TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to rescue devices for transferring people from high buildings in emergency situations .

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

In urban environments , buildings are high and getting even higher for having more apartments in the area . A problem in the design of high-rise apartments and towers during the occurrence of the events like explos ion, fire , earthquake is that the inhabitants may not be able to get out of the building and they may get trapped in the dangerous situations . To prevent above mentioned situations , high buildings are equipped with rescue devices . Typically rescue devices comprises some kind of ladders , which generally are fixed to the bui lding, or ropes which are used for descending from the building . Such devices may be insecure and slow in emergency situations , when people must get out of the building safely and as fast as possible .

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The obj ective of the device/method is to alleviate the disadvantages mentioned above .

In particular, it is an obj ective of the present device to provide a compact rescue device that is suitable and safe to use in emergency situations . SUMMARY

According to a first aspect , the present invention provides a rescue device for transferring people from high buildings , comprising a frame for enclosing components of the device when the device is not in use , which frame is configured to be fastened to a fixed structure of a building, a cord, a reel having a first end and a second end, which reel is arranged inside the frame and configured to reel in the cord around the reel between the first end and the second end, and reel out the cord from the reel , and a dampening means for controlling the reeling speed of the reel . Further, the reel is hollow, and the dampening means are arranged inside the reel between the first end and the second end .

The advantage of the device is that the device is fast to use , while being compact and the important components are safely stored inside the frame so that they are not exposed to the environment when not in use . Further, the critical components , e . g . dampening means , are safely located ins ide the reel , which i s further protected by the cord .

In an embodiment of the device , the dampening means comprises at least one hydraulic motor or hydraulic pump .

In an embodiment of the device , the dampening means comprises two hydraulic motors or hydraulic pumps .

In an embodiment of the device , a chamber for hydraulic fluid is provided between the two hydraulic motors inside the reel .

In an embodiment of the device , the dampening means comprises at least one f low control valve for control ling reeling speed of the reel by restricting the f low of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor or hydraulic pump .

In an embodiment of the device , the reeling speed of the reel is constant .

In an embodiment of the device , the device comprises a padding arranged inside the frame , which padding is arranged to be extended from the frame to outside of the building so that the padding is between the cord and the building structure when the rescue device is in use .

In an embodiment of the device , the padding is folded inside the frame and extended from the frame to outside the building by unfolding .

In an embodiment of the device , the padding comprises a fireproof outer layer .

In an embodiment of the device , the fireproof outer layer is made of aramid .

In an embodiment of the device , the reel i s divided in two sections , first a section and a second section ( ) , and a flange i s provided between the first section and the second section .

In an embodiment of the device , the device comprises two cords , a first cord and a second cord, and the first cord is arranged to be reeled in to the first section of the reel , and the second cord is arranged to be reeled in to the second section of the reel .

In an embodiment of the device , the first cord and the second cord are arranged to be reeled in opposite directions so that when the first cord is reeled in, the second cord is reeled out , and vice versa . In an embodiment of the device , a spring element is provided at the reel , which spring element is arranged to reel in the cord when no external weight i s appl ied to the cord .

According to another aspect , the invention provides a rescue system of building, wherein each floor of the building comprises at least one rescue device according to any one of the preceding claims f ixed to supporting structure of the building and in close proximity to emergency exit .

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the invention described above may be used in any combination with each other . Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the invention .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings , which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention . In the drawings :

Fig . 1 shows an overview of an emergency system of a building,

Fig . 2 shows a rescue device according to the present invention,

Fig . 3 shows an embodiment , wherein the reel 7 is divided in in two sections , and

Fig . 4 shows an embodiment of the frame . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following figures only illustrative and may not show actual structure or design of the device or components .

Figure 1 shows an overview of an emergency system of a building 5 . A user is descending from a building by using one of emergency devices 3 comprising a cord 1 . The rescue device is fastened to a fixed structure of the building for securing it in place . Before exiting the building 2 , the user is fastened to the cord 1 by using fastening means . The fastening means may be for example a carabiner, a hook, a loop, a grasper or a safety catch, which may be fastened to the cord . The user may wear a safety vest or similar which is fastened to the cord by the fastening means . The window is opened and the user may exit the building through the window and start descending from the building . The cord is reeled in a reel of the rescue device and when the user is descending, the cord is reeled out from the reel . The rescue device comprises a dampening means for controlling the descending speed by limiting the reeling speed of the reel . Thus , the descending speed is controlled, and the user may be descended safely out of the building .

Figure 2 shows a cross section of a rescue device according to the present invention . The rescue device comprises a frame 6 which is enclosing other components inside the frame when the device is not in use , i . e . when no emergency situation and the device is in its place fixed to the building structure . The rescue device is fastened to a fixed structure of the building, such as wall , balcony etc .

The rescue device comprises a cord 1 , which is suitable for use in emergency situation . The cord should be understood as a long, slender and flexible (i.e. may be reeled) component which may be reeled in on to something. The cord may be a wire, e.g. made of metal, a rope, a webbing etc. The cord may be made of fireproof material. The material may be Kevlar, aramide or Ultra- high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, UHMW) .

The cord may be greased, oiled or handled, i.e. applied, with antifreeze so that the cord does not get wet and therefore, freeze in low temperatures. Thus, the cord is operable even in low temperatures such as below 0 °C and even -10, -20 and -30 °C

The cord 1 is reeled in around a reel 7. The reel 7 comprises a first end 16 and a second end 17 and the cord is reeled between the ends 16, 17. The reel 7 is hollow, i.e. the reel has a space inside, and a dampening means 4 are provided inside the hollow reel. The dampening means 4 are located between the first end 16 and the second end 17 so that the cord 1 is reeled around the dampening means 4. The dampening means are engaged with the reel and configured to control the reeling speed, i.e. rotation speed, of the reel and, thus, the descending and/or ascending speed of the cord and user.

The first end 16 and the second end 17 may have end flanges which have grater diameter than the reel has. The end flanges prevent the cord from slipping out of the reel. Further, at least one end flange may be provided with a brake system, for breaking or stopping the rotation movement of the reel. The brake system may have for example a disc brake configured to engage with the end flange. Optionally, the brake system comprises fiction brake or gravity brake. The brake system may be hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or mechanic. The dampening means may comprise at least one hydraulic motor 11 or hydraulic pump, which is configured to rotate inside the reel 7 . The hydraulic motor or pump is rotating coaxially with the reel and engaged to the reel . Thus , the rotation speed of the hydraulic motor or pump is limiting the rotation speed of the reel . The hydraulic motor or pump may comprise a crankshaft , which is connected to the reel so that the rotation speed of the crankshaft corresponds the rotation speed of the reel , i . e . the rotation speed of the reel is transmitted to the hydraulic motor or pump via crankshaft so that the hydraulic motor or pump may limit the rotation speed of the reel .

The rotation speed of the hydraulic motor or pump is controlled by controlling the hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic motor or pump . The rescue device may comprise at least one valve 13 which is configured to limit the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor or pump . Optionally, the dampening means comprises 2 , 4 , 8 or 16 valves . The valve may be for example a flow control valve . Each valve may have dif ferent function , or some may have same function . The function may be for example limit the reeling speed, limit the reeling speed in one direction or limit the reeling speed in both directions . The dampening means 4 may comprise a chamber 12 for hydraulic fluid . The chamber 12 is used for circulating the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor or pump . The valve may be located between the chamber 12 and the hydraulic motor or pump . Further, there may be channels and/or a manifold 14 for circulating the hydraulic fluid between the chamber 12 and the hydraulic motor or pump .

The rescue device 3 may comprise two hydraulic motors ( 10 , 11 ) or pumps , which both are arranged inside the reel 7 . Both hydraul ic motors or pumps may be arranged to control the reeling speed in same direction, or one may be arranged to control the reel in speed and the other reel out speed . The two hydraulic motors or pumps may be arranged so that the chamber 12 is located between the motors or pumps . The hydraulic fluid flow to the motors or pumps may be controlled by one valve 13 or there may be one valve for each motor or pump . Optionally, the dampening means comprises 2 , 4 , 8 or 16 valves per hydraulic motor or pump .

Figure 3 shows a cross section of an embodiment , wherein the reel 7 is divided in in two sections , first section 8 and a second section 9 . The two sections are adj acent and concentric to each other . The two sections may be two separate reels fastened to each other or they may be part of the same reel . The two sections may be divided by a flange 18 , which is extending perpendicularly from the surface of the reel . Each section may have own cord 1 , which is reeled in and out of the section . The cord in first section may be arranged so that it is reeled in in opposite direction than the cord in second section, i . e . when the cord on the first section is reeled in, the cord on the second section is reeled out and vice versa . With such arrangement , one cord may be used for descending at the same time when the other cord i s used for ascending . Thus , there is always one cord ready for descending when one user has been descended to the ground . The flange 18 between the first section 8 and the second section 9 may be provided with a brake system for slowing or stopping the rotation movement of the reel 7 . The brake system may comprise for example a disc brake . The brake system may be hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, or mechanic .

Figure 4 shows a rescue device and especially an embodiment of the frame 6 . The frame 6 may comprise opening or openings through which the cord 1 is extending out of the frame . The number of openings correspond the number of the cords in the device. The opening 1 is used for directing the cord in right direction and controlling the direction of the cord. The opening may have elongated shape, e.g. in vertical direction as in figure 4 or in horizontal direction, or it may be circular. The edges of the opening may be rounded so that it will not damage the cord when the cord is moving against the edge .

The rescue device 3 may comprise a padding which is used for protecting the cord and the user when exiting out of the building. The padding is arranged inside the frame when the device is not in use. In emergency situations, when the device is taken into use, the padding is extended out of the frame and against the structure of the building, which is used for exiting, e.g. against bottom frame of the window. The padding is arranged so that it is positioned between the cord and the building structure so that it protects the cord (and the user) . The padding may comprise a fireproof outer layer and/or fireproof inner material. The fireproof outer layer may be for example Kevlar or aramid. The inner material may be for example mineral or rock wool. When the device is not in use, the padding may be folded inside the frame and when taken into use, the padding is unfolded out of the frame. The padding may also be rolled inside the frame and unrolled out of the frame.

The reel 7 of the rescue device may be equipped with a spring element, which is configured to reel in the cord when no external weight is applied to the cord. Thus, the cord is automatically reeled in when no one is fastened to the cord. The spring element may be fastened to one of the ends, i.e. first end or second end, of the reel. The spring element may be for example a thrust spring, mainspring, or coil spring. Spring element may comprise several springs. The spring element may be arranged inside a housing.

The rescue device may be enclosed inside a waterproof member for preventing moisture and water getting inside the device. Optionally, the waterproof member is provided inside the frame and only components inside the frame are arranged inside the waterproof member.

The dampening means are arranged to control the reeling speed of the reel. The reeling speed may be adjusted so that the reeling speed is constant in every situation, i.e. the weight of the user does not have substantial effect on the reeling speed. It should be understood that constant speed means constant in the context, i.e. some minor variation in speed may occur if measured with accurate measuring instrument. For example, the reeling speed may be adjusted by adjusting the flow control valve or valves controlling the fluid flow into the hydraulic motor or pump. Preferably, the reeling speed is max 2 m/s and/or min 0,5 m/s . Optionally, the reeling speed is max 6 m/s. The reeling speed may be adjusted before the usage or, optionally, the reeling speed may be adjusted during the usage.

The components inside the frame may be greased, oiled or handled, i.e. applied, with antifreeze so that the components does not freeze in low temperatures, i.e. below 0 °C. Thus, they work even in low temperatures such as -30 °C.

In high buildings having several floors, the emergency system comprises several rescue devices according to this description. The rescue devices are fixed to supporting structure of the building and in close proximity to an emergency exit. The emergency exit may be for example a window, a balcony etc. Optionally, each floor comprises at least one emergency device.

The rescue system may be also used in lower buildings, such as single-family house having two or more floors, ships, towers, cranes, helicopters, or other corresponding high locations.

Although the invention has been the described in con- junction with a certain type of device, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any certain type of device. While the present inventions have been described in connection with a number of exemplary embodiments, and implementations, the present inventions are not so limited, but rather cover various modifications, and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of prospective claims.