CA2216216A1 - Emergency self evacuation system - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a rapidly deployable personal escape system that allows a person to evacuate a burning or otherwise incapacitated multistory building or structure. This invention consists of a mounting plate or pin for fastening one end of the descent line, an appropriate length of galvanized or stainless steel cable cored, Nomex clad descent line affixed to the mounting point, an aluminum friction descending device through which the descender line runs in order to provide a controllable and acceptable rate of descent, a body supporting full-body harness constructed of heat resistant Kevlar and Nomex aramid fibre material and designed for complete body support, even in the event of a subject's inversion during operation. Said harness connects to the descending device by means of a metal connecting D-ring clamp or a caribiner fastening device as used by mountaineers, thus securing the evacuee's suspended body to the escape system, and a descent line carrying friction spool contained in a hard shell cartridge style spool encasement which is in turn placed into a fire-resistant container bag which attaches to the back of the full-body harness. Said variety of descent line container will be determined by the length of descent line appropriately required. The descent line will slip at a controlled rate through the cylinder gates of the descender friction-brake device, with a continual engagement of fresh descent line being advanced as is required by the downward progress of the evacuee.

Description

Abstract This invention relates to a rapidly deployable pe,~l-al escape system that allows a person to evacuate a burning or otherwise int ~raçit~ted ml-ltistory building or structure. This invention cons;sls of a mollnting plate or pin for fpctening one end of the descent line, an applol),;ale length of galvanized or Slall)l~SS steel cable cored, Nomex clad descent line affixed to the mollnting point, an ~ mim~m friction de~çn~ing device through which the descen~ler line runs in order to provide a controllable and acceptable rate of descent, a body supporting full-body harness constructed of heat les;~l~d Kevlar and Nomex aramid fibre material and dçsigned for co,nplete body support, even in the event of a subject's inversion during operation. Said harness connel;ls to the descending device by means of a metal con~ ;ng D-ring clamp or a c~ib;l~er f~ctçning device as used by mollnt~ine~rs, thus securing the evacuee's suspended body to the escape system, and a descent line carrying friction spool contained in a hard shell cartridge style spool ~nC~ment which is in turn placed into a fire-le ,;sl~l col,lailler bag which att~ç~es to the back ofthe full-body harness. Said variety of descent line conlainer will be determined by the length of descent line approp, ialel~ required. The descent line will slip at a controlled rate through the cylinder gates of the descçntler friction-brake device, with a continll~l eng~mçnt of fresh descent line being advanced as is required by the dow"~drd progress of the evacuee.

Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of fire, safety and rescue. In particular, it relates to a personal evacuation/escape system for use in multi~tory structures. This device enables any person to effect an lln~c~i~te~l, self rescue evacuation from a burning or otherwise inc~r~Git~ted building or structure, and will allow the safe usage of heavier and even multi-person loads.

Back~round to the Invention Prior art forms of personal fire escape systems which can be used on mlllti~tory structures are generally comp,;~d of a rope that can be fP~tçned at one end to a structure fixed to the building, with the user sliding down the rope through an escape openil-g (e.g.: window or balcony door). In order to ensure both a safe rate of descent and avoidance of friction on the user's body, a descent brake as well as a body suspçn~ion device are incorporated into the system. To keep the descent line from dropping down into an unsafe or unwanted situation, some prior art forms have the excess descent line wound around a friction reel which is in tum e ~c~ in either a hard or soft shell material (plastic or canvass), thus ~s~ 8 user i.llerfi,rence with the ass~ bly in order to advance more line as is required.
In one prior art form under patent application, the descent rope is f~tçned to the structure to be evacuated via a loop in the leading end of the rope, with the other end wound around a reel enclosed in a hard or soft shell casing. The descent rope passes through a friction brake in the form of a wooden or metal block having several holes drilled through it, with the line being wound sinuously through the holes in the block. A sling for suspç~ g the user's body is f~tçned to the block, with a safety line which loops around the user's back ~tt~che~ to the block and sling. The length of unused descent line wound around the reel which is s~-~pende~ below the user by friction retention, is further advanced and deployed by inte~relence with the user's body against the en~ çm~nt upon descent adv~nc~mçnt In use with this particular system, the loop end of the line is f~ctçned to a fixture atta~l-ed to the building being evacu~ted and the user places his weight into the sling while looping the safety line around him/herself and then steps through either a door or window opening allowing his/her body weight to be suspended by the sling which in turn is suspended from the friction brake block device. Through a procedure which is not clearly dçfine~ the user then allows him~erself to descend by means of the rope sliding through the holes in the block, at a proposed col.LIo~l?~le rate. Exactly how the rate of descent is regl-l?ted, keeping the user from accelerating to a dal~gerous velocity, is not mentioned or explained.
The probl~m~ associated with the above descl;l,ed system are that, as described in the patent application, a simple 'sling' for body support, even with consideration of the safety loop, is considered un~c~plA~le by any proressional rescue/descent industry standards.
This col,li)on~lt"~ arr~na. .~ does not provide a sufficient safety assurance to guarantee proper and safe operation in the event of high winds and/or user body inversion during operation.
As well, the friction block brake as desc,il,ed in the pictorals ofthis invention does not provide an easily operable descent rate re~ tion aspect, thereby allowing a potentially dangerous or injurious predicament to the system user. Friction itself through a con~lal~l, no--~~just~ble series of holes in a wooden or metal block will not controllably regulate the rate of rope slippage nor the rate of the user's descçnt As well, the decent line as described in this system, although s~ggested to be of a heat resistant material, is by no means impervious to abrasion, cutting or rubbing severance in the event of a continued rubbing action against sharp or abrasive elements (i.e.: broken glass shards, metal edges etc.), cledlillg yet another potentially injurious situation. In addition, although many materials are desc.ibed as being 'heat l~s;sl~d', none ofthese (either Kevlar or Nomex) are col"~lete1y impervious to eYtçn(le~ direct ;...ping~."~n~ by flame or burning gases, which can often take place during a high level, m111tistQry evacuation. In the event of super-heated gases ;nlpingmg the descent line at any point b~ t-.~n the user and the leading line-end affixed to the structure, it would be only a matter of a few lllolllellls before the structural integrity of the descent line at the point of impingem~nt began breaking down, causing a descent line failure and subsequçnt injury or death to the user.
Lastly, the evacuation line being provided with a simple loop on its leading end to be afflixed to a part of the structure which is to be evacuated in an P~llel~ y situation, introduces numerous possibilities ~h~,leby the evacuee, in a panic stricken lllome.l~ of confi~ n, or in the lack of eApel;ence or CAI)~;IL3e, may mistakenly affix the line to an unsecured object within, or portion ofthe structure to be e~3cu~te~ which does not withhold the load ca.lying ca~ ;ty to allow safe deployment and operation ofthe evacuation system, again thereby cl~aling a potentially dal~gerous or fatal situation.
In addition, there are other similar evacuation devices which incoll,olale ~eç1-Anical braking colllpon~,.ds into the descent system, thereby introducing a ..~ec1-An;,~d colllponenl into an otherwise non-...~h~- c~1 asselllbly. The problems associated with this are that me~.h~n ~1 colllpol1e.lls add unl-ecess~ y weight and complicalion to an otherwise straight rOl ~al d, non-.. .eç1-~- c~1 system. As well as the undesirable addition of weight and colllpl~Yity of operation, a ...ec1~ni~ed braking system, as the nature of ~eChAn ~ ~1 devices go, introduces an elçm~nt into the evacuation system which has the h~helenl ~-bi1ity of a m~lfilnction or of a seizure. In the event of inc1ç~ 1 weather, falling fire supples&LIds or foreign debris entering the ...er1-~ 1 device, there is the potential for a m~lfi)nctioning of operation.
If the e~ tion system were to be stored for any period of time, with the system coming into prolonged contact with moisture or insect il~;,l~lion etc., again the ne~s~ y free-functioning of a ,,,~h~. cal braking system could be coll,prollliscd or ~l~m~geA, causing a potelll;a~ly harmful or injurious concequçnce All prior art forms so far consulted incorporate a plethora of various leading end descent line f~ctçning methods, sugges~ g ~ttl~~hm~nt to window or door frames, door hinges and even object or furniture items within the structure to be evacuated. Such functioning creates a high degree of uncel laillly in regards to the safe load re~ll ail ing capabilities and fireproof characteristics of the point of ~ttaçhm~nt to be chosen, in addition to introducing a high Pl~:n~e~l of risk in requiring the user to make duress affected choices as to the point of ~ttrchmçnt of the evacuation system. Such moments of distress an evacuee can easily lose a sensil,lc composure, thereby introducing a greater potential for the user to make an InCOIlwl choice as to the point of ~tt~ck...f nl, once again introducing the potential of an injurious or fatal inci~çnt Summarv of the Invention We have invented an improvement to all '~ B pe- ~ndl self-evacuation hirise building escape systems, which allows the evacuee the security and assurance that an e.l~lg~l~
descent will be conducted in relative COIl~l l and in the ~SW~C~ of all avoidable risks and danger.
In its present embo~impnt~ this evacuation system is colllplised of a braided stainless steel cable-cored Nomex mqntlPd descent line, a pressed stainless steel mounting plate which is qtt~ched to the structural concrete colllponelllly- ofthe structure to be ev~qcusted and onto which the descent line will be . ttn~hP~, an all metal (slainle~s steel guide rods and aluminum friction ~;ylindel~ plus sl~inlts- steel, self-locking locknuts) descent 'rack' friction brake for controlling the evacuee's rate of descçnt a c&,il,iner or D-ring qtt.achm~Pnt device for securing the body harness to the descçnd~Pr friction brake, a full securing (upper and lower) body harness colllplised of fire I e..;sl~ll Kevlar aramid fibre ng, Nomex material and -q~ mim-m slider-lock rings plus qtt~qchmP-nt devices. This full-body harness system secures the evacuee by the waist, upper legs and by the upper body/~hol~lders in an integral, all e.~co.~ si~ cradle, thus ensuring that the evacuee may never be at risk of slipp;l~g out of or falling from said body SllppGI ling device during any high elevation/high angle evacuation exercise, no matter how in~l~mçntsl the weather and other con~litiQllc may be. Said full-body harness will function completely safely in a fully inverted position, in addition to rel~;..;l-g full composure under loads or shock forces exerted upon the user from any direction.
Said body harness is constructed in an easy to use, three point sdj-lst~skle format utili7ing se~iulin~, cinchstyle adju~tm~Pnt straps around the waist and both ~hollldP,rs with an nd~litio~sl snap-lock att~~hmPnt buckle across the two shoulder/chest straps to fully secure upper body çn~losl~re, for safe operation even in the event of inverted body positioning during an evacuation exercise.
The mollnting plate sttn~hmPnt device, for providing a structural method of connectin~
the decent line to the structure to be evacuated, is fabricated of ~lai~ s~ steel (or other) sheet metal and which is fsctened by means of Hilti-Hit fasteners or butterfly expansion bolt ~sl,-el ~ directly to the concrete floor or other structural component of the structure to be evacuated with minimllm load carrying sdequscy for required load s.nollnt~ This device thereby provides a fixation point which shall retain its load c&llying integrity even in the event of prolonged flame or super-heated gas imping~m~P.nt, providing the system user a secure and safe point of stts.~hmçnt for the escape system.
The de~ndPr line, being colllplised of a braided galvanized or stainless steel, aircraft quality cable core which is Wl ~ped in a braided, heat re~isl~l Nomex material mantle, provides a descent line that is impervious to abrasion or cutting weakness or failure, thereby relieving the nece~ y of any 'protection' sleeves and reduçing any potential risk of abrasion or cutting failure during an evacuation exercise. As well, the cable-core construction of the descent line assures the ~ i,.",~ ~1 of full integrity and load carrying capabilities even in the event of prolonged direct flame or super-heated gas impingement which is always a concc", during the escape from any burning building or structure.
The approp,;ale !ength of excess descent line not yet used during any specific point of an evacuation exerclse, or during storage and/or ~ ~ol ~lion of the evacuation system, is kept coiled around an approplialely sized decent line spool which is s lbsequently çnr.~ced in a hard shell cartridge style enc~ l and then enclosed in a fire-l ei,;sl~lt Nomex material conlah~e. bag. Said bag is ~ttach~.d to the back of the harness by means of metal snap-f~ctenirtg clips and will thus remain out ofthe way and from inte~r~;,ing or impedin ~,vith the evacuee's freedom of move.l.~,nl. Said co,-lail-er ensures that the portion of unused descent line will not unfurl unl-ecess--ily prior to r~uile",enl, thus possible becoming ent~ngle~ soiled, flame impil-ged or other undesirable occl."~.~ces beyond the user's control. The descent line is fed from the conlail-er bag and into the descçnd~o.r friction braking system upon progressive use-require",c;"l, by simple inte~rerence pressure caused by the evacuee's advancing descent "lo~ m The friction brake device, to which the evacuee is affixed via the body SUppOI ling, full-body harness cradling the evacuee in full s.lspçn~:on and which in turn is directly ~tt~ched to the friction brake descent device by a metal D-clamp or by a metal c~ ibinel such as used by mollnt~;n clhlll)el~, is what controls the evacuee's rate of de~nt giving the evacuee sole authority and control over the rate of descent progress (vertical velocity) via descent line friction against the descent device's ~ minum friction cylinders, allowing the user to de~ --d at a safe and comrol l~ble velocity even in the i~ -ce of one-handed operation requile.l~lll, as well as the ability to come to a full stop-lock position, with hands-free security of so required.
The friction brake device is made up of a length of slain]csr steel rod bent into a U-shaped configuration, thus having two half-length parallel 'arms', each of which is threaded on its open end to receive a self-locking s~a lerr steel capph~g nut. Onto the parallel rod arms are slipped a number (generally five or six but may be more or less) of solid ~hlminllm cylinders which are drilled pell,~, u1iclll~rly at each end to receive the rod arm guides. Once the required selection of number and tli~meter ccslllbinalion of Pl~minum friction cylinders has been fed onto the guide arms, the rod ends are capped offwith a self-locking stainless steel nut, which will keep the descent friction brake unit's colllpone.lls together and functioning as one single, integral non-mer.l~ PI unit.
The descent line, one end of which is f~t~ned to the building being evacuated via the mollnting fasteners, shall be weaved ~inllollsiy through the friction cylinders in an over and then under seq~enc~" betwt;el- the parallel guide rods. The descent line end then passes over the last friction cylinder to run behind the evacuee and onto the undeployed descent line storage spool çn~ ed inside a hard shell cartridge-style ~I~r~ which is then stored inside the descent line co"l~ner bag, where it remains stored until deployment requi, e.".,nl activates the release of further descent line.
The objects of this invention were as follows:
1) To provide an easily storable self-rescue hirise evacuation system which is rapidly deployable, operational by one person only and provides the .. ~x;.. n level of safe openation ~and security possible while re~uçing all îor~sPe~ble risks to an absolute minimum.

2) To provide a mollntin~q~ttnchn.~ method by which the descent line will be secured to the structure being e~, ~mated such that the gr~lc~t potential load carrying integrity will be retained while ensuring that an evacuee, even in a panic stricken e."c.gc. cy inciclencP., can not err in making an i""~roper or an unstable point of attachment choice.

3) To provide a self-rescue/evacuation system which inco~l,ol~les a descent line that is fully impervious to abrasion or cutting severance, is impervious to direct flame or super heated gas ;n~ri~8~ 1 is rG;~ t~II to any significant degree of flexure or stretch characteristics and thus provides the user with the ,,,~,,,.1,,, amount of security and confi~lçnce pc2.. 1c.

4) To provide a self-rescue/evacuation system which incol~Jola~es a non-mechq-n:cq~l, single handed operable, completely controllable friction style descent braking device. Said unit is to operate in such a fashion as not to twist or unduly stress the descent line during opel~lioll (as is co""llon with many n.P,rl~q~ical and all "figure 8" style rappel descçn~ler brakes), and is to be impervious to ;ncl~.... nl ql weather conditions, descpn(ler line soiling, lubricant conl~-...nAIion or icing conditions.

5) To provide a friction brake system which can be secured, single hst de~lly~ into a full stop/full lock brake position, allowing the user a hands-free stationary operation possibility to conduct whatever maneuvers as may be l~ecesC~ y in such evacuation/rescue situations.

6) To provide a self-rescue/ evacuation system which incorporates a fire re~siS~.I full body, fully secured and fully adjustable body suppolling device. Such device, the body harness, is des;~-ed with thigh, waist, shol~ldPr and chest It;~l,~nil~g support ~I,apping, having cinch . ~ st~sble waist and shoulder strap fittings plus a securable cross-chest snap con,~eclor for a fully secured, full body support system. Said body harness will operate with full co---po~.lre and security even in the event that the user is rendered Ul conscious during the escape c,~cl~;se, and even in the event or neG-P~Ss;~y of the user beco"l.l-g physically inverted during a descPnt/evacuation exercise.

7) To provide a self-rescue/ hirise evacuation system which incorporates a descent line CGIlt~ine~ device for the purpose of col-l~;nil~g the descent line not yet deployed in the process of an e "el~,ency descent evacuation, such that its method of operation provides the simplest, non-...e~ n ~sl function possible thus ensuring that foreign objects or material or liquid soiling of the descent line will not hamper or impede the flow and smoothness of its ongoh~g deployment, which is paramount to the safety and security of the user.

8) To provide such a conlainel system that ensures any length of descent line not yet deployed does not fall or hang down uncGnl~ollably, thus incr~s;.lg risk of ~ntr~lf~m.ont or fouling in an undesirable situation. As well, such conlainel shall ensure that any length of line not yet deployed will not hang below the evacuee, thus n~g~q~ ;ng any chance of its being directly illlpil~g~ by flame or super heated gases e~aping from any building openings, as is coll....on during the evacuation of a burning hirise.

9) To provide a self-rescue/hirise evacuation system which will function safely and confidently even in a fully s~lspended operational situation, where guided rappelling by the evacuuee's contact down a vertical building wall is not pGs;~ilJle (i.e.: stepped construction or over h~ g protrusions).

10) To provide a self-rescue/ hirise evacuation system which is simple enough to use that an evacuee, not wi~ g age, physical conditioning or one handed disability, with m;~im~l instruction can easily and safely operate the system, even in the event that duress and stress of ~,..~r~,en~ conditions may a~fect the subject's state of mind and j~ldgnl~nt SPecifications: A brief descriPtion to me drawin~

Fig. 1 - Shows an e"~e~gel,~ desc~nrling device accoldil-g to a first embodiment ofthe present invention.
Fig. 2 - Shows a user of the c."ergel.cy device escaph~g down the outside of a burning building.
Fig. 3 - Shows a molunting plate con~ l;ng a part ofthe e.nergel .iy device accordh~g to this embodiment ofthe invention, which is securely f~t~-ned to a structural component of the b~1ildi~ being evac~1ated and provides a securing point on which the descent line is att, -h~
Fig. 4 - Shows a side view ofthe mol~nting plate.
Fig. S - Shows a front view ofthe frictional braking device herein after also rt;r~;;lled to as the "descçnd~r rack" or the "rack", comtit~lting a part of the e..~l~,el cy device accordh-g to the invention.

Fig. 6 - Shows a side elevation view of the "desc~onder rack" friction brake device, also showing how the descent line winds sinuously through the friction brake cylinders.
Fig. 7 - Shows the descent line and its various componentry layers, conctihlting a part of the cll~e ~ r device accol ding to the invention. .

Fig. 8 - Shows a cross-sectional of the descent line along any point of the line.
Fig. 9 - Shows the hard-shell cartridge style enca~,~ .l which co~ ules a part ofthe el,~ge~ y device accGldil g to the invention, for enclosing the undeployed descent line which is stored on an appr~p,iately sized storage spool.
Fig. 10 - Is a cut-away view ofthe hard-shell ~ ~e~c~ ..e-~l which shows how the descent line and descent line storage spool are co,ll~ned within the PncA~ e~.~
Fig. 11 - Shows a front elevation of the full-body harness, COnctit~ltin~ a part of the em~l~enc~ device accold;l g to the invention.
Fig. 12 - Shows a rear elevation ofthe full-body harness, showing the descent line collt~il er bag attached, conctituting a part ofthe e~"ergency device accolding to the invention.
Fig. 13 - Shows how the friction brake device atta~hes to the full-body harness by way of a metal "D-ring", conctituting a part of the e",elg.,l.cy device accordil g to the invention.
Fig. 14 - Shows the lower friction cylinder for the friction brake device and the cleat for receiving the descent line when a full-lock stop position is desired during an ell~l~,ellcy evacuation ~leccent, which con.ctit-ltes a part of the ~nlergency device according to the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments An cl.~l~el~cy evacuation desce~ g device accordh-g to a first embodiment of thepresent invention will now be des;l;l)ed in conl-cvl;on with the drawings. The descen~ing device cons;sls of the device as shown in Figure 1, which colll~li5es a descent line (5) that is attn ,he d to a mounting plate (1) anchor point used to receive the leading 'end' of the descent line.

The descent line Figure 7 (5) in the embodimpnt~ is a triple layer construction designed speçifiçslly for this e~ ,.gel ~ escape invention embo~limçnt It has a galvanized or stainless steel cable core (15), with a minimum of an 1/8" ~ismP~tPr~ but is not restricted to such a thickness only. The cable core is 'wl~?ped' in a braided ~h~lh:~g ~rclled to as a static style of 'mantle' (16), which for the pUllJOSe ofthis embodiment may be comprised of either a Nylon or a Nomex aramid fibre material. The cable core and first layer of 'mantle' ~h~ g are subsequPntly again 'wl~pped' by a second, braided layer of static mantle (17), this time co...~,.;~d out of a Nomex aramid fibre m--aterial. The Nomex material is heat res;;.~lt which will provide a degree of protection against direct flame or super-heated gas ;...p:ng~ and thus protect against heat 'sl.i?ping' the outer protective Ch~,~'l,;~ 'mantle' layers ofthe descent line.
~lthough the outer layer of ~ g for the descent line is colllplised of a heat resitant material, the functional and safe operation of this elllergen~ escape system is not conditional upon the integrity ofthe protective ~he~1h;ng layers ofthe descent line , intact, and would not be renderred inopPl uble should any un~,ecled stripping ofthe sheathing mantle layers occur. The minimllm tensile strength ofthis descent line is at 2000 pounds.
The leading end ofthe descent line is securely f~ctçned to the m~nting plate (1) in this current embodiment ofthe invention, which mounting plate in turn is p~,l"~D~ ly f~ctçned to a structural compollenl of the building to be evacuated. Such pellllanel-t ~ttn~hmPnt is normally by way of butter-fly eApr ~ n anchor bolts (4 pieces), or by way of Hilti-Hit securing f~ctPners or other, provided such method will w;ll.sl~n~l a load carrying minimllm standard of 2000 pounds. The mounting plate fast~,neli are secured to a structura component of the b -il-ling through the four fastener hole guides (4) and into the structure itsel~ A coll.n-on mounting pl~GçmPnt would be into a structural concrete floor inside a closet, or into a structural concrete support column inside a room providing close and easy access to an exterior window, sliding door or other opening out of which the user may egress.
Alternative securing mPthods may be used for ~ttnching the leading end of the descent line to the building being e~, ~u~te~, the present prcrt;.led embodiment ofthis invention notwitk!.t~ . willloul ch~ng~ the fi~n~ nl~l nature ofthis invention provided that such alternative method of descent line att~~hm~ont offers the same or greater weight-load ,. i11. 4~ n~ characteristics. Such weight-load characteristic shall be rated at a minim~lm of 2000 Ibs..
The mounting plate (1) colllplising a part ofthis prerclled embodiment ofthe invention consists of sheet plate steel, ~lainles q steel or other material capable of withct~n~ing the required ...;n;.~ .. 2000 Ib weight-load characteristic and capable of ~i~ , direct flame and super heated gas inlpi~g~n~ 1 without coll.plo....s;llg its structural integrity.
The plate will be appro~illlately 3.5 x 10 inches in size with a pclror~led tab (2) cut into the centre that features an inner l..ou.lting receptacle (3) cut into the centre point of the ~3 flat, face end of the tab, of which tab is then bent upward to an angle of 35 degrees in order to receive the leading end descent line attr~hm~nt point. The mounting plate in this p,~ferered embodiment has four qttnc~hm~nt bolt receiving guide holes (4) drilled into it, through which holes the f -I,q~-~ on bolt or Hilti-Hit f-q-~tçning devices shall be secured.
Generally the mollnting plate is affixed by means of either Hilti-Hit fastners or self-locking butterfly e,~,al s;on bolts, but the embodiment of the invention claimed herein and the integral security ofthis patent claim is not restricted solely to the arole~cn1;oned two affixing m~thods The descent line runs freely from its point of ~qttncl....enl (1) to the friction brake device Fig. 5, h_rei~dller also ,er~l,ed to as the 'descçnd~r rack' or 'the rack', with a predetc.,."ned measure of loose decent line meted so that the evacuation system user may step or climb out ofthe exterior building orifice (window or door) with just enough lead descent line that the user just clears and hangs free of the lower edge of the escape ope.~ g, but not so long that the user will drop down ~ necesS-~ ily far.
It is at this point that the 'descent rack' (Fig. 5), which comprises a part ofthe p-er~ ;d f~.mhodim.ont of this invention, is attached to the descent line by method of the descent line being wound e;nl.ol.cly in and out ofthe friction brake cylinders (Fig. 6) in an over/under systçrnqtiC fq-~hion, and then contin~les down and around the escape system user and up into the undeployed descent line conlainel bag (30).
The 'descent rack' (Fig. 5) in this embodiment ofthe invention is col"l,.ised of a section of stainless steel rod (6), called the 'rack guide', which is bent into a U-shaped confi~ration with its parallel spars being appr~Ai",ately 1.5 inches wide apart on centre, each with a length of appro~i"~alely 10 inches and capped on each end by threaded locknut type r~len~,~ (12), acting as ,~t~n~ keeping the 'descent rack's' components tog~ther. The 'rack's' centre holizo,ltal friction braking ~linde.~ (9) and upper cylinder (8) with a rope flange on its end (10) and lower cylinder (7) with a rope cleat (11) on its end, are slipped onto the parallel rack guide spars (6) by means of pc~ -dic~ ly drilled holes drilled in the cylinders (Fig. 14 (31)), which are spaced and sized accordh-gl~ to receive the twin guide spars (6) and allow free sliding action of the cylinders up and down thereon.
Once the appro~,- iale number of friction cylinders (in this embodiment of the invention there are three centre cylinders (9) and one upper cylinder (8) with rope flange (10) and one lower cylinder (7) with rope cleat (11)) are slipped onto the guide spars, a self-locking ,~ainer nut (12) is securely lL.~ P ~ed onto each guide spar on its receiving end and tightçned a ccoldil~
The descent rack in this invention's embodiment is subseq~lently ~tt~~hed to the escape system full body harness (Fig. 13) by way of a metal D-ring clamp (13), which is passed through both the crux of the U-shaped guide spars of the descent rack (6) and the approp,iate waist (21) and legging (22) structural col~?onel,ls of the harness. Another embodiment ofthis invention may incol~Jolale an ~ min~lm "cdlibin.,l' clamp as is commonly used by mol~n~ , provided such clamp is self-locking and will with~t~nd a min~ m of 2000 Ib. Ioad force.
In order to operate the 'descent rack' friction braking function, the escape system user simply pushes the lower friction cylinders upward (together) by hand force, which causes the further prog,~ ion of descent line deployment to slow down. A full arrest of the user's descent is ac~ cd by a continual engagPn çnt of hand forced braking motion on the cylinders. Either the user's left hand or right hand may be used. Once a full arrest of descent progression had been achieved, the escape system user may then wrap the trailing section of descent line up and once around the top friction ~ijlindc,'s rope flange (10), and then cinch the descent line into the lower friction cylinder's rope cleat (11) for a full lock stopping position. When the escape system user wishes to advance further in a descending move.l.~.d again, the descent line is pulled out of the brake deat, unwound from the rope flange and then the lower friction cylinders are hand forced further apart, in a do~ drd direction. Descent ad~,-nc~ l will once again proceed.
It is the full-body harness (Fig. 11), co...~ ing a part ofthis embodiment ofthe ecsape system invention, which acts as the supension device that supports the escape system user with full and co...plete rotational safety re~l,~nl enclosure, preventing the user from falling out of the harness even in the event of upset or fully inverted positioning during an evacuation descent procedure. The points of user ~est-~-nl support in this pre~.,ed embodiment of the evacuation invention are the two shoulder straps (24), the cross chest attachment (29), the waist enclosure (21) and the leg enclosure straps (22). Each ofthese l~t,~nl points are structurally con-bil-ed with and integral to the others co"").is;,-g the whole of the full-body harness, thus providing a completely Pfficient and infallible body sllppol lh~g device.
In order to ...~ , a co,.,?l :çly fire le~;st~l body support system for this invention embc~ nP-nt, the webbin~, material which this harness is constructed from is made of a fire res;~lt Kevlar aramid fibre material, the p~dding covering material is made from a Nomex aramid fibre material plus all fasteners, buckles and snap devices also made out of fire l, -~r~nt materials. All stitçhing is made from fire l~,j;st~l Kevlar ll..~~1ing as well.
Each individual webbing ribbon from which the body harness is constructed is rated at a 7900 Ib tensile strength load carrying ~p~billt~.
The body harness in this embodiment of the invention cons;sls of a main waist supporting belt colllpo~ l (21), with a cinch style self-locking clasp (32) to allow for individual sizing micro ~ stment for coll~ol l and safety, onto which legging loops are connected (22) by way of rear elastic support strips (23) and structurally by means of the metal D-ring clasp (13) which colme~;ls both legging loops directly to the main waist col.,pollenl.
~tt. ~ d directly to the waist belt are two individual sh~.ldçr straps (24) which criss-cross at the back (28), and then run straight fol~d~d over the escape system user's shoulders and back down, nltn~h~d to the front ofthe harness waist belt (21). The front section of each of the two chollldPr straps are colllpl,scd of two separate front sections of ~bh~g material (25), which are adjoined front to back by means of a metal cinch style self-locking clasp on each strap (26). Each shoulder strap has an extra length of webbing left loose at the front onto the end of which is f~ctened a D-ring style pull grip (27) for in-use micro ndjllstment by the escape system user during an evacuation e~erc;~. In order to ensure the system user is securely held in the full-body harness even in the event of an inverted positioning during an evacuation e~ c;se, the two front choulder straps are attached to each other across the user's chest area by means of a metal snap-lock attachment device (29) which is nt~açhf d and incol IJolaled into the harness structure itself.
The full-body harness, which acts as the body support system supprting and protecling the escape sytem user from a pote.ltial fall during an evacuation exercise, attnçhf s to the 'dçsc~n~1~r rack' friction brake device by means ofthe metal D-ring clasp (Fig. 13 (13)), which D-ring clasp loops through the waist conlronf nt (21) and the legging loopcompol1~nls (22) of the body harness, and then through the crux of the guide spar rod (6) of the desc~n~1er rack togf ther, and is subsequçntly securely f~ctçned shut by the ~djllcting nut (14) on the D-ring.
The length of descent line le...~;...n8 undeployed at any point in time runs from the de~f ~~dçl rack's lowest ~linder, down and around the escape system user's body (left or right side) and then up into the descent line ret~iner bag (30).
So that a continl10lls and ullrftlell~d feeding ofthe descent line is deployed as required upon engAgf, ...~.1 by the force of the escape system user's ad~,-ncf,~..f ~~ during an evacuation descent operation, the un~lf.ployed descent line in this embodiment of the invention is stored around an applopliately sized spool carrier (Fig. 10 (18)), which spool is in turn housed within a press-fit hard shell en~losi~ enc~cfmçnt (Fig. 9 (19)). The spool e~c~ nf~1 (19) is colllp.ised oftwo halves press-fft together which are dçsi~ed to be just large enough to receive the re~pecli~e spool and descent line assembly while allowing the spool to revovle freely inside the casing (Fig. 10), so that the descent line may unreel on an as required basis. The descent line (5) is guided from the spool and out of the spool enc~..nf .~l through a small venturi opf.ling (20) made specifically to allow the deploying descent line to pass through.
The spool co~lA ning the undeployed descent line, enclosed in the spool enc~cemçnt asse.llbly is in turn placed into the descent line conlainer bag (30) where it is stored until the escape system user's evacuation descent adv~ncf~-mçnt draws more descent line as required. The descent line runs from the spool, through the venturi in the spoolel-c~ f-.1 and then out from the descent line col-tainer bag through a small receiving/d.pl~ llt hole at the bottom ofthe descent line col-lAil-e. bag.
The descent line co~lAil.f,- bag is constructed from a fire resi~ l Nomex material and is stit~hfid with fire l~;sl~lt Nomex thread. The conlainel bag assembly (30) in this embo limf nt of the invention attn~hes to the back of the full body harness (Fig. 12) by means of four metal snap nttn~hment devices sewn into the conlail-er bag, and their r~,~f~li.~e metal ring snap receiving devices which are sewn onto the back shoulder straps of the full body harness.

Claims (14)

1) A personal self-rescue emergency escape device for evacuating incapacitated buildings or structures, which comprises a mounting attachment device, an appropriate length of descent line, a full-body harness, a friction style braking device that is prerigged onto the aforementioned descent line, a friction spool, a cartridge-style spool encasement and a descent line container bag which is attached to the back of the aforementioned full-body harness.

2) The emergency escape device as defined in claim 1, that incorporates a mounting plate or point which is comprised of a heat resistant, non-flammable material that is permanently attached to a structural component of the building or structure to be evacuated.

3) An emergency escape device as defined in claim 1, where the descent line is comprised of a galvanized or stainless steel braided cable core wrapped in multiple layers of a 'static' style braided sheathing commonly referred to as a Kern mantle, whereby the outer Kern mantle is a fire resistant Nomex aramid fibre material.

4) An emergency escape device as defined in claim 1 that incorporates a friction brake rate-of-descent regulating device which is comprised of heat resistant non-flammable material, and which is made up of a length of rod bent into a U-shaped configuration, thus having two half-length parallel 'arms' onto which slide a number (generally five or six but may be more or less) of friction cylinders that are drilled perpendicularly at each end to receive the rod arm guides, the rod ends of which are permanently capped to keep the descent friction brake unit's components together and functioning as one single, integral non-mechanical unit.

5) An emergency escape device that incorporates a friction brake device as defined in claim 4 which incorporates a rope flange on the end of the upper cylinder and a rope cleat on the end of the lower cylinder so that the said friction brake device is able to be set to a full-stop locked position.

6) An emergency escape device which incorporates a friction brake device as defined in claim 4, that is non-mechanical in function and as such is simple to operate with a minimum of training, is safely operable by an evacuee with the use of only one arm and hand and is not prone to fouling due to inclemental conditions.

7) An emergency escape device which incorporates a friction brake device as defined in claim 4 which is micro-adjustable during a descent operation allowing complete evacuee control in regulating his/her rate of descent.

8) An emergency escape device as defined in claim 1 which incorporates a full-body harness that supports and securely suspends the evacuee from the friction brake device as defined in claim 4 by way of a metal D-ring or aluminum carabiner, and which full-body harness is structurally constructed from a fire resistant Kevlar aramid fibre webbing, from fire resistant Nomex aramid fibre material for all non-structural cloth componentry and which full-body harness is constructed with fire and flame resistant metallic snap-clip fasteners, buckles and cinch-clamp fastening devices.

9) An emergency escape device which incorporates a full-body harness as defined in claim 8 that is a multi-directional upper and lower body supporting suspension system, having enclosure systems securing the evacuee's legs, waist, shoulders, chest and which harness is fully capable of functioning even in the event of an inverted positioning by the evacuee during an emergency escape procedure.

10) An emergency escape device which incorporates a full-body harness as defined in claim 8 that is micro-adjustable in shoulder and waist fitting tensions, even during an emergency evacuation procedure, ensuring maximum safety and comfort for the evacuee.

11) An emergency escape device as defined in claim 1, which incorporates an appropriately sized spool onto which the appropriate length of undeployed descent line (as defined in claim 3) is systematically and consecutively wound for pre-deployment storage.

12) An emergency escape device as defined in claim 1 that incorporates a hard shell encasement housing for the purpose of containing the descent line storage spool (as defined in claim 11).

13) An emergency escape device that incorporates a hard shell encasement as defined in claim 12, which is constructed in two separate snap-together halves, that are press-fit together with the spool and appropriate length of undeployed descent line enclosed within.

14) An emergency escape device as defined in claim 1 that incorporates a container bag which is attached to the rear of the full-body harness (as defined in claim 8), for the purpose of storing and carrying the appropriate length of undeployed descent line/spool/encasement assembly and which container bag is constructed of a fire resistant Nomex amarid fibre material attached to the full-body harness by way of fire resistant metal snap fasteners and their respective metal snap-fastener receiving ring devices.