Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 8th Jan., 1889
We, ALFRED EVRARD and MARCEL CORNEVIN, both of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais
Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to
be as follows :-
This Invention relates to fire escapes and other apparatus for lowering weights
combined with means for automatically controlling or regulating the descent of the
load as hereinafter described whether the said load be descending vertically being
suspended by a cord or its equivalent or be descending along an inclined plane or
otherwise.
We will describe the invention as being applied to a fire escape for example whence
its application to other similar purposes will be readily understood.
An apparatus forming a thoroughly effectual and trustworthy fire-escape may be
constructed according to this invention of a size that will admit of its being con-
veniently carried in the pocket or about the person. This apparatus is enclosed in
a snitable case or box provided at one end with a strong ring or loop and containing
a barrel capable of revolving on a hollow journal attached to one side of the box and
upon which barrel is coiled a suitable length of steel tape or riband or other similarly
strong and flexible material. One extremity of this tape or band is attached to the
barrel and the other is provided with a strong hook or loop. One of the cheeks or
flanges of the barrel forms a toothed wheel whose teeth gear with an endless screw or
worm on a shaft or spindle working in a cylindrical chamber attached to or forming
part of the box. This shaft is provided with radial arms capable of revolving in
the said chamber and supporting between them four or any other suitable number of
loose blocks which are carried round in the cylinder by the rotation of the arms.
To make use of this apparatus the loop on the box or case is tied or otherwise
attached to any convenient support and the person to be lowered is attached to the
loop on the end of the steel band. The weight thus suspended from the apparatus
tends to uncoil the band and to rotate the barrel and the toothed wheel attached to

page_text: the latter. The rotary motion of the toothed wheel causes the worm or endless screw
in gear therewith to revolve rapidly the loose blocks in the cylindrical chamber being
carried round with the arms on the axis or spindle of the endless screw at the same
time.
These blocks then tend to move radially under the influence of centrifugal force
and cause friction between them and the sides of the cylindrical chamber in which
they revolve. The resistance resulting from this friction which increases in about
the same proportion as the square of the speed of the descending weight regulates the
rate at which the weight is lowered and maintains it within such limits as are
consistent with perfect safety.
On reaching the ground the person lowered may be disconnected from the loop and
the band may then be wound upon the barrel by means of a suitable key or handle
and used for lowering another person.
The apparatus is entirely self-regulating this being a most important advantage
especially in the case of fire escapes where the person or persons using the machine
are liable to be too frightened to be capable of managing any mechanism of the nature
of a hand brake.

page_text: Improvements in Fire Escapes and other Apparatus for Lowering
Weights.
We ALFRED EVRARD and MARCEL CORNEVIN both of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais
Paris 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 :-
This Invention relates to fire escapes and other apparatus for lowering weights
combined with an automatic brake or regulator acting by centrifugal force and
friction for controlling or regulating the descent of the load as hereinafter described
whether the said load be descending vertically being suspended by a cord or its
equivalent or be descending along an inclined plane or otherwise.
An apparatus forming a thoroughly effectual and trustworthy fire escape may be
constructed according to this invention of a size that will admit of its being
conveniently carried in the pocket or about the person.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in elevation a small portable or
pocket fire escape constructed according to this invention. Figure 2 represents a
transverse section of the same on the line 1-2-3 figure 3 and Figure 3 is a section
taken along the line 4-5-6-7 figure 2. Figure 4 represents the regulator or
governor in section taken on the line 8—9 figure 3 and Figure 5 is an elevation of
part of the apparatus showing the steel band partly uncoiled.
This apparatus is constructed with a suitable case or box A provided at one end
with a strong ring or loop B and containing a barrel C capable of revolving on a
hollow journal O attached to a plate D forming one side of the box. Upon this
barrel is coiled a suitable length of steel band E or other similarly strong and flexible
material. One extremity of this band E is attached to the barrel C and the other is
provided with a strong hook or loop M. A disc C¹ forming a cheek or flange on the
barrel C is provided at its circunference with teeth F which gear with an endless
screw or worm G on a shaft or spindle G' working in a cylindrical chamber J
attached to or forming part of the box. This shaft is provided at one extremity, with
radial arms H Figures 3 and 4 capable of revolving in the said chamber and
supporting between them four or any other suitable number of loose segmental
blocks K which are carried-round in the cylinder J by the rotation of the said arms
being retained in position by means of a screwed cover L.
To make use of this apparatus the loop B on the box or case is tied or otherwise
attached to any convenient support and the person to be lowered is attached to the
loop M on the end of the steel band E.
The weight thus suspended from the apparatus tends to uncoil the band E and to
rotate the barrel C together with the toothed wheel or disc C³ carrying the teeth F.

page_text: The rotary motion of this disc causes the worm or endless screw G and shaft G'
to revolve rapidly or at a considerably greater speed than the barrel the loose blocks K
in the cylindrical chamber being carried round with the arms on the axis or spindle
of the endless screw at the same time.
These blocks then tend to move radially under the influence of centrifugal force and
cause friction between their outer surfaces and the inner surface of the cylindrical
chamber J in which they revolve. The resistance resulting from this friction which
increases in about the same proportion as the square of the speed of the descending
weight regulates the rate at which the weight is lowered and maintains it within such
limits as are consistent with perfect safety.
On reaching the ground the person lowered may be disconnected from the loop and
the band may then be rewound upon the barrel C by means of a suitable key or handle
forming a crank when inserted in a hole N (Figures 2 and 3) provided for its
reception in the disc C' and the fire escape is then ready to be used for lowering
another person.
The apparatus is entirely self regulating and graduates the speed of descent entirely
independently of the action of the person using it. This is a most important advantage
especially in the case of fire escapes where the person or persons using the machine
are liable to be too frightened to be capable of managing any mechanism of the
nature of a hand brake requiring the slightest care or attention.
This fire escape is always ready for an emergency requiring no other preparation
than simply hooking or attaching it to any suitable support at the nearest window and
is capable of rendering valuable aid to the inhabitants of lofty dwellings who are liable
to be cut off from the sole means of egress in case of fire and without this apparatus
might have to face the alternative of throwing themselves from the windows or being
burned alive. These fire escapes may also be employed with advantage as part of the
life preserving equipment of fire men.
•
A fire escape constructed as illustrated in the drawing being not more than about
3 inches in diameter is capable of sustaining a load of about four hundred weight
with perfect safety. The band E is preferably made of special crucible steel such as
that employed for piano wire and drawn in the same way.
We do not limit ourselves to the precise details of construction illustrated in the
accompanying drawing which may evidently be modified according to circumstances
in applying this invention to lowering weights in general.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A self regulating apparatus for lowering weights constructed with a cylindrical
or circular case A provided with a loop or ring B and containing a barrel C on which
is coiled a steel or other flexible band E attached at one extremity to the barrel C
and provided at the other extremity outside the case A with a ring M, said barrel (!
working on a hollow or other pin or axis cast on or attached to the side D of the
case and transmitting motion through inclined teeth F and worm or screw G or their
equivalents to an automatic brake composed of a block or blocks K carried round the
inner surface of a cylindrical chamber J by the action of arms H substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting improved apparatus for
lowering weights substantially as hereinbefore described.