US3894613A

US3894613A - Emergency fire-escape equipment for buildings

Info

Publication number: US3894613A
Application number: US501901A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ruben Contreras Elizondo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-08-30
Filing date: 1974-08-30
Publication date: 1975-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-15

Abstract

The emergency equipment of the present invention is composed, principally, of a ladder secured to a rotating device placed on the highest portion of the building, by means of which the ladder descends by gravity or is drawn up by being rolled up thereon until it is completely hidden. Furthermore, the emergency equipment includes endless chains that can be rolled up on a rotating roller to be completely hidden and which in their position for use, one of their portions is fixed to the highest portion of the building and another portion opposite to said one portion is connected to a hoist system, which is included in the building in a portion thereof near the curb. Said endless chains descend by gravity also, and are drawn up by being rolled up on the rotating roller. Finally, the emergency equipment includes a system which activates both the ladder and the endless chains to place them in position for use.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,894,613 Elizondo July 15, 1975 EMERGENCY FIRE-ESCAPE EQUIPMENT 1.316.604 9/1919 Turner 182/43 3.095.946 7/1963 Fisher 182/43 FOR BUILDINGS [76] Inventor: Ruben Contreras Elizondo, Cracovia 67. Mexico City, Mexico [22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 501,901

[52] U.S. Cl. 182/43; 182/75; 182/196 [51] Int. Cl. A6213 1/10 [581 Field of Search 182/42, 43. 44, 73, 74.

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 164.131 6/1875 Berney 182/75 170,281 11/1875 Lindlau 182/73 173.739 2/1876 Jenk 182/75 180.209 7/1876 Durand... 182/75 285.832 10/1883 Murphy 182/74 293.215 2/1884 Baar et a1. 182/74 413.270 10/1889 Welch 182/74 444.670 l/l891 Moir 182/74 455.232 6/1891 Mullenex 182/42 620.902 3/1899 Fabe 182/43 688.436 12/1901 Richter.... 182/43 748.114 12/1903 Smith 182/43 1.191.504 7/1916 Gray 182/42 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney, Agent. or FirmLadas, Parry, Von Gehr, Goldsmith & Deschamps 15 71 ABSTRACT The emergency equipment of the present invention is composed. principally, of a ladder secured to a rotating device placed on the highest portion of the building. by means of which the ladder descends by gravity or is drawn up by being rolled up thereon until it is completely hidden. Furthermore. the emergency equipment includes endless chains that can be rolled up on a rotating roller to be completely hidden and which in their position for use. one of their portions is fixed to the highest portion of the building and another portion opposite to said one portion is connected to a hoist system, which is included in the building in a portion thereof near the curb. Said endless chains descend by gravity also, and are drawn up by being rolled up on the rotating roller. Finally. the emergency equipment includes a system which activates both the ladder and the endless chains to place them in position for use,

35 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures MEFI E '1 5 I975 SHEET 1 EMERGENCY FIRE-ESCAPE EQUIPMENT FOR BUILDINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is and has always been a problem of vital importance that buildings shall have some sort ofa good system to escape in case of emergency like fire, etc.

Up to the present time, the known types of equipment can dispose to escape from buildings consist of simply of stairways, which are generally located in the rear part of the building and which take up a considerable area, and as these are always visible, give a terrible apperance.

In addition, the said system is not easy to incorporate into all types of buildings because there are some buildings which do not have direct communication from the street to the rear part, and consequently it does not work because the assistance would delay a long time in arriving.

Furthermore, there may be buildings which do not have sufficient space to include the cited escape equipment.

In addition to the foregoing disadvantages. the said type of escape equipment is wholly unesthetic, since wherever the said staircases are included, the face of the building is made ugly. Moreover, said staircases facilitate the climbing and entering into the apartments at all times and often to commit robbery, which definitely is a great disadvantage.

There are other emergency provisions for escaping from buildings, for example, telescoping ladders which often eventhough reach high altitudes. they can not reach the desired height or floor, and the jump nets firemen have with them precisely for this purpose. which nets can only be used for buildings of only a few floors high. Nevertheless, all these provision are generally inadequate, because usually the firemen are unable to arrive promptly, on account of the distances or excessive trafic in cities of importance which generally frequently result in accidents on this account.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, one object of the present invention to provide an emergency equipment to escape from buildings in case of fire or other emergencies, which is substantially infallible.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an emergency equipment to escape from buildings in case of fire, which does not take up a considerable area, and which accordingly can be kept wholly concealed.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an emergency equipment to escape from build ings in case of fire, which can be easily adapted and used in all types of buildings, even those in which there is no direct communication from the street to the rear part.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an emergency equipment to escape from buildings in case of fire, by means of which it can be said that the assistance is really immediate, as is only a question of a few minutes of time.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide any emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, which can be included in buildings which have no accessible area other than the front face.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, which will in no way affect the appearance of the building in relation to the esthetic thereof, since it remains wholly concealed.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, which nobody can object because of its cost, as forbeing so simple, its cost is ridiculous low, so much so, that large buildings can install more than one of them for their safety.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, that is so easily and rapidly placed in use, that before firemen arrive, anyone can reach at once the area of disaster. Therefore, it should be considered as an equipment incorporated into the building.

One more object of the present invention is to provide an emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire. which is suitable for buildings 50 or more stories high.

Consequently. the present invention provides an emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire. which comprises a protective house fixed to the roof of the building; two rotating means connected to the protective house, the first one being attached to the protective house in such a manner as to be inside the building, this rotating means being free turning and also manually operable; and the second of the rotating means being so attached to the protective house as to stand out from the building and to be freeturning; a ladder which is secured by one of its ends to the first rotating means and is slidingly supported upon the second rotating means; braking means placed on said first rotating means; releasing means connected to said first rotating means so that the latter may achieve free rotation; equipment actuating means connected to the braking means and to the releasing means, which said actuating means are operated from the inside of the building, or from the ground floor thereof; speed control means to maintain a constant speed of rotation of the said first rotating means, and in this way the said ladder slides over the said second rotating device and both descends by gravity along the face of the building has a constant speed; holding means secured to the other of the end of the said ladder so as to attach then firmly to the sidewalk; separating means secured to the end of the ladder which include the holding means, in order to separate the ladder slightly from the building once it is attached to the sidewalk, so the feet of the persons using the ladder can step on without difficulty; first sprocket wheels attached outside of the building close to the second rotating means, so as to remain between the latter and the building, second sprocket wheels fixed to said protective house in such a manner as to be slightly inside the building, but at a lesser distance that said first rotating means; third rotating means fixed to the roof of the building in a portion which is inside said building and placed beneath said second sprocket wheels, which third rotating means is able to turn free and is manually operable; endless chains that run on said first and second sprocket wheels and can be rolled up on said third rotating means; a system of variable speed hoists in which said endless chains will be coupled; housing means for said system of hoists built into the building in a portion thereof near the sidewalk; locking means for latching the housing means of the hoist system, which locking means can be operated only from inside the building at the same place where said actuating means are controlled; basket means which can be hooked or suspended on the said endless chains; and cord means secured to the floor of said basket means to help guiding their traveling downwards.

These and other objects to be obtained through the practice of the present invention. will be more fully understood and perceived in reading the following description, which refers to the drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a schematic view illustrating a broken upper portion of a building and shows the emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in cluded therein.

FIG. l-A is a similar view to FIG. I, but shows the lower portion of the building with the emergency equipment for escaping from a building, in case of fire. secured thereto.

FIG. 2 is a view in frontal vertical elevation showing the emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire in its out-of-use state, that is to say, when it is completely concealed.

FIG. 3 is a view in side vertical elevation from the side which shows the emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, also in its out-of-use state.

FIG. 4 is a view in frontal vertical elevation illustrating in conventional lengthwise cross-section the rotating reel on which the ladder of chains of this invention is rolled up and shows the system of release and of brake of said rotating reel.

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical elevation in detail illustrating one of the embodiments of the type of chain ladder of the present invention and shows in a conventional longitudinal cross-section one supporting step of the load of said ladder.

FIG. 6 is a broken plan view illustrating the system of hoists used in the emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a broken view in vertical side elevation illustrating the system of hoists of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic detailed view in longitudinal cross-section illustrating the portion of the emergency equipment of the present invention at the level of the curb, in its in-use position.

FIG. 9 is a view in side vertical elevation illustrating the anchor to which is secured the supporting step, in the embodiment of the emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire shown in the preceding drawings.

FIG. I0 is a schematic side view showing another embodiment of the emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire of the present invention and illustrates the building broken up.

FIG. [I is a schematic frontal view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. I0 of the emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire.

FIG. 12 is a view in side vertical elevation illustrating the anchor, to which is secured the supporting step, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. and II, of the emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire.

FIG. 13 is a schematic detailed view which illustrates how the supporting step is secured to the anchor of FIG. 12, in the embodiment of the emergency equipment of FIGS. 10 and Il.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers to emergency equipments for clearing the people out buildings and, specifically, refers to an equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire. This equipment, which is the subject of the present invention, comprises a ladder (21) that is formed by chains (22) to which steps (23) are secured. The ladder (21), when not in use, is rolled up on a rotating reel (24), which is fixed to the roof of the building by means of a protective house (25).

The protective house (25) can be composed of a simple structure of angle-bars (26) to the upper portion of which a plate is attached by way of roof (27) and to the side portions of which plates can be attached by way of side walls (not illustrated).

Reel (24) is formed by a shaft (28) covered by a steel tube (29), which is fixed to the shaft (28) by means of pins (30) and which tube (29) has a larger diameter than the said shaft (28) in order to provide a surface adequate for rolling up the ladder (24) thereon. Likewise, in order to provide adequate spots of support for the chains (22), there are included between the steel tube (29) and the shaft (28) annular cores as reinforcing elements (31) which are located at those spots where the chains (22) are supported. The reel (24) furthermore consists of circular plates (32), which are fixed perpendicular to the end portions of the steel tube 9).

Shaft (28) is supported at its end portions by the side portions of the angle-bar structure (26) by means of bearings (33), and the ends of shaft (28) are allowed to proyect outward in order to removably mount thereon cranks (34), by means of which shaft (28) can be manually turned.

On shaft (28) between the steel tube (29) and the connection with the angle-bar structure (26) included, either at one or at both end portions, a brake (35), which can be of friction type and which is secured at one end to a support arm (not illustrated), attached to the angle-bar structure (26) and at the other end is connected to a cable (36) by means of which said brake (35) is operated; furthermore, to keep said brake (35) in position and guide it, there is included an annular retainer (37) with a spring fixed to shaft (28), which retainer (37) bears against the angle-bar structure (26) and has the same diameter of the steel tube (29).

In addition, between crank (34) and the angle-bar structure (26) and similarly at either one or both ends of the shaft (28) and mounted thereon, is a toothed wheel (38) by means of which the shaft (28) is released, since said toothed wheel (38) is locked by a rocking and spring-loaded pawl (39) that is operated by means of a corresponding cable (40).

Cables (36) and (40), corresponding to the brake (35) and the rocking pawl (39) respectively, are joined at a point in order to be operated at the same time by a cable (41 which extends down to the street floor or basement protected by a tube (42), and said cable (41) having its end at the street floor secured to a lever (43).

In accordance with the foregoing, when it is desired to use ladder (21), a person on the street floor pulls lever (43), thereby unblocking toothed wheel (38) by freeing it from pawl (39), whereupon ladder (21) be gins to descend by gravity, sliding down the face of the building.

When toothed wheel (38) is freed, a speed governor or limiter (44) begins to operate, and controls automatically the speed of descent of the ladder (21 since it is engaged to the said toothed wheel (38) and is of the type of an escapement in clockwork. Accordingly, there is no problem in using the ladder (21) in a building of either few or many stories, as for example of 40 stories, since whatever the length of the ladder (21 it will have a constant speed of descent. Furthermore, in the event that for any reason the speed governor (44) should fail when the toothed wheel (38) is freed from the rocking pawl (39), brake (35) can be activated at the same time as the pawl (39) is released, by pulling lever (43) a little farther, thus preventing the ladder (21) from picking up a high speed of descent, which would be dangerous.

Once the ladder has reached the surface of the sidewalk, rings (45) previously fixed into the sidewalk are engaged with the ends of reinforced springs (46), secured to the ends of the chains (22) of ladder (21) by means of adjusters (47). The reinforced springs (46) are coupled into the rings (45) because they have hook ends (48). In addition to the reinforced springs (46) and adjusters (47), there are also hangingly attached to the ends of the chains (22) tubes, whose ends opposite those secured to the chains (22) are pointed, and said tubes work as separators (49) when the pointed end is introduced into an orifice or socket previously prepared in the face of the building at a point near the ground, taking into account the length of the reinforced springs (46) and adjusters (47). Consequently, the ladder (21) will be slightly inclined and separated from the face of the building, whereby it will be simpler to climb up or down, thereon.

Furthermore, in order for the ladder (21) not to catch or hand up on moldings, window sills, or other projections on the face of the building, as it is being lowered therealong, same is not wholly rolled up onto .the reel (24), but it is supported with its end portion including the reinforced springs (46) and separators (49), hanging on a revolving roller (50), which stands out a certain distance from the face of the building and which is fixedly mounted on the angle-bar structure (26) of the protective house (25).

The steps (23) of ladder (21) are composed each of a rod (51) which is enclosed by a tube (52) to present a slightly larger surface than the presented by the rod (51) alone. Both, the rod (51) and the tube (52), are such as to pass through the links of the chain (22); however, rods (51) pass through the chains (22) from side to side, in order to be secured to them by means of inside washers (53) and outside washers (54) and nuts (55). Thus, the inside washers (53) prevent the tube (52) from passing through the links of the chains (22) and at the same time act as lock-nuts for the nuts (55) registering with the outside washers (54).

The inside washers (53) and outside washers (54) can be used to advantage in case the equipment of this invention is to be used during the night, by having the outside washers (54) painted with phosphorescent red and the inside washers (53) painted phosphorescent white, thus indicating to the persons using the ladder (21) where they are to step, that is, where the exact location of the steps (23) are.

Where a very tall building is involved, as previously indicated, for example one 40 stories high, in order for the equipment of this invention to be light, that is to say made of chains which are not excessively heavy and so the ladder (21 will not hand down too much, it will be necessary to distribute or subdivide the total load and have the ladder (21) supported at certain distances, which may be at each ten stories.

For the foregoing, the ladder (21) is calculated in lengths corresponding to the said ten stories, and the appropriate point there are included load supporting reinforced steps (56). These load supporting steps (56) are similar in appearance to said other steps (23), but are composed of a rod (57) divided into two parts, which two parts are linked by a spring (58) that forces said two parts of the rod (57) to project a certain distance outward from the chains (22). The rod (57) is housed within a tube (59) which tube (59) is secured, just as in the case of steps (23) by means of inside washers (53) and outside washers (54). Furthermore, the ends of the rod (57) opposite to the spring (58) are slidingly fixed to the tube (59) by means of sleeves (60), which also provide a guide for the rod (57) and allow the ends of said rod (57) to project outward a predetermined distance or length because these rod (57) is provided with a protuberance (61) which bears against the inner end of the sleeve (60).

Since we are here considering a 40 story building, with the load divided every ten stories, ladder (21) will have three supporting steps (56) that when the ladder (21) is lowered will be fixed in a pair of anchors or brackets (62), which have been previously fixed to the face of the building taking into account the lengths of the ladder (21) corresponding to each 10 stories.

In order to obviate problems of the ladder jamming in connection with the placement of the pairs of brackets (62) on the face of the building and so that the anchoring will be adequate, it will need to be considered the shortest width for the lowest or first supporting step (56) to appear, as the ladder (21) is unrolled, as it will need to pass between two pairs of brackets (62), that is, the highest and the intermediate one, before engaging the pair for which it is intended. The next supporting step (56) of ladder (2i) will need to pass only the highest pair of brackets (62) before engaging the ones which correspond to it. Finally, the highest supporting step (56) which appears on ladder (21) will not need to go past any pair of brackets (62), but only to engage its own brackets (62).

For the foregoing to be practicable, the first supporting step (56) which appears as the ladder (21) is unrolled, must project laterally by such an amount that the total length between extreme points of the rod (57) will be less that the separation existing between the two pairs of brackets (62) between which it will pass, but said total length must be greater than that between the pair of brackets (62) which it will engage. Similarly, the supporting step (56) which next appears must have an over-all length between ends of rod (57) less than the distance between the first pair of brackets (62) which it must pass between, but greater than the separation between the pair of brackets (62) which it will engage. Finally, the over-all length between tips of rod (57) of the last supporting step (56) to appear as the ladder (21) is unrolled, must be greater than the separation between the uppermost pair of brackets (62) on the building which it will engage.

In order to permit rolling up the ladder after use, rod (57) of the supporting steps (56) must fit within the reel (24) and not interfere with the rolling up of the remainder of the ladder (2]); hence, on the projecting ends of rods (57) certain balls (63) are pivotally mounted. in this way, the two parts of rod (57) are obliged to adopt the same length as the steps (23) and can thus be accommodated on the reel (24). and by means of balls (63) they are prevented from jamming as the ladder (2i) is being rolled up on said reel (24), since they slide against circular plates (23) of said reel (24).

From the foregoing description, it is evident that the ladder (2]) presents certain difficulties as for use by any person; accordingly, in order to permit children and the aged persons as well as animals to be removed in case of fire. the equipment of the present invention includes in addition endless chains (64) located on one or the other side of the ladder, or on both sides, which endless chains (64) have one of its portions engaged to a set of sprocket wheels of which one sprocket wheel (65) is located within the building and other sprocket wheels (66) and (67) are mounted outside of the buildings face. The opposite portion of the endless chains (64) are engaged to a sprocket wheel (68) of a hoist system (69), that is included in a box (70), which is semifixed into the face of the building in a portion near the ground, more or less at the level of the orifices in which separators (49) of ladder (21) are secured.

By means of the hoist system (69) the endless chains (64) are operated as rapidly or as slowly as may be desired. since said hoist system (69) includes a pair of crown and pinion gears (71) to increase the speed of the sprocket wheel (68) and a pair of crown and pinion gears (72) to reduce its speed, the said pairs of crown and pinion gears (7]) and (72) having their respective driving shafts (73) and (74) extending outboard of the box (70), in order for either to be operated by means of a hand crank (75) which can engage either.

Baskets (76) are secured to the endless chains (64), in which the said persons who cannot descend by the ladder (21) be lowered.

Baskets (76) consist of a platform (77) with its edges rounded to prevent any jamming on the face of the building; in addition. the said platform (77) has a rope (92) attached from the bottom, by means of which the basket (76) is pulled. thus compelling it to remain clear of and separated from the face of the building, thus likewise preventing any jamming. Around the edge of the platform (77) a netting formed of a hollow foldable cylinder is fixed by one of its open ends, to provide a guard (78). Said netting includes chains (79), attached to its other open end in such a manner that said platform (77) is kept in its horizontal position. Chains (79) are joined together by a common ring (80) at their ends opposite to the ends attached to to guard (78). To this ring (80) is attached another chain (81) which ends with a hook (82) which is what is attached to the endless chains (64), in order for the basket (76) to be suspended therefrom.

As a result of the foregoing, when the basket (76) reaches a floor from which a child, aged person, or animal is to be removed, he is placed on the platform (77) being thus protected by the guard (78), which is sufficiently high to prevent the person or animal riding therein from getting out. Similarly, a person who needs to enter the building, for example a fireman. can in a given moment when the ladder (21) is in use, employ the basket (76) to ride up from the curb to the desired level.

In order for the endless chains (64) to remain properly out of sight, like the ladder (21) they are rolled up on a rotating roller (83), which is held in position by means of supports (84) fixed to the roof of the building at the same level as the protective house (25) and below the sprocket wheels (65), so that when the endless chains (64) are to be rolled up, the extreme portion of said chains (64) supported on the sprocket wheel (65) is taken hold of, placing it on the rotating roller (83), since it goes from the outside sprocket wheels (66) and (67) to the inside sprocket wheel (65) passing over the edge of the face of the building and through an orifice (85) made therein.

Once the extreme portion of the endless chain (64) is placed on the rotating rolller (83) the opposite extreme portion of endless chain (64) hangs loosely, which hanging portion is attached to the hook (48) of the reinforced springs (46) in order to be pulled or cartied to operate again. That is to say, when the reel (24) is released and the ladder (2]) begins to descend, it compels the endless chain (64) to unreel and to descend jointly with the ladder (21), until it reaches the lower part of the building. Here, as has already been indicated, said ladder (21) is secured and the endless chains (64) are coupled to the sprocket wheel (68) of the hoist system (69). This is feasible, because box includes in its protruding portion a lid (87) with diametrically opposed holes (88), which register with the sprocket wheel (68) and are separated from one another a distance slightly less than the diameter of the said sprocket wheel (68); furthermore, the whole hoist system is held by means of plate supports (89) to the lid (87). Thus, when the end of the endless chain (64) is at hand to engage on the sprocket wheel (68), the lid (87) is unlocked by withdrawing a sliding bolt (90) that passes through the frontal wall of the building and traverses guide elements (91) included on the box (70), which guide elements (91) are fitted biased to the cover (87) and to the body of the said box (70). Sliding bolt (90) can only be actuated from within the building, accordingly, it is located in near the lever (43) by which the reel (24) is released, so that the equipment of the present invention can all be put in movement from a single place.

Thus, as indicated above, when lid (87) is raised it carries with it the whole hoist system (69), thus permitting the insertion of the endless chain (64) around and onto the sprocket wheel (68), and when lid (87) is closed and the two sides of the endless chain (64) are in holes (88) of the said lid (87), endless chain (64) is properly tightened, since it cannot jump off the sprocket wheel (68), and sliding bolt (90) is again slid into its place, thus locking the box (70). in this way the endless chain (64) is made ready to work by means of attaching crank to driving shaft (73) or driving shaft (74), depending on the high or low speed desired in the movement of the said endless chain (64).

In consequence of everything described up to this point, it is seen that the emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire presents the innumerable advantages above expressed, since it operates wholly through the force of gravity and manpower and,

similarly, presents no difficulty in use either by day or by night.

In order for the present patent application to cover other embodiments which the invention offers. it is indicated that the ladder is a ladder (93) which can he placed with its side to the building front. in which case the protective house is a house (94) mounted upon the front face of the building rather than on its roof. Said protective house (94) can also be composed of an angle-bar structure (95 covered in its upper portion and on its sides with plates by way of roof (96) and side walls (not illustrated).

In the protective house (94). similarly to the embodiment above described. a reel (97) and a rotating roller (98) will be coupled. being the ladder (93) supported on same and specifically. rolled up on the reel (97).

In this case. also. an endless chain (99) will be provided. which will include an end portion engaged upon a set of sprocket wheels. placed on a portion of the front face of the building slightly lower than the attachment to said building face of the protective house (94);

and in the set of sprocket wheels there will also be a sprocket wheel (I) within the face of the building and permanently mounted on the roof of same. and other sprocket wheels IOI outside said buitlling face. From the outside sprocket wheel (IOI the endless chain (99) will pass to the inside sprocket wheel I00) through orifices I02) formed in the face of the build ing and going all the way through; furthermore. as the endless chain (99) comes from the inside sprocket wheel (I00). it can he rolled up on a rotating roller (I03). fixed to the roof of the building. so that when not in use said rotating roller I03) will he completely hidden.

Likewise to the first embodiment described. the opposite end of endless chain (99) will engage up on a sprocket wheel of a system of chain hoist drive. located inside a box I04) and which is actuated by means of a removable hand crank I05). The functioning of this endless chain (99) is exactly the same as in the preceding case.

Also. in a manner similar to the previous case. ladder (93) is composed of chains (I06) in which there are fixed steps (I07); furthermore. at the ends of chains I06). which will hang close to the curb once the ladder (93) is unrolled. reinforced springs (I08) will be attached to said chains (106) by means of adjusters (I09). The reinforced springs (I08) include. at their ends opposite to where the adjuster I09) is attached. a hook IOI) which is connected to rings I I I which rings (III) are so placed that the ladder (93) will be mounted at a slight inclination to make it easier to ascend and descend.

Steps I07) of ladder (93) are made up ofa rod and a tube similar to those of the previous case. However. ladder (93) does not include supporting steps of the type of the previous embodiment; because of its placement in relation to the face of the building. it is permitted that the anchoring. at different places to distribute the load. lie in a different way from the previously mentioned case. That is. anchoring will be by means of anchors I I2) composed of a frame (II3) made out of two right trianglesjoincd in a square along their longest side. Frame (I13) is pivotally attached to the building face in such a manner that the straight side of the trian gle. which is parallel to the ladder (93) and which is square to the joint of the two triangles. be pivotahly mounted. by means of supports (M4). to the face of the building and that the straight side of the triangle.

which is perpendicular to ladder (93) and which is square with its joint to the other traingle. be supported on the face of the building as frame I13) swings l.

Anchors (II2) also include support points (IIS) on which steps I07) are engaged as the ladder (93) descends; said support points (IIS) are mounted along the joint between the right-angle triangles. Furthermore. anchors I I2) include. secured at the outermost tip or apex which is common to the two right angle triangles. a rod (H6) ending in a hook (I17). Said rod I I6) extends downward parallel to the vertical side of the triangle which is supported against the face of the building.

Accordingly. we see that in the embodiment in which the ladder (93). i.e.. having one of its sides parallel to the building face. it will he made to operate in exactly the same way as in the embodiment in which the ladder is ladder (ZI i.e.. it is parallel to the front face of the building. Specifically. when reel (97) is released. ladder (93) begins to descend by gravity along with endless chain (99). which is attached to hook I III) of reinforced spring (IIII'I). When it reaches the sidewalk the load is distrihuted..-in the event the building requires it. placing anchors I I2) in supporting position. Said anchors (IIZ) having been fixed beforehand to the face of the building in the places corresponding to the angle of inclination the ladder (93) is to have.

In the out-of-usc position. anchors I I2) stand with the triangle. which has one its straight sides pivotally mounted on the face of' the building. registering with the face of the building and rod I I6). therefore. perpendicular to the face of the building. Then. by means of a cord ("8). which is secured to the protective house (94). book (H7) or rod (I I6) is engaged and anchor (I12) is made to swing I80". until said rightangle triangle. which does not have one of its sides pivotally fixed to the building. is made to bear against the face of the building. Thus. there is provided adequate anchoring support for the ladder (93). because once the anchors (IIZ) have been turned l80. the ladder (93) is placed on them. coupling steps (I07) on the corresponding support points I IS and ladder (93) is secured to the curb engaging hooks I [0) of the reinforced springs I08) in rings (III).

As for endless chain (99). likewise its corresponding end portion is engaged in the hoist system contained in box I04) and it is. thus. ready to be used by means of attaching baskets (not illustrated) similar to those of the first embodiment.

Finally. for complementing the above said. it can be mentioned that the equipment provided by the present invention. in its two illustrated embodiments. can be related with the alarm system of the building including said equipment. in order that when the equipment is used. same will action the mentioned alarm system floor by floor.

While the foregoing description has been made with reference to a specific embodiment of this invention. it will be understood by all those who are competent in the field. that any change in form and detail will also be contained within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

I. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of tire. comprising a protective house fixed to the highest portion of the building; first rotating means coupled to the protective house which is free turning and which also may be mannually operated;

second rotating means coupled to said protective house which is freely revolving; a ladder fixed by one of its ends to said first rotating means, and which is slidingly supported upon said second rotating means; braking means mounted on said first rotating means; releasing means coupled to said first rotating means to free it and permit it to revolve freely; means for actuating the equipment which are connected to the braking and the releasing means, said actuating means being caused to function from the inside of the building onthe ground floor of same; speed control means which maintains a steady rate of rotation of said first rotating means, so that said ladder may slide over said second rotating means and descend by gravity down along the length of the building; holding means secured to the other of the ends of said ladder, to secure it to a sidewalk; first sprocket wheels mounted to the exterior of the face of the building; second sprocket wheels secured to the roof of the building inwardly of the front face of said building; third rotating means fixed to the roof of the building 'lower than said second sprocket wheels, said third rotating means being manually operable and being at the same time free-turning; endless chains which run in said first and second sprocket wheels and which can be rolled up upon said third rotating means; a hoist system of a plurality of speeds, to which said endless chains are connected; housing means for said hoist system built into the building in a portion thereof near the sidewalk and at such a point as to be in a straight line with said second sprocket wheels; locking means. for keeping the housing means under lock, which is operable solely from the inside of the building, from that same point where the actuating means are operated; basket means suspendible upon said endless chains; and cord means attached to said basket means, to compel the latter to descend at a certain distance of separation from the face of the building.

L'An emergency equipment for escaping from build- "ings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 1, wherein the protective house comprises a structure of angle bars; a plate fixed to the upper portion of the angle-bar structure to provide a roof; and, optionally, plates fixed to the lateral portions of said structur'e to provide side walls.

3. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordancewith claim 2, wherein said first rotating means comprises a shaft which is centrally supported by its end portions in the angle-bar structure, in such a manner that it ends project slightly outside said structure; a tube having a diameter greater than that of the shaft, but of lesser length than same,

which tube is secured to said shaft; reinforcing elements placed between the shaft and said tube in the ,HI'EHS thereof whereon the ladder will bear; circular plates fixed to the end portions of the tube, which with the latter constitute a reel; and hand cranks which can be attached to the projecting ends of said shaft, whereby it can be given manual rotation.

4. An emergency equipment for escaping from build ings in case of fire. iii accordance with claim 3, wherein said second rotating means is a roller revolvably coupled to the angle-bar structure.

5. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 4, wherein the ladder comprises at least two chains, which are attached by one end to said tube; and a plurality of steps which are secured to said chains, said steps being composed of a rod which is secured to the chains, a tube which surrounds the rod, washers which are placed on said rod on both sides of said chains and nuts which are mounted on the ends of said rod.

6. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 5, wherein a toothed wheel is mounted on one of the projecting ends of the shaft of the first rotating means, to which the speed control and the releasing means are both adapted.

7. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 6, wherein the braking means comprise a friction brake which is attached by one of its ends to the shaft of the first rotating means, in a portion thereof that registers with the tube, and by the other of its ends is coupled to the actuating means.

8. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 7, wherein an annular retainer is included fixed to the shaft of the first rotating means registering with the brake and with the angle-bar structure, which annular retainer is of the same diameter as the tube of the first rotating means, in order to keep in position and to guide said brake.

9. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 8, wherein the releasing means consist of rocking and springloaded pawl which is pivotally mounted on the anglebar structure, in a portion of the latter near to that portion wherein is supported the shaft of the first rotating means, so that said rocking and spring-loaded pawl will engage the toothed wheel mounted on said shaft.

10. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 9, wherein the means for activating the equipment comprise a first cable attached at one end to the friction brake; a second cable attached at one end to the rocking and spring loaded pawl; a third cable fixed at one end to the opposite ends of said first and second cables; a tube the length of which is slightly less than the height of the building and which is included within said building, through which tube said third cable descends, having its other end protruding from said tube; and a lever pivotally mounted in the ground floor of said building to which lever the protruding end of said third cable is attached.

11. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 10, wherein the holding means comprise adjusters attached to the ends of the chains of the ladder; reinforced springs pivotally attached to said adjusters and ending in a hook; said rings set into the sidewalk into which said hooks of said reinforced springs are engaged.

l2. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 11, wherein an orifice is provided in that portion of the building where the second chain wheels are located, through which orifice said endless chains pass from said second sprocket wheels to said first sprocket wheels and to said third rotating means.

13. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 12, wherein said third rotating means comprises a shaft; a roller coupled to said shaft, which roller is of slightly less length than the shaft, so that the ends of said shaft project from the roller; and hand cranks removably attached to the projecting ends of said shaft.

14. An emergency equipment for rescaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 13, wherein the hoist system comprises a sprocket wheel which is rotatingly mounted on the housing means; two crown and pinion grears set connected to the sprocket wheel to increase or reduce its turning speed; one driving shaft for each set of crown and pinion grears engaged thereto and projecting from the housing means; and a hand crank which can be engaged to either portions of said driving shafts projecting from the housing means.

15. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 14, wherein the housing means for the hoist system cornprises a box semifixed into the building so that it projects slightly therefrom; a lid pivotally attached to the projecting portion of said box; and orifices included in said cover at portions thereof corresponding to the periphery of the sprocket wheel of the hoist system.

16. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 15, wherein the locking means of the housing means is a rod with one bent end which locks the lid to the box, said rod passing first through the wall of said building and thereafter locking said housing means, having its said bent end remaining inside the building.

17. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 16, wherein the basket means comprise a platform with rounded edges; a guard fixed at one of .8 ends to the platform, said guard being composed of a netting in the form of a hollow foldable cylinder, the height whereof is such as to prevent a person within it from getting out therefrom; and chains fixed at one end to the opposite end of said guard, so that said platform is kept in a horizontal position; a comon ring which joins the opposite ends of said chains; an additional chain joined at one end to said common ring; and a hook mounted in the opposite end of said additional chain.

18. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 17, wherein there are further included anchoring means fixed to the building in that the portion thereof where the ladder will be placed when it is secu ed to the sidewalk, said anchoring means being plac :d at approximate of intervals of ten-stories of the building.

19. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 18, wherein the protective house is fixed on the roof of the building inwardly from the face of same.

20. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 19, wherein the angle-bar structure which constitutes the protective house includes one of its bars parallel to the roof of the building, said parallel bar projecting outward beyond the face of the building.

21. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 20, wherein the first rotating means is supported in the middle portion of the said parallel bar and the second rotating means is supported on the orojecting end thereof, so that said second rotating me ins extends out from the face of the building.

22. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 21, wherein the rocking and spring-loaded pawl is mounted on said parallel bar.

23. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 22, wherein said first sprocket wheels are mounted upon the building near the ends of the second rotating means and are located between latter and said building.

24. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 23, wherein said second sprocket wheels are mounted on said parallel bar of the protective house in such a manner as to be between the building face and the first rotating means.

25. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 24, wherein there are also included separating means which comprise tubular portions suspended at the ends of the ladder chains which include the adjusters, said tubular portions having a point at their opposite ends, which point is introduced into socket in the building in a portion near the sidewalk.

26. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 25, wherein there are also included supporting steps attached to the ladder in lengths of said ladder registering with the anchoring means, which supporting steps comprise a rod divided in two parts; a spring which joins said two parts and biases them to extend outward of the ladder; a tube surrounding said rod, which tube is of less length than said rod; sleeves at the ends of the rod to be slidingly attached to said tube; a protuberance at the end portion of said rod, to compel it to extend outwardly of the ladder by a predetermined amount; and a ball pivotally mounted at the ends of the rod which project outwardly of the ladder.

27. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 26, wherein the anchoring means are a pair of brackets which are placed on both sides of the ladder and which brackets of each pair are separated by a distance slightly less than the length of the rod of the support step which will be anchored in said brackets when said rod has been biased outwardly of the ladder by said predetermined distance.

28. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 18, wherein the protective house is fixed outwardly of the building on the face thereof.

29. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 28, wherein the first rotating means is coupled centrally in the protective house and the second rotating means is coupled to a portion of said house slightly lower than the first rotating means.

30. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 29, wherein the first sprocket wheels are attached to the face of the building in a portion thereof slightly below the protective house.

31. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 30, wherein the second sprocket wheels are rotatingly attached to the roof of the building inwardly of the face of said building.

32. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 31, wherein the anchoring means comprise a frame composed of two right-angle triangles joined in a square, by their longest side; points of support included in the joint of the two right angles; a rod ending in a hook coupled by its end opposite to the hook to the common apex of the right-angle triangles, which rod is parallel to one square side of the right-angle triangles; and supports fixed to the face of the building, which pivotally support said frame upon said building face.

33. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 32, wherein the frame is pivotally attached to the building face in such a manner that the straight side of the triangle, which is parallel to the ladder and square to the joint of the triangles, is the side fixed by said supports and that the square side of the triangle, which is perpendicular to the ladder and square to the joint with the other triangle, is supported on the face of the building when the frame swings 180.

34. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 33, wherein the straight side of the triangle with which the rod ending in a hook will remain parallel, is the square side of the triangle that will bear against the building face when the frame is swung 18.

35. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 34, wherein there is further included a cord having a length approximately equal to the eight of the building and one end of which is fastened to the protective house, and by means of this cord the frame is swung until the right angle triangle is beared against the face of the building.

Claims

1. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, comprising a protective house fixed to the highest portion of the building; first rotating means coupled to the protective house which is free turning and which also may be mannually Operated; second rotating means coupled to said protective house which is freely revolving; a ladder fixed by one of its ends to said first rotating means, and which is slidingly supported upon said second rotating means; braking means mounted on said first rotating means; releasing means coupled to said first rotating means to free it and permit it to revolve freely; means for actuating the equipment which are connected to the braking and the releasing means, said actuating means being caused to function from the inside of the building on the ground floor of same; speed control means which maintains a steady rate of rotation of said first rotating means, so that said ladder may slide over said second rotating means and descend by gravity down along the length of the building; holding means secured to the other of the ends of said ladder, to secure it to a sidewalk; first sprocket wheels mounted to the exterior of the face of the building; second sprocket wheels secured to the roof of the building inwardly of the front face of said building; third rotating means fixed to the roof of the building lower than said second sprocket wheels, said third rotating means being manually operable and being at the same time free-turning; endless chains which run in said first and second sprocket wheels and which can be rolled up upon said third rotating means; a hoist system of a plurality of speeds, to which said endless chains are connected; housing means for said hoist system built into the building in a portion thereof near the sidewalk and at such a point as to be in a straight line with said second sprocket wheels; locking means for keeping the housing means under lock, which is operable solely from the inside of the building, from that same point where the actuating means are operated; basket means suspendible upon said endless chains; and cord means attached to said basket means, to compel the latter to descend at a certain distance of separation from the face of the building.

2. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 1, wherein the protective house comprises a structure of angle-bars; a plate fixed to the upper portion of the angle-bar structure to provide a roof; and, optionally, plates fixed to the lateral portions of said structure to provide side walls.

3. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first rotating means comprises a shaft which is centrally supported by its end portions in the angle-bar structure, in such a manner that it ends project slightly outside said structure; a tube having a diameter greater than that of the shaft, but of lesser length than same, which tube is secured to said shaft; reinforcing elements placed between the shaft and said tube in the areas thereof whereon the ladder will bear; circular plates fixed to the end portions of the tube, which with the latter constitute a reel; and hand cranks which can be attached to the projecting ends of said shaft, whereby it can be given manual rotation.

4. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 3, wherein said second rotating means is a roller revolvably coupled to the angle-bar structure.

6. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 5, wherein a toothed wheel is mounted on one of the projecting ends of the shaft of the first rotating means, to which the speed control and the releasing means are both adapted. 7. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 6, wherein the braking means comprise a friction brake which is attached by one of its ends to the shaft of the first rotating means, in a portion thereof that registers with the tube, and by the other of its ends is coupled to the actuating means.

9. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 8, wherein the releasing means consist of rocking and spring-loaded pawl which is pivotally mounted on the angle-bar structure, in a portion of the latter near to that portion wherein is supported the shaft of the first rotating means, so that said rocking and spring-loaded pawl will engage the toothed wheel mounted on said shaft.

10. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 9, wherein the means for activating the equipment comprise a first cable attached at one end to the friction brake; a second cable attached at one end to the rocking and spring-loaded pawl; a third cable fixed at one end to the opposite ends of said first and second cables; a tube the length of which is slightly less than the height of the building and which is included within said building, through which tube said third cable descends, having its other end protruding from said tube; and a lever pivotally mounted in the ground floor of said building to which lever the protruding end of said third cable is attached.

12. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 11, wherein an orifice is provided in that portion of the building where the second chain wheels are located, through which orifice said endless chains pass from said second sprocket wheels to said first sprocket wheels and to said third rotating means.

15. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 14, wherein the housing means for the hoist system comprises a box semifixed into the building so that it projects slightly therefrom; a lid pivotally attached to the projecting portion of said box; and orifices included in said cover at portions thereof corresponding to the periphery of the sprocket wheel of the hoist system.

17. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 16, wherein the basket means comprise a platform with rounded edges; a guard fixed at one of its ends to the platform, said guard being composed of a netting in the form of a hollow foldable cylinder, the height whereof is such as to prevent a person within it from getting out therefrom; and chains fixed at one end to the opposite end of said guard, so that said platform is kept in a horizontal position; a comon ring which joins the opposite ends of said chains; an additional chain joined at one end to said common ring; and a hook mounted in the opposite end of said additional chain.

18. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 17, wherein there are further included anchoring means fixed to the building in that the portion thereof where the ladder will be placed when it is secured to the sidewalk, said anchoring means being placed at approximate of intervals of ten-stories of the building.

21. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 20, wherein the first rotating means is supported in the middle portion of the said parallel bar and the second rotating means is supported on the projecting end thereof, so that said second rotating means extends out from the face of the building.

33. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 32, wherein the frame is pivotally attached to the building face in such a manner that the straight side of the triangle, which is parallel to the ladder and square to the joint of the triangles, is the side fixed by said supports and that the square side of the triangle, which is perpendicular to the ladder and square to the joint with the other triangle, is supported on the face of the building when the frame swings 180*.

34. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 33, wherein the straight side of the triangle with which the rod ending in a hook will remain parallel, is the square side of the triangle that will bear against the building face when the frame is swung 18*.

35. An emergency equipment for escaping from buildings in case of fire, in accordance with claim 34, wherein there is further included a cord having a length approximately equal to the eight of the building and one end of which is fastened to the protective house, and by means of this cord the frame is swung 180*, until the right angle triangle is beared against the face of the building.