US604989A - Fire-escape - Google Patents

Description

Y 'TUNITEID STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX KOLOSEUS, OF OHIGAGO,ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

S PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,989, dated May 31, 1898. Application filed December 30, 1897. serial No. 664,578. (No model.)

To all whom i may c nc rn: This tower is provided with a roof R and is Be it known that 1, MAX KOLOSEUS, a citisecurely fastened to a foundation and is arzen of the United States, residing at Chicago, ranged at a considerable distance from the in the countyofCook. and State of Illinois, side or wall of a building 13, whether it be a 5 have invented certain new and useful Imschool,theater, hospital,l1otel, insane'asylum, provements in-FirerEs'capes; and I do declare manufactory, or-any other kind of building the following to be a'full, clear, andexact decontaining a large number of children, peoscription of the invention, such as will enable ple, or employees ot'any kind who in case of others skilled in the art to which it appertains a fire desire to escape easily and safely from IO to make and use the same, reference being the building. This tower-is connected to the had to the accompanying drawings, and to building, of any kind, by a series of bridges the letters of reference marked thereon,which 0, arranged to correspond with the level of form a part of this specification. every floor of said building and communicate My invention relates to that class of firewith it through suitable doors or openings. I5 escapes in which a' toweris arranged at a dis- These bridges O are made of angle-irons c or tance from a, building and provided with equivalents and are firmly riveted, bolted, or bridges connected to said building, and stairs otherwise connected to the uprights of the in the tower, and employed for the escape of tower at one end and to the wall of the the occupants from a burning building. building at the other end. Said bridges are 20 The objects of my invention are to produce provided with sheet-iron or other metal or ready and accessible means of escape incase wooden floors and have metal railings d. of fire in schools for the school-children or Between the railings and the floors of the in factories of any kind for the escape of the bridges C wire screens e or their equivalents employees, as well as in case of hotels, theaare arranged to prevent any possibility of fire 25 acre, hospitals, or any other buildings 0011- or flames reaching a person passingalong the taining a large number of persons desiring a bridges. ready and expeditiousexit from a burning The tower is to be inclosed or covered with building; also, to furnish this ready exit so sheet-iron orits equivalent to prevent flames that it can be produced in a very inexpensive from a burning building entering, although 30 but at the same time very secure and safe any other equivalent fireproof material may manner, and, finally, that it will not deteriobe employed. From one floor to the other rate or mar the appearance of the building. are arranged suitable ladders or stairs E, With these ends in view my invention 0011- which are also provided with railings f,so that sists in the peculiar construction of certain the descentorascentcan beaccomplishedwith 3 5 details and the arrangement of parts, as will perfect safety within the tower, and it may be more fully described hereinafter and spebe desirable for the firemen Who serve in exeifically pointed out in the claim, reference tinguishing of the fire to ascend or descend, being had to the accompanying drawings and as necessity requires, with perfect safety and the letters marked'thereon. convenience. 40 Like letters indicate similar parts in the To prevent any person being injured or different figures of the drawingsfin whichburned by flamesin passing along the bridges,

Figure 1 represents a side view of my im- Iarrange betweenthe floors and the railings of proved fire-escape with the covering removed; the bridges, as stated, wire screens e'ofsuit- Fig. 2 is a cross-section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is able mesh, which may be extended over the 5 45 a horizontal section; on line of Fig. 1. top andsides to form complete gangways.

In the accompanying drawings, A repre- This is a very important feature of my insents the main part or tower of my improved vention, although, if desired, curtains of simifire-escape, which is preferably made of anglelar or equivalent fireproof material may be iron posts a, T-irons, or their equivalent, and arranged for the same purpose; no

so there may be four, six, or more such posts, The lower steps or ladder may be hinged, as according to'the size and strength required. at e, to the floor, so that when not in use they may be out of the way and prevent ascent and to be lowered only in case of fire, when required.

If desired, a ladder F may be arranged on the outside of the tower for use of firemen, and a stand-pipe G, with branches and valves for hose, may be placed near one corner of the tower. Instead of angle-irons at the corners orintermediately, T-iron pipes or tubes, and, if desired, water circulated through them, may be employed. The treads of the steps may be made of cast-iron, steel, or wood. The latter being more safe and comfortable may be used and can be arranged in any suitable manner. The tower may be made rectangular, square, octagonal, orothersuitable shape.

The floors of the bridges can be made of wire screens supported by cross-bars, and they may be hinged to one side of the frame of the bridges, as at e, and usually secured to the railings of said bridges and lowered in case of fire only. This prevents snow or ice accumulating on them in case of winter or extreme cold weather.

The many advantages of my fire-escape will be apparent to all, and among them may be cited the following: In case of schools the children can readily pass over the bridges and descend the steps without danger. Any person can pass over the bridges without the danger of being burned. The tower, being some distance from the main building, will not become heated and the flames and smoke not affect persons ascending or descending. The firemen can more readily approach close to the fire to fight the fire, and losses by fire will be greatly reduced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is In a fire-escape, a fixed metal tower, a series of floors therein, each floor provided with an opening, a series of ladders depending from said floors, the lowermost ladder beinghinged to its floor, a series of bridges secured to said tower adjacent the floors, and wire screens hinged to said bridges substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of'two witnesses.

MAX KOLOSEUS.

\Vitnesses:

CHAs. DEUBLON, ALFRED MARLAND.

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