The FoxxHole™ System currently comes in three different chute lengths, with each size fully adjustable to accommodate a range of working platform heights.

Single: 6m – 14m (20’ – 46’)
Double: 15m – 24.5m (49’ – 80’)
Triple: 26m - 37m (85’ – 121’)

N.B. - Custom chute lengths are available up to 79m (250’) for special applications, e.g., refinery or gas plant towers. Also, shorter ones may be engaged for relatively low, but critical applications.

The Foxxhole™ System is anchored to a rig by a wire cable with a working load of at least 2273 kg (5,000 lbs). The cable is secured to an anchor point at the crown of the rig (Fig. 2) and travels down toward the top of the evacuation door at the rear of the racking board (Fig 3). The cable then runs through a deflection point at the top of the rear egress door. At this point, it serves as a structural working load connection to a sheave assembly and to anchor the chute’s launch frame while in its static work mode. The deflection system translates the majority of vertical structural loads into the crown of the derrick.

A universal adapter flange is welded or similarly secured to the rear underside of the frame of the racking board, where a locking coupler joint attaches to the Foxxhole™ System launch frame to the rig.

Snubbing platforms and/or similar elevated work spaces employ an alternate anchoring framework, structurally engineered to take up the working loads of the Foxxhole™ System at the connection point.

The escape system is raised with, and supported by, two working lines of advanced composite fiber rope. This type of rope is stronger than wire rope of the same size, and possesses excellent resistance to abrasion, UV, chemical and acid degradation. Within the chute system, these ropes are located beneath the fire resistant layers and suitably protected from thermal damage. This suspension design allows the weight of the chute and launch frame to be equally distributed between the rig’s crown and the ground-based anchoring trailer.

The chute assembly is raised and lowered via two winches working in tandem. One winch is utilized for its upward deployment, extending the “spine line”. Conversely, the other winch controls the “trajectory line”, which defines the chute angle of descent and provides for the system’s retraction into the self-contained anchor-trailer module.

After the launch frame and chute assembly are raised to the work platform, a male-female connection is latched and a safety pin installed. Four stabilizer handrails are secured between the system’s launch frame, at user entryway, and the hand railings of the work platform; stabilizing the system’s upper frame and acting as safety handrails in turn.

A final anchoring assembly is attached from the crown anchor line at the top of the doorway to the rear of the of the system launch frame. The spine line is relaxed and the trajectory line adjusted to set the desired angle of chute slope for system use. The winch assemblies are then locked out of service and the two lines become static support members; primary and secondary.

In service, the system defines a catenary curve to provide proper chute trajectory for passive user egress. Accordingly, the angle of descent decreases from top to bottom, becoming virtually horizontal. At the base, a hammock-like cradle provides a secure and safe termination point.

< BACK