US879439A - Fire-escape. - Google Patents

Description

No. 879,439. PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

J. W. CAMPBELL.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 30, 1907.

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'PA'TBNTED FEB. 1s,- 1.908. J. w. CAMPBELL.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 30, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Y m OY' W W Q M ATTORNEY JOHN W. CAMPBELL, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

FIRE-E SCAPE Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application filed April 30, 1907. Serial No. 371,169.

0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at 0010- rado Springs, in the county of El Paso and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a fire escape consisting of an endless moving ladder controlled by a particularly efficient fluid brake.

In the accompanying drawings to which reference is here made Figure l is side view of the device complete and ready for use. Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the cylinder and illustrates its construction. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross section of the plunger andpiston rod and serves particularly to show the manner in which the flow of liquid is regulated. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View of the cylinder taken on dotted line a, (1 Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively side and plan views of rods which form rings of ladder.

Throughout the several views like charactersrefer to like parts.

Referring to the details of construction 1. is an endless detachable link chain belt.

2 and 3 are endless cables passing through the ends of the ladder rings 4. At the upper end the chain 1 and cables 2 and 3 pass over a drum 5 having around its center a row of sprocket teeth adapted to engage the links in the chain. The drum 5 revolves on the axle 6 mounted. in the bracket 7. The bracket 7 is a substantial brace support securely attached to the walls of the building. At the lower end, the endless ladder composed of chain, cables and rungs, passes over a sprocket drum 8 constructed with a sprocket wheel at its center. The drum has on the opposite sides of the sprocket wheel cylindrical earns 9 and 10 which engage the rollers 11 and 12 pinioned to the under side of the cylinder. The drum 8 revolves upon the shaft 14 having its bearing in the standards 16 and 17. The frame shown in which ,operates all of the mechanism at the lower backward and forward on the piston rod 19 by the cams 9 and 10 acting upon the rollers 1.1 and 12. The cylinder is prevented from turning over when in operation by the top plate. To reduce the friction between the cylinder and top plate two longitudinal grooves are cut in the plate and top of cylinder and these grooves are filled with balls 31. One end of the cylinder is provided with a removable cylinder head 20 and both ends have stuffing boxes as shown provided with suitable glands 23 and 24. The cylinder is bored to receive the plunger'25 secured to the piston rod 19, in the most suitable manner. The piston rod 19 has 'a hole 26 bored in it from one-end past the port 28 to the port 27.

27 and 2-8 are suitably shaped ports connecting the hole in the piston rod with the inside of the cylinder. A plunger 29 is fitted to the hole 26 in the manner shown. This plunger at 32 is threaded to engage like threads on the inside of the hole 26. plunger rod. is of a suitable length so that when entirely screwed in, leaving only the shank 3O projecting, that the port 28 will be entirely closed. hen the plunger is screwed out the port 28 is gradually opened as the plunger withdraws from under it. Ordinarily it is found advisable to make the treading steep so that a few turns will su'llice to open or close the port.

The ladder rungs consist of short rods or pieces of tubing having threaded ends, slotted to receive the cables. The rungs are secured to the cable by passing it into the slots and screwing on a nut until sufficiently tight.

Having thus described the details of construction the method of operation may be readily explained. As will be seen in drawings the fire escape is to be situated so that the ladder will pass, by the side of, or if preferable in front of a window or door intended to "afford a place of eXit in case of fire. The apparatus being installed the cylinder being filled with oil or other suitable fiuid, should a fire occur and a person step on the ladder it would immediately begin to move down ward. As it moves down the cams begin revolving and begin pushing the cylinder back and forth. In order to move it is necessary to displace the liquid in the cylinder, which as the cylinder moves escapes from compression through one of the ports 27 or 28 and the hole 26 to the other end. It will now be seen that this flow will depend on the position of the plunger .29 and the amount of The I should be screwed until the port 28 was entirely closed the cylinder would of necessity sto and with it the ladder.

W hen installed the plunger would be regulated according to the anticipated load and by means of the shank 30 on the end of the plunger, the speed in case of fire could be readjusted by the firemen or other suitable persons supplied with keys fitted to the shank 30.

The ease with which the movement of the ladder may be controlled or stopped is one of the particular merits of the invention. Another feature is that the chain being in the center is not liable to bind and in this position the breaking of either cable would not necessarily result in an accident. The chief merit, however, is its great simplicity.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In fire escapes the combination of an I endless ladder, an upper drum over which it moves, a lower drum, suitable mechanism in connection with the said drum for moving a horizontal cylinder, a horizontal cylinder parallel with the axis upon which the lower drum revolves said cylinder adapted to move backward and forward along a piston rod .and in moving to force liquid from one end to the other thereby retarding the movement of the ladder, all substantially as described and for the uses and purposes set forth.

2. In a fire escape, the combination of an endless ladder, an upper drum over which said ladder passes, a suitable supporting apparatus for said drum, a lower drum, a suit able base in which'said drum and adjacent arts are mounted, cylindrical cams on said Ibwer drum, a fluid cylinder, rollers on the bottom of said cylinder, a horizontal piston rod on which said cylinder is mounted, a stationary piston mounted on said piston rod, said cylinder being adapted to move when the rollers are engaged by the cams, means for preventing the cylinder from turn ing, and means for regulating the flow from one end of the moving cylinder to the other, substantially as described' '3. In fire escapes, the combination of an endless link chain, rungs passing through said link chain, two endless cables passing through the outer ends of said rungs and to which said rungs are secured, an upper drum over which the endless ladder passes, suitable brackets for supporting such upper drum, a lower drum, a sprocket wheel on said drum which engages the chain as the said ladder passes around it, a suitable base in which said drum and adjacent parts are mounted, cylindrical cams on said drum, a movable fluid cylinder, rollers on the under side of said cylinder for engaging said cylindrical cams, a piston secured in said base upon which said cylinder moves, a plunger attached to said piston rod, suitable means for regulating the flow of fluid, all substantially as described.

4. In fire escapes, the combination of a link chain, rungs passing through said link chain, slots cut in the ends of said rungs, endless cables passing through said slots, nuts screwed upon the. ends of said. rungs for securing said cables, an upper drum over which said chain, rungs and cable pass, brackets upon the wall of the building for supporting said drum, a lower drum, a suitable frame in which said lower drum and adjacent parts are mounted, a sprocket Wheel upon said lower drum for engaging said chain, cylindrical cams on said lower drum, a movable fluid cylinder, a stationary piston upon which said cylinder is moved, said piston being secured in said frame, rollers upon the under side of said cylinder for engaging said cams, balls for reducing friction between the top of the cylinder and the top plate, grooves in the top of said cylinder for receiving said balls, a top plate on said base, grooves in the bottom of said top plate for receiving said balls, a plunger fitted to the said stationary piston, a longitudinal hole bored in said piston rod, two ports cut in said piston rod on opposite sides of said plunger connecting with the said longitu dinal hole, a plunger fitted to said hole and long enough to entirely close one of the ports when screwed in, a shank on the end of said plunger by means of which said plunger may be screwed in any desired distance, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have si ned my name in the presence of two subscri ing wit nesses.

JOHN W. CAMPBELL.

In the presence of C. LEON McKEssoN, C. W. STIFF.

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