Abstract: Disclosed is a method of drawing a metal wire to a specified diameter using a continuous dry drawing apparatus including a plurality of die units disposed in series, each of the die unit being composed of a dry lubricant unit for applying a dry lubricant on the surface of a metal wire and a die provided on the downstream side of the dry lubricant unit, the method comprising an intermediate coating process of forming a coating film on the surface of the metal wire for enhancing the picking-up of a dry lubricant for subsequent die-drawing, in at least one of the spaces between adjacent die units. With this method, seizure of the die is prevented and the drawing speed is significantly enhanced.

Abstract: An escape device for lowering an escapee trapped in the upper stories of a burning building, including a cylindrical casing in which is mounted a rotatable drum having a wire wound therearound with one end attached thereto. The casing is provided with an escapee-supporting member mounted externally thereto and a feed-through hole by which the other end of the wound wire exits the casing and can be secured to the building. The drum is provided with a gear on the inner peripheral surface thereof, which gear is in meshing engagement with a reduction gear unit also supported within the casing. One gear of the reduction gear unit is mounted on a shaft which also has mounted thereon a brake disc member.

Abstract: An escape device for use in tall buildings wherein an endless ladder-type chain driven around a plurality of chain sprockets is mounted on a movable platform and lowered over the side of a building to enable escape to ground level from a burning building. The endless ladder chain is compactly stored when not in use in a housing which includes a pair of inclined rod-like support members by which the endless chain under the force of gravity is slidingly dispensed from the chain housing to the sprocket assembly.