US1819073A - Safety device for fire escapes - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 18, 1931. N. CHINICH SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIRE ESCAPES Filed Jan. 16, 1930 2 SheetsSheet l ATTORNEY 8, 1931. N. CHINICH SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIRE ESCAPES Filed Jan. 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES NETTIE CHINICI-I, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIRE ESCAPES Application filed January 16, 1930. Serial No. 421,248.

As is well known ladders which are slidably associated with fire escapes in tall buildings are weight influenced in an upward direction so that the lower end of the ladder is elevated a suitable distance above the ground to permit of the passage of pedestrians, and such ladders are also held. elevated to prevent the same being tampered with by malicious or unauthorized persons.

The suspending cable between the top of the ladder and the weight is exposed to weather conditions and is liable to disintegration or breakage. The weight is swung by wind pressure which alsoadds to the unstability of the cable. The breakage of the cable will, of course, result in the falling or precipitation of the weight and this is liable to cause segious property damage if not a loss of ii c.

It may, therefore, be considered the primary object of this invention to provide means whereby the counter-balancing weight for the ladders of fire escapes is held from falling beyond a predetermined distance should the cable attached thereto become broken.

It is a still further object to provide a means whereby weights for this purpose will be effectively guided when subjected to movement, held from wind interference, and cushioned in the fall thereof should the cable become broken.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement in applied position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view approximately at the upper rail thereof has rigidly fixed thereto a bracket 3 and this bracket has swivelly secured thereto the yoke support 4: for a sheave wheel 5.

' The base of the platform 2, on the end thereof in a line with the end of the platform which is provided with the sheave wheel 5 has fixed thereon a substantially U- shaped plate 6 that aifords a guide for the ladder 7. The ladder, of course, is of metal and the outer side rail of the ladder has a spring catch 8 to engage with the guide 6 and to hold the ladder in raised position.

The upper end of the ladder has pivotally secured to the side rails thereof a bail 9 and fixed toan eye at the center or connecting portion for the arms of the bail there is one end of a cable 10. The opposite end of the cable is fixedly secured to the top or upper portion of a counter balancing weight, 11. In the showing of the drawings the weight is round in cross section.

Surrounding and fixed to the weight 11 there are the rounded body portions of split clips 12. From their ends the clip members 12 are formed with straight extensions 13 and 14, respectively. Arranged between the straight ends or extensions 13 of the clip members there is a plate 15, and passing through openings in the said ends 13 and through the plate there are securing elements in the nature of bolts which are engaged by nuts. The plate 15 provides an outer guard for the weight.

The inner ends or arms 14 of the clips 12 merge into substantially rectangular guide elements 16 and are arranged to travel over a vertically disposed rail 17 that is fixed to the landings or platforms 1 and 2.

As disclosed by the drawings the rail 17 is in the nature of a channeled iron and also as disclosed by the drawings both the top and lower ends of the rail are fixedly supported upon. outstanding metal members 18 and 19 which are fixedly secured to the platforms 1 and 2. The members 18 and 19 are also preferably in the nature of channel irons and there is supported upon the member 19 an open box-like metal structure broadly indicated by the numeral 20. The box member is also of metal and is disposed directly be-- low the weight 11. In the box there is a movable plate in the nature of a platform 21 and this platform is sustained elevated in the box through the medium of a strong coil spring 22.

The construction and advantages of the improvement will, it is thought, be understood and appreciated. Obviously the weight 11 is held from moving in any except a vertical direction and, therefore, the said weight cannot be influenced by the wind. The weight counter-balances the ladder so that the same is held elevated until the catch member 8 is released in which instance the weight will be guided upwardly on the rail 17 as the ladder descends. Should the supporting cable become broken the weight will be guided downwardly on the rail 17, received in the box-like member 20 and will contact with the cushioning or buffer means provided by the plate 21 and the spring 22, so that liability of the falling of the weight beyond the. level of the box is effectively prevented.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A counter-balancing weight that has a cable trained over a sheave wheel and which cable is connected to the upperrend of a vertically movable ladder for a fire escape, split ring bands arranged around and secured to the weight, a plate between the outer ends of the said bands, said bands having their opposite ends of substantially rectangular formation to provide guides, a vertically disposed rail for the guides, an open box like member fixedly supported at the lower end of the rail and disposed below the weight, a plate in the box-like member and a coil spring influencing the plate upwardly.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

NETTIE CHINICH.

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