An Improved Fire-escape.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire-escape.
I, EDWARD THOMAS of 5 Ashmore Road, Harrow Road, London, Blind
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:-
:―
This invention refers to the fire-escapes for attachment to upper windows of
dwelling-houses and factories and for like purposes, the essential requirements of
which are moderate cost, compactness of form, rapidity and certainty of operation.
These advantages I believe are possessed by my invention in no common degree.
My invention consists of three main parts 1, the canvas shute which is well
known and employed by many previous inventors; 2, an iron frame of special
construction, and 3, a coiled spring which assists in bringing the apparatus
into use.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which,
Fig. 1, shows a side elevation of the roller and the rigid frame which latter
carries the canvas sleeve or shoot which is indicated by dotted lines.
Fig. 2, shows a reduced front elevation of my invention with shoot attached
ready for use.
Fig. 3, shows a side elevation of Fig. 2 with window frame in section, a portion
of the canvas removed to show the padded cushion.
Fig. 4, shows my fire escape folded beneath the window.
a, is the canvas sleeve or shoot.
b, is the metal framework.
c, is the spring roller which helps to lift the frame into position.
d, is an upper horizontal bar which engages with the window frame and keeps
the upper portion of the head of the shoot in position when in operation.
e, is a rope stiffener assisting to keep the mouth of the shoot distended, and also
forming a means of securely attaching the shoot to the metal frame.
ff, are brackets forming bearings for the roller c.
g, is the window sill.
h, is a soft cushion or pad for preventing injury to persons descending by the
escape.
i, i, are open spaces at the side of the shoot to allow of looking out or speaking
to persons below.
The mode of using my invention is as follows:-The fire-escape being fixed in
the room as shewn in Fig. 4, it is only necessary to open the lower sash and apply
a slight upward pressure of the hand when the escape urged by the spring roller c
turns over into the open window frame and takes the position shown in Figs. 2 & 3.
The canvas shoot now falls by gravity, and the apparatus is ready for use.
A further improvement designed by me for the use of hospitals, children or
invalids is a supplemental spring roller placed beneath the shoot roller around
which is coiled a band of canvas long enough to reach the ground, at the end of
which is placed a short bag or sack capable of receiving a child or the lower half
of an invalid's person. This bag must be of a size to pass easily down the shoot.
When employed it would be thrown into the mouth of the open shoot and the
invalid placed inside it when it could be lowered gradually by an attendant at
the window paying out the band as required.

page_text: When the bag has been emptied at the lower end of the shoot, the spring roller
would draw it up again. Expanding rings of wire can also be sewn around the
lower end of the shoot at intervals to check a too rapid descent.
These arrangements are however not recommended for able bodied adults, as
they are not required when the persons descending are able to check the rapidity of
the descent by extending their elbows or knees in the usual way.
.
A portable form of my fire-escape without the spring roller but with two
horizontal bars would be of great service in saving life at fires if it could be
furnished to the fire brigade so as to be taken up a ladder by a fireman and placed
quickly in the window frame of a burning house, as by its means thirty persons
could safely descend in a minute and a half, which is much faster than they could
climb down a ladder, and with far greater safety from accident. The fireman
could in many cases enter the room fix the escape despatch the inmates down the
shoot and descend himself in a few seconds.
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, the spring roller c, special metal frame b, and arrangement of
rope e, which keeps the mouth and throat of the escape distended, as herein
described and set forth.
2. In a fire-escape the combination of the spring roller c, and metal frame b, with
rope e, canvas shoot a, and with or without the supplemental roller, band and bag,
for invalids and children as herein described and set forth.
3. In a portable fire escape the metal frame b, with two horizontal bars and the
rope e, in combination with the shoot a, and with or without the supplemental band
and bag as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 9th day of January 1894.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C., Agent for Applicant.