Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I, STEPHEN TAFT, of Millbury in the County of Worcester, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 improvements in fire escapes, the object being to
provide a safe, sure and reliable device for rescuing persons from burning
buildings.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts herein-
after fully described and specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing;
Figure 1, represents a side view of the device;
Figure 2, is a similar view of the suspending clutch showing a modified
construction;
Figure 3, is a detail view of the belt fastening.
In the said drawings the reference numeral 1, designates the suspending clutch,
constructed of metal and having two depending legs 2 and 3. One of these legs
has its free end formed into an outwardly extending hook 4, and intermediate of its
ends is provided with an inwardly projecting loop 5, having a friction sleeve 6. The
other arm 3, is provided with a loop 7 and friction sleeve 8, and the clutch body is
provided with a similar loop 9, and sleeve 10. The upper or opposite end of
the clutch is provided with a hook 12, by which it may be suspended from a
window.
Near the upper end the clutch is provided with an outwardly extending flange 13,
having a curved recess 14. The numeral 15, designates a lever pivoted to the
clutch, having an arm 16, and an eccentric head 17, serrated or provided with teeth.
This lever is provided with two or more pivot holes 19, and the clutch body is also
provided with a plurality of holes or apertures, so that the pivot pin or bolt 20, can
be changed so as to vary the distance of said lever from the flange 13. The
numeral 21 denotes a spring secured to the clutch body at one end, while its other
end is bent over forming a hook which engages with a loop pivoted to the underside
of the arm 16, of the eccentric lever. The tendency of the spring is to force the
eccentric head of the lever towards the flange 13, and the purpose thereof will be
hereafter set forth.
The numeral 22, designates a strip of webbing, of a length at least twice as great
as the highest point from which the device is to be suspended or used, so that when
doubled upon itself it forms two strands, each of which can extend to the ground.
One end of the strip is passed through the loop 5, then through loop 7, up and
through loop 9, around the sleeve 10, and then down through loops 5 and 7, being
provided with a snap or other hook 23, to engage with the suspension belt hereafter
described. The lower end of this strap passes through an eye in the hook, forming
a loop as seen in Fig. 1 by which the strap and book are connected together.
Intermediate of the hook 23, and the clutch, is a hand hold 24, composed of a
rubber and canvas tube which embraces both strands of the webbing, as shown.
The numeral 25, designates the suspension belt constructed of any suitable
material, and is adapted to engage around the body of the person using the device,
underneath of the armpits. The ends of this belt have securely attached thereto
metal plates 26 and 27. The plate 26, intermediate of its ends is provided with
one or more loops 28, which engage between corresponding loops on the other
plate 27, thus forming as it were two hinge leaves which are connected together by
ID 837

page_text: means of a pin or bolt 29, passing through said loops. One of these plates is
provided with an outwardly projecting strip extending from end to end thereof,
which serves as a guide in connecting the plates together, whereby the loops are
readily aligned to receive the securing bolt. This bolt is connected with a cord or
tape 30, extending to the top of the building for a purpose hereafter explained.
The plates are also provided with pivoted loops 31, at top and bottom with one of
which the snap hook on the end of the strip of webbing engages.
The operation is as follows. The clutch can be secured to a staple or other
similar holding device by means of the hook 12. Some buildings, however, are
provided with permanent vertical wires, extending from top to bottom thereof, in
close proximity to the windows. In this case the clutch is secured to the wire by
means of the flange 13, and the eccentric head of the lever 15, which bears against
the wire and holds it firmly against said flange, thus securely holding the clutch.
The person using the device next places the belt around his body, at a convenient
point, secures it by means of the plates 27 and 28, and bolt 29, and then connects
the same with the snap of the webbing. He is then ready to descend and he grasps
the hand hold and lets himself gently out of the window. He can descend gradually
either by compressing the hand hold or by paying out slowly the slack of the
webbing, or more quickly by reversing the action. The descent can be controlled
by the person using the device, or by a person stationed at the window or by any
one on the ground below, in the latter cases the parties paying out the
webbing. After a descent has been made the belt is released by withdrawing the
securing bolt when the same can be returned to the window by pulling on the free
strand of wire or the one unattached to the belt. In the case of children, or where
the party descends faints from fright, the effects of the fire, or otherwise, and there
is no one upon the ground to release the belt, a party at the window can withdraw
the bolt by pulling upon the cord connected therewith, and the device drawn up to
the window to rescue others.
In Fig. 2, I have shown a modified construction for attaching a loop arm to the
clutch, which can be connected with a hook by which the device is secured to a
window frame. In this case the two legs 2 and 3, of the clutch are pivoted together,
their upper ends forming serrated jaws, which grasp the arm 32, having loop 33,
and bent portion 34. The numeral 35 designates the pivot bolt passing through
said legs and holding together. 37 is the hook connected with the loop of said
arm.
Secured to some convenient part of the building above the clutch, is a pulley or
sheave 38, through which passes a cord or twine 39, one end of which is connected
with the hook 37, while the other reaches to the ground. By pulling upon this
cord the clutch can be released from its fastening and lowered to the ground and
saved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion 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 a clutch adapted to be secured to a
building, having two downwardly depending legs, and loops and friction sleeves, of
a strip of webbing passed through said loops and doubled upon itself, forming two
strands, one of which is provided with a hook, and a hand hold consisting of a
flexible tube embracing said strands, substantially as described.
2. In a fire escape the combination with the clutch having two downwardly
depending legs and loops and friction sleeves, a flange having a curved recess, and
a spring actuated eccentric lever, of a strip of webbing passed through said loops
and doubled upon itself, forming two strands, one of which is provided with a hook,
and a hand hold consisting of a flexible tube embracing said strands, substantially
as described.
Ladation having a

page_text: a pivoted extension lever, said lever and body portion having a plurality of pivot
holes, substantially as described.
4. In a fire escape the combination with a suspension device and a strip of
webbing or other material connected therewith, of a belt adapted to be connected
with said webbing having end plates with loops and a securing bolt for engaging
with said loops and provided with a securing bolt and a cord or tape connected
therewith, substantially as described.
5. A. securing belt for a fire escape, having end plates with loops engaging with
each other, an outwardly extending strip on one of said plates forming a guide, a
retaining bolt having an attached cord or tape, and loops or rings pivoted to said
plates and adapted to be connected with a lowering strip or rope, substantially as
described.
6. The combination with a fire escape clutch secured to a building of the sheave 38,
and cord 39, passing therethrough, one end of said cord being connected with the
clutch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated thin 2106 of A 1901
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.