Abstract:
A survival tower for use in the event of an emergency inside a building provides improved control of traffic inside an emergency chute as well as improved management for smoke and flames. While sliding down the chute, users are temporarily slowed down or decelerated whenever they approach a lower chute entrance being used by another user, to leave enough time for the entering user to safely engage the chute. At the lower end of the chute, the users are gradually slowed down for a smooth finish of their downward traversal of the slide. The tower can be built inside or outside building walls.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a Continuation-In-Part (C.I.P.) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/009,918 filed on Dec. 8, 2004, now abandoned, and which claimed benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 60/527,246, filed on Dec. 8, 2003. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to rescue and safety equipment and structure but more particularly to a fire/emergency evacuation tower for buildings having a plurality of stories, including skyscrapers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Constructing emergency escape structures for buildings has been known for years and several systems have been developed consisting of an upright tube containing a spiral slide extending throughout its length with access doors along the sides of the tube to allow people to use the device. 
         [0004]    Some chutes are made of a double tubular body having an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder made of cloth while other structures are made of rigid material. 
         [0005]    Besides spiral escapes, there are also elongated or rectangular configuration chutes having a bottom, side walls and a top. Also, vertical stretchable conduits which slow down descent speed by virtue of the fact that they squeeze the users or else offer a soft slightly zigzagging course. 
         [0006]    In all cases doorways or hatches of some sort separate the chute from the rest of the building so that smoke or flames won&#39;t enter into the chute. 
         [0007]    The problems with such systems has to do with managing oncoming traffic from new users trying to get in and also stopping fire and smoke from entering the rescue chute. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved survival tower. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved survival tower. 
         [0010]    As advantages, the present invention has a new system for controlling traffic inside an emergency chute as well as a new management system for smoke, fumes and flames. Instead of trying to keep smoke, fumes and flames outside, the system works at eliminating it as soon as it gets in by recirculating the air. As for managing people, they are temporarily slightly decelerated each time they approach a new entrance only, and more decelerated if a new user gets in there through. Also, a system for receiving people at the end of the chute which gradually decelerate them down offers a smooth finish to the emergency down ride. The system can be built inside a building or built outside such as to retrofit an existing building. A system of vertical ladders also serves as backup should there be any problem with the chute as well as “firemen poles” and a floor by floor elevator system for emergency personnel such as first aid provider and firemen. 
         [0011]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a survival tower for rescuing people in an emergency from a building having a plurality of stories, the tower comprising:
       a tower structure located adjacent to or within the building and having a spiraling down chute;   at least one access opening on one of the stories of the building, the access opening being closable by a corresponding access door;   a tipping floor located adjacent said access opening and said chute, said tipping floor being tippable between a floor first position and a floor second position, said tipping floor being substantially disconnected from said chute when in said floor first position and substantially connecting with said chute when in said floor second position;   a chute decelerating means for selectively and locally decelerating a user of said chute located on said chute adjacent said access opening; and   an actuating mechanism connected to said chute decelerating means and said tipping floor, said actuating mechanism selectively activating said chute decelerating means when said tipping floor is away from said floor first position.       
 
         [0017]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0018]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0019]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0020]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar components, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a building having an embodiment of a survival tower in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the tower structure and chute of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , with users but without the chimney; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the tower structure of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing the chimney; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged broken section view taken along line  5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged broken section view taken along line  6  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a schematic enlarged broken section view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a schematic enlarged broken section view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a schematic enlarged broken section view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a survival tower  10  has a tower structure  12  which can be set either inside of a building or to the outside and adjacent to a building  50 . Obviously the survival tower  10  is built with fire proof or at least fire retardant materials. The tower structure  12  contains a chute  14  which is a long half tubular structure spiraling down towards the ground. Being half tubular in the sense of being “U” shaped like a tube being cut halfway along its length so that the chute  14  is not a closed environment but rather an open, non claustrophobic environment which is more conducive to adequate air flow and ventilation. 
         [0033]    At each floor, or story, is a fire retardant access door  16  for closing a corresponding access opening  17 . The access door  16 , that typically opens into the tower structure  12 , is substantially lower than a conventional building door, standard doorway height of construction standards as used for the passage of human beings (as seen in the upper floor of  FIG. 1  with the top of the access door substantially reaching the shoulder level of the user), typically lower than about six feet (6 ft) and preferably in the order of between about four to five foot high (4-5 ft), so as to keep smoke from entering the chute  14 , since smoke tends to stay higher. 
         [0034]    Once a user  40  steps past the access door  16  he walks onto a tipping floor  18 , also typically of “U” shaped like a tube, which drops from a generally horizontal first orientation or position, as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 5 , down to a generally inclined second orientation or position, as shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 5 , so as to join in with the chute  14  in such a way as to acts as a gangway of sort which selectively leads the user  40  onto the chute  14 . The user  40  will then slide down the chute  14  all the way to a landing platform  20 , preferably but not necessarily a rotating landing platform  20  which rotates in a manner similar to an airport carrousel. From the base of the tower structure  12 , exit doorways, such as a conventional emergency exit door  26  and a garage door  26 ′, lead outside. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the tipping floor  18  is typically biased to return to its horizontal first position after the user  40  has cleared it and engaged the chute  14 , and be ready for the next user  40 , via a biasing means such as a damper pneumatic cylinder  19 , a coil spring (not shown) or the like, that could preferably be adjustable. The tipping floor  18  is a reassuring device which helps the user  40  who may otherwise panic and not know exactly how to enter into the chute  14 . The tipping floor  18  typically moves from the first position to the second position under the weight of the user  40  engaging the same. The damper cylinder  19  typically movably connects to the underside of the tipping floor  18  and the subjacent floor structure  21 . 
         [0036]    Along the chute  14 , just upstream of each merging with a tipping floor  18 , there is a decelerating means  36  which is selectively actuated, via an actuating mechanism  38  connecting to the tipping floor  18  and the corresponding decelerating means  36 , when the tipping floor  18  is actuated by a user  40 . Although the decelerating means  36  locally decelerates down the users  40  coming down the chute  14  from an upper story so as to prevent the chute users  40  from continuously accelerating while sliding down many stories, it decelerates even more such users, when activated, such that a sliding user does not dangerously hit or interfere with another user  40  entering the chute  14  from the adjacent tipping floor  18 . When the decelerating means  36  is not activated, it typically allows a user  40  located thereon to slightly decelerate and normally move down the chute  14 , adjacent a chute access, when no one enters the chute there through. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the decelerating means  36  typically comes in the form of a mat consisting of a series of free rotation rollers  62  covered by a membrane  64  rolling thereon, similar to a treadmill, and when at least one of the rollers  62 , the left most roller  62 ′ of  FIG. 9 , is temporarily blocked or displaced away from the others to put the membrane  64  under tension, the rolling of the membrane  64  is hampered or impeded to decelerate the users  40  located thereon while the corresponding tipping floor  18  is activated. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the actuating mechanism  38  typically includes a main link bar  70  pivotally mounted on a fixed structure  71 , at a location between the main bar first  70   a  and second  70   b  ends pivotally and/or slidably connected to the tipping floor  18  and to a secondary link bar  72 , respectively. Similarly, the secondary bar  72  pivotally mounts on a fixed structure  65  of the chute  14 , at a location between the secondary bar first  72   a  and second  72   b  ends pivotally and/or slidably connected to the main bar second end  70   b  and to a hinge assembly  66  of the decelerating means  36 , respectively. When the tipping floor  18  is displaced from the floor first position, shown in solid lines in  FIG. 7 , to the floor second position, shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 7 , the main bar first end  70   a  moves downward and the main bar second end  70   b  moves upward, which forces the secondary bar first end  72   a  to move upward, and the secondary bar second end  72   b  to move downward, as shown in solid and dotted lines in  FIG. 8 , respectively. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the decelerating means  36  typically includes the hinge assembly  66  formed of the hinge first  66   a  and second  66   b  plates that are pivotable relative to one another about hinge axis  67  connected to the secondary bar second end  72   b . The hinge first plate  66   a  is typically pivotally mounted on the structure  65  of the chute  14  about while the hinge second plate  66   b  is pivotally mounted on the shaft  68  of the left most roller  62 ′. The shaft  68  of the roller is slidably mounted within a slot hole  69  of the chute structure  65 . When the secondary bar second end  72   b  moves downward, the hinge axis  67  moves downward and the shaft  68  of the left most roller  62 ′ slides within the slot hole  69  away from the other rollers  62 , as shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 9 , to tighten and hamper the rolling of the membrane  64  thereon. A shaft abutment adjustment device  63 , typically in the form of a screw mounted onto the chute structure  65 , allows adjustment of the tension of the membrane  64 , in the decelerating activated position, by controlling the sliding displacement limit of the shaft  68  within the slot hole  69 . 
         [0040]    A reader skilled in the art would understand that any of a number of mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, or electronic actuating mechanism can be used, without deviating from the scope of the present invention, to effect cooperation between the tipping floor  18  and the decelerating means  36 , given that the tipping floor  18 , by way of its tipping action, can act as a switch that turns on or off the operation of the decelerating means  36 . It is well within the skills of any artisan to derive such mechanisms and as such, it needs not be further discussed herein. Similarly, the decelerating means  36  could have different embodiments, such as locally positioned and selectively inwardly extending chute walls or the like. 
         [0041]    Wall openings  34  are made from the outside into the chute  14  itself to provide an influx of fresh air for the users and create a positive air pressure to keep the smoke from entering into the chute  14 . The use of positive air pressure to keep gases or airborne particles outside a given area is well known in the art and need not be further discussed herein. 
         [0042]    In order to control the heat, smoke (including toxic gases and other fumes) and flames, the central part of the tower structure  12  typically has a chimney  24 , preferably with a general funnel shape and extending from the ground floor up to a few feet above the building roof, which collects fumes from the building  50  via collecting ducts  30 . Additionally, circumferential holes  32  typically located around the inner perimeter of the chimney side wall collect smoke that made its way into the tower structure  12  from the access openings  17 . 
         [0043]    The tower structure  12  also has other features such as roof access  22  and a backup ladder  28  extending throughout all floors for use as a backup should there be any problem with the chute  14  or if for any of a number of reasons the chute  14  is no longer an option; or if a user  40  does not want to use the chute  14 ; or if going up to the roof is a better alternative, or to give access to the chute  14  from the roof of the building  50 . 
         [0044]    In order to facilitate the displacement of emergency personnel such as firefighters  41  and emergency medical teams  43 , at least one sliding pole  42 , with its associated cage  45  and cage door  46 , and at least one elevator  44 , with its associated cage  45  are typically part of the survival tower  10 , preferably, but not necessarily, in the other remaining unused corners of the tower structure  12  (a corner with a chute entrance is considered a used corner). The elevator  44  is limited to moving up or down within a range of two floors with staggered cages  45 , dotted cage  45 ; being on a lower floor on  FIG. 3 . The sliding pole  42  allows one to go from one floor down to the next subjacent floor and is also limited to within a two-floor range, also typically in staggered fashion. This limitation allows preventing tendency of smoke and fire to migrate across a large span of floors, and to prevent users to panic. 
         [0045]    As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
         [0046]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0047]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
         [0048]    Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.