Improvement in Fire-escapes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 25th Sept., 1897
Improvement in Fire-escapes.
WILLIAM ERNST WABNITZ, a Stone Carver, of 1108 Winter Avenue, Louisville,
in the County of Jefferson, State of Kentucky, 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:
My invention has relation to fire escapes, and the object is to provide a simple,
strong and efficient device of this character by means of which a person may
escape from a burning building and reach the ground in safety.
With this object in view, the invention consists of certain features of construc-
tion and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved fire escape, showing it in position
for use;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view; and
Figure 4 is a detail view of one of the jointed lever-arms.
In said drawings, 1 denotes two frames, each of which consists of two bars a b,
pivoted together at their upper ends by rivets 2.
Rollers have their stud shafts 4 journaled in boxes 5 secured to the inner
edges of the frames, and are adapted to engage a metallic tape or wire 6, and by
friction prevent the too rapid descent of the frame with its supporting weight.
7 denotes guide plates arranged above and below the rollers, and serve to guide
the tape to the rollers free of curls, twists or kinks.
8 denotes jointed levers, one being secured to a pivot bolt connecting the lower
ends of parts a and 6 of one frame and extending over the pivot bolt connecting
the ends of parts a and b of the other frame. These levers are provided with
notches 9, which are adapted to seat upon said bolts, and are also provided with
graduated notches on their upper edges, for a purpose hereinafter to appear.
10 denotes a sling or strap, which is adapted to be fastened around the body of
a person, and having eyes at its ends, engaged in the graduated notches of the
jointed levers.
In use, one end of the tape is secured to a window frame or to some object
in the room, a sling or strap is passed around the body of the person, and if the
person weighs, say 150 pounds, he engages the loops at the ends of the sling or
strap with the notches indicated by that number. This is a wise provision, for
should a heavy person attempt to descend, and the loops of the sling be engaged
with the toggle levers at their extreme outer ends, it is evident that said levers
would draw the sections of the frame together and cause the rollers carried by
said sections to so tightly clamp the tape as to prevent the descent of the person.
By graduating the jointed levers, a person may engage the ends of the sling
with them at points corresponding to his weight, so that, should a person weighing
250 pounds, attempt to descend, he may do so with as much ease as a person of
a considerably lighter weight.

page_text: To regulate the speed or rapidity of the descent I provide a brake mechanism,
which consists in pivoting to one of the frames a rack-bar 11, and having its
other end projecting across and seated upon a stud 12 projecting from the side
of the other frame.
Journaled upon a stud 13 is a gear-wheel 14 which engages the rack-bar, and
is provided with a crank 15, by means which it may be rotated and cause the
sections of the frame to be drawn together, and thus increase the friction of the
rollers upon the tape.
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. In a fire escape, the combination with two frames pivoted together and
provided with co-operating friction rollers, of jointed levers connected to the lower
ends of said frame, and provided with. notches to engage the bolts of the opposite
frames, a tape extending between said rollers, and a sling or strap adapted to be
connected to the outer free ends of said jointed levers, substantially as set forth.
2. In a fire escape, the combination with two franies pivoted together and
provided with co-operating friction rollers, of jointed levers connected to tho
lower ends of said frame, and provided with notches to engage the bolts of the
opposite frames, a tape extending between said rollers, and a sling or strap adapted
to be connected to the outer free ends of said jointed levers, the edges of said
levers being provided with graduated notches, substantially as set forth.
3. In a fire escape, the combination with two frames pivoted together and
provided with co-operating friction rollers, of jointed levers connected
to the lower ends of said frame, and provided with notches to engage
the bolts of the opposite frames, a tape extending between said rollers, a sling
or strap adapted to be connected to the outer free ends of said jointed levers,
and a rack-bar pivoted to one of said frames and projecting across and supported
upon the lug extending from the other frame, a wheel engaging said rack, and a
eran for rotating said wheel to spread or draw together the sections of the frame,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of August 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.