US1318797A

US1318797A - Fire-escape

Info

Publication number: US1318797A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1936-10-14

Description

F. M. POTTER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION .FILED JUNE 9.1911.

Patented Oct. 1 1, 1919.

I NVENTOR. E M F17 T TEE FRANK MERLAND POTTER, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

Application filed June 9, 1917. Serial No. 173,755.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MERLAND Po'r- TnR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sioux City, in the county of VVoodbury and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to fireescapes and more particularly to fire-escapes embodying inclined slides.

The invention has for its primary object the production of an improved tubular fireescape.

Another object of the invention is the production of a tubular fire-escape embodying certain novel features of construction adapting it to be readily and safely entered, and otherwise particularly adapting it for use on school buildings, hotels, and other public buildings.

A further object of the invention is the production of an improved tubular fireescape adapted to rapidly convey persons from a building without danger of falling, .or danger from flames.

Still another object of the invention resides in the production of a tubular fireescape embodying certain novel features of construction adapting it to be easily installed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention I consisting in the construction, combination and novel arrangement of parts will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views, of which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building wall, equipped with the device of my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mouth, or entrance of the chute.

Referring, now, to the illustration, 3 is the chute, mounted in an inclined position on,

- and substantially in parallelism with the building wall. The tube is secured to the wall, preferably by means of bands, 4, inclosiug the tube and embedded in the wall.

The tube preferably consists of eylindrical sheetanet-al tubular sections,-5, the ends of opening, 9, in the building. The lower part of a window may be used, the wall below the window being cut away down to the floor. Into the opening,'a frame 10, is fitted, and to this frame the four sides of the entrance are secured. The mouth of the entrance el bow is quite taller than the diameter of the end thereof adjoining the tube, the mouth being approximately the height of an average person. The top wall of the elbow, however, is declined abruptly from the top of the mouth to the tube, rendering it almost impossible for a person to fall accidentally into the chute, yet conveniently ertered, feet first, the bottom of the mouth being substantially flush with the floor and a horizontal bar, 11, being extended across the 'upper portion. of the mouth, which refugees can conviently grasp to lift their weight from their feet in entering.

The fact that the escape is so easy and safe to enter, makes it possible for a great crowd to be conveyed from the building in a remarkably short time.

The outlet consists of a horizontal tubular section, 12, formed with an elbow, 13, communicating with the chute. The outlet is mounted upon a suitable base, as the block, 14, having rods, 15, embedded therein, bent over to inclose the tube and bolted together, as at 16. The vertical diameter of the outlet is suificient to permit the passage of a person in sitting posture, and the bottom of the outlet is preferably slightly inclined from the chute as at 17 to check the speed of the refugees and cause them to alight from the tube on their feet.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

A fire-escape for a building having a wall opening, comprising a tubular chute adapted to be inclined and supported substantially in parallelism with the wall, and an entrance consisting of an elbow on the chute and hav- 5 htnntially flush with the floor,

ing a mouth znlaptwl "Lo incloso tho opening, the mouth oi? the elbow lining relatively 'mlloi' than the eml thereof adjoining the chute, the bottom of tho mouth being subnnd the top wall of tho elbow making an acute angle to hlmhhood the wall of the building to lessen of accidental falling into rho mum and, a horizontal bar (ixtunlcnl across the upper portion of the. month.

In testimony whereof I have horounto sot my hand this 31 (lay of May, 1917.

F. MERLAND POTTER.