High rise escape device

A portable device for enabling a person to escape from a high rise building, comprising, in combination:

• (a) an enclosed casing having substantially flat, parallel exterior walls;
• (b) means secured to the casing for carrying said person;
• (c) a spool rotatably mounted in said casing, said spool having a hollow interior chamber defined by walls;
• (d) a cable carried on said spool with one end fixed to the spool and a free end passing out of said casing;
• (e) means for attaching said free end to said high rise building so that said cable will be payed out from said spool as said casing and person descend;
• (f) a fixed member in said hollow interior chamber of said spool having a plurality of flat exterior surfaces mounted in close proximity to corresponding flat parallel chamber wall surfaces, defining annular passages of constant volume between said exterior surfaces of said member and interior surfaces of said spool;
• (g) a fixed shaft passing axially through said spool and having opposite ends secured to said opposing interior walls, the central portion of said shaft being secured to said member to hold it in fixed position rotationally and laterally, and plastic sleeve means for journalling said spool to said shaft for rotation and simultaneously acting as bearing means and providing sealing between said annular passage and exterior of said spool;
• and
• (h) a viscous fluid completely filling said annular passage for retarding rotating of said spool by exerting a viscous friction force on the interior walls of said spool.