GB2066211A

GB2066211A - Apparatus for rescuing people in danger from a multi-storey building or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2066211A
Application number: GB8039272A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Walther and Co AG
Current assignee: Walther and Co AG
Priority date: 1979-12-08
Filing date: 1980-12-08
Publication date: 1981-07-08
Also published as: GB2066211B; DE2949429C2; BR8007980A; DE2949429A1; JPS5695065A; FR2471346B1; FR2471346A1

Abstract

Apparatus for rescuing people in danger from a multi-storey building comprises at least one guide rail (4) to be fixed on an external facade of a building, a rescue cabin (32) to be mounted on the guide rail (4) and means to enable the cabin, when the apparatus is installed, to be reached from windows or other exits of the building that are not immediately adjacent to the cabin. One way of achieving this is by providing gangways (42, 43) which can extend from the cabin sideways along the face of the building. Another way of achieving the same object is to support the upper and lower ends of the rail (4) in devices which are horizontally displaceable to the external facade of the building to allow the cabin to be shifted sideways as well as up and down. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for rescuing people in danger from a multi-storey building or the like This invention relates to apparatus for rescuing people in danger from a multi-storey building or the like.

The purpose of such apparatus is to provide a permanent arrangement for a convenient and safe self-rescue of the occupants of a burning building, without requiring ladders or the like.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for rescuing people in danger from a multi-storey building or the like, the apparatus comprising at least one guide rail to be fixed on an external facade of a building and a rescue cabin to be mounted on the guide rail, said cabin having means to engage said rail and said rail having parts to allow the cabin to climb and descend thereupon, and the apparatus further comprising means to enable, when the apparatus is installed, the cabin to be reached from windows or other exits of the building that are not immediately adjacent to said cabin.

The invention also relates to the apparatus as just defined when mounted on a muiti-storey building or the like.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa diagrammatic elevation of a multistorey building with a guide and climbing rail of the present apparatus fitted thereon, Figure2 is a section through the rail shown in Figure 1 and associated parts, Figure 3 is a section on the line A-B of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a section on the line C-D of Figure 2, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic section through part of a rescue cabin of the apparatus, Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view showing further features of the rescue cabin, Figure 7 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 6, with a gangway of the cabin swung out, and Figure 8 is a plan view of the rescue cabin shown in Figure 7, but with both gangways swung out.

In multi-storey buildings, so as to conform to building regulations, the staircases have to be constructed as fire-resistant areas, so as to form a path of escape when people are in danger. The resistance to fire is not always adequate, because the staircases already become filled with smoke shortly after a fire has broken out and as a result obstruct the escape route. The present rescue apparatus is so arranged that people in danger on each floor can be rescued from a fire-resistant staircase or any other fire-resistant room by way of at least one self-driven rescue cabin 32.

Figure 1 shows a guide or climbing rail 4 of the present apparatus as arranged on the facade or front of a multi-storey building 1, which has windows 2 of its offices or living rooms and windows 3 of fire-resistant rooms or areas, the rail 4 being shown in the region of the latter windows and extending from the highest point of the building 1 into a shaft or cavity 5 positioned beneath the ground level 7.

The cavity 5 can be as shown covered by means of a one-piece or a divided cover 6.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rail 4 is formed, inter alia by a section member, which consists of a single-part inside section member 10 and two outside section members 8 and 9. These section members are so connected to one another by welding seams 11 to 14 that chambers 15 and 16 for accommodating a coolant are formed (see later). The free ends of the outside section members 8 and 9 are bent to U-shape. Engaging in the cavities as thus formed are holding clamps 18 and 19, which are connected by way of a slide rail 17 and by means of anchoring bolts 20 to the building 1.

The region of the internal section member 10 between the weld seams 11 and 13 is formed as a rack 21, in which can engage a driving pinion 22 or a gear wheel. The pinion 22 is seated by means of a bearing bush on the middle portion 23a of a shaft 23, which is connected fast to a cabin supporting frame 24. The shaft 23 also comprises two stub shafts 23b and 23c, on which are arranged the guiding elements for the rescue cabin 32.

The guiding elements consist, infer alia, of two guide rollers 25 and 26 embracing the stub shafts 23b and 23c. The supporting frame 24, which carries the rescue cabin 32, is guided with the guide rollers 25 and 26, which bear on those internal surfaces of the section member 10 which extend parallel to the facade of the multi-storey building 1. In orderforthe supporting frame 24 to be also guided at rightangles to the guiding plane of the rollers or pulleys 25 and 26, the stub shafts 23b and 23c are equipped with recesses for receiving guide wheels 27 and 28, which are mounted on pins or bolts 29 and 30 mounted in the walls of the recesses of the stub shafts 23b and 23c.The guide wheels 27 and 28 bear on those internal surfaces of the section member 10 which, as shown, are intended to extend at right angles to the facade of the multi-storey building 1.

The pinion 22 is driven by a driving means 31 (only diagrammatically shown). This driving means 31 may be an electric motor with a gearing, a hydraulic motor or the like.

The rescue cabin 32 has side walls 33 and comprises, in the region of the building 1, entry openings 34 and 35, possibly with doors, and an exit opening 36, also possibly with a door (see FigureS).

The floor of the cabin is indicated at 39.

Referring to Figures 6 to 8, the sides 33 and 33a of the cabin 32 also have openings 40, 41 to allow access from the gangways 42,43, respectively.

These additional side openings are provided in order to be independent of the fire-proof rooms and escape staircases so that access to the cabin can be gained from almost all windows and other building exits even if the ones immediately adjacent to the cabin are filled with smoke.

The gangways 42 and 43 can be swung out and have guard grilles 44 and 45. In the example shown, the gangways 42 and 43 are constructed as two-part cantilever bridges, consisting of sections 42a and 42b, and 43a and 43b, respectively. By means of hinges 46 and 47, the gangways 42 and 43 are hingedly connected to the cabin 32 and in addition can be folded one within the other by means of hinges 48 and 49. In this case, the separate sections 42a and 42b are of different width. The guard grilles 44 and 45 are also hingeable. Cable pulleys 59 and 51 and associated cables 52 and 53 provided for the pivotability of the gangways.

Figure 6 shows the cabin with both gangways retracted, Figure 7 shows the cabin with one of its gangways extended and Figure 8 shows the cabin with both of its gangways extended.

Instead of the cantilever bridge type construction shown, it is also possible to use telescopic or like swingable or extensible gangways or catwalks. For example, if telescopically extensible gangways are used (in which case the suspension cables 52 and 53 would not be provided and the gangways could be retracted beneath the cabin floor), it is then possible to employ additional guide rails 54 with a climbing device 55. The guide rails 54 are connected fast to the outside facade 1, whereas the climbing device 55 is constructed similarly to the climbing device for the cabin 32. In this case, the gangway 42 or 43 can be supported on the climbing device 55. The climbing device 55 can be driven in synchronism with the cabin 32.However, the gangways can be retracted so that the cabin with its gangways retracted travels downwardly only on the rail 4 when the cabin has accommodated the necessary number of people.

The telescopic gangways can be hydraulically or pneumatically actuated.

The driving means 31, coupled to the guide and climbing rail 4, can be supported at the rear of the cabin 32, but also beneath the floor 39 or above the roof of the cabin.

As previously stated, it is not always possible to avoid the fire-resistant staircases also from becoming filled with smoke. So as to prevent the smoke from being transferred into the rescue cabin 32 and accumulating therein, only the lower partthereof is made fire-resistant, in order thereby to offer protection from flames ascending from adjoining windows. The upper part is made in grid-like form, so that the smoke which is present is able to escape.

The rescue cabin and also the fire-resistant rooms or staircases can be equipped with a sufficiently large number of so-called "quick-rescue" appliances, oxygen masks and the like.

The chambers 15 and 16 of the rail 4 are connected to a coolant water circuit which is not shown.

However, it is expedient to provide in the lower region of the multi-storey building 1 an additional connecting pipe 37 to which the fire brigade can connect an additional external supply of cooling water in the event of a fire. It would also be conceivable to have a fire brigade hose, which is connected to a hydrant located close to the building.

Thus, the rail 4 can be connected by way of a piping system to the public water supply, so as thereby to offer sufficient cooling and thus adequate safety for the functional reliability of the rescue cabin 32 in the event of a relatively large fire. An additional pipe connecting into the hollow sections of the rail 4 can be provided, which pipe can be reached from outside. This offers the additional possibility that the rescue crews are able to maintain the cooling circulation, by using a hose connected to a hydrant which is in the vicinity. If the rail 4 is in addition connected to the wall of the building 1 so that it can be extended longitudinally, then it is possible, even with a large fire with high temperatures, that such temperatures do not have any deleterious effect on the durability of the rail 4 because of the presence of the coolant.

The rail 4 is so connected to the multi-storey building 1 that it is able to move freely, because of the heat expansion. The U-shaped ends of the external section members 8 and 9 and embracing the holding clamps 18 and 19 make this free expansibility possible. So that the cabin 32 can be connected and detached quickly and safely and without difficulty to the rail 4, parts are cut out of the arms 38a, 38b in a lower region of the rail 4. These cut-out parts are preferably situated in the shaft 5 or in the region of the ground level 7. Thus, in this region, the cabin 32 is pushed into the inner region of the sectional frame, so that the teeth of the pinion 22 are able to mesh with the teeth of the rack 21. A short raising of the cabin 32 enables the guiding and climbing devices of the cabin to engage securely inside the rail 4.If the cabin 32 is permanently connected to the rail 4, then no cut-outs need be provided in the rail. If, however, these cut-outs are located inside the shaftS, then it is necessary to provide, by means of an abutment which is not shown, for the cabin 32 to be arrested just above the cut-outs so as to avoid any undesirable slipping of the cabin out of the rail 4.

It is not necessary for each multi-storey building to have its own rescue cabin 32. It is conceivable that such rescue cabins should be stored by the firebrigade and transported by the brigade, in the event of a fire, to the location of the fire and brought into use at this position. After completing the rescue of the people, the cabin 32 can be used by the fireman for extinguishing a fire and, after the fire has been extinguished, the cabin could once again be carried away by the fire brigade. This means that the appearance of the external facade of the building need not be impaired from an architectural point of view.

If the driving means in the rescue cabin 32 is independent of the energy source inside the building, then the rescue apparatus is also capable of being further operated by means of an emergency current supply system in the event of current failure inside the building. The use of a current generator is also advantageous, because this generator can be brought by and connected by the rescue crews, such as the fire brigade, technical emergency services or the like. The rescue cabin need not be electrically driven, but may instead be hydraulically or pneumatically driven. However, the installation should be resistant to frost.

The arrangement of the rescue cabins in the region of fire-resistant rooms, for example, the staircase or so-called fire proof compartments, has the advantage that the people in danger are able quickly and safely to locate these rooms which are most favourable in the event of fire by means of an optical or acoustic guiding system and are able to stay there without any serious danger until they are rescued by means of the rescue cabin(s). Particularly in large multi-storey office buildings in which there may be several hundreds of workers on each floor, such a guiding system provides for the people in danger in the event of fire to be able to find the fire resistant rooms and to stay therein safely until they are rescued.

Living rooms and office contain combustible materials, so that these rooms are not counted as being fire resistant rooms. For these reasons, the guiding and climbing rail 4 should not be installed in the vicinity of such rooms or offices. This is to be particularly taken into account in connection with the re-equipment of existing multi-storey buildings. The statics of an existing building will be taken into account when subsequently installing the rail 4. For example, the rail 4 ought not to be connected only to the facing brick work or to the lining of the outside facade. Even when subsequently installed, the rail 4 is able to be adapted architecturaily to the external facade as by profiling, colouring or the like.

Instead of providing the gangways in order that the cabin can be reached from other windows or building exits not immediately adjacent to the cabin, the rail 4 could be supported at its upper and lower ends in devices which are horizontally displaceable parallel to the external facade of the building to allow the cabin to be shifted sideways. In such a case, only the entry doors 34 and 35, and not the doors 40,41, need be provided.

The guide rail 4 can be made of a corrosionresistant material such as stainless steel.

Claims

1. Apparatus for rescuing people in danger from a multi-storey building or the like, the apparatus comprising at least one guide rail to be fixed on an external facade of a building and a rescue cabin to be mounted on the guide rail, said cabin having means to engage said rail and said rail having parts to allow the cabin to climb and descend thereupon, and the apparatus further comprising means to enable, when the apparatus is installed, the cabin to be reached from windows or other exits of the building that are not immediately adjacent to said cabin.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said rescue cabin has its own drive means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said drive means includes an electrical generator.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rescue cabin is arranged to be electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically driven.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said guide rail has a hollow section in order to carry a coolant.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said guide rail has means for connecting its interior with a water supply.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said guide rail is a rack rail and wherein said cabin carries a driven pinion for engaging said rail.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said guide rail includes section members connected to one another by welding seams.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said guide rail has means to anchor it to a building and has a slide surface for guiding the cabin.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said guide rail is made of a corrosion resistant material.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said corrosion resistant material is stainless steel.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said guide rail is provided with cut-out parts to enable the rescue cabin to be mounted and dismounted therefrom.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which an arresting device is provided in order to prevent unintentionai detachment of the cabin from said rail in the region of said cut-out parts.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rescue cabin comprises a fire-resistant lower part and an open grid-like upper part.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rescue cabin comprises a floor, four side walls and a roof, the side wall that is intended to face a building having at least one entry opening and the side wall that is intended to face away from the building having at least one exit opening.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said rescue cabin has four side wails, two of these side walls being intended to extend substantially at right angles to a facade of a building, an entry opening being provided in each of these latter side walls, a gangway being associated with each of said latter side walls, each gangway being able to be swung outwardly of said cabin, such that, when the cabin is mounted on said guide rail on a side of a building, each gangway is able to extend substantially at right angles to the facade of the building.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein each gangway is provided with guard means to guide people safely into the cabin.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein each gangway is of a cantilever construction suspended by cables from the cabin.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the cantilever construction of each gangway includes two sections which are hinged to one another and to the cabin.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein each gangway can be extended telescopically from the cabin.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein each gangway is telescopically mounted beneath a floor of the cabin.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 and 21, wherein a hydraulic or pneumatic means is provided to actuate the telescopic gangways.

23. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 22, wherein the outer end of each gangway is provided with drive means engageable with a further guide rail to be fixed on the external facade of a building so as to provide a further means of support and guiding as the cabin is raised or lowered on said at least one guide rail.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said cabin and the drive means on the outer end of each gangway are arranged to be driven in synchronism.

25. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein said at least one guide rail is arranged to be supported at its upper and lower ends in devices which are horizontally displaceable parallel to the external facade of a building to allow the cabin, when mounted on the guide rail, to be shifted sideways thereon.

26. Apparatus for rescuing people in danger from a multi-storey building or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

27. Apparatus for rescuing people in danger from a multi-storey building or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

28. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, when mounted on a multi-storey building or the like.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein an optical or acoustic guiding system is provided in the building to guide people to a location which can be reached by said rescue cabin.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein said at least one guide rail is mounted on the building so that it is able to move freely thereon as a result of heat expansion.

31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28,29 or 30, wherein said at least one guide rail is fixed on the external facade of the building in such a way that the cabin can be reached from windows of fire-resistant rooms and/or staircases.

32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28,29,30 or 31, wherein said at least one guide rail extends below ground level into a cavity in which said rescue cabin can be stored.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein a cover is provided to cover said cavity when the apparatus is not in use.

34. Apparatus for rescuing people in danger from a multi-storey building or the like, the apparatus being as claimed in claim 28, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.