Abstract:
From ancient history until now, man has constructed high-rise buildings of various kinds. They include monuments, castles, churches, office buildings, hotels, hospitals and residences. No matter how sophisticated construction techniques and technology have become, there is no system to transport people and equipment to or from selected locations between the ground level and roof of a high-rise; quickly, economically, consistently and safely outside the structure. Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress System is such a system. This system solves the myriad problems which have existed for centuries relating to a need for external, vertical high-rise emergency evacuation and does so with substantial cost-efficiencies. Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress System is comprised of varied electronic and mechanical components operating in unison. The three major pieces to the high-rise system are; a vehicle, a gondola and a roof-mount cantilever: The vehicle is a self-powered ground vehicle containing a gondola, stabilizing steel cables, drums, television screens, video cameras, communications, and remote control equipment. Once linked to a cantilever it provides power for lifting the gondola, equipment and personnel to monitor all activities below, beside or above the fire area. The self-powered cantilever is, remotely or manually, positioned on the roof of a high-rise building to a desired area of operation. The cantilever extends its connection arm over the edge of a high-rise building and lower cables to the ground rescue vehicle to make necessary connections with the gondola for traveling up and down the walls of a high-rise building. The cantilever roof-mount system is portable and contains steel cables, electric/hydraulic wenches, radio receivers, transmitters and video communication. The gondola, an enclosed cabin, is positioned on the rear, body portion, of the high-rise rescue vehicle. Once the gondola is linked to the vehicle and cantilever arm it becomes an exterior enclosed transporter in a matter of minutes. Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress gondola will carry up to eight fully equipped firemen and can scale the wall of a burning building in minutes. The gondola carries firefighters and equipment below, beside or above the fire, while at the same time providing trapped building occupants a safe means of escape. A modified version of the gondola is used for high-rise building construction and maintenance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/555, 998 filed Mar. 24, 2204 and Provisional Patent Application No. 60/614,539 filed Sep. 30, 2004. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESERCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Regarding emergency rescue and evacuation, fire departments have no efficient and safe systems with which to service emergencies above the reach of ladder trucks. Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress System would provide quicker access to the crisis and a safe escape for emergency responders and the inhabitants occupying a high-rise building during a disaster.  
         [0005]     The use of this high-rise system would result in lower operating cost and limited municipal liability caused by fires, earthquakes, terrorist attacks or other high-rise emergencies. Those who will benefit from the cost efficient system come from the private and public sector, high-rise owners, building operation management companies, tenants, metropolitan cities, county communities, insurance companies and all property owners.  
         [0006]     Several publications have documented the aforesaid danger to life, as evidenced in Mr. Catalan&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,703 B1. Mr. Catalan&#39;s invention illustrates a series of collapsible chutes on the exterior walls of a high-rise building, to evacuate occupants in case of emergencies. The prior art demonstrated by Mr. Catalan would allow users to be overcome by smoke inhalation due to the fact the interior structure of the descending chute apparatus is designed similar to a chimney or flue structure plan and could possibly cause such a system to draw or pull smoke inward, and upward, thus, causing injury or death to the occupants. Further, emergency responders have limited access to the upper floors due in part to the downward spiral of Mr. Catalan&#39;s emergency evacuation system. It should also be noted that such a system would be limited to stability and movement around the face of a high-rise building.  
         [0007]     Another prior art high-rise emergency evacuation system is demonstrated by Mr. Kucher, U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,384. Mr. Kucher&#39;s prior art depicts an evacuation system which contains a wench and cable device placed on the parapet of a high-rise building which allows cable to be lowered and connected to a platform type carrier and said cabin being controlled by a mechanical ground unit using an electric umbilical cord for control. Most high-rise building codes will not allow weight to be placed on the upper, exterior wall structure of a high-rise building. Mr. Kucher&#39;s high-rise evacuation system could be restricted because of wind currents and positioning outside the walls of a high-rise building. Another disadvantage may be the lack of roof access abilities for the emergency responders. Most firemen and firefighters are reluctant to use fire fighting equipment that may be operated by people other than their fire fighting factuality. Mr. Kucher&#39;s prior art describing his emergency evacuation invention does not afford firemen the choice for operating such a system.  
         [0008]     Mr. Lian-Chen Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,575, proposes, in prior art, an emergency evacuation device, for high-rise buildings which deploys a chute type conglomeration, from a movable roof-mount, rail system, that allow building occupants to enter the device and slide to safety, below. A movable chute evacuation system such as Mr. Chen&#39;s is limited because of different size and shape high-rise buildings and window openings for access and egress. The configuration of this type of evacuation system would not be cost effective for the building owners and might be hazardous for those who elected to use such a system. Each of these prior art references demonstrates efforts to devise high-rise building external rescue devices which are dependable. None of the prior art devices, however, have met this requirement.  
       REFERENCES CITED  
       [0009]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 6598703 
                 July, 2003 
                 Catalan 
                 182/142 
               
               
                   
                 4640384 
                 February, 1987 
                 Kucher 
                 182/142, 143, 145 
               
               
                   
                 6467575 
                 October, 2002 
                 Chen 
                 148/48 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress System is a custom designed piece of firefighting equipment used to deliver emergency responders to a high-rise building, in the event of a fire or other emergencies, and rescue victims trapped in rooms or roof tops who are too high up to jump and out of the reach of hook and ladder trucks. There are seven operational sections to Reed&#39;s Emergency High-Rise Rescue Egress System and require three operators to operate. The seven major sections are; the vehicle, control room, body, draw-works, gondola, block and a roof-mount cantilever.  
         [0011]     Three trained operators are required to manage Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Egress System. Operators I, II and III wear voice activated helmets and communicate with each other during each phase of the rescue operation. Voice activated communication allow each of the operators to use their hands for performing and operating controls, and to make necessary equipment adjustments during rescue operations. Operator I, located in a ground vehicle control room manages the movement and functions of the entire high-rise emergency rescue egress system. Operator II is positioned on the gondola&#39;s roof mounted safety platform and makes necessary connections for operating the high-rise emergency rescue egress system. Operator III is positioned between the body&#39;s draw-works section and the gondola to make necessary connections for successfully operating the high-rise emergency rescue egress system.  
         [0012]     Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Egress System consists of seven functional pieces of equipment:  
         [0013]     Vehicle:  
         [0014]     Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress Vehicle is a self-powered mobile ground unit that includes a cab that accommodates emergency control switches and levers that directs power and control to an operator&#39;s control room built on the vehicle&#39;s body that manages all functions of the rescue system. Power to operate the high-rise emergency rescue egress system is supplied from the vehicle&#39;s motor. The vehicle&#39;s crankshaft is linked to the vehicle&#39;s bumper mounted hydraulic pump, that engages hydraulic motors, which powers cable drums that lifts the gondola and transports passengers and equipment up and down the outside of a high-rise building. The high-rise emergency rescue vehicle is outfitted with lifting and stabilizing steel cables, electric hydraulic wenches and drums, gondola, visual monitoring screens, video cameras, telecommunications, emergency sirens and flashers and remote control equipment. Once the high-rise emergency rescue vehicle is linked to an extended roof-mount cantilever arm, it provides power for lifting the gondola that carry personnel and equipment up and down the exterior walls and roof of a high-rise building and monitors all activities.  
         [0015]     Body:  
         [0016]     The body is mounted to the rear frame of the high-rise emergency rescue vehicle and is equipped with an electric generator that is powered by the vehicle&#39;s transmission power take off. The body is outfitted with a turn-table frame and an electric/hydraulic system that extends the frame for positioning the gondola, in or out. The body is equipped with an electric/hydraulic driven system that maneuvers a platform up or down for positioning the gondola. The body is also furnished with a continuous self leveling component for maintaining unit balance and an electric/hydraulic driven outriggers system for system stability. The body is constructed using a frame extension which moves in and out and a rear adjustable platform which raises and lowers the Gondola. The body, above the control room, is fitted with spot lights, emergency flashing lights and antennas. The body also has a control room, draw-works section and transports the gondola and block.  
         [0017]     Control Room:  
         [0018]     The control room is operated by Operator I. The control room is a part of the vehicle body and is located directly behind the vehicle&#39;s cab. There are two entry doors, with bottom mounted retractable steps, on each side of the control room. The control room equipment is designed to perform mechanical maneuvers using different controls to operate the high-rise emergency rescue system. The control room is equipped with an operators chair, computers, video equipment, visual and digital monitors, first aid equipment, heater and air conditioning and first aid equipment. There are various hand control handles, foot control paddles and switches that control the movement of wenches, cables, braking systems and hydraulic motors which control the gondola and block.  
         [0019]     Draw Works:  
         [0020]     The draw-works section is positioned on the vehicle&#39;s body and is located between the control room and the gondola. The draw-works section provides hydraulic and electrical power to cable drums for connecting; a cable that is lowered from a roof-mount system, to a stabilizer drum in the draw-works section of the vehicle, fastened and pulled taut; a block lift cable drum that lifts a sheaved block from the vehicle and locks it to an extended roof-mount cantilever arm located on the top of a high-rise building; and two gondola lifting drums, working simultaneously, that raise and lower the gondola on the outside wall of a high-rise building.  
         [0021]     Gondola:  
         [0022]     The gondola is an elevator type cabin which provides protection during transportation for personnel and equipment up and down the outside wall of high-rise buildings. The gondola provides enough interior standing space for eight fully equipped firemen while traveling up and down the outside walls of a high-rise building. The gondola is operated by a control room operator or by an operator located inside the gondola. The gondola is equipped with three sliding, controlled locked, doors that pulls open and pushes closed. Two of these doors are mounted on the sides of the gondola and are used for passengers to enter or exit. There is a sliding door mounted to the right front of the gondola and is used for mounting or dismounting to the interior rooms, or to and from, the roof of a high-rise building. The gondola is equipped with video cameras that monitor the occupants. The gondola is equipped with a water spraying nozzle that is attached to the high-rise buildings water stand-pipe. The gondola provides an extended walk-way platform from its bottom front, facing the building, for entering or exiting the interior or roof of a high-rise building. The gondola is equipped with a brake system, guidance systems, emergency tools, window breakers, fire extinguishers, and other fire fighting equipment.  
         [0023]     Block:  
         [0024]     The block is a mechanical piece of equipment positioned on top of the gondola. The block is equipped with two or more large sheaves that are strung with lifting cables that extend from cable lifting drums, mounted on a ground vehicle, to fitted lifting devices attached to the top of the gondola. The block is raised by a ground vehicle, hydraulic lifting drum, and attached to an extended cantilever arm, a part of a roof-mounted cantilever system. The block is provided with a stinger or coupling locking mechanism that attaches and locks the block to the roof-mount cantilever arm.  
         [0025]     Cantilever Roof-Mount System:  
         [0026]     The cantilever roof-mount system is a moveable, metal framed, piece of equipment that provides an extended, weight handling, cantilever arm that extends over the parapet of a high-rise building. The cantilever system retrieves a weight lifting, cable strung block, from a stationary ground vehicle, docks and locks it to an extended roof-mount cantilever arm. The roof-mount system is controlled, in part, by radio frequencies from the ground vehicle. Some of the frequency controlled functions maneuver the cantilever roof-mount system to various locations on top of a high-rise building. The roof-mount system also includes a camera which provides visual information to the operator located in the vehicle&#39;s control room. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     A better understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a right side view of the emergency rescue vehicle outlining the vehicle cab, body, control room, draw-works section, gondola and block;  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a overview of the emergency rescue vehicle outlining the vehicle cab, body, control room, draw-works section, gondola and block;  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is an extended view of  FIG. 1  of the emergency rescue vehicle outlining the vehicle, cab, body, control room, draw-works section, gondola and block;  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is an extended view of  FIG. 2  of the emergency rescue vehicle outlining the vehicle, cab, body, control room, draw-works section, gondola and block;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the gondola stationed on the rear platform of the vehicle bed and displays the front stabilizer connection, left gondola lifting cable, right lifting cable and back block lift cable each placed in their respective guides.  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  further displays the sheave location and routes designated for the aforementioned cables;  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the block&#39;s locking jaw mechanism attached to the block that is locked on to the cantilever arm and outlines the sheave placement inside the block and their position relative to the single tree lifting mount and lifting cables connected to the gondola;  
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is an extended front view of the block&#39;s locking jaw mechanism attached to the block that is locked on to the cantilever arm and outlines the sheave placement inside the block and their position relative to the single tree lifting mount and lifting cables connected to the gondola;  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  is an extended view of the gondola&#39;s right side positioned on the rear platform of the vehicle body. This  FIG. 8  view displays the gondola&#39;s top lifting attachment, strategic cameras locations, front slide rails and rollers, position of the gondola angle positioning drums, cables and sheaves, the gondola interior operations panel and the gondola roof mount block connectors;  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the gondola displaying the left and right sides of the exterior wall percussion units attached to the gondola;  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  is a right side view of the gondola showing its position relative to a building wall.  FIG. 19  also displays the position for a water standpipe hose connection with a water spraying nozzle;  
         [0039]      FIG. 11  is a drawing of a single roof-mount cantilever system. This drawing outlines the primary functional pieces of the apparatus. Shown in  FIG. 11  are the cantilever arm, end mounted block lift sheave, pan and tilt camera location, helicopter lifting device, hydraulic systems, stabilizer cable drum, block lift drum, signaling systems, structural framework, floor mount, electric receptacles and wheels. Also, shown, attached to their respective drums, in  FIG. 11  are the stabilizer cable and block lift cable;  
         [0040]      FIG. 12  is a drawing of a one stage lift system.  FIG. 12  presents the single lift unit mounted to the interior frames of the one stage lift system and shows the routed cables, sheaves and a hydraulic lifting cylinder with extended piston. Also, displayed are the cantilever arm and attachments, drums and their positions and various loads bearing beams.  FIG. 12  further depicts the control weight guidance system attached to the block lift cable the stabilizer connected to a modified weight;  
         [0041]      FIG. 13  is a drawing of a two stage lift system and is the same as  FIG. 12 , above, with exception to an additional frame system.  FIG. 13  shows the single lift unit mounted to the interior frames of the one stage lift that is mounted to the frames of the two frame lift system. When viewing the bottom portion of  FIG. 13  drawing, note there are vertical and horizontal structural columns and beams which are used to construct the two stage lift system.  FIG. 13  also displays stabilizing outriggers with pods mounted to the front vertical columns of the two stage lift system.  FIG. 13  shows four retractable wheels, wheel wells with springs and shaft, hydraulic cylinder and piston. Also, displayed in  FIG. 13  is a ladder means;  
         [0042]      FIG. 14  displays a single stage, room-mount cantilever system with extended cantilever arm projected outside the window of a building. Attached to the cantilever arm is the block which is locked into position with the gondola in a maximum lifted height for occupants to dismount on the lower floor.  FIG. 14  shows the room-mount attached to the building&#39;s joist and a counterweight that is attached to its rear. Also displayed is a retrievable platform mounted under the gondola floor. Shown, also, are the stabilizer cable, front, side lift cables and rear block lift cable;  
         [0043]      FIG. 15  is a designed connection that is affixed to the block lift cable for lifting the block from the roof of the gondola to the cantilever arm, locking and docking.  FIG. 15  allows a view of the conductor line cable and its passage through the male and female connectors to the coupling of the block for electrical use;  
         [0044]      FIG. 16  is a left side view of the block and a disconnected female fitting that attached to the block male coupling.  FIG. 16  also allows a view of the stabilizer cable, left and the main lift cables, center and the block lift cable, back, in their respective cable guides located on the sides of the block;  
         [0045]      FIG. 17  is a top view of the block and illustrates the location of the main lifting sheaves, top and bottom, and the stabilizer cable guide, left, block lift cable guide, right and the stinger or block coupling, center.  
         [0046]      FIG. 18  drawing represent a bird&#39;s eye view of Reed&#39; High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress System installed on the side of a high-rise building, raised to its maximum height. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0047]     A more detailed understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:  
         [0048]      FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  4 —Vehicle: The vehicle  1  is a large commercial truck with an extended rear frame that is custom designed using a turn-table frame for positioning and hydraulic outriggers for stabilization. The vehicle consists of four areas, each performing different functions:  
         [0049]     Vehicle  1  and cab  1   a  houses all the electric and hydraulic controls necessary for operating the high-rise emergency rescue egress system. All operational switches to operate the communication and emergency lights  22  and sirens  23  are located on a console  24  mounted between the vehicle  1 , cab  1   a , driver seat  24   a  and passenger seat  24   b . The ignition switch  1   b  and other hydraulic controls, and kill switches, are located on the dashboard inside cab  1   a . When actual emergency operations begin all controls and functions are transferred from the cab  1   a  to the control room  3  for operation. A hydraulic pump motor  3   b  is mounted on the front bumper  1   c  of the vehicle  1 . The main hydraulic pump motor  3   b  is engaged  3   a  inside of cab  1   a . The vehicle&#39;s  1  engine  2  powers and rotates crankshaft  2   a  transfers power to the main hydraulic pump  3   b . The hydraulic pump motor  3   b  supplies power to a hydraulic motor  6  in the draw-works section  6   a , that operates the cabled drums  8  and  8   a  that lifts and lowers the gondola  19 .  
         [0050]      FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  4 —Control Room:  
         [0051]     The control room  3   c  is located rear of the vehicle&#39;s  1  cab  1   a . Hydraulic power to operate control room  3   c  is supplied by a power-take-off system  21  mounted on the vehicle  1 , transmission  21   b . This power-take-off  21  control  4  operates the transmission hydraulic pump  28  that provides power to hydraulic motor  28   a , that in turn, operates an electric hydraulic generator  29  and other required electrical powered systems, such as activating the turn-table or fifth-wheel  185  and  186  movement of the truck body  163   a  and also operates the body levelers  162 ,  162   a ,  162   b  and  162   c . The Operator I am seated  3   d  in front of the operator control room  3   c , and perform all functions necessary to operate the entire system from this location. The control room  3   c  is equipped with an electric control panel  30  that supplies electrical current to audio  175  and video equipment  168   a . The control room  3   c , control panel  3   d  is equipped with a kill switch  121  that stops all movement of the high-rise rescue system once activated or compressed. Operator I, by pressing down on the red standup button  121   a , control room  3   c  halts all movement of the entire high-rise rescue system, except for the manual s brakes  9 ,  9   a ,  9   b  and  10 ,  10   a  and  10   b . The operator room  3   c  consists of five television monitors  174 ,  174   a ,  174   b ,  174   c  and  174   d  and operation gauges  3   a  and  3   e , computer  3   f  and control levers  3   g . The operator room  3   c  has a large window  3   h  in the ceiling and a large window  3   i  facing the rear of the body  163   a . The system&#39;s Operator I can view the draw-works section  6   a , the gondola  19  and monitor activities above. Voice activated communication helmets  177 ,  178  and  179  are stored in the operator room  3   c  for Operator I, II and III. The control room  3   c  is equipped with a chemical warfare detector monitoring system  180 . The gondola  19  is equipped with a chemical detector  181  that transmits chemical readings to the control room  3   c  chemical monitor  180 . The control room&#39;s  3   c  roof  182  is supported by reinforced steel to protect its occupants from falling debris.  
         [0052]      FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  4 —Draw-Works Section:  
         [0053]     The draw-works section  6   a  is located between the operator&#39;s room  3   c  and the gondola  19 , in the vehicle  1  truck body  163   a . The draw-works section  6   a  is activated using controls  3 ,  3   a ,  3   b  and  20  located in the vehicle  1 , cab  1   a . Once these controls are activated Operator I in control room  3   c  assumes full responsibility for controlling the entire high-rise emergency rescue operations using controls  3   e . These controls start the power take-off drive  21  that is attached to vehicle  1 , transmission  21 , in turn, controls the electric generator  28 , block lift drum  26  and the stabilizer drum  63   a . Other mechanical operating components of the stabilizer cable drum  63   a  are the stabilizer cable tension drum sprocket  60 , chain  61 , axle  62 , small sprocket  62   a  stabilizer cable tension drum hydraulic motor  63  and brake control  63   b . The major operating components for the block lift are the hydraulic motor  25 , motor drive shaft  25   a , drum sprocket  25   b  and drive chain  25   d . The draw-works section  6   a  consists of two large cabled drums  8 , left and  8   a , right. These drums  8 , left and  8   a , right are operated from the operator room  3   c . The drums are powered by the vehicle&#39;s  1  front mounted hydraulic pump  3   b . A hydraulic fluid reservoir  5 , supplies hydraulic fluid to hydraulic motor  6  that rotates a dual axle transmission  7  that is powered by sprocket  31   c  and  31   d  and chain  31   e  and  31   f  to the main lifting drums  8 , left and  8   a , right. The main lifting drums  8 , left and  8   a , right are mounted on structural steel frames  7   a  and  7   b , respectfully, and use fleet angle compensators  7   a , left and  7   b , right to properly spool the cables on to the main lifting drums  8 , left and  8   a , right. The lift drums  8 , left and  8   a , right are spooled with sufficient conductor line cable  11 , left and  11   a , right to reach from the drums  8 , left and  8   a , right through main lift floor sheaves  13 , left and  13   a , right, the gondola  19  side guides  14 , left and  14   a , right and to the top of tallest building in any given city and back to the top of gondola  19  located at the rear of vehicle body  163   a . The conductor cables  11 , left and  11   a , right are constructed steel cables with electrical wiring  16 , left and  16   a , right interiors. Electric slip rings  8   b , left and  8   c , right are mounted to the outside flanges  31   a , left and  31   b , right of the main lift drums  8 , left and  8   a , right which supply electrical power to the conductor line cables  11 , left and  11   a , right. The conductor line cables  11 , left and  11   a , right are routed through the systems block  15  and secured at fitting  16   b , left and fitting  16   c , right, on top of the gondola  19 . These conductor line cables  11 , left and  11   a , right supply power from the vehicle&#39;s  1  generator  29  to the gondola  19  to operate the gondola  19  from the interior housing  71  of the gondola  19 . The conductor line cables  11 , left and  11   a , right are used to supply other power to the gondola&#39;s  19  three interior or exterior cameras  169 ,  170  and  171 . The main lift drums  8 , left and  8   a , right are equipped with disc brakes and calipers  10 , left and  10   a , right that are controlled by a disc brake foot paddle  10   b  mounted on the floor of control room  3   c.    
         [0054]      FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  4 —Body:  
         [0055]     The body  163   a  of the high-rise rescue system consists of a large truck bed and is referred to as a body  163   a . The body  163   a  is fastened to the rear frame  163  turntable or fifth-wheel  185  and  186  using frame mounting brackets  27   a ,  27   b ,  27   c  and  27   d . The body  163   a  rotating turn-table and fifth-wheel  185  and  186  provides horizontal movement of the vehicle  1 , body  163   a , left and right 280 degrees. The part of the body  163   a , closest to the vehicle&#39;s cab  1   a , contains an operator&#39;s room  3   c  and is the control center for the high-rise emergency rescue egress system. The operator&#39;s room  3   c  provides an adjustable swivel chair  3   d  for Operator I, computer controls  3   f , search lights  184 , emergency flashing lights  170 , control room air conditioning and heater  171 , first aid  278 , oxygen  279 , fire extinguisher  183 , brake controls  9 ,  9   a , and  9   b , hydraulic controls  4 , gauges  3   e , and switches  3   g , audio  176 , video  168   a , number four camera  172 , attached top of vehicle body  163   a , cabin, with pan and tilt capabilities and other functional devices that assist the Operator I in operating the high-rise system. The operator room  3   c  has entrance doors  3   j  and  3   k , with glass, on each side of the body  163   a . On the exterior of the body  163   a , under these doors are retractable steps  31  and  3   m , for entering and exiting the operator room  3   c . The operator&#39;s room  3   c  is equipped with a tinted safety proof glass window  3   h  for viewing operation&#39;s overhead and a front window  3   i  with a tinted safety proof glass for viewing the draw-works section  6   a  and gondola  19  operations to the rear section of the body  163   a . These windows  3   h  and  3   i  allow the Operator I to view all the operating components of the system while being operated and to view the gondola  19  as it ascends or descends the outside walls of a high-rise building. The body  163   a  houses the draw-work section  6   a . The draw-work section  6   a  is located in the center of the body  163   a . This section contains two main lift drums  8 , left and  8   a , right, a stabilizer drum  45  and a block lift drum  26  and their various fleet angle compensators  12  and  12   a , monitoring devices  174 ,  174   a ,  174   b ,  174   c  and  174   d , operating sprockets, chains, pulleys, sheaves, brake systems, hydraulic fluid storage tanks and other systems paraphernalia. The main lift drums  8 , left and  8   a , right are spooled with conductor line cables  11 , left and  11   a , right that raise and lower the gondola  19 . The rear end portion of the body  163   a  contains the gondola  19  that transports people and equipment up and down the exterior walls of a high-rise building. The rear area of the body  163   a  that supports the gondola  19  is equipped with a raising and lowering platform section  169 , which allows Operator I to raise and lower the rear end of the body  163   a  and to position the gondola  19  up or down. The body  163   a  provides four outrigger leveler&#39;s  162 ,  162   a ,  162   b  and  162   c  on each of its four corners. These levelers maintain constant leveling as the body  163   a  is being rotated. The body  163   a  provides a slide rail system  164 , left,  164   a , right and a movable platform  169 , where the gondola  19  is positioned, at the rear of the body  163   a , or bed.  FIG. 1 —These floating side rail systems  164  and  164   a , travel on steel casters or rollers  166  left side, rear,  166   a  right side, rear,  166   b  left side, front and  166   c  right side, front, allows Operator I to use controls on control panel  3   g , to activate hydraulic cylinder  168 , right side and hydraulic cylinder  168 , left side, which moves hydraulic piston  168   c , right side and hydraulic piston  168   d , left side, that moves the rear body  163   a , moveable platform  169 , horizontally, in and out, to position the gondola  19 , near or far, from the building wall. The body  163   a  is designed so that the farthest portion opposite the operator&#39;s room  3   c  is open end  167   d . This open end  167   d  of the body  163   a  allows for positioning the gondola  19  and provides access for Operator II to make necessary connections and disconnections of cables and various operational devices located on the exterior of the gondola  19 , the stabilizer drum  45  and the block lift drum  26 . The rear of body  163   a  provides two retractable steps  167   b  and  167   c  located on the underneath side of the body frame  163  that allow occupants to enter and exit the gondola  19  when located on the ground vehicle  1 . The body  163   a  provides two doors  163   b  left and  163   c  right for entering and exiting to the draw-work section  6   a . These doors are located immediately above the steps  167   b  and  167   c , listed above, and are equipped with transparent safety glass, at eye level.  
         [0056]      FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  14 —Gondola:  
         [0057]     The gondola  19  is similar in appearance to an elevator car. The gondola  19  is capable of transporting eight or more firemen and equipment up and down the exterior wall of a high-rise building. When not in use, the gondola  19  is positioned and stored on the rear of vehicle  1 , body  163   a . When all systems are in the rescue mode gondola  19  is driven by control lever  120 , control room  3   c  or from the interior of gondola  19 , control lever  128 , located on control panel  123   a  of gondola  19 . There is an emergency stop switch  123 , located on gondola  19  control panel  123   a , that halts all mechanical functions, if required. The gondola  19  is equipped with exterior cable guides  56   a  and  27  situated on the front center and front rear of gondola  19  and guides  14  left, center and  14   a , right center, sides of gondola  19 . These gondola cable guides have protective rollers or bearings  161 ,  161   a  through  161   k  and  163   d ,  163   e  and  163   f  which protects the stabilizer cable  47 , the block lift cable  51  and the main lift cables  16 , left and  16   a , right from being damaged during movement of the gondola  19 . These guides,  56   a ,  27 ,  14  and  14   a  are opened and closed using hinged latches  14   b ,  14   c ,  27   c  and  56   a . The gondola  19  is designed to travel at different angles along the exterior face of a high-rise building wall and has roof access capabilities. Operator I, in control room  3   c , when using lever  120  maneuvers gondola  19  to different angle positions on the exterior face of a high-rise building wall or operator I positions himself inside of gondola  19 , and uses control panel  123   a  control lever  128  to manipulate or start the gondola  19  to different angle positions on the exterior wall of a high-rise building. The angle control system  128  is equipped with a covered housing  201  on the back, top side, of gondola  19 .  FIG. 7 —Inside of the covered housing  201  is an angle drive motor  128   b  that is supplied electrical alternating current  204  from the main lift cables  16 , left and  16   a , right, electrical fittings  17   a  and  17   b  that turn drive shaft  128   c  that rotate three miniature cable drums  128   d ,  128   e  and  128   f . Each of the three cable drums are spooled with small leader cables. Leader cables  128   d  and  128   e  are fitted by small sheaves  128   h  and  128   i , respectively, to the main lift cables  16   a , left and  16   b , right. The small leader cable  128   f  is fitted to the block lift cable  71   a . When vehicle  1  is positioned at an angle from a high-rise building operator I, using selected angle controls will release leader cables or retrieve leader cables to position the gondola  19  at a desired location on the exterior wall of a high-rise building.  FIG. 8 —The gondola  19  has two sliding doors  66 , left and  67 , right, with eye level windows  206   a  left and  206   b , right. Positioned on the front, right side of the gondola  19  is one sliding door  68 , with an eye level window  204   b . There is an eye level window  204   a  on the front side of the gondola  19 , opposite the door window  204   b . There are two windows alongside  205 , left and  206 , right, located at eye level on the back side of the gondola  19 . The interior walls of the gondola  19  are lined with fire proof insulation  77  and protected with aluminum siding  78  which is riveted. The gondola  19 , cable guides  14 , left and  14   a , right are laced or encased with conductor line cables  16 , left and  16   a , right which travel up to, and threaded through, block  15  and back down to the top of the gondola  19  which are attached to a single tree lifting device  17  installed on top of the gondola that is used for lifting the gondola  19  up and down. The single tree lifting device  17  is connected to a designed steel fitting  18  by a single tree attachment lifting shaft  18   a . The single tree  17  is equipped on each end with mounting attachments  17   a  and  17   b  that is part of the single tree lifting device  17 . Attached to the ends of  16   b , and  16   d  are certified lift fittings  18  and  18   a  that connects to the mounting attachments  17   a  and  17   b . The top of gondola  19  is also used for storing block  15  when block  15  is not in use and is equipped with a gondola  19  height sensor  122  that senses the gondolas speed and position that prevents the gondola  19  from a sudden collision with the block  15  during operation. Most materials used to manufacture the gondola  19  are fire resistant. The interior of the gondola  19  houses a water standpipe connection  79 , water pressure stand-pipe nozzle  80 , oxygen  81   a , fire extinguisher  80 , first aid kit, communication  175  and video equipment  168   a . Mounted on the roof of gondola  19  are two spot lights  184   a  that is maneuvered from the interior of the gondola  19 . The interior of gondola  19  is equipped with manual operating electric hydraulic controls  71 . An operator, stationed inside the gondola  19 , can operate and maneuver the gondola in the same manner that Operator I in control room operator  3   c  does. The maximum load for gondola  19  is controlled by inline hydraulic bypasses  270 . Should the gondola&#39;s  19  allowable weight limits exceed its set weight perimeters the gondola  19 , hydraulic lifting system  4 , will automatically enter into an inoperable bypass mode. The gondola will remain in its current position and in an inoperable bypass mode until the pre-designated weight parameters are obtained. The gondola  19  is equipped on with building exterior wall percussion absorber unit, detachable,  187   a , left side and building exterior wall percussion absorber unit, detachable,  187   b , right side. These building exterior wall percussion absorber units  187   a  and  187   b  are mounted on each side, and to the front, of gondola  19 . The building exterior wall percussion absorber units  187   a  and  187   b  provide stability to the gondola  19  as its cushioned impact tires  191 , left side, and cushioned impact tire  192 , right side, come in contact with the exterior wall  271  of the high-rise building. When the cushioned impact tires  191  and  192  make contact with the buildings wall  271 , percussion absorber  188 , left side, and percussion absorber  188   a , right side, absorb the impact shock causes gondola  19  to retain stability while traveling up and down the walls of a high-rise building. The building exterior wall percussion absorber units  187   a  and  187   b  are reinforced using placement pieces, hinged support frame  188   b , bottom left side, and hinged support frame  188   c , bottom right side, hinged absorber brace  189 , angled, left side, hinged absorber brace, angled, right side, percussion absorber axle  193 , left side and percussion absorber axle, right side. It may not be feasible to use the building exterior wall percussion absorber units  187   a  and  187   b  due to exterior wall openings, such as recessed balconies, therefore, the building exterior wall percussion absorber units  187   a  and  187   b  are designed to be removed in these instances to avoid hanging, snagging or catching during ascent or descent operations. The gondola  19  is designed with two front slide rails  198 , right front and front slide rail  198   a , left front. The gondola  19  slide rails  198  and  198   a  are required for protecting the front cable guide  27  during travel up and down the exterior wall of a high-rise building and allow smooth traveling, without interference, when the slide rails  198  and  198   a  come in contact with the exterior wall of a high-rise building. The gondola  19 , front slide rails  198  and  198   a  have designed rollers  199  and  200  installed on the face of the guide rails to eliminate drag should the rails  198  and  198   a  come in contact with the exterior wall of a high-rise building. The gondola  19  is equipped with a gyroscope  195 . The gyroscope  195  is in the middle, and fixed firmly and securely, in a compartment, beneath the gondola  19  flooring  281 , or tread plate deck. The gondola  19 , mounted gyroscope  195 , provide stability and avoids twisting and turning of the gondola  19  while being operated in high winds, or wind current conditions. The gondola  19  is held in place by hold-down latches  118  and  118   a  are secured to the floor hold down brackets  118   b  and  118   c  of the vehicles  1 , bed  167   d  beside the outside walls  73   a  and  73   b  of the gondola  19 . The gondola  19  is equipped with a laser guiding system  202  positioned beside front cable guide  27  and works in conjunction with laser guiding system  203  positioned on the under side of lock  15 , block lift cable guide frame  160 , to help maintain immovability during high wind or wind currents while traveling up and down the outside wall of a high-rise building. The gondola  19  guiding systems  202  and  203  are activated by gondola control panel  123   a . By positioning the hold down latches  118  and  118   a  over the hold-down brackets  118   b  and  118   c , and locking, gondola  19  is held in place and cannot be moved.  
         [0058]      FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  7 ,  14 ,  16  and  17 —Block:  
         [0059]     The block  15  is designed and constructed using structural steel, flat sheet metal, channel iron, metal supports, and sheaves, bearing shafts, machined fittings and bearings. The block  15  consists of a lifting stinger coupling  97  with a machined journal end  97   a  that connects to the female connector  115  that is connected to block lift cable  51  for lifting block  15  for docking and locking to cantilever arm  46 .  FIG. 15 —The stinger coupling  97 , machined end  97   a , threaded exterior  210 , electrical service outlet  208 , male, and threaded interior  209 , electric service outlet  207 , female, when connected to threaded female connector  115 , stabilizer cable  51 , supplies alternating or direct electric current  211  to block  15  for distribution and service. The block  15 , lift stinger  97  with machined journal end  97   a  support, on either side, locking jaw devices  98  and  98   a  that lock onto the roof-mount cantilever arm  46  when retrieved by block lift cable  51 . The block  15  is structured to house two large sheaves  15   a  and  15   b . These sheaves  15   a  and  15   b  are mounted side by side on the interior of the block  15 . The conductor line cables  11 , left and  11   a , right, from the main lifting drums  8 , left and  8   a , right, are routed to the outside entrance of the sheaves  15   a  and  15   b , over the sheaves and back to the gondola  19  single tree lift attachment  68   a , located attached on top of Gondola  19 . The block  15 , when not in use, is stored, lying horizontally, on top of the gondola  19 . While in the stored position the block  15  stinger connector  97  is pointed toward vehicle  1 , cab  1   a . Block  15  is secured to the top of gondola  19  using block lock brackets  100  and  100   a , gondola roof housing brackets  277  and  277  and locking pins  117  and  117   a . Block  15  serves the purpose, when being lifted by the block lift drum  26 , of uncoiling  11 , left and  11   a , right, cables from the main lift drums  8 , left and  8   a , right, which are used to lift and lower the gondola  19 .  FIG. 17 —illustrate that cable guides  161  and  161   a  are constructed to the front and back sides of block  15 . These cable guides  161  and  161   a  control block  15  as it is lifted or lowered and prevents it from twirling or rotating. The block lift cable  51  and stabilizer cable  47 , when positioned through the block roller guides  161  and  161   a , are surrounded by protective rollers. The block cable guide  161  is mounted to the front, outside plate  95   a  of block  15  and has protective roller  161   c  mounted on the outside, end, and protective roller  163   e  mounted on the inside, end, of side protective roller guides  165   a . The stabilizer cable guide  161   a  is mounted to the back side of the outside plate  95  of block  15  and has protective roller  161   b , mounted to the outside, front, of protective cable guide  161   a  and protective cable roller  163   b  is mounted to the inside, end, nearest the outside plate  95  of sides protective roller guides  165 . The height of the block  15  dictates the distance the Gondola  19  may be lifted by the main lift drums  8 , left and  8   a , right. It is not required that block  15  be docked and locked to the cantilever arm  46  to raise or lower the gondola  19 .  
         [0060]      FIGS. 11, 12 ,  13  and  14 —Cantilever:  
         [0061]     The cantilever  41   a  is a roof-mount structural steel unit designed to function electronically and mechanically, support its weight, the weight of lifting cables  16  and  16   a , block  15 , gondola  19 , gondola equipment and a polarity of uniformed emergency responders or occupants. The cantilever roof-mount system provides steel installation mounts and movable cable drums for stabilizer cable  47 , block control cable  112 , and block lift cable  51 .  FIG. 11 —The stabilizer beam  106  is situated above the block lift beam  46  and attached by  143 , left rear,  143   a , right rear, space mounts and  146  front left and  146   a , right front, space mounts. The stabilizer cable  47  is lowered to vehicle  1  and acts as a stabilizer for gondola  19 . The block control cable  112  controls block lift cable  51 , and positions it over, and retrieves it from, cantilever sheave  109  mounted on cantilever arm  46 . The cantilever arm  46  is equipped with number  5  camera that is arranged to the top of cantilever sheave frames  108  and  108   a  and has pan and tilt camera capabilities. The block lift cable  51  is used for lifting block  15  from the top of gondola  19  and locking it to cantilever arm  47 . These cables become an integral part of the high-rise emergency rescue egress system when maneuvering the gondola  19  up and down the exterior wall of a high-rise building. The cantilever roof-mount system  41   a  maintains a ten to one safety factor that is required by federal regulations to transport people. The cantilever housing  41   a  is manufactured using structural steel support and lifting sections  272  and  273 , stabilizer cable drum  45 , block cable drum  105  and two hollow, square, steel beams, block lift beam  46  and stabilizer cable beam  106  and cantilever sheave  109 . Cantilever beam  106  is located on top of cantilever beam  46 . Cantilever beam  46  is used as a support for cantilever beam  106  which acts as a positioning guide for the stabilizer cable  47 . Cantilever beam  106  is used in various ways to deliver and retrieve the block lift cable  51  to and from vehicle  1 , stationed on the ground. The cantilever beam  46  supports the block indicator position sensor  46   a  that maintains locking distances between the cantilever beam  46  and the block  15  while in the docking and locking mode. The cantilever beam  106  is held in place above cantilever beam  46  by welded steel braces  146 ,  146   a ,  143  and  143   a . The cantilever roof-mount system  41   a  allows for two, or more, electrical hydraulic driven lifting and lowering systems  91  and  263 . These electrical hydraulic driven lifting and lowering systems  91  and  263  are responsible for lifting and lowering structural steel sections  272 ,  273  and  41   a  for proper roof positioning. Partial power from the cantilever solar panel  187  and direct current, battery charging system  187  may be used to activate hydraulic systems to maneuver sections  41   a ,  272  and  273 . The desired height of the cantilever arm  41   a  is accomplished by Operator I relaying a coded signal  33   a  and  35  to the roof-mount cantilever receptor  34 . These signals  33   a  and  35  activates the cantilever electric hydraulic systems  33   c ,  42   a ,  102  and  12 , which operate hydraulic cylinders  74  and  240 , that are supplied hydraulic fluid from hydraulic fluid tank  36 , that is attached to the bottom frame of the cantilever housing  41   a . Each cantilever housing section  272  and  273  blend with the motif of the high-rise building and are protected from the elements using enclosures  33   b  and  33   d . As an option, the building&#39;s roof electrical receptacle  34   c  may be used for electrical current for operating the electric hydraulic systems  272  and  273 . Major structural components which support the cantilever housing  41   a  are the cantilever pressure arm  37 , cantilever pressure arm pivot pin  38 , cantilever front support  39 , diagonal strut, and weight distribution rail  42   b  and open race  55 . The sectional cantilever housing  41   a  accommodates different height building parapets  271  and exterior wall thicknesses of a particular high-rise building. High-rise buildings with abnormal parapet heights and exterior wall thicknesses necessitate different configuration of roof-mount systems that are capable of being raised or lifted to different heights, and be adjustable, in order to accommodate emergency rooftop access or evacuation of a high-rise building. Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress System, roof-mount  41   a , is deigned to operate as a single unit or made a part of selected or custom designed structural lifting units.  FIG. 11 —Roof-mount system  41   a  is equipped with four retractable, swivel casters  197 , left rear,  197   a , left front,  197   b , right rear and  197   c , right front, for moving from one location to another on the roof of a high-rise building. Roof-mount  41   a  is a single stage lift system and is not raised or lifted from the roof&#39;s floor of a high-rise building. Roof-mount system  41   a , cantilever  46  height is greater than, or equal to, the height of gondola  19  and block  15  when in the raised position at the top of a high-rise building. Roof-mount  41   a  allows occupants to mount or dismount from the gondola  19  on to, or from, the roof of a high-rise building. Roof-mount  41   a , manufactured using structural lifting unit  272 , is a one stage lift system. The roof-mount  41   a , cantilever arm  46  using lifting unit  272 , heights are greater than, or equal to, the height of gondola  19  and block  15  when in the raised position placing the bottom of the gondola  19  level with the top of the high rise building parapet or exterior top wall. The roof-mount  41   a , to obtain maximum height, is raised from the roof&#39;s floor position of lifting unit  272  to the highest level of lifting unit  272 , which positions the roof-mount  41   a , cantilever arm  46  greater than, or equal to, the height of gondola  19  and block  15  when in the raised position at the top of a high-rise building. Roof-mount  41   a , lifted via lifting unit  272  to this level allow occupants of gondola  19  to mount or dismount to or from the roof of the high-rise building roof.  
         [0062]     A two stage roof-mount lifting unit is obtained by fixing roof-mount  41   a  to the interior structure of structural lifting unit  272  and fastening roof-mount unit  41   a  and lift unit  272  to the interior frames of lift unit  273 . Lifting units  41   a  and  272  are manufactured and mounted on the interior structural frames of lifting unit  273 . The roof-mount system  272 , in the lowered position of structural lifting unit  273 , is equal to the height of  273 , or greater than, or equal to, the height of  41   a  as a single unit. With structural lifting units  272 ,  273  and roof-mount  41   a  in their maximum raised position their height is more than, or equal to, the parapet or exterior wall of the high-rise building. For roof-mounts  41   a  to obtain its maximum height on a two stage lift system it is raised from the bottom stored position, mounted to structural lifting unit  272 , to the highest lifting level of lifting unit  272 . Then, structural lift unit  273  hoists roof-mount  41   a  and structural lift unit  272  to the maximum lifting height of  273 . When structural lift units  272 ,  273  and roof-mount system  41   a  are raised or extended to their maximum heights, it allows roof-mount  41   a , cantilever arm  46 , to be positioned at a height greater than, or equal to, the height of gondola  19  and block  15 , when in the raised position, attached to the top cantilever arm  47  at the top of a high-rise building. The bottom, open door entry, or floor, of gondola  19  is positioned opposite, and level with the top of the high-rise building parapet  271  or outer wall of the high-rise building which allow occupants to mount or dismount from gondola  19 , on to, or from the building&#39;s roof. A ladder  285 , dismount means, is assembled to the interior, front, of the structural lifting unit  272  that extends, at an angle, downward to the base of structural lifting unit  273 . The framework of structural lifting unit  272  is constructed using fiberglass, metals, and other structurally solid selected materials. There are four vertical channel columns of different lengths and widths that have a variety of sheaves and cables modified and designed to form a lift unit to hoist and lower platform  272 , in turn raises and lowers roof-mount system  41   a . The vertical standards can be better understood by viewing  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 . The structural lifting unit  272  has four vertical standards constructed of channel materials. Vertical standard  212 , right front, vertical standard  212   a , left front and vertical standard  213  left rear and  213   a  right rear. Each of the four vertical columns has sheaves mounted at critical hoisting locations. Top sheave  144 , left front, sheave  144   a , right front, sheave  145 , left front,  145   a , right front, sheave  217 , and bottom sheaves  217 , left rear and sheave  217   a , right rear. Other vertical sheaves may be examined at  FIG. 12 . These sheaves are top sheaves  124 , left rear,  124   a , right rear, front sheaves  125  left front,  125   a , right front, sheave  126 , left rear,  126   a , right rear, sheave  127  front left and sheave  127   a , right front. The bottom sheaves are sheave  216 , left front,  216   a , right front,  217 , left rear and  217   a , right rear. Lifting unit  272  has four lifting cables mounted over and around the sheaves listed above, located inside the channel of the four vertical columns. These lifting cables are  214 , left front and  214   a  right front and  215 , left rear and  215   a , right rear. The four cables are wound around the lifting sheaves and connected to the four ends of horizontal platform  282  that is fitted on its four corners with platform connector  219 , left rear, platform connector  219   a , right rear, platform connector  218 , left front and platform connector  218   a , right front. The opposite ends of cables  214 ,  214   a ,  215  and  215   a  are attached to cable hydraulic piston connector  283  attached to hydraulic piston  75  which, when activated, moves in and out from hydraulic cylinder  74  that hoists or lowers horizontal platform  282  and  41   a . The horizontal platform  282  is equipped with two horizontal channel guide rails  220 , left and  220   a , right. This one stage roof-mount system  41   a  has four mounted wheels  221 , left rear,  221   a , right rear,  222 , left front and  222   a , right front. These four wheels are mounted two on each side near each outside corner. Roof-mount system  41   a , moving on wheels  221 ,  221   a ,  222  and  222   a , is positioned to the rear, open frame of  272  and wheels  221 ,  221   a ,  222  and  222   a  are inserted into the rear channel guide rails  220 , left and  220   a , right, and rolls  41   a  on to the platform  282  and locked. The roof-mount system  41   a , in this location, mounted on platform  282 , is stationed two-thirds the length of cantilever platform  282  of cantilever lifting system  272 . The roof-mount  41   a , cantilever platform  282  and lifting system  272  are supported by top horizontal support rails  223 , left, top horizontal support rail  223   a , right, bottom horizontal support rail  224 , left, bottom horizontal support rail  224   a , right, vertical brace  225 , left, and vertical brace  225   a , right. The structural lifting unit  273  has four vertical standards constructed of channel materials. Vertical standard  228 , bottom right front, vertical standard  229 , bottom left front, vertical standard  227 , bottom right rear, and  226 , bottom left rear. Each of the four vertical columns has sheaves mounted at critical hoisting locations. Top sheave  243 , bottom right standard, top sheave  244 , idler sheave, bottom left standard  245 , bottom left standard, bottom sheave  246  bottom left standard, bottom sheave  247 , bottom right standard, top sheave, right front standard  248 , top sheave, left front standard  249  and bottom sheave, right front standard  250 . Other vertical sheaves may be viewed at  FIG. 13 . Lift unit  273  has four lifting cables mounted over and around the sheaves listed above, located inside the four listed vertical columns mentioned above. The four lifting cables  254 ,  255 ,  256  and  257  are wound around the lifting sheaves and connected to the four bottom corners of horizontal lifting system  283  are constructed with rigid channel materials. These four bottom corner locations are the corners to the bottom frame of lift system  282 . These corners are corner  223 , left, horizontally, corner  224 , right, horizontally, corner  225 , left rear, vertical channel and corner  225   a , right front, vertical channel. The lifting cables  254 ,  255 ,  256  and  257  are attached to corners  223 ,  224 ,  225  and  225   a  by cable connector  264 , back left, cable connector  265 , back right, cable connector  266 , right front and cable connector  267 , left front. The opposite ends of cables  254 ,  255 ,  256  and  257  are attached to cable hydraulic piston connector  242 , which is attached to hydraulic piston  241 , which is a part of hydraulic cylinder  240 , hydraulic hoses  258 , hydraulic pump  261 , electric/hydraulic motor  262  and hydraulic fluid reservoir  263 . When hydraulic cylinder  240  is activated it moves hydraulic piston  241 , in and out that moves the lifting cables  254 ,  255 ,  256  and  257  up and down, therefore, moves lifting system  282  and  41   a  up and down to a desired location or position for receiving block  15  and gondola  19 . The horizontal platform  283  is equipped with two horizontal charnel support rails  252  bottom, right, and  253  bottom, left. The channel support rail  252  connects with vertical guide standard  227 , right rear, and vertical guide standard  228 , right front. The channel support rail  253  connects with vertical guide standard  226 , left rear and vertical guide standard  229 , left front. This roof-mount system  41   a , platform  282  is equipped with four wheels. Theses four wheels  221 , left rear,  221   a , right rear,  222 , left front and  222   a , right front, are mounted two on each side of platform  282  near each corner. Roof-mount system  41   a , moving on wheels  221 ,  221   a ,  222  and  222   a , is inserted into the rear channel guide rails  220 , left and  220   a , right, and rolls  41   a  on to the platform  282  and locked. The roof-mount system  41   a , in this location, is stationed two-thirds the length of cantilever platform  282  of cantilever lifting system  272 . The roof-mount  41   a , cantilever platform  282  and lifting system  272  are supported by top horizontal support rails  223 , left, top horizontal support rail  223   a , right, bottom horizontal support rail  224 , left, bottom horizontal support rail  224   a , right, vertical brace  259 , left, and vertical brace  260 , right.  FIG. 13 —The lifting unit  273  is equipped with two outriggers mounted near the top outside front of vertical channels  228 , left and  229 , right, and extending, in a slanted position, to the floor or deck of a high-rise building. These outriggers are equipped with two roof grasping pod  233 , left and roof grasping pod  232 , right, that prevents lifting units  41   a ,  272  and  273  from swaying, tilting or overturning during operation. The outriggers  233 , left and  232 , right are adjustable for positioning at different lengths and angles for stability of lifting units  41   a ,  272  and  273 . The cantilever lifting unit  273  is equipped with four casters or wheel units that can be rotated and are retractable. The retractable casters are caster  234 , bottom left rear, caster  235 , bottom right rear, caster  236 , bottom right front and caster  237 , bottom left front. Each caster,  234 ,  235 ,  236  and  237  are manufactured with swivel, bearing, axles or shafts that are mounted in wheel-well  238  bottom left rear, wheel-well  238   a , bottom right rear, wheel-well  239 , bottom front left and  239   a , bottom right front. These wheel-well compartments are large enough to store each caster, shank and spring and are constructed to the outside, bottom or end of vertical channels  228 ,  229 ,  227  and  226 . Equal weight is assigned to each caster  234 ,  235 ,  236  and  237 . The wheel-well compartments are constructed to the outside, bottom, or end, of vertical channel  228 , back, right, front, vertical channel  229  back, left, front, vertical channel  227 , back, right, rear, bottom and vertical channel  226 , back, left, rear. Equal weight is assigned to each caster  234 ,  235 ,  236  and  237 .  FIG. 13 —Each caster section is equipped with a weight adjustment control lever  237   a , left, rear,  237   b , right, rear,  237   c , right front and  237   d , left, front and are adjusted according to the allowable, intended weights, cantilever lifting units  41   a ,  272  and  273  may hold. When weight is applied to cantilever arm  46  the weight is transferred to pressure arm  135  that transfers the weight to  136   a , and using pivot  137  transfers the weight to  136 , in turn, applies pressure or weight to cross member  40  that transfers the weight to the cantilever frame pressure arm that distributes the weight to the four casters or wheels. Once the applied weight to the cantilever arm  46  reaches the caster wheels tension is applied to the wheel-well springs, which retracts up, and into the wheel-well and allows the frame of roof-mount  41   a  or cantilever lifting unit  273  to move down and make contact with the roof of a high-rise building. This transferred weight is distributed equally to the circumference of the bottom frames of roof-mount  41   a  and cantilever lifting unit  273 . Further, when weight is applied to cantilever arm  46  the weight is transferred from holding pivot pin  133 , attached to structural mounting plate  134 , right side, and  134   a , left side, which carries the weight through the rocker arm  133   a , arm, and applies that weight to rocker arm pressure beam  138 , with sliding end in race  139 , held by front brace  39 , to cantilever pressure arm  38   a , left and  38   b , right held by pivot pin  38 . The weight is distributed from cantilever pressure arms  38   a  and  38   b  to cross member  40  that transfers the weight to the cantilever frame pressure arm  27  that distributes the weight to the four casters or wheels. Once weight is applied to the cantilever arm  46  it is transferred to each caster or wheel  234 ,  235 ,  236  and  237 , tension is applied to the wheel-well springs  284 ,  284   a ,  284   b  and  284   c , which retract into the wheel-well  228 ,  229 ,  227  and  226  and allow the bottom frame of roof-mount  41   a  or cantilever lifting unit  273  to move down and make contact with the roof of a high-rise building.  
         [0063]     When the cantilever roof-mount system is used for retrieving the block  15  from the top of gondola  19 , for docking and locking to cantilever arm  46 , there are three methods. One method is to permanently mount the cantilever housing  41   a  using roof connector  157  to the high-rise building roof deck connector  158 , building joist  158   a , and from vehicle  1 , electronically signal receptor  34  to activate the block lift drum  105  to release the block lift cable  51  as a single cable to retrieve, dock and lock block  15  to the cantilever arm  46 . Another option for the emergency responders is to use a special designed, permanent or temporary, cantilever system  41   a , block lift drum  105 , which is helicopter lifted to the top of a high-rise building and cranked up and down manually to retrieve block  15 , dock and lock to the cantilever arm  46 , for operation. The roof connector  157 , connected to the high-rise building roof deck connector  158  that is fastened to a movable counterweight  159  is used rather than fastening the high-rise building roof deck connector  158  to the building roof joist  158   a . The counter-weight  159 , separate from the regular roof-mount system  41   a , may be used and stored on top of a high-rise building or in a high-rise room. The room system  FIG. 14  would be an alternative from the building&#39;s roof system  41   a ,  FIG. 11 . The roof-mount  41   a  counter weight  159  could weigh five hundred pounds, or more, depending on the integrity of the high-rise building&#39;s roof membrane structure. The roof-mount  41   a  counter weight  159  is equipped with four pivotal wheels. The most used cantilever system  41   a  for positioning, docking and locking block  15  to the cantilever arm  46  is the block lift drum  26 , located in the draw-works section  6   a , of body  163   a , vehicle  1 . The cantilever arm  46  may be designed in different configurations and manufactured to a building&#39;s particular roof dimensions. Due to wall thicknesses of some high-rise buildings a telescopic  196  cantilever arm  46  is used. Some high-rise buildings may require one of several cantilever roof-mount systems. Depending on the high-rise building&#39;s roof requirements, a cantilever roof-mount system  41   a ,  129  may be set in place by two man helicopter crew and manually operated. The helicopter cantilever roof-mount  41   a ,  129  and the manually operated roof-mount systems  41   a  would be considered temporary cantilever roof-mounts. The high-rise building owners may elect to use the permanently installed cantilever roof-mount  41   a  or cantilever room-mount systems  274 . The cantilever  41   a  is temporarily roof-mounted using roof connector  146  connected to connector  158  or helicopter lifted using chain ring  129  and temporarily mounted to the top of a high-rise building using roof connector  146  connected to connector  158 .  
         [0064]     The stabilizer cable drum  45  is spooled with enough conductor stabilizer cable  47 , sufficient in length, to be attached to the ground units, vehicle  1  and gondola  19 . The major mechanical operating components of the stabilizer cable drum are shafts  43  and  49 , chain  44 , chain sprocket  44   a  and stabilizer cable  47 . The stabilizer cable  47  is routed from stabilizer drum  45  over the protective roller  275   a , through the hollow tube  275 , of the bottom beam  46 , and over a protective roller  142  and down through opening  141 , located on the cantilever arm  46 . In this stored position a modified lowering weight  53 , with connector end  54 , is connected to stabilizer cable  47  by connector end  51 . To lower and attach the stabilizer cable  47  from the cantilever  41   a  to vehicle  1  located on the ground a signal is sent from vehicle  1 , operator&#39;s room  3   c  and transmitter  33   a  by Operator I to the signal receiver  34 , mounted in front of the roof-mount cantilever housing  41   a , to lower the stabilizer cable  47  to vehicle  1 . Once the stabilizer cable  47  arrives at vehicle  1 , Operator I uses signal  33  in the vehicle&#39;s operator&#39;s room  3 , to the roof-mount signal receiver  35 , to stop the stabilizer cable  47 . The micro-switch  54   a , located at the roof-mount cantilever stabilizer drum  105 , may also be used to stop the stabilizer cable  47  at the top of gondola  19 . Operator II is responsible for initiating the initial connections for the stabilizer cable  47 . Operator II, posted on the top side of block  15 , which is lying horizontally, top of gondola  19 , and reaches and grasps the stabilizer weight  53  and disconnects connector  52  from the stabilizer weight  53  and hands the stabilizer weight  53  to Operator III, positioned inside the gondola  19 , with the front door  68  open, and Operator III discards the stabilizer weight  53 . Operator II then hands Operator III the stabilizer cable  47 . Operator III reaches out, and up, and grasps the stabilizer cable  47  then unlatches locking brackets  56   a ,  56   b  and  56   c , on the hinged cable guide  27 , and places the stabilizer cable  47  inside the hinged cable guide  27 , and closes and locks the hinged cable guide  27 , which is mounted on the front center of the gondola  19 . Operator III kneels down and places the stabilizer cable  47 , end  47   a , in to the stabilizer cable tube guide  57 , piped entry  57   a , which is positioned under the hinged cable guide  27 . Operator III then maneuvers the stabilizer cable through the stabilizer cable guide tube  57  until the stabilizer cable  47  and end  47   a , exits the stabilizer cable guide tube  57 , exit  47   a , located on the back side of gondola  19 , draw-works section  6   a , sheave  27   b . Operator II dismounts his post atop the gondola  19  and positions himself inside the draw-works section  6   a . Operator II grasps, and pulls the exposed stabilizer cable  47 , end  47   a  and connects the conductor line cable fitting  47   a  to the conductor line cable fitting  59   a . There is an electrical receptacle  59  built in to the stabilizer drum  58 , flange receptacle  26 . The stabilizer cable vehicle drum  58  is mounted on a square steel frame  58   a  that is mounted with steel bolts to frame  163  of vehicle  1 . Mounted on the side of stabilizer drum  58  is an electrical slip ring  48  that is connected to the vehicle  1 , electric generator  29 . The generator  29  supplies alternating and direct electrical current to the stabilizer cable slip ring  48 , in turn, the stabilizer cable slip ring  48  supplies the current through the stabilizer conductor line cable  47 , to the cantilever roof-mount system  41   a . This electrical current is directed to the cantilever arm  46 , cantilever arm  106 , electric motors, micro switches, and other electrical components built in to the cantilever roof-mount system  41   a . Once the stabilizer cable  47  is connected to the vehicle  1 , electrical generator  29 , Operator I reverses the stabilizer drum  58  and slowly tightens the stabilizer cable  47 . Operator I tighten the stabilizer cable  47  enough to allow gondola  19 , to be stabilized when being raised and lowered. The exact amount of pound pressure applied to the stabilizer cable  47  is controlled and monitored  3   a  in the control rooms  3   c  and  3   d . Also, this maneuver stabilizes and acts to vertically position block  15  and the stinger coupling  97  to enter the bottom  50  of cantilever arm  46  for docking and locking.  
         [0065]     The cantilever roof-mount system  41   a  is positioned on top of the high-rise building. The cantilever housing  41   a  has a horizontal supporting frame  101  where the block lift drum  105  is mounted. A single control cable  112  is attached to the block lift drums  105  flange  105   a  and the opposite end, with an attached bronze bull nose ring  113 , has the block lift cable  51  threaded through its center. With the single control cable extended and the block lift cable  51  threaded, one end of cable  51  is placed over the large sheave  109 , down and through the end of beam  46  and over  107   a  and through  107  and to the ground. The other end of block lift cable  51  is threaded through beam  46 , opening  50  and to the ground. This allows the block lift cable  51 , with its two ends on the ground, to use sheave  109  as a pulley system for retrieving block  15  from the top of gondola  19  docks and locks the block  15  to the cantilever arm  46 , which is positioned on the top of a high-rise building. The block lift cable  51 , while in the hoisted and stored position, under beam  46 , has a controlled weight  147  attached to the double cable ends  115  and  154  of the block lift cable  51 . The controlled block weight  147  may be modified to different configurations to satisfy a high-rise buildings cantilever connection requirements.  FIG. 12  provides a more detailed view of how the controlled block weight  147  affords stability during ascent and descent of the block  15 , lift cable  51 . The parts utilized to manufacture the control block weight  147  are the block cable length adjustment sheave  148 , length adjustment cable  148   a , length adjustment cable connector, inner  149 , block lift cable disconnect end  150 , block lift cable, unattached, block lift drum end  151 , length adjustment cable connector, outer  152 , block cable, unattached, storage compartment, block drum connector end  153 , excess block lift cable  51 , back side,  153   a , pressed lug affixed to cable end that attaches to  26  block lift drum  154 , electric attachment  154   a , block cable, unattached, storage compartment, block connection end  155 , excess block lift cable  51 , front side  155   a , weight guide, right,  156 , weight guide, stabilizer cable, center,  156   a  and weight guide, left,  156   b . A controlled weight  147  is designed with a length adjustment cable  148   a  for connecting to cables ends  51 . The engineered weight  147  is used to maintain calculated pressure on the block lift cable as it is raised and lowered up and down the side of a high-rise building. The controlled weight  147  is equipped with an extended guide  156   a  which encircles the stabilizer cable  47  allowing the stabilizer cable to be used as a taut guide as the weight is lowered or raised. The engineered weight  147  has two extended arms  156 , right and  156   b , left, that expand outward at an angle and acts as rudder guides. These guides prohibit the block lift cable  51  from twisting or turning during ascent or descent of the high-rise building. One guide, or the other, will touch the outside wall of the high-rise building before a twist can be made in the block lift cable  51 . The controlled weight  147  provides for necessary excess block lift cable  51  storage in two designated storage compartments. These two compartments are fastened to the front  153 , and the back side  155 , of the controlled weight. The controlled weight  147  is equipped with a small top mounted sheave  148  that is strung with a two ended length adjustment cable  148   a . The length adjustment cable  148   a  is equipped with two connectors, ends  149  front and  152  back. The front adjustment cable connector  149  connects to front connector  115  that is attached to an upper, front portion, of the block lift cable  51 . The back adjustment cable connector  152  is connected to the back connector  154  that is attached to a back, upper portion, of the block lift cable  51 . To lower and connect the block lift cable  51  from the cantilever block cable drum  105 , an electronic signal is sent from vehicle  1 , control room  3   c , to transmitter  33 , signal receiver  35 , which activates the electric hydraulic system  102  to turn the block lift cable drum  105  forward which drops the double ends of the block lift cable  51 , that is attached to controlled weight  147 , to the vehicle  1  located on the ground below. With the controlled weight  147  lowered and positioned above block  15  and gondola  19 , Operator II, stationed atop gondola  19 , safety platform  268 , removes the excess cable  155   a  from compartment  155  and connects the block lift connector  115   a  onto the block stinger coupling connector  97 , that is used to lift the block  15 . Once this connection is made Operator II then disconnects connector  152  from 154 and hands the cable  151  to Operator III, positioned in the draw-works section  6   a , behind the gondola  19 , who then takes out excess cable slack. Operator II then disconnects connector  149  from connector  115  and holds cable  150  while Operator II removes the remaining cable slack. Operator m then hands Operator II cable end  115  and he places cable end  115  down and through block guide  100   c  to Operator III who receives the block cable end  115  and places it through the back cable guide  27  and affixed to the back of gondola  19 . During this procedure Operator II takes the position of Operator III to hold the slack cable. Operator III further places the block lift cable  51 , end  115  through the floor mounted sheave  160  and  27   b ,  FIG. 8 , behind the gondola  19  and through the fleet angle compensator  26   a  and connect the block cable end  115  to the vehicle  1 , block lift drum  26 . While Operator II holds slack, a signal is given by Operator III to Operator I, located in control room  3   c , to activate and rotate the vehicle&#39;s block lift drum  26  forward. Operator I apply monitored tension to manual brakes  9 , main lift drums  8  and  8   a  and main lift cables  11 , left and  11   a , right. Operator I rotate the block lift drum  26  forward which removes the cable slack held by Operator II. Operator II places the controlled weight  147  on to the controlled weight hanger  255  located in the draw-works section  6   a . Operator II and Operator III exit the draw-works section and the block  15  is now ready to be lifted and attached to the cantilever arm  46 . Once the block lift drum  26  is placed in the lift mode block  15  begins to ascend the high-rise building outside wall and retrieves cables  16 , left and  16   a , right from the main lift drums  8 , left and  8   a , right. The main lifting cables  16 , left and  16   a , right, outer ends, which are attached to the single tree connections  16   b  and  16   d , atop the gondola  19 , remain stationary thus allowing cables  16 , left and  16   a , right to be unwound from the main lift drums  8 , left and  8   a , right, and the block  15  to be lifted to the block locking position  50   a  on the roof-mount cantilever arm  46 . The block&#39;s  15  position is monitored by Operator I, operator room  3   c , controls  3   g , monitor  119  as it is lifted and approaches the locking and docking position  50   a  to the cantilever arm. Operator I releases brake control lever  63   c  to the block lift drum  26  forward, while maintaining some cable tension, and moves block control lever  3  and  3   c  forward, turning the block lift drum  26  and begins retrieving cable  51 , which is positioned around  109  and back down and attached to the block  15 , block lift stinger coupling  97 . As the block lift cable  51  is being wound around the block lift drum  26 , the block  15  is lifted and moves upward. During this maneuver the height indicator  119  maintains a height count, in feet. As the block  15  approaches the cantilever arm  46  the height monitor  119  signals the block lift drum  26  to slow its approach of block  15  as the block stinger coupling  97  enters stinger hole  111 , in the cantilever arm  46 , for docking and locking. Micro-switch  46   a , located on the underneath side of the cantilever arm  46 , is activated during the docking and locking procedure and signals the control room  3   c , panel  3   d , Operator I that block  15  is docked and locked to the cantilever arm  46  and is ready for gondola  19  to be released from the hold down brackets  118  and  118   a  and lifted to various positions on the outside wall  271  of the high-rise building or to the roof. Once block  15  locking jaws  98  and  98   a  make contact with cantilever arm  46 , outward pressure is applied to the block lift jaws  98  and  98   a  by the square configuration of the cantilever arm  46 , that causes the block locking jaws  98  and  98   a  to spread and close by tension springs  100   d  and  100   e , and lock to the top side  50   a  of the cantilever arm  46 . On the underside of the cantilever arm  46  and slightly back from opening  50 , is mounted an electric solenoid  111  positioned to stop block  15  from going higher than the locked position that would unlocking block  15  from the cantilever arm  46 . The electric solenoid is designed with a lengthy cylinder and a measured block  111   a  attached to the end of its cylinder. The measured block  111   a  is placed in the space between the bottom of the cantilever arm  46  and the top frame  94  and  94   a  of block  15 , which prevents the block from being raised too high and unlock the block  15  until the electric solenoid  111  is activated and relocates  111   a  back for unlocking block  15 . To reposition or store the block lift cable  51  back on to the block cable drum  105  an electronic signal is sent from vehicle  1 , control room  3   c , to transmitter  33 , signal receiver  35 , which activates the electric hydraulic system  102  to turn, in reverse, and retrieve the single cable  112  with the attached bull ring  113 , that in turn retrieves the block lift cable, that is now in the lowered position, doubled, and weaves it on to the block cable drum  105 . Micro-switch  280  discontinues movement of the block lift cable  51  when the correct amount of the block lift cable  51  is returned and wound back on to block cable drum  105 . An alternating or direct current lighting system  184 , mounted on top of cantilever beam  106 , end nearest  109 , supplies illuminating lights  184   b  for monitoring roof top operations.  
         [0066]     Communication Summary—with a Remote Command and Control Center:  
         [0067]     A mobile emergency rescue vehicle is used in conjunction with fixed high-rise lifting equipment.  
         [0068]     The emergency rescue vehicle carries the gondola and houses all of the command and control instrumentation to operate the gondola.  
         [0069]     The operator is capable of communicating with the rescue personnel in the gondola at all times. The operator is able see and responds to situations in the gondola, the building, and the building top. This is accomplished through a system of highly sophisticated remote cameras and monitoring systems.  
         [0070]     The operation requires that the emergency rescue vehicle be located directly under the lift site besides the high-rise building. Due to the possibilities of falling debris and other unknown hazards a Remote Command Center (RCC) vehicle is needed and has been included in the design of the total high-rise emergency rescue system package.  
         [0071]     The Remote Command Center has the operational capabilities as the high-rise emergency rescue egress system itself The Remote Command Center is used exclusively, after deployment, or in conjunction by the on the scene fire commander or responder for monitoring the rescue operation progress. At the scene of the high-rise emergency the situation became too dangerous for personnel on the ground, the Remote Command Center vehicle is used for monitoring, communication, command and control.  
         [0000]     High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress System Building Top Control System—Remote Terminal Unit (RTU):  
         [0072]     The component used for the actual control interface to the lift equipment is the Motorola MOSCAD RTU (Motorola Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Remote Terminal Unit). This is a very versatile and reliable control system that collects data through discrete analog I/O connections and provides control with digital outputs. It functions very much like a Programmable Logic controller. It is a smart device that can be configured utilizing Ladder Logic to accommodate any type of devices and a wide range of process operations.  
         [0073]     Control Communications:  
         [0074]     The communications link to the Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) is via Wireless Broadband and Analog two-way radio. This way there is a redundant link to the device. The two-way link is established while en route to the site for initial operations or a remote fixed site may house backup systems to initialize the lowering of the stabilizer and block lift cables through the two-way link.  
         [0075]     The technology used for the control communications link is in the Wireless Broadband 802.1x technology and has the necessary bandwidth to accommodate all video and control signaling. An Access Point Cluster is fixed to the cantilever lift arm for establishing communications link with the ground vehicle and gondola equipment.  
         [0076]     Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress System has remote monitoring and testing of all functionality built into the communication systems. Therefore, remote testing is performed on a daily basis. The emergency responders will not have to wait until a training exercise or an actual deployment to discover if all systems are functioning properly.  
         [0077]     Voice Communication:  
         [0078]     An Onsite Repeater is housed on the rooftop for communications with the ground operators. The actual frequency for this voice system is coordinated with the responding emergency agencies ahead of time. This is necessary to extend coverage through the site and possible building penetration. It also has a range of operation that serves for voice operations for an entire cluster of buildings. Therefore reducing cost on successive deployments in the same area.  
         [0000]     Camera System:  
         [0079]     A high quality wireless camera is deployed onto the cantilever arm for pan, tilt and zoom operations and is operated from the emergency rescue vehicle, remote command vehicle or a remote monitoring station. This will interface to the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). This is used to monitor the roof-mount equipment on the buildings roof and the progress of operations from a top down view.  
         [0000]     Gondola Camera System:  
         [0080]     The cameras will be fixed at points outlined in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 11 . There will be five cameras mounted in designated locations to monitor and view the building face, personnel inside the gondola, and a view from the building&#39;s roof top looking down and a view from the gondola looking up. These cameras are digital TCP/IP based cameras for connection to the Monitoring Control Point via the WLAN Connection.  
         [0081]     Voice Radio:  
         [0082]     A high quality Motorola two-way radio is installed for voice communications with all essential ground operations personnel. This is a multi-channel radio for redundancy back-up channel operations in case of a repeater failure. This is powered via an installed rechargeable battery pack.  
         [0083]     Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Subscriber Module:  
         [0084]     The wireless link for the video feeds is a Motorola Wireless Broadband device. This device is from the Motorola Canopy Group. Once powered up it establishes a link with the Building Top Access Point. All TCP/IP data is routed through this device.  
         [0000]     Ethernet Switch Equipment:  
         [0085]     All camera devices located in the gondola will establish their communications links through the Ethernet Switch. This device is located in a NEMA-4 Outdoor enclosure to protect it from the environment.  
         [0086]     Rescue Operations Center—Equipment Control Center:  
         [0087]     This is the hub of all systems and sub-systems. It consists of the control portion of the MOSCAD system. The interface is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) located on a standard PC. All deployment and lifting operations are controlled and monitored through this interface. For redundancy purposes the GUI will be on two separate PC&#39;s. The control system beneath the PC layer is a MOSSCAD IP Gateway. This is the actual interface to the rooftop RTY system via the MDLC (Motorola Data Link Communications) network.  
         [0088]     WLAN System:  
         [0089]     The primary purpose of the WLAN system is for the video camera systems. The rescue vehicle will be outfitted with several Canopy Subscriber Modules and Ethernet Switching gear. This is the hub for the self contained WLAN system.  
         [0090]     Video Control Center:  
         [0091]     At least two Video Monitors and Multiplexers are housed in the emergency rescue vehicle. This is where all control and monitoring of the cameras will be done. Overhead monitors will be fed the recovered digital signals from WLAN system.  
         [0092]     Battery Backup System:  
         [0093]     A backup battery charging system is mounted on the emergency rescue vehicle. This is used to maintain a spare battery pack charged at all times for the gondola. If the gondola battery system gets depleted this second battery pack would be deployed for extended operations. It is designed to be easily swapped into the gondola. The battery charging system is designed to keep both sets of batteries charged at all times when not deployed.  
         [0094]     WLAN Subscriber:  
         [0095]     The primary purpose of the WLAN system is to be connected to the network for remote operations. The command vehicle is outfitted with one Canopy Subscriber Module and Ethernet Switching gear. This allows an on the scene commander to monitor the rescue operation from a remote location.  
         [0096]     Equipment Control Center:  
         [0097]     A PC is installed in this Remote Command and Control vehicle with the same full capabilities as the Reed&#39;s High-Rise Emergency Rescue Egress System vehicle. However, it operates as an extension of the main operation center. The PC is connected to the MOSCAD IP Gateway located in the emergency rescue vehicle via the WLAN system.  
         [0098]     Video Control Center:  
         [0099]     This is a fully operational secondary monitoring and control system. It has the ability to monitor and control all cameras on the WLAN system.