Year: 1887

page_text: I, ARMAND LOUIS LE CAER, Founder, of Nantes, in the Republic of France, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
This invention has for its object an improved fire escape fitting inside a window
from which persons can be lowered by it in case of fire. It consists of two parallel
frames preferably of iron suitably stayed together and fitted inside the window by
means of two adjustable pointed screws which can be screwed into the floor at the
lower ends of the frame, points at the upper ends of which are at the same
time forced into the ceiling or into a beam inside the top of the window.
To each of these frames is hinged a crane jib consisting of two bars the inner end
of the upper horizontal ones being hinged to the frames and their outer ends being
jointed to the end of the other bar which descends diagonally to the frame to which
its inner end is fastened by a pin or bolt by removing which the projecting bars can
he lowered if required until they are close to the frames. The outer ends of the crane
jibs formed as described are connected together by a transverse bolt on which turns a
pulley. The frames may also be held firm by hooks or stays to the window frame.
To the two side frames described are fixed bearings in which revolve the ends of a
transverse axle carrying a drum round which is wound a cord, chain, or wire rope
which passes over the pulley just described on the crane jib, and by which the persons
occupying the room are lowered in case of fire. The druin is provided at one end
with a brake surrounded by a brake strap which may be lined with wood or
leather.
The brake strap is hinged to a lever pivotted to the frame and provided with holes
to which a weight can be suspended.
This brake ensures the safety of the person who is lowered, the weight upon
the lever being sufficient to prevent the drum from turning until the lever is
raised.
Instead of the balance weight described a suitable spring may be used arranged
above or below the lever.
At the other end of the drum is arranged a small fly wheel by which the drum can

page_text: be turned to rewind the rope after a descent, and at the outer end of the axis a grooved
pulley is fixed, round which passes an endless chain which also passes round a similar
pulley at the upper end of the frame, so that by pulling the endless chain in
the direction of its length the drum may also be turned round and the cord rewound
upon it.
At the free extremity of the cord a double safety belt is fixed by means of two
rings, the cord passing freely through one of them and being fastened to
the other. To one part of the belt a small guiding cord is fastened reaching
to the ground and serving if necessary to keep the person who is being lowered
away from the wall.
Instead of being placed upon the axle of the drum the brake may be fixed
upon a separate parallel axis geared by a toothed pinion to a toothed wheel upon
the drum.
The side frames of the apparatus may be made so that their upper parts slide into
the lower.

page_text: Improvements in Fire Escapes.
J, ARMAND LOUIS LE CAER, Founder, of Nantes, in the Republic of France, 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, and accompanying drawing, (that is to say) :-
:-
This invention has for its object an improved fire escape, fitting inside a window
from which persons can be lowered by it in case of fire.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of the invention, figure 1
is a front view and figure 2 is a side view of the improved apparatus in position
ready for use.
Figure 3 is a plan of the crane jib 1, g.
Figure 4 shows the lower end of one of the supports, fitted with a rack and
pinion.
Figure 5 a part of the apparatus somewhat modified.
The improved apparatus consists of two parallel frames a, b, and c, d, preferably of
iron suitably stayed together and fitted inside the window by means of two adjustable
pointed screws b, d, which can be screwed into or upon the floor at the lower ends of
the frame, points at the upper ends of which are at the same time forced into the
ceiling or into a beam inside the top of the window.
To each of these frames is hinged a crance, f, g, consisting of two hars the
inner end of the upper horizontal ones being hinged at to the frames and their outer
ends being jointed at to the end of the other bar which descends diagonally to the
frame to which its inner end is fastened by a pin or bolt at g by removing which the
projecting bars can he lowered if required until they lie close to the frames. The
outer ends of the crane jib formed as described are connected together by a transverse
bolt at on which turns a pulley. The frames may also be held firm by hooks or
stays to the window frame.
To the two side frames described are fixed bearings in which revolve the ends of a
transverse axle carrying a drum or barrel round which is wound a cord, chain, or
wire rope i, which passes over the pulley just described on the crane jib, and by which
the persons occupying the room are lowered in case of fire.
The drum provided at one end with a brake surrounded by a brake strap k
which may be lined with wood or leather. The brake strap kis hinged to a
lever l, m, pivotted to the frame and provided with holes to which a weight can be
suspended.
This brake being constantly in operation until intentionally released ensures the
safety of the person who is lowered, the weight upon the lever I m being sufficient to
prevent the drum from turning until the lever is raised.
Instead of the weight n described a suitable spring may be used arranged above or
below the lever.
At the other end of the drum his arranged a small fly wheel o by which the drum

page_text: can be turned to rewind the rope i after a descent, and at the outer end of the axis
near the wheel o a grooved pulley is fixed, round which passes an endless chain p
which also passes round a similar pulley r at the upper end of the frame, so that by
pulling the endless chain in the direction of its length the drum may also be turned
round and the cord i rewound upon it. At the free extremity of the cord i a double
safety belts is fixed by means of two rings, the cord passing freely through one of
them and being fastened to the other. To one part of the belt sa small guiding cord t
is fastened reaching to the ground and serving if necessary to keep the person who is
being lowered away from the wall.
Instead of being placed upon the axle of the drum the brake may be fixed upon a
separate parallel axis geared by a toothed pinion to a toothed wheel upon the drum
shaft, as shewn at u figure 5.
The sido frames of the apparatus may be made so that their upper parts slide into
the lower so that they can be lengthened or shortened.
In figure 4 the pointed end by which the frame is fixed is shown adjustable by a
rack and pinion, instead of by a screw as first described.
The apparatus may be constructed of any suitable materials, and may be varied
more or less in its details and method of construction, according to the circumstances
in which it is to be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
The combination with the frame, barrel or drum, and ro
rope or chain, of a brake
constantly in action until intentionally released, arranged and operating substantially
as and for the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
Jated this 28th day of September 1887.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Inventor.