U.S. patent application number 11/725379 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-11 for high rise building fire escape mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to Charles Dean Soucek. Invention is credited to Charles Dean Soucek.
Application Number | 20070235254 11/725379 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38573961 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070235254 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Soucek; Charles Dean |
October 11, 2007 |
High rise building fire escape mechanism
Abstract
A large winch on the building which lowers a cable to the
ground, and this is secured at a 20 to 45 degree angle. persons can
then escape the building by sliding down the wire using a speed
control mechanism and a harness. Up to 1440 persons could be
evacuated in one hour. More could be evacuated by using more cables
such as one on each corner of the building.
Inventors: |
Soucek; Charles Dean; (Lees
Summit, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles Dean Soucek
617 NW Edgewood Ct.
Lees Summit
MO
64081
US
|
Assignee: |
Soucek; Charles Dean
Lees Summit
MO
|
Family ID: |
38573961 |
Appl. No.: |
11/725379 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60744451 |
Apr 7, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
182/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62B 1/20 20130101; A62B
1/16 20130101; A62B 1/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/11 |
International
Class: |
B61B 7/00 20060101
B61B007/00 |
Claims
1. A high rise building fire escape mechanism for affording a
practical means to escape from a burning high rise building,
comprising: means for providing a means of escape by traveling down
the cable with the help of a descent mechanism; means for safely
carrying the person to ground level at the maximum speed which is
safe, so as to allow as many people to escape in as short a time as
possible; means for controlling the speed of the descending person
to 12 miles per hour, so that all people descend at the same speed,
and do not bump into each other. the speed needs to be relatively
fast so that many people can escape, and also so that they are away
from the fire as fast as possible. twelve miles per hour is
considered to be the maximum speed that is still relatively safe,
rigidly connected to said means for safely carrying the person to
ground level at the maximum speed which is safe, so as to allow as
many people to escape in as short a time as possible; means for
securing the person to the descent mechanism during descent and to
keep him/her far enough away from the mechanism so that they cannot
interfere with the speed or function of the mechanism, rigidly
connected to said means for safely carrying the person to ground
level at the maximum speed which is safe, so as to allow as many
people to escape in as short a time as possible; means for allowing
an escape route in the form of a diagonal cable extending to the
ground over which the descent mechanisms can travel and allow
people to escape the burning building, rigidly connected to said
means for providing a means of escape by traveling down the cable
with the help of a descent mechanism; and means for rapidly
bringing used harnesses back up to the roof top so that they can be
reused.
2. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with
claim 1, wherein said means for providing a means of escape by
traveling down the cable with the help of a descent mechanism
comprises a new attribute 1-cable must be strong enough to hold 50
or more persons especially on a 1000 foot high building descent
cable.
3. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with
claim 1, wherein said means for safely carrying the person to
ground level at the maximum speed which is safe, so as to allow as
many people to escape in as short a time as possible comprises a
new attribute--must grip the cable and control the descent speed to
12 miles per hour, and support the harness carrying the person down
the cable to the ground. it must also be capable of rapid release
from the cable, and rapid hook up to the cable descent
mechanism.
4. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with
claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the speed of the
descending person to 12 miles per hour, so that all people descend
at the same speed, and do not bump into each other. the speed needs
to be relatively fast so that many people can escape, and also so
that they are away from the fire as fast as possible. twelve miles
per hour is considered to be the maximum speed that is still
relatively safe comprises a new attribute--this brake is to slow
the descent speed to 12 miles per hour regardless of the size of
the person descent mechanism brake.
5. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with
claim 1, wherein said means for securing the person to the descent
mechanism during descent and to keep him/her far enough away from
the mechanism so that they cannot interfere with the speed or
function of the mechanism comprises a new attribute--this container
or harness must be strong enough to contain a person weighing 500
pounds safely, and must keep their hands away from the mechanism
descent mechanism harness or container.
6. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with
claim 1, wherein said means for allowing an escape route in the
form of a diagonal cable extending to the ground over which the
descent mechanisms can travel and allow people to escape the
burning building comprises a new attribute--winch must rapidly
lower the cable to the ground when a fire starts. the winch must
also lock the cable to provide tension, and the winch must also
retract the cable when the fire is over. the winch should also be
capable of being controlled from the ground end descent cable
winch.
7. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with
claim 1, wherein said means for rapidly bringing used harnesses
back up to the roof top so that they can be reused comprises a must
be able to rapidly lower a cable 1000 feet and then rapidly bring
it back up, carrying harnesses for reuse harness winch.
8. A high rise building fire escape mechanism for affording a
practical means to escape from a burning high rise building,
comprising: a new attribute 1-cable must be strong enough to hold
50 or more persons especially on a 1000 foot high building descent
cable, for providing a means of escape by traveling down the cable
with the help of a descent mechanism; a new attribute--must grip
the cable and control the descent speed to 12 miles per hour, and
support the harness carrying the person down the cable to the
ground. it must also be capable of rapid release from the cable,
and rapid hook up to the cable descent mechanism, for safely
carrying the person to ground level at the maximum speed which is
safe, so as to allow as many people to escape in as short a time as
possible; a new attribute--this brake is to slow the descent speed
to 12 miles per hour regardless of the size of the person descent
mechanism brake, for controlling the speed of the descending person
to 12 miles per hour, so that all people descend at the same speed,
and do not bump into each other. the speed needs to be relatively
fast so that many people can escape, and also so that they are away
from the fire as fast as possible. twelve miles per hour is
considered to be the maximum speed that is still relatively safe,
rigidly connected to said descent mechanism; a new attribute--this
container or harness must be strong enough to contain a person
weighing 500 pounds safely, and must keep their hands away from the
mechanism descent mechanism harness or container, for securing the
person to the descent mechanism during descent and to keep him/her
far enough away from the mechanism so that they cannot interfere
with the speed or function of the mechanism, rigidly connected to
said descent mechanism; a new attribute--winch must rapidly lower
the cable to the ground when a fire starts. the winch must also
lock the cable to provide tension, and the winch must also retract
the cable when the fire is over. the winch should also be capable
of being controlled from the ground end descent cable winch, for
allowing an escape route in the form of a diagonal cable extending
to the ground over which the descent mechanisms can travel and
allow people to escape the burning building, rigidly connected to
said descent cable; and a must be able to rapidly lower a cable
1000 feet and then rapidly bring it back up, carrying harnesses for
reuse harness winch, for rapidly bringing used harnesses back up to
the roof top so that they can be reused.
9. A high rise building fire escape mechanism for affording a
practical means to escape from a burning high rise building,
comprising: a new attribute 1-cable must be strong enough to hold
50 or more persons especially on a 1000 foot high building descent
cable, for providing a means of escape by traveling down the cable
with the help of a descent mechanism; a new attribute--must grip
the cable and control the descent speed to 12 miles per hour, and
support the harness carrying the person down the cable to the
ground. it must also be capable of rapid release from the cable,
and rapid hook up to the cable descent mechanism, for safely
carrying the person to ground level at the maximum speed which is
safe, so as to allow as many people to escape in as short a time as
possible; a new attribute--this brake is to slow the descent speed
to 12 miles per hour regardless of the size of the person descent
mechanism brake, for controlling the speed of the descending person
to 12 miles per hour, so that all people descend at the same speed,
and do not bump into each other. the speed needs to be relatively
fast so that many people can escape, and also so that they are away
from the fire as fast as possible. twelve miles per hour is
considered to be the maximum speed that is still relatively safe,
rigidly connected to said descent mechanism; a new attribute--this
container or harness must be strong enough to contain a person
weighing 500 pounds safely, and must keep their hands away from the
mechanism descent mechanism harness or container, for securing the
person to the descent mechanism during descent and to keep him/her
far enough away from the mechanism so that they cannot interfere
with the speed or function of the mechanism, rigidly connected to
said descent mechanism; a new attribute--winch must rapidly lower
the cable to the ground when a fire starts. the winch must also
lock the cable to provide tension, and the winch must also retract
the cable when the fire is over. the winch should also be capable
of being controlled from the ground end descent cable winch, for
allowing an escape route in the form of a diagonal cable extending
to the ground over which the descent mechanisms can travel and
allow people to escape the burning building, rigidly connected to
said descent cable; and a must be able to rapidly lower a cable
1000 feet and then rapidly bring it back up, carrying harnesses for
reuse harness winch, for rapidly bringing used harnesses back up to
the roof top so that they can be reused.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation application of
U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60744451, filed Apr.
7, 2006, for HIGH RISE BUILDING FIRE ESCAPE MECHANISM, by Charles
Dean Soucek, included by reference herein and for which benefit of
the priority date is hereby claimed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to fire escapes and, more
particularly, to a practical means of escaping from a high rise
building fire. At present there is no practical means of escape
Helicopter rescue is too slow, and hazardous for the pilot, and the
fire truck ladder cannot reach high enough to rescue persons on a
high rise building.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There is presently no practical means of escape from a high
rise building, when the fire is below you. The elevators do not
work, and there is no way to get below the fire. The only hope is
to go up to the top of the building and hope that a helicopter
could get you off the building. Depending on the size of the
helicopter only a few persons could be rescued at a time, probably
only ten persons, and this would require a fairly large helicopter.
It would then take at least 15 minutes to land, disembark and
return for another load. As the fire gets hotter and there is a
severe updraft, the helicopters would have difficulty landing on
the building and also it would be hazardous for the pilots. Fire
truck ladders can only reach up 7 or 8 floors, and then only one
person can go down at a time. If five persons tried to get on the
ladder, it would break. one of the problems that previous solutions
did not answer is speed control. This invention makes all persons
descend at the same speed, and the person cannot alter the speed of
descent, so that there are no jam ups.
[0004] Other inventions have suggested using tubes which would drop
down from the top, however these are not satisfactory because there
is no mechanism for speed control. A large person may get stuck in
the tube or simply grab the mesh and not descend thus blocking the
tube whereas a baby would just drop down the entire distance
without stopping. Fire truck ladders are too short for very tall
buildings and only one person can go down a ladder at one time.
Also ladders are hazardous because a fireman must go up the ladder
to help the persons down. If five persons try to get on the ladder
with the fireman, the ladder will break and all will be injured or
killed.
[0005] Helicopters are too slow and hazardous, and fire truck
ladders cannot reach that high. No other practical solutions have
been advanced.
[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
cable for rescuing persons from a burning building.
[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide a speed
control mechanism to control the speed of descent so that it is
orderly
[0008] It is another object of the invention to make the harness
long enough so that persons may not reach the cable or grab the
cable or slow or regulate their descent speed.
[0009] It is another object of the invention to provide a fire
resistant bag to enclose people during descent.
[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide for the
fast and orderly removal of persons from the cable once they reach
the bottom.
[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide for the
reuse of the harnesses by winching them back up the building for
more rescues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a large winch on the building which lowers a cable to the ground,
and this is secured at a 20 to 45 degree angle. persons can then
escape the building by sliding down the wire using a speed control
mechanism and a harness. up to 1440 persons could be evacuated in
one hour. more could be evacuated by using more cables such as one
on each corner of the building.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A complete understanding of the present invention may be
obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered
in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a left perspective view of a view of a high rise
fire escape with people descending on harnesses. [0015] 10 burning
building [0016] 20 fire [0017] 30 descent cable [0018] 40 electric
descent winch [0019] 60 descent harness;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front detail view of a view of descent mechanism
including clutch. [0021] 70 gear mechanism [0022] 80 centrifugal
brake [0023] 90 cable contact wheel [0024] 100 lock [0025] 110
hinge [0026] 120 hole for attaching harness;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a left perspective view of an a. descent [0028] b.
descent harness [0029] c. descent chair;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a left detail view of a man descending on harness
[0031] 30 cable [0032] 60 harness FIG. 4;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a left view of a view of centrifugal brake [0034]
160 stationary ring [0035] 170 rotating circle;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a view of descent winch;
and
[0037] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a view of harness winch.
[0038] For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and
components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout
the Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] FIG. 1 is a left perspective view of a high rise fire escape
with people descending on harnesses.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a front detail view of a view of descent mechanism
12 including speed brake.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a left perspective view of a man descending the
cable using the escape mechanism.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a left detail view of a centrifugal brake
[0043] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a
[0044] A. descent sack
[0045] B. descent harness
[0046] C. descent chair.
[0047] FIG. 6 is a left view of an electric winch for lowering and
retrieving the descent cable 10. it is connected to the fire alarm
and lowers the cable automatically when the fire alarm is
triggered.
[0048] FIG. 7 is a left view of a rapid electric winch for
retrieving harnesses from the ground level.
[0049] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit
particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent
to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered
limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and
covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute
departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
[0050] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be
protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently
appended claims.
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