GB2152887A - Fire escape chute - Google Patents

Abstract

An inflatable escape chute, 9, is fixed to an outside wall containing an inflatable escape chute, (FIG 1), a compressed air cylinder, 5, valves & tubes, and a release mechanism, (FIG 5), which can be operated from any point requested. Upon operation of the release mechanism the box unfolds into a protection barrier for the chute, the compressed gas is then released into the chute and the chute is then inflated up to the required pressure. Once up to pressure and the safe to use signal (whistle) is heard, the escape chute is then ready for use. The chute is fitted with a pressure relief valve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Home fire escape chute This invention relates to a home fire escape chute.

For some years now, inflated escape chutes have been used as a means of fast, safe escape from stricken airliners. These chutes are extremely efficient and successful in their role, yet there is nothing available for general use, of this type of escape equipment. This invention hopes to make available this chute for general home/office use.

According to the present invention there is a plastic box which is hinged to open as in Figure 3.

Inside this box as in Figure 4, there is an escape chute, folded, which is thermally welded to the back which is fixed to the wall. Also in the box as in Figure 4, is a cylinder of compressed air, fixed by a bracket.

This cylinder and the lid of the box are both brought into use by operation of the linkage shown in Figure 5. When the linkage is operated the compressed air is released from the cylinder into the tubes of the chute., until up to operating pressures. The linkage also releases the lid of the box which opens as in Figure 3.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a head-on cross-section of the inflated chute.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the chute, fully inflated and the angle at which the chute will descend. It also shows the position of the gas cylinder, as well as showing the box in its role of protecting first few feet of the chute once it is inflated.

Figure 3 Illustrates the fully opened mounting box, minus chute & fittings and the position of the sides, front, top & bottom once the box is fully open. This drawing also shows the point at which the back-plate is joined to the wall, and the hole through the cord which oprates the mechanism for releasing the lid & BR< therefore opening the box and releasing the air from the cylinder into the chute.

Figure 4 shows the mounting box in cross section with the position of the equipment insie, i.e. the chute, air cylinder, tubes, release mechanism.

Figure 5 shows the mechanism that releases the top of the box, and also releases the compressed air into the chute.

Referring to the attached drawings the system consists of a chute 1, which is thermally welded to the back plate of the box. The centre tube, 2, of the chute is not fixed to the back plate 3. The chute is fixed in such a way that when it is inflated it will line up at an angle of 45" to the ground. Also on the back-plate of the box retained through the fixing holes, 4, by deep sunk fixings, is the compressed air cylinder, 5, which is used to inflate the chute. The cylinder has a tube leading from it which passes to a valve, 6, which is opened with the linkage shown in Figure 5. After the valve the tube tees off into 3 equidistant tubes one of which supplies the centre tube 2 of the chute which is inflated separately from long tube, 7, which has one tube leading to each side of it, 8.

The box, 9, opens as shown in Figure 3 upon the operation of the mechanism shown in Figure 5. The cord operates a lever on pivot which pushes the top of the box up and open by releasing the catches. The hinged box opens as shown in Figure 3, allowing the chute to be inflated as shown in Figure 1. The box then forms a protective barrier just below the chute for the first few feet of its descent.

When the chute is inflated to the designated pressure a whistle will sound indicating the chute is now ready for use.

Once this stage is reached the chute may then be mounted and used to escape from the dwelling. The descent may be made feet or head first and the chute will take up to the designated weight/force, shown in the final specification. If, when the chute has been used there is a danger of overpressuring this will be relieved by the operation of the installed automatic relief valve 10.

1. A home fire escape chute comprising of a wall mounted hinged box, an inflatable flameproof chute, a compressed gas cylinder and related pipes and valves, a means of releasing the compressed gas into the chute whilst opening the box simultaneously. This mechanism to be operated from any desired location.

2. A home fire escape chute as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinged box is used as a flame protector for the first few feet of the chute.

3. A home fire escape chute as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 where the compressed gas cylinder is fixed to the back plate of the hinged box and has a set of branching tubes which allow the tubes of the chute to be inflated at a fast rate and to a set pressure.

4. A home fire escape chute as claimed in claim 1 wherein the chute comprises of two tubes, one which acts as the seat in the centre of U-tube which surrounds the centre seat tube and is thermally welded to the back plate of the hinged box. The centre, seat tube is not thermally welded to the back plate.

5. A home fire escape chute as claimed in any other claim wherein the chute has a 45" decent angle and a built-in retarder at the end of the chute, to prevent overshooting the end of the chute.

6. A home fire escape chute substantially as described herein with refereceto Figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Home fire escape chute This invention relates to a home fire escape chute. For some years now, inflated escape chutes have been used as a means of fast, safe escape from stricken airliners. These chutes are extremely efficient and successful in their role, yet there is nothing available for general use, of this type of escape equipment. This invention hopes to make available this chute for general home/office use. According to the present invention there is a plastic box which is hinged to open as in Figure 3. Inside this box as in Figure 4, there is an escape chute, folded, which is thermally welded to the back which is fixed to the wall. Also in the box as in Figure 4, is a cylinder of compressed air, fixed by a bracket. This cylinder and the lid of the box are both brought into use by operation of the linkage shown in Figure 5. When the linkage is operated the compressed air is released from the cylinder into the tubes of the chute., until up to operating pressures. The linkage also releases the lid of the box which opens as in Figure 3. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a head-on cross-section of the inflated chute. Figure 2 shows a side view of the chute, fully inflated and the angle at which the chute will descend. It also shows the position of the gas cylinder, as well as showing the box in its role of protecting first few feet of the chute once it is inflated. Figure 3 Illustrates the fully opened mounting box, minus chute & fittings and the position of the sides, front, top & bottom once the box is fully open. This drawing also shows the point at which the back-plate is joined to the wall, and the hole through the cord which oprates the mechanism for releasing the lid & BR< therefore opening the box and releasing the air from the cylinder into the chute. Figure 4 shows the mounting box in cross section with the position of the equipment insie, i.e. the chute, air cylinder, tubes, release mechanism. Figure 5 shows the mechanism that releases the top of the box, and also releases the compressed air into the chute. Referring to the attached drawings the system consists of a chute 1, which is thermally welded to the back plate of the box. The centre tube, 2, of the chute is not fixed to the back plate 3. The chute is fixed in such a way that when it is inflated it will line up at an angle of 45" to the ground. Also on the back-plate of the box retained through the fixing holes, 4, by deep sunk fixings, is the compressed air cylinder, 5, which is used to inflate the chute. The cylinder has a tube leading from it which passes to a valve, 6, which is opened with the linkage shown in Figure 5. After the valve the tube tees off into 3 equidistant tubes one of which supplies the centre tube 2 of the chute which is inflated separately from long tube, 7, which has one tube leading to each side of it, 8. The box, 9, opens as shown in Figure 3 upon the operation of the mechanism shown in Figure 5. The cord operates a lever on pivot which pushes the top of the box up and open by releasing the catches. The hinged box opens as shown in Figure 3, allowing the chute to be inflated as shown in Figure 1. The box then forms a protective barrier just below the chute for the first few feet of its descent. When the chute is inflated to the designated pressure a whistle will sound indicating the chute is now ready for use. Once this stage is reached the chute may then be mounted and used to escape from the dwelling. The descent may be made feet or head first and the chute will take up to the designated weight/force, shown in the final specification. If, when the chute has been used there is a danger of overpressuring this will be relieved by the operation of the installed automatic relief valve 10. CLAIMS

1. A home fire escape chute comprising of a wall mounted hinged box, an inflatable flameproof chute, a compressed gas cylinder and related pipes and valves, a means of releasing the compressed gas into the chute whilst opening the box simultaneously. This mechanism to be operated from any desired location.

2. A home fire escape chute as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinged box is used as a flame protector for the first few feet of the chute.

3. A home fire escape chute as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 where the compressed gas cylinder is fixed to the back plate of the hinged box and has a set of branching tubes which allow the tubes of the chute to be inflated at a fast rate and to a set pressure.

4. A home fire escape chute as claimed in claim 1 wherein the chute comprises of two tubes, one which acts as the seat in the centre of U-tube which surrounds the centre seat tube and is thermally welded to the back plate of the hinged box. The centre, seat tube is not thermally welded to the back plate.

5. A home fire escape chute as claimed in any other claim wherein the chute has a 45" decent angle and a built-in retarder at the end of the chute, to prevent overshooting the end of the chute.

6. A home fire escape chute substantially as described herein with refereceto Figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.