Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C2/00—Fire prevention or containment
  • A62C2/06—Physical fire-barriers
  • A62C2/10—Fire-proof curtains
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C3/00—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places
  • A62C3/02—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places for area conflagrations, e.g. forest fires, subterranean fires
  • A62C3/0221—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places for area conflagrations, e.g. forest fires, subterranean fires for tunnels
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C3/00—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places
  • A62C3/02—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places for area conflagrations, e.g. forest fires, subterranean fires
  • A62C3/0257—Fire curtains, blankets, walls, fences
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21F—SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
  • E21F5/00—Means or methods for preventing, binding, depositing, or removing dust; Preventing explosions or fires

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a bulkhead for sealing a tunnel in the event of a fire in accordance with the preamble of patent claim 1.
• the device according to DI closes a tunnel in that a hollow body filling with chemical agents, for example foam, slides in a frame from the ceiling of the tunnel to the floor.
• chemical agents for example foam
• the D2 device seals a tunnel by means of an inflatable, double-walled hollow body.
• the inner wall is made of gas-tight material, the outer wall of heat-resistant material.
• the invention according to D3 closes a tunnel by lowering one or more curtains. These are unrolled or unfolded by motor means.
• the device according to Dl consists of a hollow body which can be filled with chemical agents and which is assembled folded on the tunnel ceiling. In use, the hollow body is filled and slides to the floor along vertical guide elements. This type of mounting of the guide elements makes it impossible to use this invention with a non-rectangular tunnel cross section without additional installations. In the event of a fire, the surface must not only be leakproof but also heat-resistant. The same problem also applies to the material in the solution according to D2. A double-walled hollow body is proposed here to remedy the heat problem.
• the inner layer is gas-tight, the outer is heat-resistant.
• the solution according to D3 essentially presents two structurally different curtain-like constructions.
• a curtain is unrolled, on the other hand unfolded.
• both versions of the inventive idea must have several layers.
• the silicone layers according to the invention will melt at the prevailing temperatures, the ceramic or glass fiber layers thus exposed will no longer be gas-tight.
• the construction of a curtain means that it is not completely sealed at the edges. Since motor means and a roll-off device protruding through the tunnel are required for rolling or unfolding the curtains, the use of this invention is limited to tunnels with an approximately rectangular cross section. There is also the risk that an inattentive driver collides with the unwinding device and causes a subsequent accident.
• the object of the present invention is to subdivide a tunnel in the event of a fire into several sectors which are separate with regard to gas exchange and heat transport.
• the bulkhead should operate quickly and effectively and withstand the flue gases and heat for a long time.
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tunnel bulkhead with guide means on the walls in the stowed state, in a tunnel with an oval cross section,
• FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the tunnel bulkhead with guide means on the walls in the stowed state, in a tunnel with an approximately rectangular cross section,
• FIG. 6 is a plan view of the tunnel bulkhead with guide means in the functional unfolded state
• FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the tunnel bulkhead in the functional unfolded state in a tunnel with an oval cross section
• Fig. 8 A detailed view of the guide means of a double-walled curtain.
• Fig. 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the inventive concept.
• the invention has two basically functionally separate elements.
• sealing of the tunnel is achieved by means of a pneumatic hollow body 1
• this hollow body 1 is protected by curtains 2 made of heat-resistant materials, such as ceramic fibers.
• This separation of functions enables specifically ideal materials to be used for both parts of the invention.
• the pneumatic hollow body 1 and the curtains 2 can be constructed appropriately and in a simple manner.
• a double-walled fabric 4 with woven-in spacer threads 5 is used for the heat-resistant curtains 2. With a length of the spacer threads 5 of approximately 20 mm, the convection within each of the curtains 2 comes to an almost complete standstill.
• a minimum of heat transport through the curtains 2 is achieved in this way.
• a number of curtains 2 can be attached in succession according to the requirements.
• the innermost curtain 2 is mounted at a distance d of, for example, about 20 cm from the hollow body 1.
• a double-walled fabric is also used for the pneumatic hollow body 1, but with considerably longer spacer threads 5. This can be sewn together and processed in accordance with the tunnel cross-section, so that the pneumatic hollow body 1 seals the tunnel cross-section in the inflated state like a wall.
• the wall-like shape of the pneumatic hollow body 1 guarantees that the gas requirement is as low as possible, which also reduces the space requirement of the pressure gas containers 8 which may be present.
• the pneumatic hollow body 1 In order for the pneumatic hollow body 1 to withstand the pressure difference caused by convection currents between the tunnel sectors to be separated, it must adhere firmly to the tunnel walls 13 as well as the ceiling 16 and roadway. The generated friction forces must therefore counteract the pressure forces that occur. The wider the hollow body 1 and the greater the internal pressure of the hollow body 1, the greater the frictional forces. Since it is not possible to completely prevent the flow of heat, the gas in the hollow body 1 will heat up over time and increase the internal pressure. In order to ensure a constant internal pressure, the hollow body 1 can be equipped with a pressure limiting valve 11, so that there is no impermissible excess pressure
• FIGS. 2 and 3 show frontal views of the tunnel bulkhead with different tunnel cross sections. So that the entire cross section is reliably shielded against heat, rail-like guide means 6 can be mounted on the tunnel walls 13. Heavy bodies 7, for example steel balls, which do not wedge and are fastened, for example, to the widest point of the curtains 2 on their edges, can slide within these guide means 6. On the one hand, this form of the guide means 6 enables the curtains 2 to be deployed extremely quickly, since they can simply be dropped; on the other hand, round, oval and rectangular tunnel cross sections can be efficiently shielded.
• Fig. 4 shows the fire bulkhead viewed from above in the folded state.
• the pneumatic hollow body 1 and the heat-resistant curtains 2 are folded together and stored in a space-saving manner on the tunnel ceiling.
• a compressed gas container 8 is accommodated between one of the curtains 2 and the hollow body 1 or in a bay in the tunnel ceiling.
• a line with an on / off valve 10 runs from the compressed gas container 8 to the hollow body 1.
• the compressed gas container 8 contains so much gas that its contents can fill the hollow body 2 at the coldest possible internal temperature in the tunnel and bring it to the predetermined positive pressure.
• a further line with a pressure relief valve 11 runs out of the hollow body 1. This valve 11 prevents excessive pressure from developing in the pneumatic hollow body 1 during operation of the bulkhead.
• a relief valve 12 out of the pneumatic hollow body.
• the pneumatic hollow body 1 can be ventilated via this, for example by means of a blower 9, whereby cooling is also achieved.
• the pressure relief valve 11 continues to keep the pressure constant.
• Lockable flaps 15 are attached to the openings to the inside of the tunnel 14. Depending on which side of the bulkhead there is heat and smoke, the flaps 15 can be closed on the side of the accident and opened on the other side. According to the invention, the fresh air for the blower 9 is also to be obtained directly from the tunnel ventilation system.
• FIG 5 shows the most important components of the fire bulkhead in the bay in the tunnel ceiling 16 when folded.
• cover 17 is used here.
• the curtains 2 are shown once separately and once folded together.
• FIG. 6 shows a frontal view of the fire bulkhead in the operating state on the outermost curtain 2.
• the heavy bodies 7 have reached their end position in the guide means 6 and thus extend the curtain 2 up to, for example, the maximum width of the tunnel cross section.
• the curtain 2 hangs freely below the widest point. At most, visible means for stowing the bulkhead are not shown.
• Fig. 7 shows the essential components of the fire bulkhead in an isometric view.
• Two heat-resistant curtains 2 hang on each side of the pneumatic hollow body 1.
• the compressed gas container 8 is shown schematically on the tunnel ceiling 16.
• FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the guide means 6. This is shown here, for example, embedded in the wall 13.
• a driver will enter an unfolding or fully functional fire bulkhead through inattentiveness or panic; such an impact is likely to destroy a fire bulkhead according to the invention.
• the curtains 2 and the pneumatic hollow body 1 of the fire bulkhead consist entirely of textile materials, the occupants of the car are not endangered by the collision.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Ecology (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Building Environments (AREA)
• Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
• Thermistors And Varistors (AREA)
• Ventilation (AREA)
• Specific Sealing Or Ventilating Devices For Doors And Windows (AREA)
• Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
• Special Wing (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=29426131

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2003
  • 2003-03-31 EP EP03752684A patent/EP1503827B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-03-31 WO PCT/CH2003/000206 patent/WO2003097169A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-03-31 AU AU2003215480A patent/AU2003215480A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-03-31 AT AT03752684T patent/ATE327008T1/de active
  • 2003-03-31 DE DE50303487T patent/DE50303487D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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