US320664A

US320664A - Fiee escape

Info

Publication number: US320664A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1885-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1902-06-23

Description

0. G. LEE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

No. 320,664. Patented June 23, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OGDEN G. LEE, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,664, dated June 23, 1885.

Application filed July 14, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OGDEN G. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, for which no application for a patent in any country has been n1ade,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fireescapes. It consists of a suitable metal frame in combination with a rope clasped by a brake and a drum or cylinder,around which the rope takes one turn, substantially as described.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and reliable fire-escape, by means of which one or more persons can safely lower themselves from the window or roof of a burning building with perfect ease and safety.

Like letters indicate like parts in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a front View of my fire-escape in the plane of the action of the brakelevers,in which A represents the metal frame;

B, the drum or cylinder firmly riveted to the sides of the frame, upon which is a guidepin, B, which prevents the rope from riding; O, the brackets, to which are attached the straps D D, which sustain the person descending. E and F show the arms of the brakes; G, the rope. H shows thepivotal point of the brakes, which is on the left of center.

Fig. 2 shows a side view partially stripped of its outer frame, with the brake opened.

Fig. 3 shows one of the brakes detached, E showing the groove through which the rope G passes, and E the cam that impinges the rope and holds the escape firmly when the brake is pressed together by the hand,as at 00 w. Fig. at shows one-half of brake F, with its groove F and ears E, into which the cam E of the other brake fits, all sustained in the lower end of the frame A by the bolt H, upon which the brake freely swings, and when pressed together it embraces the rope firmly, so that the descent may be regulated easily with one hand.

Fig. 5 is a clamp, which may be applied at 00 w in Fig. 1 to set the escape upon the rope at any desired point, and hold it in such position, thus releasing the hands of the person on the escape and enabling him to use both his hands for any purpose that he may desire.

The operation of my escape is as follows: One end of the rope is passed up through the groove of the brake one turn around the drum B and out of the frame A at the top; then this end is fastened securely to the building; then the person or persons to descend seat themselves upon the web-seat or strap D D, grasping the brake E F with one hand at x w, and, pressing them together, swing clear of the building; then by slackening his grip upon the brake he will begin to descend, and he can control his descent with the pressure of one hand. The brake, when pressed together, so encloses the rope in their grooves that no friction from the rope will reach the hand of the operator. It will also be seen that a very slight pressure of the hand applied to the brake adds largely to the friction around the drum or cylinder and adapts the escape to any reasonable weight, thus enabling two or three to make the descent at once. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to procure Letters Patent for, 1s

In a fire-escape, the brake E and F,in combination with the rope, the friction-cylinder, and guide-pin 13, substantially as described and shown.

OGDEN G. LEE. lVitnesses:

F. W. PUGSLEY, K. J. LAWLOR.