Improvements in Fire-escapes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
Improvements in Fire-escapes.
I GEORGE HARRISON 21 Balfour Street Holderness Road Kingston-upon-Hull,
in the County of York, Machine Broker do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
An apparatus for saving life in case of fire.
Consists of double flange reel, regulating spring break, single pulley block, fire
resisting or other rope, attaching sling and safety cramp.
Also fire-proof overalls.
The whole enclosed in portable wood case.
In using my apparatus:-The rope is unwound from the double flanged reel by
simply pulling it, the box or case containing the reel having one end of the rope
attached to it, is put out of the window and lowered to the ground, when a
suitable length of rope has been unwound, the attaching sling is made fast to the
safety cramp or to a piece of furniture, door or the like and to the pulley which is
in turn connected to the rope, the end of the rope is passed around the person
wishing to descend, who can then get out of the window and let himself down by
gripping the rope which runs from the box, over the pulley and ends at the part
around the person descending.
After use the rope is rewound on the reel inside the case by means of an ordinary
box key turning the spindle of the said reel.
The regulating spring break prevents the reel turning so as not to pay out more
rope than is required.
11
T
1005
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Agent for the Applicant.
I GEORGE HARRISON of 21 Balfour Street, Holderness Road Hull in the
County of York, Machinery Broker, 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:-
The object of my invention is to construct a simple apparatus for the purpose of
saving life in case of fire.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows an elevation of improved fire escape with front of case taken away
to show inside of same.
Fig. 2. is an end elevation of apparatus with end of case removed.
For the purpose of my invention I employ a double flanged reel, A fitted and
working within a portable box or case B, the said reel being prevented from
ID QI

page_text: turning too easily or loosely by means of a règulating spring brake or brakes C
and D. To the aforesaid reel A I attach a rope E preferably fire resisting, this
rope passes over a pulley block F and ends in preferably a belt G (see Fig. 1) for
passing around the persons wishing to escape, or if desired, instead of the belt, a
hook or the like may be attached to the end of the rope, so that the end of the
rope may be passed around the waist and the hook or the like slipped over the rope
so forming a loop for the body.
To the pulley block F I connect an attaching sling H for attaching to any article
of furniture or the like, or to a safety cramp or staple J driven into the wall under
the window or in any suitable position.
The box or case B may have strips of rubber K on the bottom and up the sides
so as to protect it when dropped out of the window when in use.
The reel is turned by means of a loose box key when it is required to rewind the
rope on, the spindle L of the said reel being mounted in bearings let into the sides
of the box B.
In using my apparatus:-The safety or attaching sling H is taken out of the
box B and attached to a door handle, piece of furniture, fire grate or to the safety
cramp or staple J, the rope E is unwound from the double flanged reel A, by simply
pulling it, the box or case B containing the reel is put out of the window, the rope
gradually paying out as the box descends to the ground, the regulating spring
brakes C and D allowing it to come easily by the weight of the said box whicn
drops slowly and not with force, the belt G or loose end of the rope is passed around
the person going to descend who can then get out of the window and let himself
down by gripping the rope which runs from the reel in the box up and over the
pulley and ends at the part or belt G around the person descending. To allow
the box to be lowered in an upright position the rope is passed under a loose
roller M set in the centre of the box, this also prevents the rope from sticking.
The lid of the box is constructed with preferably two pins to fit into two holes made
in the side of box near top to receive them, and with a spring bolt or the like, this
allows of the lid being easily and quickly removed to get at the rope and the like
within the box, the whole winding up and fitting within the said box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
In apparatus for saving life in case of fire, consisting of a double flanged reel A,
fire resisting or other rope E, pulley block F, spring regulating brake C. D,
attaching sling H, safety cramp or staple J, the whole fitting in a portable case for
use, in the manner substantially as shown and described.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.