US2253604A - Extensible chute - Google Patents

Description

. Aug. 26, 1941. w. E. BLIN EXTENSIBLE CHUTE Filed uarch '7,- 1940 3 Sheetss--Sheeil 1 5, mardEW MIM," A

W. E. BLAIN EXTENSIBVLE CHUTE Filed March 7, 1940 Aug. 26, 1941.v

I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l E l Patented Aug. 26,l 1941 vumTle'zD STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.253.604 Ex'raNsmLE CHUTE winmx a. vm Buren. Ark. Application March 7, 1944i, rSerial No. 322,858

|(cl. 227-41) e 15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in life saving apparatus, although this designation does not denote a true scope of usethereof. When considering the invention as an extensible chute the variety of its possible uses embraces lifesaving, fire-fighting, conveying; elevating and analogous uses. Therefore on the latter principle this description is confined to the use of the apparatus as a life-saving device in order that one of its modes of employment will be fully understood.

In attempting to save the life of an endangered person it is necessary to reach him with a contrivance of some sort in order that he will be conducted to a place of safety. This is true whether the person is trapped in a burning building or is thrown into the sea. In either case it is highly desirable to have a contrivance with which to reach out over the intervening space and provide said person with a means of escape. 'Ihe instant invention is founded upon the use of a flexible-rigid strip which is flexible from the standpoint of its capability of being wound up, and rigid from the standpoint of its remaining perfectly stiff when extended out from its point of anchorage. With this premise in mind the objects of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide an apparatus which in the interest of brevity is entitled an extensible chute but which is not confined to any such limitation in its use as its designation might imply, said chute being primarily intended for use as a lifesaving device in which respect it is an-adjunct to fire-fighting apparatus.

Second, to provide an apparatus of the foregoing generic aspect, fundamentally comprising an extensible member of the flexible-rigid type, said member consisting of a strip, usually of metal, which is self-sustaining when extended, because of its cross-sectionally concavo-convex form.

Third, to provide a chute of the foregoing character which is capa le of being used either as a rope ladder suppo or as a water tower, or both 4at the same time, all as clearly brought out below.

Fourth, to provide an extensible chute which is capable of quick and easy adjustment both vertically and laterally so that its free terminal is capable of being directed to the position of the endangered person in a matter of very short time.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the base of the 55 perfectly flat extensible chute, particularly illustrating the actuating mechanism.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l illustrating the chute guide.

yFigure 4 is a plan view of most of the structure illustrated inFig. l.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, particularly illustrating the brakes.

Figure 6 is a partially/sectional and elevational view illustrating a life-saving feature more in detail.

Figure '7 is a plan view of the extensible chute, illustrating its use as a water tower.

Figure 8 is a detail` plan view of the free teri minal on a scale slightly enlarged from the showing in Fig-'7.

Figure 9 is a view on the order 0f Fig. 8, but showing how a rope ladder maybe laid along the trough of the chute.

Figure 10 is a cross section taken on the line IO-IO of Fig. 8. l *A Figure 11 is a cross section taken on the line Il-II of Fig..8. f

Figure l2 is a longitudinal section taken on the Iline I2-l2 of Fig. 8.

Figure 13 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 12 but illustrating lthe suspension of a rope ladder from the freeterminal of the chute.

Figure 14 is a sectional view of a portion of the chute illustrating a laminated support.

Figure 15 is a cross section taken on the line |5-I5ofFig.l4.

In .carrying out' the invention use is made of a chute I which is herein known as of the flexiblerigid type. This apparently paradoxical term is correctly expressive of the nature of the chute because while the latter is perfectly rigid when extended yet it is inherently so flexible that it is capable of being wound upon a drum. The reason for its nature lies in the fact` that it is made of thin flexible metal, preferably steel, vof concavo-convex form in cross-section.

This latter form (Fig. 4) has its additional usefulness in the provision of a trough down which a person can slide, or down which inert `objects can be slid as on a conveyor. This chute has its lower portion 2' (Fig. 1) wound upon a drum l. Prior to the beginning of the winding said chute takes a gradual bend at l, and as it bends its cross-sectional curvature disappears so that the convolutions of y'the wound portion 2 lie upon the drum. This bending is facilitated to some degree by a xed guide l (Fig. 3).

Said guide is'rigidly supported by standards 3 which are bolted down or otherwise secured to a horizontally pivoted table 1. The horizontal pivoting is derived from the mounting of boxes 3 on the nether side of the table 1 upon a horizontal shaft 3 which is set at its ends in supports Il).

It is immaterial whether the boxes 3 turn upon the shaft 8 or the shaft is made to turn in the supports Ill. In the former instance the shaft would be clamped to the supports while in the secondinstance the boxes I would be clamped to the shaft. In either case the pivoting of the table is horizontal, but its permissible motion is in a vertical plane. This allows for the raising and lowering of the vchute I whenxthe latter is extended, as in Figs. 1 and 9.

'I'he bottom terminal II of the chute I is an- 20 chored in any desired way. A preferred mode of anchorage is to slot the shaft I2 of the drum 3 as at I3, for the admission of said terminal II after the latter has been slipped into a passageway I4 leading from the face of the drum to 25 a place of registration-with the slot I3. In any case it would be desired and necessary to firmly anchor the terminal I I so as to avoid any chance of its ever becoming loose.

The drum 3 and wound chute portion 2 are 30 housed i'n a casing which is rigidly attached to standards I6 bolted tov the table 1, and being erected therefrom as shown in Fig. 1. The holding of the casing I5 is accomplished by a long cross bolt I1 (Fig. 2) which goes through ears Il that are pendant from the casing, and then through bosses i9 on the standards before the nuts are screwed home. Other but short bolts 2i are screwed through bosses 22 on the standards into the adjacent heads 23 of the casing Il (Fis. 6). y

Thus the casing I5 is held'very firmly during the windingjand unwinding of the chute I. The latter has access to the interior of the casing through a sufficiently large opening 24 (Fig. 1). The nature of the Vtrough I is such that there must be insurance against the possibility of the Wound portion 2 slipping to any undesirable de gree. It is true that other provisions are made against this contingency, but from the standpoint of keeping the convolutions tight. use is made of an enveloping band 25 (Fig. 1) which is anchored at 2B at one end and curved at the other free end 2'I'I This band is pressed upon by a number of stout leaf springs 23. These springs are contained by the casing I5 to which one end of each is riveted at 29. 'I'he other end of each spring rides free against the interior of the casing, but the original tention of each spring is such that it tends to bow inwardly to quite a large extent, thus always insuring adequate pressure against the enveloping band. The latter remains constantly adjusted to the size of the wound portion 2 whether large or small.

Winding and unwinding of the chute is accomplished by a crank on one end of the shaft I2 (Fig. 4). The use of a brake 3I (Fig. 5) in conjunction with this shaft is desirable. After the shaft has been turned the desired amount, the brake is set, thereby to hold the shaft from undesired turning. The latter carries a brake drum 32. This has an external contraction band 33 applied to it, said band having a chute 34 in actual contact with the periphery of the drum. One end of theband is anchored at 3i (Fig. 5) 75 toacasting. Thiscastlngissecuredatl'l to an appropriate portion of the table It includes at least one ear 33, to which the brake lever 33 is pivoted at 4l. Said lever has a short arm 4| to which the free end of the band 33 is attached. The swinging of the leverA either loosens or tightens the brake band and the ad- Justments -of the lever are set by means of a detent 42 which engages the teeth of a quadrant 4'3 made integral with the casting 33.

It is obvious that the turning of the shaft I2 will extend the chute I, or retract it, depending upon the direction of turning, but these functions are preferably transferred t a movingl and gripping mechanism 44 (Fig. 1) largely confining the function of the shaft I2 to the elimination of slack in the convolutions 2. But it is necessary to oper'ate the shaft I2 in conjunction with the mechanism 44 because in actual practice the chute I is quite large and must be manipulated from the two points so as to insure a proper performance.

The mechanism 44 consists of two shafts 4I, and 43, one below and the other above the chute I. `Each of these shafts has a core 41 which is faced with a rubber covering 43. 'Ihe result oi this construction is a roller below and above the chute. said rollers now being designated 43, 53, for distinction.

It is conceivable that each of the rollers may consist of a solid rubber body attached directly to the respective shaft. However, because of the size of the rollers, it is preferred to use a core because if and when this is made of wood. the constructional cost is lessened to a considerable degree. These rollers are contoured to fit the cross-section of the chute I. Consequently the roller 4l is concave (Fig. 2) while the roller I3 is convex (Fig. 4). Obviously the roller 43 constitutes the major support of the chute I inasmuch as itis situated underneath and carries muchof the weight of the chute while the roller ll is largely in the nature of a holddown since it works in the trough of the chute.

These rollers are in tight frictional contact with the chute. The shafts 4l, 43, are intergeared at II (Fig. 4). One of the shafts carries a crank l2 (Fig. 4) for turning. The turning of the one shaft causes the turning of the other shaft by means of the gearing, the directions of turning` always being opposite. The result is either an extension or retraction of the chute and since the mechanism 44 is situated out beyond the bend 4 and its contiguous guide i. it is regarded as being in the best possible position for an eifective manipulation of the chute in the manner named.

Now it is readily seen that main reliance for the extension and retraction of the chute is best put upon the mechanism 44. If the turning of the drum 3 were depended upon, especially for the extension of the chute. it is conceivable that some buckling of the convolutions 2 might occur in the casing Il despite the holding function of the band 25. At the same time the drum and shaft 3, I2, are necessary to assist in feeding out and coiling the chute so said drum. shaft and mechanism 44 aredesirably worked in combination for the best handling of the chute, as previously suggested.

Brackets i3 provide bearings for the shafts 4l, 43. These brackets are bolted down on the tablefl. In order to accomplish the gripping function of the mechanism 44, one of the shafts, preferably 4 3, is furnished with a brake I4 (Pig.

position to slip past the rubber faces of the rollers in either direction.

The chute I is desirably guyed when extended (Fig. '1), especially to a considerable degree. For this purpose wires 88 are used. There is a pair of these wires, each being wound at one end upon an independent drum I8 (Fig. 4) on the virtual extremities of a common cross shaft 88. This shaft is journaled in bearings 8| which constitute the top terminals of brackets 82 bolted to and erected from the heads 28 of the casing I (Fig. 6). At least one of the ends of the shafty 88 is squared (preferably both as in Fig. 4) for the application of a crank 88, so that the shaft can be turnedf A pawl and ratchet (commonly designated 88), serve to hold the drums 58 and wires 58 at tight adjustments. The latter are accomplished when the hooks 8l at the other ends of the wires (Fig. 1) are fitted into eyes 68 at the free terminal 81 of the chute I'.

Said free terminal has a long slot 88. Actually this slot constitutes an opening large enough for the passage of a person. The result of the slot 88 is a pair of arms 88. These arms are kept rigid by the extension of the side curvatures of the chute virtually the full length of the arms. In other words, the side portions of the chute that -extend along the arms function as reinforcing ribs.

Said arms are curled at 18 (Fig. 12) to compose hooks. These hooks are desirable for attaching the top of the chute to a window sill 1I or some equivalent of it. Aperson trapped in a burning building of which this sill isa part, can easily step across the sill and through the opening 68 onto the rungs 12 of a rope ladder 13. This ladder'is suspended from eyes 18 at almost the very extremity of the chute, use being desirably made of large hooks 15 with which to make the attachment.

A step 16 is used in conjunction with the chute I at the free terminal 81. The latter is intended to embrace a considerable area, but would not be considered as extending below the step 18.

Said step is firmly amxed to the chute by welding, and it is braced by brackets 11 which insure the support of any normal weight. The step is desirably flanged at 18. In practice the distances of the bottom of the slot 88 and the step 18 from the hook extremity will be so proportioned that a person can pass through the window at the sill 'II onto the step 11 preparatoryA .to passing through the opening 88 to the rope ladder.

Usually the rope ladder 18 will be employed -where fire is emerging from a lower window, it

is proposed to use the troughgof the chute I as a receptacle, so to speak, for the rope ladder.

,In this c ase the rope ladder is led as seen in from the use ofthe chute as a lifesaving device. This departure converts the chute into a modied water tower. A hose 18 is' laid in the trough of the chute. A hole 88 in the step 18 provides for the e through the hose. 'I'he nozzle 8| of the latter is supported contiguously' to the opening 88 by 'a clamp 82 which holds the hose down. The clamp can be of any desired form whatsoever, a suggested arrangement consisting of the hinged element shown in Fig. 10, the free end of which is adapted to be secured by a swinging bolt and nut 82.

All of the assemblage embraced by the foregoing description reading up from the table 1, is capable of adjustment as a unit when said table is tilted on the axis of the shaft 8. I'he tilting is done through a lgear quadrant 88 (Fig. 1) which is driven by a pinion 88 in mesh therewith. The quadrant can be as great in angular extent as desired, naturally the greater the extent of the quadrant the greater will be the amount of angular adjustment of the table 1. The quadrant may be attached to the table in any lpreferred way, for example, by the flanges 88 and bolts 81 (Figs. 1 and 2). A shaft 88 carries the pinion- 85. The shaft is turnable by a crank 88 and the adjustments are held by a dog 88 which is pivoted at 8| to a bracket 82 extending out from the bearing 88 of the shaft.

Said bearing and the supports I8 are carried by a turntable 88. "This turntable is disposed horizontally, and it mainly comprises a large worm gear inasmuch as it has teeth 85 of that description on most of its circular perimeter (Fig. 2). Said turntable has a pair of extensions 88 to which the supports I8 are bolted at 81,. Thextensions are formed by forking the turntable at 88. 'I'he result of the fork is a passagewayfor the gear quadrant 88. The latter is operable in the passageway regardless of the angular position of the turntable 88 and the latter can be turned with the chute I in any of its extended positions, while the chute is in the process of extension.

'I'he turntable 88 is large enough for several men to stand upon for the manipulation of the various cranks. But at this point it is desired to modify the implication of manual operation which the various cranks convey because `there will be instances when the shafts to which the cranks are now attached will be worked to better advantage by driven machinery. The use of such driven machinery is regarded as an obvious expedient, and for that reason hand cranks are shown merely to simplify the illustration.

A worm gear 88 meshes with the teeth 85 (Fig. 2), the shaft |88 of said gear also carrying a crank I8| for its operation. This shaft could well be operated by a mechanical drive because of the considerable weight which it is required y to move. The bracket supports |82 of the shaft Fig. 9. The concave shape of the chute will insure retaining the latter so that a person can walk down the ladder in the chute without having to pass through any danger zone.

Figures 7 and 12 illustrate one main departure 75 |88 are fastened tothe bed |88 of a truck or equivalent conveyance. Said bed might well be a part of the chassis of an apparatus such as is commonly seen for the mounting of ladders in fire-lighting apparatus.

An opening |88 (Fig. 1) which in actual practice is not essential, makes room for the securing means |88 with which the stud |88 of the turntable 88 is held to a fixed ball race |81. Said race is amxed to the bed |88 by bolts |88.,Y It

supports a series of balls |88 on which the netherj.

race ||8 of the turntable 88 runs. l The arrangement in Fig. 6 is employed in. suc

instances wherein the chute I is used as a safety slide for an endangered person. The disposition of the latter in Figs. 9 and 13 provide alternate modes of escape when a person isiable to walk down a ladder. The arrangement in Fig. 6 provides for his sliding to safety in the event of his either being injured or too timid to. negotiate the ladder. A curved shield I II (Fig. 6) is used in conjunction with the chute I, said shield being cross sectionally contoured to fit the concavity of the chute. Said shield is firmly supported by a bracket II2 from the casing Il to heads 23 of which the bracket is riveted at III.

'I'he shield III is higher than any of the actuating mechanism in Fig. l, and necessarily so in order that the person may slide directly into a life-saving net Ill (Fig. 6). 'This net is intended to be of any conventional order and its manner of support is of no immediate concern. It is sufllcient to note that the net is located close to thetake side III of the shield so that a person sliding over the latter is directly caught by the net.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 14 and l5 which disclose a possible reinforcement of the chute now designated Ia. The latter is intended to be made in such a way that it will possess ample strength when composed of single ply metal. By way of digression it should be noted that the chute tapers in width (Fig. 7) from its base at the drum 3 to its free terminal I1. But the chute is also intended to be tapered in thickness between two extremes. This taper is denoted mainly in Fig. 14, which view is also used for a showing of a laminated support IIS.

'I'his support is much on the order of the leaves of a spring. They are successively shorter toward the base of the chute Ia, but all are interfltted because of being cross-sectionally curved in agreement with the contour of the chute. These laminations will be wound on the drum 3 with the chute, and when they are thus wound vthen the enveloping band 25 has the added importance of keeping the free edges of the laminations from extending out from the convolutions of the wound portion 2.

'I'he operation is readily understood. The ap, paratus is mounted on the bed Il! of a truck in the instance of its being an adjunct to a city fire-fighting apparatus. It is readily conceivable that the nature of the chute I insures its extendingvout in a perfectly rigid manner. When thus extended it is used either as a ladder support (Figs. 9 and 13) or a hose support (Fig. 7) Another use is that of a slide as seen in Fig. 6.

It is intended that the chute will also be well -adapted to use aboard ship. A person swept into the water can' be rescued by extending the chute until its free terminal 81 is moved out within reach. It is thought unnecessary to enlarge upon other uses of the chute because these will and must suggest themselves to the actual practical application of its principles.

I claim:

1. Apparatus ofthe character described comprising a cross-sectlonally concavo-convex chute of thin flexible material, means in reference to which one end of the chute is windable and unwindable, actuating mechanism to retract and extend the chute, said mechanism including rollers which respectively are convex and concave to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the chute and being in close contact therewith to grip it ilrmly and hold it in any of its positions of extension, and guide means located beaasaeos tween the winding means and said actuating mechanismI to establish a predetermined pitch of the chute and to aid in flattening the concaveconvexity of the chute immediately in .advance of its`windings. 1

2. Apparatus of the character described com prising a cross-sectionally concavo-convex chute of thin yflexible material. means in reference to which one end of the chute is windable and unwindable, actuating mechanism to operatev the chute for its retraction and extension, said mechanism including a pair of rollers peripherally shaped to nt the respective concave and convex cross-sectional contours of the chute and gripping the surfaces of said chute tightly to hold the chute in any of its positions of extension, and guide means located between the winding means and said actuating mechanism being set at a pitch to aid in bending the chute prior to its winding. also to flatten the concavo-convex cross-section in 'the bending zone.

3. Apparatus of the ycharacter described comprising a flexible-rigid chute. means in reference to which one end of the chute is windable and unwindable because y-of its exibility, means exerting pressure upon .the wound portion of the chute to tend to eliminate slack, and actuating mechanism including rollers tightly engaging opposite sides of the chute for its retraction and extension in respect to the winding and pressure means, said rollers serving to hold the chute in any of its positionsrvof extension.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a exible-rigid chute, means in reference to which one end of the chute is windable and unwindable because of its ilexibility, an enveloping band surrounding the wound portion of the chute. being anchored at one end and free at the other end .to allow for the enlargement and reduction in size of said wound portion, plural pressure means bearing on the band.. keeping it lin contact with said wound portion to eliminate slack, and combined actuating and gripping means for the chute including rollers which are operable to retract and extend the chute and are in tight engagement with opposite surfaces of the chute to hold it in any of its positions of extension.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a flexible-rigid chute, a drum on which one end ofthe chute is windableand unwindable because of its flexibility thereby to take up and let out the chute convolutions, actuating mechanism including rollers in tight contact with opposite sides of the chute, being operable to retract and extend the chute in reference to the drum, means with which to turn the drum, means with which to turn the rollers of the actuating mechanism. and separate brake devices for the drum and actuating mechanism respectivelyl to hold the drum and rollers stationary.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a substantially horizontal tiltable table, a revoluble drum and a pair of revoluble rollers .both mounted upon the table to assure a firm foundation therefor, a flexible-rigid chute tightly gripped between the rollers and having a contiguous end wound upon the drum, the other and free end of the chute extending out from the rollers and being self-sustained because of the rigid character of the chute, guide means also carried by the table. being located between the drum and rollers, and set at a pitch in reference to lthe table to establish a predetermined pitch a flexible-rigid chute tightly gripped between thel rollers and having a contiguous end wound upon lthe drum, the other and free end of the chute extending out from the rollers and being selfsustained because of the rigid character of the chute, guide means located between the drum and rollers, being set at a pitch in reference to .the ltable to establish a predetermined pitch of extension of the free end of the chute, a turntable on which the tiltable table is mounted, and means carried by the turntable being Operable upon the tiltable table to shift the position of the free end of the chute.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontally turnable turntable, a horizontal shaft carried thereby, a table mounted on said shaft and therefore vertically tiltable, separate means for actuating the turntable and the tiltable table, providing for -the adjustments of said tables in the horizontal and vertical planes, a drum anda pair of rollers mounted upon the tiltable table and therefore subject to the respective adjustments of the tables, a iiexible-rigid chute tightly gripped by the pair of rollers and having its contiguous end wound on .the drlml, means for operating the drum and therollers to extend and retract the other and free end of the chute, and a guide fixed upon the tiltable table between the `drum and pair of rollers, being set at a pitch to determine an initial pitch of the chute in reference to the tiltable table.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a vertically tiltable table, a drum and a pair of rollers revolubly mounted upon said ta.- ble, a flexible-rigid chute gripped on opposite sides by the pair of rollers, and having its contiguous end attached to and wound on the drum, the other and free end of the chute extending out into space, guide means to establish and maintain the pitch of the chute in reference to the table, and means to brace the chute at any of its degrees of extension comprising at least one guy wire attached at one end to the chute, and a drum on which the other end of 4said wire is wound.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a vertically tiltable table, a revoluble drum and a pair of rollers mounted on said table, a casing affixed to the table, containing the drum and having an opening, a flexible-rigid chute |tightly gripped 'by the pair of rollers and having its contiguous end attached to and wound upon the drum, said. chute being movable in the casing opening, guide means located between the casing and pair of rollers fixing the pitch of the other and free end of the chute in reference to the table and in its position in reference to the pair of rollers, and guy means to assist in sustaining said free end of the chute, consisting of at least one guy Wire having one of its ends attached to the chute, and a drum to which the other end of said wire is attached and wound, said drum being mounted upon the casing thereby to follow all adjustments of the chute.

l1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drum and a pair of rollers, a flexiblerigid chute gripped by the rollers land having its contiguous end wound on the drum, means for revolving the drum and the rollers to extend or retract the other and free end of the chute, a table on which both the drum and rollers are mounted to provide a rm foundation therefor, means supplying a horizontal axis to support the table for tilting in the vertical plane, and means for accomplishing the tilting of the table comprising a gear quadrant xed .to the table and an operable pinion in mesh with the teeth of said gear.

12. Apparatus of the character described come prising a single and unencumbered flexible-rigid chute of concave-convex cross-section, a drum to which one end of the chute is attached and on which said end is wound, actuating means for moving and gripping the chute thereby to extend the other and free end thereof straight out from said actuating means, and then to rigidly hold said chute in the adjusted position, and means embodied in said free end of the chute whereby attachment can be made to an external support to guard against inadvertent sagging under a load.

`13. In apparatus of the character described, a chute consisting of thin flexible material, being of concavo-convex cross section to impart rigidity thereto when extended, one end of said chute being slotted to afford a passage to and dene a pair of arms, and hook formations on the extremities of said arms for engagement with an external support to thus laterally stabilize the chute at said slotted end.

14. In apparatus of the character described comprising a chute of thin flexible material being of concaveconvex cross section to impart rigidity thereto, means from which said chute is extensible so that its free end is held unsupported in space, and means strengthening the chute when made in unusual lengths. consisting of laminations underlying the chute and matching the concavo-convex cross section thereof.

l5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drum and a. pair of rollers, said drum and rollers being revoluble, a flexible-rigid chute ltightly gripped by the rollers for extension and .with the concavity of the chute to intercept said person.

WILLARD E. BLAIN.

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