US371483A - Fire-escape - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. M. WA KEMAN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Oct 11 IJVVEJVTOR WITNESSES Attorney N. PETERS. Phowmlw u nu. wnnm hm D. Cv

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. \VAKEMAN, OF \VATKINS, NEWV YORK.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,483, dated October 11, 1887,

Applicaicn filed June 2, 1887. Serial No. 240,013. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN M. WAKEMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Watkins, in the county of Schuyler and State of New. York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fire-escapes, the object of myinvention being to provide a means wherewith persons can descend from buildings upon a single inclined rope, and while descending can regulate the speed of their descent.

My invention consists ofa fire-escape which is adapted to be used as a means of descent upon a single rope, the construction of the same being such thata pulley which is carried thereby can clamp upon the rope so as to retard the descent; and with the above end in view myinvention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate myinvention, Figure 1 is a viewshowing the invention in use. Fig. 2 is an end view, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the pulley detached, and Fig. 4 is a modification of my invention.

A refers to the rope, which is preferably of wire or finely-woven fiber, so as to be comparatively hard, which rope may be stretched from the window of a building to the ground, and in connection with such a rope my invention is adapted to be used.

B refers to one of the bars or arms, which is provided at one end with a loop or eye, B, to which a strap, 1), is secured. The opposite end of the bar B is rounded and bent at right angles, as shown at O, and near the end the portion 0 is squared, as shown at c, the extreme end beingscrew-threaded for the reception of a nut, D, which nut is rounded on its under side.

E refers to the hand-grasping bar, which is shorter than the bar B, the lower end being formed into a loop, as shown, while the upper end has a square opening, e, which is adapted to fit loosely over the squared portion 0, so that the same may be moved thereon.

The pulley, which is journaled on the bent end 0 of the bar B, is preferably made in two parts, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, one part, F, consisting ofa hub, f, which is provided with a flange, f, the edge of which is bent outwardly. The hubfis provided centrally with a circular opening, and its edge is beveled from this opening toward the flanged portion, as shown atf. The portion G of the pulley F has a central opening, of a little larger diameter than the diameter of the hub f, and its periphery is beveled, as shown.

WVhen a solid pulley is used, as shown in Fig. 4, the periphery is provided with a V- shaped groove, within which the rope will lie.

In practice the rope is first stretched and the parts are placed over the rope so that the same will lie between the flanges of the pulley, and the person who is to descend first places the belt b around his body and grasps the loop. By drawing the looped handbar toward the bar 13 the hand-bar is caused to rock so as to move the flange G toward the flange f, thereby clamping the rope between the flanges and,

creating sufficient friction to prevent too rapid descent. The rapidity of the descent can be regulated by hand-pressure.

I am aware that it has been proposed in constructing fire-escapes of this general character to journal the rope-pulley between the rigid arms of a U-shaped bracket, a hand-lever being pivoted to one of the arms of said bracket and provided with a forked end to straddle said arm and bear upon one end of the pulley. My device differs materially from that mentioned, however, in that I employ a single bracket-arm of L shape, the roller beingjournaled on the short arm thereof, and clamped, when necessary, between the long arm and a hand-brake secured upon the outer end of the short arm and extending down toward the loop at the end of the long arm 13 of the L- shaped bracket. Owing to this construction I effect a saving of material and labor, and aside from this provide a brake which will act more promptly and effectually, as the clamping-pressure of arms 13 and E is exerted at the periphery of the pulley.

I claim- 1. In a fire-escape adapted for use upon a rope, a bar, B, provided with a bent end which forms ajournal for a pulley, a hand-bar suitbly attached to the bar B, so that by moving the hand-bar toward the same a brake will be applied to the pulley, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a bar, 13, having a loop at one end for the attachment of a belt thereto, said b'ar being bent at its opposite end so as to form a journal for a pulley, a looped hand-bar secured by a nut having a beveled face to the bar B, and a pulley located between said bars, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

- 3.. The combination, inafire-escape, ofa pul- 2o ley having a projecting hub with a beveled face, a flange, G, adapted to be placed over JOHN M. WAKEMAN.

WVitnesses:

WVILLIAM N. LOVE, FANNY R. CASS.

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