US 4,538,704 A · Multiple-person evacuation method and apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to a multiperson emergency evacuation system characterized by a first rope used for the initial descent down the outside of the building, a combination anchoring and descent control fixture mountable adjacent the escape opening used to both anchor the upper end of a ground or rooftop-anchored fixed rope and for belaying with a second rope the personnel riding the fixed rope down by means of a friction drum mounted thereon, a body harness and a special connection for detachably fastening each individual escapee at spaced points intermediate the ends of the movable belay rope. The invention also encompasses the novel method of evacuating more than one person from the upper floors of a multistory building which comprises first erecting a fixture adjacent the escape opening having a drum-type friction belay feature, and then, assuming no one is on the ground to catch and anchor the fixed rope, sending one or more persons down to receive and anchor it while belaying them from above. After anchoring the lower end, the slack is removed from fixed rope at the upper end before tying it off. Next, a second movable belay rope used to belay the evacuees is rigged alongside the fixed rope. These evacuees are then harnessed and attached at fixed intervals to the movable rope at points outwardly of the descent control device and to the fixed rope so as to slide down the latter while belayed from above. The invention further features a novel knot and open-ended friction belay apparatus whereby turns can be added or subtracted without accessing the rope end even when loaded.

Claims27

Dependent claims

In combination in a system for lowering several persons at a time outwardly through an exit opening in an elevated evacuation area to a landing site therebeneath:

means including a rope support for positioning near the exit opening spaced well above the lower edge of the latter, a first rope to be anchored in the evacuation area preparatory to being passed out through the exit opening over said rope support and subsequently anchored at the landing site, a second rope to be reaved over said rope support alongside the first, a plurality of body harnesses, harness attachment means for connecting the body harnesses at fixed spaced intervals along a section of said second rope outwardly beyond said rope support, means for detachably connecting said harness attachment means to said first rope for sliding movement therealong outwardly beyond said rope support, and descent control means for use within the evacuation area ahead of said rope support for belaying the descent of persons occupying said body harness using said second rope as they descend the first, said means including a friction drum for receiving one or more turns of said second rope wrapped therearound, said drum having an open end whereby turns of said second rope taken from a slack section thereof hanging free from said drum can be added or taken off the latter without accessing an end thereof while the portion of said second rope beyond said drum is tensioned and under load.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple-person evacuation method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Multiple-person evacuation method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27