Abstract: A fire escape device having a housing and cable drum rotatable therein with a cable connected thereto and extending from the housing for connection with a supporting structure with the housing being connected to a person descending from an upper floor of a building or the like during an emergency situation such as a fire with an automatic brake mechanism controlling the rate of descent of such a person by applying a braking force to a rotatable component geared to the cable drum for controlling unreeling movement of the cable.

Abstract: Systems are described involving (i) a plurality of columns disposed around the object to be lifted, each column having a rack extending longitudinally along one side thereof (ii) means for carrying the object (iii) means keeping the columns upright during lifting and supporting operations (iv) means at the base of the columns to keep them from sinking in the terrain (v) a jacking system on each column and connected to (ii) so that the object can be raised in step-by-step fashion by means of a rack and pawl system and (vi) driving means to operate the jacking systems either in unison or individually as desired. Building modules or the like are raised and held in place by the system while a permanent supporting structure is placed, erected or constructed thereunder.