US68491A - Improved fike-escape - Google Patents

Description

TERTULLUS S. DIBLlN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent Ivo. 68,491, flared i'eptmnlwr 3, 1867.

IMPROVED FIRE-ESCAPE.

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TO ALL WHOM I'l MAY UONCERN:

'Be it lknown that l, TER'IULLUS S. Drums, of tho city, coni|ty,`:ind Stute of New York, have invented a new and improved Fire-Escape, and that the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, hereinafter referred te, foi-ins u full und exact specification of the same, wherein I have set forth the nature and principles of my said im[.-roveni ents, by which inyinvention may be distinguished from all others of a similar class, together with such parts as I claim, and desire to havesecured to me by Letters Patent.

This invention relates to a new and improved fire-escape of that class in which aflexible ladder yis employed.

- 'lhe invention consists in a new and improved manner of constructing a ilexible ladder for the purpose, and in a peculiar manner ofsecuring the windlass to the windo\\sill, whereby the windlass, with the ladder wound upon it, muy be adjusted and irinly secured in an open window very expeditiously whenever the device isrequircd for use, the ilexible ladder being unwound from the windlasrs, so that the occupants of a building Vmay descend from the open window tothe ground or pavement. In the accompanying sheet of drawings- Figure 1 is an end view of my invention applied to a window-sill, the window being in section.

Figure 2, a front view of the same.

Figure 3, an enlargedsceton of the ilexible ladder.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A represents the window of a building,'and B the'sill thereof, of usual form and construction. C is a windlass-frame, composed of two side pieces', a a, of cast iron-that, at lcust,`would be the preferable materialsaid side pieces being connected by cross-rods The windlass is composed of a' shaft or drum, c, having a wheel, d, upon it near each end, both wheels being within the side pieces a a, as shown in fig. 2. The front lower ends of the side pieces are each provided with a spur, c, and theback lower ends are provided with lips or bearings, f, projecting horizontally towards the front side, as shown clearly `in fig. l, the back lower ends extending down suiciently far below the' lips or bearings to admit of screws, g, passing through them, one through each, said screws being provided with girnlct points to pass into the wood below the nosing 7i at the inner side of the sill B, the spurs Vc penetrating the upper surface of the sill, (see fig. 1.) By this means the windlass-frame is firmly secured in the window on the sill. D represents a flexible ladder, the sides z' z' of which are composed of ropes, and the rounds are of wood, notched or hollowed out at their ends to receive the ropes, the' rounds being fastened to the ropes by cords, jf, passing through them and around the ropes, the latter being protected from wear and abrasion by means of chang-leather k, (sce more particularly iig. 3.)

This ladder thus constructed will be extremely strong and durable, and still be flexible, so that it may be kreadily wound upon and unwound from the shaft or drum c of the windlass, to which it may be attached in any proper manner.

When it is necessary to use the device, the snshes of the most convenient window in the burning building are` removed, or, Vin large windows, a suicient space may be afforded by raising the lower sash. The windlassframe is then secured to the sill B, theexible ladder lowered, and persons can descend without difficulty. The windlass is operated by turning the wheels d, which serve in lieu of cranks, and also serve as guides for the flexible ladder when wound upon the shaft or drum c.

Having thus. described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination ofthe {ire-escape, composed of the frame with its cross-rods, spurs, screws, and windlass, and rope ladder, the whole arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The above specifica-tion of my invention signed by me this 8th day of March, 1867.

TERTULLUS S. DIBLIN.

` Witnesses:

WM. F. McNAMAnA, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. i

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