GB1378561A - Escape equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

1378561 Escape shoots H UYEDA 27 April 1972 19705/72 Heading B7J Escape equipment, particularly for the escape of persons from an upper floor of a building, comprises a cylindrical hose 2 having ropes 36 extending lengthwise of the hose 2 and secured thereto along its full length, and elastic ties such as coil springs 39 extending spirally round the outside of the hose 2 and secured to the ropes 36 for elastically constricting the passage through the hose. The springs 39 extend in a spiral and are at 40 degrees to the ropes 36. Hose 2 is of a double walled construction having inner soft cloth 37 and outer cloth 38 both of which surround and are sewn to the ropes 36. Outer cloth 38 and a cloth 40 surrounding the springs 39 are of a fire-resistant fabric such as a refractory glass fibre. In use the hose 2 hangs vertically and escapees fall into an end portion of enlarged cross-section 41, 42 which contains a cushion 44 on top of an end member (43), Fig. 5 (not shown), supported by the ropes 36. Escapees landing on cushion 44 get out through an adjacent aperture 45 in the wall of the end portion which may be anchored to the ground by a loop 47. The hose 2 is suspended in use from a supporting structure comprising an attachment frame 6, for attachment to a fixed support in the building, and a supporting frame 7 which is pivotally joined to the frame 6 and may be folded thereagainst when not in use. The supporting frame 7 is held in position by cables 29, 31 and 31a and covered by a cloth 34 which forms a tunnel through which escapees crawl to a mouth frame 28 from which the hose 2 is suspended. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,269,401.