Cable rescue apparatus and method

Abstract

A high-rise building rescue system utilizing a single suspension cable and self-propelled gondola. The cable is peeled from the building side with a motorized vehicle and anchored at a pre-determined ground location. A support vehicle with an attached gondola is dispatched to the pre-determined ground location. The gondola is attached to the cable and moves to an upper floor of the high-rise building utilizing a cable traction mechanism.

1 . A transport system comprising: 
 a. a container with means for causing traction;    b. a base location with means for anchoring;    c. means for suspending a cable from an elevated location through said means for causing traction to said base location;    d. wherein said means for causing traction moves said container up said cable.    
   
   
       2 . A transport system as defined by  claim 1  wherein said means for suspending a cable is non-detaching.  
   
   
       3 . A transport system as defined by  claim 1  wherein said means for causing traction is linear.  
   
   
       4 . A transport system as defined by  claim 1  wherein said means for suspending a cable includes a pilot cable and a suspension cable.  
   
   
       5 . A transport system as defined by  claim 1  wherein said means for anchoring includes a street ground anchor.  
   
   
       6 . A transport system as defined by  claim 1  wherein said means for suspending a cable includes means for adjusting said cable length.  
   
   
       7 . A transport system as defined by  claim 6  wherein said means for adjusting said cable length includes sensing of said cable tension.  
   
   
       8 . A transport system as defined by  claim 1  wherein said container includes cable support adjustment.  
   
   
       9 . A transport system as defined by  claim 1  wherein said elevated location includes a building spool brake.  
   
   
       10 . A transport system comprising: 
 a. a base location;    b. an elevated location;    c. a cable suspended from said elevated location to said base location;    d. a container;    e. a vehicle for moving said container to said base location;    f. a traction apparatus for moving said container up said cable.    
   
   
       11 . A transport system as defined by  claim 9  wherein said cable is non-detaching.  
   
   
       12 . A transport system as defined by  claim 9  further including means for adjusting said cable length.  
   
   
       13 . A transport system as defined by  claim 9  wherein said container includes cable support adjustment.  
   
   
       14 . A transport system as defined by  claim 9  wherein said elevated location includes a building spool brake.  
   
   
       15 . A method of transport, the method comprising: 
 a. suspending a cable from an elevated location to a base location;    b. moving a container to said base location;    c. connecting said container to said cable; and    d. moving said container up said cable.    
   
   
       16 . A method of transport as defined by  claim 15  wherein said suspending a cable is non-detaching.  
   
   
       17 . A method of transport as defined by  claim 15  wherein said container includes a linear traction apparatus.  
   
   
       18 . A method of transport as defined by  claim 15  further comprising adjusting the length of said cable.  
   
   
       19 . A method of transport as defined by  claim 15  wherein said container includes cable support adjustment.  
   
   
       20 . A method of transport as defined by  claim 15  wherein said elevated location includes a building spool brake.