A NEW OR IMPROVED FIRE ESCAPE to be as follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HENRY HARGREAVES, of 177 Romford Road, Stratford, in the County of
Essex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED FIRE ESCAPE to be as follows:-
"
This invention consists of a new or improved apparatus by which persons may
be rescued, or may effect their own escape, from a burning building with great
speed, safety, and simplicity of manipulation.
The apparatus consists of a folding frame one end of which is hinged to brackets
fixed preferably to the inside of the wall underneath a window or other opening
in such manner that the said folding frame may be instantly turned out of the
window.
This frame is constructed so that it may be folded in such manner that it may
pass out of the open window without coming in contact with the raised sash, and
the outer portion of the said frame is provided with downwardly projecting
brackets which bear against the outside of the wall underneath the window or
other opening when in use as a fire escape; the whole thus forming a rigid,
crane-like frame projecting from the window or other opening.
To the inside of the wall beneath the window, to the floor, or in any other
suitable or convenient position are firmly fixed two or more bearings which carry
a small shaft with two or more drums mounted thereon, and being also provided at
one end with a flywheel and winch handle. A friction brake, preferably operated
by a hand-wheel in a manner well understood, is also fitted to the beforementioned
shaft. To each of the drums on the said shaft is fixed one end of a rope or chain
which then passes over suitable guide pullies in the beforementioned folding frame
and is attached at its other end to the framework of a bag, sack, or cage in which
the persons to be rescued are placed. The folding frame is preferably provided
with platforms from one side to the other so as to facilitate the safe entry of persons
into the bag, sack, or cage.
It will be seen that when the apparatus is folded up inside the room it will
occupy little space and at the same time will always be ready for use.
It may
also be arranged to fold in such manner as to form a dressing table or other
suitable article of furniture, or it may be enclosed in a cupboard adapted to
receive it.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:
In case of fire the inmates of the room simply open the window and turn the
antiaratur Avan

page_text: the window sill. The outer.part of the folding frame is then pushed over until the
beforementioned projecting brackets bear against the outer wall. One or more
persons then get into the bag, sack, or cage which is suspended at the outer end of
the folding frame, and one of the remaining inmates of the room slackens the
friction brake gradually, when the bag, sack, or cage will descend to the ground
and the inmates will step out.
The brake will then be further slackened and the
bag, sack, or cage raised by means of the winch handle in readiness for further
operation. When all excepting one of the inmates have been lowered, that one may
so set the screw of the brake that when he is in the bag, sack, or cage his weight
will be just sufficient to overcome the friction of the brake, and he will thus be
carried safely to the ground,
As a precaution against the lowering of the bag, sack, or cage before the brake is
on, various means may be employed to hold the bag, sack, or cage until the required
moment.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, HENRY HARGREAVES, of Stratford, in the County of Essex, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "A. NEW OR IMPROVED FIRE
ESCAPE" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :-
This invention consists of a new or improved apparatus by which persons may
be rescued or may effect their own escape from a burning building with great
speed, safety, and simplicity of manipulation.
.
The apparatus consists of a folding frame, one end of which is binged to brackets
fixed preferably to the inside of the wall, underneath a window or other opening,
in such manner that the said folding frame may be instantly turned out of the
window. This frame is constructed so that it may be folded in such manner that
it may pass out of the open window without coming in contact with the raised
Bash, and the outer portion thereof is provided with downwardly projecting brackets
which bear against the outside of the wall underneath the window or other opening
when in use as a fire escape, the whole thus forming a rigid crane-like frame
projecting from the window or other opening.
To the inside of the wall beneath the window, to the floor, or in any other
suitable or convenient position are firmly fixed two or more bearings carrying a
small shaft with two or more drums mounted thereon, and being also provided at
one end with a fly-wheel and winch handle. A friction brake preferably operated
by a hand wheel as hereinafter described is also fitted to the before mentioned
shaft.
To each of the drums on the said shaft is fixed one end of a rope or chain which
then passes over suitable guide pullies in the before mentioned folding frame and
is attached at its other end to the framework of a bag, sack, or cage in which the
persons to be rescued are placed.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a section through the sill and
wall underneath a window opening, my fire escape apparatus being shown in side
elevation. Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an elevation of a
portion of Figure 1 showing the hoisting gear, and Figure 4 is a similar view to
Figure 1 but with the apparatus folded up and stowed away under a dressing table
as hereinafter described. Similar letters relate to like parts in all the Figures.
A is the wall and stone sill of a bedroom window for example. B is a portion of
the wooden window frame and C (Figure 4) is the sash. D D¹ is the folding frame
binged as shown at E to brackets F which are firmly fixed to the wall A, and formed
with the bracket shaped portions D' which bear against the outside of the wall A
as shown clearly in Figure 1.
Gare two bearing brackets also fixed to the inside of the wall A as shown, and
carrying the shaft H. I are two winding drums mounted on the shaft H and
arranged to turn with same. J are two ropes one end of each of which is attached
to one of the winding drums I and the other end after passing through the eyes K
and over the guides pulleys L, is attached to the bag, sack, or cage M which may.
be of any desired material and construction. N is a brake pulley consisting of a
friction drum keyed on the shaft H and a brake band N¹ which is caused to grip
the friction drum by the action of the screw N and hand wheel N°.

page_text: O is a flywheel fitted with a winch handle O¹ for turning the shaft H. P is a
ratchet wheel on shaft H, and Q a pawl fixed to the wall A and adapted to be
thrown in or out of gear with the said ratchet wheel P as desired.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
In case of fire the inmates of the room simply open the window, remove the
table R (Figure 4) and turn the whole apparatus over on its hinged joints E until
the portion D of the folding frame rests on the window frame B. The outer
portion D is then pushed over until the brackets D' bear against the outer wall as
in Figure 1 when the bag M will fall into position as shown. The brake N being
screwed up tight, and the pawl Q being in gear with the ratchet P one or more
persons may now get out of the window on to the platform S and thence into the
Back M. A person inside the room may then remove the pawl from the ratchet
and gradually release the brake pulley N when the bag M with its burden will be
quickly and securely lowered to the ground. The bag M may then be drawn up
by turning the flywheel O by its handle O' and winding up the ropes J on to the
drums I, the pawl Q be placed in gear with its ratchet P, the brake pulley N be
screwed tight, and the apparatus is ready for further operations.
When all excepting one of the inmates have been lowered the pawl Q may be
thrown out of gear with the ratchet P, and the brake N so adjusted that when
Buch last person is in the bag M his weight will be just sufficient to overcome the
friction of the brake and he will thus be lowered safely to the ground. But
I prefer to provide additional ropes T which may be wound on rollers U in the
bottom of the bag M as shown. One end of each of these ropes T is provided
with a hook or staple V. These hooks or staples V are attached to the eyes W on
the folding frame D¹, by the person about to lower himself, before he gets into the
bag M. He then takes firm hold of the ropes T, one in each hand, or the ropes
may be passed round cleats or otherwise, and he is thus enabled to pay off the
ropes T as he desires and thereby lower himself to the ground independently of
the brake pulley N or ratchet P. I sometimes employ a foot brake acting on the
rollers U so as to leave the hands free, or as an additional security.
It will be readily seen that great security is ensured by the use of this fire
escape as the apparatus is always in order and ready for use at a moment's notice;
it is operated entirely from the building, there being no necessity for any assistance
from below; great facility is afforded for getting into the bag M, as the platform S
forms a safeguard to even the most nervous and inexperienced persons, and the
bag M when drawn up ready for use not being free to swing away from the folding
frame D, it is almost impossible for an accident to occur. The apparatus, when
folded together inside a room, will occupy little space and may be arranged to form
a dressing table or other suitable article of furniture or it may be enclosed in a
cupboard adapted to receive it.
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
The improved fire escape consisting of the hinged folding frame, the bag, sack,
or cage, the hoisting and lowering gears and the friction brakes, the whole arranged,
combined and operating substantially as herein before described, and illustrated in
the Drawings hereto annexed.