US277340A

US277340A - pitney

Info

Publication number: US277340A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1883-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1900-05-08

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. PITNEY.

FIRE ESGAPB. No. 277,340. Patented May 8,1883.

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(Nd Model.) 2 sh eets -sheet 2.

, A. L. PITNEY.

FIRE ESCAPE. I No. 277,340. Patented May 8,1883.

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V UN TED STATES PATENT OF ICE,

ALBERT L. PITNEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,340, dated May 8, 1883.

Application filed February 16, [883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT L. PITNEY, of

-Washington, in the District of Columbia,

' ot' the same.

' My invention relates to that class known as friction fireescapes. The characteristic feature is a device provided with a tortuous channel, in which a rope is placed, and when in use one of said ropes is secured to the building which is afire, at or above thelocation of the person to be rescued, who attaches himself to said device and slides down said rope to the ground, the tortuous channel serving to cause so much friction that the descent will not be dangerously rapid.

This improvement may be constructed in a great many forms and its parts may be arranged in a great variety of ways without involving any difference in principle-4o wit,

the construction in two parts, which may be separated to permit the insertion of the rope into the tortuous channel. Some of the several forms which have suggested themselves to me have, however, their own special advantages, aud my purpose is to ask separate patents for them, limited to the special structure shown, and subordinate to this patent. For convenience, therefore, I will describe herein the structure which I prefer, and regard the same as typical of all. Therefore, that others may more fully understand my invention, I will 'particularly describe said structure, having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- I Figure l is a perspective view of my device open. Fig.2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 31s a perspective view, partly in section, showing the same in operative condition.

A is a shell, preferably made of cast metal, containing within it the tortuous channel a. In this instance the shell A is elliptical in form, and the entrance b is at one extremity of the ellipse and its exit (I at the other extremity, the channel a passing once and a half around the ellipse. The cover D is hinged or otherwise movably secured to the shell A at one side, and at the opposite side it is provided with a slip-bolt, e, or other proper fastening, so that the channel a may be opened or closed at will for the application or removal of the rope F.

It is necessary to provide means whereby the friction on the rope maybe varied to accommodate it to the different weights of different persons. I therefore insert frictionplates 9 in the-channel a, and provide a screw, h, or other pressure device, to compress the rope between said plate or plates and the side of the channel a with more or less pressure.

In the device constructed as shown in the drawings hereto attached, the plates 9 are on opposite sides of the ellipse, and the screws h are made right and left and in corresponding son who wishes to descend the rope F.

Having described myinvention, what I claim as new is- 1. The shell A, provided with an open tortuous channel, a, combined with the cover D, hinged at one side to said shell and secured at the other side by a slip-bolt or other proper fastening, as set forth. 7

2. The shell A, provided with a tortuous channel, a, and a hinged cover, I), combined with the friction-plates g and screw or screws h, operated by a handle, I, substantially as set forth.

3. The shell A, provided with the channel a, substantially elliptical in shape, as shown, combined with one or more friction-plates, g, and screw h, whereby the frictional pressure may be varied at pleasure.

4. The shell A, substantially elliptical in shape, provided with the channel a and cover D, combined with the elastic friction-plates g g and screw h, operated by the handle 1, whereby both of said plates are caused to press for the proper and safe suspension of the per-' or release the rope by the same movement of of which is right-handed and the other leftthe handle I. handed threads, and the handle I, having nuts [0 5. The shell A, substantially elliptical in matchingsaidscrews,substantiallyassetforth.

form, provided with the covered channel a,

5 passing once and one-half time around said ALBERT PITNEY' shell, combined with friction-plates g g, placed Witnesses:

within said channel and on opposite sides of R. D. SMITH,

said shell, and the operative screws h h, one J. O. TURNER.