US472950A

US472950A - Daniel knowles

Info

Publication number: US472950A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1892-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 1909-04-12

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. KNOWLES. PIRE BSGAPB.

No. 472,950. PatentedApr. Z 1892.

(No Model.)

- 3Sheets-Sheet 2. D. KNOWLES.

FIRE ESCAPE. N0. 472,950.

Patented Apr. 12,- 1892.

lll

memonnla Penas co., moro-umm, wnsnmnwn. o. c.'

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

f D. KNOWLES.

PIRE ESCAPE.

N0.472.950. Patented Apr. 12! 1892.

1l mii A UNITED STATES ltion'.

ATENT.;v OFFICE. l

DANIEL KNowLns, on NoRroLILvIReINIA, AssIeNoR onr ONE-FOURTH To GEORGE W. .IoHNsoN, oFsAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,950, dated April 12, 1892.l

Application filed March' 24, 1891.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL KNowLEs, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and use-- ful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes, the object being to provide an escape which shall be more easily and safely used than those heretofore employed with which I am acquainted.

One of the main objects is to provide rigidV ing by dotted lines the positions of the parts when they are placed adjacent to a building to permit escape therefrom and showing by full lines the positions occupied bythe parts after they have been lowered. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the rope-drum or windlass, showing the means of applying a frictionband. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a modifica- Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of detached parts. lIn the drawings, A represents a post, column, or mast of such form,length, and material as will make it suitable for the purposes to be described. Ordinarily a tubular iron column can be employed, sunk to such a depth in the earth or in a foundation as to be rmly held in place. Upon this are adjustably supportedA the platform, ladders, and other parts of the escape.

The platformv is indicated by B, comprising a suitable frame-work and floor. The framework may be formed of angle irons and the Serial No, 386,241. (No model.)

Vmast or column A by means of a tubular carrier C, sufficiently long and thickr to give the requisite support. Braces c of a suitable number may be combined with the tubular holder and the platform to give the requisite 55 strength. In fact, the platform may be constructed in any way preferred, and braces, girts, and other like parts can be employed to meet the requirements of each occasion. Preferably the platform extends on each side 6o somewhat beyond the ladders, in order lo permit a passage around the ladder, and it is also extended considerably beyond the post A, to providestanding room.

From the platform B there arise at an inclination ladders or stairways EF, of .a number corresponding tothe number of the floors or stories in the buildings. These, also, as concerns their details, maybe constructed in any suitableway and of Aany preferred mate- 7o yterial. `As shown here, each comprises longitudinal angle-iron .bars c e, upon which liiat steps e are secured, and upon one or both sides a railing, as at e2, is attached, which latter, preferably, at one or both sides ext-ends 75 upward, as at e3, at the upper end. These ladders may be more or less vertically adjustable either at their outer and upper ends or throughout. Said ends may be made adjustable by hinging the lower endsand pro- 8o viding properly movable supports for the upper ones; but for all ordinary purposes I prefer 'to attach them rigidly throughout and support them firmly by means of braces or standards, as shown at G G', and of which 85 any suitablev number can be used. The distance of the upper end of ladder F from the y platform B and that'between the ends of the ladders E and F can be properly adjusted for each building when initially constructing the 9o mechanism-that is to say, said two distances Will be made equal to thatbetween the Windows of the second and thirdl stories on the one hand and of the third and fourth on the other.

=The escape shown is designed for a fourstory building, and is intended to permit an escape from either or all of the second, third,

flooring of sheet iron. It is connected to the 5o i of novalue.

an exit from the window it is'possible for a, relatively weak or -timorous person to have` Experience has shown that the ordinary fire-escapes, having ladders with, verticallyarranged ro unds, can notbe depended on under many'circumstances. First, for timorous and 'weak persons they are practically useless under the most favorable circumstances, and, secondly, when lire breaks through windows adjacent to them the heat imparted to them, as well as the smoke and flame, renders them In my case, as soon as there is substantially the same support when descending as when coming down an ordinary stairs way, and every step removes one farther from the fire.

From the platform B escape can be effected either after it has been lowered or by means of rope ladders H, or hand-ropes H2-H2, which In Fig. 1 they are shown as attached to a rod H', j

may be supported in any suitable way.

employed for that purpose.

In order to elevate and lower vthe platform and the parts secured thereto,- I employ acable or rope, as at I. It passes over pulleysin blocks of any suitable sort and arranged in any preferred way. As shown,'the rope is l attached to the block at J, it passing vthence under a pulley J', thence back to a pulley at J, thence to a second pulley J', thence to pulley at .Land thence downward to a windlas's or drum K. Upon this it may be wound in any suitablev Way, as by means of a crank-shaftl l',

having pinions-L L, adapted to engage withtoothed wheels la on the drum.

In order to accurately regulate the descent of the platform, I combine with the windlass a friction-brake. It consists of a band Msurvrounding as much as possible of a friction disk or cylinder N'. vThe details of Vthis part of the mechanism can also be ofanypreferred sort. As shown, the band M is secured at m to a carrier, and the other end at m is connected to a chain O, which passes over a sheave oandcarries a weight P, of such size as to properly hold the band M.

Q is a lever pivoted to the 4platform and having at q an engagement with the chain O, so that an operator can lift up on weight P sufficiently to release the friction-brake; but in order to prevent 'the entire relieving of the friction I limit the play of the lever Q by means' of an adjustable stop, as at R.

The pulley and block at J are shown as being swiveled to the upper end of the post,

column, or mast A, so that when the platform,

the ladders, andthe attached parts are turned around said post or column the rope will maintain the same position relatively thereto at all times, and binding or tangling be prevented. A rope-s uch as one of those at HL-can be used to effect the turning of the platform around the post or column.

By referring to Fig. 2 the mode of operat. ing my improved escape will be readily understood. The platform and parts attached may at ordinary tim'es be left turned partly away from the building, if desired, and locked so as to prevent the entrance o f burglars; but I intend, ordinarily, to have the parts of the escape in proper position Ain relation to the building, at which'time, of course,',such ladders or escape-ropes as those at I-I H2 will be rolled up or otherwise placed upon the platform. In case of fire the mode of using the device willbe understood from the above de-` scription, in connection with the drawings. If the platform B becomes loaded with persons, it can-be safely and rapidly lowered by means of the friction-drum, 4and after the parties thereon have stepped off it can -be again rapidly elevated by means of the ropewinding devices at L andK.

An escape of this character can be advantageously situated in the areas or yards of.

lhotels or houses, where it is not desirable to place them upon the street side..

There can be modification of the mechanism herein shown in several respects. The friction-brake can be applied to the rising and falling platform in ways dilferin g more or less vfrom that specifically illustrated without departing from the essential features'of the invention. y l

I am of course aware of the fact that lire-l escapes havebeen heretofore constructed or kproposed having rising and falling platforms or cars; but, so far as I know, the said earlier two classes, the first comprising thosewhich Were mounted upon Wheels and had their va- IOO IOS

Amechanisms have been of onelor the other of IIO rious parts so constructedv and related that it was impossible vto secure any rotation horizontally-of the platform independently of its vertical support, and those of the second class being such as are permanently secured direc'tly to the wall of the building. In mycase there is provided both a vertical movement and a 4horizontal swinging or rotating movement of the platform, the vertical supporting part of the mechanism providing a vertical hinge or pivot-like guide, around'the axis of which the platforml can freely vibrate orv rotate. The raising and lowering mechanism 'in this construction is so disposed that the ropes or other parts constituting it do not in-A terfere with this free'horizontal movement, the preferred way of accomplishing this being shown-that is, having the raising and loweringmechanism mounted directly on and length shorter than the distance between the support and the building, so that it can, be

brought around to the direct line between them and then swung away to another position, though in this respect there can be modiication, provided the essential features be preserved.

W`hile I herein show both a platform and ladders and refer to them by separate terms, yet it will be understood that many of the features of novelty can be maintained, even though one of these be substituted for the other.

That I claim is l. A. fire-escape havinga rising-and-falling platform, a vertical support for said platform,

.which provides a vertical axis or hinge therefor, and is situated from the building a distance greater than that part of the platform.

which receives those escaping from the building, whereby said platform can, while said support is stationary, be rotated horizontally from a position between the support and building to a position outside thereof, and means for causing the rotation of the platform, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-escape,a rising-and-falling platform, a vertical 'support therefor, onefor more ladders secured to said platform, having their receiving ends on one side only of said support, and means for raising and lowering said platform, the latter being connected with the support by a vertical pivot or hinge, whereby it is adapted to have the said ladders turned to a position between the support and the building while the support is'statio'nary, and turned into a position outside thereof either during or after the vertical movements of the platform, and means for causing the rotation of the platform, substantially as set forth..

3. In a fire-escape, the combination of a vertical support, a rising-and-falling and horiy and lowering it, whereby the platform can be moved both vertically and horizontally While the support is stationary, substantially as set forth.

4.' In a fire-escape, the combination of a vertical support, a rising-and-falling platform on said support rotatable horizontally while the support is stationary, and mechanism mounted on the platform for raising and lowering it, substantially as set forth.

5. Ina fire-escape, the combination of a vertical support, a rising-and-falling platform on said support rotatable horizontally while the support is stationary, mechanism for raising and lowering said platform, means for causing the rotation of the platform, and alook for fastening it in any desired vertical position, substantially as set forth.

6. In a iireescape,a rising-and-falling platform mounted upon a vertical pivot-like guide, said platform being free to rotate around the axis of said guide while rising and falling, and means for causing,` the rotation Yof the platform, substantially as set forth. n

7. In a lire-escape, the combination of a rising-and-falling platform and a vertical pivotlike guide for said platform and a raising and lowering mechanism connected at one or more points to said platform, and also connected to a stationary-support, said mechanism bemg free to rotate at both said places of connection around the axis of the said pivot-guide, substantially as set forth.

8. In a fire-escape, the combination, with a vertical pivot-like guide, of a platform adapted to rotate thereon and a raising and lowering mechanism, also adapted to rotatel thereon, substantially as set forth.

9. In a fire-escape, the combination of a vertical support secured to or in the ground inl dependently of the building and a rising-andfalling platform pivotally connected `to said.

support and free to swing toward and away from the building, substantially as set forth.

l0. In a fire-escape, the combination of a vertical support, a rising-and-fallingplatform vertically pivoted to said support, a drum on said platform, a "rope extending upwardly from IOO 12. In a fire-escape, the combination of thev vertical support, the platform which rises and falls and rotates freely onsaid support while the latter is stationary, and the inclined ladders secured to said platform andadapted to be rotated therewith horizontally to a position between the support and the building and then rotated into a position away therefrom, and meansfor causing the rotationof the platform, substantiallyas set forth.

13. In a tire-escape, the combination, vwith the main support having the vertical pivot, of the rising-and-falling platform having its receiving part shorter than the distance from said pivot tothe building and connected to the said support, as set forth, whereby it is free to rotate continuously around said pivot, substantially as set forth.

14. In a. fire-escape, the combination, with stop for limiting the lever movenlensubstanro the 1isin5;andfalling platform, of the ladder .tially as described. projecting upwardly therefrom and provided In testimony whereof I affix my signature in at the upper ends with the upwardly-projectpresence of two Witnesses.`

5 ing fender cr side guard adapted to stand at the Side of awindow', substantiallyas set forth. DANIEL KNOWLES'- 15. In a fire-escape, -the combination, with l Witnesses: the rising-and-falling ladder, a friction-brake, JAMES ERWIN, the lever for releasing said brake, and the p C. E. STEWARD..