US536088A

US536088A - Fire-escape

Info

Publication number: US536088A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1912-03-19

Description

N. LETZLER.

(No Model.)

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 536,088. Patented Mar. 19, 1895.

IN VEN T 01?,

W1 TNESSES;

THE mums FETERS co. PnoTaurnQ. wAsnmsToN, o. c.

INITEV'D STATES NICK LETZ'LER, or NAPOLEON, INDIANA.

\ FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 536,088, dated. March 19, 1895 Applioation filed January 14, 1 895' Serial No. 534,892. (No model) .escape, partly in section; Fig. II, a front view;

Fig. III, a detail view showing the device inclosed in a flexible chute, and Fig. IV, aview of the device in operation.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and reliable apparatus designed to afford a safe and ready means of escape forin- Y mates of burning buildings.

The invention consists in the novel'construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the said drawings the reference letter A indicates a pulley block containing sheaves2 8 4 and 5, the upper one of which isjournaled in bearing blocks 6 which move in vertical slots 7. Each slot contains a compressible spring 8, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. An endless rope 9 passes around the upper sheave 2, thence downwardly between and bearing upon the inner sides of the intermediate sheaves 3 and 4. Below these it separates and bears upon the outer sides of the lower sheave 5. The lower end of the coil encircles a sheave 10 in a block 11 from which a rope extends to a grappling block 12 provided with a hook 13. The object of the grapple and its adjuncts is to provide means for attaching the tackle to a fixed object outside of the building in order that when desired a tension may be exerted upon the endless rope.

The block A is connected by a pin or bolt 15 to a plate 16 having eyes to receive bails 17 the upper extremities of which are pro-' Vided with hooks which engage the upper cross bar 19 of a frame 20. This connection is designed to form a practically universal joint so that if by reason of any obstruction or a fire beneath the window the device cannot be suspended perpendicularly from a window the lower end may be easily moved to either side or carried out into the street.

The said cross bar 19 is extensible so that it which it is secured to the window sill when in use.

The operation of the device is as follows: The frame being set and the rope and tackle being cast out of the window, as shown in Fig. III, the operator seizes one of the ropes. His weight causes the upper sheave 2 to bear upon the spring and the rope is thus compressed between the upper and the intermediate sheaves. It follows that the friction produced in this manner is in proportion to the Weight of the operator and the speed of his descent will be governed accordingly. It is therefore obvious that any additional weight will increase the friction and the rate of movement will not be materially affected. It is evident that if the grappling hook 13 be attached to a fixed object outside of the building, as hereinbefore described, an assistant, by means of the tackle, may regulate thetens'ion and consequent friction in such a manner as to govern the movement independent of any effort on the part of the operator.

.The object of the flexible chute is to remove the timidity of persons who, in the absence of surroundings which ofier even an apparent protection, would refuse to take the first step required to insure their own safety.

What I claim as new is In a fire escape, the combination with a frame provided with an extensible transverse bar adapted to engage the inner sides of a window or door casing, with the herein doscribed pulley block containing a sheave journaled in vertically movable bearings normally upheld by springs, the supplemental friction sheaves adapted to co-operate with the said movable sheave, the separating sheave beneath the supplemental sheaves, the endless rope passing over the movable sheave and between the supplemental sheaves, the pulley block and sheave adapted to engage the lower loop of the endless rope, thetension In testimony that I claim the foregoing i tackle connecting the said pulley block with have hereunto set my hand, this 1st day of J ana grappling block, and the flexible chute uary, 1895, in the presence of Witnesses.

adapted to envelop the endless rope and its NICK LETZLER. 5 adjuncts, all constructed and arranged sub- \Vitnesses:

stantially as and for the purpose herein speci- SUSIE MEYERS,

fied. ELIZABETH JOHNSON.