Untitled record

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THE GRAPHIC CO-PHOTO.-UTH.39&amp;4I PARK PLACE,N.Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPHUS LIPPMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,993, dated April 34, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Adolphus Lippmann, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Fire5 Escape; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which—

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of my invention when extended and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of ditto, before it is extended. Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the same when it is turned 15 down and ready to be put away.

Similar letters of reference in the three views indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists, first, in arranging in the center of an extension ladder, a cov20 ered passage in such a manner that persons from a building which may be on fire can be assisted to and passed down through said passage without danger of being burned or injured by falling bodies; and my invention 25 consists also in combining with said passage, a platform on the top and a sliding carriage with a windlass in such a manner that when the ladders are extended and the carriage is raised, the platform enables per30 sons to step into the carriage from a window or any other high place without danger of being precipitated down to the ground; third, in combining with said ladders an inclined. post, with one or more windlasses, in 35 such a manner that the ladders can be brought in a horizontal, or into an inclined position with the utmost facility.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to 40 describe its construction and operation with reference to the drawings.

A is a platform, resting on four wheels, B. and being so arranged that it can be drawn easily from place to place. Secured to the 45 top of this platform, and near to one end of the same are the inclined posts or standards C, to which the extension ladders D, are fastened by means of hinges a, so. that they can be turned up to a position shown in ⁵⁰ Figs. 1 and 2, or down to a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3. Windlasses E, are secured one to either side of the standards C, and ropes b, extend from these windlasses, over rollers c, and up on the outside ^{5 5} of the frame F, of the ladders, and over rollers cl, to the inside, where they are secured to the lower ends of the inner ladders D'. Said inner ladders D', are made to slide up and down in the frame F, with ease, and between these ladders is the passage G, cov- 60 ered over by a curved shield e, so that persons sliding down in the same are protected against fire or falling bodies. In the inside of this passage, and secured to a rope or chain f, is the carriage H and a windlass I, 65 on the rear end of the platform A, serves to raise and lower said carriage.

The upper end of the frame of the ladders D', is furnished with a platform J, and chains g, extend from hooks or eyebolts h, 70 on the upper edge of the ladders D', to the front part of the platform A, so as to steady the laders when the same are extended.

The operation is as follows: When not used, my ladders are turned down to a hori- 75 zontal position, and put away in the engine house or in any other convenient place. In case of fire, the whole device may be easily brought to the desired spot, and the ladders are now brought up to an inclined position. 80 This operation is materially facilitated by the windlasses E, for it will be easily understood by referring to Fig. 3, how the lower end of the frame F is compelled to turn down if the ropes b, are wound up on the 85 windlasses, provided the ladders D', are prevented from sliding up. This, however, may be easily effected by means of a simple hook catching over one of the rungs of the ladders D', and one of the rungs of the lad- ⁹⁰ders D, or in any other convenient manner. After the ladders have thus been raised, the lower ends of the frame F, are secured to the platform A, by means of bolts, or by any other suitable contrivance and the ladders /⁵may now be extended by the aid of the windlasses E in the usual manner. The platform J is brought close up to a window and the carriage H is raised, as clearly represented in Fig. 1, and persons from the inside ¹⁰⁰of the building may now enter the carriage with the greatest facility, and without danger of being precipitated down to the ground. The ladders D and D' on either side of the pasage G enable the firemen to ¹⁰⁵assist persons while entering the carriage or to bring them on, and the carriage is now lowered down. By these means the lives of the inmates of a building may be saved, no matter how far the flames may ¹¹⁰have proceeded, as long as there is any chance to reach said inmates through one

Q 27,992 of the windows or from the roof of the building. The whole device can be built with little expense, and it can be managed with such ease and facility, that it recom5 mends itself to every fire company, and to the public in general, as a simple and most efficient apparatus for saving life in case of fire.