An Improvement in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Fire Escapes.
CEST
We, HENRY VIEREGG, Soda Water Manufacturer, of 216, West First Street,
Grand Island, in the County of Hall, and JAMES VIEREGG, Flour Mill and Grain
Dealer, of Central City, Merrick County, both in the State of Nebraska, United
States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improvement in fire escapes; and the object of the
invention is to provide a device capable of being expeditiously manipulated, and so
constructed that persons may be lowered in safety from high buildings to the
ground.
The invention consists in a novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is a partial front elevation of a building, illustrating the application
thereto of the improved escape;
Figure 2 is a side elevation, partially is section;
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the building, beneath the cornice,
looking down; and
Figure 4 is a central vertical section through the drum of the escape.
The body of the escape consists of a drum A, which is mounted to turn in a
frame B. The frame consists preferably of two side members 10, which are united
at their upper ends over the drum, and carried upward in the form of a single
member 11. A hook or loop extension 12, is formed integral with or attached to
the member 11, and within the hook or loop, a peripherally grooved pulley 13 is
pivoted, and immediately below the pulley, a pin 14 is projected from the single
member of the frame, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.
The lower ends of the sides 10 of the frame are united by a bar 15, and to the
frame B, a guide frame C is horizontally secured, the said frame being essentially
rectangular, and the journal of the drum is located at the intersection of the guide
frame C with the side pieces of the main frame.
The drum A is provided with marginal peripheral flanges 16, and two spaced
central flanges 17, preferably of equal height, and between the inner flanges the
drum is of much less diameter than between the inner and the marginal flanges,
whereby the drum is divided into a central section a, and outer sections a' and a².
In the surface of the smaller central section a, an annular channel 18 is formed, and
at predetermined intervals, oppositely-aligning cleats or studs 19, are produced
upon the opposite faces of the central flanges 17. An endless chain 20, is passed
over the central section a of the drum, and every other link of the chain enters
the channel 18, and sundry of the horizontally-disposed links engage with the cleats
or stnds 19, which serve to prevent the chain from slipping upon the drum.
The endless chain 20 is adapted to reach nearly to the ground, and passes over a
vertical pulley 21, journaled in a heavy block 22, provided with an attached
handle 23, the object of this device being to enable parties upon the pavement or
ground to draw the chain outward, and thus prevent those descending from being
brought in contact with the window sills or other projections upon the face of the
building; and if the house is constructed with an area, to carry the chain beyond
the same.
The descending party may simply grip the chain, or the person may be

page_text: provided with any approved form of harness, which when employed, is hooked to
the links of the chain. The block 22, being heavy serves to hold the chain
steady, and enable an operator upon the side-walk to readily control the direction
of the descent.
In connection with the drum, brakes are employed. These brakes consist of
straps 24, ordinarily of strong metal, which are secured at one of their ends to a
cover 15 attached to the frame C, or the upper portion of the main frame B. The
straps are adapted to engage with the larger sections a' and a² of the drum, between
the inner and marginal flanges thereof and the lower ends of the straps are con-
nected with the inner extremities of levers 25, preferably of an angular type, said
levers being fulcrumed upon the rod 15. The outer sections of the levers are
ordinarily connected by an adjustable bail 26, provided with a ring or its
equivalent, and the ring is connected with a swivel 27, and to the swivel the upper
end of a chain or cable 28, is firmly secured. By means of this chain, the brakes
may be applied by a descending party, or one upon the sidewalk, the application
being made by forcing the straps to a frictional contact more or less positive with
the side peripheral sections of the drum.
Brackets D, are horizontally secured to the building, near the cornice, but below
the same, which brackets are practically V-shaped, and are secured to the building
in any approved manner through the medium of their members. Upon the outer
or reduced ends of the brackets D, which are concaved, a track E is bolted
or otherwise secured, the said track being preferably circular in cross section,
tubular, and made up of a series of sections. The track is adapted to extend
around the building, ordinarily around three sides if located upon a corner, or
across the front only if the house be one of the intermediate houses of a row, for
instance. The sections of the track are usually connected by placing a stud or
dowel pin e in one section, adapted to enter a socket in an opposing section.
The grooved pulley 13 of the body frame travels upon the track E of the escape,
and is prevented from leaving the track by the pin 14, which extends immediately
beneath the latter, and the groove of the pulley 13, is made sufficiently deep to
enable the side flanges to extend downward essentially to an engagement with the
tops of the brackets, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a fire escape, the combination, with a frame adapted to be suspended from
a building, a drum journaled in said frame provided with three separated peripheral
surfaces, and an endless chain passed over the central surface, of levers pivoted in
the frame beneath the drum, strap brakes attached to the frame adapted for
engagement with the drum and attached to said levers, and means for manipulating
the levers, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a fire escape, the combination, with a frame adapted to be suspended from
a building, and a drum held to revolve in said frame provided with three inde-
pendent peripheral surfaces, the central surface whereof is of the least diameter
and is provided with a central annular channel and oppositely opposed stops or lugs,
of angle levers pivoted in the frame beneath the drum, strap brakes having one of
their ends secured to the frame, which straps are passed over the outer sections of
the drum, their opposite ends being secured to the vertical members of the lever,
an endless chain passed over the central drum surface, and a tension device
attached to said chain, as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a fire escape, the combination, with a track adapted to be secured to and
project outward from the face of a building, a frame provided with a friction roller
adapted to travel upon the track, and a drum journaled in said frame, having three
independent peripheral surfaces the central one whereof is provided with a central
annular channel and opposed side lugs or stops, of an endless chain held to travel

page_text: over the central surface of the drum, levers journaled in said frame, and brake
straps attached to the levers and passed over the outer peripheral surfaces of the
drum, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a fire escape, the combination, with a track adapted to be attached to and
project from the face of a building, a frame provided with a friction pulley adapted
to travel upon the track, a pin located in the frame and extending beneath the
track, and a drum journaled in the frame provided with three independent
peripheral surfaces, the central one whereof has an annular groove produced
therein and is provided with diametrically-aliguing stops or lugs, of an endless chain
held to travel over the central surface of the drum and over a lower, weighted
friction pulley provided with a handle, angular levers pivoted in the frame beneath
the drum, and brake straps secured at one end to the frame, passed over the outer
peripheral surfaces of the drum, and having their opposite ends attached to the
vertical members of the levers, as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 14th day of April 1891,
H. VIEREGG.
J. VIEREGG.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.