Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I, WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the Firm of Horn & Son of 151 Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Charles E. Sansoucy of Duluth, in the County
of St. Louis, and State of Minnesota, United States of America, Inventor) to be as
follows:-
This my invention relates to certain improvements in fire escapes, and it
consists in the novel construction and combination of parts as hereinafter
described.
My invention consists of a suitable box or receptacle designed to be enclosed in
the wall of a building near a window or other exit. In the side walls of said box
are mounted the ends of a shaft having drums or spools upon which is wound a
cable or rope the free ends of which have attached thereto waistbands or belts.
which are placed around the body and secured when the device is to be used. The
said bands may be permanently attached to the cables or kept in a convenient
place ready for use when required.
Within the case is also mounted a vertical shaft provided with suitable bearings
at its upper and lower ends the said shaft carrying a worm in engagement with
a gear wheel or teeth upon the axis of the drums.
To retard the revolution of the drums by the weight of a descending body a
governor actuated friction-brake is provided comprising a block fast to the shaft
and through which a shaft passes; connected to this block are governor arms which
when the shaft is turned are thrown outwardly into engagement with a depending
flange on a block loosely carried on said shaft. This forces the loose block against
friction discs in contact with the wall of the casing and thus retards the revolution
of the shaft.
A second and smaller box is also enclosed in the wall of the building the front
portion of the box being in a plane with the outer face of the wall, the outer side
of the box being hinged to the body of the same and normally held closed by a
spring. The free ends of the cables pass through the box when in use and the
tension of the hinged door on the rope during the winding on the spool will act as
a guide and cause it to wind properly.
Dated this 18th day of November 1892.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I, WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the Firm of Horn & Son of 151 Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Charles E. Sansoucy of Duluth, in the County
of St. Louis, and State of Minnesota, United States of America, Inventor,) and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This my invention relates to certain improvements in fire escapes and it consists
in the novel construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described and
pointed out in the claims.

page_text: Figure 1 is a vertical section.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of dotted line X. X.
Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional detail views of brake mechanism and
governor.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 7 7, Figure 1.
In the accompanying drawings the letter A designates a suitable box or
closure, in the side walls of which are journalled the ends of a transverse bar or
a shaft B having journalled thereon the drums or spools C. C. one on either
side of the center D, designates a vertical shaft arranged centrally in the case
and provided with suitable bearings d, d at its upper and lower ends at the
top and bottom of said case. The central portion of this shaft carries a worm E
in engagement with gear-teeth on the ends of the axial portions. of the
drums C, C, or with a gear-wheel on the shaft as shown and hereinafter
described, so that as said drums are turned on the shaft B, the shaft D will be
turned.
The case or closure is designed to be enclosed in the wall of a building near a
windów or other exit, the drums having wound thereon cables or chains G, which
at their free ends extend through the outer wall of the building. To said ends
are secured small rings g, to which are designed to be attached waistbands or belts
(not shown) which are placed around the body and secured when the device is to
be used. These bands may be permanently attached to the cables or chains, or
they may be kept in the box A or in a convenient place from which they can be
taken in case of fire, passed around the body, and made fast to the cables. To
retard the revolution of the drums under the action of a descending body, the
governor-actuated friction-brake K is provided, comprising a block K' fast to
the shaft and through which the shaft passes, connected to this block are governor
arms P, which when the shaft is turned are thrown outwardly into engagement
with a depending flange C on a block L, loosely carried on said shaft. This
will fold the block L upwardly against friction-disks M in contact with the
upper wall of the casing, and thus act to retard the revolution of the shaft.
R is. second and smaller box or closure, which is also enclosed in the wall of
the building in alignment with box A and having its outer face i flush with the
outer wall of the building and preferably painted the same color as that of the
wall in order that it may not be apparent from the outside. Said face is hinged
to the body of the box, and is normally held closed against the weather by the
action of a spring S in said box. The free ends of the cables or chains G
are designed to pass through the box. R when in use, and the tension of the hinged
portion or door on the rope which is being wound on the spool will act as a guide
to cause it to be wound properly. The edges of said box against which the rope
or cable bears are usually bevelled to prevent undue friction and wearing. If it is
not desired to wind on cable while the other is being unwound, both drums may be
fast on their shaft and a single gear be provided on said shaft in engagement with
the worm E, so that both drums will turn in the same direction and two persons
descend at the same time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
a
The fire escape comprising the case or closure adapted to be enclosed in the
inner face of a wall or building near an exit thereof, the spools or drums journalled
therein, the chains or cables carried thereby, the straps, the vertical shaft carrying
worm in engagement with the gear of said drums, the friction-brake for
said shaft, and the second and smaller case in the outer wall of the building
and provided with a spring-actuated hinged face or cover substantially as specified.
2. In a fire escape the combination with drums or spools and the ropes or
cables carried thereby, the gear, and vertical shaft having the worm thereon in

page_text: engagement with said gear of the block on said shaft the governor-arms connected
to said blocks, the loose block adapted to be operated by said arms, and friction-
disks in contact with said loose blocks substantially as specified.
Dated this 18th dor of A venat 1893
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.