Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I, JAMES PRIDE, of 17 James Street, Westbourne Terrace, W. Builders'
Manager, 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 a device by which a person may lower himself or be
lowered from a burning building and by which the rate of descent is automatically
restricted to a safe limit by brake apparatus contained within the device and
caused to act and the brake power regulated by the weight of the body being
lowered.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 is a view of one form of the device shown with one of the housing plates
removed and with part of the brake apparatus in section.
Fig. 2 is a view the lower part in side elevation and the upper part in transverse
vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a view with one of the housing plates removed and
a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 of a second form of the device.
Figs. 5 to 15 are views, each with one of the housing plates removed, of other
forms of the device constructed according to my invention, and
Fig. 16 is a view showing the manner of using the invention.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In Figs. 1 and 2, A A' are the two preferably-metal housing plates only the one
marked A of which is shown in Fig. 1 the other plate A¹ being supposed to be
removed so as to more clearly illustrate the invention. A² is a preferably hollow
core or block which may advantageously be cast in one with, the housing plate A.
The two plates A A' may be secured together by screws A³ Fig. 2 passing through
the plate A and screwing into holes A Fig. 1.
B B¹ are two levers or jaws both pivotted on the same bolt B' which as shown in
Fig. 2 passes through the upper part of said levers, the plates A A' and through
the lower part of the eye or ring C by means of which the fire-escape may be
suspended from a bracket or equivalent projecting from the wall of a building as
shown in Fig. 16, or from any other convenient support. Each of the levers or
jaws B B for the sake of lightness is preferably formed of two side walls b joined
by a third wall or web b¹ which in profile as shown in Fig. 1 approximately
corresponds with the shape of the block or core A' and this shape may be any that
will expose the necessary extent of frictional surface or offer the necessary
resistance to the passage of the rope D. Between the lower and outwardly turned
ends of the plates or walls b of each jaw or lever B B is mounted a roller B³
capable of rotating on a pin or stud B* secured in said plates.
It will be obvious that each lever B B' instead of being constructed as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2 may be of more solid construction the ends merely being bifurcated
for connection to the pivot B' and for the passage of the rope D. This rope
passes over one roller B and between the inner surfaces of the levers or jaws B B₁
and outer surface of the block or core A' and over the second roller B³ as
shown.
It will be seen that as soon as the rope D is placed in tension, as for example by
a person suspended from it, considerable leverage is exerted on the rope by one or
other or it may be both of the levers or jaws BB' which jaws thus jam the rope
against the core A. In Fig. 1 the device is shown with the load suspended by the
part of the rope D at the right hand side, the power being thus applied at the

page_text: point B and the lever B turning upon its fulcrum B' the rope is jammed between
the lever or jaw B and the core A² while at the same time there being no load on
the other part of the rope D the lever B¹, by the tension on the rope and its
movement in the direction indicated by the arrows as effected by the weight of the
load, is more or less raised and presents comparatively little resistance to the rope's
movement.
If desired the braking power of the before-described device may be increased by
the means shown in dotted lines at the right hand side of Fig. 1 and which may
also be applied to the other side; these means consist of a pin or stud P secured to
lugs formed on the housing plates A. A' and over which the rope is passed in close
proximity to each of the rollers B³.
In the following figures several modifications of the apparatus are shown as
examples, the application of the same general principle of the brake the power or
extent of which varies with the load being employed throughout.
It is not always necessary that the brake should be in the form of a lever though
it will be seen that it is the form adopted in most of these illustrations; in Figs. 12
and 15 for example though the braking power is applied in a similar manner by the
load itself and proportioned thereto, no lever in the ordinary sense of that term is
employed.
In the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the housing plates A A' and core A* are
formed in one piece and the central opening extends completely through the core
and plates. The two jaws or levers B B' are pivotted together and to the housing
plates at B³ as in the preceding example and they are preferably formed sufficiently
thin and elastic to enable them to bend when drawn tightly against the rope D so
as to more firmly grip it. These jaws or levers B B like those in the preceding
example are bifurcated at their ends and at the lower end of each may be provided
a roller B.
In this example the rope D is crossed at the underside of the corc A* and passes
over the rollers B as shown in Fig. 3 and when the load is applied say to the part
of the rope leading directly down from the roller B' of lever or jaw B the said jaw
will be forced inwards against the rope which will be supported against such
pressure by the core A while at the same time the other lever or jaw B¹ may
move slightly apart from the rope D as shown in Fig. 3 or may rest lightly
against it.
Instead of the jaws B B' of the last described example being formed as two
different parts pivotted together at B2 they may be formed in one piece like a
spring and with a suitable projection or equivalent by which the said spring may be
secured in the housing so as to prevent it from moving out of position.
In the device shown in Fig. 5 the two levers or jaws B B are pivotted on
different studs 133 near the lower part of the housing the wall A' of which in the
construction here shown joins the two housing plates (only one of which is shown)
and is of approximately the same shape as the adjacent outer faces of the
levers B B'; these faces in Fig. 5 are of undulating form but they may be of any
other desired form. The lower and outwardly turned ends of the levers B B' are
bifurcated to admit of the passage of the rope D as shown. The ring C in this
example is shown as forming part of the housing, but this may be otherwise
conveniently arranged.
When the rope D of the device shown in Fig. 5 is placed in tension the lever or
jaw at that side at which the strain is applied as shown in Fig. 5 with regard to the
lever B, is drawn outwards so that its outer undulating surface bears against the
rope and presses it against the inner surface of the wall B' with the result that
great resistance is offered to the travel of the rope.
In the device shown in Fig. 6 the rope passes around a roller or pulley E which
is free to rotate upon a pin or stud E¹, or this part E may be fixed and operate on
the rope D in the same manner as the before described cores or blocks A². The
two levers or jaws B B¹ in this device are pivotted near their lower ends on
separate studs B³ and may bear directly on the rope in the manner indicated in

page_text: ig. 7 or as shown in Fig. 6 a spring represented by the thick line F and preferably
otched into the levers B B' at f may be interposed between the levers B B' and
ope D.
upon
As soon as the rope D is placed in tension it tends to force the lower end of one
the rope
r both of the levers or jaws B B' outwards and tighten the spring F
s will be well understood.
In the device shown in Fig. 7 the housing is formed with a fixed hollow circular
core A' and each of the two levers B B' is pivotted at or near its central part on a
in or stud B. When the rope D say at the part at the left hand side of Fig. 7 is
placed in tension the upper end of the lever B as shown, is drawn tightly against
he rope by the tendency of the rope to draw the lower end of the lever downwards
and outwards.
In the device shown in Fig. 8 there are provided two jaws B B' of substantially
the same construction as those shown in Fig. 3 and both are pivotted together at
their upper ends on a stud or bolt B. At their lower ends the jaws B B of Fig. 8
are coupled together by one or preferably two plates G which are pivotted to the
underside of the core A' by a pin or stud G' passing through a lug G³ and also if
desired through the housing plates. B are the rollers mounted on the lower ends
of the jaws B B¹ and over which the rope travels.
Supposing that the tension on the rope D tends to draw it in the direction
indicated by the arrows in Fig. 8 then the pressure exerted on the roller B³ at the
left hand side of the figure draws said roller towards the left and through the
plates G drags the jaw or lever B at the right hand side of the figure hard against
the rope D.
In the device shown in Fig. 9 there are provided a pulley E pivotted on a pin or
stud E' and two brake blocks or dogs H'H' each pivotted on a pin or stud B
When tension is applied to the rope D say that part thereof at the right hand side
of Fig. 9, the pressure on the block H forces it hard against the rope D and
presents great resistance to its motion, the other block H' meanwhile resting lightly
If desired the block E
against or moving slightly apart from the rope D as shown.
may be a non-rotating one.
In the device shown in Fig. 10 the two levers B B', in a manner somewhat
similar to those shown in Fig. 5 are arranged to check the motion of the rope by
pressing the rope in an outward direction hard against the inner surface of the
housing wall A as will be well understood without further description.
In the device shown in Fig. 11 only one lever I is provided; this lever is
preferably of the form shown, though if desired it may be modified in form and it is
pivotted on the bolt or stud B at or near the lower part of the housing, which
is preferably of the form shown so as to substantially correspond with the shape of
each side of the lever 1. As shown in Fig. 11 the rope D passes over the lever I
and when it is placed in tension drags said lever over to the side at which the
tension is applied (this in the figure is the left-hand side) and retards the rope's
motion by jamming it against the adjacent left-hand side A° of the housing, the
lower end of the lever I also jamming the ascending part of the rope against the
lower right hand side of the housing.
The checking action on the rope D in Fig. 12 is obtained by the non-rotating but
vertically movable circular block J jamming the rope against the housing-wall As.
The block J'is provided with a square or otherwise suitably shaped projection J'
on each side and each of which is capable of moving up and down in a slot AⓇ in
the adjacent housing-plate A or A' only a portion of the latter of which is shown in
Fig. 12. If desired however the slot may be formed in the circular block J and a
square bolt or equivalent secured in the housing-plates A A¹.
In the device shown in Fig. 13 a roller or disc K is provided in the upper part of
the housing and two levers L are each pivotted on a pin or stud B in the lower
part of the housing. Each of the levers L at one part is curved to correspond with
the contour of the roller K while its end rests upon a pin M secured in the housing
to support the lever when in its lowest or normal position. The outer end L' of

page_text: each lever L is curved as shown and the rope D passes over one of these curved
ends over the roller K and over the other of the curved ends L'. When the
rope
D of Fig. 13 is placed in tension one or other of the levers L, according to
the part of the rope drawn upon, is raised and forces the roller K upwards and
jams the rope D between the roller and the housing wall A considerable brake-
power being thereby exerted on the rope. In Fig. 13 the roller K is shown with a
central perforation K' through which passes a pin or stud A' of smaller diameter
than the hole K¹ to allow for the free movement of the roller K; it will however
be obvious that the stud A' may be dispensed with and that either a solid disc or
merely a sufficiently strong ring may be used instead, the pins M may also be
dispensed with if desired.
In the device shown in Fig. 14 the levers B B are each pivotted on a separate
stud B near the lower part of the housing and each at its upper part is adapted to
bear against the underside of a spring F which is in contact with the rope D and
jams it against the wall A5 when the rope is placed in tension.
In the device shown in Fig. 15 the two side walls of the housing are each
provided with a horizontal slot A in which the spindles of the three rollers N N'N,
are free to move. The housing wall A' at the ends is semi-circular so as to
correspond with the peripheries of the rollers N. When the rope D is placed in
tension the rollers N N N are all forced towards one or other end of the housing,
according to the part of the rope to which the tension is applied, and the
rope
accordingly jammed between one of the rollers N and the adjacent part of the
housing wall A.
18
It will be obvious that the roller N¹ may be omitted from the last described
device and that the rollers N may be in peripheral contact with each other so that
they would rotate in opposite directions to each other and being both in contact
with the rope tend still farther to retard its travel.
In Fig. 16 A represents any one of the before described devices which is
suspended by means of its ring C from a bracket O or equivalent support projecting
from the window opening or face of the building. The two ends of the rope D are
spliced, or otherwise suitably connected together so as to form a continuous rope
and to this preferably two adjustable loops D¹ are secured in any desired manner.
The rope D morcover may be knotted as at D or otherwise provided with enlarge-
inents or projections at certain parts and between these knots the rope works through
a weight D; one of these enlargements may be the knot tying the two ends of the
rope together.
The operation of the before described apparatus is as follows,-
A person desiring to escape from a building passes one of the loops D' over his
head and adjusts it beneath his arms as shown in Fig. 16; the loop, being in the
nature of a slip-knot, tightens about his body and prevents him from slipping out.
He then swings himself out from the building and automatically travels down at a
safe speed provided for by one of the before described devices which as will have
been understood is so constructed that the greater the weight the greater the effect
of the brake and vice versa. When he is within a few feet of the ground one of the
enlargements D "picks up" the weight D³ so that besides the descending part, the
ascending part of the rope is also placed in tension and the second brake lever B
or B or equivalent is brought into operation with the result that additional brake
power is applied and the person descending reaches the ground at a slower rate and
without any appreciable shock. The other loop D' has by this time been raised to
approximately the level from which the first person started to descend so that
another person may descend as soon as the first has released himself from the loop
in which he was suspended.
The weight D³ and knots D2 may be dispensed with if desired and at any time
during the descent the person using the apparatus can stop his descent by pulling
the ascending rope and thus bringing into play the second brake lever and so
increasing the brake power.
If desired the rope D instead of being provided with two loops D' as before

page_text: described may be provided with a greater number of loops or only one loop and
other modifications may be made without departing from the essential spirit of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the 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 device the combination with a core or block such as A' of two
jaws or levers such as B B¹ adapted to operate in conjunction therewith sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a fire escape device the combination with a housing having a plain undulated
or other wall A' of two jaws or levers such as B B' adapted to operate in conjunction
with said wall substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 5, 10 and 14 of
the accompanying drawings.
3. In a fire escape device the combination with a core or roller such as E and two
levers such as B B₁ of a spring such as F substantially as described and illustrated
in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a fire escape device the combination with a core and two jaws or levers such
as A and B B' respectively of one or more pivotted plates such as G coupling the
two jaws or levers together substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
5. In a fire escape device the combination with a core or roller such as E of two
jaws or dogs such as H H' substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 9 of
the accompanying drawings.
6. In a fire escape device the combination with a housing having a wall such as A³
of a pivotted block or lever such as I substantially as described and illustrated in
Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In a fire escape device the combination with a housing having a wall such as A*
of a movable though non-rotatable block such as J substantially as described and
illustrated in Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.
8. In a fire escape device the combination with a housing having a wall such as A°
block roller disc or ring such as K of two levers such as L L' substantially as
described and illustrated in Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings.
9. In a fire escape device the combination with a housing having a wall such as A*
of three rollers such as N N¹ N or two rollers such as N N in peripheral contact
with each other substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 13 of the
accompanying drawings.
10. The combination with a fire escape device of a rope and knots or enlarge-
ments such as D' and weight such as D³ substantially as described and illustrated
in Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of March 1882.
J. PRIDE.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.