Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
COAL DIE DI MUITICALTUN.
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I, FRIEDRICH J. GLASER, of 512. Southport Avenue, in the City of Chicago,
County of Cook, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanic, 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 a novel construction in a fire escape, the object being to
provide a device of this character which can be readily brought into operation
and will accommodate a number of people at one time, and consists in the features
of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention:.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fire escape constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of same.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views of the reel I employ.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the rope ladder depending ready for use.
Fig. 8 is a front elevation of same.
Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 9-9 of Fig. 10.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation showing the end of one of the rungs of the ladder
and devices for holding the ladder away from the walls of the building.
Fig. 11 is a detail view in elevation of one of the devices for holding the ladder
away from the building.
Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing the devices for securing the rungs of the
ladder to the cables, taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9.
Fig. 18 is a detail rear elevation showing the end portion of one of the rungs
and the devices for securing same to the cables.
Referring now to said drawings, A indicates a frame composed of beams
and 2, which is mounted on castors 3. Uprights B are rigidly mounted on said
frame A at one end thereof, and are joined by means of a cross-piece 4 at their
upper ends. Mounted upon said uprights B and extending rearwardly over said
frame 4, are brackets 5 provided with bearings 6 in their outermost ends in
which a shaft 7 is journalled. Said shaft carries a reel S consisting of two pulleys
provided with recesses 9 in their faces in which the ends of the cables 10 of the
ladder are adapted to be secured. Said cables 10 are adapted to wind themselves
upon the faces of said pulleys. Said shaft 7 also carries a wheel 11 at one of its
outer ends by means of which said reel is adapted to be turned. A brake lever 12
is pivoted to one of said uprights B and is adapted to be brought into contact
with the rim of said wheel 11 to regulate the speed at which the ladder is
unwound.
My device is designed to be transported to a window and the ladder to depend
from the sill thereof. To prevent said device from tipping when there is strain on
the ladder, I have provided a cross-bar 13 on said uprights B, the ends of which
project beyond the outer faces of said uprights and are adapted to engage the

page_text: window frame. Pivotally mounted on the forward sides of said uprights B are
two arms 14 between the outer ends of which a frame 15 is mounted which consists
of a foot piece or base 16 on which are two uprights carrying a shaft on which
rollers 17 are mounted over which said ladder is adapted to run. Said frame
can be mounted at any desired point between said arms 14 according to the
distance of the window ledge from the uprights B. Said base or foot piece is
adapted to rest upon the window ledge when the device is in use, as shown in
Fig. 1, and when not in use said arms 14 are adapted to be turned up as shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 1.
In order to enable the entire carriage to be easily moved I have provided arms 18
carrying handles 19 at their outer ends which are secured at their inner ends
to said brackets 5.
Said ladder consists of the cables 10 upon which rungs 20 are mounted at regular
intervals. Said rungs 20 consist preferably of metal tubes flattened at their
ends which are secured to said cables 10 by means of clamps. each consisting of
a plate 21 provided with a groove 22 adapted to receive the cable. In said
groove 22 are two lugs 23 adapted to enter said cable. A strap bolt 24 is passed
over said plate and over the cables, the shanks resting in recesses 25 in said plate
and passing through perforations in the end of the rung. By tightening the nuts
on said bolt the cable is forced and clamped into the groove 22 and the rung
obviously rigidly secured to said cable.
On said plate 21 is a lug 26 on which a rod 27 is adapted to be pivoted. Said rod 27
is provided with a lug 28 which is adapted to engage the projecting end of the
rung to limit the pivotal motion of said rod in one direction. When said ladder
is down said rods 27 are adapted to assume a horizontal position and extend
inwardly from said ladder to hold same outwardly and away from the walls of the
building. When said ladder is rolled up said rods 27 are adapted to lie parallel
with the cables 10.
My device is simple, strong and durable and can be readily operated, and when
in position offers a means of escape for every person in a building.
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:-
1. A fire escape comprising a movable carriage carrying uprights, a reel
mounted in bearings on said uprights, a wheel connected with said reel, a brake
adapted to engage said wheel to regulate the speed of said reel, a flexible
ladder adapted to be wound upon said reel, and a frame carrying rollers over
which said ladder is adapted to run, pivotally mounted on said uprights and
adapted to rest upon the window ledge, substantially as described.
2. A fire escape comprising a movable carriage carrying uprights, a reel
mounted in bearings on said uprights, a wheel connected with said reel, a brake
adapted to engage said wheel to regulate the speed of said reel, a flexible ladder
adapted to be wound upon said reel, a frame carrying rollers over which said
ladder is adapted to run, pivotally mounted on said uprights and adapted to rest
upon the window ledge, and arms pivotally mounted on said ladder and adapted
to abut at their inner ends against the walls of the building to hold said ladder
outwardly from said walls, substantially as described.
3. In a fire escape, a flexible ladder comprising cables and rungs mounted on
said cables, and arms pivotally mounted adjacent said rungs and adapted to abut
against the walls of a building to hold said ladder away from said walls, sub-
stantially as described.
4. In a fire escape, a flexible ladder comprising cables and rungs secured to
said cables, and means for securing said rungs comprising plates provided with
grooves to receive said cables, strap bolts embracing said plates and adapted
to clamp said cables in said grooves, said bolts being adapted to pass through
perforations in said rungs, substantially as described.

page_text: 5. In a fire escape, a flexible ladder comprising cables and rungs secured to
said cables, and means for securing said rungs comprising plates provided with
grooves to receive said cables, strap bolts embracing said plates and adapted to
clamp said cables in said grooves, said bolts being adapted to pass through per-
forations in said rungs, and rods pivotally mounted on said plates and provided
with lugs adapted to engage said rungs to limit the pivotal motion of said rods
in one direction, said rods being adapted to turn on their pivots when said ladder
is let down to engage the walls of the building and hold said ladder away from
said walls, substantially as described.
FRIEDRICH J. GLASER,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.