheel 54 is also secured upon the shaft 52, and a dog 55 is suitably pivoted on one of the side pieces 25 so as to be in position to 006 erate with the ratchet-wheel when desire and prevent the backward rotation of the shaft 52" and the possible premature descent of the sections. The intermediate section 35 is elevated by means of the pair of ropes 56, which are secured to the ower end of the section 35, conveniently by being fastened to the lowermost rung of the ladder and extending up and over the sheaves 57, which are journaled on a bearin -rod 58 just inside of the side ieces 25 and t ience down to the winding cy inders or drums 50 to which the ends of the ropes are secured. As the shaft 52 is rotated it will be apparent that the winding up of the ropes 56 will elevate the intermediate section of the ladder.

The uppermost section 36 is elevated by means of the pair of ropes 59, which are secured at 60 to the lower end of the section 36 and preferably by being secured to the lowermost rung of that section. These ropes extend upward over the sheaves 61, which are preferably mounted on the shaft 43 just inside of the antifriction-rollers 45, and thence extend downward to the drums 51, to which they are secured. It will be apparent that if the ends of the ropes 59 were secured to some stationary portion of the mechanism the upward movement of the middle section 35 would elevate the uppermost section at twice the rate of speed at which the middle section moves, and by attaching the ends of the rope to the drums 51 I am enabled to move the up ermost section at a still greater rate of spec since its rate of speed relative to the middle section will be represented by twice the diameter of the drums 50, plus once the diameter of the drums 51, as against once the diameter of the drums 50 for the speed of the intermediate section. As Ido not desire to make the speed of the uppermost section four times that of the intermediate section, I reduce the diameter of the drums 51, as shown, to about half of the diameter of the drums 50, thus giving the uppermost section a speed of three times that of the intermediate section.

While the mechanism thus far described has a certain degree of utility, I am enabled to increase it very materially by providing truss-ropes, so that the ladder-sections will be braced both from above and below. The

ICC

bracing from above is essential if the ladders are not supported at the top in order to prevent them from bending over from their own.

weight. The bracing from the under side is likewise essential where the ladder is extended and its top is allowed to rest against a wall, in which case the bracing overcomes the tendency to sag resulting from the weight of the sections. To secure this necessary bracing effect, Iprovide what may be called rope-trusses, which consist of the truss- posts 62 and 63, secured to the outer' lower ends to the winding-drums 69, which are rigidly secured on the shaft 70, journaled in the bearings 71., secured on the upper side of the lowermost side pieces 25. I may provide the shaft with a squared end 72, as indicated, and operate it independently .of the shaft 52 by a handle, as indicated in dotted lines at 7 3 in Fig. 2; but I preferably employ a gear-wheel 74, secured on the shaft 52, which meshes with a gear-wheel 75, loosely mounted upon the shaft 70, but adapted to be secured thereto by means of the clutch members 76, splined on the shaft 7 O and adapted to be shifted into and out of engagement with the clutch member 77, formed on the hub of the gear-wheel 75. The ratio of the gearwheels 74 and 75 and of the drums 50, 51, and 69 is such that as the ropes 56 and 59 are woundnp, extending the sections, the truss-ropes' '66 and 67 will be unwound, permitting their extension, while at the same time acting as truss-rods to brace the ladder-sections. When the ladder is to be lowered, the dog 55 is thrown out of engagement with the ratchet-Wheel 54 and the dog 78, pivoted on the side piece 25, is thrown into engagement with the ratchetwheel 80, secured on the shaft 70, and the shaft 52 is rotated the opposite direction, which will have the effect of unwinding the ropes 56 and 59 and winding up the ropes 66 and 67, thus causing the descent of the ladder. By reason of the employment of the clutch members 76 and 77 I am enabled to operate the two sets of ropes independently, if desired, and if the truss-ropes should become somewhat loosened they can be tight.

ened up by unclutchi'ng' the shaft 70 and moving it independently of the shaft .52.

In orderto strengthen the lowermost section, I may provide the steel truss-rod 81 and the truss-post 82 and suitably connect the rods at their ends in order to form an invert:

ed king-post truss, in the manner clearly shown.

While I havev shown and described my invention as embodied in the form which I at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will be understood that it is capable of modifications and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims, except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters, Patent of the United States, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the base having the support at one end and-the turn-table at the other end, of the bottom ladder-section pivotally mounted on said base and adapted to rest on the support when in a horizontal position, gearing for turning the lower section on its bearing to any desired extent, an intermediate section carried by and adapted to slide up on the bottom section, a top section carried-by and adapted to slide up on the intermediate section, ropes connected to the bottom 'of each of the upper sections and running over sheaves on the tops of the adjacent lower sections, drums for winding up said ropes, and a single shaft driving all of said drums upon which all the ropes are wound to simultaneously slide both the upper sections up upon their supporting-sections.

2.1 In a'device of the'class described, the

combination with the base having the support at one end and the turn-table at the other end, of the bottom ladder-section pivotally mounted on said base and adapted to rest on the support when in a longitudinal position, a circular rack on said section, a shaft parallel to the pivots of the section, reducing-gearing between the shaft and the rack whereby the lower'section can be turned on its bearing to any desired extent, an intermediate section carried by and adapted to slide up on the bot tom section, a top section carried by and adapted to slide up on the intermediate section, ropes connected to the bottom of each of the upper sections and running over sheaves on the tops of the adjacent lower sections, drums for winding up said ropes, and a single shaft driving all of said drums upon which all the ropes are wound tosimultaneously slide both the upper sections up upon their supporting-sections.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with the base having the support at one end and the turn-table at the other of the lower sections, lifting-ropes connected to the bottom of each of the upper sections and running over sheaves on the tops of the adjacent lower sections, truss-ropes secured to the tops of the top sections and running over the truss-posts, drums for winding up all of said ropes, and a single shaft driving said drums, by which all the ropes are wound simultaneously to slide both of the upper sections up upon their supporting-sections and at the same time pay out the truss-ropes.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with the base having the support at one end and the turn-table at the other end, of the bottom ladder-section pivotally mounted on said base and adapted to rest on the support when in a horizontal position, gearing for turning the lower section on its bearing to any desired extent, an intermediate section carried by and adapted to slide up on the bottom section, a top section carried by and adapted to slide up on the intermediate section, truss-posts projecting from the tops of the lower sections, guiding-sheaves on the truss-posts, lifting-ropes connected to the bottom of each of the upper sections and 11111- ning over sheaves on the tops of the adjacent lower sections, truss-ropes secured to the tops of the top sections and running over the sheaves on the truss-posts, drums for winding up all of said ropes, and a single shaft driving said drums, by which all the ropes are wound simultaneously to slide both of the upper sections up upon their supporting-sections and at the same time pay out the trussropes.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lower ladder-section, of the intermediate section adapted to slide on the lower section, the upper section adapted to slide on the intermediate section, a winding-drum associated with the lower section, a pair of ropes adapted to be wound thereon and secured to the bottom of the intermediate section, sheaves at the top of the lower section over which the ropes run, a second pair of ropes secured to the bottom ofthe uppermost section and to the winding-drum, a pair of sheaves at the top of the intermediate section over which the second pair of ropes run, the truss-posts carried at the tops of the lower and intermediate sections, sheaves carried by said truss-posts, the truss-ropes secured to the top of the uppermost section and extending down over the sheaves on the truss-posts, drums on which the truss-ropes are wound, and gearing between the winding-drums to rotate them in the proper direction and at the proper rates to alternately payout and wind up said ropes.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lower section, of the intermediate section adapted to slide thereon, the uppermost section adapted to slide on the intermediate section, the winding-drum journaled adjacent the lower end of thelower section, the lifting-ropes for the intermediate section secured at one end to the windingdrum and at the other end to the lower endol the intermediate section, the sheaves at the top of the lower section over which said ropes run, the winding-ropes for the uppermost section secured at one end to the winding drum and at the other end to the bottom of the uppermost section, the sheaves at the top of the intermediate section over which the winding-ropes for the uppermost section run, the truss-posts carried at the tops of the lowermost and of the intermediate sections, the sheaves carried at the ends of said truss-posts, the truss-ropes secured at the top end of the uppermost section and extending down over the sheaves on the truss-posts, the windingdrum to which the truss-ropes are secured, and gearing between the two drums to rotate them in the opposite directions and in the proper sequence, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lower section, of the intermediate section adapted to slide thereon, the uppermost section adapted to slide on the intermediate section, the winding-drum journaled adjacent the lower end of the lower section and having two sections of different diameters, the lifting-ropes for the intermediate section secured at one end to the larger portion of the winding-drum and at the other end to the lower end of the intermediate section, the sheaves at the top of the lower section over which said ropes run, the windingropes for the uppermost section secured at one end to the smaller portion of the windingdrum and at the other end to the bottom of the uppermost section, the sheaves at the top of the intermediate section over which the winding-ropes for the uppermost sectionrun, the truss-posts carried at the tops of the lowermost and of the intermediate sections, the sheaves carried at the ends of said trussposts, the truss-ropes secured at the top end of the uppermost section and extending down over the sheaves on the truss-posts, the winding-drum to which the truss-ropes are secured, and gearing between the two drums to rotate them in the opposite directions and in the proper sequence, substantially as de scribed.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lower section, of the intermediate section adapted to slide thereon, the uppermost section adapted to slide on the intermediate section, the winding-drum journaled adjacent the lower end of the lower section, the lifting-ropes for the intermediate section secured at one end to the windingdrum and at the other end to the lower end of the intermediate section, the sheaves at the top of the lower section over which said ropes run, the winding-ropes for the uppermost section secured at one end to the windcg ging-drum and at the other end to the bottom of the uppermost section, the sheaves at the top of the intermediate section over which the winding-ropes for the uppermost section run, the truss-posts carried at the topsof the salowermost and intermediate sections, the

sheaves carried at the ends of said trussposts, the truss-ropes secured at the top end of the uppermost section, and extending down over the sheaves on the truss-posts, the

Winding-drum to which the truss-ropes are secured, a large gear on the lifting-rope drum,

and a small gear on the truss-ropeidrum with which said large gear meshes, substantially I 5 as and for the purpose described.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lower section, of the in termediate section adapted to slide thereon, the uppermost section adapted to slide on the intermediate section, the winding-drum journaled adjacent the lower end of the lower section, the lifting-ropes for the intermediate section secured at one end to the winding- 7 drum and at the other end to the lower end of 2 5 the intermediate section, the sheaves at the top of the lower section over which said ropes run, the winding-ropes for the uppermost section secured at one end to the windingdrum and at the other end to the bottom of 3 the uppermost section, the sheaves at the top of the intermediate section over which the winding-ropes for the uppermost section run,

the truss-posts carried at the tops of the lowermost and intermediate sections, the

sheaves carried at the ends of said trussposts, the truss-ropes secured at the top end of the uppermost section and extending down over the sheaves on the truss-posts, thewinding-drum to which the truss-ropes are se- 4 cured, a large gear on the liftingrope drum, a

small gear on the truss-rope drum with which said large gear meshes, and a clutch between the gears and the truss-rope-drum shaft so that the truss-rOpe-drum shaft can be tightened or loosened as desired,'substantially as and for the urpose described.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a truck-base, of the extensible ladder mechanism thereon, the turn- 5 table upon which it is mounted, the laterally-extensible horizontal bars pivoted to the sides of the base, and the adjustable legs carriedby the ends of the bars, consisting of the vertical ratchet-bars, the levers pivoted to the ends of the horizontal bars, and the dogs carried by the levers cooperating with the ratchet-teeth, substantially as described.

' 11. In a device of the class described, the combination with the relatively stationary section carrying the antifriction-rollers at the to ,and the yoke-shaped members carrying t e antifriction-rollers on its upper side near the top, of the intermediate section adapted to slide between the rollerson the 5 lower section, and carrying the antii'rictionintermediate section, and means for extending and withdrawing the upper sections.

12. In a device of the c ass described, the

combination with the relatively stationary section carrying the antii'riction-rollers at the top, and the yoke-shaped members carrying the antifriction-rollers on its upper'side near the top, of the intermediate section adapted to slide between the rollers on the lower section, and carrying the antifriction-rollers near its upper end and the yoke-shaped members carryin antifriction-rollerson the upper side near t e top of the intermediate section, the top section adapted to slide between the antifriction-rollers on the intermediate section, the trussosts having the sheaves at their ends carrled at the upper ends of the lower and intermediate sectlons, the truss-ropes secured to the upper end of the top section and extending down over the sheaves, and means for extending and withdrawing the u per sections and at the same time keepin the truss-ropes taut.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with the relatively stationary section carrying the'antifriction-rollers at the top, and the yoke-shaped members carrymg theantifriction-rollers on its upper side near the top, of the intermediate section adapted to slide between the rollers on' the lower section, and carrying the antiiriction-rollers near its upper end and the yoke-shaped members carrymg antifriction-rollers on the upper side near the top of the intermediate section, the top section adapted to slide between the antiiriction-rollers on the intermediate section, the trusszposts having the sheaves at their ends carrie lower andintermediate sections, the trussropes secured to the upper end of the top section and extending down over the sheaves, a winding-drum ournaled adjacent the bottom of the lower section, ropes adapted to be wound thereon and assing over sheaves carried at the top of t e lowermost and inter mediate sections and adapted tobe secured to the bottoms of the uppermost and intermediate sections, respectively, another winding-drum for the truss-ropes, and means for rotating said drums.

14. Ina device of the class described, the combination with the relatively stationary section carrying the antifriction-rollers at the top, and the yoke-shaped members carrying the antifriction-rollers on its upper side near the top, of the intermediate. section adapted to slide between the rollers on the lowersection, and carrying the antifriction-rollers near its upper end and the yoke-shaped members carrying antifriction-rollers on the upat the upper ends of the IIO per side near the top of the intermediate secmediate sections, respectively, another wind- 15 tion, the top section adapted to slide between the antifriction-rollers on the intermediate section, thetruss-posts having the sheaves at.

their ends carried at the upper ends of the lower and intermediate sections, the trussropes secured to the upper end of the top section and extending down over the sheaves, a

winding-drum journaled adjacent the bottom of the lower section, ropes adapted to be wound thereon and assing over sheaves carried at the top of t e lowermost and intermediate sections and adapted to be secured to the bottoms of the uppermost and intering-drum for the truss-ropes, and gearing between said drums adapted to rotate them in the opposite direction and at the propel speed so that as the lifting-ropes are wound up the truss-ropes are extended, and vice versa.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of June, 1905.

CYRUS COPLAN TZ.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. MCELROY. M. S. REEDER.

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