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Patent 1227171 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent: (11) CA 1227171
(21) Application Number: 469711
(54) English Title: SKY-SLIDE EMERGENCY ESCAPE SYSTEM
(54) French Title: SYSTEME DE SAUVETAGE A CABLES POUR BATIMENTS DE GRANDE HAUTEUR
Status: Expired
Bibliographic Data
(52) Canadian Patent Classification (CPC):
  • 227/8
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • A62B 1/20 (2006.01)
  • A62B 1/00 (2006.01)
  • A62B 1/08 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • LEW, HYOK S. (United States of America)
  • STRANAHAN, MICHAEL (United States of America)
(73) Owners :
  • LEW, HYOK S. (United States of America)
  • STRANAHAN, MICHAEL (United States of America)
(71) Applicants :
(74) Agent:
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued: 1987-09-22
(22) Filed Date: 1984-12-10
Availability of licence: Yes
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
06/647,364 United States of America 1984-09-04

Abstracts

English Abstract



SKY-SLIDE EMERGENCY ESCAPE SYSTEM
Abstract
This invention relates to an emergency descending device from an
elevated structure, which comprises a wire rope secured to the elevated
structure at one extremity and branching to at least two wire ropes at
the other extremity. Each of the branching wire ropes reaching down
to the ground level is reeled on a take-up reel equipped with a
braking means for releasing the branching wire rope at a controlled
speed when the branching wire rope is under a tension and a means
for rewinding the branching wire ropes when the branching wire rope
is substantially free of tension. The take-up reels respectively
taking up the branching wire ropes are widely separated from each
other. The person wearing a harness with a clasp hooks the clasp
attached to the harness on the wire rope branching to at least two
branching wire ropes and then jumps off from the elevated structure.
As the clasp travels down and pulls the branching wire ropes
together against the resistance provided by the braking means,
the descending person is slowed down to a safe tangling. When the
clasp is removed from the branching wire ropes, the take-up reels
reel up the branching wire ropes and the emergency descending
device becomes ready for next descending person.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.




The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows :
1. The sky-slide system for rapidly lowering a person or
an object from an elevated structure to a lower level comprising in
combination;
a) a guide cord with one extremity secured to an elevated
structure and thither extremity smoothly and securely
connected to at least two braking cords respectively
branching off from said other extremity of said guide
cord wherein each of said braking cords reaches down to
a lower level;
b) a plurality of cord take-up means permanently or tempo-
rarily disposed immovably at a lower level away from each
other wherein each of said cord take-up means taking up
each of said braking cords reaching down to a lower level
includes a first means for taking up and tensing each of
said braking cords and a second means for continuously
releasing each of said braking cords at a controlled rate
maintaining a controlled tension on each of said braking
cords when said braking cords are pulled by a descending
person or an object descending on said sky-slide system;
and
c) a harness safely securing a descending person or an object
on said sky-slide system, said harness depending from a
clasp means including means for opening and closing said
clasp means whereby said clasp means can be clasped on
said guide cord;
whereby a person or an object wearing said harness to be lowered
from said elevated structure clasps said clasp means supporting
said harness onto said guide cord and jumps off from said elevated
- 17 -



structure whereupon said descending person or object is first
accelerated downward during a descent following said guide cord and
then, decelerated gradually to a safe landing on a lower level by
said braking cords being released from said cord take-up means at a
controlled rate maintaining a controlled tension on said braking
cords.
2. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said
first means included in each of said cord take-up means includes a
cord take-up reel driven by a drive with a clutch and said second
means included in said cord take-up means includes a braking means
controlling motion of said cord take-up reel.
3. The combination as set forth in Claim 2 wherein said
braking means is a one-way brake controlling the unreeling motion
of said cord take-up while said braking means does not hinder the
reeling motion of said cord take-up reel.
4. The combination as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said
clutch driving said cord take-up reel has a maximum torque large
enough to reel up said braking cords when said braking cords are
not pulled away from said cord take-up means by a descending person
or object, while said maximum torque is low enough to release said
braking cords when said braking cords are pulled away from said
cord take-up means by a descending person or object;
whereby, said cord take-up means automatically reels up said
braking cords to a taut state in the shape of a pyramid when said
braking cords are not pulled by a descending person or object and
automatically releases said braking cords at a controlled rate
maintaining a tension on said braking cords when said braking
cords are pulled by a descending person or object.
5. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said
first means included in each of said cord take-up means includes
- 18 -





a cord take-up reel driven by a drive with a clutch constituting
said second means included in said cord take-up means wherein the
maximum torque of said clutch is large enough to reel up said
braking cords when said braking cords are not pulled by a descend-
in person or object, while said maximum torque of said clutch is
small enough to release said braking cords and acts as a brake in
releasing said braking cords at a controlled speed when said braking
cords are pulled by a descending person or object.
6. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said
first means included in said cord take-up means includes a pulley
system powered by a weight and said second means included in said
cord take-up means includes a one-way brake hindering the releasing
movement of said braking cords, while said one-way brake does not
hinder the take-up movement of said braking cords caused by said
weight powering said pulley system, wherein said weight is heavy
enough to provide the take-up movement of said braking cords by
said pulley system when said braking cords are not pulled by a
descending person or object while said weight included in said
pulley system is light enough to provide the releasing movement of
the braking cords when said braking cords are pulled by a descend-
ing person or object.
7. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein each of
said braking cords reaching down to a lower level is removably
connected to each of said cord take-up means.
8. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein a
plurality of guide means disposed away from each other and away
from a vertical line including said one extremity of said guide
rope secured to said elevated structure for slid ably guiding said
braking cords are included.
9. The combination as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said
- 19 -





guide means are disposed at a level intermediate said elevated
structure and said cord take-up means.
10. The combination as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said
guide means are disposed at a level below said cord take-up means.
11. The sky-slide system for rapidly lowering a person or
an object from an elevated structure to a lower level comprising in
combination;
a) a guide cord with one extremity secured to an elevated
structure and the other extremity anchored to a lower
level wherein said guide cord is in a substantially taut
state;
b) at least one braking cord branching from said guide cord
intermediate said one extremity secured to said an
elevated structure and said the other extremity anchored
to said lower level and reaching down to a lower level;
c) at least one cord take-up means permanently or temporari-
ly disposed immovably at a lower level and disposed away
from said the other extremity of said guide cord anchored
to a lower level, wherein said cord take-up means taking
up said braking cord reaching down to a lower level
includes a first means for taking up and tensing said
braking cord and a second means for continuously release
in said braking cord at a controlled rate maintaining a
controlled tension on said braking cord when said braking
cord is pulled by a descending person or object on said
sky-slide system; and
d) a harness safely securing a descending person or object
on sky-slide system, said harness depending from a clasp
means including means for opening and closing said clasp
means whereby said clasp means can be clasped on said

- 20 -



guide cord;
whereby, a person or an object wearing said harness to be lower
from said elevated structure clasps said clasp means supporting
said harness onto said guide cord and jumps off from said elevated
structure whereupon said descending person or object is first
accelerated downward during a descent following said guide cord and,
then, decelerated gradually to a safe landing on a lower level by
said braking cord being released from said cord take-up means at
controlled rate maintaining a tension on said braking cord.
12. The combination as set forth in Claim 11 wherein said
first means included in said cord take-up means includes a cord
take-up reel driven by a drive with a clutch and said second means
included in said cord take-up means includes a braking means
controlling the unreeling motion of said cord take-up reel.
13. The combination as set forth in Claim 12 wherein said
braking means is a one-way brake controlling the unreeling motion
of said cord take-up reel while said braking means does not hinder
the reeling motion of said cord take-up reel.
14. The combination as set forth in Claim 13 wherein said
clutch driving said cord take-up reel has a maximum torque large
enough to reel up said braking cord when said braking cord is not
pulled by a descending person or object, while said maximum torque
is low enough to release said braking cord when said braking cord is
pulled by a descending person or object; whereby said cord take-up
means automatically reels up said braking cord to a taut state
wherein said guide cord and said braking cord are disposed in the
shape of a pyramid when said braking cord is not pulled by a
descending person or object and automatically releases said braking
cord at a controlled rate maintaining a tension on said braking
cord when said braking cord is pulled by a descending person or

- 21 -



object.
15. The combination as set forth in Claim 11 wherein said
first means included in said cord take-up means includes a cord
take-up reel driven by a drive with a clutch constituting said
second means included in said cord take-up means, wherein the
maximum torque of said clutch is large enough to reel up said
braking cord when said braking cord is not pulled by a descending
person or object while said maximum torque of said clutch is small
enough to release said braking cords and acts as a brake in release
in said braking cord at a controlled speed when said braking cord
is pulled by a descending person or object.
16. The combination as set forth in Claim 11 wherein said
first means included in said cord take-up means includes a pulley
system powered by a weight and said second means included in said
cord take-up means includes a one-way brake hindering the releasing
movement of said braking cord, while said one-way brake does not
hinder the take-up movement of said braking cord caused by said
weight powering said pulley system, wherein said weight is heavy
enough to provide the take-up movement of said braking cord by said
pulley system when said braking cord is not pulled by a descending
person or object while said weight included in said pulley system
is light enough to provide the releasing movement of said braking
cord when said braking cord is pulled by a descending person or
object.
17. The combination as set forth in Claim 11 wherein said
braking cord reaching down to a lower level is removably connected
to said cord take-up means and said guide cord is removably anchored
to said lower level.
18. The combination as set forth in Claim 11 wherein at
least one guide means disposed away from said guide cord in a taut

- 22 -


state and away from a vertical line including said one extremity of
said guide cord secured to said elevated structure for slid ably
guiding said braking cord is included.
19. The combination as set forth in Claim 18 wherein said
guide means is disposed at a level intermediate said elevated
structure and said cord take-up means.
20. The combination as set forth in Claim 18 wherein said
guide means is disposed at a level below said cord take-up means.
21. A sky-slide system for rapidly lowering a person or
object from an elevated structure comprising in combination;
a) a sky-slide cord assembly comprising a guide cord
including a first means for securing one extremity of
said guide cord to an elevated structure and a second
means for removably anchoring the other extremity of
said guide cord to a lower level in a substantially taut
state, said guide cord further including at least one
braking cord branching off from said guide cord inter-
mediate said one extremity and said the other extremity
of said guide cord wherein said braking cord comprises
a means for removably connecting the extremity of said
braking cord reaching down to a lower level to a cord
take-up means including a first means for taking up and
tensing said braking cord when said braking cord is not
pulled by a descending person or object and a second
means for braking the releasing motion of said braking
cord from said take-up means at a controlled speed when
said braking cord is pulled by a descending person or
object; and
b) a harness safely securing a person or an object, said
harness depending from a clasp means including means for
- 23 -



opening and closing said clasp means whereby said clasp
means can be clasped onto said guide cord;
whereby a person or an object wearing said harness to be lowered
from said elevated structure clasps said clasp means supporting
said harness onto said guide cord and jumps off from said elevated
structure whereupon said descending person or object is first
accelerated downward during a descent following an upper portion
of said guide cord and, then, is decelerated gradually to a safe
landing on a lower level by said braking cord being released
from said cord take-up means at a controlled rate maintaining a
tension on said braking cord.

- 24 -

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


7~7~L


SWIZZLED EMERGENCY ESCAPE SWISS
This mventiQn relates to an emergency escape system from eye-
voted structure which could be used as a fire-escape system from die
fervent levels of high rise building to its ground level. The sky-
slide emergency escape system of the present invention includes a
guide wire rope branching to at least two braking wire ropes wherein
the upper end of the guide wire rope is secured to an elevated struck
lure and each of the branching wire ropes reaching down to the ground
level is reeled on each of a plurality of take-up reels equipped with
a braking means for releasing the branching wire ropes under a preset
tension and a means for rewinding the branching wire ropes on the
reels. These take-up reels with braking means and rewinding means
are widely separated from each other and immovably secured at the
ground level. The person escaping from the elevated structure to the
ground level wears-a harness secured around one's torso and limbs
which includes a sturdy tether with a strong clasp attached to the
free end thereof. Upon hooking said clasp onto the guide wire rope
depending from the elevated structure and branching to at least two
braking wire ropes, which combination of wire ropes is tautly dispose

Ed into the shape of a pyramid because of the tension on the wire ropes generated by the reeling action of the take-up reels, the per-
son wearing the harness jumps down, descends at a high speed follow-
in the guide wire rope, slows down as the braking action provided
by the branching wire ropes takes place, and lands safely. As soon
as the escaped person unhooks the clasp attached to the harness from
the branching wire ropes, the take-up reels reel up the branching
wire ropes automatically and puts the guide wire and the braking
wires again in a taut condition readying itself for next descending
person.
I The hazards to human lives in case of fires in high rise

. -- 1 --

'I
.,.~.



1227~7~


apartments, hotels and office buildings is amply demonstrated by the
recurring tragedies involving the loss of lives and property in many
densely populated cities with many high rise buildings. Often, the
occupants of high rise buildings are cut off from the escape route to
the ground level as well as to the top of the building by fire and
smoke erupting through the stairwells and elevator shafts. At the
present time, the only way to rescue people from a burning skyscraper
is either by a helicopter or by a fire truck ladder. The former me-
trod is limited to rescuing people from the top of a skyscraper,
it while tube latter method is limited to evacuating people from the lower
levels of the skyscraper. the simple tnlth is that there is no means
available today for rescuing people trapped in the middle of a burn-
in skyscraper. The methods of using helicopters and fire truck lad-
dons are far from being satisfactory answer, because those method are
slow, inefficient and hazardous.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a rapid
emergency escape system from an elevated structure that can be used
to escape from any level of the elevated structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple,
fast and inexpensive emergency escape system from any level of an
elevated structure wherein its operation is reliable, inexpensive and
reusable.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an omen-
agency escape system from any level of an elevated structure that is
mostly self-contained and that becomes operative with the minimum
amount of assistance from equipment stationed at the ground level.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
emergency escape system from any level of an elevated structure that

can be tucked away and stored in such a way that the daily use of
3C the elevated structure is not hindered at all by the existence of
-- 2 --


~2Z7~71


the escape system.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an
emergency escape system from elevated structures that can be used by
average people including children, women and men of average mental
and physical capability.
These and other objects of the present invention will become
obvious as the description thereof proceeds.
The present invention and its objects may/described with greater
clarity and specificity by referring to the following Figures :
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the
sky-slide emergency rescue system showing an initial phase of an
escape operation.
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the sky-slide omen-
agency escape system of Figure 1 in a stowed away arrangement for
storage.
Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the sky-slide omen-
agency escape system of Figure 1 showing a final phase of an escape
operation.
Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the sky-slide omen-

agency escape system.
Figure 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the sky-slide omen-
agency escape system.
Figure 6 illustrates still another embodiment of the sky-slide
emergency escape system.
Figure 7 illustrates still a further embodiment of the sliy-slide
emergency escape system.
Figure 8 illustrates yet another embodiment of the sky-slide
emergency escape system.

Figure 9 illustrates yet a further embodiment of the sky-slide
emergency escape system.
-- 3 --

12Z7~71



In figure 1 there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment
of the sky-slide emergency escape system, which demonstrates the print
supplies of the present invention teaching a rapid escape system from
an elevated structure. The sky-slide emergency escape system for ray
idly evacuating a person or an object from an upper level 1 to a
lower level 2 comprises a guide wire rope or guide cord 3 depending
from an over-hanging structure 4 secured at the upper level 1 and a
pair of braking wire ropes or braking cords 5 and 6 extending from
one extremity of the guide wire 3. The other extremity of the guide
wire 3 is secured to the over-hanging structure 4 anchored to the
upper level. The extremities 7 and 8 of the braking wire ropes 5 and
6 reaching down to the lower level 2 include the connecting means 9
and 10, respectively, and are connected to the take-up wire ropes or
take-up cords 11 and 12, respectively. The take-up wire ropes 11 and
12 are reeled up on the take-up reel systems 13 and 14, respectively.
The take-up reel systems 13 and 14 are widely separated from each
other and are immovably secured to the lower level 2 in either a per-
Mennonite or a temporary manner. The take-up reel system 14 includes a
one-way braking means comprising a mechanical or a hydraulic or a
electromagnetic brake 15 and a ratchet coupling 16 coupling the brake
15 to the reeling drum 17. The one-way braking means does not hinder
the reeling rotation of the reeling drum 17, while it hinders the us-
reeling rotation of the reeling drum and maintains a tension of a
preset level on the braking wire rope 5 for all instances during the
unreeling phase. The take-up reel system 13 further includes a power
drive 18 coupled to the reeling drum 17 by the friction clutch 19.
The friction level in the friction clutch 19 is set at a level high
enough to reel up the take-up wire ropes 11 on the reeling drum 17
when the braking wire rope 5 connected to the take-up wire rope 11 is

free from any restraint other than its own weight and its own stiffness,
-- 4 --

122717~


while its friction level is low enough to allow the reeling drum 17
to slip and unreel the take-up wire rope 11 when the braking wire rope
5 connected thereto is pulled by a large tension such as the one erect-
Ed by a person descending on the sky-slide emergency escape system.
The take-up reel system 14 includes a one-way braking means comprising
a brake 20 and a ratchet coupling 21, a reeling drum 22, a power
drive 23 and a friction clutch 24, which elements have the same ox-
jectives and functions as those included in the take-up reel system
13.
When an emergency arises requiring the evacuation of people from
the upper level 1 to the lower level 2 by means of the sky-slide soys-
them shown in Figure 1, the person escaping from the upper level 1 to
lower level 2 puts on a harness 25 securing the torso and limbs, which
harnesses are stored on the upper level 1 in suitable quantities.
The harness 25 includes a sturdy tether 26 and a strong clasp means
27 attached to the free end thereof. The escaping person wearing
the harness 25 hooks on the clasp means 27 onto the guide wire rope
3 and jumps off, whereupon the escaping person free-falls following
the guide wire 3 until the clasp means 27 reaches the branching point
of the braking wire ropes 5 and 6 and starts pulling the braking wire
ropes 5 and 6 together. The pulling action of the braking wire ropes
5 and 6 generated by the descending clasp means 27 simultaneously en-
gaged by the braking wire ropes 5 and 6 creates a high tension on the
braking wire ropes 5 and 6 and, consequently, on the take-up wire
ropes 11 and 12 which become unreeled from the take-up reel systems
13 and 14 in a controlled rate as dictated by the one-way braking
means included therein. The deceleration of the descending speed of
the escaping person can be analyzed quantitatively in two different
concepts. The net resultant force on the clasp means 27 resulting
3C from the tensions on the braking wire ropes 5 and 6 is in the upward

-- 5 --

1227~71



vertical direction. It can be easily shown that the deceleration of
the person descending on the sky-slide system shown in Figure 1 is
approximately given by the equation



a = _ (IT - g) + - sin 0,



wherein a is the acceleration, T is the tension on the braking wire
ropes 5 and 6 created by the one-way braking means included in the
take-up reel systems 13 and 14; m is the mass of the descending
person; g is the earth's gravitational acceleration and is the
angle between a braking wire rope and the horizontal plane. In this
formula the effect of the friction between the clasp means 27 and the
braking wire ropes is not included. It is not difficult to recognize
from this formula that, when the tension on the braking wire rope
is maintained at a value equal to three times that of the weight of
the descending person, the descending movement starts to decelerate
when becomes equal to 56 degrees and the maximum rate of dazzler-
lion is equal to So at the time of landing on the lower level 2. It
is obvious that the difference in the potential energy between the
upper level 1 and lower level 2 has to be counter-balanced by the
work done by two braking ropes during the unreeling phase, if the
descending person is to be safe-landed on the lower level 2. This
condition may be written in an equation



T do = why
ill

where Lo and Lo are the initial and final length of the unreeled
portion of the take-up wire rope connected to the braking wire rope;
T is the tension on the take-up wire rope created by the one-way
braking means included in the take-up reel system; do is the

1227~71

differential length of the take-up wire rope; w is the weight of the
descending person, h is the height from the lower level 2 to the upper
level 1. If the tension on the take-up wire rope remains constant
during the unreeling phase of descending, the aforementioned equation
becomes



T AL why



where AL is the length of the take-up wire rope unreeled during
the descending motion of the escapee. It can be easily discovered
from this equation that, when the tension on the braking wire ropes
is maintained at a value equal to three times that of the weight of
the descending person, the sky-slide system can safely bring down
a person from a height equal to six times the length of each take-up
reel system. For example, a sky-slide system including a pair of the
take-up reel systems wherein each take-up reel system unreels 100 ft.
of take-up wire rope while maintaining 600 pounds of tension, can
safely bring down a person weighing 200 pounds from a height of 600
ft. When a sky-slide system is equipped with four braking wire ropes
connected to four different take-up reel systems, it takes only 50 ft.
length of unreeling wire to rescue a person from a 600 ft. height.
This estimation clearly shows the feasibility and practicality of the
sky-slide system in many applications including the rapid fire escape
system from high-rise buildings. Once the descending person lands
safely on the lower level 2, the clasp means 27 is unhooked from both
braking wire ropes S and 6. Now there is no major restraint on the
take-up wire ropes 11 and 12, the friction clutch 19 and 24 activates

the reeling rotation of the reeling drums 17 and 22, respectively,
and the braking wire ropes 5 and 6 are put back in a taut state and
in the shape of a pyramid. It is then ready to lower another person.
-- 7 --

1227~7~


It should be understood that, the power drives 18 and 23 driving
the reeling drums 17 and 22 are in operation for all instances during
the rescue operation and, consequently, everything is automatic in
the operation of the sky-slide system shown in Figure 1 with the ox-
caption of the hooking and unhooking of the clasp 27 onto and off of
the wire ropes by the descending person. It should be understood
that the take-up reel systems 13 and 14 may/permantly installed units
in conjunction with the construction of the elevated structure include
in the upper level 1 or they may be mobile units mounted on fire
trucks and other types of emergency and rescue vehicle. It should
be also understood that the take-up reel systems 13 and 14 may be come
pletely automatic as described in conjunction with Figure 1 or be
semiautomatic or manual operations type using manual controls that
activates the power drive-deactivates the brake and vice versa wherein
the friction clutch and the ratchet couplings are not required. Even
in the fully automated take-up reel systems, there are other means
that serves the same purpose as the ratchet coupling and the friction
clutch. The specific embodiment of the take-up reel system described
in conjunction with Figure l is an example of many take-up reel soys-

terms of fully automatic or semiautomatic operation which are avail-
able to create the controlled release of the take-up wire rope from
the take-up reel system under braking. It must be mentioned that the
guide wire rope may branch to less or more than two braking wire
ropes depending on the specific working environment and operating con-
diction . It should be mentioned that the sky-slide system works well
without the guide wire ropes. For example, the pair of braking wire
ropes 5 and 6 can be directly secured to the over-hanging structure
4 and the sky-slide system functions perfectly well as long as the
escaping person hooks the clasp 27 around both braking wire ropes 5

and 6. The guide wire rope is included in the embodiment shown in
-- 8 --

~227~71


this patent application, because it eliminates the potential cause of
fatal accidents created by a descending person inadvertently hooking
the clasp means 27 on one braking wire rope only when two or more
braking wire ropes are directly secured to the over-hanging structure
4. The inclusion of the guide wire rope 3 also enables one to bring
down the evacuees at an accelerated pace.
In Figure 2 there is shown a perspective view of the sky-slide
system shown in Figure 1 minus the take-up reel systems 13 and 14,
which shows the sky-slide system of Figure 1 stowed away in a storage
position after it is disconnected from the mobile take-up reel systems.
The combination comprising the guide wire rope 3 and the braking wire
ropes 5 and 6 branching and extending therefrom is disposed adjacent
to the wall 28 of the elevated structure and the lower extremities 7
and 8 of the braking wire ropes 5 and 6 are held down by a hold-down
means comprising pluralities of holding hooks 29, 30, etc. When an
emergency arises requiring the evacuation of people from the upper
level 1 to the lower level 2, a pair of fire trucks equipped with the
take-up reel system such as the unit 13 or 14 shown in Figure 1 and
responding to the emergency are parked at two locations on the lower
level 2 some distance away from the wall 28 of the elevated structure
and separated from ore another at a predetermined distance and an
equal distance away from the vertical plane including the guide wire
rope 3. Lyon the rescue crew connects the lower extremity of each of
the braking wire ropes to each of the take-up reel systems mounted on
the fire trucks and turns on the power driving the take-up reel systems,
the braking wire ropes 5 and 6 become stretched into the shape of a
pyramid and the sky-slide system is ready for use. It is not Defoe-
cult to imagine that the wire ropes included in the sky-slide system may
be pulled up to the upper level 1 and reeled on a storage reel there.
In case of emergency, the people at the level 1 have to unreel and

1227~71


lower the wire ropes to the level 2. It should be understood that
the guide wire rope with a plurality of the braking wire ropes extend-
in therefrom can originate and depend from any level of the elevated
structure, as they function in the same way no matter what level they
originate from once they are connected to the take-up reel systems.
The take-up reel systems may be mounted on the fire trucks or other
rescue vehicles, as described in conjunction with Figure 2. The
take-up reel systems may be installed permanently under the street or
parking lot adjacent to the elevated structure. In such a permanent
installation, only the connecting ends of the take-up wire ropes must
be located in a releasable manner at the appropriate locations in no-
lotion to a vertical plane including the guide wire, while the actual
reeling and braking assemblies can be located any place wherein the
take-up wire ropes are routed through under ground tunnels.
In Figure 3 there is shown the lower half of the sky-slide omen-
agency escape system of Figure 1 at an instant when an evacuee is about
to touch down on the level 2. It is clear that the take-up reel soys-
terms have to unreel and release the take-up wire ropes 11 and 12,
because the clasp pulled down by the descending person has changed
the configuration of the braking wire ropes 5 and 6 from a shorter
configuration as shown in Figure 1 to a longer configuration as shown
in Figure 2. As soon as the clasp means 27 is removed from the brake
in wire ropes 5 and 6, the take-up reel systems 13 and 14 reel up
the braking wire ropes and put them back into a shorter configuration
as shown in Figure 1 and the sky-slide system is ready for another
descending. It is important for smooth operation of the sky-slide
system that splicing of the guide wire rope 3 and the braking wire
ropes 5 and 6 is free of any knots. One of the best methods to con-
strut the branching wire ropes used in the sky-slide system is to run
each of the braking wire ropes all the way to the securing end of the

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~.227~


guide wire rope and then to enclose them together tightly within a
tubing over the length from the securing end to the branching point.
In Figure 4 there is illustrated another embodiment of the sky-
slide emergency escape system constructed in accordance with the print
supplies of the present invention. The combination of the guide wire
rope 31 and the pair of the braking wire ropes 32 and 33 branching
and extending therefrom is depending from an over-hanging structure
34 secured at an elevated level. The braking wire ropes 32 and 33
reach down to the lower level after slid ably engaging and extending
through the wire rope guides 35 and 36 comprising a plurality of guide
sheaves, respectively. The wire rope guides 35 and 36 are disposed
at two opposite sides of and at equal distances away from a vertical
plane including the guide wire rope 31. The braking wire ropes 32
and 33 are routed through the check stops 37 and 38, respectively,
and are connected to the take-up wire ropes reeled on the take-up
reel systems 39 and 40 installed on the lower level, respectively.
When the check stops 37 and 38 are activated manually, the check
stops 37 and 34 allows the braking wire ropes 32 and 33 to be unreeled
from the take-up reel systems 39 and 40, while they prevent the brake

in wire rope 32 and 33 from being reeled up onto take-up reel systems
39 and 40. When the check stops 37 and 38 are deactivated manually,
they do not interfere with the reeling and unreeling movement of the
braking wire ropes 32 and 33. The take-up reel systems 39 and 40 may
comprise the same elements as the units 13 and 14 described in con-
junction with Figure 1 or they may respectively comprise a take-up
drum driven by a power drive via a high friction clutch playing a
dual role; a brake for controlling the unreeling motion of the braking
wire rope and a drive clutch ton reeling of the braking wire rope on
the take-up drum. The need of the one-way braking means for the

take-up reel systems is eliminated because of the inclusion of the
-- 11 --

~227~7~


check stops 37 and 38. The braking wire ropes shown in the broken
lines illustrates the configuration of the braking wire ropes 32 and
33 at an instant when an evacuee is about to land on the lower level.
The embodiment of the braking wire ropes shown in Figure 4 is capable
of more rapidly slowing down the descending motion of the evacuee
compared with the embodiment shown in Figure 1.
In Figure 5 there is shown a further embodiment of the sky-slide
emergency escape system comprising a guide wire rope with a pair of
the braking wire ropes 41 and 42 depending from an over-hanging struck
lure 43 secured to the upper level and pair of the wire rope guides
44 and 45. These elements are disposed essentially the same way as
those included in Figure 4 and have the same functions as those include
Ed in Figure 4. The pair of the take-up reel systems 46 and 47 are
installed at a level above the lower level that may be intermediate
the upper level and the lower level or equal to or even higher than
the upper level from which the evacuees are descending to the lower
level. The take-up reel systems 46 and 47 must comprise all elements
included in those units 13 and 14 described in conjunction with
Figure 1 in view that the embodiment shown in Figure 5 does not
include the wire rope check stops.
In Figure 6 there is shown still another embodiment of the
sky-slide emergency escape system comprising a guide wire rope 48 with
its upper extremity suckered to an elevated structure 50 and its
lower extremity 51 anchored to the lower level 52 in a taut state;
and a braking wire rope 53 branching from the guide wire rope 48 and
connected to the take-up wire rope reeled on a take-up reel system
54 including the same elements as those units 13 or 14 described in
conjunction with Figure 1. The wire rope shown in the broken lines
illustrates the configuration of the braking wire rope 53 at an ins-
lent when the evacuee is about to land on the lower level 52. The

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1227~71


lower extremity 51 of the guide wire rope 48 should be removably an-
cored to a hook or other anchoring means located in a street or
parking lot adjacent to the elevated structure, which is located away
from the elevated structure and concealed under the surface of the
street or parking lot so that it does not interfere with the daily
use of the street or parking lot. the take-up reel system 54 may be
a mobile unit mounted on a fire truck or other rescue vehicle parked
on the lower level 52 at a location some distance away from the eye-
voted structure 50 whereby the person descending on the sky-slide
lo system remains suspended under the guide wire rope I and the braking
wire rope 53. The lower extremity 55 of the braking wire rope 53 is
removably connected to the take-up wire rope 56 reeled on the take-up
reel system 54 whereby the combination of the guide wire rope 48 and
the braking wire rope 53 is stowed away to a storage position in the
side of the elevated structure or at the top of the elevated structure
after it is disconnected from the anchoring hook installed on the
lower level and the mobile take-up reel system 54.
In Figure 7 there is shown still a further embodiment of the
sky-slide emergency escape system arranged essentially in the same way
as that of Figure 6 with one exception being that the guide wire rope
57 stretched between the elevated structure 58 and the lower level
59 includes a pair of the braking wire ropes 60 and 61 branching
therefrom and connected to the take-up wire ropes respectively reeled
on the take-up reel systems 62 and 63, respectively, each of which
have the same elements as that of the unit 13 or 14 described in con-
junction with Figure 1. It is readily understood that more than two
braking wire ropes branching from the guide wire rope may be included
wherein the lower extremities of the braking wire ropes are connected
to the take-up reel systems of matching numbers. It should be under-
stood that, when there are more than two braking wire ropes included

- 13 -



1227~71


in the sky-slide system, it is important to include a guide wire rope
stretched all the way between the elevated structure and the lower
level as shown in Figure 7 because the unequal braking between two
take-up reel systems can cause the evacuee to slam onto one take-up
reel system with a greater braking force. In general, those embody-
mints shown in Figure 6 and 7 are more desirable over the embodiment
shown in Figure 1.
In Figure 8 there is shown yet another embodiment of the sky-

slide emergency escape system. The guide wire rope 64 is secured to
and
an elevated structure 65 at the upper extremity 66/removably anchored
to the lower level 67 at the lower extremity 68. A pair o' the brake
in wire ropes 6g and 70 branch off from the guide wire rope 64 at a
junction intermediate the upper and lower extremities of the guide
wire rope. The braking wire ropes 69 and 70 slid ably engage and ox-
tend through the wire rope guides 71 and 72 disposed at two opposite
sides of and at equal distances away from a vertical plane including
the guide wire rope 64. The braking wire ropes 69 and 70 are routed
side by side after passing through a third wire rope guide 73 and con-
netted to a common take-up reel system comprising a one-way bracing
means including a brake 75 and a ratchet coupling 76; a take-up drum
77 and a friction clutch 78 frictionally linking the rotational move-
mint between the power drive 79 and the take-up drum 77. The opera-
tonal principle of the -take-up reel system is the same as that of
those units 13 and 14 described in conjunction with Figure 1. The
embodiment shown in Figure 8 is suitable for a self-sufficient sky-
slide system wherein the take-up reel system 74 is permanently install
led inside the elevated structure and the anchoring hook removably
anchoring the lower extremity 68 of the guide wire rope 64 is install
led in the street or a parking lot in a concealed configuration. The

guide wire rope 64 is stowed away to a storage position adjacent to
- 14 -

i227~71.



the portion of the braking wire ropes 69 and 70 routed in a side by
side relationship after the lower extremity 68 of the guide wire rope
64 is disconnected from the anchoring hook installed at the lower
level. It should be understood that the lower extremities of the brake
in wire ropes 69 and 70 may be connected to two separate take-up reel
systems in an arrangement similar to that of Figure 4 or Figure 5. It
should be also understood that the lower extremities of the braking
wire ropes nay be connected to the take-up reel system powered by the
earth's gravitational force as illustrated in Figure 9. It should be
mentioned that the embodiments shown in Figure 4 and 5 may be modified
by extending the guide wire ropes all the way down to the lower level
and removably anchoring them by the anchoring hooks installed at the
lower level at a location some distance away from the elevated
structure.
In Figure 9 there is shown yet a further embodiment of the sky-
slide emergency escape system comprising a guide wire rope 80 depend-
no from an elevated structure 81 and a pair of the braking wire ropes
82 and 83 branching and extending from the guide wire rope I The
braking wire ropes 82 and 83 are routed through the wire rope guide 84
and 85 equipped with one-way braking wheels fix and 87, respectively,
and connected to the compound pulley systems 88 and 99 powered by the
weights 90 and 91, respectively. the one-way braking wheels 86 and 87
hinder the releasing movement of the braking ropes 82 and 83 from the
compound pulley systems 88 and 89, while they do not interfere with
the take-up movement of the braking wire ropes 82 and 83 into the come
pound pulley systems 88 and 89. The weights 90 and 91 are just heavy
enough to power the compound pulley system to take up the braking wire
ropes and to keep them at a taut state as shown in Figure 9 when the
braking wire ropes are not constrained by the clasp attached to the

Horace worn by a descending evacuee. The one-way braking wheels 86
- 15 -


~2Z~71

and 84 gradually releases the braking wire ropes 82 and 83 that
slows down the rapidly descending evacuee. When the evacuee removes
the clasp attached to his harness from the braking wire ropes 82
and 83, the compound pulley systems 88 and 89 automatically pull
back the sky-slide to a taut state and it becomes ready to take
the next evacuee. It is readily understood that the guide wire
rope 80 may be extended all the way to the lower level and removably
anchored to the lower level in the same manner as shown in Figure 8.
There are many other arrangements well known to the experts in the
art which can be used as braking wire rope take-up systems including
means for controlled release and rewinding of the braking wire ropes
wherein mechanical, hydraulic or electromagnetic elements may be
included to accomplish the objects of braking and rewinding. The
sole purpose of the detailed construction of the braking wire ropes
take-up systems included in the embodiments shown in Figures 1-9
is to demonstrate the objects and the feasibility of accomplishing
such objects. It is quite obvious that the sky-slide system may
be used as a device for training sky-divers and paratroopers.
While the principles of the present invention have now been
made clear by the illustrative embodiments, there will be
immediately obvious to the skilled in the art many modifications
of the arrangements, elements, proportion, structures and
materials particularly adapted to the specific working environment
and operating conditions in the practice of the invention without
departing from those principles.




- 16 -

Representative Drawing

Sorry, the representative drawing for patent document number 1227171 was not found.

Administrative Status

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Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date 1987-09-22
(22) Filed 1984-12-10
(45) Issued 1987-09-22
Expired 2004-12-10

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $0.00 1984-12-10
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
LEW, HYOK S.
STRANAHAN, MICHAEL
Past Owners on Record
None
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Drawings 1993-07-27 3 98
Claims 1993-07-27 8 267
Abstract 1993-07-27 1 28
Cover Page 1993-07-27 1 12
Description 1993-07-27 16 615