EP0068969A1 - Smoke evacuation device, especially for industrial or open buildings - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A smoke evacuation device, especially for industrial or open buildings, comprising a hopper on which a structure is mounted, said structure comprising hinged blades with a frame (12) having two opposite edges (16, 16') provided with cut-out parts (18) which form housings for receiving the opposite ends of a plurality of parallel transverse spouts (20) regularly spaced across the opening delimited by the hopper, a plurality of hinged blades (24) mounted on brackets (26, 28) supporting said blades, so that each blade bears on the upper sides of the hoppers (20), as well as on the upper parts of the edges (16, 16'), and connecting-rod means (34, 38) linked with said brackets supporting the blades in order to secure the control of the blades and their opening with regard to the plane of the hopper, characterized in that said spouts (20) are fixed with regard to the frame (12), that they are distinct and independant of the hinged blades (24) and that the brackets (26-28) which support the blades are linked with said spouts about an axis formed by a longitudinal upper edge of each spout, said edge having the form of a cylinder (22) and said cylinder (22) acting as a longitudinal support for the hinged blades during the rotation of the latter.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for rapidly evacuating smoke (also called an "outlet") and heat for buildings such as, in particular, industrial premises or those receiving the public (so-called ERP premises), making it possible, by in the event of fire, to clear a hopper delimiting an opening in the roof, either by unlocking, or by means of a control system which can be, for example, manual, electro-mechanical, pneumatic, or other.

Devices of this type which can also be used as aeration means constitute safety equipment which must equip factories, workshops or ERP premises. They are generally designed to be able to intervene either automatically or manually, when it occurs, for example in the event of a fire, the release of smoke and / or an abnormal rise in ambient temperature, this intervention consisting in opening a movable shutter covering an opening provided in the roof of the building and through which the smoke can escape and the heat. Such an automatic intervention makes it possible to avoid, in the event of a fire, that the entire building does not fill with smoke, thus making it possible to carry out the operations of extinguishing the fire and evacuating the building.

A number of rapid smoke evacuation systems are known which meet the concerns set out above. These various known systems consist, in general, of a hopper delimiting in the roof of the building an opening, generally rectangular, covered by a movable closure means, most often constituted by a frame composed either of a sheet metal or polyester plate, or of windows, or of one or more transparent domes, or further blades, said chassis being articulated on hinges at the upper cross member, and ventilation being obtained by action on the lower cross member of the chassis, for example using conventional means such as, in particular, rack, rods, arms , etc ...

The currently known leaf outlets have the disadvantage of comprising opaque blades generally of steel or aluminum and, consequently, if they can, independently of their role in the event of fire, also serve for the ventilation of the premises, they do not constitute day wells, because of their opacity. The present invention proposes to provide an outlet for blades which does not have these drawbacks.

Consequently, this invention relates to a device for aeration and evacuation of fumes, in particular for industrial premises, comprising a hopper on which rests a frame consisting of articulated blades, this device being characterized in that it comprises: a frame of which two opposite banks are provided with notches forming housings designed so as to receive a plurality of regularly spaced transverse chutes; a plurality of articulated blades, preferably transparent, mounted on blade holder gussets so that each blade rests on the upper edges of the troughs, as well as on the upper edges of the edges provided with said housings, and a linkage system articulated on said blade holder gussets, so as to ensure the control of the blades and their opening preferably at 90 relative to the plane of the hopper.

According to a characteristic of this invention, each chute has an upper longitudinal edge constituted by a cylinder, and the articulation of the blade holder gussets is effected along the axis of this cylinder, which is chosen to be of small diameter.

According to another characteristic of this invention, there is provided in the middle of each chute, on the face opposite to that of the edge carrying the cylinder, a small boss, or equivalent, ensuring the blocking of the lower part of each blade when it is perpendicular to the hopper plane.

According to yet another characteristic of this invention, each blade end is provided with a profile made of a flexible material, for example of elastomer, rubber or butyl-neoprene, in order to seal the surface formed by all the blades.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en élévation latérale d'un dispositif selon cette invention
• - la figure 2 est une vue partielle, en plan, de la figure 1 ;
• - la figure 3 est une vue partielle, à échelle agrandie, du dispositif représenté sur la figure 1, en coupe transversale ;
• - la figure 4 est une vue partielle, en coupe longitudinale, au droit d'une goulotte, d'un dispositif selon cette invention ;
• - les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues s en élévation latérale d'une variante appliquée à l'aération, respectivement en position fermée et d'aération ; et
• - la figure 7 est une vue partielle, en coupe longitudinale au droit d'une goulotte, de la variante représentée sur les figures 5 et 6.

Other characteristics and advantages of this invention will emerge from the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings, which illustrate an embodiment given by way of example without any limiting character. In the drawings:

• - Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a device according to this invention
• - Figure 2 is a partial plan view of Figure 1;
• - Figure 3 is a partial view, on an enlarged scale, of the device shown in Figure 1, in cross section;
• - Figure 4 is a partial view, in longitudinal section, in line with a chute, of a device according to this invention;
• - Figures 5 and 6 are side elevational views of a variant applied to aeration, respectively in the closed and aeration position; and
• FIG. 7 is a partial view, in longitudinal section at right of a chute, of the variant shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that the device according to the invention comprises a conventional type curb 10, placed on a rectangular or square hopper, and a frame 12, subject to the curb. This frame has two front edges 14, 14 ', and two side edges 16, 16'. These edges 16, 16 ′ are provided with notches such as 18, regularly spaced, designed so as to receive transverse chutes such as 20. The profile of these chutes appears clearly in FIG. 3. They consist of a profile, preferably with a rectangular section, an upper edge of which is constituted by a cylinder 22, the role of which will be explained below.

The shutter member of the device of the invention consists of a plurality of transparent or non-transparent blades, such as 24, for example made of glass or plastic. Each blade 24 is held by a blade holder gusset 26, 28, as can be seen in FIG. 3. In this same figure, it can be seen that the successive blades 24, in horizontal position, each rest on the upper edges of the troughs 20 , as well as on the upper edges of the edges 16, 16 ′ provided with the notches. By providing, at each end of the blade, a profile 30, for example of rubber, butyl-neoprene or aluminum, a seal is obtained over the entire surface formed by the blades 24.

The blades 24 are maneuvered by a system of connecting rods 34, connected to the ends of the gussets 26, in order to obtain a clearance of approximately 90 ° of the blades relative to the plane of the hopper. The gussets 26, located on the side of the bank 16 'are integral with those located on the side of the other bank 16, using a transverse shaft 32 and two levers 36, which attack the system of connecting rods 34 at by means of two lateral links 38. The opening of the blades is controlled using opening springs 40, released by conventional means such as, in particular: cable, fusible link, electro-magnetic link, pneumatic cylinder, etc. The springs 40 working in tension or compression can be replaced by commercially available pneumatic thrust cylinders.

The originality of the device according to this invention resides in particular in that one ^/ of the transverse upper edges of the troughs is constituted by a cylinder 22, the articulation of the gussets 26 taking place along the axis of this small diameter cylinder. Thanks to this characteristic, the blades 24, during their rotation, are constantly supported by a generator of the cylinder on which they slide. It is thus possible to provide long-reach blades, which do not buckle during opening. In addition, one can provide in the middle of each chute, on the face opposite to that provided with the cylinder 22, a small boss (not shown) ensuring the blocking of the lower part of the blade, when the latter is perpendicular to the plane of the hopper.

To reclose the blades, there is provided a lever 42 wedged on the shaft 32, and actuated, for example, using a cable 44. In this embodiment, the lever 42 has been shown in the axis of the hopper; without departing from the scope of the invention, it can be located at the edge, either on one side or the other, of frame 12. In the drawings, the linkages 34 have been shown outside this frame 12, in order to obtain maximum aeraulic efficiency. Of course, it is possible, by using gussets of different shape, to position these connecting rods inside the frame 12, in particular for aesthetic or weather protection reasons. Similarly, the shaft 32, ensuring the connection of the connecting rod system, has been shown to the right of the first rear blade; however, depending on the type of control used, it can be positioned at any point in the hopper.

Finally, according to the invention, there is provided, all around the hopper, a frame with vertical walls 46 which constitutes a windbreak, and which improves the device performance, in particular by venturi effect.

• - obtention d'un barreaudage de protection grâce à la présence des goulottes transversales 20, ce barreaudage empêchant, par ailleurs, le passage d'un individu au travers de l'exutoire, ce qui est une caractéristique intéressante, notamment dans le cas d'exutoires placés s sur des terrasses accessibles, de grandes surfaces par exemple ;
• - possibilité d'utiliser des lames de grande portée ;
• - obtention d'une surface d'obturation continue transparente à la lumière lorsque les lames sont réalisées transparentes, en verre armé ou en glace, ou translucides, en matière plastique résistant à une température de l'ordre de 150°C ;
• - obtention d'une ouverture dite "positive", c'est-à-dire que les s lames, en position d'ouverture, n'ont pas tendance à se refermer, même si l'action des ressorts devient nulle.

Among the advantages provided by the invention, there may be mentioned in particular:

• - Obtaining a protective barrier thanks to the presence of the transverse chutes 20, this barrier preventing, moreover, the passage of an individual through the outlet, which is an advantageous characteristic, in particular in the case of outlets placed on accessible terraces, large areas for example;
• - possibility of using long-reach blades;
• - Obtaining a continuous shutter surface transparent to light when the blades are made transparent, in reinforced glass or in ice, or translucent, in plastic material resistant to a temperature of the order of 150 ° C;
• - Obtaining a so-called "positive" opening, that is to say that the blades, in the open position, do not tend to close, even if the action of the springs becomes zero.

It remains of course that this invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, but that it encompasses all variants. This is how the device according to the invention can be applied to the ventilation of the premises. This variant has been shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.

Referring to these figures, it can be seen that, if the outer frame 46 is provided sufficiently high so that it can receive blades 47 inclined, for example at an angle of the order of 60 °, so that the vertical from the upper edge A of a blade passes through the lower edge B of the next blade, it is possible to collect, in troughs 48 provided at the bottom of each of the blades 47, the rainwater which pours on the face sky side of each of the blades 47. If, moreover, the lower edge C of the chutes 48 located at the bottom of the blades 47 is vertical to the transverse troughs 20, the possible drops of runoff water on the troughs 48 will fall into the troughs 20.

There is also provision, along the troughs 48, a flap 49 on which the blade 24 comes to bear when it is opened at an angle of the order of 40 to 50 ° (see FIG. 6).

Thanks to this arrangement, when the aerator is open, rainwater cannot enter the room thus equipped, regardless of the inclination of the water drops (vertical, to the right or to the left).

The rainwater is evacuated for the most part by the troughs outside the outer frame 46 (see FIG. 7), the surplus being evacuated by the troughs 20, whether the blades 24 are open s or closed. An all-weather aerator is thus obtained, which can also serve as a smoke outlet.

In this variant, the blades 24 can also be opaque, translucent or transparent, in the same way as the blades s 47 (aluminum, glass, etc. can be used). This provides an all-weather outlet aerator, also allowing clarity to pass.

Claims (10)

1. Aeration and smoke evacuation device, in particular for industrial premises, comprising a hopper on which rests a frame made of articulated blades, characterized in that it comprises: a frame comprising two opposite edges (16 -16 ' ) provided with notches forming housings (18) designed to receive a plurality of regularly spaced transverse chutes (20); a plurality of articulated blades (24) mounted on blade gussets (26-2S) so that each blade rests on the upper edges of the troughs, as well as on the upper edges of the edges (16-16 '), and a linkage system (34-38) articulated on said blade holder gussets, in order to ensure the control of the blades and their opening relative to the plane of the hopper. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening angle of the blades relative to the plane of the hopper can go up to 90 °. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each chute (20) has an upper longitudinal edge formed by a cylinder (22), serving to support the blades during their rotation, and in that the articulation of the blade holder gussets (26) takes place along the axis of this cylinder, which is chosen to be of small diameter. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blade holder gussets (26) located on the side of a bank (16) are integral with those located on the side of the other bank (16 ') , via a transverse shaft (32) and two levers (36), which attack the crankshaft system (34-38) by means of two lateral links (38), return means, such as, in particular, springs (40), gas cylinders and the like, ensuring control of the opening of the blades. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is provided, in the middle of each chute (20), on the face opposite to that of the edge carrying said cylinder (22), a means such as , in particular, a small boss ensuring the blocking of the lower part of each blade (24), when it is perpendicular to the plane of the hopper. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each end of the blade is provided with a profile (30) in a flexible material, such as, in particular, an elastomer, rubber, butyl neoprene, or in a rigid material such as, in particular, aluminum, in order to seal the surface formed by all of the blades. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blades are made of a transparent material, in particular of reinforced glass or of ice, or of a translucent material, in particular of plastic resistant to high temperatures, or still in an opaque material such as aluminum, or rigid, chosen according to specific needs: thermal insulation, sound, solar collector. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reclosing of the blades is carried out by means of a lever (42) wedged on the connecting shaft (32) and actuated by a means of control such as a cable (44). 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is provided, all around the hopper, a frame with vertical walls (46), which constitutes a windbreak improving performance. 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, also applied to all-weather ventilation, characterized in that, in the external frame with vertical walls (46), there are a certain number of inclined blades (47), for example at 60 °, so that the upper edge A of a blade passes through the lower edge B of the next blade, and in that there is provided, at the bottom of each of the blades (47), a chute (48) extended by a flap (49), on which the corresponding articulated blade (24) rests, the arrangement being such that rainwater or condensation is collected either by the troughs (48) or by the troughs ( 20).

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