Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 25th Nov.. 1889-Accepted. 4th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I, WILLIAM COOPER of 88 St. Mary's Road Faversham in the county of Kent,
Joiner do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide for use with my improved fire escape for
which letters patent were granted to me No. 14579 A.D. 1885 brakes bars and guard-
band to check or retard the downward progress of the chair or seat. With the
escape, cordage, chain, or steel wire rope used either separately or conjointly and
the said ropes chains or tackle pass through the top of the brake and at the back of
same between two clamps which are fitted thereto. One of these clamps is fixed, the
other actuated by a thumbscrew the clamps gripping the rope as the screw is turned.
Across the brake at right angles are fixed two pins or bars around which if desired the
rope may be passed to further check the descent. Working loosely on these pins or
bars or affixed in some other convenient manner is a band for a guard. This guard
band is hinged in such a manner that it may be raised to enable a person to get in or
be placed in the chair described in my specification aforementioned. When the
person is seated the band may be lowered to prevent the person falling out or forward
in cases of faintness, sickness, or infirmity. The bars or pins aforementioned are for
ensuring greater safety in lowering the apparatus and for securing the chair in
position while lowering it from the window.
Dated this 26th day of February 1889.
LULMAN & Co.,
Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I, WILLIAM COOPER of 88 St. Mary's Road, Faversham in the county of Kent,
Joiner do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide for use with fire escapes acting with a
sheaf or pulley block and rope or chain sliding in these or such like appliances; and
especially with the Improved Fire Escape for which letters patent were granted to me
(No. 145798) brakes and bars to check or retard the downward progress of the chair
or seat. With the escape cordage chain or wire rope is used either separately or
conjointly and in the case of ropes used for this they are made of fibre rendered
fireproof by asbestos paint or composition, or made of asbestos fibre mixed with
suitable material for rope-making The aforesaid rope chain or tackle passes through
the top of the brake-which is preferably fixed on the central bar of the chair or seat,
within easy reach of the hand of the person occupying it just above the guard band,
fitted to prevent the person being lowered falling out and at the back of the same
between two clamps one fixed and fitted to the back of the brake, the other moveable
and actuated by a thumb screw, the clamps gripping the rope as the screw is turned.
Across the brake at right angles, is fixed a pin or bar around which if desired the rope
may be passed to further assist in checking the descent. This is for greater safety in
lowering the apparatus and for securing the chair in position before lowering it.
In order that my invention may be better understood, I append drawings in which
Fig. 1 shews a side view of the brake with rope passing through. A. A. shews the
frame or body of the brake with rope B. B. passing around wheel C. C. At D. D is
the thumbscrew actuating the clamp H. H. and gripping the rope B. B. by pressure
against the fixed clamp G. F F is a bolt which passes through the frame or body of

page_text: the brake and extends to the outside of the centre bars of the chair or seat where it is
fixed at each end with nuts. E E. shews a pin round which the rope may be
passed for greater safety. Fig. 2 is the front view of the brake in which similar
letters refer to similar parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A brake for use with Fire Escape as described and illustrated substantially, and
as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of November 1889
LULMAN & Co.,
Applicant's Agents.