US2381812A

US2381812A - Fire escape apparatus for aerial ladder trucks

Info

Publication number: US2381812A
Application number: US495616A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harland D Elwood
Original assignee: LEWIS A EASTMAN
Current assignee: LEWIS A EASTMAN
Priority date: 1943-07-21
Filing date: 1943-07-21
Publication date: 1945-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1962-08-07

Description

Aug. 7, 1945.

FIRE ESCAPE APPARATUS F 'OR A IAL LADDER TRUCK Filed July 21, 194.3 ZISheets-Sheet 1 air/60d 0 [/Waad 14. b. zLwbn 2,381,812 I Aug, 7, 1945. H. D. ELWROOD 2,381,812

FIRE ESCAPE APPARATUS FOR AERIAL LADDER TRUCK Filed Jul 21; 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 I /33 33 INVENTOR. HAQLAND 0. awo oo HIS ATTOEN Patented Aug. 1945 ings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device, embodybers l3 and I4 mat a ssnsiz L, ,j ie hiss (015,227,539)

'I'his invention relates to fireescape apparatus and -particularly to a firewscape chute and means for mounting it totheladder-of an aerial I ladder-fire truck-.--

I -An object of the invention is' to provide a.

flexible fire escape chute, which can 'be mounted at the endof an'aerial; ladder, and-ean' be pr-ojected; outwardly and'upwardlyfmm the fire secured in place. The members is and 14 are :each made ofstrapmetal :fnrrned as shown in Fig. 2, and reinforced by. vhollow tubing struts '15,:whicharesecured in place by welding or other suitable means'. The :side members-i3 and 14' (Fig. 2) are provided with U shaped brackets l1 and I8, which are adaptedto respectively antruck to a roof, window, or other opening in a 2 building, so that persons may be evacuated rapidly from different parts of the building without the necessity of having the rescuers'enter' I the building.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape chute which may be readily attached to a conventional aerial laddenwithout out making any changes to the ladder.

A further object of the invention is the provision ofa flexible chute which is provided with reinforcing means adapted'to cooperate with the rounds of a ladder to support the chute when the same is in use. a

The foregoing and other objects and advantages oi the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being made to the draw ing my invention in carrying position on an aerial ladder, which is mounted on a ladder truck not shown.

Fig. 2 is aperspective View of the chute sup-- porting frame shownin Fig. 1, with the'chute removed and detached from the ladder.

Fig.3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, partly in section, ,taken'substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

gage the rungs 2| of the ladder ll (Fig. 1). In securing the frame 9 in position on the ladder l I, the brackets I8 are first hooked over the rung '20, and the brackets H are then set in position over the rung l9 so that the frame 9 rests thereon of its own weight.

Inasmuch as the working forces are always downward the frame 9 cannot be dislodged from the ladder H, without reversing the operations just described. Each side member 13 and I4 is provided along its upper edge with a hook or bracket 22 which is adapted to engage the hand 1 rail 23 of the ladder II. Each sidemember I3 and I4 is also provided with

chute supporting members

24 and 25. The members 24 are preferably ringsto which the chute chains 26, supporting the cables 21, are attached and the members 25 are U-shaped members adapted'to engage the rod 28, which passes through a tunnel 29 formed at the upper end of the bottom of the chute I0. The rod 28 is prevented from being displaced from the members 25 by the dogs 30 which are pivoted as at 3| (Fig. 3).

The chute In is similar in construction to my I improved flexible chute disclosed in my co-pend- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the chute in position on the ladder.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4. e

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a ladder truck on which is mounted an extension ladder equipped with my device and ready for use.

Referringnow more particularly to the drawings (Figs. 1 and 2) it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed my invention resides in a. special chute supportingframe 9, and. a chute l0,which are adapted to be mounted on an aerial ladder ll, which is carried in the usual manner on. a firetruck 12 (Fig. 6). i I

The chute supporting frame 9 (Figs. 1 and 2) ispreferably made with two vertical'side memheld in'spaced relation by tie members I5} which maybe welded or. otherwise ing application S. N. 495613, filed July 21, 1 943, but in this embodiment the chute I0 is provided with a'double bottom IA and 1013 (Fig, 5) between which are carried a plurality of stiff abutting panels 32 made of aplywood or other suitable material. The panels 32 are of such size and so placed that each panel covers two rungs 33 of the ladder II. This provides a continuous smooth surface to the bottom of the chute l0, when it is in position for use} and permits a human being to slide down the chute I0 without feeling the irregularities of the ladder II which supports it. By the same token the chute may be folded with case.

In use thelaerial ladder is carried and projected in the conventional manner as shown in 6, in which the wall of a building is indicated at 34. The chute 10 may be left attached-to the ladder I I or it may be carried separately and. attached at the scene of action. As the ladder II is projected outwardly and upwardly the chute l0 is unfolded as required.

l9.- and ill of. upper section Ladder men or other attendants on the ground may handle the lower endof the chute as described in my co-pending application referred to above.

Having described my invention, what I'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with an aerial ladder, of

a flexible chute,. and means for mounting the chute to the ladder,'t he said chute mounting means comprising a frame secured to the rounds of the ladder, said frame having side members Y.

extending beyond the end of the ladder, and said side members having meansfor'supporting the sides of the flexible chute.

2. The combination with an aerial ladder, of a flexible chute, and means for mounting the chute t0 the ladder, the flexible chute being provided with a plurality of flat rigid reinforcing members in its bottom, said reinforcing members being arranged to ride on the rounds of cloSedwithinlthe layers of material comprising a flexible chute, and means for mounting the chute to the ladder, the flexible chute being provided with a plurality of flat rigid panels enclosed within the layers of material comprising the bottom of the chute, said panels being positioned end to end, and each panel being of sufficient length to cover at least two rounds of the ladder.

5. The combination with an aerial ladder, of a frame for attaching a flexible chute, said frame having members adapted to engage the rounds of the ladder and brackets for engaging the side rails of the ladder. Y

6. The combination defined in claim 5 in which the said frame is provided with means to lock the frame to the ladder, and side members which overhang the end of the ladder, the said side members being provided with means to support the sides of a flexible chute.

7.. The combination with an aerial ladder of a frame, means to secure said frame to the ladder, :and a flexiblechute secured to said frame and extending along said ladder, said chute having a plurality of rigid panels secured in itsbottom, each of said panels being adapted to cover at least, two rounds of said ladder to eifect a continuous, smooth surface. t

l HARLAND D. ELWOOD.