This invention relates to apparatus for facilitating escape from structures in the event of fire or earthquake or in other life threatening circumstances. As such, the invention has particular application to reducing fatalities arising from fires in multi-storey buildings such as large hotels.

Presently if a fire occurs in a multi-storey building, escape routes from higher levels are often blocked by fire, smoke or damage below. Occupants frequently choose to jump as the only option for escape, even though it is often fruitless. Rising smoke in the building can itself be the cause of death.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a facility for emergency escape from a structure when existing escape routes are inaccessible or hazardous.

The essential concept of the invention is to provide for the rapid installation of an external escape system through a window at each level. Thus trapped victims may immediately clear the building rather than relying upon an escape within the structure.

The invention accordingly provides, building escape apparatus which includes means to anchor a cable in the vicinity of a window, and means to support the cable at an elevated location within the frame of the window. The apparatus further comprises means to temporarily support a personnel harness in or adjacent the window for sliding engagement on and support by the cable outside the window.

The anchoring means may typically comprise, means for retracting and storing the cable, for example a drum within a box which is easily retrievable from a storage location. In an event of an emergency, the box is anchored and the cable unreeled, supported at the elevated location within the window frame and anchored at a safe location externally of the building. The trapped people may then escape by donning a harness and utilizing the harness support means in or adjacent the window to slidably engage the cable and make an escape.

Advantageously, the apparatus further comprises collapsible and/or dismantable structure for mounting the cable and harness support means within the window frame. This structure preferably includes a platform and ramp, respectively to the outside and inside of the window frame, and a drive device for elevating the cable and harness support means during assembly of the structure.

The harness support means may comprise a

sliding track for a head mounted to the harness, the cable being positioned under the track to receive the head when it exits the outer end of the track. In this way, the harnessed victim is physically supported as he or she clambers through the window opening and also ensures that the building wall is safely cleared before he or she commences escape. Each harness typically includes controllable means engagable with the cable to control the descent speed of the harness along the cable.

In a separate aspect, the invention further provides a multi-storey structure provided on its roof with means for storing fire fighting fluids and hoses extendible over and down the outside of a structure for conveying fire fighting fluid to lower levels of the structure. Means is further provided on the outside of the structure for lowering the hoses to selected levels.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of building escape apparatus in situ for effecting escape from a building;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of the apparatus depicting the overhead harness support unit;

Figure 3 is a view similar to part of Figure 1 but showing the outside platform retracted;

Figure 4 shows the cable and harness support structure assembled and about to be raised into position;

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the harness support unit with a harness in place;

Figure 6 shows a harnessed occupant of the building making his escape down the inclined cables.

The illustrated building escape apparatus 10 is shown in situ in Figure 1 and includes anchoring means 12, a pair of cables 13a, 13b, means to hold a cable in the vicinity of a window 14 in the building wall 16, and a dismantable structure 18 incorporating a cable and harness support unit 20 within the frame of window 14. This unit 20 supports cables 13a, 13b at an elevated location within the window frame 14 and provides a pair of rails for temporarily supporting a personnel harness 22 for sliding engagement on and support by the cables 13a, 13b outside the window 14. Cables 13a, 13b are anchored at a point (not shown) externally of the building so as to lie at a substantial inclination to the vertical.

Cable anchoring means 12 comprises a boxed trolley 24 equipped with a drum 26 rotatable by a handle 28 or by a suitable mechanical drive. Cables 13a, 13b are normally wound onto drum 26 and the trolley stored away conveniently. The lid 30 of the trolley is in two parts which may be lifted and pinned as shown, one part carrying the pair of guide pulleys for cables 13a, 13b. When in situ, the trolley is firmly stablized by being attached to a nearby wall 32 by means of a suitable link 34.

Structure 18 includes an inside ramp 36 by which a trapped person may scramble up into the window opening, and an outside platform 38 for supporting the person clear from the building wall 16. Platform 38 is normally held in a retracted condition (Figure 3) and raised to its operative horizontal location by a hydraulic or pneumatic ram 39. The retracted condition is shown with plaftorm

38 on an angle to the building wall but may be, by suitable linkage, flat against the wall.

The cable and harness support unit 20 comprises a pair of parallel moulded channel rails 40, 41 connected by a number of straps 42. The central groove of each channel 40, 41 slidably confines respective wheels 44 forming part of a head 45 for each harness 22. Each rail further has a longitudinally extending bore 46 through which the respective cables 13a, 13b pass.

Cable and harness support unit 20 is supported in its elevated position by respective pairs of elongate plates 48, 49 and locked into position by depending locking devices 50 on each rail 40, 41. Devices 50 are secured at the top of the window frame.

Under normal circumstances, unit 20, plates 48 and ramp 36 are stored away in a dismantled state in a suitable nearby location, as is trolley 24. When an emergency arises, the trolley is brought out and set up as already described and the structure 18 is erected. Platform 38 is raised by operating ram 39. Unit 20 is pinned to the free end of plates 49, ramp 36 is clipped into place at the window ledge and plates 48 are also pinned into unit 20. The unit 20, together with the plates 48, 49, the platform 38 and the ramp 36 thereby form a collapsed parallelogram assembly as shown in Figure 4. This assembly can then be raised to the operative position depicted in Figure 1, either manually or by means of a second hydraulic or pneumatic ram 52 at one side of the window frame. This ram 52 may be permanently in place or may also be arranged for temporary attachment. It is preferred that the unit 20 and

plates 48, 49 are formed in a lightweight, e.g. plastics, material. Once unit 20 is locked into place, cables 13a, 13b are drawn from drum 26 pushed through bores 46 and dropped out the window 14 for securement as earlier mentioned. Each person in turn then dons a harness 22 and lifts the harness 22 through the space between the rails 40 and 41 to engage the wheels 44 on the rails. Harness head 45 has outer down turned ends 55 which pass within straps 42 as the head 45 travels along the rails 40, 41. The person then scrambles along the ramp 36 and platform 38 and jumps. The platform 38 ensures that he or she is completely clear of the building as he does so. As the harness head 45 exits the outer ends of rails 40, 41 it slidably engages on the cables 13a, 13b and travels downwards. The out turned ends 55 of the harness head 45 prevent lateral movement of the harness. Out-turned ends 55 are preferably formed to substantially enclose the cable 13.

Harnesses 22 are preferably formed in a fire resistent material, they may be rigid or partially rigid frames or may be formed by a network of webbing or strapping. They may alternatively be formed as cocoon like structures for wholly enclosing an escaping person. A particular form of harness may be formed to enclose an injured or ill person and may then, for example, have a pair of heads engaging the rails and cables.

Each harness preferably includes a device, not shown, engagable with the cable to control the speed of descent of the harness down the cable. Alternatively, the harness may be fitted with a parachute or with parachute like flaps for otherwise braking the harness. Speed of descent may also be

controlled by varying the distance between the cable.

As mentioned a separate aspect of this invention concerns the provision of fire fighting fluids in a multi-storey structure. More specifically, the structure may carry on its roof tanks or other means for storing fire fighting fluids, and with hoses extendible over and down the outside of the structure for conveying fire fighting fluid to lower levels of the structure. To facilitate delivery of the hoses to lower levels, for example for use by fire fighting personnel or for attachment to spraying or distribution equipment on each level, means is provided on the outside of the structure for lowering the hoses. This means may comprise cable guide ways for the hoses or in other cases devices similar to window cleaner elevators may be employed, to raise and lower personnel carrying the hoses.