US1794175A - Safety elevator for fire ladders - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1931. HONlG 1,794,175

SAFETY ELEVATOR FOR FIRE LADDERS Filed March 15, 1929 INVENTQR. Morr'zs Hon/3 I" "I, I.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES MORRIS HONIG, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.

SAFETY ELEVATOR FOR LADDERS Application filed March 15, 1929. Serial N0.347,225.

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in fire escape devices.

The invention has for an object the provision of a device of the class mentioned, which is of simple durable construction, dependable in use and efiicient in action, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

The invention proposes the use of an elevator, supported by a cable extended over the top rungs of a plurality of rungs holding a pair of spaced boards in spaced relation.

he rungs are arranged in a longitudinal row in the vicinity of the rear edges of the spaced boards. Guide strips project from the inner faces of the boards and serve to guide the said elevator in its movements.

A drum is mounted in the lower portions of the spaced boards and connects with the said cable.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descript-ion and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a the escape constructed according to this invention applied to a portion of a building.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the the escape device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the top portion of Fig. 2 seen looking inthe direction of the arrows 33. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4ti'of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of the elevator, per se.

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a building having windows 11, and a fire escape device 12 is shown resting against the front of the building. The fire escape device includes an elevator 13 arranged to move'up and down as controlled by a drum 14 manually operable.

The fire escape device has a pair of parallel spaced boards 15 held in spaced relation by a plurality of rungs 16 arranged in a longitudinali row in the vicinity of the rear edges 17 of the boards '15. These rungs are so spaced that persons may climb up and down in a manner similar to that of a customary ladder.

Guide strips 18 project from the inner sides of the spaced boards 15','and are positioned in front of the rungs, as clearly seen in Fig. These guide strips extend the full length of v the spaced boardsand serve to guide the elevator 13 when said elevator is raised or lowered. I I r The elevator 13 has a floor portion 19, a rear portion 20, ends 21 and a central partition 22, forming compartments 2%. These com- 7 partments are open at the front and the top and one person may standwithin each of the compartments. A screw eye 24 projects from the top of the elevatorand a cable 25 is at-. tached at one of its ends on this screw, and extends over the top rung of the device and then downwards onto the drum 14.

The drum 1 1 is supported upon a transverse shaft' 25 rotatively mounted .on the boards 15' and has an extended end provided so with a ratchet wheel 26 engageableby a pawl 27 mounted on one of the boards 15. A crank 28 connects with the shaft for manual operation of the drum. I

Pins 29 project from the sides of the ele- 5 vator 13 and engage in longitudinal grooves 30 formed in the boards 15. A plurality of transverse auxiliary grooves 31 also formed in the boards communicate with the grooves '30.

A plunger 32 is slidably mounted thru .the

rear portion 20 of the elevator, oneplunger I for each compartment, and supports a rail 33 engageable against therungs 16"for force. ing the elevatorforwards upon .Inanualdepression on the plunger head 34 by a person standing Withinthe compartment. A spring, 35 normally urges the plunger into a retracted position. A collar 36 is fixed uponthe plunger and limitsthe motion of the plunger to its retracted position.

In operation of the device it may be placed against the side of a building as shown in Fig. 1 and persons may climb up and down the rungs for performing rescuing work. In the event that some one is rescued who is overcome with smoke or who is too weak to climb down the rungs, he may be placed in one of the compartments 23 of the elevator and lowered to the street by proper manipulation of the pawl 27 to permit the drum 14 to unwind the cable 25. During descending or ascending of the elevator 13 the plunger 32 may be depressed for causing the rail 33 to act against the rungs and force the elevator frontwards so that the pins 29 engage in the transverse grooves 31 and thus hold the elevator in a stationary position so as not to depend upon the cable 25 for support.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that. I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my: invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United r States Letters Patent is 1; A fire escape device, comprising a pair of spaced parallel boards having longitudinal grooves and transverse notches joining with said grooves, a plurality of rungs in a longitudinal row connecting said boards and in the vicinity of their rear edges, guide strips projecting from the inner faces of said boards, an elevator slidably mounted on said guide strips, pins projecting from the sides of said elevator and engaging in said grooves in said boards and upon slight forward motion of said elevator engageable in said transverse notches, and means for forcing said elevator slightly forwards. v

2. A fire escape device, comprising a" pair of spaced parallel boards having longitudinal grooves and transverse notches joining with said grooves, a plurality of rungs in a longitudinal row connectingsaid boards and in the vicinity of their rear edges, guide strips proj ecting from the inner faces of said boards, an

elevator slidably mounted on said guide strips, pins projecting from the sides of said elevator and engaging in said grooves in said boards and uponslight forward motionof said elevator engageable'in said transverse notches, and means for forcing said elevator slightly forwards,-comprisi ng a plunger slidably mounted thru said elevator, a rail on the outer endof said plunger-and adjacent said rungs, and. resilient means for urging the plunger inwards. l 1 a v In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

. MQRRIS HONIG.

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