An Improved Fire Escape, Applicable for Raising and Lowering Goods.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire Escape, Applicable for Raising and
Lowering Goods.
I, CARL TEUBER, of Jena, Thüringen, in the Empire of Germany, Clerk, 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:-
My invention consists of an improved portable fire escape, which is capable of being
readily fixed to a window, or other suitable opening, in the wall of a house, and
by the use of which persons may be safely lowered from the building; my apparatus
being also applicable at all times for raising and lowering ordinary goods.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 a plan, showing the method of fitting my invention.
to an ordinary window opening; and Figs. 3 to 7 are detail views.
The apparatus consists of a forked frame a a¹, formed with flat bar iron, welded
together at a', and opened out at a a to receive the drum b and pulley c. One end
of a rope d is wound upon the drum 6, and the other end is passed over the pulley c,
and secured to the upper bar of the cage or basket e. The drum is provided with a
ratchet and pawl 6'; a brake wheel and brake strap 62 and a handle 63 as shown. f is
a frame riveted to the main frame a and serving as steps to the basket e, and also as
a stop to prevent overwinding when the basket is being drawn up. g is a strut
pivoted to the frame a' by the adjustable clip gl. The strut g is pointed at its lower
end to secure it against the wall. h is a stout bar, secured to the frame a by the
adjustable clips ¹¹ and further secured in the window opening by adjustable
brackets 2 h³.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the brake and strap 62, partly in section. Fig. 4 is a
back view of the bar h in position, the clips h¹ h being shown in section. Fig. 5. is
a detail view of the drum b with its flanges and fittings. Fig. 6 is a separate detail
view of a portion of the frame a a¹, and Fig. 7 is a front view of the same, partly in
section.
The method of fixing the apparatus will be readily understood from the drawings..
The strut g is capable of rising over the sill as shown in Fig. 6, and adjusts itself
when placed outside the wall, as shown in Fig. 1. The clips h¹¹ are then adjusted
so that the bar h touches the inner face of the wall. The brackets h² h² are then
secured, as shown.
In cases of fire the person to be saved steps into the basket or cage e by means of
the frame f. The fireman or other person in charge then lowers down the basket by
means of the rope and drum, aided by the brake 62 if necessary, and raises it again
after the person has alighted therefrom. The last person descends by first passing the
handle of the basket through the hook k. He then detaches the rope from the drum b
and passes the end down through the space m. He can then enter the basket, and
by pulling the free end of the rope, raise the cage and detach the handle from the
hook k (which may be placed as shown in Fig. 6 when out of use). The basket can
then be readily lowered by the occupant, checking the descent with the free end of
the rope.
The basket is preferably made collapsible for the purpose of stowage.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The manufacture and use of apparatus for saving life from fire and raising and
lowering goods, constructed, arranged and operating, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of an improved fire escape, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 15th Tone1900
GEO.
DOWNING,.
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.