U.S. patent application number 11/827150 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-06 for transport equipment.
Invention is credited to Yu-Han Hung, Chung-En Tseng.
Application Number | 20080053750 11/827150 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39149958 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080053750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tseng; Chung-En ; et
al. |
March 6, 2008 |
Transport equipment
Abstract
A transport equipment comprises at least a carrier that is
disposed on the window platform or balcony and thus becomes one
part of a building in normal condition, or that is pushed out of
the window or balcony for personnel and commodity transportation
through a cantilever beam of a slow descending mechanism when in
need, to descend or ascend along the outer wall of a building. In
this manner, personnel or commodity can be transported by the
carrier to reach ground directly or in relay-floor connection mode.
For example, personnel or precious commodity can be evacuated at
the first instant of fire. Even in the case of electricity
disconnection due to the happening of a fire, the slow descending
mechanism of the transport equipment can be operated by
uninterruptible power supply or by hand.
Inventors: |
Tseng; Chung-En; (Gueishan
Township, TW) ; Hung; Yu-Han; (Gueishan Township,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BUCKNAM AND ARCHER
1077 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ROSLYN
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
39149958 |
Appl. No.: |
11/827150 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/82 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 3/30 20130101; A62B
1/02 20130101; E04G 3/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/82 |
International
Class: |
E04G 3/28 20060101
E04G003/28; E04G 3/20 20060101 E04G003/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2006 |
TW |
095215500 |
May 15, 2007 |
TW |
096117123 |
Claims
1. A transport equipment for transporting personnel or commodity
along the outer wall (10) of a building (1) having at least one
window platform (11) or balcony, wherein said transport equipment
comprises: a carrier (20) accommodated on the window platform (11)
or the balcony of the building, which has a plurality of suspending
cables (21) and at least a pair of pulleys (21) provided at the
bottom; a slow descending mechanism (30) disposed on the inner wall
of the building (1) and above the carrier (20), which includes: a
pair of swinging arms (40) swing able to the outside and a pulley
(41) provided at the end of the swinging arms (40); a pair of
winches (50) for winding cables (51), one end of each cable (51)
being fixed on the winch (51) and the other end extending over the
pulley (41) and going downwardly to anchor together with the
suspending cable (21); a pair of reduction mechanisms (60)
operative to restrict the winches rotating at a predetermined
speed; a pair of guide rails (12) provided vertically on the outer
wall (10) of the building (1); and a pair of push rods (70)
operative to push the swing arms (40) to the outside and to allow
the pulleys (22) of the carrier (20) engaging on the guide rails
(12).
2. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide
rails (12) are formed by a pair of channel steels with C-section,
and are disposed on the outer wall (10) of the building (1) with
the openings (12a) facing oppositely with each other.
3. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrier
(20) is provided with a pair of pulleys (22) fixed on the upper and
lower end of the rear edge of each side face, and a baffle plate
(121) is provided at the outer edge of the opening (120) of the
channel steel of each guide rail (12) for precisely loading the
pulleys (22) into the sliding groove in the guide rails (12).
4. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reduction mechanisms (60) are hydraulic reducers each comprising an
actuating rod (61) eccentrically acting on the winch (50).
5. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reduction mechanisms (60) are gear reducers.
6. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the push
rods (70) are hydraulically operated telescopic rods.
7. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the push
rods (70) are hand-wheel operated screw rods.
8. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a
control unit to be electrically connected with the reduction
mechanisms (60) and the push rods (70).
9. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 1, further comprises
an uninterruptible power supply device to be electrically connected
with the reduction mechanisms (60) and the push rods (70).
10. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
carrier (20) is formed by a plurality of horizontal and vertical
tubes (201), and a telescopic core member (202) is contained within
each tube (201), the telescopic core member (202) being able to
extend and retract relative to the tube (201) in such a manner that
the carrier (20) can be enlarged or shrinked both in the width
direction and in the height direction.
11. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 10, wherein a flange
portion (201a) is formed to project inwardly at one end of each
tube (201), while a flange portion (202a) is formed to project
outwardly at one end of each telescopic core member (202).
12. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein several
escape window (11') acting as window platform are provided at some
lower floors of the building (1') having curtain wall, and several
connection platforms (100) are provided on some selected suitable
escape windows (11') of certain floors.
13. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guide
rails (12) are formed on an extension having C-shape channel
integrally formed with the Aluminum-extruded frame (102) for
supporting the curtain glasses (101) of the curtain wall (10'),
with the opening (12a) facing outside of the building (1').
14. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
carrier (20) is provided with a pair of pulleys (22) fixed on the
upper and lower end of the side edge of the rear surface.
15. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 14, wherein the
carrier (20) has a decoration panel (10a) which is substantially
identical with the curtain glasses (101) of the curtain wall
(10').
16. A transport equipment for transporting personnel or commodity
along the outer wall (10') of a building (1'), which has curtain
wall with at least a pair of escape windows (11) provided
respectively at an upper location and a lower location on the outer
wall (10') of the building (1') and separated with each other at a
suitable transverse distance, wherein said transport equipment
comprises: a pair of carrier (20, 20') accommodated respectively on
an upper and a lower escape windows (11), a pair of suspending
cables (21) being provided on the top of each carrier (20, 20'),
and at least a pair of pulleys (22) being provided on each rear
surface of each carrier (20, 20'); a loading plate (15) provided at
the top of the building (1'), which can slide out under suitable
guiding along rails, a deflection pulley (43, 43'; 44, 44') being
provided corresponding to the each suspending cable (21) on each
carrier (20, 20'); two cables (51, 51') of equal length, the cable
(51) being connected at the suspending cables (21) of one side of
each carrier (20, 20') and passing over the deflection pulley (44,
43), while the other cable (51') being connected at the suspending
cables (21) of the other side of each carrier (20, 20') and passing
over the deflection pulley (44', 43'), both ends of each cable (51,
51') being anchored together with the corresponding suspending
cable (21); a reduction mechanism (62) being used to restrict each
deflection pulley (43, 44') rotating at a finite rotation speed;
two pair of guide rails (12) provided vertically on the outer wall
(10') of the building (1'); and a hand-wheel (72) used to rotate a
screw rod (73) so that the loading plate (15) is moved outward and
the pulleys (22) on the carrier (20, 20') slide on respective guide
rail (12).
17. A transport equipment for transporting personnel or commodity
along the outer wall (10) of a building (1), which has RC structure
with at least a pair of window platforms (11) provided respectively
at an upper location and a lower location on the outer wall (10) of
the building (1) and separated with each other at a suitable
transverse distance, wherein said transport equipment comprises; a
pair of carrier (20, 20') accommodated respectively on an upper and
a lower window platforms (11), a pair of suspending cables (21)
being provided on the top of each carrier (20, 20'), and at least a
pair of pulleys (22) being provided on each side surface of each
carrier (20, 20'); a loading plate (15) provided at the top of the
building (1'), which can slide out under suitable guiding along
rails, a deflection pulley (43, 43'; 44, 44') being provided
corresponding to the each suspending cable (21) on each carrier
(20, 20'); two cables (51, 51') of equal length, the cable (51)
being connected at the suspending cables (21) of one side of each
carrier (20, 20') and passing over the deflection pulley (44, 43),
while the other cable (51') being connected at the suspending
cables (21) of the other side of each carrier (20, 20') and passing
over the deflection pulley (44', 43'), both ends of each cable (51,
51') being anchored together with the corresponding suspending
cable (21); a reduction mechanism (62) being used to restrict each
deflection pulley (43, 44') rotating at a finite rotation speed;
two pair of guide rails (12) provided vertically on the outer wall
(10') of the building (1'); and A hand-wheel (72) used to rotate a
screw rod (73) so that the loading plate (15) is moved outward and
the pulleys (22) on the carrier (20, 20') slide in respective guide
rail (12).
18. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 17, wherein the
carrier (20, 20') is composed of two face structures (20a, 20b),
each face structures (20a, 20b) being formed by a plurality of
horizontal and vertical tubes (201), a plurality of telescopic
tubes (202) being connected between the two face structures (20a,
20b) at both sides and the bottom so that the depth of the carriers
(20, 20') can be enlarged or shrinked.
19. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 18, wherein a
plurality of elongated receiving grooves (111) corresponding to the
telescopic tubes (202) are provided in the floor (110) of the
window platform (11) such that the telescopic tubes (202) in
non-use condition of the carrier (20, 20') are received within the
elongated receiving grooves (111).
20. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pair
of guide rails (12) for each carrier formed by C shape channel
steel are provided vertically on the RC structure of the outer wall
(10) of the building (1) with the openings (12a) facing oppositely
with each other.
21. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pair
of carrier (20,20') are arranged respectively on two neighborhood
buildings.
22. A transport equipment for transporting personnel or commodity
along outer wall (10) of a building (1), which has RC structure
with at least one balcony as the window platform (11), comprising;
a carrier (20) accommodated on the window platform (11), which has
a pair of drive gears (23) provided symmetrically on the upper end
of both sides; a pair of reduction mechanism (60) fixed on the
carrier (20) for acting on the pair of drive gears (23) so that the
pair of drive gears (23) are rotated at a predetermined speed; a
pair of guide rails (12) arranged vertically along the outer wall
(10) of the building (1), a rack (123) being provided at the inner
side of the opening (12a) of each guide rails (12), a pair of
horizontal accommodating sections (122) being provided on each
guide rail (12) for accommodating the drive and idler gear (23) and
(23a) respectively, the carrier (20) is pushed out of the window
platform 11 by outside force and is enlarged in depth direction,
each drive gear (23) being meshed with the rack (123) of each guide
rail (12) so that the carrier (20) can transport personnel and
commodity.
23. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
carrier (20) has a first face structure (20a), s second face
structure (20b) and a third face structure (20c), a pair of
telescopic tubes (202) disposed between the first face structure
(20a) and the second face structure (20b) being provided on each
side faces of the carrier (20), one end of the each tube (202)
being connected at the respective corner of the first face
structure (20a), while the other end passing through the hollow
hole of the second face structure (20b), the second face structure
(20b) being allowed to slide along the telescopic tube (202), the
third face structure (20c) being disposed at the bottom between the
first face structure (20a) and the second face structure (20b) and
being capable of folding into the first face structure (20a).
24. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 23, wherein the pair
of drive gears (23) are pivotally provided on both sides of the
second face structure (20b), and a pair of idler gears (23a) are
provided on the same sides opposite to the pair of drive gears
(23).
25. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 24, wherein a
plurality of elongated receiving grooves (111) corresponding to the
telescopic tubes (202) are provided in the floor (110) of the
window platform (11) such that the telescopic tubes (202) in
non-use state of the carrier (20) are received within the elongated
receiving grooves (111).
26. A transport equipment as claimed in claim 24, wherein the pair
of guide rails (12) formed by C shape channel steel are provided
vertically on the RC structure of the outer wall (10) of the
building (1) with the openings (12a) facing oppositely with each
other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a transport equipment, more
particularly to a transport carrier (simply carrier hereinafter)
that is disposed on the window platform or balcony and thus becomes
one part of a building in normal condition, and that is pushed out
of the window platform or balcony for personnel and commodity
transportation through a slow descending mechanism in emergency
condition.
[0003] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Ordinary building is designed to have windows or balcony for
good lighting, ventilation and landscape. However, iron grille for
burglar proof added in most cases for safety consideration is apt
to become an obstacle for escaping in emergency condition, thus
great loss in life or property will be suffered.
[0005] In order to improve the defect of retardation on escaping
caused by the adding of iron grille in traditional building, the
inventor of this application has proposed a "BURGLAR PROOF METAL
GRILLE FOR ESCAPING" disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. M 286860, in
which a cage type carrier can be descended slowly to reach ground
after the accommodation of personnel. In this way, personnel can
get rid of danger or terrible feeling occurred in the case that
he/she have to clamber out of a window and to climb down along a
ladder for escaping, characterized in that it comprises a metal
grille frame body fixed on the wall surface of a building to serve
as an accommodating chamber with a part of the frame face having no
grille thereon; an escaping window cage body unfolded to be as a
part of the accommodating chamber in normal condition, which
includes a L shape frame body and a pair of movable frame bodies
pivoted on both sides of the L shape frame body, the configuration
after unfolding being complementary to the frame face of the L
shape frame body without grille thereon and being fixed to be
integral therewith, the movable frame body after detaching from the
frame face without grille capable of being folded and assembled
with the L shape frame body quickly to form a cage type carrier
when in need; a slow descending mechanism formed by a suspending
arm fixed on the wall surface of a building, a reduction mechanism,
and a cable one end of which is connected to the escaping window
cage body and the other end of which is coupled to the reduction
mechanism through the pulley on the suspending arm. In this way,
the carrier is unfolded and contained as a part of a burglar proof
metal grille in normal condition, and is assembled to be a cage
type carrier which can descend slowly along the outer wall of the
building in emergency condition.
[0006] Without doubt, the above proposal disclosed in Taiwanese
Patent No. M 286860 provides a solution to improve the defect of
retardation on escaping caused by the adding of iron grille in
traditional building, however the person skilled in the art can
understand that the carrier is easy to swing due to the impact of
wind during descending process. Thus, the person in danger further
suffers additional terrible feeling from swinging in the air.
Therefore, improvement for better safety is expected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The main object of this invention is to provide a transport
equipment, which can remove the defect of retardation on escaping
caused by the adding of iron grille in traditional building, and
which can eliminate the swinging of carrier occurred by the impact
of wind in the air during descending.
[0008] In order to achieve the above and the other objects, the
transport equipment of one aspect of the present invention mainly
comprises: a carrier accommodated on the window platform or the
balcony of a building, which has a plurality of suspending cables
and at least a pair of pulleys provided on the bottom; a slow
descending mechanism disposed on the inner wall of the building and
above the carrier, having a pair of swinging arms swingable to the
outside and a pulley provided at the end of each swinging arm; a
pair of winches for winding cables, one end of each cable being
fixed on the winch and the other end extending over the pulley and
going downwardly to anchor together with the suspending cable; a
pair of reduction mechanisms operative to restrict the winches
rotating at a predetermined speed; a pair of guide rails provided
vertically on the outer wall of the building; and a pair of push
rods operative to push the swinging arms to the outside and to
allow the pulleys of the carrier engaging on the guide rails.
[0009] According to the above structure, the carrier in normal
condition is disposed on the window platform or balcony and thus
becomes one part of a building, and is pushed out of the window
platform or balcony by the swinging arms of the slow descending
mechanism so as to slide on the guide rails provided on the outer
wall of the building. Thus, personnel or precious commodity can be
evacuated at the first instant of fire.
[0010] According to this invention, the carrier conducts ascending
and descending along the fixed guide rails provided on the outer
wall of a building, so the transport stability can be improved.
Therefore, the carrier can be constructed to have the floor or the
sidewalls having increased grille density so as to increase safety
feeling of personnel. The carrier can be used in apartment or
building with less floors so as to transport old people or
handicapped person. This is another object of the present
invention.
[0011] According to still another aspect of the invention, a
solution for eliminating the defect of retardation on escaping from
enclosed space such as high building having curtain wall is
proposed. In addition to the above carrier and the slow descending
mechanism, a connection platform on a floor for relay purpose is
utilized for temporarily transferring personnel or commodity to the
safe floor or to the floor accessible by the aerial platform of a
aerial ladder fire fighting truck. This is still another object of
this invention.
[0012] According to this aspect of the invention, the transport
equipment includes a control unit electrically connected with the
reduction mechanisms, push rods and connection platforms through,
for example, smoke detectors, temperature sensors or the other fire
alarm detecting devices, so that a predetermined safety procedure
is automatically executed. In addition, the transport equipment is
electrically connected with an uninterruptible power supply system
located at a safe place. Even in the case of electricity
disconnection due to the happening of a fire, the transport
equipment can still be operated by uninterruptible power supply
system or by hand. This is still another object of the present
invention.
[0013] According to still another aspect of the invention, a
powerless transport equipment is proposed to eliminate the defect
of retardation on escaping from enclosed space such as high
building with curtain wall, in which two carriers alternately move
upward and downward simultaneously along the guide rails provided
on the outer wall by providing different weights on the carriers
connected at both ends of a cable. This is still another object of
the present invention.
[0014] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a solution
for space saving of window platform or balcony in non-use condition
of the carrier is proposed. For example, the carrier is composed of
several face structures, and a plurality of telescopic tubes are
provided between two main face structures. In this way, the depth
of the carrier can be enlarged or shrinked. In shrinked state, each
telescopic tube of the carrier can be received within respective
elongate receiving groove in the window platform such that the
depth of the carrier can be shrinked to a minimum value. Thus, the
carrier becomes a part of the iron grille. When in need, the
carrier is pushed out of the window platform and is enlarged in
depth dimension so as to increase the transport capacity. This is
another object of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of
the transport equipment of the present invention operated in
combination with a building.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the first
embodiment of the present invention, in which a carrier is disposed
on a window platform.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the first
embodiment of the present invention, in which the carrier is pushed
out to engage on the guide rails provided on the outer wall of a
building.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a view seen from the direction of line 4-4 in FIG.
3.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the operating state of
the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of FIG. 5.
[0021] FIG. 7a is a schematic perspective view showing a variation
of the carrier of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 7b is schematic perspective view showing the carrier of
FIG. 7a in expanded status.
[0023] FIG. 7c is a partially enlarged view of an encircled portion
in FIG. 7b, a part of which is exploded.
[0024] FIG. 7d is a schematic view showing the operating state of
the carrier of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing the second
embodiment of the transport equipment of the present invention
operated in combination with a building having curtain wall.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged view showing a connection
platform of the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing the carrier of the
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view showing the third
embodiment of the transport equipment of the present invention
operated in combination with a building having curtain wall.
[0029] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing the
operating state of the third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0030] FIG. 13 is schematic perspective view showing the fourth
embodiment of the transport equipment of the present invention
operated in combination with a building of RC structure.
[0031] FIG. 14 is a partial enlarged view showing the fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 15 is schematic side view showing the carrier of the
fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the carrier in
expanded status is shown.
[0033] FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view showing the fifth
embodiment of the transport equipment of the present invention
operated in combination with a building of RC structure.
[0034] FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing the carrier
of the fifth embodiment of the present invention in shrinked
state.
[0035] FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view showing the carrier
of the fifth embodiment of the present invention in extended
state.
[0036] FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective partial view showing the
guide rails of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 20 is a schematic sectional view showing the fifth
embodiment of the present invention, in which the carrier in
shrinked state is shown.
[0038] FIG. 21 is a schematic sectional view showing the fifth
embodiment of the present invention, in which the carrier in
extended state is shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] The technical features of the present invention will become
more apparent by the detailed description of following embodiments,
which are merely illustrative rather than restrictive on the scope
of the present invention, in conjunction with the attached
drawings.
[0040] In FIG. 1-6, the first embodiment of the transport equipment
of the present invention operated in combination with a building is
shown. Generally, building 1 with RC structure basically has a
window platform 11 or balcony provided on the outer wall 10 for
good lighting, ventilation and landscape. For the sake of safety,
iron grille for burglar proof is added in most cases. This
invention utilizes the outer wall 10 of the building 1 to transport
personnel or commodity in emergency or in need condition. The
transport equipment of the present invention mainly comprises a
carrier 20 accommodated on the window platform 11 and thus becomes
a part of the building, for example, by decorated it identically
with the iron grille 20' to become a part of the iron grille 20' as
shown in FIG. 5. A plurality of suspending cables 21 for sustaining
the weight of the carrier 20 are provided on the top of the carrier
20, and at least a pair of pulleys 22 are provided on the
bottom.
[0041] A slow descending mechanism 30 is disposed at a location
above the carrier 20, and is fixed on the inner wall 13 of the
building 1 through a base 31. The slow descending mechanism 30
comprises a pair of cantilever beams 32, one end of each beam 32
being fixed on the base 31 and the other end extending outside. A
pair of swinging arms 40, forming as a bent shape hanging toward
the carrier 20, one end of each swing arm 40 pivots on the
suspending arm 32, and the other end is provided with a pulley 41.
A pair of winches 50, fixed on the base 31 and above the suspending
arms 32, are used respectively to wind a cable 51 which has one end
fixed on the winch 50 and the other end extending over the pulley
41 and going downwardly to anchor together with the suspending
cable 21. A pair of reduction mechanism 60 are disposed on the base
31 and below the pair of winches 50, which can be a hydraulic
reducer or a gear reducer (not shown). In this embodiment, the
reduction mechanism 60 is illustrated as a hydraulic reducer. Each
hydraulic reducer has an actuating rod 61 for acting eccentrically
on the pair of winches 50 so that each winch 50 can rotate at a
predetermined speed. A pair of guide rails 12 are arranged
vertically on the outer wall 10 of the building 1. A pair of push
rods 70, for example a pair of hydraulic actuated telescopic rods
or hand-wheel operated screw rod (not shown), are provided below
the slow descending mechanism 30. One end of each push rod 70 is
fixed on the inner wall 13 of the building 1, and the other end is
interlinked with a swinging arm 40 through a link 71 so that each
swinging arm 40 is pushed outwardly. At the same time, each pulley
22 of the carrier 20 engages with the guide rail 12 (as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3).
[0042] According to this invention, the guide rails 12 can be
formed by a pair of channel steels with C-section, and are disposed
on the outer wall 10 of the building 1 with the openings 12a facing
oppositely with each other. The carrier 20 is provided with a pair
of pulleys 22 fixed on the upper and lower end of the rear edge of
each side face, thus the total quantity of pulleys on the carrier
20 would be 4 in this case. A baffle plate 121 is provided at the
outer edge of the opening 120 of the channel steel of each guide
rail 12 for precisely loading the pulley 22 into the sliding groove
in the guide rails 12. In addition, this invention further includes
a control unit (not shown) and an uninterruptible power supply
device that are electrically connected with the reduction
mechanisms 60 and the push rods 70. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the
carrier 20 is pushed out of the window platform 11 through the
swinging arms 40 of the slow descending mechanism 30, and conducts
ascending or descending along the guide rails 12 provided on the
outer wall 10 of the building 1 so as to transport personnel and
commodity when in need. In this manner, personnel or precious
commodity can be evacuated at the first instant of disaster. Even
in the case of electricity disconnection due to the happening of a
fire, the slow descending mechanism of the transport equipment can
be operated by uninterruptible power supply or by hand.
[0043] Furthermore, the carrier 20 can be constructed in such a
manner that it takes a less part of the window platform in non-use
condition, and is enlarged to have more transport capacity in use
condition. A variation of the carrier 20 is shown in FIGS. 7a to
7d. As shown in FIG. 7a, the carrier 20 is formed by a plurality of
horizontal and vertical tubes 201. A telescopic core member 202 is
contained within each tube 201 (as shown in FIG. 7b). As shown in
FIG. 7c, a flange portion 201a is formed to project inwardly at one
end of each tube 201, while a flange portion 202a is formed to
project outwardly at one end of each telescopic core member 202.
The flange portion 201a of the tube 201 engages with the flange
portion 202a of telescopic core member 202 when it is drawn out, so
as to achieve easy positioning between each tube 201 and its
telescopic core member 202. When the carrier 20 is not in use, each
telescopic core member 202 is retracted into the inside of
respective tube 201, and several locking pins 203 are used for
locking at some selective points. Thus, the size of the carrier 20
is shrinked to a minimum value. When in need, the carrier 20 is
raised by the swinging arms 40 of the slow descending mechanism 30
and is enlarged both in the width direction and in the height
direction after the locking pins 203 are released, and again the
locking pins 203 are used for locking at some selective positions
after the completion of the enlargement of the carrier 20. Thus,
the transport capacity of the enlarged carrier 20 is increased (as
shown in FIG. 7d).
[0044] In FIGS. 8 to 10, the second embodiment of the transport
equipment of the present invention operated in combination with a
building having curtain wall is shown. As to a skyscraping building
1 having curtain wall, the raising stroke of the aerial ladder of a
fire fighting truck is limited and might be unable to give access
to higher floor. On the other hand, the fire fighting regulation
requires that escape window 11' must be provided at some fixed
location of each floor. Thus, this invention takes advantage of the
escape window 11' and the curtain wall 10' to transport personnel
and commodity in emergency or in need.
[0045] According to the transport equipment of this embodiment, the
basic structure is substantially the same as the above embodiment,
therefore repeated description thereof is omitted. The carrier 20
is accommodated in a window platform of an escape window 11' as a
part of building. For example, the carrier 20 has a decoration
panel 10a which is almost the same as the curtain glass 101,
therefore the carrier 20 is a part of the curtain wall 10' when
seen from the outside. As shown in FIG. 10, the guide rail 12 is
formed on an extension having C shape channel integrally formed
with the Aluminum-extruded frame 102 for supporting the curtain
glasses 101, with the opening 12a facing outside of the building 1.
Correspondingly, the carrier 20 is provided with a pair of pulleys
22 fixed on the upper and lower end of the side edge of the rear
surface, thus the total quantity of pulleys 22 on the carrier 20
would be 4 in this case. The positioning of the pulleys 22 in the
guide rails 12 can be conducted in the same way as the first
embodiment.
[0046] In the case of a skyscraping building with curtain wall,
direct ground-reaching of the carrier 20 not only takes much time
but also influences the evacuation of the other people. Therefore,
a method of connection is utilized in this embodiment. In other
words, personnel are transferred to a safe floor or the floor that
is accessible by the aerial platform of an aerial ladder fire
fighting truck. Several escape window 11' are provided on some
lower floors of the building 1 having curtain wall, and connection
platforms 100 can be provided on some selected suitable escape
windows (11') of certain floors. The connection platform 100, for
example is a plate body controlled by a pair of hydraulic actuated
telescopic arms 103 so as to be extended from the escape window 11'
to the outside. In this manner, the connection platform 100 can
provide temporary docking for the carrier 20 (as shown in FIGS. 8
and 9). The operation of the transport equipment and the connection
platform 100 is automatically conducted according to a
predetermined safety procedure through the detection of a fire by
smoke detectors, temperature sensors or the other fire alarm
detection devices.
[0047] In FIGS. 11 and 12, the third embodiment of the transport
equipment of the present invention operated in combination with a
building having curtain wall is shown. The transport equipment in
this embodiment has two carriers 20, 20' alternately moving upward
and downward simultaneously along the guide rails provided on the
outer wall 10' of the building 1' by providing different weights on
the carriers connected at both ends of a cable, so that personnel
and commodity can be transported in powerless mode.
[0048] According to this invention, a pair of escape windows 11'
are provided respectively at an upper location and a lower location
on the outer wall 10' of the building 1', and are separated with
each other at a suitable transverse distance. A pair of carrier 20,
20' are accommodated within the respective escape window 11'. A
pair of suspending cables 21 are provided on the top of each
carrier 20, 20', and at least a pair of pulleys 22 (not shown in
the figures, this part is almost the same as that in the first
embodiment hence repeated description is omitted) are provided on
the rear surface of each carrier 20. A loading plate 15 is provided
at the top of the building 1, such as below the canopy, which can
slide out by suitable guiding on the rail (not shown).
Corresponding to the each suspending cable 21 on the carrier 20, a
deflection pulley 43 or 44 is provided on the loading plate 15 atop
the suspending cable 21 on each carrier 20, 20'. Two cables 51, 51'
of equal length, connect these two carriers 20, 20' respectively.
The cable 51 is connected at the suspending cables 21 of the
right-hand side of each carrier 20, 20' and passes over the
deflection pulley 44 and 43, while the other cable 51' is connected
at the suspending cables 21 of the left-hand side of each carrier
20, 20' and passes over the deflection pulley 44' and 43'. Both
ends of each cable (51, 51') are anchored together with the
corresponding suspending cable (21). In operation, these two cables
51, 51' have to move at same pace. A reduction mechanism 62 is used
to restrict each deflection pulley 43, and 44' rotating at a finite
rotation speed. Two pair of guide rails 12 are provided vertically
on the outer wall 10' of the building 1' (this part is the same as
that in the second embodiment hence repeated description is
omitted). A hand-wheel 72 is used to rotate a screw rod 73 so that
the loading plate 15 moves outward and the pulleys 22 on the
carrier 20, 20' can slide into the respective sliding groove in the
guide rail 12 (this part is the same as that in the second
embodiment hence repeated description is omitted).
[0049] When in need, the hand-wheel 72 and in turn the screw rod 73
are rotated to move the loading plate 15 outward so that the
carrier 20, 20' are pushed out of the escape windows 11'. The two
carriers 20, 20' move alternately upward and downward
simultaneously along the guide rails 12 provided on the outer wall
10' of the building 1' by providing different weights on the
carriers 20, 20', so that personnel and commodity can be
transported in powerless mode.
[0050] In FIGS. 13 to 15, the fourth embodiment of the transport
equipment of the present invention operated in combination with a
building of RC structure is shown. The suspension structure for the
transport equipment in this embodiment is substantially the same as
that in the third embodiment, hence repeated description thereof is
omitted. Generally, building with RC structure has a pair of window
platforms 11 (or balcony) provided on an upper location and a lower
location on the outer wall 10 of the building 1, and are separated
with each other at a suitable transverse distance. A pair of
carrier 20, 20' are accommodated within the respective window
platform 11 and thus become a part of the building in normal
condition. For example, the carriers 20, 20' are decorated to be
identical with the iron grille and thus becomes a part of the iron
grille.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the carrier 20 or 20' is
composed of two face structures 20a, 20b, each face structures 20a,
20b is formed by a plurality of horizontal and vertical tubes 201.
A plurality of telescopic tubes 202 are connected between the two
face structures 20a, 20b at both sides and the bottom. One end of
each telescopic tube 202 is fixed on the face structure 20a; the
other end passing through the hole on the face structure 20b is
formed with a flange portion 202a. Thus, the face structure 20b is
allowed to move along the telescopic tubes 202 in such a manner
that the depth of the carriers 20, 20' can be enlarged or shrinked.
Conventional collapsible grilles 204 can guard the side faces of
the carriers 20, 20'. Corresponding to the telescopic tubes 202, a
plurality of elongated receiving grooves 111 are provided in the
floor 110 of the window platform 11. Thus, the telescopic tubes 202
in non-use state of the carrier 20. 20' can be received within the
elongated receiving grooves 111, so that the depth of the pair of
carrier 20, 20' can be shrinked to a minimum value. In addition, a
pair of guide rails 12 for each carrier formed by C shape channel
steel are provided vertically on RC structure of the outer wall 10
of the building 1. A pair of pulleys 22 is provided at each side of
the face structure 20b of each carrier 20, 20' for sliding contact
within the opening 12a of the guide rails 12.
[0052] When in need, the hand-wheel 72 and in turn the screw rod 73
are rotated to move the loading plate 15 outward so that the
carrier 20, 20' are pushed out of the windows platform 11. The
carriers 20, 20' are enlarged in the depth direction and are locked
by conventional lock pin, and subsequently move alternately upward
and downward simultaneously along the guide rails 12 provided on
the outer wall 10 of the building 1 by providing different weights
on the pair of carriers 20, 20', so that personnel and commodity
can be transported in powerless mode. The person skilled in the art
should understand that the pair of carrier 20, 20 of this
embodiment are possible to be applied to the case of two
neighborhood buildings. In other words, one carrier mounted in one
build is connected to the other carrier mounted in the neighborhood
building.
[0053] In FIGS. 16 to 21, the fifth embodiment of the transport
equipment of the present invention operated in combination with a
building of RC structure is shown. Generally, several window
platforms 11 (or balcony) are provided on the outer wall 10 of
building 1 having RC structure. The transport equipment of this
embodiment comprises at least one carrier 20 that is accommodated
in the window platform 11 and thus becomes one part of the
building. For example, the carrier 20 is decorated to be identical
with the iron grille and thus becomes one part of the iron grille
when viewed from outside (as shown in FIG. 16).
[0054] As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the carrier 20 has a first face
structure 20a, a second face structure 20b and a third face
structure 20c formed respectively at the front face, the rear face
and the bottom face. A pair of telescopic tubes 202 is provided on
each side faces of the carrier 20 disposed between the first face
structure 20a and the second face structure 20b. One end of the
each telescopic tube 202 is connected at the respective corner of
the first face structure 20a, while the other end passing through
the hole of the second face structure 20b is formed with a flange
202a. The second face structure 20b is allowed to slide along the
telescopic tube 202 till the flange 202a. A cable 51 is
respectively stretched atop the first face structure 20a and the
second face structure 20b. The third face structure 20c is disposed
at the bottom between the first face structure 20a and second face
structure 20b. One end of the third face structure 20c pivots on
the lower side of the first face structure 20a so that the other
end is thus rotated and folded into the first face structure 20a.
Therefore, the depth of the carrier 20 can be shrinked or enlarged.
A pair of drive gears 23 is provided symmetrically on both sides of
the second face structure 20b, and a pair of idler gears 23a is
provided on the same sides opposite to the pair of drive gears 23.
Further, a pair of reduction mechanisms 60 fixed on the carrier 20
act on the pair of drive gears 23 so that the pair of drive gears
23 can be rotated at a predetermined speed in coordination with
power drive mode or powerless mode. On the other hand, a plurality
of elongated receiving grooves 111 corresponding to the telescopic
tubes 202 are provided in the floor 110 of the window platform 11.
Thus, the telescopic tubes 202 in non-use condition of the carrier
20 can be received within the elongated receiving grooves 111, so
that the depth of the pair of carrier 20 can be shrinked to a
minimum value.
[0055] Besides, a pair of guide rails 12 is arranged vertically
along the outer wall 10 of the building 1. As shown in FIG. 19, the
pair of guide rails 12 is made of C type channel steel and is fixed
on the outer wall 11 of the building 10 with the openings 12a
facing oppositely to each other. A rack 123 is provided at the
inner side of the opening 12a of each guide rails 12. A pair of
horizontal accommodating sections 122 is provided on each guide
rail 12 for receiving the drive and idler gear 23 and 23a
respectively.
[0056] When in need, the carrier 20 is pushed out of the window
platform 11 by outside force and is enlarged in depth direction.
Each drive gear 23 is meshed with the rack 123 of each guide rail
12 so that the carrier 20 can transport personnel and commodity in
power drive or powerless mode as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.
[0057] The above embodiments are for illustrative purpose only, not
for the restriction of the scope of the present invention. The
equivalent modifications and variations made without departing from
the spirit and principle of the present invention are considered
still within the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *