From: Spike Jones (spike66@attglobal.net)
Date: Fri Sep 21 2001 - 10:14:02 MDT
> From: "Spike Jones"
> > Better idea than rappelling gear: an emergency belt that is
> > connected to a steel cable on a reel next to all windows.
> > The reel has a centrifugal clutch and damping so that it
> > lowers the victim quickly up top and slows her descent
> > near the ground.... If we were clever,
> > we could come up with a belt that would automatically release
> > the escapee when she reached terra firma.
Mark Walker wrote:
> Spike: I like your system. Obviously it would be nice if every building that
> is higher than the ladders on fire trucks had this system, but this does not
> look likely in the near future.
True, if the system is the responsibility of the building owners.
The key is for each egress system to be privately owned. Of
course in that case is escapees might be more likely to
break the windows out, since a hammer is cheaper than anything
I can think of that would open a window inward. Secondly, a
privately owned egress system would be more likely to be a
simple reel of cable with a centrifugal clutch, like the ones on
the old timey telephone dials that regulate the speed of descent.
Actually such a system could be made for a few hundred dollars,
but would be good for only one egress and to hell with the
people below. A very sophisticated system good for several
escapes would likely cost many thousands, and more importantly
would require inspections and carry liability, and with that,
insurance etc, high cost.
> How about a remote controlled model helicopter (or
> model rocket?) that carries a line over the building first, and then a
> version of your system is hoisted in place? Mark
Hmm, ya got me thinking. Perhaps a deployable system with
reels on the roof. When a window is opened inward it would
quickly lower a cable to that window. The escapee would
be grabbed by a smart device and lowered.
Perhaps a system like an external elevator that looks a bit like
those things the window washers stand upon, that lowers from
the roof and stops at floors where someone has opened inward
a window. It would be smart enough to not stop at any floor
that is burning, and not stop at all once it gets below a burning
floor, so the support cables dont overheat in one spot.
Or how about a big ropey lattice like those things the old-time
sailors used to climb up the side of a ship? It would deploy
from the roof. Instead of being static, it would be on wheels
in a big loop, like those cloth towel thingies in some fancy public
restrooms. In an emergency, it could immediately deploy
and an arbitrary number of escapess could jump on whenever
they are ready. Pure adrenaline would make them hold
on tighter than a cockleburr to a wool sock. They would just
let go when they reached the ground. Otherwise they would
be hauled right back up to the roof (ooh shiiiiiiit...)
Another idea is three-minute oxygen cylinders for everyone
for running down smoky stairwells. It might only be about
the size and weight of a common aerosol can. A typical
yuppie could carry one in her briefcase. Those could be privately
owned, which would get them in place in the short term.
I figure both WTC towers likely had at least a couple of stairwells
that were really smoky but not actually burning. There should be
smart sensors that would tell people which stairwell is their best bet.
Of all the ideas I have heard or thought of, I would rather take my
chances with a simple oxygen bottle and a pair of highly motivated
feet on a good old fashioned set of stairs. But if I were a couch
potato that couldnt run down 100 flights, some of these other
schemes might work, or at least be far preferable to the old
geronimoooooo out the window. spike
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