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I've thought a lot about how to get out of a burning high-rise building. It comes down to being prepared and you can't count on the building systems or anyone else. This is what I came up with to escape. You can leave it at the office or take it with you to hotels.
It’s about the size and shape
of a softball bat with a pickaxe on the end. The pick is for breaking the glass in a high-rise building. The other side of the tip has a folding glass saw to cut through the plastic laminate. Inside the tube is up to a thousand feet of Kevlar cord that has a minimum tensile strength of 500 pounds. The cord passes through a braking system that controls the rate of decent. On the body of the tube are 3 straps 1 for each leg and one that goes around the chest.
The rest of the kit contains a folding J hook and a smoke hood. The J hook is designed to fit over most windowsills. In the event it doesn’t fit the Kevlar cord has a preattached D ring allowing the cord to be looped around desk, poles ect.
Ropes that might fit
http://carbon.imr.ac.cn/price.htm
Only problem is they come in 10 cm lengths. You're going to need a lot of glue. Oh, and they're $2,000 a gram. [Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]
Fishing line
http://www.impulsem...index.htm?c51.htm&1
450lb test, 260 meters per kg, 2mm diameter [Worldgineer]
Emergency Smoke Hood
http://www.sportys....=359&fromgoogle=yes
Safe breathing for 15 minutes. [Klaatu]
Emergency Decent Device
http://www.fallprot...n.com/emergency.cfm
You could probably borrow technology from this. [Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]
Emergency Smoke Hood
http://www.sportys....=359&fromgoogle=yes
Safe breathing for 15 minutes. [Klaatu, Oct 04 2004]
Emergency Decent Device
http://www.fallprot...n.com/emergency.cfm
You could probably borrow technology from this. [Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004]
Similar
http://www.bobmay.info/july022001.htm
May be unnerving for potential users. [Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]
Why stay attached to the building ?
http://www.ultralightflyer.com/brs/
Parchute system for ultralight aircraft - designed to lower aircraft and pilot [normzone, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]
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Do you really think you could fit a harness and 1,000 feet of rope inside a softball bat? J'ai mes doubtes. Bread to you for trying though. I think in some configuration this could be beneficial. + |
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I can imagine a strong plastic, like 450lb test fishing line, might fit in a very large bat. Carbon nanotubes would definately work, but they are pricy and not long enough yet. |
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Well, we're going in the right direction [down], but I fear it would be at two fast a rate - I'm picturing the fishing line rubbing on a sharp corner, and TWANG!!! On second thought, my speargun has a piece of 500 pound test monofilament, but it's about 3/32 inch in diameter.... |
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So I think we're going to have storage issues regardless of the kind of line. |
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Braking devices must be already baked, for rappelling, but if the line is a custom size, the brake might need to be also. |
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Regarding the harness: If the supplier wants me to wear an endorsement while I zip down the side of the building, that's ok with me. |
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Who would be some appropriate sponsers ? |
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//rubbing on a sharp corner, and TWANG!!!// True, but I was just making sure it would fit in a small space. You could have a braid of thiner line that will support as much weight. |
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Upon further reflection, while the package as proposed is attractive, you won't be carrying this with you on the subway each day. |
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So if the gadget is bigger than a breadbox, as long as it does the job, there could be one for every workstation. They could double as monitor risers. |
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And I don't want to have to hand saw through a plastic window. If I need to get out in a hurry, I want a torch or some shaped charges..... |
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How about having one master system that is larger than the others with the rope, and from there employees just attach their own smaller clip-on systems and decend to saftey ..? |
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A great idea! you could also have differnt lengths of cords. Someone working on the sears tower needs a longer cord than someone working in a 5 story building. I give this an A-, because the only downside is see is a thousand people cliff hanging on the side of a burning building and the traffic jam and congestion of getting everyone out, but i like the way you are thinking and i am sure with a combination of that Balloon idea and this you could evacuate a building much more efficiently than currently possible. |
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kevlar cord works mighty good |
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I'm sure the hood/helmet would see plenty of action. You'd have tons of folks standing in torrents of falling glass and debris, dangling in the wind. |
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See link for ultralight aircraft parachute system. While this would have plenty of it's own problems, I think I'd do just as well with this. |
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I can just see it - belt yourself to your chair, point the rocket at the window, pull the handle - BOOM ! |
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You, the chair, and the window are outside, and the chute opens.....ouch. |
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Kind of makes base jumping look safe. |
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