AU661577B2

AU661577B2 - Improvements relating to smoke aprons

Info

Publication number: AU661577B2
Application number: AU38759/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Henricus Marie Theodorus Veldhuizen
Original assignee: Colt International Licensing Ltd
Current assignee: Colt International Licensing Ltd
Priority date: 1992-05-23
Filing date: 1993-05-24
Publication date: 1995-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-24
Also published as: AU3875993A; ATE141813T1; ES2092226T3; EP0572200B1; EP0572200A1; SG46718A1; DE69304255D1; DE69304255T2; DE4217169C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a smoke apron for subdividing and/or channelling smoke and fumes in buildings such as for example industrial structures, shopping centres and the like, particularly in the event of fire, the apron comprising a housing 2, 3, 4, 5 extending along a subdividing or channelling line, the housing 2, 3, 4, 5 supporting an apron sheet 7 which preferably consists of a woven fabric, is adapted to be weighted, and which is capable of being raised and lowered. In order to be able to lower the apron an electric motor drive 9 used to raise the apron can be subjected to a holding voltage by a measured value processing means 9.1 just sufficient to support the apron in its starting position inside the housing 2, 3, 4, 5. When there is a short fall in the holding voltage, the apron 7 can overcome the holding action of the electric motor drive 9 and move into its extreme lowered position by the action of gravity and with the assistance of weight. <IMAGE>

Description

P/00/011

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

::TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant COLT INTERNATIONAL LICENSING LIMITED '.*Actual Inventor. VELDHUIZEN, Henricus Marie Theodorus A'ddress for Service: CALLINAN LAWRIE, 278 High Street, Kew, 3101, Victoria, Australia Invention Title: IPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SMOKE APRONS" .The following statement is a full description of tbl3i invention, including the best method of p~erforming it known to me:- 1la IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SMOKE APRONS The invention relates to smoke sprons for subdividing and/or channelling smoke and fumes in and around buildings such as for example industrial structures, shopping centres and the like, particularly in the event of fire, and concerns such an apron having a housing extending along a sub-dividing or channelling line, the housing supporting an apron sheet capable of being raised and lowered.

1Smoke aprons of the aforementioned type are used in relatively large buildings such as shopping centres so that when smoke and fumes develop, for example in the event of fire, it is possible to prevent the smoke and fumes spreading over extensive areas inside the building or in the case of a covered structure outside the interior of the 15 building to prevent too great a lateral spread of a rising column of smoke resulting in an undesired degree of smoke logging under the covered structure. As smoke and fumes spread inside the building, the smoke cools down on parts of the structure or fittings, resulting in a loss of thermal updraught. This gives rise to a circulating pattern of flow of smoke billowing within the confines of the building so that it is no longer possible to recognise escape and rescue routes; and toxic fumes can cause death from asphyxiation.

A smoke apron as described at the outset, with an apron sheet which is supported in a building in such a way that it can be rolled up, is known from British Patent No.

22 108 839. In its rolled-up starting condition, the apron is fitted into a housing formed by a suspended ceiling having a throughway. In this starting position, a weight fitted along the lower edge of the apron closes off the ceiling gap which provides the throughway. The apron is guided at its side edges in channels. The apron can be rolled up and down, the roll-up drive being provided by an electric motor. The apron is prevented from rolling down by an electromagnetic device which is generally coupled to 15 a fire alarm so that its operation is controlled and so that when the fire alarm responds the electromagnetic device releases the apron into its extreme unrolled position. However, in the event of a fire, if the power supply fails, the functional reliability of this smoke S: 20 apron is no longer assured. Since the electromagnetic device is fitted with magnetic parts and end contacts, corrosion and dirt can adversely affect its functional reliability, particularly since such smoke aprons usua,7 y remain in their rolled-up starting position for a very long time.

-3- The object of the invention is to provide a smoke apron which mitigates this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a smoke apron for sub-dividing and/or channelling smoke and fumes in and around buildings such as for example industrial structures, shopping centres and the like, particularly in the event of fire, the apron comprising a housing to extend along a sub-dividing or channelling line, the housing supporting an apron sheet capable of being raised and lowered, wherein an electric motor drive for supporting the apron in its starting position within the housing may be Maat Cd#Pi( subjected to a holding voltage by a A meaur-- value procoesing moans- and, when there is a short fall in the holding voltage, the apron can, under its own weight and gravity, move into its extreme lowered position, the lowering of the apron being controlled by the electric motor drive.

Preferably, the electric motor drive consists of a direct current motor and, when a given motor current is e, ,eeded, the motor voltage can be adjusted by the Slctronic ma eur "dvalue processing moane to a motor voltage corresponding to the holding voltage.

Conveniently, the electric motor drive is constructed as a tubular motor disposed in a roller for the apron.

4 Preferably, the electric motor drive is connected to a tubular roller for the apron by planetary gearing.

Where a smoke apron according to the invention is concerned, the electric motor drive is only used for supporting the apron in its starting position so that in the event of a fire the apron is brought into its extreme lowered position -y its own weight, possibly with the assistance of an auxiliary weight. When the electric motor drive propels the apron from its extreme lowered position into its retracted starting position, the drive encrunters a resistance when the apron reaches the retracted position, an electronic control circuit beinj able to detect the resistance by the increase in motor current. When a given motor current level is exceeded, the control arrangement 15 switches the motor voltage over to a pre-determinable holding voltage which guarantees that the apron is reliably held in the housing. No end contacts or magnetic parts which are subject to the risk of becoming dirty are required. In the case of a total power failure, the apron 20 automatically drops into its lowered working position under its own weight. During the downwards movement, the apron acts on the electric motor drive so that it is lowered into the envisaged working position at a constant speed.

Therefore, the possibility of any damage to objects or even persons who happen to be under the apron which is being lowered, is reliably obviated.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of two adjacent apron portions of one embodiment of smoke apron according to the invention, showing the area of overlap; Figs. 2 to 4 are perspective detail views of embodiments of housing parts with associated apron portions for making up smoke aprons according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic broken-away cross-sectional view of a smoke apron according to the invention assembled from a plurality of apron portions with 0.

S 15 associated housing parts; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a tubular roller of an apron portion with an ~integrated tubular motor, and Fig. 7 is a view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, 20 taken on the line VII-VII in Fig. 6.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings, the examples of a smoke apron which are shown serve to break up or sub-divide smoke and fumes in buildings but may also be used also to channel smoke developing in an area outside but adjacent to a building in order for instance to keep -6- 6 4e 6 escape doors from the building clear of developing smoke.

The smoke apron generally designated 1 in the drawings consists of woven fabric and is intended to be installed under ceilings 4.n buildings or under balconies in buildings or their breast work. The smoke apron comprises housing parts 2, 3, 4 (Fig. 2, Fig. 5) and housing parts 5, 6 (Fig.

3, Fig. 4) which have to be assembled on the modular or unit construction principle to provide a finished smoke apron 1 of virtually any length along a sub-division or 10 channelling line. Provided inside each individual housing part 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 is an apron portion 7 and each portion is disposed on a separate roller 8 with an electric motor drive 9 so that it can be rolled up and down.

As can be seen particularly also from the 15 diagrammatic view of Fig. 1, the adjacent longitudinal edges 10 of adjacent apron portions 7 overlap by the amount X which ought expediently to be at least 80 mm. At the bottom end edges of the apron portions 7 there are weights which, in the closed condition of the apron portions 7, 20 close off the thiroughway 11 (Figs. 2 to The throughway 11 and the weight 12 of each apron portion 7 are of matching cross-section so that the individual housing parts 2 to 5 are closed from the under side by the weights which are aligned flush when the apron portions 7 are rolled up.

As can be seen from Figs. 2 to 4, the smoke apron 1 6*66 6r 4 S S 6 7 as a whole is designed on the modular or unit construction principle. The individual housing parts 2 to 5 have, in each case, adjacently disposed housing boxes 13, 14, in the middle plane of division of which the throughway 11 is located. It is in this plane of division, too, that the apron por, is unrolled, the apron being positively guided between the housing boxes 13, 14 as it is unrolled and re-rolled.

As can also be seen from Figs. 2 and 5, the individual rollers 8 and also the housing boxes are so provided that the adjacent apron portions 7 with their overlapping longitudinal edge portions can be raised and lowered with positive guidance. To this end, alternate pairs of housing boxes 13 and 14 are made to a shorter and 15 longer construction, respectively, and any desired smoke apron length can be created. Similarly, the individual rollers 8 which are of the same or different lengths are provided alternately in and made to fit 'he housing box 14 and the housing box 13. The result is that the respective 20 apron portions 7 with their separate rollers 8 are disposed in the housing so that they overlap each other in a longitudinal direction but with the rollers offset in the horizontal direction by 1800 with respect to the longitudinal centre line of the housing.

The apron portions 7 can be held by electric motor 8 drives in their rolled-up starting position in the housing.

As will be seen in greater detail from Figs. 6 and 7, each roller 8 consists of an octagonal housing shell comprising flat portions 8.1 and is hollow on the inside. Inside the housing and constructed as a direct current motor is a Cor MO-or COVra' tubular motor 9 with an electronic controlA unit The roller is adapted to be driven by the tubular motor 9 through a planetary gearing 8.2. The electronic control unit 9.1 is coupled to a fire alarm, not shown in detail.

In addition, however, the tubular roller can also be actuated manually. Firstly, the tubular motor 9 rolls its apron portion 7 up out of its extreme lowered position and V0 onto the octagonal roller. The apron portion arrives in its starting position inside the housing and its weight, 15 attached along its lower edge, closes off the throughway 11. When this happens, the tubular motor 9 encounters a resistance, whereupon the motor current increases. Since the electronic control unit 9.1 compares the applied motor current with a desired motor current, when this desired 20 value is exceeded, the motor voltage is cut down to a level which makes it possible for the tubular motor 9 to hold the apron portion 7 securely in the starting position inside the housing. When the fire alarm responds, the electronic control unit controls the motor voltage so that it moves to a level below the holding voltage so that the apron portion 9 7 is extended from the housing under its own weight. While this is happening, the tubular motor is moved at the same time so that the apron web is unrolled evenly in a controlled fashion. This even unrolling also takes place in cases where there is a complete failure of the power supply.

Attention is directed to our Australian patent application filed concurrently with the present application and claiming International Convention priority from German (76patent application P 42 5.

patent application P 42 11i7-.9.

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Claims

1. A smoke apron for sub-dividing and/or channelling smoke and fumes in Pnd around buildings, the apron comprising a housing to extend along a sub- dividing or channelling line, the housing supporting an apron sheet capable of being raised and lowered, wherein an electric motor drive for supporting the apron in its starting position within the housing is subjected to a holding voltage by a motor control unit and, when there is a short fall in the holding voltage, the apron can, under its own weight and gravity, move into its extreme lowered position, the lowering of the apron being controlled by the electric motor drive.

2. An apron according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor drive consists of a direct current motor and, when a given motor current is exceeded, the motor voltage can be adjusted by the motor control unit to a motor voltage SO. correspoiding to th'e holding voltage.

3. A smoke apron according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric motor drive is constructed as a tubular motor disposed in a roller for the apron. •o g *o *oo o•* oo 24/5/95JB38759.NP.10 11

4. A smoke apron according to any preceding claim, wherein the electric motor drive is connected to a tubular roller for the apron by a planetary gearing. A smoke apron substantially as any one of the specific embodiments hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. DATED this 24th day of May 1993. COLT INTERNATIONAL LICENSING LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE I2 4 e V 0 12 ABSTRACT: The invention relates to a smoke apron for sub- dividing and/or channelling smoke and fumes in buildings such as for example industrial structures, shopping centres and the like, particularly in the event of a fire, the apron comprising a housing 2, 3, 4, 5 extending along a sub-dividing or channelling line, the housing 2, 3, 4, supporting an apron sheet 7 which preferably consists of a woven fabrie, is adapted to be weighted, and which is Scapable oE being raised and lowered. In order to be able to lower the apron an electric motor drive 9 used to raise the apron can be subjected to a holding voltage by a measured value processing means 9.1 just sufficient to S* support the apron in its starting position inside the housing 2, 3, 4,

5. When there is a short fall in the :15 holding voltage, the apron 7 can overcome the holding action of the electric motor drive and move into its extreme lowered position by the action of gravity and with the assistance of weight (Fig.

6).