PORTABLE SLOW-DESCENDING DEVICE FOR EVACUATION

Abstract: In a slow-descending device including a reel on which a lifeline is wound and is rewound, a planetary gear acceleration device which is built in the reel and a centrifugal brake mechanism linked with said acceleration device, the lifeline is a tape-like lifeline made of synthetic or chemical fibers such as aramide fibers and the tape-like lifeline is wound superposedly on the reel.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a device used for the evacuation from a high building in cases such as a fire, particularly to a slow-descending device for evacuation which enables a person to descend safely from a high place, and more particularly to a portable slow-descending device for evacuation which anybody can carry for personal use. BACKGROUND ART Although a building or other type of structure is equipped with evacuation devices, they are not provided in every room, but are provided only in a particular room or rooms, or at a particular site or sites of a corridor or corridors. In the case of e.g. a fire, therefore, it is very likely that many people may rush to each evacuation device and cause a panic, or it is even likely that fire or smoke may disable people to reach any of the places where those devices are provided, and to use them. An evacuation device having a lifeline formed from a metal wire is heavy and unsuitable for portable use. Moreover, it has a limit in the distance along which it enables a person to descend, i.e. the height of the story from which it enables the person to descend. Its use is limited to a low building having a height of, say, 30 m at maximum. There is every likelihood that a person using it to escape from a high building may be suspended in the air. Thus, it has only a limited scope of use. There has also been proposed a device which includes a wire having a smaller diameter and a larger length. However, it is not only heavy, but is also liable to rusting by salt or moisture. Therefore, it is unsuitable as a device of the kind under consideration which is required to be semipermanently useful without undergoing any substantial change in quality. There has also been proposed a device which includes a lightweight rope formed from a non-metallic material. It is, however, likely that when a load has acted upon the rope extending down from e.g. a reel on which it is wound, it may be deformed and caught between coils thereof on the reel, resulting in the failure of the rope to be smoothly unwound and the failure of the reel to turn smoothly, and that a person who is being rescued may, therefore, be suspended in the air. There are known various types of mechanisms for slow-descending devices. A device employing a hydraulic system is likely to have a greatly varying descending speed which may depend on the weight of a person who is rescued. When it is used in a very cold place, oil is likely to solidify. Moreover, a change in quality of oil or its leakage is likely to occur. It is an object of this invention to provide a portable slow-descending device which can overcome the drawbacks of the prior art as hereinabove pointed out. FR-A-2 292 491 discloses a portable slow-descent device comprising a life line which is a cord wound on a reel. A planetary gear acceleration unit is mounted in the interieur of the reel. It is coupled to the reel and also to automatic brake mechanism. GB-A-1 316 278 discloses a slow-descent device that is adopted to be coupled and to a safety line which has been unreeled from a drum. The line may be a tape of woven or other fibers. The present invention is defined in claim 1. The device preferably also includes a manual control member which can selectively lock the centrifugal brake mechanism. Moreover, the device preferably includes a manual member for rewinding the lifeline on the reel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the major part of a portable slow-descending device embodying this invention; FIGURE 2 is a schematic view showing a centrifugal brake mechanism and a manual control member therefor; and FIGURE 3 is a schematic view showing a planetary gear acceleration unit. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A device embodying this invention is generally shown in FIGURE 1. It includes a lifeline 1 in the form of a tape wound superposedly on a reel 2. The lifeline 1 has one end not shown, but provided with an appropriately shaped hook which is used for fastening the lifeline 1 to an appropriate part of a building. The reel 2 is supported on a shaft which is rotatably supported on a supporting frame 3 at both ends-thereof. A centrifugal brake mechanism which is schematically shown in FIGURE 2, and a planetary gear acceleration unit which is schematically shown in FIGURE 3 are juxtaposed to each other in the interior of the reel 2. The planetary gear acceleration unit comprises three equally spaced apart planetary pinions 4, a sun gear 5 meshing with the pinions 4, and a large planet gear 11 secured to the reel 2 and meshing with the pinions 4. The centrifugal brake mechanism includes a centrifugal weight which is connected to a shaft for the sun gear 5 and is thereby rotated. The centrifugal weight which is schematically shown in FIGURE 2 is of the type comprising two substantially semilunar members 6 (brake shoes) which are normally urged radially inwardly toward each other by springs. It is, however, possible to use any other type of centrifugal weight known in the art, too. The centrifugal brake mechanism further includes a cam provided in its center, a manual brake arm 7 connected to the cam, and a knob 8 connected to the arm 7. A suspending ring 9 is connected to the frame 3, but may be replaced by a life jacket or any other similar device. The shaft on which the sun gear 5 is supported has one end provided with a recess into which a handle 10 for rewinding the tape can be connected. The lifeline 1 in the form of a tape is formed from synthetic aramid fiber material (Kepler). The lifeline formed from this material is light in weight, strong, has a high degree of heat resistance (capable of withstanding a temperature of about 450°C), and does not form rust. Therefore, it is semipermanently useful. As it is a tape, it is unlikely to get caught between its own coils on the reel, as opposed to a rope, and can, therefore, have a length which is as large as about 100 m. It is very long, as compared with the conventionally employed ropes having a length of only about 30 to 40 m. The tape also has the effect of preventing the swiveling of the device. If a manual control member is provided for locking the centrifugal brake mechanism selectively, it is possible to control the descending speed of the device. It is also possible to stop the device at any desired position during its descending and it is, therefore, possible, for example, for a person descending from a 20-storied or higher building to stop at a lower story and escape into the same building. If a manual tape rewinding member is provided, the device is easier to make ready for reuse. INDUSTRIAL UTILITY The slow-descending device of this invention is so small and light that anybody can easily carry it in a traveling bag, or the like. Therefore, it is useful as an emergency evacuation device which enables him to escape from a fire in a hotel, apartment house, office building, etc., or from a disaster in a high level road or highway, etc.

Claims: A portable slow-descent device comprising: a lifeline (1); a hook attached to one end of the lifeline (1); a reel (2) on which the lifeline (1) is wound superposedly, said reel (2) having a supporting shaft; a frame (3) in which the ends of the reel supporting shaft are rotatably supported; an attachment ring (9) on the frame (3) for connecting the device to a user; a planetary gear acceleration unit (4,5) mounted in the interior of and functionally coupled to the reel (2); a centrifugal brake mechanism (6) linked to said planetary gear acceleration unit (4,5); and characterised in that said lifeline is in the form of a tape (1) of synthetic aramid fibre material. A device according to claim 1 wherein the centrifugal brake mechanism is mounted in the interior of the reel (2) and has brake shoes (6) arranged to be urged radially outwardly by rotation, thereby to be urged against an inner surface of the reel (2) to brake the relative rotation thereof. A device as set forth in claim 1, further including a manual control member (7,8) for locking said centrifugal brake mechanism (6) selectively. A device as set forth in claim 1, further including a manual member for rewinding said lifeline on said reel.

Inventors: KIKUCHI, TAKESHI
Applicants: KIKUCHI, TAKESHI
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A62B1
IPC codes: A62B1, F16D59