US3754621A

US3754621A - Fire escape apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3754621A
Application number: US00235559A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Liou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-03-17
Filing date: 1972-03-17
Publication date: 1973-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-28

Abstract

Fire escape apparatus comprising a tightly sealed shaft attached to a building wherein self-closing escape channels are provided to connect each floor of the building downwardly with the shaft, and a main exit is located at the bottom of the shaft with forced draft fan or natural up-draft opening being provided to maintain a higher pressure head in the shaft than that of the building to prevent fire from traveling through the escape channel and thus ensure safety pf the escaper.

Description

1 51 Aug. 28, 1973 Lion [5 FIRE ESCAPE APPARATUS 7364: 12/334 gallinger lag/41 1,0 ,28 2 aft 1 ..18 47 lnvemori shu-Lien Moll/Tammi Chma 1,104,449 7/1914 Rosner 182/48 [73] Assignee: Chln-Chlh Chuang, Taiwan, China 2 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado 2] Filed. Mar. 17, 1972 Attorney Moomay KOjima [2]] App]. No.: 235,559

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. Cl. 182/49 Fire escape apparatus comprising a tightly sealed shaft 51 Int. Cl A62b 3/00 attached w a building wherein selfslosins escape [58] Fleld of Search 182/47, 48,49 channels are provided to connect each fl r f the building downwardly with the shaft, and a main exit is 5 References (ted located at the bottom of the shaft with forced draft fan or natural up-draft opening being provided to maintain UNITED STATES PATENTS a higher pressure head in the shaft than that of the 2:32;? building to prevent fire from traveling through the escape channel and thus ensure safety pf the escaper.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

- Patented Au 28,- 1973 3,754,621

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIRE ESCAPE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The conventional fire escape in a building is usually an escape stairway or ladder provided at an emergency exit on each floor. Because of the exit opening, flames usually can get to the escapers. Another kind of tire escape is located in the center of a building with chimney like construction. Such a construction has been found to accelerate fires by providing an easy path therefor. In none of the prior art fire escapes, is escape safe.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention is a novel fire escape apparatus comprising a tightly sealed vertical shaft attached to a building with stairs and platforms provided therein. At least one self closing escape channel having ladders or chutes, is provided to connect each floor of the building downwardly with the shaft. To prevent fire from getting into the channel or shaft, a higher pressure is maintained in the escape shaft and channel, thus ensuring safety of the escapers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 depicts a top view of an illustrative embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a partial front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a partial cut-a-way side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, depicts another illustrative embodiment of this invention showing a forced draft channel; and

FIG. 5 depicts a partial front view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 depicts a pictorial view of an illustrative embodiment showing an inclined chute and fan means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning to FIGS. 1 through 3, there are depicted a tightly sealed shaft 1! attached to building 1. Stairways 2 and platforms 2' and 2" are located within the shaft 1. Main exit 3 is located at the bottom of shaftl'. Channel 6 connects each floor of the building 1 to a lower floorviaopening 6, which is normallyhorizontally disposed, and to corresponding platform 2' via vertical opening 8.

Doors

5 and 7 are provided at

openings

6 and 8, as shown. The doors may be opened outwardly, or swing biased, to keep them in a normally closed condition, thereby ensuring air tightness. Channel 6' may be vertical and straight, or inclined, to pass through a one floor depth, or to pass through more than a one floor depth. When channel 6' is vertical and straight it is equipped with ladders 9, as depicted. When channel 6' is inclined, a sliding chute may be provided therein. Emergency exit opening 6 is usually located at the end of corridor 10 in building 1.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the same embodiment elements are shown bearing the same numeral designations, except in addition, there is attached to shaft 1', an auxiliary channel 11, which is also verticallydisposed. Openings 13, with inwardly swinging biased doors, provide therein, are provided between shaft 1' and auxiliary channel 11, to enable natural draft to enter shaft 1 Alternatively, a forced draft fan may be provided at the bottom opening 12 of auxiliary channel 11 to build a higher pressure in shaft 1 than in building 1. Thus, there would be no opportunity for fire to build up and travel from the building to the channel 6' and shaft 1' through opening 6. Also, door 5 will check the fire.

FIG. 6 depicts pictorially the embodiment of the invention. Also, an alternative sliding chute 9' is shown for use in escaping from one floor to the next lower floor. Also, fan B00 is shown for providing forced draft.

To escape a fire in building 1, people will procede to the end of corridor 10, enter into channel 6' through door 6, climb or glide down channel 6' (depending upon whether there is a ladder or slide) to reach opening 8, and procede through door 7 to platform 2' on the lower floor. Thereafter, they may easily walk down stairs 2 to platform 2", and through main exit 3 to the outside. The escape is made safely and rapidly.

Fire fighting personnel may utilize the channel 6 as a hiding place. By lifting the door 5, he can easily apply the fire extinguisher or water hose nozzle aimed toward the corridor. Because of the positive pressure maintained in the channel 6, fire in the corridor or building would have the least possibility of licking back to the channel.

The walls of escape channel 6' and of shaft 1' and the walls of building 1 adjacent thereto should be of fireproof material. Lighting facilities may be installed in shaft 1' and channel 6'.

The foregoing description is intended to illustrate the invention and not to limit it. Any alternative, variation, or modification thereof, made without departing from the spirit of the invention, should be considered to be within the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus enabling safe escape from a building having a plurality of floors, comprising a substantially sealed vertically disposed shaft at- 'tached to said building, said shaft having disposed therein a plurality of stairs and a plurality of platforms, some of said platforms located substantially about the height of said floors, and an exit located at the bottom of said shaft;

at least one channel adjacent said shaft, said channel having at least one horizontally disposed door located on each floor, and means for traveling downwardly from one floor to a lower floor; and vertically disposed doors located at selected floors for egressing from said channel to said platform corresponding to said lower floor. 7 2. Apparatus of claim I, wherein said channel is of a vertical straight type with a ladder therein and extending at least one floor depth.

3. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said horizontally disposed door, said vertically door, and said exit in said shaft are normally closed to ensure air tightness.

4. Apparatus of claim .1, further comprising an auxiliary vertically disposed channel attached to said shaft, said auxiliary channel having openings between it and said shaft with one way swing check doors provided to allow draft into said shaft.

5. Apparatus of claim 4, wherein an opening is provided at the bottom of said auxiliary shaft to provide one floor depth.

Claims

1. Apparatus enabling safe escape from a building having a plurality of floors, comprising a substantially sealed vertically disposed shaft attached to said building, said shaft having disposed therein a plurality of stairs and a plurality of platforms, some of said platforms located substantially about the height of said floors, and an exit located at the bottom of said shaft; at least one channel adjacent said shaft, said channel having at least one horizontally disposed door located on each floor, and means for traveling downwardly from one floor to a lower floor; and vertically disposed doors located at selected floors for egressing from said channel to said platform corresponding to said lower floor.

2. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said channel is of a vertical straight type with a ladder therein and extending at least one floor depth.

4. Apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary vertically disposed channel attached to said shaft, said auxiliary channel having openings between it and said shaft with one way swing check doors provided to allow draft into said shaft.

5. Apparatus of claim 4, wherein an opening is provided at the bottom of said auxiliary shaft to provide natural draft or forced draft into said auxiliary channel and through said openings between it and said shaft, into said shaft.

6. Apparatus of claim 5, wherein a fan is provided at the bottom of said auxiliary channel to provide forced draft.

7. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said channel is of an inclined type with a sliding chute and extending at least one floor depth.