EP1318248A1

EP1318248A1 - Device for opening ventilating coupolas for smoke and heat discharge and ventilation

Info

Publication number: EP1318248A1
Application number: EP02080156A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rik Glorieux
Original assignee: AG Plastics NV
Current assignee: AG Plastics NV
Priority date: 2001-12-07
Filing date: 2002-12-09
Publication date: 2003-06-11
Also published as: BE1014531A5

Abstract

Device for opening ventilating cupolas, arranged between a cupola (1) and an underframe (O), provided with one or more drive members (7) which act on the cupola and which are activated by one or more operating systems, and an opening mechanism arranged between the ventilating cupola (1) and the underframe (O) wherein the opening mechanism consists of at least two scissor systems each having at least two legs (4,5) and additional guide means (9) arranged between each scissor system and the cupola (1) such that, when the drive member is activated, the opening mechanism causes a horizontal and vertical translation of the cupola (1) so as to obtain an efficient smoke and heat discharge.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for opening ventilating cupolas, arranged between a cupola and an underframe, provided with one or more drive members which act on the cupola and which are activated by one or more operating systems, and an opening mechanism arranged between the ventilating cupola and the underframe, wherein the opening mechanism consists of at least two sets of scissor systems, a first leg of which is arranged pivotally in each case between the cupola edge and the underframe such that, when the drive member is activated, the opening mechanism causes a horizontal and vertical translation.
Such a ventilating cupola can be opened for ventilating purposes, but it is more important that it must be possible in particular situations to discharge smoke and heat efficiently. In the latter case it is likewise desirable that the cupola opens automatically when a fire occurs.
Such a device is known from the French patent FR 0801183. The opening mechanism described therein consists of two sets of scissor systems, a first leg of which is mounted pivotally in each case at one end on the underframe and at the other end is arranged slidingly on the cupola edge via a guide system, and in the middle of which the second leg is mounted pivotally, wherein an end of the second leg is mounted slidingly on the underframe and connected pivotally to the cupola edge. In this system the cupola is lifted vertically and comes to lie exactly above the cupola edge. The opened cupola is situated above the opening such that the discharge of for instance smoke and heat is limited by the size of the cupola itself.
The invention seeks to improve these discharge possibilities by removing the cupola as far as possible from the cupola opening.
For this purpose the device of the invention consists of an opening mechanism arranged between the ventilating cupola and the underframe, for instance a cupola upstand which can be manufactured in PVC, PRV, concrete or metal, and that a third guide means is arranged between each scissor system and the cupola such that, when the drive member is activated, the cupola undergoes an additional horizontal and vertical translation.
In the ideal case the different variables are chosen such that the perpendicular projection of the opened cupola onto the plane of the cupola opening overlaps as little as possible with the cupola opening, whereby the smoke and heat discharge possibilities are maximal.
In the embodiments with two-legged scissor systems, two sliding connections must thus be made, for instance by means of roller bearings.
If it is wished to avoid the use of sliding connections, the invention proposes an improved embodiment variant of the device wherein each scissor system has at least three legs, wherein the third guide means consists of at least the third leg.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the opening mechanism consists of two four-legged scissor systems arranged on opposite sides of the cupola, wherein each scissor system consists of the first leg and e three-legged assembly consisting of the second leg and two coupling legs, wherein the middle of the second leg is connected pivotally to the middle of the first leg, and at one end the second leg is connected pivotally to an end of the upper coupling leg and on the other end is connected pivotally to an end of the lower coupling leg, wherein this three-legged assembly is arranged pivotally between the cupola edge and the underframe, and wherein the length of the lower and the upper coupling leg of the three-legged assemblies are substantially equal, and are smaller than the distance between the pivot point and the associated corner point on respectively the underframe and the cupola edge.
In all the above described embodiment variants of the invention the opened cupola is always situated parallel to the cupola edge, and the perpendicular projection of the opened cupola onto the plane of the cupola opening often partially overlaps the cupola opening.
It will be appreciated that the smoke and heat discharge possibilities can also be improved by lifting the cupola to an inclining position.
This becomes possible in a further developed embodiment of the device which has the feature that the second leg of each system is mounted pivotally out of centre on the first leg of the opening mechanism such that when the drive member is activated the opening mechanism also causes a rotation of the cupola.
In a first such embodiment, the opening mechanism contains two three-legged scissor systems arranged on opposite sides of the cupola (1), wherein for each of the three-legged scissor systems:

the second leg is connected pivotally to the drive member at one end and arranged slidingly on the underframe at the other end;
the third leg is connected pivotally to the same drive member at one end and connected pivotally to the cupola edge at the other end; wherein the length of the second leg is equal to the length of the third leg plus the length between the two pivot points on the cupola edge.

In another such device according to the invention, the opening mechanism consists of two four-legged scissor systems arranged on opposite sides of the cupola, wherein each scissor system is provided with the first leg and a three-legged assembly constructed from the second leg and two coupling legs, wherein at one end the second leg is connected pivotally to an end of the lower coupling leg and at the other end is connected pivotally to the lower coupling leg, wherein this assembly is arranged pivotally between the cupola edge and the underframe, and wherein the length of the lower and the upper coupling leg of the three-legged assemblies is smaller than the distance between the pivot point and the associated corner point on respectively the underframe and the cupola edge.
In the above described variants according to the invention the two scissor systems can be mutually connected in the transverse direction by means of a leg, in the middle of which is mounted a drive member.
The two scissor systems can likewise be connected by a three-legged assembly consisting of a transverse leg, on each end of which an auxiliary leg is fixed perpendicularly of the transverse leg, wherein the firs auxiliary leg is connected pivotally to the first scissor system and the second auxiliary leg is connected pivotally to the second scissor system, and wherein a drive rod engages non-rotatably in the middle of the transverse leg.
This latter transverse method of connection provides a firmly closed cupola, while the system with a single transverse leg on which the drive rod is rotatably mounted gives a certain amount of play to the cupola edge in the closed position.
Although the smoke and heat discharge possibilities are already improved to a great extent in the above described devices, the cupola window itself still impedes the discharge to a limited extent.
A solution according to the invention consists of mounting the cupola slidingly, for instance via roller bearing systems, on the cupola edge so that when the cupola edge is opened the cupola slides aside and the roof opening is thus left completely clear.
If the cupola is lifted to an inclining position, this sliding aside can be obtained simply by the force of gravity.
An additional advantage of all embodiments is that if the cupola were to fall downward, for instance in the exceptional case of fire, it would not obstruct the roof opening and the discharge of smoke and heat would still be possible.
These embodiments are further illustrated and elucidated with reference to the following drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical cupola with cupola upstand.
Fig. 2 is a front view of an embodiment according to the invention with three-legged scissor systems.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the invention with four-legged scissor systems.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the invention with scissor systems connected out of centre, and a slidingly arranged cupola.

Figure 1 shows a typical cupola 1 which is supported on roof D by a cupola upstand O. In the drawn embodiment the cupola upstand O forms the underframe and the opening mechanism is mounted between two mutually opposite roof edges 2 and underframe O.
The opening mechanism according to the invention with three-legged scissor systems is elucidated in figure 2. It is built up of two three-legged scissor systems arranged on opposite sides between underframe O and cupola edge 2, wherein each of the three-legged scissor systems 3 consists of:

the first leg 4 which is mounted pivotally between the underframe and the cupola edge and on which the second leg 5 is mounted pivotally, out of centre, at point 11;
this second leg 5 which at one end 6 is connected pivotally to drive member 7 and at the other end is arranged slidingly on underframe O via a roller bearing system 8;
the third leg 9 which at one end 6 is connected pivotally to the same drive member and at the other end 17 is connected pivotally to the cupola edge, wherein the length of the second leg 5 is equal to the length of the third leg 9 plus the length between the two pivot points on cupola edge 7 and 10.

Figure 3 shows a variant of the invention which makes use of two four-legged scissor systems arranged on two opposite sides between the underframe and the cupola edge.
Each scissor system has

the first leg 28a(b) which is connected pivotally to the cupola edge 2 at the points 29a(b) and to underframe O at the points 33a(b),
a three-legged assembly consisting of the second leg 20a(b), two coupling legs 17a(b) and 22a(b), wherein the middle of the second leg 20a(b) is connected pivotally to the middle 19a(b) of the first leg 28a(b), and at one end the second leg is connected pivotally to coupling leg 17a(b) and at the other end is connected pivotally to coupling leg 22a(b), wherein this assembly is arranged pivotally between cupola edge 2 at 24a(b) and the underframe at 23a(b).

The two scissor systems are mutually connected in transverse direction by means of two auxiliary legs 35a and 35b and a transverse leg 25, to the middle of which is connected a drive member 7, such as two gas pressure systems mounted in series, for pushing open the cupola.
Yet another embodiment of the invention consists of a two-legged scissor system connected out of centre as shown in figure 4. Each scissor system consists of a first leg 31a(b) which at one end is mounted pivotally on underframe O and at the other end is mounted pivotally on cupola edge 2, and on which a second leg 30a(b) is pivotally mounted at 34, wherein an end of this second leg is mounted slidingly on underframe O via a roller bearing system 8a(c), and is connected to cupola edge 2 via a second roller bearing system 8b(d). In the embodiment of figure 4 the cupola 1 is arranged slidingly on cupola edge 2, so that in the opened position of cupola edge 2 the cupola 1 slides away, wherein due to the force of gravity the cupola slides completely away from above the roof opening, thus enhancing the discharge of smoke and heat, for instance in the case of fire.
The length of legs 17a(b) and 22a(b) is chosen to be smaller than the distance between pivot point 23a(b) and the corner 26a(b) (or between 24a(b) and 27a(b)), so that in the closed position of the cupola the pivot points 18a and 21a lie on underframe O close to the corners 26a(b) and 27a(b).
If a PRV, wood, concrete or metal upstand is used, the system is supplied with an adaptor frame on which the device according to the invention can be mounted.
The upstand can further be embodied with coated metal profiles in which screw thread is tapped, for instance by means of a flow drill, and which allows the fastenings to be concealed as well as possible so that a more compact and more aesthetic construction is made.
Permanent lubrication of the system can likewise be ensured by providing the pivoting parts with a nylon socket and pinions.
Another aspect of the invention consists of arranging operating systems which can activate one or more drive members and which ensure that the cupola opens automatically in determined conditions.
In one embodiment the drive member for opening the ventilating cupola consists of an electric motor and/or a gas pressure spring, one of the operating systems of which can be a melting fuse which breaks above a determined temperature (for instance 70°C) and whereby the gas pressure spring extends. The electric motor can be operated manually, for instance when ventilation is necessary, or can be activated automatically in determined conditions.
An operating system can be an electromagnet which comes into operation when the mains voltage fails. Opening of the electromagnet can also be linked to extending of the gas pressure spring.
Finally, it is also possible to use a pneumatic cylinder with CO₂ cartridges to drive the opening mechanism.
If the device according to the invention is arranged on a PVC upstand, it is advantageous to provide the outside with a metal profile, which profile hooks fixedly behind the flange of the upstand, wherein this profile can take over the load bearing capacity of the upstand. Efficient operation of the smoke and heat discharge system is hereby guaranteed under extreme conditions and the whole cupola device complies with the European fire standard (prEN 12101/2). It may also be useful to furnish the cupola window on the inside with a metal grid so that melting of the cupola window is prevented when the temperature rises.
It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. It is possible for instance to envisage systems with more than three legs which cause a similar displacement of the cupola and are based on the same principles.

Claims

Device for opening ventilating cupolas, arranged between a cupola (1) and an underframe (O), provided with one or more drive members (7) which act on the cupola and which are activated by one or more operating systems, and an opening mechanism arranged between the ventilating cupola (1) and the underframe (O), wherein the opening mechanism consists of at least two sets of scissor systems, a first leg of which is arranged pivotally in each case between the cupola edge and the underframe such that, when the drive member is activated, the opening mechanism cause a horizontal and vertical translation, characterized in that a third guide means is arranged between each scissor system and the cupola such that, when the drive member is activated, the cupola undergoes an additional horizontal and vertical translation.
Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each scissor system has at least three legs, wherein the third guide means consists of at least the third leg.
Devices as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the opening mechanism consists of two four-legged scissor systems arranged on opposite sides of the cupola, wherein each scissor system consists of the first leg and a three-legged assembly consisting of the second leg (20a or 20b) and two coupling legs (17a or 17b, and 22a or 22b), wherein the middle of the second leg (20a or 20b) is connected pivotally to the middle of the first leg (28a or 28b), and at one end the second leg is connected pivotally to an end of the upper coupling leg (17a or 17b) and at the other end is connected pivotally to an end of the lower coupling leg (22a or 22b), wherein this three-legged assembly is arranged pivotally between the cupola edge (2) and the underframe (O), and wherein the length of the lower and the upper coupling leg of the three-legged assemblies are substantially equal, and are smaller than the distance between the pivot point (23a and 17a respectively) and the associated corner point (26a and 27a respectively) on respectively the underframe (O) and the cupola edge (2).
Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second leg of each system is mounted pivotally out of centre on the first leg of the opening mechanism such that, when the drive member is activated, the opening mechanism also causes a rotation of the cupola.
Device as claimed in claims 4 and 2, characterized in that the opening mechanism consists of two three-legged scissor systems arranged on opposite sides of the cupola (1), wherein for each of the three-legged scissor systems:

the second leg (5) is connected pivotally to the drive member at one end and arranged slidingly on the underframe (O) at the other end;

the third leg (9) is connected pivotally to the same drive member at one end and connected pivotally to the cupola edge (2) at the other end; wherein the length of the second leg (5) is equal to the length of the third leg (9) plus the length between the two pivot points (17 and 10) on the cupola edge (2).
Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the opening mechanism consists of two four-legged scissor systems arranged on opposite sides of the cupola, wherein each scissor system is provided with the first leg and a three-legged assembly constructed from the second leg (20a or 20b) and two coupling legs (17a or 17b) and (22a or 22b), wherein at one end the second leg is connected pivotally to an end of the lower coupling leg (17a or 17b) and at the other end is connected pivotally to the lower coupling leg (22a or 22b), wherein this assembly is arranged pivotally between the cupola edge (2) and the underframe (O), and wherein the length of the lower and the upper coupling leg of the three-legged assemblies is smaller than the distance between the pivot point (23a and 17a respectively) and the associated corner point (26a and 27a respectively) on respectively the underframe (O) and the cupola edge (2).
Device as claimed in claim 3 or 6, characterized in that the two scissor systems are mutually connected in the transverse direction by means of a leg (25), in the middle of which is mounted a drive member (7).
Device as claimed in claim 3 or 6, characterized in that the two scissor systems are mutually connected in the transverse direction by means of a three-legged assembly consisting of a transverse leg (25), on each end of which an auxiliary leg is fixed perpendicularly of the transverse leg, wherein the first auxiliary leg (35a) is connected pivotally to the first scissor system and the second auxiliary leg (35b) is connected pivotally to the second scissor system, and wherein a drive rod (7) engages non-rotatably in the middle of the transverse leg such that the cupola can be firmly closed.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the third guide means is a sliding system mounted on the cupola edge so that the cupola slides aside when the cupola edge is opened.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a drive member for opening the ventilating cupola consists of an electric motor.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a drive member for opening the ventilating cupola consists of a gas pressure spring, one of the operating systems of which consists of a melting fuse which breaks above a determined temperature and activates the gas pressure spring.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that one of the operating systems consists of an electromagnet which comes into operation when the mains voltage fails.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the cupola window is provided on the inside with a metal grid.