US312683A

US312683A - Fire-escape

Info

Publication number: US312683A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1885-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 1902-02-24

Description

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PE' SGA E E PIR P tented Pe l. ...i e 5....@ -Q

(No Model.)

2, .fu e e h. S m e e h.. S 3 N. Tl E T S ml.. ml. E W H A Y FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Feb. 24, 1885.

@o7-nega (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. WBTTSTEIN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 312.683. Patentedfeb. 24, 1885.'

s tal position on uneven surfaces, and the device iii-'Nrrnn .STATES PATENT rrrcn. i

FIRE-ESCAPE. j

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pate-nt No. 312,683, dated February 24:, 1885. v Application tiled May 9', 1884. (No model.)

Improvement-s in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull,clear, and exact description of the invention, such-as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andV to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which is adapted to so yield beneath the weight of a person that he may safely jump thereon from the highest building without sustaining any injurious shock, whereby when other means of escape are cut off persons may be thus rescued from a burning building.

My'invention relates to the devices by which I suspend one or more flexible fabrics by springs or elastic straps from a frame' or supporting standards at a distance from the ground, adapted to yield and break the shock of a person alighting thereon, which fabrics, when more than one are used, are-arranged one above another. .My invention pertains also to the Vconstruction of the frame and the standards, and the means of attaching such parts and the fabrics together; also to the,

1 shields by which my escape may be brought in close proximity to a iire without injury to the persons using or conveying it; also, to the manner of adjusting the device in a horizonfor locking the casters or wheelsupon which it rolls, and to the general construction and arrangement of all the parts, whereby they are adapted to be taken apart when moved and packed in small space when not in use.

My invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 representsa perspective view. Fig. 2 is an end view, with one side and end shield attached. Fig. 3 represents one of the legs removed, showing the manner of attach-4 ing it.

Fig. 4is adetail. Fig. 5 is a perspect-iveview of an equivalent form of a frame for supporting a single fabric.

j Like parts are represented bythe same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A is a substantial frame, which may be made whole or formed in two parts, B B, which are connected together by hinges C G,which hinges permit said parts BB to be folded together in small space when not in use.

D are cushions, which are formed upon the upper surface of the frame to prevent injurious contact therewith if the person alights thereon. j i

-E are supporting-legs, which are temporaril'y secured beneath the frame A when set up by hook M and staple N and pins au. The pins a a are rigidly affixed 'to the legs only, and may be withdrawn from the holes provided therefor in the frame when desirous to pack the frame in a limited space.

F and G are coarse cloth fabrics or net-work upon which the person alights when jumping from the building. rlhe fabric F is preferably formed of a small rope i or cord, which is suspended from the sides and ends of the frame A, to which it is secured by the series of pins or buttons H H in such a manner that when the weight of a person is brought to bear on any portion of the fabric the slack in all the other parts of the fabric is taken up, thus preventing the shock to the person alighting that would otherwise occur. Over the cord fabric F is thrown a fabric or canvas like G,(shown in Fig. 5,) having elastic straps C', which are attached to the sides of the frame A by said strips, which prevents a person passing between the meshes of the cord -of the fabric.

I are casters or wheels upon which the .frame may be rolled from place to place, as

occasion may require. The casters l are provided with holes b and pin d, by Awhich they are locked and the frame prevented from moving when on uneven ground, the wheels being locked by inserting the pin through any one of the holes therein, as shown in Fig. l.

To insure greater safety to the person when jumping from a great height@ provide one or more fabrics, arranged above the frame A' upon standards J, which are supported from the corners, sides, and ends of the fram'e Ain holes K. The holes K are preferably made in the peculiar semicircular shape shown,

and the lower ends ofthe standards are formed to iit therein. The objectof making the holes and standards of such peculiar shape is to prevent the liability of the standards being inserted with the hooks K at their upper ends turned the wrong way, it being important to have the hooks inclined inward with the points of the hooks turned outward, as shown. The hooks K are supported above the standards J by rods L, and may or may not be formed of the same pieceof metal. The lower ends of the rods L are adjustably secured to the standards by retaining-clasps M, and may be raised or lowered and adjusted at any point desired corresponding with the notches N N. The lower part of the rods L are bent outward slightly from the standards J, leaving asmall space between the rod and standard, which will permit of said lower ends being sprungl inward toward the standards far enough to disengage the lower clasp M from the notches N when desirous to adjust said rods.

It is obvious that by thus providing for the vertical adjustment of the rods L,I am enabled to adjust the upper fabric, G, in a horizontal plane regardless of the surface of the ground upon which the escape stands,and also, if desired, to give the front end or side an upward inclination, so that the person jumping thereon will be less liable to pitch forward when alighting.

To enable a person to be more readily removed from the upper part of the escape,the

p center of one end ofthe fabric G is supported from the upper end of a swing-lever, O. The lever O is attached to the standard -by a pivotal bolt, I), which permits the upper end of the lever to be inclined inward and downward with the fabric, thus lowering the end of the fabric, so that a person thereon may readily slide therefrom. The lever O is retained in the vertical by the chain Q and hook R. The end of the hook It preferably inclines downward, so that as soon as the chain is slackened it will drop from the hook of its own gravity, thus saving the time otherwise required in unhooking it.

The center of the fabric G is supported and prevented from sagging by the spiral springs S, which are suspended at their respective ends from the side standards, J. Spiral springs T 'I are also interposed between the ends of the fabric G and the end standards, which are adapted to yield under the weight of a person and relieve him of the shock which he would otherwise sustain. Then the height of the building is such that two fabrics F and G are not required, a single fabric, G', may be supported by standards J from the radial armed frame U, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The frame U consists in the angular pieces A' A', which are halved together, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when a' third binding or retaining bar, B', is placed across them, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby all the parts are retained to gether. The ends of the standardsJ are fitted in semicircular holes in the radial frame the same as thosein frame A, described'as shown. in Fig. l.

. The fabric G is attached to the standards by elastic straps C'. Spiral springs may, however, be substituted therefor, if desired.

When desired to move the escape in close proximity to a fire, it may be safely handled by suspending from one or more of its sides and ends, and held by hooks or rings to lower part of escape, fire-proof shields or fabrics, D D', as shown in Fig. 2,whereby persons carrying or rolling the escape may stand between the frame A and the shield D', and thus move the escape, if need be, in Contact with the flames Without danger.

The shields D' may be made of cloth covered with asbestus, sheet metal, or any other non-combustible material, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire-escape, the combination of the frame A and series of pins H H with the open supporting-fabric F, secured to said pins H H, and the canvas or net-work G', supported on and overlying said fabric F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the frame A, provided with rope fabric F, secured to the frame by series of pins or buttons H, legs E, and caster-rolls I, provided with pin-holes b and pin d, said pin being adapted to prevent said caster-rolls from turning and the escape from rolling, as set forth.

3. The combination, in a fireescape, of' the frame A, having legs E, fabric F, cushions D, standards J, and fabric G, as set forth.

4. In a fire-escape, the combination of the folding frame A, formed in two parts, B B, secured together by hinges C, legs E, cushions D, standards J, and fabrics F and G, as set forth.

5. The combination, in a fire-escape, of the frame A, formed in two parts, B B, secured together by hinges C C, cushions D, fabric F and G', legs E, detachabl y secured to said frame A by pins a a, and caster-rollers I, provided with holes b and fastening-pins d,'as set forth.

6. The combination, in a fire-escape, of the frame A, legs E, fabric F, standards J, fabric G, and shields D D', as set forth.

7. In a fire-escape, the combination, with 'the upper ends of the supporting-standards J,

of theAadjustable rods L, provided with series of notches N, retaining-clasps M, hooks K, and fabric G, as set forth.

S. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the frame A, of the standards J, lever O, secured to the standard by pivotal bolt P, fabric G, chain Q, and hook B, as set forth.

9. Inafireescape, the combination of frame A, formed in two parts secured together by hinges G C, fabric F, detachable legs E, secured to the frame by pins a a, casters I, pro- IOO vided with holes b, fastening-pin d, cushions In testimony whereof I affix my signature in D, standards J, fitted to semioireular holes K, presence of two Witnesses. provided therefor in frame A, fabric G, secured to said standards by adjustable rods L, HERMAN WETTSTEN.

5 having1 notches N, adapted to engage in clasps v M, end standard J', lever O, chain Q, and `Witnesses: hook R, all Vsubstantialiy as and for the pur- KATE PUTNAM, pose specified. I M. A. ADAMS.