US3831711A - Emergency escape device for high rise building - Google Patents

Abstract

A transport or escape device, particularly adaptable for use in modern high rise buildings, and skyscrapers, as an escape route for use in the rescue of people who may be trapped and prevented from using the conventional stairways and elevators due to some injury, or natural or man-made disaster such as fire, elevator failure, building collapse, etc. The apparatus, or device, particularly useful as a fire escape, comprises the combination of a channel member installed upon the wall of a building which serves as a way, or rail for a roller chain, adapted to carry personnel escorts or carriers. The roller chain is meshed with a sprocket, or sprockets, powered by appropriate motor means such that the roller chain, provided with one or a plurality of personnel escorts or carriers fitted thereto via appropriate connecting means, can be guided and transported via the channel member, or rail, up the wall of the building from a lower level, e.g., ground level, to a higher level, e.g., the roof of the building, and then returned in similar manner. For example, empty personnel escorts can be conveyed to the roof of the building, loaded with people, and then returned to ground level. Suitably, the roller chain is stored upon a drum from which it can be unwound for use, and then rewound for storage. The channel member, or rail, is generally permanently mounted on a wall of the building, while other components can be either permanently mounted, or transportably mounted on a vehicle for use at different locations equipped with the channel members, or rails, installed prior to any emergency use requirement.

Description

Smith [451 Aug. 27, 1974 1 1 EMERGENCY ESCAPE DEVICE FOR HIGH RISE BUILDING [76] Inventor: Luther A. Smith, 1914 Delaware Ave., Kenner, La. 70062 22 Filed: June 28, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 374,676

[52] US. Cl 182/40, 182/73, 182/82, 182/141, 187/6 [51] Int. Cl. B66b 9/00, A62b l/O2 [58] Field of Search 182/70, 73, 40, 41,42, 182/44, 141, 82; 187/6 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,596 12/1878 Burnham 182/43' 607,161 7/1898 Conaway 182/82 780,711 l/l905 Donnell 187/6 1,326,896 12/1919 Anderson 182/42 2,119,444 5/1938 Sampieri 182/44 2,143,953 l/l939 Le Roy 182/40 2,763,420 9/1956 Hebert 182/40 2,961,060 11/1960 Taylor 182/40 Primary ExaminerReina1do P. Machado Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Llewellyn A. Proctor ABSTRACT A transport or escape device, particularly adaptable for use in modern high rise buildings, and skyscrapers,

as an escape route for use in the rescue of people who may be trapped and prevented from using the conventional stairways and elevators due to some injury, or natural or man-made disaster such as fire, elevator failure, building collapse, etc. The apparatus, or device, particularly useful as a fire escape, comprises the combination of a channel member installed upon the wall of a building which serves as a way, or rail for a roller chain, adapted to carry personnel escorts or car-' riers. The roller chainis meshed with a sprocket, or

sprockets, powered by appropriate motor means such that the roller chain, provided with one or a plurality of personnel escorts or carriers fitted thereto via appropriate connecting means, can be guided and transported via the channel member, or rail, up the wall of the building from a lower level, e.g., ground level, to a higher level, e.g., the roof of the building, and then returned in similar manner. For example, empty personnel escorts can be conveyed to the roof of the building, loaded with people, and then returned to ground level. Suitably, the roller chain is stored upon a drum from which it can be unwound for use, and then rewound for storage. The channel member, or rail, is generally permanently mounted on a wall of the building, while other components can be either permanently mounted, or transportably mounted on a vehicle for use at different locations equipped with the channel members, or rails, installed prior to any emergency use requirement.

11 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTED M192 7 I974 FIG. 7

FIG, 8

EMERGENCY ESCAPE DEVICE FOR HIGH RISE I BUILDING It has been aptly said, The only thing certain in life, with the exception of death and taxes, is uncertainty. Hazards from man-made and natural disasters is a way oflife. Conflagration or fire, while not a new problem, has proven one of mans most destructive enemies. Each year in this country it is estimated that more than ten thousand lives are lost in fires, and valuable property is destroyed. Data on fire losses has been available since 1876, and since that year fire losses have totaled well over forty billion dollars. Property valued at more than one billion dollars is now lost each year as a result of fires. I

A tragic factor about fires is the catastrophic damage of which they are capable, and the horror and suffering which they cause. Many times in history, entire cities have been virtually destroyed, even in the course of natural events. For example, in 1906 some twenty-eight thousand buildings were destroyed in the San Francisco fire; over seventeen thousand buildings were lost in the Chicago fire of 187]; and in 1861, the entire city of Charleston, South Carolina, was destroyed by fire. In 1953, the largest single building fire in history destroyed the General Motors plant at Livonia, Michigan, an estimated fifty million dollar loss. The loss of life is even more tragic, and far more horrible to contemplate. For example, eleven hundred and fifty-two human lives were lost in the Peshtigo, Wisconsin, fire of 1871. The difficulties of properly protecting lives from fire, and other disasters, has become more and more acute, and the potential hazards even greater in the more recent years with the increasing number of high rise buildings, and skyscrapers, being built at increasing rate in the modern cities of this country. While sociologists may give many reasons in explanation of such problem, many paradoxical in nature, the arsonist and anarchist has intensified the hazards associated with fires in high rise buildings, and skyscrapers, as evidenced only recently by the Rault Building fire believed set by an arsonist, or arsonists, and the Howard Johnson fire set by a sniper, or snipers, in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana.

It is not at all uncommon, especially in the larger cities, for the height of buildings to range as high as several hundred feet, or even toa height greater than one thousand feet. Fires started on the lower floors of such buildings, where persons are trapped on the more elevated floors, or onthe roof, make escape from such hazard extremely difficult. Modern high rise buildings, and skyscrapers, are not generally protected by fire escapes and the discovery and development of modern devices for permitting escape from fire, once started,

appear to have lagged far behind mans ingenuity in the design, construction, and use of such buildings. A person seriously injured or wounded on an elevated story of such buildings, for whatever cause, is in a particularly difficult situation if the conventional elevator system is not capable of operation, and policemen and firemen are particularly handicapped in having to deal with emergencies in such situation.

It is accordingly the primary objective of the present invention to obviate these and other such problems.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a new and improved transport or escape device, particularly adaptable for use in modern high rise buildings,

and skyscrapers, suitable for the rescue of people who fire, elevator failure, building collapse, threat from snipers, and the like.

A specific object is to provide a new and novel ground controlled devce of such type suitable for very rapidly conveying equipment and emergency items to elevated portions of high rise buildings, and skyscrapers, inclusive of firemen and policemen who can be transported in personnel escorts or carriers which are shielded to provide protection against smoke and fire, and snipers bullets.

Another object is to provide a device of such type, particularly a fire escape, of simple construction and design, with assured reliability requiring a minimum of maintenance and operating labor.

These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention which comprises the combination of a channel member, or hollow rail, within and through which a flexible chain, preferably a roller chain, adapted with means to accomodate and carry personnel escorts or carriers, is guided and conveyed. The channel member, or rail, is installed on the wall (outside or'inside, preferably the former) of a high rise building leading generally from a low level, e.g., ground level, to an elevated level, e.g., the roof of the building, and the roller chain, which is meshed with one or more sprockets, powered via appropriate motor means, is guided and transported via the channel member on rail up the wall of the building. In their most preferred form, the carriers are of a type suitable for transport empty to an elevated level of the building, loaded with people and then returned to ground level; or people, e.g., firemen, policemen, etc., could likewise be transported from the lower level to the elevated level, and later returned in similar manner, should this prove desirable, as could be occasioned in some emergency type situations. Equipment useful in emergency situations,

e.g., fire hose, telephones with lines attached, armoured personnel escort carriages, etc., can be similarly transported. Suitably, the roller chain, with its attachment means for connecting the personnel escorts or carriers is stored on a drum, from which it can be unwound for use and rewound thereon for storage. The channel member, or rail, is generally permanently mounted on the wall of a building, while the other components can be eitherpermanently mounted for use therewith, or mounted on a vehicle'or carriage for use at different locations equipped with the channel members, or rails, installed prior to any required emergency use.

In the combination constituting the transport or escape device of this invention, a channel member (so characterized because of the general shape of the cross-section), or rail, serves as a way, track or path, along and through which the roller chain, with its attachment means for accommodation of the personnel escort and carriers, is guided and conveyed. The channel member, in its essence, is similar to the ordinary railway rail, except that the head is hollow and is provided with a full length longitudinal opening, or slot. The hollow head accommodates the roller chain, and the full length longitudinal opening, or slot, accommodates the attachment means to which the personnel escorts or carriers can be secured, and both the roller chain and attachment means are freely movable within the hollow head and longitudinal opening, respectively, without interference as the roller chain is moved through the hollow head, or channel member. The hollow rail, or channel member, is installed on a wall such that the head is faced away from the wall, and a base or flange portion thereof provides a suitable means for connecting the rail to the wall. The hollow rail is installed on a wall in vertical position, and can be curved as desired, the bending radius, inwardly (the head forming the outside radius), outwardly (the head forming the inside radius) or to the left or right of a centrally defined path, being limited only by the necessity of accommodating the flexible roller chain enclosed within the hollow head portion of the rail. The rail is thus always installed on the wall of a building, and hence its overall path is generally vertical, but it is often desirable to alter the path of the rail to pass over or evade projecting ledges, balconies or windows, and this can be conveniently done by the apparatus of this invention, changes in rail direction approximating 90 angles, and greater, being quite feasible with conventionally made roller chains, or roller chains presently marketed in this country.

The flexible chain is one made of repeating units, or links, which during an operation can be securely engaged, or meshed, with a powered drive, sprocket, or plurality of sprockets, powered by conventional motor means controlled at ground level. Preferably, the flexible chain employed is a roller chain with repeating open linkages which can be reliably and readily engaged and meshed with the cogs of a sprocket, or sprockets. In a preferred form, the roller chain employed is one wherein rollers, with central openings, are paired one in parallel relationship to another, pairs of rollers are located in tandem relationship, one pair relative to another, and the pairs of rollers are joined together via an inner plate or link located between the pairs of rollers and a pair of outer plates or links, with end openings, through which roller and link opening pins are passed to secure the inner and outer plates upon the rollers, the pins serving as axles for the rollers. The inner link or plate, usually of greater thickness and strength than the outer links or plates, are designed to carry the means, or provide the means, by virtue of which the personnel escorts or carriers can be attached. In another preferred form of roller chain, intermediate pairs of rollers are provided between the outer pairs of rollers, these serving, in this instance generally, as a bearing surface upon which force is applied by the sprocket cams to transport the roller chain within the channel member, or hollow rail, while the outer pairs of rollers serve as guide members. In roller chains of this type, the outer links or plates are usually alternately mounted outside of the outer rollers and inside of the outer rollers, while the inner links are alternately mounted between the inner rollers. In all forms, the rolwith whole corresponding numbers, the whole numbers are used in generic sense and subscripts are generally used where there are a plurality of similar parts or components.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view, in generally schematic fashion, of the invention combination, inclusive of a channel member or rail, roller chain, personnel escorts or carriers, sprocket drives and associated motor means, and drum storage compartment, as installed for use to transport personnel escorts or carriers via rail from ground level to an elevated level of a building;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. I showing a preferred type of roller chain mounted and enclosed within the channel member, or rail;

FIG. 3 depicts a section, in plan view, of a rail, with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate a preferred type of roller chain, as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. depicts a preferred type of plate or link for use in forming a roller chain;

FIG. 5 depicts a preferred type of drive sprocket meshed with the roller chain described by reference to the preceding figures, as well as a type of attachment means or link located on the roller chain, pairs or a plurality of which are adapted for carrying the personnel escorts or carriers;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing further details of the drive sprocket, and the roller chain;

FIG. 7 depicts the roller chain drum storage compartment;

FIG. 8 is a section view taken along lines 88 of FIG. 7 showing further details of the drum storage compartment;

FIG. 9 depicts the articulated upper portion of a personnel escort or carriage, showing connection means, or means for connecting the latter via the personnel escort or carriage attachment means to the roller chain;

FIG. 9A is a fragmentary view depicting an edge view of the articulated link itself;

FIG. 10 depicts an end view of one of the connecting means mentioned in preceding FIG. 9 for attaching a personnel escort or carriage upon attachment means located on the roller chain;

FIG. 11 depicts a side elevation view of the lower portion of a preferred type of personnel escort;

FIG. 12 depicts in plan view, taken along lines 12-42, the device described by reference to FIG. 11',

FIG. 13 depicts a side elevation view of a preferred type of fireproof, or armoured personnel escort, for use in the inventive combination; and

FIG. 14 depicts a plan view, taken along lines 14-14% of the personnel escort described by reference to FIG. 13.

Referring to FIG. I, generally there is shown, in combination, a hollow rail, or tubular or channel member 10 within and through which is conveyed or transported a roller chain 20 (FIG. 3) which is withdrawn from a roller chain storage drum 30. The roller chain 20, which is provided with attachment means to accommodate and convey personnel escorts or carriers 60, is meshed with a pair of drive sprockets 41, 42 powered by an engine or motor 50 to which the said sprockets 41, 42 are connected via drive transmission means 40, which optionally may include clutch and braking corts or carriers 60, which are operatively associated with said attachment means 16 secured upon roller 1 chain 20, are located at desired intervals along the length of roller chain 20, such that the carriers 60 can be conveyed or transported with the roller chain 20 as it ascends from ground level toward the roof of the building 100, or conversely as it descends from a higher 1 elevation to ground level.

The upper segment 10;, of channel member 10, it will be observed, can be bent or curved, e.g., curved outwardly or bent around a projecting ledge, curved to bypass obstructions, or to pass near a suitable collection point. Also, systems of rails or channel members, straight or curved, as desired, e.g., segment 10,, and switches 8 operated in the same fashion as those in use on modern railroads, can be installed to provide different paths leading from lower to higher building elevations. For example, switch 8 provides a means for connecting together channel segments 10,, 10 and 10 The tubular or channel member 10, as shown, e.g., by reference to FIG. 2, provides a conduit through which a roller chain 20 can be conveyed or transported, the said channel member 10 serving in effect as a way, rail, track or path along or through which the roller chain 20 is moved. The channel member 10, in its general aspects, is thus comprised of abase plate 9 on the opposite outer edges of which is mounted a pair of alternately disposed inwardly projected guide rails or walls 13,, 13,, generally of Z-shaped cross-section. Thus, the upper portion of the walls 13,, 13 are provided with rims or edges which are turned inwardly, one toward the other, to partially enclose the roller chain 20, and the lower portions of the walls 13,, 13 with rims or edges which are turned outwardly, one away from the other, to provide flanged lower portions which abut and are secured upon the base plate 9. The upper inwardly projected edges define a tubular member with a full length longitudinal slot which serves as a way or rail within which the roller chain 20 is contained, and within which full length continuous slot the mechanical means carried by roller chain 20 for accomodation of the personnel carriers 60 are free to move. The base plate 9 and walls 13,, 13 of channel member 10 can be constructed as a unitary or single member, or unitized by an assembly of separate members. The channel member 10, in either event, generally includes a trough portion, or flat depressed surface 11, preferably located between a pair of oppositely disposed lower shoulders 12,, 12 this providing a way or track along which the roller chain 20 can be moved in a guided path. It also preferably includes, as suggested, a pair of 6 oppositely disposed angular shaped, inwardly projected (or wrap-around) walls 13,, 13 also provided with an oppositely disposed pair of upper shoulders 14,, 14 which, with the trough portion, encompass the roller chain 20 such that it necessarily travels inside the channelmember 10 providing, in effect, a mono-rail within and through which the roller chain 20 is both guided and transported. The continuous, unobstructed slot opening 15,'i.e., the slot formed between angular walls 13,, 13 always faces away from the wall of the building upon which the channel member 10 is secured, and provides a guided path along which the extended mounting means, or attachments 16 which holds the series of spaced apart personnel carries 60 in place, can travel.

Roller chain 20 is comprised of a system of repeating links joined together in tandem relationship, one link being secured to another to form a continuous chain. Preferably, the roller chain 20 is comprised of multiple chain linkage, most preferably a double chain linkage, and it is guided and driven preferably by a pair of sprocket drives 41, 42. A preferred type of roller chain 20, as best shown by specific reference to FIG. 3, is one characterized as containing, in a first set, linkage comprising pairs of outer rollers 21,, 21 between which are located pairs of inner rollers 22,, 22 all in side-by-side relationship, and, in a second set, in tandem relationship to the first set, pairs of outer rollers 23,, 23 and intermediate inner rollers 24,, 24 in similar relationship, each of the four rollers of a set being held together by parallel aligned- links 27,, 27 27 with end openings and a pin 25, 26 passed through the end openings within the links and a central opening through each of the rollers. A pin 25, 26, each of which is usually set within a bushing, serves as an axle about which the rollers (whichmay be set in bearings) are individually rotatable. The tandem relationship of one set of rollers with respect to an adjacent set of rollers is preserved by the use of links 27,, 27 27 of equal and uniform length, and the forces are balanced, e.g., by locating links 27,, 27, outside of the outer rollers 21,, 23, and 21 23 and link 27,, between the inner rollers 22,, 22 and 24,, 24 and by locating adjacent links 28,, 28 and 29,, 29 between the outer and inner rollers 21,, 22, and 21 22 respectively, and links 28 28., and 29,,, 29., between the inner rollers 22,, 22 and 24,, 24 The central portions of the pins 25, 26 are preferably of relatively large diameter at the cross-sections which serve as axles for the rollers mounted thereon, and the end portions over which the links are fitted are of somewhat reduced diameter. The pins 25, 26 are thus usually set within larger diameter bushings, of somewhat shorter length, and pins 25, 26 can be held in place by cotter keys located within lateral openings drilled through the terminal end portions of the said pins, or by bifurcated metal clips or retaining rings which fit within circumferential slots located within and about the terminal end portions of said pins, and the like.

The individual links, e.g., an outer link 27, as shown by specific reference to FIG. 4, are provided with end openings 027,, 027,, preferably of elliptical shape,

The lower end of roller chain 20 at the location where the said chain is introduced into the channel member 10, after introduction, is permanently linked with the pair of drive sprockets 41, 42 and adequate 1 clearance is provided such that the personnel carrier means 16, or attachments which carry the personnel carriers 60, can pass from one side of a sprocket 41, 42

to the other without interference, as hereinafter described. Referring, e.g., to FIG. 5, it will be observed that a sprocket 42, which is journalled upon a shaft 43 and held in place thereon via a nut 44 threadably engaged thereto, is provided with a series of uniformly spaced cogs 45 located around the circumference of the sprocket. Each sprocket 411, 42, e.g., sprocket 42, is thus comprised of pairs of matched circular plates, e.g., 42,, 42 of similar diameter, located in parallel relationship one to another, and spaced apart by a smaller diameter circular plate, e.g., plate 46, located between the pair of outer circular plates 42,, 42 Each of the outer circular plates 42,, 42 contains an identical number of cogs 45 45 and all are aligned one with another in parallel relationship. The pitch, or spacing between any adjacent pair of cogs 45 corresponds to the pitch, or distance between the openings between any adjacent sets of rollers and, as will best be observed by specific reference to FIG. 6, each cog 45 is, in effect, bifurcated and spaced apart to provide parallel segments 45,, 45 which contact and, on rotation, exert force against inner pairs of rollers, or drive rollers 24,, 24 to transport the roller chain 20. The personnel carrier means 16, or attachments for the personnel carriers 60, it will be observed, can pass freely and without interference through the spaces between parallel cog segments 45,, 45 Each of the personnel carrier means 16 is secured, at desired intervals, upon the roller chain 20 suitably by virtue of a pair of spaced apart openings through which pins 25, 26 are passed to hold these members in place on the said roller chain 20. Each of the personnel carrier means 16 is provided with a pair of slots 7,, 7 by virtue of which a personnel carrier 60 can be secured and joined to a pair of carrier means 16 for transport with the roller chain 20.

The roller chain 20 is preferably stored within a storage drum 30, a suitable device of such character being described by reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The roller chain 20, with carrier means 16 projecting or facing upwardly, is withdrawn through the conduit 32 constituting an inlet leading into the drum interior. The drum interior, it will be observed, is provided with a helical, or spiral shaped track 33 formed about the outer diameter, but inside the shell 34, of the drum. The roller chain 20 is wound upon the helical track 33 in a direction which will locate the roller chain on the track with the attachment means 16 faced inwardly toward the axis of the drum. By storing the roller chain 20 in this manner, it can be freely wound and unwound without entanglement. Suitably, the roller chain 20 is unwound by engaging the end thereof with sprockets 41, 42 whereon activation of the drive means 50 will pull the roller chain 20 from the drum via the conduit 32 and feed it into the channel member 10, and it is rewound by reversing this direction of movement of the sprockets 41, 42 and roller chain 20.

A suitable holder device for mounting a personnel escort or carrier 60, of various types, on the roller chain 20 is described by reference to FIG. 9. An articulated bar 61, or solid support member relatively long in proportion to its breadth and thickness, thus serves as a member for support, upon roller chain 20, of a personnel escort or carrier 61) of types shown, e.g., by reference to FIGS. 11 and 13. The bar 61 is comprised of two segments, an upper segment 61, and a lower segment 611 joined one to the other in hinge fashion. The lower portion of the upper segment 61, is thus preferably bifurcated and provided with openings, and therein is fitted the upper portion of segment 61 also provided with an opening, through which openings is fitted a pin or rivet 62 (FIG. 9A). The articulated bar 61, via an upper perforated shank connection located on the upper terminal end of segment 61 and an intermediate perforated shank connection located on segment 61,, is secured to clips 62,, 62 by rivets 63,, 63, which are extended through openings located in bifurcated projections located in the heel portions of clips 62,, 62 and through the perforations in the shank portions of articulated bar segments 61,, 61 The shank portions of articulated bar segments 61,, 61 each rests upon helical springs 64,, 64 coiled about rivets 63,, 63,. respectively, and the toe portions of clips 62,, 62 are provided with means for ready attachment upon an adjacent pair of carrier attachment means 16,, 16,, attached upon roller chain 20. The articulated bar 61, in combination with the clips 62,, 62 provides means for equal distribution of weight upon a segment of roller chain 26, and the articulated joint, in particular, alleviates stresses as loaded portions of roller chain 20 pass through curved sections of the channel member 10.

Preferably, the upper and lower toe portions of each of clips 62,, 62 as shown by specific reference to FIG. 10 which, for convenience, depicts an end view of a clip 62,, are bifurcated and perforated providing vertical oriented notches through which are fitted rivets 65,, 65 The bar segment formed by each of rivets 65,, 65 can be readily fitted within a pair of slots of a carrier attachment means, e.g., slots 7,, 7 of a carrier attachment means 16 as described by reference to FIG. 5. Whereas the clips 62,, 62 are easily and rapidly fitted, at ground level, upon adjacent pairs of carrier attachment means secured upon roller chain 20, it is virtually impossible, because of the shape of slots 7,, 7 to disconnect the clips 62,, 62 therefrom of a loaded personnel escort or carrier 60. Thus, this simple mechanism provides a ready, simple, and quick means of attachment of the personnel escorts or carriers at a horizontal, or near the ground level, but loaded personnel escorts or carriers 60 in vertical ascent or descent are virtually impossible to disconnect. Hence, a badly frightened or terrorized passenger descending from an upper elevation of a building is unable to unlock the personnel escort or carriage 60 from the roller chain until he is safely at ground level.

One preferred type of personnel escort 60 is shown and described by reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The backbone of the articulated bar 66 includes hinged bar segments 66,, 66 provided with perforated shanks 67,, 67 for connection to clips such as described by reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, by virtue of which the personnel escort 60 can be'afiixed upon a pair of adjacent attachment means and secured upon a roller chain 20. The personnel escort 60 further includes a platform 67 and segments of frame 68, 69, 70, a saddle 71 being located on the upper terminal end of the frame 70, the portion of frame 68 serving as a handlebar which can be gripped by a passenger who is sitting upon the saddle 71 with his feet in place upon the platform 67. The passenger is securely strapped in place, and held there, during ascent or descent, by means of straps 72, 73, 74 which fit about the legs, and upper and lower back, respectively, of a passenger. Suitably, if desired, walls (not shown) can be provided to enclose and protect the passenger from fire and smoke.

An even more preferred type of personnel escort 80, particularly suitable for protection against fire and smoke, is thus described by reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. The backbone of this unit 80 also is provided by an articulated bar 81 comprised of a plurality of hinged segments 81,, 81 81 each segment of which is provided with a perforated shank 82,, 82 82 to which a clip, such as described by referenceto FIGS. 9 and 10, can be affixed for securing the personnel escort 80 upon a roller chain as via suitable attachment means, as illustrated by reference to element 16 of FIG. 5. In this instance, an enclosing wall 83 is mounted upon a platform, or base 84, which is secured to the lower segment 81;, of the articulated bar 81. An enclosing top 85 is also mounted atop wall 83, a passenger being completely enclosed by the base 84, the top 85, wall 83, and a door 86. A passenger can thus readily enter or exit from the personnel escort 80 by opening and closing the door 86, suitably hung on hinges 87,, 87 by operation of the handle 88 of a built-in lock of various known types.

The personnel escort 80, if desired, can be suitably armoured or built of material which will protect an occupant against small arms fire, and thus provide protection, e.g., for a policeman or fireman who may wish to travel therein to reach the roof, or other elevated position on a building, or ascend in safety from such building elevation.

It is apparent that various modifications and changes can be made in the various portions of the struture, or in the number and kind of components used, without departing the spirit and scope of the present invention. Various materials of construction can thus be em ployed, as various changes made in the absolute and relative dimensions of the parts, marterials of construction used, and the like, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Flexible chain of various types can be employed, subject to the requirement that repeating linkage is employed adequate to engage with a drive sprocket, or sprockets, for conveyance and transport of the chain through a hollow way, rail, or track. The chain is preferably a roller chain, or chain provided with a series of rollers, generally constituted of metal, e.g., steel, titanium, etc., adequate for the existing application. Bearings, where employed in the roller chain, can be made of various materials, e.g., steel, bronze, titanium, meehanite, and various plastics.

The hollow rail, or channel member, is constituted of metal suitable for the existing application, e.g., steel,

titanium, or the like. Suitably, the rail can be equipped with heating elements for outside applications, located at intervals, for preventing ice buildup in winter months, as may occur in certain geographical locations. The sprocket, or sprockets, are constituted of metal, e.g., steel or steel alloy, of high strength, and can be driven by virtually any engine or motor means, e.g., diesel, electric, gasoline, or the like. Auxiliary motors of different types are often employed, e.g., a diesel engine in case of a power failure. Whereas a drum type storage compartment is usually preferred, various other storage devices can be employed for the chain.

The materials used for construction of the rail, chain, drive sprocket and even the selection of the motor means are made with the realization, inter alia, that the chain, which is always under compression, must be conveyed vertically to an elevation ranging from a few hundred, e.g., 500, feet to perhaps a thousand feet, or higher, and generally it is desired that the chain be driven this distance within from perhaps about I to 2 minutes. Also, the equipment at various locations may be subjected to intense heat.

Various types of personnel escorts, or carriers, can be employed, and these can be constructed of various materials, as desired, e.g., metal, asbestos, reinforced fiber glass, and the like.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is;

1. An emergency escape or transport apparatus particularly useful in scaling a wall of modern high rise buildings, or skyscrapers, which in combination comprises a rail provided with a hollow head and longitudinal slot running the full length of the hollow head, and a base by virtue of which the rail can be securely mounted on the wall of the building with the full length longitudinal slot facing outwardly from the wall,

a flexible roller chain with uniformly repeating open linkages suitable for introduction, guidance and transport within and through the hollow head of the rail,

attachment means affixed at desired intervals along the length of the roller chain, said attachment means extending through and movable within the full length longitudinal slot provided within the rail,

a carrier adapted for engagement with the attachment means affixed upon the roller chain such that the carrier can be secured upon and transported with the roller chain as it is guided and moved through the rail,

a sprocket engageable, and which can be meshed with, the repeating open linkages of the roller chain, and

motor means for driving the sprocket for transport of the roller chain meshed therewith through the hollow head of the rail.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combination includes, in addition, means for storing the roller chain when it is not in use.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the storage means is a drum storage compartment upon which the roller chain can be wound and unwound.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail is provided with an intermediately located movable section, pivotally disposed via an end to a portion of the rail so that the opposite end of said movable section can be angularly displaced and aligned with a second rail of similar design, this providing a switch whereby the direction and path of movement of the roller chain can be changed by introduction of the roller chain into the hollow head of the second rail, for guidance and transport.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail is comprised of a unitized base plate and a pair of side guide walls of Z-shaped cross section,

the upper portionsthereof being projected inwardly, one toward the other, and spaced apart to form a full length longitudinal slot and partially enclose and form a channel within and through which the roller chain can be transported, and within which full length longitudinal slot the carrier attachment means can be transported,

ill

the lower portions of the pair of side guide walls of Z-shaped cross-section being faced outwardly and resting upon the edges of the base plate to provide flanges by virtue of which the said rail can be secured upon the wall of the building.

6. The apparatus of claim wherein each of the side guide walls are provided with alternately disposed upper and lower longitudinal aligned rib portions which can guide the roller chain upon its introduction and passage through the channel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible roller chain is comprised of sets of rollers, one set in tandem relationship to another, a link of which flexible roller chain includes a first set of rollers containing a pair of outer rollers and a pair of inner rollers, each roller being provided with central openings,

a second set of rollers, in tandem relationship and adjacent the said first set of rollers, containing a pair of outer rollers and a pair of inner rollers, each roller being provided with central openings,

outer link plates, with end openings, and inner link plates also provided with end openings, all of which are of similar length with end openings equally spaced apart measured from center to center,

a pair of pins, each of which is projected through the central openings through the first and second sets of rollers, the terminal end openings of a pair of link plates located on the outside of the said first and second sets of rollers, the terminal end openings of an intermediate link plate located between the pair of inner rollers, and wherein the first of the pair of pins is also passed through the terminal end opening only of a pair of link plates located between the outer and inner pairs of rollers, and a pair of link plates located between the inner pairs of rollers, of a first set of rollers, and

the second of the pair of pins is also passed through the terminal end opening only of a pair of link plates located between the inner and outer pairs of rollers, and a pair of link plates located between the inner pair of rollers, of a second set of rollers.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the intermediate link plate serves as a means for attachment of a carrier to the roller chain.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carrier is one adapted for transport of personnel.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apparatus includes a pair of sprockets, one in tandem relationship to the other, which can be meshed with the roller chain, at least one of which engages the inner pairs of rollers for application of power via appropriate motor means to drive the roller chain.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the function of one of the sprockets is primarily to drive the roller chain, and the primary function of the other is to guide the roller chain.

Claims (11)

1. An emergency escape or transport apparatus particularly useful in scaling a wall of modern high rise buildings, or skyscrapers, which in combination comprises a rail provided with a hollow head and longitudinal slot running the full length of the hollow head, and a base by virtue of which the rail can be securely mounted on the wall of the building with the full length longitudinal slot facing outwardly from the wall, a flexible roller chain with uniformly repeating open linkages suitable for introduction, guidance and transport within and through the hollow head of the rail, attachment means affixed at desired intervals along the length of the roller chain, said attachment means extEnding through and movable within the full length longitudinal slot provided within the rail, a carrier adapted for engagement with the attachment means affixed upon the roller chain such that the carrier can be secured upon and transported with the roller chain as it is guided and moved through the rail, a sprocket engageable, and which can be meshed with, the repeating open linkages of the roller chain, and motor means for driving the sprocket for transport of the roller chain meshed therewith through the hollow head of the rail.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combination includes, in addition, means for storing the roller chain when it is not in use.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the storage means is a drum storage compartment upon which the roller chain can be wound and unwound.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail is provided with an intermediately located movable section, pivotally disposed via an end to a portion of the rail so that the opposite end of said movable section can be angularly displaced and aligned with a second rail of similar design, this providing a switch whereby the direction and path of movement of the roller chain can be changed by introduction of the roller chain into the hollow head of the second rail, for guidance and transport.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail is comprised of a unitized base plate and a pair of side guide walls of Z-shaped cross section, the upper portions thereof being projected inwardly, one toward the other, and spaced apart to form a full length longitudinal slot and partially enclose and form a channel within and through which the roller chain can be transported, and within which full length longitudinal slot the carrier attachment means can be transported, the lower portions of the pair of side guide walls of Z-shaped cross-section being faced outwardly and resting upon the edges of the base plate to provide flanges by virtue of which the said rail can be secured upon the wall of the building.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of the side guide walls are provided with alternately disposed upper and lower longitudinal aligned rib portions which can guide the roller chain upon its introduction and passage through the channel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible roller chain is comprised of sets of rollers, one set in tandem relationship to another, a link of which flexible roller chain includes a first set of rollers containing a pair of outer rollers and a pair of inner rollers, each roller being provided with central openings, a second set of rollers, in tandem relationship and adjacent the said first set of rollers, containing a pair of outer rollers and a pair of inner rollers, each roller being provided with central openings, outer link plates, with end openings, and inner link plates also provided with end openings, all of which are of similar length with end openings equally spaced apart measured from center to center, a pair of pins, each of which is projected through the central openings through the first and second sets of rollers, the terminal end openings of a pair of link plates located on the outside of the said first and second sets of rollers, the terminal end openings of an intermediate link plate located between the pair of inner rollers, and wherein the first of the pair of pins is also passed through the terminal end opening only of a pair of link plates located between the outer and inner pairs of rollers, and a pair of link plates located between the inner pairs of rollers, of a first set of rollers, and the second of the pair of pins is also passed through the terminal end opening only of a pair of link plates located between the inner and outer pairs of rollers, and a pair of link plates located between the inner pair of rollers, of a second set of rollers.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the intermediate link plate serves as a means for attachment of a carrier to the roLler chain.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carrier is one adapted for transport of personnel.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apparatus includes a pair of sprockets, one in tandem relationship to the other, which can be meshed with the roller chain, at least one of which engages the inner pairs of rollers for application of power via appropriate motor means to drive the roller chain.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the function of one of the sprockets is primarily to drive the roller chain, and the primary function of the other is to guide the roller chain.

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