AN IMPROVED FIRE ESCAPE, APPLICABLE AS A HOIST AND FOR USE IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES and
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert and Company, Patent
Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my Invention for AN IMPROVED FIRE ESCAPE, APPLICABLE
AS A HOIST AND FOR USE IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES 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 improvements in fire-escapes; and it consists in certain
features of construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described and
pointed out in the claims.
In the Drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation in section and broken in the middle
showing more especially the ends of the device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the
governing mechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation partly in section of a
portion of the governing device. Fig. 4 is a view in detail showing in elevation a
portion of the belt with cords or straps attached for grasping with the hand for
support. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a platform.
A represents a box or casing of any desired material extending from the ground;
to the top floor of a building, or even to the roof if desired. This box is provided
both at the top and at the bottom with a shaft and pulley or roller a, extending
crosswise of the box, and around these pulleys extends an endless belt or chain B,.
to which are attached the platforms C, that are made of a suitable size to
accommodate one or more persons as is desired. These platforms on the descending
side of the belt, are held in a horizontal position by straps, cords, or other
supports c, that are attached to the outside of the platform and to the belt above.,
The inner sides of the platforms are hinged in any suitable manner to the belt so
that on the ascending side of the belt the platform may fold against the belt, as
shown in Fig. 1.
The descending platforms should so nearly fill the space in the box, in which
they operate that there will be no liability to accidents by persons getting their
feet between the edge of the platform and the box.
i

page_text: There should be cross straps or cords attached to the ends c, as shown in Fig. 4,
convenient for grasping with the hand for support. To one of the cross-shafts a is
attached the large gear-wheel a¹, that engages a small pinion a², as shown in Fig. 2,
that actuates the governing device. This pinion is attached to the shaft D, as is
also the brake-wheel d, and the bevel-gear d', that engages the wheel e on the
governor shaft E.
This shaft is provided with a sliding collar e¹, that is grooved on the periphery
to engage the forked lever F.
The shaft E has also a cross arm e³ rigidly attached, near the ends of which are
pivoted the bent arms G, and are providèd near the lower ends with adjustable
balls. The other ends of the levers are connected by the rods g, to the collar e¹
already described. The lever F is also a stiff spring and is fulcrumed near the
brake-wheel d, and is provided with a brake-block f, for engaging the wheel d.
When the speed of the machine becomes too great, the balls fly out as in ordinary
governors.
.
The short ends of the arms G, in combination with the rods g, form toggle-joints;
and the parts are so arranged, that when the arms G are distended to their limit,
the parts forming the toggle-joints will be almost in a straight line, and will
therefore operate with great power upon the lever F, and the brake.
•
The elasticity of the lever F prevents a too sudden or abrupt action of the
brake.
It will be safer to attach this governing device to the upper shaft as the belt
will act with much greater force on this pulley than on the pulley below.
Communications as at H, should be provided from every floor of the building to
the fire-escape. The operation of the device is as follows:
A person from any floor may step on to the platform that is most accessible to
him, and as these platforms are placed only so far apart as will enable a person to
stand between, some of the platforms will always be near at hand. The weight of
a person sets the machine in motion, and the governor so controls the speed, that
the person is quickly and safely carried to the ground. As many people may be
descending simultaneously as can stand on all of the platforms on the descending
side of the belt. Others may follow without stopping the machine, so that a large
number may soon escape from a building.
A crank and gearing, if desired, may be attached to the lower cross-shaft, so
that the machine may be turned backward so as to elevate persons to any floor of
the building, in case other means of access were wanting. Also a slot c¹ may be
made in each platform, as shown in Fig. 5, of sufficient size to accommodate fire-
hose, so that firemen may stand upon these platforms, and be elevated with their
hose to any floor, or even to the roof of the building.
This device is not only useful as a fire-escape, and as a means of assisting
firemen with their accoutrements to the building, but it is a convenient way at all
times to descend from the upper floors of the building, and should be always
accessible for this purpose so that every one in the building may be familiar with
its workings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1st The combination with a belt, of platforms adapted to fold against the belt
on the ascending side, and to assume a horizontal position on the descending side
of the belt, and provided with flexible supports, and openings for the passage of
hose, substantially as set forth.
2nd The combination with the brake-wheel and governor of a fire-escape, of an
elastic lever F, one end of which is directly connected with the governor and is
raised and lowered thereby, and a brake-block secured to said lever, and arranged
to engage the brake-wheel, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 3rd The supports c adapted to support the platforms in a horizontal position
while descending, and provided at the upper portions with a net-work of cross-
supports suitable to grasp with the hand, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.