US816495A - Fire-escape. - Google Patents

Description

No. 816,495. PATENTED MAR. 2'7, 1906. S. Z. MOORE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

5'1 u van foe,

PATBNTBD MAR. 27, 1906.

s. z. MOORE, FIRE ESGAP APPLICATION FILED AP 2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

Witness Warren srarns PATENT OFFICE.

SARGANT Z. MOORE, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ATSON WV. HAYES, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

Application filed April 24,1905. Serial No. 257,194.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, sAR-GANT Z. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, 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 improvements in fire-escapes, and more particularly to that class in which an endless cable is mounted in proximity to the rows of windows, so that a number of the imprisoned occupants of the building may simultaneously escape from the different stories thereof.

The principal object of the invention, however, is to provide means for braking the cable as each person alights on the ground, so as to permit them to detach themselves or to have attendants detach them from the cable before the complete descent of the next person above.

To more fully understand the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of the same, and in which like numerals designate the same parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the apparatus applied to the outside of a building. Fig. 2 is a section through the building, showing the apparatus in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section through the pivoted platform-support immediately forward of the braking means, and Fig. 4 is a detail and perspective of the pivoted platform.

1 designates the building, apertured at 1 to receive a journal or sleeve 2, carried by the plate 2, bolted or otherwise secured to the wall of the building. At the lower end of the plate 2 is an outwardly-extending rod 3, supported at its outer end by a hanger 4, carried by a shaft 5, extending through the sleeve 1 and provided with a gear at its inner end cooperating with any suitable means, such as the governor 5, for partially controlling its speed. The outer end of the shaft is provided with a pair of grooved wheels 6 6 and on the outer end of the rod 3 beneath said grooved wheels is mounted an idlerspool 7.

At the base of the building, preferably located on the ground, is a support for the pivoted platform hereinafter referred to, comprising the spaced beams 8, and mounted at opposite ends of the support are the pulleys 9 9 suitably journaled and disposed above the space between said beams. Substantially centrally of said support is a transversely-extending plate 10, cut away, as at 10 and provided with webs or flanges 10 adapted to be suitably secured to the beams 8, so that the cut-away portion 1O will be positioned above the space formed between said beams. 11 designates a platform having a tongue 12, extending between said beams and pivotally supported therebetween on the axis 12 The rear of the tongue 12 is provided with the bearing-plates 13, in which is pivotally supported the braking member 14, having a forked or pronged end adapted to slidingly engage against the face of the plate 10 and forming, with the recess 10 thereof, a bounded space adapted to receive the operating-cable 15, which may be provided along its length with suitable eyelets 16, adapted to receive a hook 17 on the belt secured to the person descending.

The operation of the device is apparent, but may be briefly referred to. It will be seen that the operating endless cable 16 passes first around the wheels 6 to the idlerspool 7, thence to the wheel 6 thence downwardly to the pulley 9", thence along the space between the beams 8, through the opening formed between the forked end of the braking member 14 and the cut-away portion of the plate 10, thence reeving under the pulley 9 and upwardly. The idler-pulley 7 will add some friction to counterbalance the descending weights, and the governor 5 will also serve to this end when employed. When the person descending strikes the platform 11, the same will be depressed at its outer end, and its inner end, carrying the braking member 14, will be forced upwardly, securely gripping the cable and bringing the same to a standstill until that person has been detached from the cable, when the operation will be continued and the descent of the next person accomplished.

Itis obvious that modifications might be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the same is not limited to the exact details as shown and described.

What I claim is 1. In a fire-escape, the combination with an endless cable operatively mounted alongside of a building, of means for braking said cable, comprising a movable platform, located at the base of said cable, and a braking member mounted on said platform adapted to be brought into engagement with the operating-cable upon the descent and alighting upon the platform of each person carried by the cable.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination with an endless oable'operatively mounted alongside of a building, of a support adjacent the lower end of said operating-cable and pro- Vided with a transverse plate having a cutaway portion, and a ivoted platform provided With a braking member having a prongshaped upper portion adapted to cooperate With the cut-away portion of said transverse plate and to receive the operating cable therebetWeen.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SARGANT Z. MOORE.

Witnesses:

W. B. JANsEN, C. T. PLANT.

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