Improvements in Apparatus for Lowering Persons or Goods from Buildings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Lowering Persons or Goods from
Buildings.
A communication to me from AUGUST RICHTER, Millowner, of Ober-Neukirch, in
the Empire of Germany.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, 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 and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
This invention has for its object improved apparatus for lowering goods from the
different floors of buildings, as for instance in the case of fire or of removal. Or
human beings may also be lowered from a building to the ground by the apparatus.
In the accompanying drawing which is in illustration of the invention,
Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 2 an end view, and Figure 3 a plan of the
apparatus.
The improved apparatus consists of three pullies a arranged so that they revolve
upon axles in a triangular position in a suitable case.
This case is provided with three corresponding openings in its sides opposite to
the rollers, and uniting in a central opening.
Through this opening the loop of a double cord is passed, so that the double
part of the cord passes under the top pulley and out at one side of the case, whilst
the separated cords pass one round each of the pulleys and out at the other side of
the case b.
The apparatus is attached by the loop to a window frame or other opening on
to the floor of the building where it is to be used for lowering goods to the ground,
and two persons below each hold and keep the two separate cords which come
down from the apparatus stretched sufficiently to prevent the case b from sliding
down the cords. The weight to be lowered is then attached to the hook d and the
tightness with which the cords are stretched is reduced so that the case band weight
gradually slide down.
The nearer the frame approaches to the ground, the more obtuse is the angle
made by the two cords, and for this reason it might happen that the cords might
slip off from the two lower pullies.
To prevent this, two guide rollers e are arranged upon the side of the frame or
case from which the two separated cords pass out, above the pullies a, and in this
way the cords are surely prevented from slipping off the pullies.
The axles of the guide rollers e may pass completely through the case b, and be
provided at their other ends with two similar guide rollers e, e¹, which lie close to
the upper pulley and serve to guide the doubled part of the cord as it enters the
apparatus.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The apparatus for lowering human beings and goods from buildings, consisting
of three pullies arranged in triangular shape in a case, the weight to be lowered
being suspended from the case, and the loop upon a doubled cord being attached to
the building, whilst the doubled cord entering at one side of the case is passed first
under one of the pullies, and is then separated and each part passed round one of
the other pullies, and out at the other side of the case, being kept stretched as they
pass down, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.

page_text: 2. Above and adjoining the pullies described in the first claim, the guide rollers
by which the cords are prevented from slipping off the pullies, substantially as
described.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.