Improved Fire Escape.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fire Escape.
I, JACOB KELLER, of No. 46 Johannesvorstadt, Basel, Switzerland, Master
Girdler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of fire escape wherein a pitch
or sprocket wheel, the axis of which is suspended from any suitable support, has
a chain passed over it by means of which persons can lower themselves in the case
of fire, the speed of such descent being controlled by a liquid brake apparatus.
For this purpose there are fixed or formed upon the axis of the pitch wheel one
or more eccentrics or cranks connected to a piston or pistons contained in a cylinder
or cylinders fixed to the suspended framing of the apparatus, which cylinder is
filled with liquid and has a narrow passage or passages establishing a communication
between the two ends of the cylinder, such passage being provided with a regulating
cock, valve or other device for restricting the passage.
Thus as the pitch wheel is made to rotate by the weight of the person or object
suspended from the chain, the excentric is made to move the piston to and fro in
the cylinder and thereby cause the liquid to travel alternately from the one end of
the cylinder to the other through the said passage. As more or less resistance is
offered to the passage of the liquid by the greater or less restriction of the passage
by the cock or valve, it follows that the speed of rotation of the pitch wheel and
consequently also that of the descent of the person suspended from the chain, can
be effectually controlled by this means, so that even the most timid and unex-
perienced persons can safely lower themselves. by means of the apparatus.
The pitch wheel with its chain, excentrics, and brake cylinder or cylinders are
by preference contained within a metal casing that may be conveniently fixed
against the outer wall of a house, under the roof, the casing being extended
downwards sufficiently to contain the whole of the chain coiled up, this being by
preference an endless one.
The lower end of the casing is closed by a hinged flap which is held closed by a
suitable catch. On releasing the catch either by hand or by a suitable electric or
other releasing device, the flap opens and allows the chain to fall down. A person
desirous of descending then passes a suitable belt round him and hooks it on to a
link of the chain, whereupon this will descend at a moderate speed controlled as
above described. The chain being endless, it will be seen that persons can be
lowered in quick succession thereby.
Dated this 8th day of March 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fire Escape.
I, JACOB KELLER, of No. 46 Johannesvarstadt, Basel, Switzerland, Master
Girdler 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 improved construction of fire escape wherein a pitch
wheel, the axis of which is suspended from any suitable support has a chain passed
over it by means of which persons can lower themselves in the case of fire, the
speed of such descent being controlled by a liquid brake apparatus. For this
D 077

page_text: purpose there are fixed or formed upon the axis of the pitch wheel one or more
eccentrics or cranks connected to a piston or pistons contained in a cylinder or
cylinders fixed to the suspended framing of the apparatus, which cylinder is filled
with liquid and has a narrow passage or passages establishing a communication
between the two ends of the cylinder, such passage being provided with a regulating
cock, valve or other device for restricting the passage.
Thus as the pitch wheel is made to rotate by the weight of the person or object
suspended from the chain, the eccentric is made to move the piston to and fro in
the cylinder and thereby cause the liquid to travel alternately from the one end
of the cylinder to the other through the said passage. As more or less resistance
is offered to the passage of the liquid by the greater or less restriction of the
passage by the cock or valve, it follows that the speed of rotation of the pitch
wheel and consequently also that of the descent of the person suspended from the
chain can be effectually controlled by this means, so that even the most timid and
inexperienced persons can safely lower themselves by means of the apparatus.
The accompanying drawing shews by way of example a fire escape of the above
described construction arranged with two hydraulic cylinders.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew two vertical sections at right angles to each other.
Over the chain wheel A, which runs loose upon an axis C fixed in the casing B,
passes an endless chain D, from which the persons to be saved suspend themselves
by means of a belt round the waist, provided with a safety hook which is hooked
on to one of the links of the chain so that the weight of the suspended person, in
pulling at the chain, causes the wheel A. to rotate. This rotation of the wheel A
is, controlled by the two hydraulic brake cylinders E E, so that tlie chain with
the suspended person is prevented from descending too rapidly..
For this purpose the nave of the wheel A. lias two eccentrics F F fixed to it,
which by means of the rods G G cause the pistons H H to work up and down in
the cylinders E E. The latter are mounted loose on an axis fixed on the
casing. B and are charged with a liquid such as water, oil &c.
Both ends of the cylinders are made to communicate with each other by a pipe K
having a cock L or other regulating device by which the sectional area of the
communicating passage can be regulated.
It is by preference constructed as a conical plug having a screw thread so that
by rotating it in one direction or the other it is made to project more or less into
the passage of the pipe K.
On the rotation of the chain wheel A the pistons H H will be moved to and fro
in the cylinders, which will at the same time be thereby made to oscillate upon
their axis of suspension I; the liquid is consequently forced by the piston to pass
through the pipes K alternately from the one end of the cylinder to the other,
and as, according to the position of the screw plug such passage is more or less
restricted, the resulting greater or less resistance offered by the fluid to the
movement of the pistons H H will cause these to travel at a corresponding more
or less restricted speed, whereby the speed of rotation of the wheel A and the
descent of the chain with the person will be effectually controlled so that the
descent shall not take place too rapidly.
The eccentrics F F are by preference arranged with their throws at 90° to each
other.
The casing B is provided with lugs aalatby means of which the apparatus can
be hung upon hooks near the roof of the house... At the lower end. the casing. B
is' closed by a hinged door b. which is; secured..by. a bolt or catch c when the
apparatus is not in use, the chain D having been previously drawn up into the
casing, so as to be entirely enclosed thereby.
When the apparatus is to be used the bolt csecuring the door bis withdrawn,
so that the door can open and allow the chain D to fall down, and hang loose in
a loop. The opening of the bolt may be conveniently effected either by a cord;
or by an electrical detent included in an electrical circuit that can be closed' by
pressing on a contact button.

page_text: This new fire escape offers the following advantages as compared with existing
appliances for the same purpose. Firstly, in consequence of the automatic brake
device any timid persons, such as women and children can readily save themselves
thereby; Secondly, the chain being endless, the apparatus may serve to save
simultaneously persons at different stories of a building, and also persons may use
the same in rapid sequence at one and the same storey: Thirdly, as all parts of
the apparatus are made of metal, it cannot be destroyed by fire.
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:
A fire escape capable of rapid consecutive or simultaneous use by several persons,
consisting of an endless chain D passing over a chain wheel A which is connected
by an eccentric or eccentrics F or similar devices to the piston or pistons H of
a brake cylinder or cylinders E so that the rotation of the wheel and the descent
of the chain is controlled thereby, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.