US522981A - Fire-escape - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. POX. TIRE ESCAPE.

Patented July 17, 1894.

.. FIG-- 2 p i I r; a; w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 4

BARBARY FOX, or NAPOLEON, INDIANA FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPEOIFIGATIQN forming pa; t of Letters Patent No. 522,981, dated July 17, 1894.

Application filed April 16. 1894. Serial No. 507.712. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BARBARY Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Napoleon, in the county of Ripley and State of Indiana, 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, reference being had to the annexed drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to those-apparatus.

which enable the inmates of a building to escape therefrom,in the event of a fire, by sliding down within a canvas tube or chute whose upper or receiving end is connected To a frame capable of being readily secured in the opening of a window or door, while the lower or the claim.

- incondition' for 3 discharging end of said tube reaches to the ground; and my improvement comprises a special form'of brake mechanism, which is so constructed as to insure the safe descent, at the same time, of a greater or less number of people, according to the emergency, the details of said mechanism being hereinafter more fully described, and then pointed out-in "In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section showing my improved fire-escape use, the central portion of the chute being broken away to indicate that it may be of any desired length. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the frame to whichthe upper end of the chute is connected, the frame being attached to the inner side of a window. Fig. 3 is a similar elevation of a ring, and its 1aolgessories, at the lower end of said chute or A represents a chute or tube made of sail cloth or other stout flexible-material, and of such a diameter as to permit an adult to slide down within it, the length of said chute being determined by the elevation of the window or door to which the fire escape is applied. The

lower or discharging end of this tube is at- 45' tached to, and constantly distended, by a heavy ring B, to whose sides handles 0, C,

maybe applied, for the purpose of steadying straight bearing 1) is a flanged use of which will presently appear.

.saidfube; thesnpper-part of thering-bcing perfectly straight, for a limited distance, as seen at b, in Fig. 8. Journaled upon this roller 1), the

The upper end of the chute is similarly distended by another heavy ring E, which latter is coupled to a pair of upright stiles F, F, by links or staples e, c, the top and bottom of said stiles being united by cross bars G, H. These parts, F, F, G, II, form a rectangular frame of such a size as to be readily inserted within the opening of an ordinary window or door, and when thus applied said frame may be secured with any convenient fasteners. In Fig. 2, this frame is seen fitted in a window opening I, and provided with claws J, J, that engage over the window-sill. Said frame may also have hooks K, K, to catch into staples k, is, of the window casing.

L is a screw, tapped in the cross-bar G, and having at its upper enda hand-wheel orerank Z, while its lower end is in contact with a c1amp-rail M, whose ends traverse longitudinal grooves f, f, of the stiles F, F. Journalcd in these stiles, and arranged parallel with the rail M, is a flanged shaft or long roller N, around which is passed an endless flexible-band O. This band may be made of rope or leather, but leather is preferred, and is suificiently long topass around the other roller D, at the bottom of the chute. Qonsequently, one half of this band or belt is external, with reference to the chute A, while the other half traverses said tube, from end to end.

My fire-escape is arranged to operate in the following manner: When the apparatus is to be permanently applied to a tall building, such as a hotel, the frame F F GlI, can be fitted within a special opening, and the chute A. and band 0 be drawn up to said opening and retained in a compact shape by fasteners capable of being readily detached in the event of a fire. In such an emergency, these fasteners are unloosened and the chute permitted to unfold and descend to the ground, after which act, the handles 0, C, are grasped by people in the street, who then draw the lower end of the tube as far away from the building as circumstances willadmit. By this pro fording an unobstructed, inclined passage from the window to the ground. 'lhe'occupants of the building then enter the open, upper end of the tube, one at a time, grasp needing the chute is straightened out andremv 'fieiedl'rce 'ildl'n l'olds or bends, thereby af- L is so advanced as to produce a limited.

pressure of the rail M upon the belt 0, but as the escape becomes more crowded, the pressure is increased accordingly. It will thus be seen that my brake-mechanism enables the escape to be so regulated as to insure a safeand gradual descent of people within the tube; no matter how few. or many are to be accommodated at the same time;

more, suitable slings may be temporarily. coupled tothe belt, for the purpose of lower-' Furthering children, which slings canbe detached at the bottom of the chute.

Again, by making the roller somewhat long, the belt 0 can shift to either side of the chute, and yet be subjected to the clamping device, and, if desired, the periphery of said wear and tear of said belt.

roller, and also of the other roller D, may be covered with leather or rubber to prevent Or, a rubber roller mav be journaled in the rail M, and

bear upon the belt, Finally, the chute can be wholly or partially lined with leather or rubber, and a hammock may beattach'ed. to its lower end to deaden any I claim as my invention-jv In co'nbi eic h a 'fire-esc'ap ing of a. flexible chute having rings attached to its ends, and the upper ,ring coupled to a frame capable of being secured. in a window 3 5 or door; 'the roller D, journaled upon the ,r lower ring B; the roller N, journaledin said frame; the endless belt 0, passing around. these rollers, and having one portion extend to said chute, while its other portion passes through the latter, from endtgepdtthe' #1 justablefrail M, moving within said ra s;- and a device for applying pre'ssure-toisaidi, rail; all as herein described, and for the purv pose stated. j 45 In testimony whereof I alfix my signature inpresence of two witnesses. 4

'B-ARBARY FOX.

Witnesses:

SUSIE MYERS, ELIZABETH J oHNsoN,

possible shook. 3o

onsist Correction in Letters Patent No. 522,981.

. Gountersigned It is hereby certified that in Lettern Patent No. 522,981, granted July 17,1894, upon the applicationof Barbary Fox, of Napoleon, Indiana, for an improvement in Fiz e v E scapes, an error appears in the printed specification requiring the following c0rrection, viz: In line 39, page 2, the word. 7 extend shouldread external,- and that said Letters Patent should be read with thi correction therein that the same may conform to the fee/""1 the .1386 in the Patent Ofiiee. Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 24th day of July, A. D.- 1894.

[SEAL] Q-WMQ H. SI-MS,

' First Assistant Seoi'etary of the Interior.

JOHN S. SEYMOUR,

Commissioner of Patten"

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