Year: 1888

page_text: I FRANK ALEXANDER WESTBROOK of Port Jervis, New York in the United States
of America Inventor 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 relates to an improvement in fire escapes and the object of my inven-
tion is to provide a fire escape which can be packed into a very small compass in which.
the weight of the persons regulate their descent to the ground and which is so
constructed that the persons descending from the building can stop at any point they
see fit.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fire escape embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same.
Fig. 3 shows a slight modification.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shows another slight modification.
A. B represents the two parts of the frame between which the rope C is clamped.
These two parts A B are pivoted or otherwise loosely connected together at their
upper ends so that their lower ends will be allowed a slight lateral play in relation to
each other.
I do not limit myself to either a pivot which passes through a slot in one of the
parts, nor to the projection on one part which catches in a recess in the other for this
may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. The part A as
shown in Figs. 1 & 2 is provided with the ears D which pass upon opposite side of
the part B and forms bearings in which the lever G is journalled.
This lever G at its upper end has a prong or projection H which bears against the
outer side of the part B, of the body or frame, and is also provided with a ring 1
through which the rope J, which passes around the body of the person making a
descent from the building, is passed. The lower end of this lever G is formed into a
hook or handle L by means of which the person descending controls the rapidity of
their descent and at the same time enables the person to stop at whatever point they
wish while descending.

page_text: In direct proportion to the weight of the person descending the lever G is made to
exert a frictional contact upon the part B of the body and thus force the two parts A B
tightly against the rope C. When the operator exerts an outward pull upon the
handle L the projection H is made to force the two parts of the body so tightly
together that the descent of the person will be instantly checked thus enabling a
person to stop at any point upon the rope C desired.
In case the construction shown in Fig. 3 is preferred the lever G will be pivoted
in the ears D and the prong or projection H will be made to catch inside of a ring
or band O which is passed around two parts of the body A B and thus assist in drawing
them tightly together.
It is not absolutely necessary that the ring I should be formed upon the outer
corner of the lever G as shown for the rope may be passed through this lever as shown
in Fig. 5 and the lever may be slotted so as to form a handle instead of formed as
shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4.
It is only necessary to make the upper end of the lever G, cam shaped so that it
will bear against one of the parts of the body while it exerts a pull upon the other
and thus compel the two parts of the body or frame to clamp the rope tightly between
them.
As the parts of this fire escape are very light and small they can be packed very
readily into a grip sack or trunk and thus be carried around without any inconvenience
to the traveller.
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. In a fire escape a frame composed of two parts which are loosely connected
together at their upper ends one of the parts being provided with ears and an
operating lever by means of which the two parts and the body are made to clamp the
rope tightly between them substantially as shown.
2. The combination of two parts A B of the body one of which is provided with
ears, the rope C which passes between the two parts of the body, the lever G journalled
in the ears and the rope J which is passed through the lever substantially as
described.
3. The combination of the two parts of the body A B which are loosely connected
together, the ears D, secured to or forming a part of the part A of the body, the
lever G, provided with the projection H, the ring I, and the handle L substantially as
set forth.