US3799287A

US3799287A - Emergency descent apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3799287A
Application number: US00344436A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Ledner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-03-23
Filing date: 1973-03-23
Publication date: 1974-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-26
Also published as: BR7402214D0

Abstract

A device useful for descending from an elevated location along a strand of webbing or similar material is disclosed, which includes a housing containing a tortuous path through which the strand is drawn as the housing moves downward on the strand. Means for controlling the rate of descent are included, and a novel handle arrangement permits immediate reuse of the device without having to draw the strand back through the housing.

Description

United States Patent [191 Ledner Mar. 26, 1974- EMERGENCY DESCENT APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Albert c. Ledner, 5328 Bellaire, prlmay Bummer-36mm New Orleans, La 70124 Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm--J. Gibson Semmes [22] Filed: Mar. 23, 1973 Appl. No.: 344,436

[52] US. Cl. 182/5, 188/654 [51] Int. Cl. B65h 59/14, A62b 1/14 [58] Field of Search 182/5, 6, 7; 188/654, 188/655, 65.2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,497,534 6/1924 Bass 188/654 1,498,048 6/1924 Lee 188/652 [57] ABSTRACT A device useful for descending from an elevated location along a strand of webbing or similar material is disclosed, which includes a housing containing a tortuous path through which the strand is drawn as the housing moves downward on the strand. Means for controlling the rate of descent are included, and a novel handle arrangement permits immediate reuse of the device without having to draw the strand back through the housing. 1

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DAIEMEBMARZS 1574 3 799287 sum 1 or 2 EMERGENCY DESCENT APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to emergency escape devices, particularly those permitting descent from dangerous locations such as burning buildings by means of apparatus which will descend a strand of webbing or similar material under the control of the escaping person or objects.

Such devices have been known, U.S. Pat. No. 300,090 to Larson et al, shows an early device in which a strand of rope is directed through a tortuous path housing and the rate of descent along the rope is controlled by cam levers which may be actuated by the ecaping person or by persons on the ground or in the adjacent building. U.S. Pat. No. 722,713 to Johnson shows another device which permits the operator to descend along a strand while controlling his speed with a pair of rope gripping jaws. U.S. Pat. No. 812,950 to Price shows yet another tortuous path escape device with a friction brake which permits control of the speed in only one direction along the strand.

U.S. Pat. No. 933,685 to Wray illustrates an escape system which permits movement in either direction along the strand and includes separate friction brakes for control of movement in the opposing directions. U.S. Pat. No. 1,059,754 to Paquet depicts yet another tortuous path fire escape in which the strand is directed along a helical path through the housing and may be engaged by the operator with hand operated friction brakes which control the rate of descent in either direction. U.S. Pat. No. 2,544,964 to Phelan discloses a fire escape apparatus in which the strand is directed around a stationary sheave, through a pair of braking devices for controlling the rate of movement in one direction along the strand.

Numerous problems have been experienced with devices such as the above, For example, an escaping person is required to actuate the speed control devices using levers separate from the grips on which he would normally steady himself during his descent. This reduces the safety of such devices. Also, the effectiveness of the speed controls in most instances depends upon the strength of the escaping person who applies the control. This has the obvious disadvantage of making the device useless for weak or frightened users who might not have sufficient strength to operate the device properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A strand of webbing, rope or similar material is directed through a tortuous path within a housing. The strand is so directed that a plurality of portions of the moving strand are arranged to move in approximately parallel paths in close proximity to each other but in alternately opposite directions. Strand braking means, actuable from outside the housing are provided to selectively prevent movement of the strand in one or the other direction through the housing. When the braking means are actuated, the neighboring portions of the moving strand are automatically driven into contact with each other under the action of the brake, which increases braking efficiency. A handle is pivoted about the housing and includes easily moveable means for actuating the brake within the housing. When the housing has moved to one end of the strand after a descent, the

handle may be swung over to the other side to ready the v device for immediate reuse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS There follows a detailed description of the invention, reference being had to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like elements of structure in each of the several FIGURES.

FIG. 1 showsa plan view of the invention, partially in section. An essentially rectangular housing 10 of suitable material such as aluminum or high impact resistance plastic includes

side wall openings

12 and 14 to permit movement of a strand 16 of webbing, rope or similar material through the tortuous path resistance 18 and

braking mechanisms

20 and 22 located therein. Also included in housing 10 are

side wall openings

24 and 26 for attachment of combined handle and brake actuating mechanism 28.

The strand of webbing or similar material is threaded through opening 12, under roller 30, over roller 32 and under

pins

34 and 36. It then passes over and around pin 38 and reverses direction back along itself and under pin 40 to pass over and around roller 42. From there it reverses direction again back along itself and over pin 44 located below pin 40 to pass over and around pin 46, located below pin 38. The strand reverses direction a third time to pass over pins 48 and 50, located below

pins

34 and 36, around roller 52, over roller 54 and out through opening 14. This unique tortuous path resistance 18 provides closely spaced, essentially parallel paths which permit the housing to move along the strand at a reasonable rate of speed when weight is applied via handle 28.

Located above and below the tortuous path resistance 18 are automatically acting

braking mechanisms

20 and 22 which may be deactivated by the user to control movement of the housing along the strand in either direction. Opposite handed brake levers 56 and 58 are secured to housing 10 by

pivot posts

60 and 62. With the apparatus arranged vertically as shown in the FIG- URE, levers 56 and 58 are essentially balanced to maintain attached

braking shoe plates

64 and 66 in light contact with the outermost strands of webbing in resistance 18. If desired, the braking levers may also be biased to maintain such contact to ensure proper actuation of the brake and permit use of the apparatus in other orientations, as will be discussed subsequently. To understand the automatic function of the brake levers, consider that weight is placed on handle 28 so as to tend to move housing 10 along strand l6 and cause strand 16 to move through the housing from opening 14 to opening 12. Braking shoe plate 66 is mounted on lever 58 at an angle so that it leads in the direction of movement of the strand 16 in this example. Once enough weight is applied to handle 28 to overcome the friction of resistance 18, the strand 16 will begin to move; however, since shoe plate 66 is angled into contact with strand 16, it will be caught by the strand causing lever 58 to rotate clockwise about pivot post 62 to the position shown in the dotted lines. The more strand 16 moves due to applied weight, the further will lever 58 be rotated by the combined effects of the shoe plate 66 and the strand 16. Thus, the braking effect increases as more weight is applied by increasing the friction between shoe plate 66 and strand 16 and by displacing the essentially parallel oppositely moving strands in resistance 18 into contact one another. Opposite handed brake lever 56 and shoe plate 64 provide no resistance to movement of the strand 16 in this direction, but function identically to brake lever 58 and shoe plate 66 when the strand is moved through the housing in the opposite direction. If desired, the

ends

65 and 67 of

brake shoe plates

64 and 66 may be roughened or textured to increase the friction with strand 16; however, increased wear of the strand will be experienced.

Pins

36 and 48 ultimately serve as stops for levers 56 and 58.

Attached to

elongated extensions

68 and 70 of brake levers 56 and 58 are

brake release links

72 and 74, using

suitable pins

76 and 78. Pin 80 joins the opposite ends of

links

72 and 74. Stretched between pin 80 and pin 82 is biasing spring 84 which serves to bias the brake shoe plates into contact with strand 16 to ensure the automatic operation of the brakes as discussed above. Spring 84 also returns the brake levers to their balanced, engaged position after the escaping person reactivates the brakes using handle 28.

Also attached to pin 80 is brake deactivating cable 86 which passes through motion stops 88 and 90 before reaching pivot hinge 92 located in opening 26. Motion stop 80 includes tapered bore 94 to facilitate movement of cable 86 to the dotted line position during the automatic actuation of brake lever 58. Secured to cable 86 is stop element 96 which prevents movement of cable 86 beyond motion stop 88 under the influence of spring 84, which could result in the inadvertent locking of the brake actuating mechanism in the on position due to excessive movement of

links

72 and 74. Stop element 96 also prevents movement of the cable beyond motion stop 90 under the influence of the operator, which could result in the inadvertent locking of the brake deactuating mechanism in the of position.

Cable 86 passes through bore 98 of pivot hinge 92 to the'exterior of housing 10. Pivot hinge 92 includes tapered bore insert 100 which facilitates movement of cable 86 as handle 28 is rotated about housing 10. Opposite pivot hinge 92 on housing is pivot hinge 102. Depending from the hinges are

arms

104 and 106 which connect to handle 28. Handle 28 comprises an inner tubular portion 108, to which

arms

104 and 106 are attached using bolt 110 and

suitable fasteners

112 and 114. If desired, tubular portion 108 may be a solid piece of suitable material or may be filled with impact resistant plastic for greater rigidity. Surrounding tubular portion 108 are gripping

tubes

116 and 118, which include

slots

120 and 122 for

arms

104 and 106. Tube 116 is stationary relative to tubular portion 108 and carries reinforcing ring 124 and eyebolt 126 near the center of handle 28. A seat or sling may be attached to eyebolt 126 for the use of the escaping person, or the person may simply hang from the handle 28 during descent.

Gripping tube 118 is rotatable relative to tubular portion 108 and has affixed thereto the end of cable 86, as

at 120. To permit brake deactuation via cable 86 and gripping tube 1 18, slot 122 is extended part way around the circumference of tube 118 to allow rotation of the tube which pulls the cable and deactuates the brakes. Arm 106 may include a cable guard 128, if desired, to prevent fouling of cable 86 in use.

An adjustable control over the rate at which the strand 16 moves through housing 10 may be provided by

adjustable resistance elements

130 and 132. Outer

telescopic members

134 and 136 are affixed to motion stop 90 by

pins

138 and 140. Located within

members

134 and 136 are plungers 142 and 144, which carry

braking plates

146 and 148 on their outer ends and are movably disposed in guide members 150 and 152. Selectively

movable adjustment flanges

154 and 156 are mounted on the exterior of

members

134 and 136 using suitable fasteners such as

set screws

158 and 160.

Flanges

162 and 164 are mounted on plungers 142 and 144. Between

adjustment flanges

154 and 156 and

flanges

162 and 164 are disposed

springs

166 and 168 which act to force

braking plates

146 and 148 into contact withstrand 16. By moving

adjustment flanges

154 and 156, the compression of

springs

166 and 168 may be changed, thereby providing more or less resistance to the movement of strand l6 and controlling the rate of descent. If desired, the contact surfaces of

braking plates

146 and 148 may be roughened or textured to provide additional resistance; however, this increases the wear on the strand material considerably.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view, partially in section, taken along line 22 of FIG. 1. The rotating mounting of roller 54 and the stationary mount of pin 36 are shown. If desired to provide more or less friction in the toruous path resistance 18, various of the rollers may be made stationary pins or the pins may be made rotating rollers, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view in section of an alternate embodiment of the combination. handle and brake deactuating mechanism 28. Handle 28 comprises a tubular portion 170 which is attached to

arms

104 and 106 by

rings

172 and 174 and suitable fasteners. Located within tubular portion 170 is cable tensioning lever 176, mounted for rotation about pivot post 178. Lever 176 has an extension 180 on one end which extends through opening 182 in tubular portion 170 to a position where it may be easily actuated by the thumb of the escaping person as he grips the handle. Cable 86 extends through a bore 184 in ring 174 and tubular portion 170 and is attached to the other end of lever 176 using fastener 186. As extension 180 is depressed, cable 86 is drawn downward, thereby deactuating the braking mechanisms in housing 10, as previously discussed.

Woven webbing such as shown in the drawings has been discovered to be a superior strand material for use with the invention due to its combination of large friction contact area, great flexibility and strength; however, it will be appreciated that other materials such as rope or thin cable could be used without departing from the spirit of this invention.

In use, one end of the strand of webbing is affixed to a high point in the structure from which escape is to be made. The escaping person then grasps the handle and places his weight against the friction of the tortuous path resistance and adjustable resistance elements, by hanging from the handle or sitting in an appropriate device attached to the handle. Movement down the strand will start when the brake is released using the release mechanism located in the handle, and may be discontinued by untwisting or releasing the release mechanism/When the escaping person has reached safety, the strand will have been drawn through the housing, at which time the handle may be flipped over to the other side, thus readying the inventive apparatus for immediate reuse. For returning the device to the elevated point of danger, the next escaping person need only drawn it back up using the webbing and change the end of the webbing attached to the high point in the structure.

Having described my invention in such clear and complete detail as to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use it, I claim:

1. A device useful for emergency descent, comprising:

A. a housing having openings therein;

B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing;

C. means located within the housing for directing the strand through a tortuous path thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strand through the housing;

D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to the strand and responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movement of the strand through the housing by displacing portions of the strand into contact with one another within the tortuous resistance path; and

E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventing movement of the strand.

2. A device useful for emergency descent, comprising:

A. a housing having openings therein;

B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing;

D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to the strand and responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movement of the strand through the housing;

E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventing movement of the strand; and

F. means located within the housing for selectively adjusting the rate of speed with which the strand moves through the housing when the means for preventing movement of the strand has been deactuated.

3. A device useful for emergency descent, compris ing:

A. a housing having openings therein;

I B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing;

D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to the strand and responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movement of the strand through the housing; and

LII

E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventing movement of the strand, comprising:

a cable operatively engaged with the means for preventing movement of the strand to remove it from contact with the strand;

an opening in the housing for the cable;

a gripping handle;

means attached to the housing for permitting the gripping handle to swing from one side of the housing to the other after the strand has moved therethrough; and

means attached to the gripping handle for pulling the cable to deactuate the means for preventing movement of the strand.

4. A device useful for emergency descent comprising:

A. a housing having openings therein;

B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing;

C. tortuous path means for causing the strand to move in opposite 'directions in closely adjacent paths as it passes through the housing, thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strand through the housing;

D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to the strand and'responsive to movement of the strand for causing portionsof the strand in the closely adjacent paths to contact one another, thereby providing resistance to movement of the strand; and

E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for causing portions of the strand to contact one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the means for causing the strand to move in opposite directions comprises:

Cla. a first pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing beneath which the strand is threaded;

Clb. a second pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing below and spaced outwardly of the first pair, over and around the first of which and beneath the second of which the strand is threaded;

Clc. a pin attached to the housing around which the strand is threaded;

Cld. a third pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing over the first of which and over and around the second of which the strand is threaded; and a fourth pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing over which the strand is threaded.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for causing portions of the strand to contact one another comprises:

Dla. first and second brake levers;

Dlb. pivot means for mounting the levers adjacent the closely adjacent paths;

Dlc. a first brake shoe plate mounted on the first brake lever and contacting the strand at angle lead ing in one direction of motion of the adjacent strand through the housing; and

Dld. a second brake shoe plate mounted on the second brake lever and contacting the strand at an angle leading in the opposite direction of motion of the adjacent strand through the housing,

whereby as the strand moves through the housing in either direction, the respective brake shoe plates will be caught by the strand and the levers rotated to force the shoes into braking contact with the strand and to force the portions of the strand in the closely adjacent plates to contact each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including: Dle. resilient means for biasing the respective brake shoe plates into contact with the strand. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the selectively actuable deactuating means comprises:

El. first and second brake release links each having a first end joined respectively to the first and second brake levers and each link having a second end, the second end of the first link being pivotally

Claims

1. A device useful for emergency descent, comprising: A. a housing having openings therein; B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing; C. means located within the housing for directing the strand through a tortuous path thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strand through the housing; D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to the strand and responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movement of the strand through the housing by displacing portions of the strand into contact with one another within the tortuous resistance path; and E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventing movement of the strand.

2. A device useful for emergency descent, comprising: A. a housing having openings therein; B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing; C. means located within the housing for directing the strand through a tortuous path thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strand through the housing; D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to the strand and responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movement of the strand through the housing; E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventing movement of the strand; and F. means located within the housing for selectively adjusting the rate of speed with which the strand moves through the housing when the means for preventing movement of the strand has been deactuated.

3. A device useful for emergency descent, comprising: A. a housing having openings therein; B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing; C. means located within the housing for directing the strand through a tortuous path thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strand through the housing; D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to the strand and responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movement of the strand through the housing; and E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventing movement of the strand, comprising: a cable operatively engaged with the means for preventing movement of the strand to remove it from contact with the strand; an opening in the housing for the cable; a gripping handle; means attached to the housing for permitting the gripping handle to swing from one side of the housing to the other after the strand has moved therethrough; and means attached to the gripping handle for pulling the cable to deactuate the means for preventing movement of the strand.

4. A device useful for emergency descent comprising: A. a housing having openings therein; B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing; C. tortuous path means for causing the strand to move in opposite directions in closely adjacent paths as it passes through the housing, thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strand through the housing; D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to the strand and responsive to movement of the strand for causing portions of the strand in the closely adjacent paths to contact one another, thereby providing resistance to movement of the strand; and E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for causing portions of the strand to contact one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the means for causing the strand to move in opposite directions comprises: C1a. a first pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing beneath which the strand is threaded; C1b. a second pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing below and spaced outwardly of the first pair, over and around the first of which and beneath the second of which the strand is threaded; C1c. a pin attached to the housing around which the strand is threaded; C1d. a third pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing over the first of which and over and around the second of which the strand is threaded; and a fourth pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing over which the strand is threaded.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for causing portions of the strand to contact one another comprises: D1a. first and second brake levers; D1b. pivot means for mounting the levers adjacent the closely adjacent paths; D1c. a first brake shoe plate mounted on the first brake lever and contacting the strand at angle leading in one direction of motion of the adjacent strand through the housing; and D1d. a second brake shoe plate mounted on the second brake lever and contacting the strand at an angle leading in the opposite direction of motion of the adjacent strand through the housing, whereby as the strand moves through The housing in either direction, the respective brake shoe plates will be caught by the strand and the levers rotated to force the shoes into braking contact with the strand and to force the portions of the strand in the closely adjacent plates to contact each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including: D1e. resilient means for biasing the respective brake shoe plates into contact with the strand.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the selectively actuable deactuating means comprises: E1. first and second brake release links each having a first end joined respectively to the first and second brake levers and each link having a second end, the second end of the first link being pivotally joined to the second end of the second link; E2. resilient means for biasing the respective brake shoe plates into contact with the strand; and E3. cable means pivotally joined to the second ends of the brake release links for moving the brake shoe plates from contact with the strand.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, further including roller means for guiding the strand into and out of the means for causing the strand to move in opposite directions in closely adjacent paths.