A NEW FIRE-ESCAPE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4466, 20 September 1901, Page 6

A NEW FIRE-ESCAPE.

Mr R. Kcyte, of Whangarei. Auckland, has at present on exniUn,i„u at u,e otncea occupied by Mr lauglies, patent* agent, an ingenious invent.on aev.sea tor tne purpose ol providing persons with a sale means ot escape irom a burn.ng building. The mam obi-’-t of tne in ventiou appears to lie to lower pet sons from a top story without risk of tueir tailing too rapidly. The height 01 a building presents no oostacies to the successful working of the mach.ne, wix,cn operates automatically. The lue.hau.sm is so simple that there is apparently no chance of its getting out of order. The appliance consists of a pair of winding drums, one being smal er than the other, mounted on a spindle fixed in a frame, secured in a position on the inside of buildings, and preferably above a win. dow. Upon the larger drum is wound a rope that passes over the pulley and hangs down on the outside of the build, ing. On the end of this rope is a cage, in wdiich a person can sit. Upon the smaller drum is also wound a r°PO, w’hich passes over suitable pulleys, and has at tached to it a counter-.woight. The ropes are wound on the drums in opposite directions, so that when one rope tin winds the other winds up. Secured up. on the drum spindle is an escapement wheel, and upon a rocking spindle is fixed a weighted pendulum. The working model Mr Keyte is exhibiting is built on a quarter size, and very clearly shows holw the invention is worked. Upon a person entering the cage it descends slowly to the ground, and then being re lieved of its passengers, recovers itself by means of the oonnter.weight. and is readv for another passenger. The key of the scheme is the escapement wheel, wheih regulates the speed and weight.