High-rise, fire-fighting, rescue and construction equipment

An elevator system for traveling on a rail attached to the outside of a high-rise building. The rail has an H shape and has trolleys connected to cables riding in a channel on the rail for raising and lowering elevators. Motors rotate spoils having cables connected to the trolleys. One elevator having a telescoping arm attached for reaching any position on or above the building. A platform or cabin attached to the telescoping arm can deliver materials to the building while under construction and thereafter be used for building maintenance such as window washing. The movable platform adjacent a building can take the place of scaffolding for a safer work environment. The telescoping arm may have various attachments for different functions such as for rescuing people trapped in a high-rise during a fire or for positioning fire fighters and hoses or fire fighting equipment next to a fire.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to an elevator system running on a rail attached to the outside of a building. The rail can support two cables for lifting or lowering two elevators. The elevator system may have two cars, a combination elevator and crane and an elevator. The invention can be used for fire fighting and rescue and can also be used for construction and maintenance of high-rise structures.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently vertical transportation in high-rise structures is limited to stairs and elevators. Fire fighters on the outside of the building are limited by how high their ladders will reach when fighting fires or attempting rescues. Construction and building maintenance is limited as to access to the outside walls and roof of the building. For example window washing is limited to a plank or precariously dangling from ropes extending from the top of a building. Construction of the building is similarly hampered by the need for scaffolding and lack of easy transportation and access to all areas on the outside of a high-rise building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention utilizes an elevator having a crane portion. The elevator portion is for traveling vertically up and down the outside of a building. The crane portion extends form the elevator portion to a desired location on the building. The crane portion can support a passenger cabin for fire rescue. The cabin can also have fire-fighting equipment for access to all portions of a building. The crane can also haul building materials to any location on a building under construction and can be used for window washing or other maintenance activities on the outside of the building.

The crane portion has a telescoping arm for adjusting the distance between the cabin and the elevator. The telescoping arm has pivots on both ends. One pivot is attached to the cabin for keeping the floor of the cabin horizontal. The second pivot is to angularly position the telescoping arm relative the elevator portion. A rotating portion on the elevator portion swings the telescoping arm toward or away from the building.

The invention also utilizes a second elevator. Both elevators run vertically on an H shaped rail attached to the side of a building. The rail has a channel for running two separate cables connected to two separate trolleys riding in the channel for lifting and lowering the elevators on the rail. The rail is engaged by wheels on the elevators to stabilize the elevator. The wheels can be mounted on arms that pivot and temporarily clamp the elevator to the rail permitting the elevator to engage the rail or the elevator wheels can permanently engage the rail. The pivoting arms can be opened to remove the elevator from the rail so that the elevator can be transported to a different rail on the same building or to a rail on another building.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide vertical and horizontal transportation to the outside surface or roof of a building.

It is an object of the invention to transport fire-fighting equipment at any point on the outside of a building.

It is an object of the invention to rescue people from buildings during fires or other emergencies.

It is an object of the invention to transport construction materials to any part of a building under construction.

It is an object of the invention to provide a platform for construction or maintenance personnel for working on a building.

It is an object of the invention to provide a transportable fire fighting and rescue system to high-rise structures.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

High-rise buildings are hazardous during fires since fire-fighting equipment is limited to reaching only the lower floors because ladders, cherry pickers and other equipment have limits of extension well short of the upper floors. A further hazard is that inside elevators cannot be used during a fire since people could become trapped inside the elevators or be exposed to smoke. It therefore becomes difficult to evacuate a high-rise building during a fire, to rescue people trapped inside or to fight the fire.

Further, it is useful to have equipment on the building for access to the outside surface for window washing and maintenance. The equipment can also be used during construction to haul materials and workmen to the positions on the outside of the building or to access the upper floors and roof during construction.

The invention provides a vertical column or rail17attached to the outside surface of a building18and an elevator car or elevator cars3and58attached to the rail17for riding up and down the outside of the building18.

As shown inFIG. 1building18has a housing59on the roof containing lifting mechanism57, which comprises motors151and152for driving two separate spools251and252respectively, having two separate cables351and352respectively, for lifting or lowering the elevator cars3or58.

Elevator58is stored in housing59until it is needed. It is aligned with emergency exits69on the outside of building18for evacuating people during emergencies such as a fire.

Shock absorbing elements53at the base of column17help provide a smooth stop for elevator car58at the base of building18.

An auxiliary power supply68can be used to supply power to the motors151and152to power the elevators3and58in case of a power outage in the building18. The power supply68plugs into the column17at electrical connector60.

The controls for elevators3and58can be in the elevators or remotely controlled from ground at control station70.

Elevator3has a crane portion attached on the top. The crane portion comprises a pivoting mechanism20, a turning mechanism21, a telescoping arm4, a pivoting mechanism22, and a cabin5. The cabin5can support fire fighting equipment48and firemen101. The cabin5can be rotated on turning mechanism23. The crane portion can position the cabin5at any desired position along the face of the building18by a combination of the elevator3moving up or down, and the crane portion using the pivoting mechanism20to swing the telescoping arm4to the desired angle and then extending or retracting to a desired position adjacent building18. The turning mechanism21can move the cabin5toward or away from the building18. The cabin5can be used to rescue people who cannot get to the emergency exits69.

The vertical column17can be attached to a building18as the building is being constructed or it can be added to an existing building. The vertical column17can have expansion joints103between sections of r rail17. The expansion joints103are made out of an alloy or material which is fireproof and has a low coefficient of expansion with temperature.

AsFIG. 2shows, vertical column or rail17has an H shape and has several features designed for use with the elevators3,58. The vertical column17has a high friction coating19to make a better contact with tires9on the elevators3and58. A power cable channel72in the H shaped vertical column17allows electrical power cables52to access the roof to drive motors151and152. Guides38on the outside face of vertical column17allow for wheels9or cog wheels36on the elevators3and58to engage the vertical column17and keep the elevators3,58aligned on the column17. Lights56may also be installed on the vertical column17to help during nighttime operations.

The H shaped vertical column17also has a trolley channel61for cables251and252to travel in. The trolley cables251and252are connected to trolleys45and55, which run separately in trolley channel61. Trolley45is attached to elevator car3and trolley55is attached to elevator car58. Trolley wheels64engage the trolley guides62in the trolley channel61.

As shown inFIG. 3the elevator3and the crane portion are transportable to building18by a truck1. If the elevator3is for fire fighting the truck1may be a specialized fire truck. If the elevator is used during construction or maintenance the truck may be a construction truck. When truck1arrives at building18the elevator3is attached to the rail17. When finished with its work, elevator3can be removed from the rail17and used on another portion of the same building or moved to a different building.

FIG. 4shows elevator3being installed on vertical column17. Truck1is adjacent the building18. The top surface2of the truck1has a rotating mechanism25for turning pivoting mechanism27which has a telescoping arm26attached. Telescoping arm26is connected to pivoting mechanism29, which is connected to holding mechanism28for holding elevator3in position for connecting it to vertical column17.

FIG. 9shows how the elevator3is lifted into place by holding mechanism28. Forklift tines30are inserted into a portion of the elevator3. The fork lift tines30have apertures33which are engaged by jack elements32to lock the elevator3onto the fork lift tines while the elevator3is being positioned by against rail17. A stabilizing slot35on elevator3helps hold the elevator3in position on holding mechanism28, which fits into the slot. Optionally electromagnets34can be used to either hold the elevator in position relative to the holding mechanism28or act in conjunction with the fork tines30to hold the elevator3in place.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6the H shaped column17is engaged by elastic tires9on wheels15, prevent left to right movement on the rail17relative to the building18. The wheels15are supported on frames14attached to spreadable arms13. The arms13pivot on hinge12and are opened or closed by operating pistons16. When arms13are opened the elevator portion3can be removed from the H shaped rail17. When the arms13are clamped closed on the H shaped rail17the elevator portion3is attached to the rail17.

With the elevator portion3attached to the rail17additional wheels15having tires9on the spread arms13rotated 90 degrees to the first set of wheels15have tires9to engage the inside surface of the top of the H shaped rail17. Additional wheels15with tires9engage the outside surface of the top of the H shaped rail17. The wheels15on the inside and outside of the top of the H shaped rail17are pressed together by a jack device11engaging telescoping beam10to push tires9against rail17

Guides38indented in the columns17engage wheels such as cogwheels36, which engage apertures or racks76in the columns17to grippingly engage the column17. A brake having break calipers39operating on disc37attached to cog wheel36(FIG. 9) can be used by operating brake lever41attached to brake cable40for stopping the elevator portion3in emergencies by pulling on emergency break41in cabin5on elevator3or in elevator58.

With elevator3held in place on column17it can be connected to trolley45by a cable66having an eye connector42on the end of the cable and placed on hook43, which is attached by a cable65to the trolley45.

Elevator58as shown inFIG. 8is attached to column17in a similar manner as elevator3, the difference being that elevator58is permanently connected to the column17. Therefore wheel frame14is permanently in place for holding the tires9on wheels15against column17.

In some embodiments the cogwheels36can be used as the drive wheels. An engine compartment7, inFIG. 9, has an engine or electric motor for providing power to drive wheels36for propelling the elevator portion3along column17. The engine compartment7in this embodiment replaces a portion of the storage tank6for fire fighting foam in the elevator3since cable45lifts and lowers the elevator3.

In all the embodiments the elevator58or cabin3can carry passengers. The elevators can have fireproof doors46and fireproof windows47and walls.

Elevator58can be directly connected to trolley55without intervening cables since it is permanently connected to rail17.

Cabin5has an access hatch49for climbing out of the cabin5to the top of the cabin which has a flat roof for standing on and a railing50. Fire fighting equipment48such as a nozzle can be used to spray water, foam or chemicals on a fire.