Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb.,
1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1898
DIGAN TO A Mapos and v
ZDZISTAW SZPOR, of Krakau (Galizien) Assistant on the State District Railway,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows: —
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the mechanism or
arrangements of pulleys, shackles and other fittings whereby a person or weight or
other body may be readily lowered from any height with perfect safety, the
improvements consisting in apparatus whereby the amount of friction between
the rope and brake can be regulated as desired, according to the weight of the
objects attached to same, so that the falling body is not checked with the sudden
jerk, but so, that the safety cord or line, acted upon by the weight of the falling
body releases the brake step by step and gradually slower, until the friction
between the brake and the safety cord or line balances the weight of the falling
body, and the latter, is therefore gently checked and eventually suspended.
In order to attain the aforedescribed result, the brake consists of three frames,
arranged within each other. The second of these frames revolves on an axle or
spindle, with which the third frame is securely connected, whilst the first frame
actuates on an excentric at the ends of the axle or spindle. The upper and lower
ends of the first and second frames rest about opposite each other, and it is between
these ends that the safety cord or line is conducted, in such a manner that these
frames must clamp or grip the cord or line between them. The weight or power
with which this clamping or gripping is effected, is suspended or hung from a
spiral spring, which is fastened at one end to the upper end of the first frame, and
at the other end is the lower portion of the second frame, and consequently has
a tendency to so revolve the two frames, that their ends press against the safety
cord or line.
The third frame is secured at its upper end with a second cord or line, connected
with the catch cord or line, and fastened to the body; the lower end of this frame
rests on the same side of the cord or line, as the lower end of the second frame,
only somewhat higher than the latter.
Supposing now the body attached with the catch line or cord to the upper end
of the third frame should fall, the third frame, in consequence of the weight of
the falling body, would be turned with its upper end downwards, and simultane-
ously its lower end would be pressed against the safety cord or line, so that each
portion of the cord or line in the brake lying between the lower end of the first
frame and the common axle or spindle of the second and third frames, is clamped
or gripped in a bow-or-arch shape.
Furthermore, however, as herein before described as the third frame is securely
attached to its revolving axle or spindle, on which the second frame is con-
centrically fitted and the first frame excentrically, it is obvious that, in conse-
quence of the afore-described revolving of the third frame, and the axle or spindle,
the first frame is pushed or forced towards the second frame, and in such a manner
owing to the position of the excentric, that the upper end of the first frame is

page_text: removed from the lower end of the second frame, and thereby the spiral spring
connected with both these frame ends, is extended, and the first and second frames
press stronger against the safety line or cord..
The falling of a body connected with the brake causes, firstly, a thorough
bending of the safety cord or line, and secondly, a more secure clamping or
gripping of the brake against the cord or line—both operated, simultaneously
with the falling of the body. An increase of friction between the brake and the
safety cord or line is effected, is so strong, that the brake simultaneously with the
falling body slips or glides to the cord or line, the velocity of the falling body
gradually becoming less, until the body is held secure.
The brake can be fitted with a special clamp or grip, in order that the spring
connecting the first with the second frames can be so placed, that the brake only
grips the cord between same during the drop of the body, and so, that the same
can be secured to any part of the cord or line.
Dated 24th February 1897.
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Brakes for Rope Fire Escapes and the like.
I, ZDZISTAW SZPOR, of Krakau (Galizien), Assistant on the State District Rail-
way, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 effect improvements in the mechanism or
arrangements of pulleys, shackles, and other fittings whereby a person or weight
or other body may be readily lowered from any height with perfect safety, the
improvements consisting in apparatus whereby the amount of friction between the
rope and brake can be regulated as desired, according to the weights of the objects
attached to the same, so that the falling body is not checked with a sudden jerk,
but so that the safety cord or line acted upon by the weight of the falling body
releases the brake step by step and gradually slower, until the friction between the
brake and the safety cord or line balances the weight of the falling body, and the
latter is therefore gently checked and eventually suspended, or gradually lowered
as required.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved brake in its normal condition, out of
action.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, showing the brake in action.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section.
Fig. 3 is a face view of the lever v.
4
The invention consists mainly of a combination of three pivoted frames or
levers, A, B and C; a spring F, and a spring lever device V. The lever A
(forming also the main frame) is capable of rotating to some extent upon the 4
studs a a.
The lever B rotates upon the enlarged studs bb, eccentric to a a. The
lever C rotates upon the studs c¹ concentric with the studs bb, S is the sustaining
rope and s is a rope fixed to the bolt fitted to the lever C. To the rope s the
person or weight to be lowered is attached. In Fig. 1 the rope s is shown unloaded
and unstretched, the rope S being vertical, and the appliance being suspended by 5

page_text: the spring lever device V. When the rope s is in use in lowering a person or
weight, the lever C rotates upon the centre c', whereby the bolt is caused to
grip the rope S between the studs c¹ (attached to the frame C) and a¹ (attached to
the frame A), the rotation of the lever C being arrested by its contact with the
stud a³, attached to the frame A. This movement increases the distance between
a² on the frame A and 65 on the lever B, thereby stretching the spring F, which
then acts upon the lever B by turning it upon its centre, thereby producing friction
upon the rope S between the bolts a¹ and b'.
The motion of the lever C, under the action of the load causes the rope S to be
clamped or gripped round the bolt 2, (attached to the lever B) and between c¹, e,
a', and b', as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the friction produced is rendered sufficient
to sustain a man or other load, the friction increasing in proportion to the weight.
The bolt 63 being attached to the lever B, the rope S tends to press the bolt 2
and the lever B from the right to the left hand. This movement is checked by
the spring F. The upper end of the rope S is securely fastened in any suitable
position to a building or other structure, the lower end hanging loosely.
The device consists of a small brake lever v pivoted to the lever B at 63 and
pressed towards the bolt 62 by the coiled spring f, whereby the apparatus is pre-
vented from sliding down the rope S, when it is free of any load, as shown in
Fig. 1.
The eccentricity of the stud c¹ relatively to the studs a a, causes the rotation of
the lever C to carry the bolt 61 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in
Fig. 2, whereby the grip is rendered effectual.
When a man is lowering himself by means of the apparatus, he can increase his
speed by pulling the handle hereby the lever vis caused to alter its angle
relatively to the rope S, and the friction of the rope S. between the bolts a¹ and bi
is slackened. By these means the operator is enabled to govern his descent at will.
The bolts and a serve to unite the plates of the frame or lever A and to keep
the ropes S and s. in their relative positions to prevent entanglement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The improvements in brakes for rope fire escapes and the like substantially
as described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In a brake for rope fire escapes and the like, the combination of a frame A
operating also as a lever; levers B and C. pivoted eccentrically to A: the levers A
and B. being fitted with a spring F and spring lever device V: bolts a, a, b, b1, b2,
, and c, all severally and in combination operating substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 1st November 1897.
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.