US284763A - Fire-escape - Google Patents

Description

M. SOHOLL.

(No Model.)

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patentgd Sept. 11, 1883.

- INVENIUE...

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL SOHOLL, OF SAL FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.-284,763, dated September 11, 1883.

Application filed February 27, 1883. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL SOHOLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a certain new and Improved Portable Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my fire-escape. Fig-2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view, showing the device in position upon the escape-rope, and Fig. i is an edge view of the same, Fig. 5 is a general view, showing the suspended escape-rope with my improved device attached thereto, together with a sling for the convenience of the passenger. Fig. 6 shows the sling and manner of attaching it to the block.

Similar letters of reference are used to designate like parts throughout the several views.

A represents my friction-block, which isconstructed of any suitable material, wood being preferable. It is made rectangular in form,

with the lower edge, B, rounded off, as shown, so that it may pass any obstacles without interruption. Along each edge of the block are made a series of openings or cuts, 0, which communicate with the dead-eyes D 1), within which the lowering rope or cable E is wound, and along which the block moves in the act of lowering the person. The edges ofthese d eadeyes are rounded off and made smooth as shown, to avoid abrading the escape-rope, and shallow grooves E are made upon the flat or wide faces of the block, which communicate in a diagonal line with each series of dead-eyes upon both faces of the block, as shown in Fig. 1, and grooves F are made at the upper end of the block, upon both sides, at the termination of the two upper dead-eyes, extending to the top of the block, and receive each arm of the cable and balance the weight upon the block when in operation. The upper end of the block is pierced at G, to receive the end of a cord for lowering a person, or recovering the block after it has carried a person to the ground below, and this cord may be attached to any permanent fastening in the room, having a line long enough, however, to reach the pavement below, and a hole or opening, I-I,is made in theblock below the dead-eyes, through in Fig. 6.) Any form of sling may be used- -in connection with my friction-block; but I prefer to use the form shown in Fig. 6, which consists of two pieces of webbing attached together at right angles to each other. The one designated by the letter J is placed around the waist of the person, while the piece letl tered J is passed down the back and between the middle or legs and brought up in front. The outer end of this sling is provided with rings K, and when in position lap against one another, and the looped cord I is then passed through the rings and bent over and down upon itself on the block. The opposite end of the loop is then passed through the hole H and the slaclelooped over the end of the block, as shown, thus firmly securing the sling to the block.

I11 practice the lowering cable or rope is doubled or folded in the middle and the two lines dogged around the block in the deadeyes, as shown in ig. 3, when the slack or folded end is attached to a bedstead in the I apartment, or a permanent object, and the sling passed around the person and connected to the block, as hereinbefore described, when the descent is made, the block cushioning along the two arms or lines of the loweringcable, with its free ends reaching the ground or pavement below.

It should here be observed that in making the descent the block is always under the control of the person descending. By simply grasping loosely with one hand or the fingers the two lowering lines or cables just below the lower end of the friction-block its further descent will be instantaneously arrested. v

So, also, can this stoppage be effected by a person upon the sidewalk below by-bringing the lines together and pulling lightly downward, which act will arrest the downward progress of theperson in the sling,as the two are caused to bind and engage the lower end of the friction-block and check it at once.

I am aware that a portable fire-escape composed of a sling connected to a spirally-grooved friction-block has been heretofore used; but this I do not claim. In such devices the'escape-rope, unless carefully adjusted, is liable to become disengaged from the spirallygrooved blook a difiiculty that is avoided by forming the friction-block with dead-eyes that open into transverse cuts in the edge of the block, said dead-eyes being connected on each side of the block by diagonal grooves, and the escape-rope being doubled and dogged into the dead-eyes and diagonal grooves, as here'- inbefore explained.

It will also be observed that as the escaperope E can thus be applied to the block without being threaded and drawn through, as usual, it being only necessaryto pass it through the transverse cuts 0 into the dead-eyes D and grooves E, the connection of the parts can be effected with great rapidity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described fire-escape, consisting of the block A, having dead-eyes D, transverse cuts 0, diagonal grooves E, connecting said dead-eyes, vertical grooves F and openings G H, the rope or cable E, sling J J, having rings K, and the loops I, all combined substantially as shown and described.

In testin1ony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

MICHAEL SOHOLL. [L. s]

\Vitnesses:

O. W. M. SMITH, CHAS. E. KELLY.

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