WO2000078397A1

WO2000078397A1 - Method and apparatus for rescuing people from multistorey building fires

Info

Publication number: WO2000078397A1
Application number: PCT/FI1999/000524
Authority: WO
Inventors: Orvo GRÖNROOS
Original assignee: Muo-Met Ky
Priority date: 1999-06-15
Filing date: 1999-06-15
Publication date: 2000-12-28
Also published as: AU4785299A; EP1216077A1

Abstract

A device and method for rescuing people from a burning multistoried building, whereby a rescue rope (10) and fastening hook (8) are conveyed upwards from below, into the vicinity of the person to be rescued (1) with the use of an extending telescoping cylinder (6). When the fastening hook is locked in place on the multistoried building (15), for example, on the railing (2) of a balcony (16), a rescue basket (12) is raised with a rescue rope up to the person being rescued. The person is lowered in the rescue basket with the rope to the ground. The telescoping cylinders can be operated, either as a single cylinder or in pairs, either hydraulically or pneumatically. The cylinders can be operated with a water pump or compressed-air tank, for example.

Description

Method and apparatus for rescueing people from multistorey building fires

The present invention relates to a method for rescuing people from a burning multistoied building. In the event of a fire, or under other catastrophic circumstances, it is generally not possible for trapped people to escape from multistoried buildings by means of the normal evacuation routes, such as via the stairway. Thus, building residents are often not able to be rescued, because most apartments in multistoried buildings do not have any kind of escape routes or rescue equipment in them. This being the case, rescue workers must rescue the people via a balcony or window. Thus, a rope, rescue chute, life net, air bag, or elevator-frame vehicle can be used as rescue equipment. All of these types of rescue equipment, however, have drawbacks and limitations, which always prevent them from being used in some situations.

A ground-supported ladder can be used when rescuing a person trapped at a relatively low level. Thus, the evacuee can climb down the ladder by him/herself, or the rescuer is able to help the evacuee descend the ladder. With the help of ladders, however, generally a height of only approximately 12 meters can be reached. Furthermore, evacuation with ladders at this height can be difficult, due to the swaying of the ladder.

For evacuations from higher levels, a rope can be used, but this too has difficulties associated with it. In general, the rescuer must ascend to the evacuee carrying the rescue rope. This seldom succeeds when carried out from outside of the building, and it is often neady impossible to do by going through the burning building. The rescuer goes to the level where the evacuee is, and the rescue rope is tied around the evacuee and the rescuer lowers the escapee to the ground. Thus, the rescuer must at least be on the same level as the escapee. The rescuer also must be able to withstand being in the burning building for as long as it takes to lower the escapee to the ground. The rescuer can only descend to safety after the escapee.

The rescue chute must also be brought up to the level of the escapee in the multistoried building. After this, the upper end of the chute is tied to the railing of the balcony, for example, such that the mouth of the chute remains open and the end part of the chute is lowered to the ground. The escapee drops down into the top of the chute and when the escapee is inside, he/she can decrease the speed of descent by spreading out his/her hands and knees powerfully against the inner sides of the chute. The problem with using the rescue chute is that the controlled and safe descent in the chute requires both bravery and a knowledge of the special braking technique on the part of the escapee. A further disadvantage is that the rescue chute stretches out when it is being used. Thus, after several descents, braking becomes difficult, and descent ultimately becomes dangerous.

When evacuating from a building by jumping down from high levels, a life net or air bag is used, on top of which the escapee jumps. The life net is made of particularly strong material, around the outer edges of which a rope, or other type of ring appropriate for grasping, is attached for grasping. The net is spread out on the ground beneath the escapee, and a sufficient number of rescue workers hold the net above the surface of the ground. The life net must be pulled so tight, that it will catch the escapee, such that the escapee will not hit the ground.

The air bag is a flexible escape device filled with air, which is placed beneath the escapee on the surface of the ground. When the air bag is filled with air, the escapee jumps on it. The life net and air bag, the landing surface area of which is approximately 12 m², are still so small in size, that landing on them, especially when jumping from high places, is difficult. Furthermore, landing on them in the wrong position is also very dangerous.

With an elevator frame vehicle, evacuation is carried out, such that the vehicle is driven underneath the escapee and is supported by hydraulic stabilisers in the most stable horizontal position possible. Then the hydraulically operated platform is raised up to the escapee. The escapee is assisted onto the platform, after which the platform and the escapee are lowered down. However, there are many multistoried buildings, beneath the balconies of which an elevator frame vehicle cannot be used. There may be restricted yard space, or natural obstructions, whereupon the vehicle cannot be driven close enough. The yard area may also be too weak to bear the weight of a big elevator frame vehicle. In any event, working with an elevator frame vehicle is also time-consuming, because the vehicle is large in size and slow and awkward due to its weight.

One major problem, is that today nearly all Finnish municipalities have multistoried buildings, but only some of the municipalities have the resources to obtain rescue equipment, such as an air bag or an elevator frame vehicle. They are so expensive that only wealthy municipalities can afford them. An object of this invention is to provide a new and effective method for rescuing people from a burning multistoried building. It is characteristic to a rescue method according to the invention that a fastening element is conveyed into the vicinity of the escapee with the help of a lifting apparatus, and the fastening element is mounted to the structure of the multistoried building, and that the escapee is lowered down with the help of a rescue receptacle which is attached to the fastening element. With a rescue device according to the invention, people can conveniently be rescued and lowered down to the ground from a high place, such as from upper floors in a multistoried building, via the window or balcony.

Another object of this invention is a new rescue device, which is characterised in that the rescue device comprises a lifting apparatus, whereby the fastening element, which is to be mounted to the multistoried building structure, can be conveyed into the vicinity of the escapee, along with the rescue receptacle attached to the fastening element, whereby the escapee is lowered down.

A device according to the invention is more effective and quicker to use than conventional devices, and it provides a better solution for the rescue of people trapped in multistoried buildings. The invention can also be used in especially small spaces. Furthermore, it is easy to transport to the site. The entire device can be carried to the site in one trip by two rescue workers. Additionally, preparing the device for use can be done very quickly. Thus, a device according to the invention can easily be added as equipment to all fire fighting, equipment and rescue vehicles, because the operation of the device is not necessarily dependent upon the vehicle or equipment on the vehicle.

The invention will now be explained in detail using examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a frontal view of a multistoried building, on the balcony of which is an escapee.

Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1 and illustrates a frontal view of a balcony of a multistoried building, to which an embodiment of a rescue device according to the invention has been mounted. Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the balcony of the multistoried building in Figure 2 and the rescue device in the first phase of the rescue.

Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 2 and illustrates the balcony of a multistoried building and the rescue device in the second phase of the rescue, wherein the device and its rescue basket have been made ready to rescue the person on the balcony. Figures 5-8 correspond to Figure 2, and illustrate the different phases of the rescue process for rescuing a person from the balcony of a multistoried building. Figure 9 illustrates the structure of the rescue device in the phase during which it i s in the process of being mounted to its target point. Figure 10 illustrates the phase of the rescue device in Figure 9, in which it is being mounted to its target point and the lifting apparatus is being detached. Figure 11 illustrates a second embodiment of the rescue device, in which the fastening element is a scissor gripping device.

Figure 12 illustrates the rescue basket of the rescue device, as viewed diagonally from the side and above. Figure 13 illustrates the bottom part of the telescoping cylinder according to a third embodiment. Figure 14 illustrates the telescoping cylinder of the rescue device according to a third embodiment.

Figure 1 illustrates a multistoried building 15, on the balcony 16 of which is an escapee 1 waiting for the rescue process to begin. Figure 2 illustrates a lifting apparatus, which comprises lifters 17 and 18, which raises hooks 8 and 9 up to the balcony 16 of the multistoried building 15, and the hooks are mounted to the railing pipe 2 on the upper edge of the front wall 3 of the balcony 16. The lifters 17 and 18 of the rescue device comprise stabilisers 4 and 5, which sit on the ground 32, and the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7 which are part of the stabilisers. The hooks 8 and 9 also comprise stabilisers 19 and 20, which steady the device against the front wall 3 of the balcony 16.

Hoisting ropes 10 and 11, with which the rescue basket 12 is lifted up and which are attached to the hooks 8 and 9, are raised simultaneously with the hooks 8 and 9 up to the balcony 16. Figure 2 shows that hoisting ropes 10 and 11 are threaded through eyelets 21 and 22 which are at the ends of the arms 25 and 26 of the hooks 8 and 9, such that both ends of both hoisting ropes 10 and 11 are on the ground 32. The rescue basket 12, made of a net-like material and shown in Figure 2 in a pile on the ground 32, is connected to the ends of the hoisting ropes 10 and 11. However, when it is raised up, it opens up, as is seen later in Figures 4-8.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the rescue equipment in Figure 2. The telescoping cylinder 6, which is connected to the lifter's 17 stabiliser 4, which sits on the ground 32, raises the hook 8, pictured in Figure 3 mounted to the balcony 16 railing pipe 2, to the balcony 16 of the multistoried building 15. The stabiliser 19, fixed to the hook 8, steadies the device against the front wall 3 of the balcony 16, such that the hoisting rope 10, threaded through the eyelet 21 on the end of the arm 25 of the hook 8, stays a distance away from the front wall 3 of the balcony 1 . In the figure, both ends of the hoisting rope 10, which has been threaded through the eyelet 21, are on the ground 32, and the rescue basket 12 is connected at the other end of the rope.

A water hose 23 and water pump 24 are connected to the lift's telescoping cylinder 6, shown in Figure 3. The lifting apparatus is used, such that hydrostatic pressure is lead through the water hose 23 to the telescoping cylinder 6, whereupon the cylinder sleeves within the cylinder push out, lifting the hook 8 on their terminal end, up to the railing pipe 2 on the balcony 16 of the multistoried building. The water hose 23 and water pump 24 can also be separate from the device, but in that case it is advantageous to use, for example, standard equipment on the fire fighting vehicles of the fire department. The source of the pressurised water needed for the telescoping tube 6 can also be a fire hydrant, for example. The sleeves in the telescoping cylinder 6, however, also work with air pressure, so that the source of the working pressure can also be a compressed-air bottle equipped with a pressure regulator, for example.

Preparation for the actual rescue process is carried out, such that the equipment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 are brought to the rescue site, or to the point underneath the balcony 16 of the multistoried building 15, and the ends of the rescue ropes 10 and 11 are connected to fasteners on the rescue basket 12. The free ends of rescue ropes 10 and 11 are pulled through the eyelets 21 and 22 located on the ends of the amis 25 and 26 which extend out from the fastening hooks 8 and 9, and are temporarily tied to the stabilisers 4 and 5 of the lifters, for example. Then the fastening hooks 8 and 9 are connected with their connecting pieces to the ends of the innermost sleeves of the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7.

The lower end fasteners of the lifting apparatuses' telescoping cylinders 6 and 7 are pushed into their counterparts, which have bearings, on stabilisers 4 and 5, which have been made with bearings, after which the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7 are raised upwards and are directed to the rescue target, or in this example, the balcony 16 of the multistoried building 15, The lifting element stabilisers 4 and 5, which rest on the ground 32, can be made with spikes so that they will be anchored to the ground. Furthermore, the telescoping cylinders 6, 7 can be freely turned and can be at an incline in relation to the stabilisers 4 and 5. The telescoping cylinders 6 and 7 can also be fastened, such that they are locked in place in the desired position.

After the water hose 23 is connected to the telescoping cylinders' 6 and 7 hose coupling 27, pressurised water is pumped by the pump 24 up into the connection hose 23. When the regulating valves 28 of the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7 are opened, the water pressure pushes the pipe inside the cylinders 6 and 7 out. The height to which the pipe is extended is regulated by closing the valve once the lifting apparatus has reached the appropriate height. Then the fastening hooks 8 and 9 can be mounted by hitting them against the railing pipes 2 of the balcony 16.

When the regulating valves 28 of the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7 are closed, the water drains from the cylinders and they begin to retract back inside themselves. The cylinder sleeves of the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7 detach from the fastening hooks 8 and 9, which remain attached to the railing pipe 2 of the balcony 16, such that their stabilisers 19 and 20 steady the device against the front wall 3 of the balcony 16. Then the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7 can be retracted to the ground 32, or stabilisers 4 and 5 can be taken to the next rescue target, where new hooks are attached to the end's of the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7 for the next similar lifting and mounting process.

Figure 4 illustrates the next phase of the rescue process, in which the rescue basket 12 is raised up to just beneath the escapee 1 with the rescue ropes. Figure 4 illustrates only one rescue rope 10. The elevation of the rescue basket is determined by the elevation of the fastening hook's 8 arm and of the eyelet 21 in the end of it. When the rescue basket is at the right level, the free end of the rescue rope 10 is tied to a sufficiently stable point, such that the rope stays taut. Alternatively, the free end of the rope 10 can be held taut with manpower 30, as shown in Figure 4. In this case, several men would be needed for rope 10. In order to lighten the load, a pulley 13 can additionally be used on the rescue rope 10, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 illustrates a situation, in which the rescue basket 12 is below the balcony 16 of a multistoried building 15, and the escapee 1 jumps from the balcony into the hanging rescue basket 12. There are other ways to descend into the basket, but generally the only other alternative to jumping, is dropping into it, because since the rescue basket 12 is hanging, the frame pipe 29 at its mouth cannot be used for support. If the telescoping cylinders extend far enough, the fastening hook 8 can be fastened to the same balcony 16 railing pipe 2 from which the rescue is taking place, whereupon the distance that the escapee 1 must jump or drop is minimised to the distance of one floor, or approximately 2 meters.

The rescue ropes 10 and 11, which are used in the device must be strong and classified rescue ropes, the length of which is at least two times the fully-extended length of the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7. If the fully-extended length of the telescoping cylinder 6 and 7 is, for example, 18 meters, then both rescue ropes 10 and 11 must be at least 36 meters in length.

The arms 25 and 26 of the fastening hooks 8 and 9 are measured to be long enough that the rescue basket 12 can be conveyed all the way up without obstruction to the top opening of the basket. This makes it easier to drop into the basket. The top opening of the rescue basket 12 comprises a circular frame 29, which is made of metal piping and which has been cushioned with foam rubber or corresponding substance. The sides and bottom of the rescue basket 12 are made of vinyl fibres woven or knotted into a net, which must be strong enough to withstand the shock of sudden impacts, caused by jumping, without tearing.

At the same time, the net must also absorb as much of the impact of the fall as possible. The rescue basket 12 must also be ideally formed, such that it narrows towards the bottom and such that it is deep, so that the escapee cannot tumble out of the basket at any point. It is also good to include as wide cushioning 31 as possible at the bottom of the rescue basket 12, and to include, most advantageously, a light target mark in the centre of the cushioning to facilitate aiming when jumping into the basket.

Figure 6 illustrates a situation, in which the escapee 1 has jumped to the bottom of the rescue basket 12. Then the rescue basket 12 is lowered to the ground 32, at the appropriate and controlled speed, in the way shown in Figures 7 and 8. Controlling the speed of descent can only be done using manpower 30, or by using a pulley. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5-8, the rescue rope 10 is lead further through a special braking device 13.

When the escapee 1 reaches safety on the ground surface, and he is taken out of the rescue basket 12, the rescue basket 12 can be hoisted up again and the rescue process can be repeated as many times as necessary to get all of the endangered people down. A rescue device according to the invention can also be used, such that the fastening hooks 8 and 9 can be mounted relatively quickly to many places with the telescoping cylinders 6 and 7. Subsequent to this, the actual rescue processes can be carried out with one or more rescue baskets in order of urgency. The fastening hooks need not be removed immediately; they can be left in place. Removing the hooks from the railings, or other places, can be done later when it is safe to go into the building.

Figure 9 illustrates the more detailed structure of the rescue device in a situation, in which a rescue device according to the invention is being mounted to a railing 2 of a balcony 16. The figure shows that the lifting apparatus 17 comprises the fastening hook arm 25, which is connected by a collar 33 on the top end of the telescoping cylinder 6. The collar 33 is measured, such that it fits around the uppermost telescoping sleeve 6c of the telescoping cylinder. There is also a small protruding pin 38 fixed onto this telescoping sleeve 6c, and the collar 33 has a hole 40 in which the pin fits, which together prevent the collar and fastening hook arm 25 from turning.

There is a turning joint 34 in between the collar 33 and the fastening hook arm 25, which enables the fastening hook arm to be positioned almost horizontally. Correspondingly, an actual fastening hook 8, which is turned into a nearly vertical position with turning joint 35, is fixed on the end of the fastening hook arm 25. Turning joints 34 and 35 are tight enough, or tightened, so that the fastening hook 8 and its arm 25 stay in the positions illustrated in Figure 9 for the time that the hook 8 is mounted.

Mounting the fastening hook 8 transpires such, that the fastening hook is raised up with the lifting apparatus 17 to the railing 2 of the first balcony 16. This occurs by opening the valve 28 of the lifting apparatus, whereupon pressurised water is released into the telescoping cylinder 6. When the valve 28 for the pressurised water is closed, the telescoping cylinder 6 and the fastening elements on its terminal end stay in place. The fastening hook 8 then stops at the railing 2 of the balcony 16. Then, the telescoping cylinder 6 of the lifting apparatus 17 is inclined with a turning joint 36 towards the outer wall 3 of the balcony 16 to the railing 2. When the fastening hook 8 hits the balcony 16 railing 2, its closing clasp 39 opens and the fastening hook 8 is locked around the railing 2.

Figure 10 illustrates the situation subsequent to that illustrated in Figure 9. The lifting apparatus 17 valve 28, which is a three-way valve, is opened. Thus, water can drain from the inside of the telescoping cylinder 6, and the telescoping sleeves come back down. Consequently, the collar 33 fixed to the fastening hook arm 25 is released from the terminal end of the telescoping sleeve 6c and the fastening hook 8 and its arm remain hanging from the balcony 16 railing 2. The fastening hook arm 25 turns thus, to some degree downwards until the stabiliser 19 is leaning against the front wall 3 of the balcony 16. When pulling the rope 10, the fastening hook 8 also turns by turning joint 35, such that the fastening hook 8 comes into line with the arm 25. Then the lifting apparatus 17 and its telescoping sleeve 6 can be moved to the next place, for example, to mount another fastening hook to another balcony railing.

The locking element on the balcony 16 railing 2 illustrated in Figure 10 comprises a fastening hook arm 25, in the end of which is an eyelet 21. By pulling the rope 10 through this eyelet 21 , the actual rescue device itself, which is a rescue basket 12 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, can be raised up. The use of the basket has already been illustrated in the preceding Figures 4-8.

Figure 11 illustrates another embodiment of a fastening part for a rescue device according to the invention, which comprises a scissor gripping device 37 in place of the fastening hook 8. The scissor gripping device 37 is raised up in the same way as the fastening hook to the escapee with the telescoping cylinder 6 and the collar 33. The figure shows that the scissor gripping device 37 can grab the balcony railing or a window frame, for example. The scissor gripping device 37 in Figure 11 can be firmly tightened on a balcony 16 railing 3 by tightening the rescue rope 10. The rescue device's actual rescue part, which is attached to the fastening part, can be rescue harnesses, for example, which are raised up to the escapee in exactly the same way as has been illustrated with the rescue basket.

Figure 12 illustrates a diagonal view of the rescue device's rescue basket 12. The figure shows that in this embodiment, there are fastening elements for two rescue ropes 10 and 11 fixed to the frame 29 of the rescue basket 12. In some cases, however, the rescue basket 12 can only be raised on one rescue rope.

Figure 13 illustrates a second embodiment for the rescue device, in which the telescoping cylinder 6 is double-acting. A pipe 41 leads to a coupling 43 on the bottom part of the telescoping cylinder 6, and correspondingly, a pipe 42 leads to a coupling 44 on the upper part of the telescoping cylinder from the valve 28b, which is designed for that purpose. When a hook, for example, is raised upwards using the rescue device, the pressurised water is lead through the hose coupling 27, valve 28b and pipe 41 to the bottom part of the telescoping cylinder 6, that is to say, the part below the piston inside of the telescoping cylinder. When the lift has been completed, the pipes in the telescoping cylinder 6 can descend by retracting inside one another. In the event that the telescoping cylinder 6 is in an inclined position, it is advantageous to also use pressurised water when lowering it, in order to alleviate friction between the retracting pipes. In this case, pressurised water is lead through the hose coupling 27, valve 28b and the pipe 42 to the upper part of the telescoping cylinder 6, or the part above the piston inside the telescoping cylinder.

Figure 14 illustrates the three-part telescoping cylinder 6 of the rescue device, which comprises the coupling 43 in the bottom part of the telescoping cylinder and the coupling 44 in the upper part of the telescoping cylinder. When the cylinder is extended and the inner sleeves are pushed out, the pressurised water is lead through the coupling 43 to the part of the telescoping cylinder 6 below the piston 45. Correspondingly, when the cylinder sleeves are retracted inside one another, pressurised water is lead through the coupling 44 to the part of the telescoping cylinder 6 above the piston 45. The illustration in Figure 14 shows the telescoping cylinder 6 in a partial cross-section, whereupon the necessary washers 46 and slip rings 47 inside the cylinders are visible.

Rescue equipment according to the invention is suitable for professional rescue teams as well as for use in multistoried building complexes. If the equipment is to be used in a multistoried building complex, it is possible to provide the residents of a building with brief training. One advantage in using the equipment, is that the telescoping cylinders can be operated by using the manual extinguishing water connection in the buildings. If necessary, a compressed-air bottle can also be obtained for the building complex for this purpose.

In the preceding illustrated examples, a rescue device is used to rescue a person from the balcony of a multistoried building. It is however evident, that by using different fastening hooks or equipment, the rescue device can be used in almost any situation. People can also be rescued, for example, through windows, in addition to from balconies.

As previously mentioned, rescue harnesses, or other devices, can be used in place of the rescue basket, in the event that use of the rescue basket is awkward for some reason. In one case, for example, two telescoping cylinders were used side by side, but in some cases, even just one lifting apparatus is enough. Thus, the invention is not at all limited in its number of lifting elements or rescue ropes. Correspondingly, some kind of sliding mechanism, which will yield the same extension, can be used in place of the telescoping cylinder. Furthermore, a cylinder, or corresponding element, is not limited to upwards movement; if necessary, it is also able move in other directions as well.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art, that this invention is not limited to the example previously illustrated, but that the different embodiments of the invention can vary according to the ideas defined for the invention in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for rescuing people from a burning multistoried building, characterised in that a fastening element (8, 9, 37) is conveyed into the vicinity of a person to be rescued (1) with a lifting apparatus (17, 18), which is mounted to the structures (16) of the multistoried building (15), and in that the person to be rescued (1 ) is lowered down by a rescue receptacle (12) which is fixed to the fastening element.

2. A rescue method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a lifting apparatus (17, 18) conveys a fastening element (8, 9, 37), and a rescue rope (10) connected to it, into the vicinity of a person to be rescued (1), after which a rescue receptacle (12) is raised up with the rescue rope.

3. A rescue method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a person to be rescued (1) is lowered down with a rescue rope (10), which is connected to a fastening element (8, 9, 37), and with a rescue basket (12) or rescue harnesses.

4. A rescue method as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, characterised in that a fastening element (8, 9, 37) is conveyed into the vicinity of a person to be rescued (1) with a telescoping cylinder (6, 7), and is mounted onto the structures of a multistoried building (15).

5. A rescue method as claimed in any of the claims 1to4, characterised in that a telescoping cylinder (6, 7) conveys a fastening hook (8, 9) or scissor gripping device (37), which is fastened to the structures of a multistoried building (15), such as a balcony (16) railing (2) or window frames, into the vicinity of a person to be rescued (1).

6. A rescue method as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a telescoping cylinder (6, 7) is operated using pressurised water or compressed air.

7. A rescue method as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 6, .characterised in that two telescoping cylinders (6, 7) are used to raise fastening hooks (8, 9) into the vicinity of the person to be rescued, which are then mounted onto structures of the multistoried building (15), such as a balcony (16) railing (2), after which the rescue ropes (10, 11), which are connected to the fastening hooks, are used to raise the rescue basket (12), which is then lowered again after the person being rescued has jumped into it.

8. A rescue device for rescuing people from burning multistoried buildings, characterised in that the rescue device comprises a lifting apparatus (17, 18), whereby a fastening element which is to be mounted onto the structures (16) of a multistoried building (15), is conveyed into the vicinity of the person to be rescued (1), as well as a rescue receptacle (12) connected to the fastening element, used for lowering the imperiled person.

9. A rescue device as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that a rescue rope (10), used to raise the rescue receptacle (12) into the vicinity of the person to be rescued (1), is connected to the fastening element (8, 9, 37), which is to be mounted to the structures (16) of a multistoried building (15).

10. A rescue device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the rescue receptacle (12) connected to a rescue rope (10), which is connected to a fastening element (8, 9, 37), is a rescue basket (12) or rescue harnesses.

11. A rescue device as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10, characterised in that the lifting apparatus (17, 18) comprises a telescoping cylinder (6, 7) which is operated with pressurised water or compressed air and which has a fastening element on the terminal end of its cylinder sleeve (6c), which has a fastening hook (8, 9) or scissor gripping device (37) which can be fastened when the fastening element has been raised into the vicinity of the person being rescued (1).

12. A rescue device as claimed in any of the claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the rescue device comprises two lifting elements (17, 18), which comprise two fastening stabilisers (4, 5) which sit on the ground (32) with two jointed telescoping cylinders (6, 7) connected to them, and fastening hooks (8, 9), which are raised by the two telescoping cylinders and to which are connected rescue ropes (10, 11), to which one rescue basket (12) is connected.

13. A rescue device as claimed in any of the claims 8 to 12, characterised in that a pulley or braking device (13) is connected to the rope (10, 11), in order to regulate the speed.

14. A rescue device as claimed in any of the claims 8 to 13, characterised in that the lifting element's fastening stabilisers (4, 5), which sit on the ground (32), are fixed to the telescoping cylinders (6, 7) with a turning joint (36) which enables the telescoping cylinder to be at an incline.

15. A rescue device as claimed in any of the claims 8 to 14, characterised in that the fastening hook (8, 9) comprises a stabilisers ( 9, 20) and arm (25, 26) for putting a distance between the fastening hole (21, 22) for the rope (10) and the wall (3) of the building (15).

16. A rescue device as claimed in any of the claims 8 to 15, characterised in that the telescoping cylinder (6, 7) of the lifting apparatus (17, 18) is double-acting, such that there is a coupler (43) inside it in the bottom part and another coupler (44) in its upper part for leading the pressurised substance to the parts above or below the piston (45).

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 16 October 2000 (16.10.00); original claims 1-4, 6, 8-10 replaced by amended claims 1 and 4; original claims 5, 7 and 1 1-16 renumbered (3 pages)]

1. A method for rescuing people from a burning multistoried building, according to the method a rescue receptacle (12) is conveyed with a lifting apparatus (17, 18) up into the vicinity of a person (1) to be rescued, and then the person to be rescued is lowered down with the rescue receptacle (12), c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that into the vicinity of a person to be rescued (1) is conveyed a fastening element (8, 9, 37), such as fastening hook together with a rescuing rope (10, 11) by a telescoping cylinder (6, 7) of the lifting apparatus (17, 18) driven by pressuπsed water or pressure air, that the fastening element (8, 9, 37) is mounted to the structures (16) of the multistoried building (15), preferably to the balcony railing (2), that the telescoping cylinder (6, 7) is released from the fastening element (8, 9, 37), that the rescue receptacle (12), such as a rescue basket or rescue harnesses is lifted up into the vicinity of a person to be rescued (1) with a rescue rope (10, 11) in connection with the fastening element (8, 9, 37), and in that the person to be rescued (1) is lowered down with the rescue receptacle (12) attached to the rescue rope (10, 11) hanging from the fastening element.

2. A rescue method as ciaimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a telescoping cylinder (6, 7) conveys a fastening hook (8, 9) or scissor gnpping device (37), which is fastened to the structures of a multistoried building (15), such as a balcony (16) railing (2) or window frames, into the vicinity of a person to be rescued (1)

3. A rescue method as claimed in claim or 2, . c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that two telescoping cylinders (6, 7) are used to raise fastening hooks (8, 9) into the vicinity of the person to be rescued, which are then mounted onto structures of the multistoried building (15), such as a balcony (16) railing (2), after which the rescue ropes (10, 11), which are connected to the fastening hooks, are used to raise the rescue basket (12), which is then lowered again after the person being rescued has jumped into it.

4. A rescue device for rescuing people from burning multistoried buildings, which rescue device includes a rescue receptacle (12) wherein the person to be rescued (1) is lowered down, and a lifting apparatus (17, 18) by which a rescue receptacle is conveyed into the vicinity of the person to be rescued, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the rescue device compπses a lifting apparatus (17, 18) having a telescoping cylinder (6, 7) driven by pressuπsed water or pressure air, a fastening element (8, 9, 37), which is to be mounted onto the structures (16) of a multistoried building (15), preferably to the balcony railing (2), is releasable from the lifting apparatus (17, 18) by a releasable connection element (33, 38, 40), a rescue rope (10, 11), which is in connection with the releasable fastening element

(8.9.37), and a rescue receptacle (12), such as a rescue basket or rescue harnesses, which is fixed to the rescue rope (10, 11), and by which the person to be rescued (1) is lowered down.

5. A rescue device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the lifting apparatus (17, 18) comprises a telescoping cylinder (6, 7) which is operated with pressurised water or compressed air and which has a fastening element on the terminal end of its cylinder sleeve (6c), which has a fastening hook (8, 9) or scissor gripping device (37) which can be fastened when the fastening element has been raised into the vicinity of the person being rescued (1).

6. A rescue device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the rescue device compnses two lifting elements (17, 18), which comprise two fastening stabilisers

(4, 5) which sit on the ground (32) with two jointed telescoping cylinders (6, 7) connected to them, and fastening hooks (8, 9), which are raised by the two telescoping cylinders and to which are connected rescue ropes (10, 11), to which one rescue basket (12) is connected.

7. A rescue device as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, characterised in that a pulley or braking device (13) is connected to the rope (10, 11), in order to regulate the speed

8 A rescue device as claimed in any of the claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the lifting element's fastening stabilisers (4, 5), which sit on the ground (32), are fixed to the telescoping cylinders (6, 7) with a turning joint (36) which enables the telescoping cylinder to be at an incline

9. A rescue device as claimed in any of the claims 4 to 8, characterised in that the fastening hook (8, 9) comprises a stabilisers (19, 20) and arm (25, 26) for putting a distance between the fastening hole (21, 22) for the rope (10) and the wall (3) of the building (15).

10. A rescue device as claimed in any of the claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the telescoping cylinder (6, 7) of the lifting apparatus (17, 18) is double-acting, such that there is a coupler (43) inside it in the bottom part and another coupler (44) in its upper part for leading the pressurised substance to the pan's above or below the piston (45).