Escape Ladder Forms Emergency Door
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AN escape ladder is combined with the new emergency door for doubledeck buses which has been invented by Mr. C. Davis, of Edwyn Lawn, 39, Kingsholm Road, Gloucester. The design envisages the provision of an opening towards the near side of the rear panel of the upper deck, being enclosed by a folding-step structure,
The ladder is hinged to the body framework at a convenient point below the upper-salooii floor. The treads are pivoted to the stringers and are upholstered on the underside, so that, when the ladder is raised, they present an interior surface which harmonizes with the other parts of the body. The upper faces of the treads are covered with leather to match the exterior surface of the body.
The lowermost tread is connected to a cable, carried on a winch mounted in the near-side rear quarter. By operating the winch handle, the ladder can be either lowered or raised. As the ladder falls below the horizontal, the treads swing on their pivots into a horizontal position and are automatically locked.
Rubber buffers fitted to the stringers prevent damage to the body panels when the ladder is lowered, and serve correctly to position the steps. The winch cable serves as a hand rail for passengers.
When the ladder is in the raised position, the treads enclose the opening and overlap each other, the ladder being locked. The treads are then covered by a framework, consisting of three hinged sections, which, by the operation of pull-on loop handles, can readily be released from engagement with the emergency-door pillars.