US437091A

US437091A - Fire-escape

Info

Publication number: US437091A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 1907-09-23

Description

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. CARR, OF SAUK CENTRE, MINNESOTA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,091, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed July 3, 1890. Serial No. 357,637. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES D. CARR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sauk Centre, in the county of Stearns and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fire-escapes, and has for its object to provide a simple and efficient mechanism that can be relied upon when required to effect a desired result, and which will be compact in its arrangement and under the control of the person escaping so as to regulate the descent, or which may be controlled from the ground for a like purpose, as required.

The improvement consists of the novel construction and combination of the parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig.2 is a cross-section showing the operation of the brake mechanism by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line X X of Fig. 2, looking down, parts being broken away.

The frame comprises the vertical section A, the lower platform B, the upper platform 0, and the cross-bar D. The grappling-hooks E are applied to the upper end of the vertical section A, and are adapted to engage with the window-sill or a suitable cross-bar provided in the window-casement or any convenient part of the building to which the device is to be applied. The shaft F is journaled at its end in suitable bearings on the end bars of the platform C, and is provided at each end with windlasses or drums f and g. The brakewheel II is secured on the shaft F, intermediate of the drums or windlasses f and g, and is common to each, forming the inner ends thereof. The ropes I and J are secured at their upper ends to the windlasses or drums, and are reversely wound thereon, being provided at their lower or free ends with the baskets I and J The brake-levers K and K are pivoted near their upper ends to the upper platform 0 at points diametrically opposite the brake-wheel. The brake-shoes k and k are pivotally connected with the upper ends of the brake-levers, and are arranged to press on the brake-wheel at diametrically opposite points. The lower ends of the brakele vers are connected by the toggle-leversL and L. The lever M, pivoted between its ends to the lower platform, is connected at its inner end with the toggle-levers by the linlom. The weight N, at the outer end of the lever M, operates to disengage the brake-shoes from the brake-wheel, whereas the weight 0 operates to apply the brakes and hold the windlasses from rotation against any normal weight in either of the baskets. The weight 0 is superior to the weight N, and is connected with the lever M by the cord 0, which passes over a sheave or pulley P on the upper end of the pulley. The cord 0 is of sufficient length to extend within a short distance of the ground, so that the brake mechanism may be under the control of a person on the ground and of the person in the basket at any point in his descent.

The lever M is deflected at its inner ends so as to come as near the plane of the togglelevers as practicable, thereby applying the force to said toggle'levers to the best advantage.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Normally the two baskets will be stored within convenient reach, so as to be readily accessible when required. One of the ropes will be wound on the Windlass and the other will be neatly folded or coiled so that it may be dropped to the ground, the basket serving to carry it down. The person desiring to escape enters the upper basket and lowers himself by slacking the cord 0 sufficiently to cause his descent at a moderate speed. Obviously, from the construction hereinbefore stated the descent of one basket will cause the rising of the other, and vice versa. The descent may be regulated by the person in the basket or by a person on the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the Windlass, the rope adapted to be wound op said Windlass and provided with abasket,

and the brake-wheel, of the brake-levers provided at their upper ends with brake-shoes, which are adapted to press on the brake-wheel at diametrically-opposite points, the togglelcvers con nectin gthe brake-levers, the weight ed lever M, connected with the said togglelevers and connected to normally hold the brake-shoes from the brake-wheel, and the weight 0, connected with the said lever M and adapted to apply the brake, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-escape, tlle'conibination of a shaft having a Windlass at each end, a brakewheel secured centrally on the said shaft, the brake-levers having brakeshoes at their upper ends that are adapted to bear on the brake-wheel at diametrically-opposite points,

the toggle-levers connecting the brake-levers,