CA1036425A - Fire vent - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A system for use in a building for venting a fire with-in the building. When a fire starts within a section of a high-rise building, smoke can spread throughout the building, or at least throughout an area of the building, and can cause a panic.
In order to permit the escape of smoke, the practice has been for firemen to break windows of the existing structure in order to vent the fire, thus allowing it to quickly burn out while dissipating the smoke generating from the smouldering fire.
Since the breaking of windows necessarily involves some danger and the clearing of people away from the immediate area before the windows are broken, there is a loss of time before venting can take place. Further, the breaking of the windows necessi-tates their replacement. Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for venting a building, the system comprising a first vent disposed at one floor of the building and including a fixed frame, a movable frame adapted to fit within the fixed frame when in a closed position, and panel means for insertion into the movable frame. The system also comprises means for pivotally securing the movable frame to the fixed frame, means for securing the movable frame to an open position, and latch means for maintaining the movable frame in the closed position.
A first release member is provided for releasing the latch means of the first vent to permit the movable frame to open to its open position. A second vent is disposed at another floor of the building and includes a fixed frame, a movable frame and a latch means. A second release member is disposed remote from the second vent for releasing the latch means of the second vent.

Description

The present invention relates in general to ~
vent for use in a building for venting a fire within the building. More particularly, the present invention is concern-ed with a pivotal wall vent that is normally secured in a closed position but that is releasable either manually or automatically to an open position for venting a fire within the building.
That this Application is a Division of Application Serial ~umber 194,573 Filed on March 11, 1974.
In many of the larger building now constructed, the basic structure of the building is essentially fireproof, but many time the contents that are stored in the building may not be fireproof. When a fire starts-within a section of the build-ing, smoke can spread throughout the building, or at least throughout an area of the building, and can cause a panic.
Many of these highrise buildings are also provided with air conditioning or heating ducts th~ ugh which at least the smoke can spread.
In order to alleviate this problem and permit the smoke to escape, in the past firemen have broken windows of the existing structure in order to vent the fire allowing it to quickly burn out, dissipating the smoke generated from the smoldering fire. One of the problems with breaking the windows is that there may be some danger involved and if the area outside of the building is to be cleared of people before the windows are broken, there is a loss of time before the venting can take place. It may take as longas 15 or 20 minutes to clear the area before the windows can be broken.
Also,once the window is broken, it is not easily or immediate-ly replaced. Moreover, the breaking of the window can only beaccomplished from the floor where the fire is, thus making it difficult to reach the area to break the windows especially ~3~425 if the fire is in the upper stories of the building.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a fire vent comprising a fixed frame and a pivotal frame that is normally retained in a closed position but which may be either manually released, electrically released, or released in response to the detection of heat or smoke.
A further object of the invention is to provide a fire vent in accordance with the preceding objects wherein ` the vent may be released to its open position manually from the story therebelow.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a framing system for use in a huilding and which is constructed as thin as possible, and yet contain all of the operating apparatus associated therewith.
To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a vent for a building for venting any fire that may occur in the building~ This vent comprises a fixed frame, a moveable frame adapted to fit within the fixed frame when in a closed position, means for pivotally securing the frames in interconnecting relationship, means for urging the moveable frame to an open position, latch means for maintaining the moveable frame in a closed position, and means for releasing the latch means to permit the moveable frame to move to its open position.
In one embodiment, each moveable frame has two latch release members associated therewith, one being disposed above the other. The lower latch member may be depressed to manually release the latch means and thereby permit the move-able frame to swing open. The upper latch release member is operable to release the latch means of a moveable frame in a story thereabove for operating that frame. A shock absorber 364;25 is suitably secured at either end to the fixed and moveable frames for permitting an easy, gradual opening when the latch means is released. The latch means may also be released auto-matically from a remote location or can be released in response to a temperature rise within the building, for example.
Another feature of this invention is that the tor-sion member used for biasing the vent open is preferably designed so that the vent will not open if the outside wind force is greater than some predetermined value corresponding to a predetermined wind velocity of say 30 MPH. With this design - criteria, the vent does not open unless the wind is below the predetermined velocity even though the vent is released.
Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the invention should now become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views taken, respectively, outside and inside the building and showing one arrangement for the fire vent of the present invention, Figure 3 is an outside perspective view showing an alternate arrangement for the fire vent of the present in-vention pivoting from the top;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the fire vent of Figs. 1 and 2 showing the structure in somewhat more detail;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional fragmentary view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional fragmentary view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 4;
Figure 7 shows the torsion bars of Fig. 4 in their released position;

~.03~25 Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through adjacent wall vents disposed on separate floors of a building showing the manner in which a wall vent is released from there-below;
Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the latch means of this invention showing an electrically operated means for releasing the latch means;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of another em-bodiment oE the invention partially in phantom with the vent hinged along a side edge;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a wall vent partially in phantom and similar in construction to the one shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 4 clearly indicating the operation of the release means for the wall vent;
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 11 showing a thinner frame cross-section than the one shown in Fig. 5, for example;
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 11; and Figure 14 is a perspective view of another arrange-ment for relasing the vent.
Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a vent constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention as viewed from outside of the building which is to be vented. Fig. 2 depicts the vent of Fig. 1 as viewed from inside the building. The vent generally comprises a fixed rectangular frame 10 which has a generally U-shaped cross-section as indicated in Fig. 5, for example, and a vent 12 including movable frame 13 and panel 14. Frame 13 also preferably has a U-shaped cross-section as indicated in Fig. 5, for example, and panel 14 which may be constructed of glass ~36425 or clear plastic is disposed therein. Figures 1 and 2 shown shock absorbers 15 and 16 suitably connected between frame 13 and frame 10. These shock absorbers enable a smooth openiny of the vent when it is released and also limit the full open ~ position thereof. The exact location and construction of these ; shock absorbers is discussed hereinafter with reference to - Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 2 also shows release members 17 and 18, which are disposed on frame 10. When the release member 18 is slid downwardly, the latch mechanism of the present invention is released and the vent is allowed to open under control of the shock absorbers. The upper release member 17, in one embodiment, is used to release a vent disposed in a story thereabove. This mode of operation is discussed in more detail hereinafter with reference to Figure 8.
In E'igures 1 and 2, the frame 13 is pivoted at its lower edge from frame 10. Alternatively, in the embodiment of Figure 3, which includes a fixed frame 19 and moveable frame 20, the fxame 20 is pivoted at its top edge from frame 19. The embodiment of Figure 3 may be substantially identical to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 wherein both frames have a substantially U-shaped cross-section. Figure 3 also shows a pair of shock absorbers 2L and 22 of Figures 1 and 2.
Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a cross-sectional view through the vent when in a closed position for the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 also shows the moveable frame in phantom in its open position with the shock absorber extended. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4 and clearly indicates the cross-sectional configuration of:the frame 10 and frame 13.
The frame 10 may be constructed of extruded aluminum and is arranged with a generally U-shaped cross-~(~36~Z5 section as indicated in Figure 5, having a base wall 25 with walls 26 and 28 extending vertically and integrally there-from. The frames 10 and 13 with their perpendicularly extend-ing walls define an elongated compartment 40 for containing the mechanisms of the present invention. A gasket 42 provides a seal between frame 10 and frame 13 and may suitably be secured to base wall 25 and perpendicular wall 28.
The frame 10 may be secured in any conventional or suitable manner to the building structure. Figure 6 shows one arrangement for connecting the outer periphery 29 of frame 10 to the building structure 31.
The panel 14, which is shown in Figure S as being constructed of a suitable insulating material such as glass, may be secured to frame 13 in the manner shown in Figure 5.
I'hus, the perpendicular wall 34 has a flange 35 extending in-wardly toward the center of the vent. A gasket or the like 37 may then be inserted between the outer periphery of panel 14 and flange 35. An L-shaped bracket 39 fits against the panel 14 and is secured to windowframe 13 by means of a fastener 41.
A cover panel 44 may be secured to windowframe 13, panel 14, and L-shaped brac~et 39 for providing a moreaesthetic appear-ance from the outside of the building.
The frame 13 is hinged at its bottom end 46 by means of a double torsion bar as depicted in Figure 7. This double Z-bar normally urges the window away from the frame as indicated in phantom in Figure 4. Patent No. 3,516,210, issued June 23, 1970, clearly indicates the manner in which this double Z-bar is used for tensioning a window or hatch to an open posltlon .
The bias hinge member shown in Figure 7 comprises a first Z-shaped bar 50, and a second Z-shaped bar 52. The -two Z-shaped bars are intercoupled by common connector members 54 and 56. The leg 50~,of bar 50, and leg 52A of bar 52 are contained within the U-shaped channel defined by frame 10, and the holding members 54 and 56 are suitably secured to the frame 10. The other arms, 50B and 52B of bars 50 and 52 respectively, are contained within the U-shaped channel defined in frame 13.
Figure 7 shows the bars in their relaxed position. However, when the window frame is moved to its closed position, the ends ; of the bars are urged toward each other and a tension is created tending to provide an opening force should the window be re-leased. However, when the window is closed, it is main~ained in a closed position by means of the latch mechanism 60, shown in Figure 4, and in a slightly larger view in Figure 9.
In Figure 4, for example, only one latch mechanism is shown and for some applications, one may be sufficient.
However, in a preferred embodiment such as the one shown in Figure 11, latch mechanisms are disposed on both sides of the vent.
The latch mechanism 60 comprises a hook-shaped member 62 pivotally supported at pivot point 6~ from the inner surface of frame 10 and engaging member 66, including a pin 68 for engaging with hook-shaped member 62. Member 66 is suitably secured to the inner surface 69 of wall 32 of windowframe 13 (see Fig. 6).
The member 62 is normally biased to the position shown in Figures 4 and 9 by means of a spring 70 which has one end engaged with the top surface 71 of the hook-shaped member and the other end urged against the inner surface 72 of frame 10. Spring 70 is wound about pivot point 64. When the window is closed, such as by being closed manually, the engaging pin 68 urges the hook-shaped member 62 upwardly and the engaging pin 68 becomes eventually seated behind lip 74 of member 62, . !

-- ` 10364Z5 thereby securing the vent in a closed position.
Regarding the torsion bar mechanism, it is pre-ferred that the torsion bar such as the one shown in Figure 7 be constructed so that for a given size panel the moveable frame will not open even after it is released if the outside wind velocity is above a given predetermined threshold level such as 30 MP~I, for example. This is a desirable feature of the invention in that if there are high winds outside of the building and a vent is permitted to open, then the fire could spread very rapidly throughout the entire building. The vents of the present invention are preferably designed so that even if a fireman did release a vent not realizing the direction of velocity of the wind, then the window would not open if the wind were above this predetermined velocity. Also, if the vent is open, it will close itself if the wind exceeds the predeter-mined velocity. For a given size panel, the diameter of the bars can be calculated depending upon the wind speed at which the vent closes. The angle of bend of the Z-bars is another design consideration taken into account in constructing the torsion bars.
For releasing the vent manually, there is pro-vided a release member 18 shown in Figure 4 and associated pulley which is suitably secured in a conventional manner from frame 10. The release member 18 includes a top flange 80 having a cable 82 secured thereto. The cable 82 extends ver-tically as depicted in Figure 4, extends about pulley 76, and is secured to aperture 84 (see Fig. 9) ofhook~shaped member 62.
When the member 18 is depressed downwardly, the cable 82 is drawn down causing the hook-shaped member to pivot against the tension of spring 70, thereby disengaging from pin 68. The tension provided by the arrangement shown in Figure 7, which is incorporated in the structure of Figure 4, causes the wlndow lW~;425 to pivot from its bottom end to its open position.
Figure 4 also shows the shock absorber 15 which is mounted in a conventional manner having a top bracket 88 secured to the inner surface of frame~l10, and a bottom bracket 90 ; secured to the inner surface of frame 13. This shock absorber ; may be of conventional design and as the latch mechanism is released by operation of member 18, the shock absorbers 15 and 16 cause the window to smoothly open. The shock absorbers also limit the final open position of the window.
Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a cross-sec-tional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 4 showing the frame 10 and frame 13 as being substantially the same as discussed previously with reference to Figure 5. Figure 6 also shows the pulley 76 and the latch mechanism 60 which have been discussed previously in detail with reference to Figure 4.
In accordance with another aspect of the present inven-tion, as previously mentioned with reference to Figure 2, each frame 10 has associated therewith two actuating or release members 17 and 18. The member 18 shown in Figure 2 is for releasing the vent associated with the frame, whereas the member 17 is for releasing a vent thereabove. The cross-sectional view of Figure 8 clearly indicates this manner-of operation. In Figure 8, there is shown a frame 10 and vent 12 disposed at a story 100 and a similar frame lOA and vent 12A disposed at a story 102 thereabove. Conventional building structure 104 may be disposed intermediate the horizontally arranged wall vents. Figure 8 shows a release member 17 associated with frame 10. Member 17 has a flange 106 for securing a cable 108 thereto. This cable couples through the structure 104 to a bottom flange 110 associated with release member 18A. Thus, when member 17 is depressed at story 100, the cable 108 is pulled downwardly causing release member 18A
to be depressed. This, in turn, causes the latching mechanism 36~ZS

associated with frame lOA and vent 12A to be released causing the vent 12A to open. This action could also have been caused by depression of release member 18A if access to that floor were possible.
Referring hOW to Figure 9, most of the components shown therein have been discussed in some detail previously with reference to Figure 4. The embodiment of Figure 9 comprises a pulley 79. A cable 87 couples from hook-shaped member 62 a about pulley 79 and down to an electrical solenoid 112. When this solenoid is operated, the cable 87 is pulled downwardly and the hook-shaped member 62 is released opening the window. This solenoid 112 may be actuated from the general area of the window or it can be actuated remotely such as from a control panel located in another portion of the building~
In Figures 10-13, similar reference characters previously used with respect to Figures 1-9 shall be used where appropriate. In Figures 10 and 11, much of the structural part of the vent has been removed in order to clearly depict the operating apparatus used in association with the vent.
The perspective view of Figure 10 shows the fixed and moveable frames in phantom with the moveable frame in an open position. The moveable frame is hinged at a side edge in Figure 10 and a Z-bar torsion bar 116, similar to the one shown in Figure 7, is used to urge the moveable frame to an open position. This embodiment includes hinge pins 118 and 120 and the Z-bar has retainers 122 and 124 disposed at opposite ends. The retainers are fixed to the fixed frame of the vent.
The bars 116 are arranged in a similar manner to that discussed ; with reference to Figures 4 and 7.
In the embodiment of Figure 10, the shock absorbers are replaced by limiting linkages 126 and 128 connected at opposite ends to the fixed and moveable frames.

.

In Figure 10, there are provided two latch mechanisms 60 which may be identical in desiyn to those shown in Figure 9. The hook-shaped members 62 associated therewith are pivotally supported to the fixed frame and the enyaginy pins 68 are suitably supported from the moveable frame. Fiyure 10 shows the release members 17 and 18. In this embodiment the release member 18 has a bottom flanye 18A haviny a cable 18B
secured there-to for actuating the member 18 from a floor there-below. The top flanye 18C of member 18 has a cable 18D extendiny therefrom around pulley 18E to hook-shaped member 62.
Figure 10 also shows a smoke or heat response ele-ment 130 which may be of conventional design having an electro-thermal link 132 associated therewith. This mechanism has associated therewith pulleys 134 and 136 for accommodating cable 138, which couples from the fusible link 132 over pulleys 134 and 136 to the top hook-shaped member 62. Cable 138 connects to the top hook-shaped member 62 in any suitable manner and continues to the bottom hook-shaped member 62. The thermal link 132 has a spring 140 associated therewith which is in its tensioned position when the link 132 is not broken. If smoke or heat is detected, the sensor activates the electro-thermal link 132, causing it to melt and the spring 140 pulls the cable toward the fixed end 142 of the spring. This causes both hook-shaped members to lift and disengage from their associated pins 68. Similar operation can be provided by depressing release member 18 which in turn causes both hook-shaped members to lift. The bottom hook-shaped member is lifted manually by means of the bottom section of cable 138.
The release means 17 also has a cable 17A associated there-with for causing release of a vent disposed thereabove~
Referring now to the perspective view o~ Figure 11 this embodiment is quite similar to that previously discussed ~L0364~
with reference to Figure 4, for example. One of the differences is in the use of added pivot members 45A and 45B. In this embodiment the Z-bars can be held by clips similar ko the ones shown in Figure 10. With this type of an arrangement, the hinging of the moveable frame is provided by the pivot mernbers and the Z-bars function primarily as a biasing means for urging the moveable frame to its open position.
Fiyure 11 also shows the shock absorbers 15 and 16 which may be similar in design to the shock absorbers shown in Figure 1, for example. Figure 11 also shows the release mem-bers 17 and 18 and latch mechanisms 60, onedisposedon each side of the vent. The latch mechanism 60 shown on the right in Figure 11 is arranged substantially identically as the one dis-cussed in Figure 4. However, with the two latch arrangements shown in Figure 11 the release mernber 18 with its top flange 80 accommodates a cable 81 in addition to the previously dis-cussed cable 82. The cable 81 extends from flange 80 through pulleys 81A and 81B appropriately mounted to the fixed frame, to the left hand latch mechanism 60. When the release member 18 is depressed, both cable 81 and 82 are pulled down causing both latch mechanisms 60 to lift permitting an opening of the moveable frame of the vent.
Figure ll.also includes means responsive either to smoke or heat causing a release of the moveable frame. This heat or smoke element 130 may be similar to the one shown in Figure 10 and includes an electro-thermal link 132 and spring 140.
In this embodiment, a cable 141 connects to the fusible link and has its ends split into sections 143 and 144. Section 143 is coupled to cable 81. Section 144 extends back through pulley 81A and is attached to cable 82 just above latch 60. If link 132 is melted, the spring 140 causes the cable 141 to be pulled toward the fixed end of the spring and the segments 143 and ~036~5 144 of the cable cause release of both latch mechanisms 60 by pulling on ca~les 81 and 82.
Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view taken alony line 12-12 of Figure 11. It discloses in this ernbodiment that the fixed frame 10 and moveable frame 13 are thinner than in the embodiment shown in Figure 5, for example. In -this way, the vent is not too bulky and does not distract from the appearance of a regular window.
As indicated in Figure 12, the fixed frame is substantially U-shaped including legs 150 and 152. Leg 152 is appropriately connected to the surrounding building construction 154. The moveable frame includes an elongated let 156 which fits adjacent leg 150 and has a body portion 158 for accommodat-ing a panel 14. In Figure 12, this cross-sectional view shows the Z-bars 50 and 52 appropriately situated in the compartment defined by the two frames.
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to that shown in Figure 12 but:taken along line 13-13 of Figure 11.
This embodiment shows the fixed frame 10 and the movèable frame 13 of substantially the same configuration as shown in Figure 12. In this cross-sectional view, there is shown a shock absor-ber 160 fastened at one end between legs 150 and 152 con-nected at the other end in U-shaped channel 162 in body 158.
Figure 14 shows another electrical arrangement for releasing the latch mechanism such as the one shown in Figure 11.
The cable 170 shown in Figure 14 is analogous to the cable 141 of Figure 11. This cable extends about a pulley 172 suitably supported in the frame and is tied at its end to spring 174.
The spring has its other end fixed to post 176. The moveable end of the spring also engages with arm 180 of pivot member 182. The other arm 184 of member 182 is engageable with solenoid 186.

I

~)36~ZS
In the solid outline position of Figure 14, arm 184 is held by the output shaft 187 of the solenoid which is in its extended position. The arm 180 holds the spriny in its tensioned position. When the solenoid is actuated via lines 189 by means of an electrical signal from a switch or sensor, arm 184 disengages from shaft 187 and member 182 rotates about pin 183. The spring disengages from arm 180 and cable 170 is pulled to the riyht as viewed in Figure 14, causing a .release of a latch mechanism associated therewith.

Claims (4)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:-

1. A system for venting a building having a plurality of floors, said system comprising;
a first vent disposed at one floor of the building and including a fixed frame, a movable frame adapted to fit within the fixed frame when in a closed position and panel means for insertion into said movable frame, means for pivotally securing said movable frame to said fixed frame, means for securing said movable frame to an open position, latch means for maintaining said movable frame in the closed position, a first release member for releasing the latch means of the first vent to permit the movable frame to move to its open position, a second vent disposed at another floor of the building and including a fixed frame, a movable frame and a latch means, and a second release member disposed remote from the second vent for releasing the latch means of the second vent.

2. The system of Claim 1 including a cord extending between the release members of the first and second vents and responsive to operation of the second release member to pull the cord and release the latch means of the second vent.

3. The system of Claim 1 wherein the first and second vents are disposed in adjacent floors.

4. The system of Claim 1 wherein the first and second release members are both carried by the fixed frame of the first vent.