US314355A - Fire-escape - Google Patents

Description

E. WATTS.

FIRE BSGAPE.

(No Model.)

No. 314,355. Patented Mar. 24, 1885.

V'" d INVENTOR: MOM/w .2 Fag g ATTORNEYS.

.UNITED STATES.

PATENT Erich.

EPHRAIM WATTS, OF MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 314,355, dated. li Iarch 24, 1885.

Application tiled May 14, 1884. (No model.)

To all 1072,0172, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM WATTS, of Middletown, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, 850., of which the following isafull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to fire-escapes in which a car or receptacle is fitted to move up and down a portable frame or support placed on or against the outside of a building; and it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate cor responding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section at right angles to the face of the structure of my improved fire-escape; Fig. 2, a front or face view of the same, and Fig. 3 a horizontal section on the line :0 m in Fig. 2.

A A indicate two parallel skids, suitably braced or united together, and forming the sides of the device, as also the ways up and down which the car or carriage B is designed to moveas, for instance, by cross-bars b on the back of the carfitted to slide in a groove, 0, in the inner side of each skid.

The united skids constitute the frame or support of the device, which may either occupy a vertical or inclined position when in use, and its top be placed against the eXterior wall of the house or other building, or against any of the different story Windows.

To facilitate its being run up to its place the device is provided, at or near its top, with a guiding-roller, 0, arranged to project slightly above or in the rear of it, so as to move freely up over the outside of the building. This will be found a great convenience in quickly placing the device.

The lower ends of the skids are provided with downwardly-projecting pins 01 d to enter the ground or street surface, and so prevent the device from slipping when placed in position for use.

The car 13 is conveniently constructed for access and safety of the person using it. Ordinarily it is not designed to carry more than one person. Attached to its bottom and extending up its back or in rear of its lower guiding cross-bar, b, is a bent rod or bolt, 0, terminating at its top in an eye for attachment of the rope D, by which the car is raised or lowered. This rope runs from the car up over an upper roller or pulley, E, and down back and under a lower roller or pulley, Ffand from thence out in front, where said rope is drawn upon by hand of one or more men to hoist the car and to con trol its descent. These rollers E and F, as also the roller 0, are all carried by the main frame, and, if made of wood, may have metal coverings at their ends, with attached pivots to provide for the easy running of them.

A fire-escape thus constructed can be very easily applied and rapidly worked with but a small expenditure of labor, and there is no liability of its getting out of order. It may not only be used as a fire-escape, but also as a means for raising and lowering men and goods in various building operations-as, for instance, for carrying slate, stone, brick, shingles, 8m, and for painters use-by, if necessary, placing a plank across the car; and itfurthermore may be used for cleaning windows from the outside of a building. When used for these outside purposes or certain of 80 desired, be wound on a cleat attached to the car to take up and let out slack, as required.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In a fire-escape, the combination, with the skids A, having the longitudinal grooves c, and provided with the roller G, and the puleys E F, of the car B, provided with the cross-bar I), having its ends projecting into the grooves of the skids, the bolt 0, secured to the car, and the rope D, secured to the bolt, and passing over and around the pulleys, substantially as herein shown and described.

WVitnesses: EPHRAIM \VATTS.

SAML. L. YETTER, W. H; BYLER.

Images