IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS, APPLICABLE AS FIRE ESCAPES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of Chancery Lane, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND
LOWERING WEIGHTS, APPLICABLE AS FIRE ESCAPES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Eugene Geraud Biard, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 6th February 1877, and dated tho 8th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1876.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SAFETY APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS, APPLICABLE AS FIRE
ESCAPES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Eugene
Geraud Biard, of Paris, France.
This Invention is particularly applicable for use in case of fires, although it may
be used for other purposes for ascending and descending, in mines, for example.
According to one arrangement the descending or lowering apparatus is composed
of two collars or guides connected by a rod or axis, and these parts may be made of
metal or of any other suitable material, and in one or several pieces, and connected
together by screws or in any other suitable manner.
According to one arrangement the collars or guides are provided with three
vertical apertures, through which a rope passes; one end is connected to a balcony,
any article of furniture, or other suitable place; the cord is passed through one of
the apertures, down through the same, up through another, and down by the third,
from whence it is carried down to the ground to any required length.. The person
to descend, or the weight to be lowered is secured to the rope by a ring, hook, or
other device, the weight of the person descending, or the weight to be lowered
causes the said rope to travel through the guides before described, the speed of
descent being regulated by pressure applied to the rope by the person descending
or by some one on the ground to which the descent is to be made.
Arrangements for regulating the friction may be various, for example, there may
be four, five, or six apertures instead of three. Travellers may be provided to the
ropes for preventing the hands being injured during any precipitous descent. The
apertures in the apparatus, through which the rope passes, may be inclined instead
of straight, and at different angles. The guide may also form a cylinder made of
[Price 6d1

page_text: wood, metal, or other suitable material, divided into two parts, united by a hinge,
and secured in any suitable way; inside the cylinder there is a zig-zag groove
formed, half in one portion, and half in the other portion; a slight amount of play
is allowed between the two portions of the cylinder, regulated by a screw, the
pressure being regulated according to the weight to be supported or lowered. The
aforesaid groove is not a screw; this must be well understood, because with a screw,
when the cord is unrolled, it preserves the motion which it has communicated to it,
and the weight turns in a corresponding manner in proportion to the pitch of the
screw; according to this part of this Invention, however, the rope descends straight,
without any twist, the zig-zag groove being only intended to produce the necessary
friction which regulates the speed of the descent, the apparatus being in two parts;
the pressure on the cord can be regulated with the greatest nicety, either by
an arrangement of screws or by the operation of the hand on the cord or the guide
itself; the number of zig-zags may be varied, and the size of the apparatus regulated
according to requirements. A hinged fastening, with triple joint, is used in
connection with the above-described apparatus; this is secured with a thumb screw
which has only to be opened when it is required to insert the cord.
By another arrangement a hollow conc is employed, separated in two parts,
fitted inside with caoutchouc, leather, or other suitable material through which the
rope ruus; there is a ring provided with a hook or sort of catch on the cone, so that
the greater the weight on the hook the greater is the pressure exercised on the
cone; if three apparatus of this kind are placed at the disposal of the person
wishing to ascend there will be always two for operating or working and one in
reverse.
By another arrangement the apparatus is made forked, with arms, one pair
embracing the rope whereby the greater the pressure is the greater is the power
exerted, and as in the other case if three apparatus are used ascents can be made
without any danger.
It is to be understood that the apparatus are combined for the employment of an
endless cod
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
February 1877.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN
SAFETY APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS APPLICABLE AS FIRE
ESCAPES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Eugeno
Gerard Biard, of Paris, France.
This Invention refers to safety apparatus particularly applicable for use in case
of fire, although it may be used for other purposes for ascending and descending
mines, for example, and other places.
The Invention or system may be divided into two parts, viz., the descending and
the ascending apparatus.
The annexed Drawings show several examples of apparatus constructed according
to this Invention, and I will first describe the Invention with reference to the
descending apparatus. This may consist, as shown at Figure 1, of two barrels or
collars a united by a rod or axis b; these parts may be made of any desired sort of
metal or material, and in a single piece or coupled together either by screw or other
good means of connecting the same.
In Figure 1 the barrel or collar a is supposed to be bored with three vertical
holes, c, c, and c³, in which the rope c is engaged; at the upper part this rope is
secured to a balcony, chimney, some article of furniture, or other convenient device
or place; the rope is inserted by the aperture c', is carried down, then up through
the aperture c, and is then placed in the aperture ³, and down to the level of the

page_text: ground, or it may be with some rope to spare. The person to descend or the
weight to be lowered is attached either by a belt, such as is represented in the
detail Drawing, Figure 13, and as shown applied to the lowering of a weight from
a building at Figure 14, or by any other convenient mode of attachment or hook
d; it will be understood that the friction offered to the rope while passing through
the grooves in the collars is sufficient to moderate the descent, and in all cases the
person suspended has the facility of being able to regulate the speed by pulling
more or less on the part of the rope c, while also the speed may be regulated by
pulling the cord c from the ground.
The means for producing the friction may be modified, thus, at Figures 2, 3,
and 4, collars are shewn having four, five, and six apertures instead of three, and
consequently the amount of friction is thereby augmented. In order to prevent
a rapid descent, injuring the hand or hands, a handle or runner, such as that shown
at Figures 9 and 10, may be used.
Figure 5 shows a modified way of forming the apertures, and in this case the
apertures are inclined and come in contact with the rope at different angles, thus
producing points of friction or resistence, and friction is thereby considerably
increased.
Figure 6 shows another arrangement composed of a cylinder e, which may be
made of wood, metal, or other material, and divided into two parts and united
together by a hinge e¹, and any other good mode of fastening g; inside the cylinder
there is a slot f, one half being formed in one part, and the other half in the other
part; this groove is made somewhat smaller than the diameter of the rope so as to
leave a little play between the two parts of the cylinder, and by means of the
closing screw g a pressure can be obtained corresponding with the weight to be
supported. It should be well understood the difference that exists between this
groove and a screw i if a rope is wound on a screw it will preserve the twist which
is thereby imparted to it and the weight will turn correspondingly in accordance
with thread of the screw, but by this arrangement on the contrary, the rope c
descends direct, the groove f simply being intended to be the means of obtaining
friction points which regulate the speed; again, the apparatus being in two parts
a pressure is able to be exerted on the rope capable of being regulated according to
the weight being or to be lowered, either a fixed pressure, by means of one or
several screws fl or by any other suitable mode of fastening or attachment r,
either simple pressure of the hand on the two parts of the cylinder e; it must be
understood that this groove may be varied in length as desired, as, for example, is
illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 6, wherein the angles of friction are
multiplied, and consequently greater resistance is afforded.
Great importance is attached to the mode of closing. Figures 11 and 12 are
views of a triple articulated hinge h; the articulations h¹ and h³ are united to
the part h which is fixed on the apparatus, the part ³ forming a double folding or
lap which enables the closing up to be quickly effected; when it is desired to
introduce the rope into the apparatus it is only necessary to turn round the bolt h³,
the triple articulated hinge is then open, and the rope may be placed in the holes
or recess; by bringing together the different parts of the apparatus and turning the
bolt h³ the apparatus is ready to work. All the pieces or parts being bound
together they cannot get mislaid in case of emergency.
Figures 7 and 8 represent two different arrangements for an ascending apparatus
constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 7 represents a hollow truncated cone i, made of two pieces, having inside
a packing made either of leather, india-rubber, or other elastic material, also made
in two parts, through which passes the rope e; a ring; having a hook is made fast
on the cone in order that the more pressure imparted on the hook j so it will be on
the cone. Two of such apparatus are sufficient for climbing or ascending purposes,
but three may be employed to guard against accidents and further secure the safety
of the operator.
The apparatus shown at Figure 8 may also be used; in this also the greater the

page_text: weight imposed the more energenic the pressure will be, and if the operator is
provided with three of these apparatus he will be able to ascend without any danger.
These different apparatus are intended to be used in combination with a rope or
ropes.
And having thus described the nature of this Invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect I declare that I claim the improvements in safety
apparatus for raising and lowering weights applicable as fire escapes and for other
purposes, substantially as herein-before described and shown with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I,.the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
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