US170270A - Improvement in fire-escapes - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- T. JINGRAS.

FIRE-ESCAPE. v No.170-,270, Patented Nov.23,1875.

W. MM

2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

FIRE-ESGAPE.

Patented NovQZ3,1875.

N PETERS, FHOTO-LXTHOGRAPNER WASHINGTON. Dv C,

UNITED STATES THIMOTHE JINGBAS, on FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,270, dated November 23, 1875; application filed October 18, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THIMOTHE J INGRAS, of Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvenients in Fire-Escapes for Buildings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view representing my improved fire-escape applied to the upper portion of a building, a portion of its inclosingbox being broken away. Fig. 2 is an elevation representing the escape lowered into aposition. for use from one of the floors beneath. Fig. 3 is a plan of the mechanism within the box, the escaping-basket removed; Fig. 4, a detail representing a portion of a hose provided with a hook, to be used in connection with my improved fire-escape.

To provide areliable mechanism of simple construction by which the occupants of a burning building may escape, and by which the firemen may readily have access to the different floors .to direct the water from the hose upon the flames, is the object of my invention; which consists in a basket or car secured to a chain or its equivalent, passing over a pulley or wheel pivoted at or near the outer end of a crane situated in or on the upper part ofa building, the crane being swung out and the basket-chain .(wound on a reel) being projected so as to drop to the foot of the building by mechanism connected with the crane, said mechanism being operated by pulling a chain or wire leading down the building and accessible from the different floors and from the ground, the basket or car being employed for lowering persons whose lives are endangered, and for elevating the fireman into a position where he can direct the stream of water upon the point required, by which construction the difficulty and delay of moving and arranging ladders is avoided.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out. p

In the said drawings, A represents the outside or wall ofa building, at the top of which,

either in line therewith or projecting therefrom, is acloset or box, B, provided with a door, a, kept closed by a spring-bolt, b, which is withdrawn to unlock the door by pulling down on a chain, c, secured to the bolt, and leading down outside the building into a position accessible from the door or window 01 of each floor, or from the ground, the door a being swung open by the contraction of a spring, 6, immediately'on the withdrawal of the bolt. Inclosed within this box Bis acrane,

- O, and a horizontal rocker-shaft, D, to a short arm, 5, of which is connected the top of the crane by a chain, f, wound therearound, the shaft being provided with a long arm, g, projecting down therefrom, and having secured to its lower end a chain, h, which is led over a pulley, 1', out through the wall and down outside the building into a position also accessible from the door or window (I of any floor or from the ground. It is a looped arm projecting down from the shaft, immediately in front of which, upon the floor of the box, rests a basket or car, F, with a reel, G, in front of the chain passing over a pulley, m, revolving in the end of the crane, one end of the chain being secured to the basket and the other to the reel.

From the foregoing construction it will be seen that on the alarm of fire within the building, the door a of the box B may be readily swung open by an occupant of either floor, or by a person on the sidewalk pulling down on the chain c, after which the chain It is pulled, causing the end of the crane to be swung outside the door, simultaneous with which the projecting arm 70 is brought (through the connections above explained) against the basket F, which, with the reel G in front of it, is pressed forward out of the closet B down outside the building, the weight of the chain Z around the reel causing them to fall to the ground, and the basket to remain suspended ready to be lowered to the window or door of the floor where the occupants. desiring to escape are situated, or to the ground, to allow of a fire- Before the escaping parties get into the basket the lower end of theichain l is hooked ATENT CFFIGE.

to a drum, H, turned by a crank, r, and the rapidity of the descent of the car is regulated by-pressing a brake, 8, down upon one of the flanges 6 of the drum H. the firemen being raised by turning the crank, so as to wind the chain around the drum.

The hose n is provided with a hook, p,by which, after being pointed in the right direction, it may be secured in place in case the heat is uncomfortable or impossible to bear. It is evident that wire-ropes may be substituted for the chains 0 h I, if desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The swinging crane G, basket F, reel G, and chain 1, in combination with a throwingout mechanism, actuated by a chain, h, accessi ble from the various floors or bottom of the building, substantially as and for the purposes described. l

2. The drum H, with its brake s, in combie nation with the crane C, basket F, reel G, and

chain 1, as and for the purpose specified.

Witness my hand this 14th day of October,

' I his THIMOTHE Xk JIN mar Witnesses: A. M. WINSLOW ALEX. LESSARD.

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