WO1983001903A1

WO1983001903A1 - Life-saving system in fires in large buildings

Info

Publication number: WO1983001903A1
Application number: PCT/BR1982/000019
Authority: WO
Inventors: De Mendonca Joao Furtado
Original assignee: FURTADO DE MENDONÇA, Joao
Priority date: 1981-12-02
Filing date: 1982-11-22
Publication date: 1983-06-09
Also published as: BR8107851A; EP0095464A1

Abstract

A Life-Saving System in Fires in Big Buildings (21) consists of a flexible steel cable (5) running on pulleys (1) at the end of a cantilevered beam (2). The cable (5) is attached to a life-saving basket (3) outside the building (21). At the other end, the cable (5) is attached to a counterweight (7) that descends inside a metal tube (9) inside the building (21).

Description

DESCRIPTIVB REPORT OF THE INVENTION PATENT "LEFE-SAVING SYSTEM IN FIRES IN LARGE BUILDINGS "

1. Introduction

As a way of simplifying the presentation, the Report is divided into items and subi terns, with, a separate description of each of the parts that require a more detaile d explanation, including item 3 showing the Principal Operation of the System.

Prom the description of the parts, all very simple , based on extremely elementary mechanics and moved only by springs and gravitational force , with counterweights , etc . , the efficient functioning of the life-saving System can be clearly seen .

So as not to make this Report unnecessarily long, descriptions and designs of some details whose technical efficiency is already proven have been avoide d, for example : how the life-saving basket should be close d for storage item 7, spee d regulator (4) item 3 , layout of springs , locks , etc . Other details may even have been overlooke d in the descriptions given, although such omissions should not detract from the merits of the system.

The designs that accompany and form part of this report are not made to scale , but they give an idea of the proportions necessary for a clear understanding . It is intende d to submit the viability of this Life-saving System for approval . In the case of approval being conceded, a study should then be undertaken to elaborate the definitive project with all the necessary details, in a specialized company, with a view to building a prototype of the Life-saving System, since only in practice can the defects requiring correction be seen subitem 7.1.

2. Justification

After the fires in large buildings, at times with a high death toll, there always appears the same bitter question and with no answer: What can be done to save the lives of people caught by surprise inside a burning building ? This has been a real nightmare for the Pire Brigades and many authorities in the big cities all over the world. For a few days this painful and distressing subject grips the attention of public opinion through the press, radio and TV. Conferences are then held to discuss the problem and look for solutions for this terrible threat which affects each and every one of us very closely. The subject is very unpleasant and at the same time of great interest not only for the speakers at the conferences but also for. those that participate in the debates from the floor or even those that follow on radio and TV or read the newspapers.

Various measures of a technical and administrative nature have been adopted aimed at avoiding such tragic losses of lives, which have a profoundly traumatic effect on society as a whole. The fact is that the nightmare remains and continues to defy those that are involved or have some responsibility in trying to solve this grave problem of today. Many solutions have been studied and always with the same objective of solving this crucial problem or at least reducing its severity.

This, therefore, is a further attempt to present a new Life-saving System for approval. It is amazing that, in the world of today, a Patent is required for a Life-saving system that is so simple and elementary in comparison with modern technology. One might almost think that there has been some error of reasoning which passed unnoticed in the explanations or in the elementary calculations made. This project is, however, very much a labour of love with a view to contributing to avoid so many tragic deaths.

The Life-saving system in question, besides its extreme simplicity is also relatively simple to build and install, without being costly, considering the importance of having such equipment in buildings to meet any fire emergency.

3. How the system works

Figure 1 shows the functioning of the Life-saving System with the Life-saving basket (3) item 7 being lowered until it reaches the ground at street level (8) or rising up to the window (17) of the building and the consequent rise and descent of the counterweight (7) item 5 inside the building itself (21). Pigure 2 shows the same positions, however also including the auxiliary steel cable (6) subitem 4.1 in the functioning of the System.

The L.S. System basically consists of a flexible steel cable (5) item 4 running on a pulley installed in a rolling trolley (1) at the end of a cantilevered beam. One of the ends of the cable is attached to a Life-saving Basket (basket) (3) item 7 outside the building. At the other end, inside the building, the cable is attached to a counterweight (7) item 5 capable of hoisting the cable (5) with the empty basket (3) from ground level (8) up to a determined floor, here considered, only as an example, at a height of 100 mts. The speed of the basket (3) in the descent, should be appropriately regulated by a mechanical device (4) and for any weight in the basket (3). On approaching ground level its speed should be reduced to gently damp the Komentum force on the cable (5) and reduce to a tolerable minimum the impact of the basket against the ground. In the ascent the speed of the basket can be much greater to compensate for the necessarily slow speed in the descent. As the basket (3) approaches the cantilevered beam (2) item 8 its speed should also be reduced to damp the pendular motion and enable the rolling trolley (1) item 7 to function.

Taking the empty basket (3) on the ground (8), there will be at that moment its own weight which is estimated at 6kgs plus the weight of the 100 mts of cable (5) which is calculated item 4 alsc at 6kgs, making a total weight of 12kgs to be hoisted. The counterweight (7) item 5 is estimated at 18kgs, weighing, therefore, 6 kilos more, that is to say, 50% more than the weight of 12 kilos hanging outside the building (21), which should produce the necessary imbalance to make the empty basket rise up to a height of 100 mts, as in the example. The counterweight (7) item 5 and the steel cable (5) item 4 will descend inside a metal tube (9) item 6. When the counterweight reaches the basement floor (10) inside the building (21) its weight of 18 kilos will be added to the 6 kgs of the steel cable (5) itself, now completely hanging inside the building (21), making a total of 24kgs. Subtracting from this weight of 24 kgs the 6 kgs of the basket hanging on the other end of the cable outside, there will be a difference of 18 kgs hanging inside the building (21). In this way a weight of only 24 kgs in the basket will produce an imbalance of 6 kgs more outside, which will make the basket (3) descend.

However, the basket should always descend with a greater weight, that is to say, with the weight of one or two persons.

4. Calculation of Steel Cable

As was said at the beginning, item 1 the intention is to demonstrate the viability of the Life-saving System and obtain its registration. The detailed plans and the respective calculations will be carried out in due course by a specialized firm meeting the demands of each particular case. However, as the steel cable (5) is a fundamental part of the whole project the calculation is made here to reinforce the feasibility of the system in this simple explanation. The basket (3) should have enough space to carry two persons, or 140 kgs, but the steel cable (5) is calculated as a safety measure for 280 kgs, that is to say 100% more than the lead it will support. The basket (3) should be made of light non-combustible anti-thermic material and its weight is estimated at 6kgs. The cable (5) is also calculated at 6 kgs . Therefore the weight of the basket (3) plus the steel cable comes to 12 kgs. Adding this figure to the weight of 280 kgs which is considered as the working load to be transported by the basket (3) in descent, this gives a total weight of 232 kgs which is used to calculate the steel cable. For this calculation no consideration is given to the force exerted by the counterweight (7) item 5 at the other end of the steel cable (5) inside the building (21), because this force is intercepted by the mechanical speed regulating device (4) item 3 when the basket descends with its total weight of 292 kgs.

The section S of the cable is obtained by dividing its total weight P by the security load E of the steel cable in tractive effort, that is to say S = . Por the effects of

calculation, the breaking load of the steel cable in the tractive effort R = 75 kgs/mm², this being the most unfavour able case. Ths security load of the steel cable E is considered equal to ⅔ of R, because the load varies from zero to P. Kaking the substitutions, we have: K = ⅔ of

75 kgs/mm² or E = 50 kgs/mm². In this way the section of steel cable will be: S = = ⁹ = 5,8 mm² which

corresponds to the weight of 6 kgs per 100 mts of steel cable. 4.1 Auxiliary Cable

Por the higher floors, an auxiliary steel cable (6) should be used in addition to the cable (5) that supports the basket (3). The auxiliary cable (6) will be thinner and will function as a stay and will serve as a guide to keep the baskets (3) apart during simultaneous operations of ascent and descent. Besides this, the auxiliary cable (6) will gradually move the basket (3) away from the building (24), which will prevent or reduce the possibility of flames reaching the people in the basket. And also will damp the pendular motion. The auxiliary cable (6) will descend only once with the basket (3) when the basket goes into operation. The external end of the auxiliary cable will be attached by a coupling to a small weight (11) which should be sufficiently heavy to hold the cable firmly on the ground (8) and make it possible for the basket (3) to return immediately after the people have disembarked. There will also be a small hook (12) on the same end of the cable (6) to be coupled to an eye fixed on the other side of the street. The eye should be firmly fixed in the kerb on in the sidewalk next to the wall, or even en the marquise or the actual wall of the building opposite, depending on the greater or lesser number of auxiliary cables necessary and the local possibilities. The installation of the small eye should be carried out so as not to spoil the aesthetics of the building and also in such way that these eyes can be located and reached with ease and speed during emergencies. Por this purpose there should always be periodic training drills, subitem 7.1. The small hook (12) at the end of the auxiliary cable (6) and its corresponding eye should be conveniently numbered so as to facilitate the coupling operation at moments of great tumult. The operation of coupling the auxiliary cable (6) to the eye should be carried out by an employee of the building or by someone who is familiar with the operation.

After uncoupling the small weight (11) and coupling the auxiliary cable (8) to the corresponding eye, it will be immediately pulled tight by a gear mechanism (13) fitted with a ratchet inside the building. To do this, the same person who is carrying out the operation gives just a small downward pull in the same direction as the cantenary formed by the auxiliary cable (6). This will release the ratchet of the gear mechanism (13) inside the building (21) and the mechanism will then, by use of a counterweight or a spring, pull the cable (6) tight. The downward pull should be firm but careful in order to avoid oscillations in the auxiliary cable (6), which would jeopardize the whole operation. Por the same reason pulling should be avoided when the basket is going up or down.

The basket (3) will have a special device (23) at the apex of the pyramid formed by the 3 support traces (15) item 7. This device will be fitted with a small spool to slide along the auxiliary cable (6) during the descents and ascents of the basket (3). 5. Counterweight

It would be possible to use winches and pulleys in conjunction with strong springs and large weights to supply the necessary mechanical energy to raise the steel cable (5) with the empty basket (3) from the ground to a particular floor of the building (21). This would mean that this whole bulky apparatus would have to be installed on the terrace, in the cellar, or in the garage, etc. taking up space that would be better used for other purposes, besides limiting the number of installations per building.

Therefore, for the study of the viability of the Life Saving System, a counterweight (7) is used in the example given with a cylindrical metal rod attached to the end of the steel cable (5) and descending inside a metal tube (9). item 6 inside the building. The metal rod should be turned and lubricated to facilitate its movements inside the tube (9) and its ends should have a convexity with the same purpose. The tube (9) item 6 should also be machine turned or polished inside.

Por the example given of an lδkg counterweight, the metal rod would be . " with 7.520 kg/mt. sivins- a length of

2.40 mts. which will fit easily into the height of a garage or a cellar.

6. Metal Tube

The metal tube (9) for the descent of the counterweight (7) item 6 should be fire-resistant and also covered with anti-thermic, non-combustible material. It will be built into the walls or fastened to the columns. The upper and lower ends of the tube (9), the latter touching the ground in the garage or the cellar (10), should be protected by metal screens to prevent the entry of insects that could impede the smooth running of the counterweight inside the tube.

6.1 Thin Distribution Tube

So as not to overload the walls and columns only in the front part of the building and with a view to the possibility of installing a greater number of life saving systems, we should study the distribution of various descent tubes throughout the building. The distribution will be carried out by thin metal tubes (14) carrying only the steel cables. Any change in direction in the distribution tubing should be provided with a grooved pulley bearing to facilitate the free running of the steel cable (5). Besides this, all the tubes should be turned or polished and lubricated inside. The thin distribution tubing should also be covered with non-combustible and anti-thermic material. The distribution of different descent tubes will be easier in buildings that are still in the planning or construction stage than in already completed bulldings.

The distribution of various descent tubes throughout the building may imply some legal requirement if the distri bution tubes have to extend beyond the areas of the owners of the units in which the life saving equipment is installed. In this case the matter can be studied and regulated in view of the collective interests in question.

7. Life-saving Basket (Basket)

The basket (3) should be made of very light, anti-thermic, fire-proof material. In the example given, its weight is estimated at 6 kgs and should have sufficient room for only two persons, which is the envisaged load, because excess weight could be harmful. The basket (3) can be cylindrical, in the shape of a bucket with sufficient height to facilitate embarkation and offer security to the people using it. It should close like an umbrella to be stored with the beam (2) inside the ceiling cavity after use and in such a way that it is protected from the weather and does not spoil the aesthetics of the building, and also in such a way that it can return easily to the operational position in case of. emergency. There will be a disposable capsule to wrap round the basket when it is stored. The capsule will open like a flower and fall off when the basket (3) goes into operation.

The basket (3) will be supported by 3 metal traces (15) forming a pyramid with a triangular base, the apex of which will be attached to the steel cable (5) which supports it and the base of the pyramid will be attached to the ring forming the edge of the basket (3). This should be suf ficiently robust for the mechanical force provoked by the weight of two persons. To reinforce the floor, it is planned to fit another small metal trace (l6) connecting the centre of the floor of the basket (3) to the vertex of the pyramid (15) supporting it.

There will be a cylinder (18) made of light, very flexible, non-combustible, anti-thermic material covering the upper part of the basket (3). It will be raised by 3 small steel cables (19), after embarkation by the people in the basket themselves to protect them from the flames during the descent of the basket (3). The three cables (19) will be guided by 3 links (20) attached to the three traces supporting (15) the basket (3). The cylinder (18) will have a small ring on its upper part for the tube (18) to be positioned. The lower part of the cylinder (18) will be attached to the upper ring of the basket (3) in such a way that, when the cylinder (18) is raised, it will form, together with the basket (3) a single body to protect the people.

As was stated in item 3, the steel cable (5) supporting the basket (3) will run on a pulley at the end (M) of the cantilevered beam (2) on the outside of the building (21). The pulley for the cable (5) will be installed on a rolling trolley (1) which will run along the inside part of the two flanges of the C-profile cantilevered beam item 8.

When the basket (3) ascends and the apex of the pyramid (15) approaches the rolling trolley (1) at point (M) a lock (X) that attaches the rolling trolley (1) to the beam (2) will be released. Simultaneously, a lock (Y) will fix the steel cable (5) to the rolling trolley (l) making the trolley, pulled by the counterweight (7) approach the window (17). At this exact moment, a third lock (2) will hold, at point (N), the rolling trolley (1) with the basket (3) close to the window (17) for the people to embark.

After embarking, the people will release the lock (Z) at point (N), allo;ving the basket (3), impelled by a spring and by gravity, to slide to the end of the beam at point (M) and release the lock (Y) that fixed the cable (5) to the rolling trolley (1). Simultaneously lock (X) will attach the rolling trolley (1) to the beam (2) again at point (M) and thus the basket (3) will continue descending to the ground (8). To keep their balance, the people will hold on to the metal traces (15) and (16).

At the beginning of the operation, locks (Y) and (Z) will hold the rolling trolley (1) with the basket (3) at point N close to the window (17). In this way, only the support beam (2) will be impelled by spring or counterweight into its cantilever position.

7.1 Number of Baskets

In accordance with local conveniences and possibilities of installation, there may be a greater or lesser number of baskets for each building already constructed. Por buildings still in the planning or construction stage, the adaptations may be studied with greater facility. The number of installations per floor or in each building will depend on the possibilities of unimpeded ascents and descents by the baskets (3) in simultaneous operations without the danger of colliding with each other.

The first installations to be fitted will demand periodic operation, independent of fire, to train building employees and users in the building. The training should be carried out, if possible, in conjuction with the Pire Brigade and all their equipment, vehicles, ladders, hoses, etc. Only periodic functioning can show in practice the defects to be corrected with a view to the gradual perfecting of the Life-Saving System in question. Also the lubrification of the equipment should be periodically revised to ensure the perfect operation of the installations at any moment.

8. Support Beam

The beam (2) will be a square C-profile stringer with the open part of the C facing downward. It will have a cantilever extension according to each case. To facilitate its functioning, the beam will be fitted with bearings, and will be inside another metal beam also with a square C-profile analogous to that described for beam (2). This beam will function as a capsule for beam(2). The capsule will be sunk into the concrete that serves as the roof of the floor in question, and should be large enough to hold the beam (2) and all the Life-Saving equipment.

At the start of the operation after the simple pressing of a button on the wall, the beam will be impelled by springs or counterweight until it reaches its fill cantilever position.

So as to facilitate the functioning of the rolling trolley (1) the beam (2) should be set at a slight inclination from its fixed end to the cantilever extremity. This can be achieved by chamfering the upper part of the upside down C profile of the beam at its fixed end which will produce the required inclination in the beam (2). The chamfered part should be. reinforced with a welded steel plate to support the deflection force.

9. Manual Operations in the System

The operation of the equipment will always be at moments of great agitation and nervous tension. Bearing in mind such emotional factors the. workings of the system are designed to be almost entirely automatic, moved by springs and counterweights. Only 5 manual operations need to be performed.

A. The simple pressing of a button in the wall to release a lock which will permit the equipment to move into operating position through springs and the force of grav ity. The basket (3) will be opened automatically by springs item 7 and will be held fast by locks Y and Z next to the window (17) item 7 or verandah (21) to await the embarkation of the people.

B. After embarkation, the persons themselves will release the lock (Z) item 7 which will allow the basket (3) to slide along the cantilevered beam and start its first descent with the auxiliary cable (6) and its small anchor weight (11) to street level below.

C. The persons themselves will also raise the cylinder (18) item 7.

D. The auxiliary cable (6) subitem 4.1 will be held in position on the ground by the small weight (11) on the end while the empty basket (3) is hoisted by the counterweight (7) inside the building (21). At this moment someone familiar with the operating procedure will then couple the auxiliary cable (6) subitem 4.1 to the hook in the numbered eye, so as to stretch the auxiliary cable (6) tight.

E. All the equipment should be stored manually with due calm with the help of cranks and ratchets, etc., item 10.

10. Storage of Equipment

V/hen the emergency situation has passed and depending on the circumstances, the manual operation of returning the equipment to its storage position will begin. After the last disembarkation of persons at ground level (8) the basket (3) item 7 will be automatically hoisted by the counterweight (7) item 5 and will be held fast by the locks Y and Z next to the window (17) of the building (21) item 7. The auxiliary cable (6) subitem 4.1 will then be uncoupled from the eye in the kerb or in the wall of the building in front. At such time, a careful, examination of the operating condition of all the equipment will be carried out, including its mandatory cleaning and lubrication. Purthermore, if required, any repair or substitution of parts etc. will be performed. Following this, using a crank through a small aperture in the wall of the room or apartment the ratchet-operated hoist will raise the auxiliary cable (6) which will then descend with a small counterweight through a thin tube inside the building. At the moment when the external end of the auxiliary cable reaches the rolling trolley (l) all the equipment should be manually closed to be stored together with the beam (2) inside the roofing structure which will house all the life-saving equipment.

The small weight (11) attached to the auxiliary cable (6) subitem 4.1 should be the last part to be stored, serving as a cover to close the aperture. The small weight (11) on being stored will be held fast by a lock and it should be cone shaped to facilitate its exit from the tube when actuated by the spring.

Final Considerations:

As was said in item 1 many details may have been overlooked. Such as the speed regulator (4) item 3 and the ratchet gear (13) subitem 4.1 being located at inappropriate points, but only to simplify the drawings. Inappropriate points because these two parts should be located in places with easy access for inspection, repairs, etc., and not in the concrete slab which serves as the roof for one storey and the floor for the other, which w?ill make it difficult to install inspection windows for maintenance work. However as was said in subitem 6.1 the steel cables can be redirected as necessary. In this way, the two parts (4) and (13) should be located preferably in the wall of a corridor, kitchen, bathroom, etc.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. "The Life-Saving System in Fires in Big Buildings" is characterized by a flexible steel cable running on pulleys at the end of a cantilevered beam, attached to a life- saving basket outside the building and at the other end to a counterweight which descends inside a metal tube inside the building.

2. "The Life-Saving System in Fires in Big Buildings", in accordance with claim one, is characterized by almost totally automatic operation actuated by springs and counterweights inside the building.