US290177A - Assig-nob of one-thied - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MINER CUNNINGHAM, OF FLORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR QF ONE-THIRD I TO THOMAS BLANCHARD, OF SAME PLACE.

'FlRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 290,177, dated December 11, 1883,

' Application filed March 29,1883. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern.-

persons or merchandise from the windows thereof to the ground outside the house; .and it has for its obj eat to provide means whereby the descent of the person will be automatically governed to a safe speed, and whereby the de-' vice may be repeatedly used.

- To this end the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention attached to a window-casing, the front plate being removed and other parts broken away to show the interior. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

or represents the frame of my fire-escape, which is to be secured to the insidewall of a building, near a window and about three feet from the floor. A frame about two feet square and seven inches thick would answer, and such will be taken as the proportions of the machine here described. v

A represents a double flanged wheel or drum about eighteen inches in diameter, having a rope, T, wound thereon by means of a crank, H, and a shaft, K, on which said drum is secured. One end of rope T is secured to the drum, and the'other end, passing over pulleys b and 0 out of the window, is provided with any suitable appliances to hold persons or merchandise. Y

The device I prefer for this purpose is a girth or belt, U, secured at one end to the rope T, and having a snap-hook, X, at its other end, and two or more rings, W, secured to said belt at different distances fromthe hook. The person wishing to descend will pass the belt U around his body close under his arms,

and hook the hook X into the ring W, suiting his size, with the rope T in front of him. He will then climb out of the window backward and descend by his own weight, having his hands and feet free to push himself away from any projections on the house.

To regulate the speed of descent, I have devised mechanism to check the drum A from revolving too rapidly. To this end B is a toothed wheel turning freely on shaft K, and having a pawl, E, which engages the teeth of a ratchet-wheel, F, which is secured to the drum A.

D is a heavy strong pendulum, pivoted to swing at N, and provided with leaves M, engaging alternately the teeth of wheel B, forming an anchor-escapement.

To economize space, and at the same time to furnish room for a very broad heavy pendulum, I slot the pendulum D, to swing freely over'the main shaft K. When but light weight is attached to rope T, this escapement is sufficient to control the speed of descent, and it may be used alone for that purpose but I prefer to use in connection therewith a brake, R, on drum A. This brake is pivoted at P to swing against and bear upon'the flanges of drum A. S is a roller journaled in the brake. Over this roller the rope T passes on its way around the drum, and any strain on the rope transmits a proportional pressure to the flanges of the drum through the brake R. The rope is brought in contact with the drum again af ter passing under roller S, in order that thefirst tendency of a weight on the rope may be to rotate the drum rather than to apply the brake, as would be the case if the rope hung directly from the brake. Bythis means a heavy person or other weight, while depending upon rope T, will so balance itself as to start to descend at a safe speed; but as gravity is constantly acting, an'increased speed would be acquired in descending from a great height that would be dangerous. I have therefore combined the timing escapement with the self-acting brake as most suitable for all occasions. I

One person at the crank H may wind up the rope T any number of times after others have descended, and he may finally descend when I thereon between said flanges, and the crank it is no longer safe to stay. H, of a brake, R, bearing on the flanges of The machine requires no attention While a drum A, the pulley S, mounted in said brake, descent is being made, it being in that respect said rope T passing around the drum, thence I 5 5 automatic in its action. under pulley S, thence back onto the drum, I am aware that fire-escapes similar to mine thence over pulleys out of awindow, as shown have been patented, and I do not claim the and described.

same, broadly. JOHN MINER CUNNINGHAM.

\Vhat I claim as 1ny invention is- \Vitnesses: 10 The combination, with the drum A, having GEORGE MCENDREE,

flanged edges, the rope T, adapted to be wound 1 THOS. BLANCHARD.

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