Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
We, HENRY WHITTALL COCKING, of 31, Camden Square, in the County of
London, Gentleman, and HENRY ESCHBACHER, of 120 Parnell Road, Old Ford, in
the County of London, Seal Skin Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an apparatus whereby one or more persons may escape
from a building on fire. The apparatus is contained in a box or cabinet, preferably
placed at a window or in some convenient location, from which it can be readily
removed to a window, in the event of fire. The cabinet can be used as a table or
similar article of furniture when not required for its special object.
The apparatus comprises a strong metallic frame, usually made of bar iron or
steel, of a U form, but inverted son. The two side arms are adapted to slide in
and out of the cabinet in a diagonal direction, within suitable guide ways or
supports. When the frame is closed inwards in its normal position, the cross bar
is enclosed within the cabinet, but when the frame is made to slide out of the
cabinet in its diagonal path the cross bar portion is raised into an overhung
position like the top of a crane derrick. To allow this movement, the lower sash
(for example) of a window is fully opened, the frame drawn out of the cabinet, and
the cross bar is arranged to pass out of the open window clear of the bottom rail
of the sash. To the cross bar of the frame is suspended one or more lines of strong
webbing, wire rope, or other suitable material strong enough to fully sustain the
weight of a person. To the suspended end of the webbing (for example) is hung a
body belt, seat, or other means for holding a person using the escape; and webbing
of a sufficient length is provided and wound within the cabinet upon one or more
drums or pulleys to which a suitable spring or springs are attached, so arranged
and adapted as to wind up the webbing after it has been drawn out. Consequently,
when a person makes use of the escape, the belt (for example) is adjusted round
the body, and the person springs or drops out of the window. The weight draws
out the webbing from its pulley or pulleys over a roller at the cross bar portion of
the frame, and as the person descends the spring is being wound up and therefore
automatically checks the speed of falling to a safe degree. When the person is
detached from the line, the coiled up spring automatically winds up the line ready
for use by any other person remaining in the building, so that no time is lost.
As an additional check to undue or dangerous velocity in the descent of a person
using the escape a revolving vane or fan is used, and driven by suitable means
from the axle carrying the winding drum or pulley. This fan also acts in like
manner when the webbing is being rewound, thus preventing any undue strain upon
the line or other parts of the apparatus. In addition to the fan, or in lieu of it, we
sometimes use friction rollers or balls to check the velocity of the suspending line
or lines.
It is to be understood that we may mount the cabinet with its contained apparatus
in any convenient manner, so that-for example-it may be readily removed from
any part of a building to a suitable place for use, and that suitable fastenings
may be combined with the apparatus whereby the latter is anchored to any required
window for use.
Dated this 16th day of Anonet 1802

page_text: Improvements in Fire Escapes.
We, HENRY WHITTALL COCKING, of 31, Camden Square, in the County of
London, Gentleman, and HENRY ESCHBACHER, of 120 Parnell Road, Old Ford,
in the County of London, Seal Skin Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manuer the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an apparatus whereby one or more persons may escape
from a building on fire. The apparatus is contained in a box or cabinet, preferably
placed at a window or in some convenient location from which it can be readily
removed to a window, in the event of fire. The cabinet can be used as a table or
similar article of furniture when not required for its special object.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus for the object in view; Fig. 2 is a
plan of the same with the top removed; Fig. 3 is a plan showing the top, Fig. 4 is a
side elevation of the top of the frame from which one or more lines are suspended,
Fig. 5 is the same on a reduced scale to show a strap, girdle, or seat to receive
the person being lowered to the ground,
Fig. 6 is a transverse elevation of the frame indicated in Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 is an elevation and Fig. 8 a plan of rollers and detent device; and
Fig. 9 is an elevation and Fig. 10 a plan of a pair of rolls between which the
webbing and supporting line is guided.
The apparatus comprises a strong metallic frame, a usually made of bar iron or
steel, of a U form, but inverted so: n. The two side arms a, a, of the frame are
adapted to slide in and out of the cabinet in a diagonal direction, within suitable
guide ways or supports, c. When the frame a, a, is closed inwards in its normal
position, the cross bar a¹ Fig. 6, is enclosed within the cabinet b, but when the
frame is made to slide out of the cabinet in its diagonal path the cross bar portion a¹
is raised into an overhung position like the top of a crane derrick. To allow this
movement, the lower sash (for example) of a window is fully opened, the frame
drawn out of the cabinet, and the cross bar is arranged to pass out of the open
window clear of the bottom rail of the sash. To the cross bar a' of the frame a, a,
is suspended one or more lines d of strong webbing, wire rope, or other suitable
material strong enough to fully sustain the weight of a person. To the suspended
end of the webbing (for example) is hung a body belt, e, or it may be a seat, or
other means for holding a person using the escape; and webbing of a sufficient
length is provided and wound within the cabinet upon one or more drums or
pulleys to which a suitable spring or springs 9 are attached, (shown by dotted
lines in Fig. 1), so arranged and adapted as to wind up the webbing d after it
has been drawn out. Consequently, when a person makes use of the escape, the
belt e (for example) is adjusted round the body, and the person springs or drops
out of the window. The weight draws out the webbing d from its pulley or
pulleys over rollers at the cross bar portion a¹ of the frame, and as the person
descends the spring 9 is being unwound and therefore automatically checks the
speed of falling to a safe degree. When the person is detached from the line, the
action of the spring automatically winds up the line d ready for use by any other
person remaining in the building, so that no time is lost.
g
As an additional check to undue or dangerous velocity in the descent of a person
using the escape a revolving vane or fan i is used, and driven by suitable means,
such as a chain from the drum k, mounted on a suitable axle carrying the winding
drum or pulley, or on a separate axle and connected therewith by gearing as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This fan i also acts in like mauner when the webbing d is

page_text: being rewound, thus preventing any undue strain upon the line or other parts of
the apparatus. In addition to the fan, or in lieu of it, we sometimes use friction
rollers or balls to check the velocity of the suspending line or lines.
It is desirable that the spring g should not be too strong, so that its action should
not unduly check the descent of a person using the escape apparatus. Its principal
function is therefore to automatically return the belt e (or seat) to the window and
rewind the webbing d upon the pulley or pulleys fin readiness for use; and the
length and weight of webbing required, the resistance opposed by the rotation of
the vane i, and the frictional resistance of the apparatus, (especially where two.
drums or pulleys such as fand k, on separate axles, are connected together by
gearing as shown in Figs. 1 and 2), must be taken into consideration in determining
the power and range of the spring or springs g.
In addition to the foregoing considerations, the weight of a person using the
apparatus must be provided for, and this is done by certain frictional devices acting
as brakes, which are shown in detail in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, and their action when
in use can be followed in Fig. 1. The webbing d is shown in the latter figure as
passing over one, and under the other, of the two friction rollers 1, and two pawls /',.
mounted on a pin common to both, are so arranged as to act as detents and prevent
the revolution of the friction rollers when a person is using the escape.
If the
person is either very heavy or very light, the frictional resistance of the webbing
sliding over the stationary friction rollers (as held by the detent pawls ) is
increased or reduced by the position of another friction roller also held from
rotating by a pawl 3 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The roller 1 is carried in a
suitable frame m and adjusted to the required position by a hand wheel and screw n
working in a nut n' secured to the cabinet b. A suitable scale and pointer o shows
the amount of adjustment required for certain persons; and when the spring g is in
action to rewind the webbing d the direction of movement releases all the pawls
and and allows the friction rollers and to revolve freely. Two spiral
springs pare adapted to throw in horizontal bolts p' into sockets or holes in the
frame a, (when drawn out), and hold the same securely in position; and when the
frame is returned within the cabinet, the cross bar portion a¹ with the pulleys h,
and belt or seat portion e fits within the cabinet at the upper right hand portion
near the springs p, a hinged lid being fitted to the cabinet (as indicated in Fig. 3).
to admit and enclose it.
It will be understood that one central pulley f may be used as a winding drum
instead of two side ones, as indicated, and the other necessary parts correspondingly
modified. Also that the form of the frame, and transverse section of it may also
be modified without departing from the nature of the invention. We may also
apply means for winding the frame in and out, instead of pulling it out, and the
cabinet can be so mounted and arranged that it can be readily removed from one
part of a building to another, and provided with suitable fastenings to hold it
securely at any required window for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;-
1. A cabinet fire escape apparatus having means for suspending, lowering, and
returning a belt, seat, or other equivalent attachment or support, substantially as
and for the purpose herein shown and described.
2. In a fire escape, the combination of a cabinet provided with diagonal grooves
or supports c; a frame a (carrying a suspending pulley or pulleys h) adapted to
slide within the said grooves in an upward and outward direction; a pulley or
pulleys adapted to receive webbing or other equivalent means of support ;. a fan i
adapted to check the speed of rotation of the pulley f; and a spring g adapted to
automatically rewind the said webbing, after it has been drawn off the pulley or
pulleys f, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
3. In a fire escape apparatus, frictional roller devices arranged and automatically

page_text: operating to remain stationary when a turning force is applied in one direction, and
rotating freely when the said force is applied in the opposite direction, substantially
as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 7, 8, 9
and 10.
Dated thin 15th don of M- 1901
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.