# US 10,767,361 B2 · Emergency escape tunnel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,361 B2 - Document ID: US10767361B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/080,447 - Filed: 2017-02-13 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-29 - Assignees: Fimarc Bezpieczenstwo I Ochrona Przeciwpozarowa Biuro Ekspertyz, Doradztwa I Nadzoru - Applicants: FIMARC Bezpieczenstwo i Ochrona Przeciwpozarowa Biuro Ekspertyz, Doradztwa i Nadzoru - Inventors: Zenon Malkowski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767361B2 ## CPC - E04B 1/34305: {telescopic} - A62B 3/00: Devices or single parts for facilitating escape from buildings or the like, e.g. protection shields, protection screens; Portable devices for preventing smoke penetrating into distinct parts of buildings (A62B1/00 takes precedence) - E04B 1/94: against fire ({fire protection of partitions E04B2/7403, E04B2/7409; supporting constructions for ceilings having the capability of expansion in case of fire E04B9/08}; fire-fighting A62C, {e.g. fire prevention or containment A62C2/00}; impregnation of wood or similar materials B27K; {fireproof paints C09D5/18; fireproofing materials C09K21/00; flame-resistant papers D21H5/0002; coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings, in general E04F13/00}; fireproof doors E06B5/16; {firebreak devices for pipes or the like passing through walls F16L5/04; protection of pipes by means of non-inflammable material F16L57/04}) - A62B 5/00: Other devices for rescuing from fire (ladders E06C) - B64F 1/305: Bridges extending between terminal building and aircraft, e.g. telescopic, vertically adjustable - E04B 1/3431: {with only one level of nesting} - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The object of the invention is an emergency escape tunnel in a multi-storey building, especially in a building with a centrally situated staircase and useable rooms surrounding it, used to evacuate people in case of a fire hazard. The emergency escape tunnel according to the invention is equipped with a load-bearing skeleton (6) with an outline similar in shape to an upturned letter U, its surface wall (7) and side walls (8) being covered with layers of a fire-resistant material. The tunnel has a self-activating drive system (13, 32, 36) and is horizontally shiftable in the space (14) between the staircase (1) and the external wall (2) of the building. In the resting position, the tunnel is situated within the staircase and in the operating position the outlet section (15) of the tunnel is situated within the exit door (16) of the building whereas its exit opening (17)| is situated beyond the building. To make it possible to use the tunnel in relatively vast spaces of the building, it consists of two or three telescopically overlapping segments (3, 3a, 4), the ends of which are mutually interlocked with their cover flanges (5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An escape tunnel in a building with a centrally situated staircase (1) in the building, the escape tunnel comprising: at least two telescopically overlapping segments (3, 4), each of which is equipped with a load-bearing skeleton having an inverted U-shape, wherein a top wall and side walls of the load-bearing skeleton are covered on an outside with layers of a fire-resistant material; and a self-acting drive system (13, 32, 36) that is horizontally shiftable in space (14) between the centrally situated staircase (1) and an external wall (2) of the building, wherein the escape tunnel is located in a resting position inside the centrally situated staircase (1), and wherein, in an operating position of the escape tunnel, an outlet piece (15) is situated within an open exit door (16) of the building while an exit (17) of the tunnel is situated on an outside of the building. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The escape tunnel according to claim 1, wherein adjacent ends of the at least two telescopically overlapping segments (3, 4) are interlocked with retaining flanges (5). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The escape tunnel according to claim 2, wherein the load-bearing skeleton (6) of each telescopically overlapping segment (3, 3a, 4) is built of lateral spaced frames (10) with an outline similar to a letter U, adjacent lateral spaced frames (10) being permanently interconnected by means of slanted struts (11) and, on lower edges of the load-bearing skeleton (6), being provided traction wheels (12). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The escape tunnel according to claim 1, further comprising: at least three telescopically overlapping segments (3, 3a, 4), wherein ends of adjacent telescopically overlapping segments are interlocked with retaining flanges (5). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The escape tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the at least two telescopically overlapping segments (3, 3a, 4) comprise two horizontally spread, parallel, and longitudinally sliding rails (22), each sliding rail comprising a C-profile guide (23) and an inseparably connected a drive toothed bar (24), wherein front endings (25) of the sliding rails (22) are fixed to a front edge (26) of a telescopically overlapping segment (4), there being permanent roller supports (28) provided inside the sliding rails (23) and fixed to the walls of the centrally situated staircase (1), whereas toothed bars (24) of the sliding rails (22) mesh with toothed wheels (21) of the self-acting drive system (13) which is placed within the centrally situated staircase (1). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The escape tunnel according to claim 5, wherein rear sections of the sliding rails (22) are surrounded by tubular shields (31) made of a fire-resistant material and are mounted on fixed roller supports (28). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The escape tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the self-acting drive system comprises a flexible drive cable (32) without an end which is immersed in a channel (33) formed in a floor (34) of the building and spread parallel to the sliding rails (22) with C-profile guides (23), wherein an upper section of the flexible drive cable (32) is connected pointwise to a front edge (26) of an internal segment (4) of the escape tunnel by means of a transversal hook (35). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The escape tunnel according to claim 7, wherein the flexible drive cable (32) has a form of a driving chain whereas a cross-section of the channel (33) is narrowed upwards. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The escape tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the self-acting drive system comprises a set of individual drives (36) which are coupled to traction wheels (12) of an internal segment (4).