Improvements in Fire Escapes and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 20th June, 1893-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes and the like.
A communication by AUGUSTE Lemouche, of 78, Rue Féronstrée, Liège, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer and Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an improved safety appliance for use in case of
fire, or other dangers.
The apparatus comprises a skeleton metal cage arranged in the upper part of the
wall of a building in such a way as to be easily accessible. This cage is constructed
in such a way as to allow of the two sides being opened by the person who is under
the necessity of using it, the two faces being two doors, closed by means of springs,
or bolts, so that the person will only have to release these in order to open the
doors.
A rope of a length proportionate to the height of the building, or other place
to which the cage is applied, is placed in the cage. This rope is held in the cage
by means of a ring.
In a more complete apparatus, the rope may be replaced by a light ladder either
of metal, wood or rope, the steps of which fold up one on top of the other, or the
rope may pass through a strong canvas sheath, equal in length to the rope and
sufficiently wide to allow of a corpulent person passing down it holding the rope.
This sheath may be folded up, the rope drawn out, and the whole replaced in
the cage.
If a fire break out, supposing the cage is arranged in a common wall, the
occupant of the dwelling which is burning opens the cage, steps therein, swings
open the doors, throws out the cord or ladder towards the next house, descends by
means of it, and is thus speedily beyond reach of danger. A single cage in a
common wall will thus suffice for the use of two families.
If the cage be arranged in the front of the building, by performing similar
operations, a person may descend into the street.
The cage may be filled with fine sand to prevent the ladder from rusting, and to
give warning of a descent by the cage when there is no conflagration. When the
cage is thus filled, it forms a solid wall, which prevents any noise being overheard
by the neighbours.
The following are some of the numerous advantages of this cage :-
It may be used for calling for assistance in case of thieves, serious illness, fire in
an adjacent house, dynamite explosions, giving way of the house, etcetera, and it will
afford great assistance to the firemen as it will save them running along the roofs,
and will serve as a refuge for them.
Persons whose houses are provided with this apparatus will be completely
secured.
The cage is placed in the wall, and covered with a light coating of bricks, or thin
planks, so that, in case of necessity, this coating or partition may be broken
through in order to enter the cage.
Further advantages of this apparatus are that its cost is small, it does not
take up any room, it does not affect the privacy of a house, and does not detract

page_text: from the symmetry of the front. It is also especially advantageous for detached
houses.
Dated this 19th day of September 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Escapes and the like.
A communication by AUGUSTE LEMOUCHE, of 78, Rue Féronstrée, Liège, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer and Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object an improved safety appliance for use in case of
fire, or other dangers.
The apparatus is shown on the accompanying drawing, and comprises a skeleton
metal cage A A¹, Figure 1, arranged in the upper part of the wall of a building in
such a way as to be easily accessible, to a person who may be in the dwelling in
which the apparatus is arranged. This cage is constructed in such a way as to
allow of the two sides being opened by the person who is under the necessity of
using it, the two faces being two doors, closed by means of springs or bolts, so that
the person will only have to release these in order to open the doors.
A rope B B, Figure 1, of a length proportionate to the height of the building
or other place to which the cage is applied, is placed in the cage.
This rope 18
attached to a hook or ring C, Figures I and III, fixed in the cage.
In a more complete apparatus, the rope may be replaced by a light ladder C¹ C,
Figure II, either of metal, wood or rope, the steps of which fold up one on top of
the other, or the rope may pass through a strong canvas sheath D, Figures 1
and III, equal in length to the rope and sufficiently wide to allow of a corpulent
person passing down it, holding the rope. This sheath may be folded up by
drawing up the rope, and the whole replaced in the cage. A metal support hinged
or pivoted to the cage holds the sheath in position and allows of it being drawn
into the cage by means of the rope.
Figure 3 shows the case and sheath in use. A person who may be in a dwelling
which has taken fire goes to the cage and opens the door by drawing back the
bolts, steps into the cage and, having reached the point A, takes hold of the cord B
and descends into the street, passing down the canvas sheath D and emerging
therefrom at the point G. A single cage arranged in a common wall between two
houses will suffice for the use of two families so long as the cage is made to open
to both sides.
The cage may be filled with fine sand to prevent the ladder from rusting, and to
give warning, by the fall of the sand, of a descent by the cage when there is no
conflagration. When the cage is thus filled, it forms a solid wall, which prevents
any noise being overheard by the neighbours in the case of a cage arranged in a
common wall.
The following are some of the numerous advantages of this cage-
It may be used for making a rapid descent in order to call for assistance in case
of thieves, serious illness, fire in an adjacent house, dynamite explosions, giving way
of the house, etcetera, and it will afford great assistance to the firemen, as it will
save them running along the roofs, and will serve as a means of escape for them
from a building which has become unsafe.

page_text: Persons whose houses are provided with this apparatus will be completely
secure.
The cage which is placed in the wall may be covered on the inside with a thin
layer of bricks or planking, so that, in case of necessity, this coating or partition
may be broken through by a person. in order to enter the cage.
Further advantages of this apparatus are that its cost is small, it does not take
up any room in the house being entirely contained in the wall itself it does not
affect the privacy of a house, and does not detract from the appearance of the front.
It is also especially advantageous for detached houses.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improvements in escapes for use in the case of fire or other dangers,
consisting in the combination of a rope, a light ladder, or a sheath, such as
described, with a skeleton cage constructed as described and which may be filled
with sand for the purposes specified.
2. The general arrangement and construction of parts forming the improvements
in fire escapes and the like substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 14th day of September 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.