EP4006293B1

EP4006293B1 - Sliding fire door

Info

Publication number: EP4006293B1
Application number: EP21204024.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Maffei
Original assignee: Meverin Srl
Current assignee: Meverin Srl
Priority date: 2020-11-11
Filing date: 2021-10-21
Publication date: 2023-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2041-10-21
Also published as: PL4006293T3; EP4006293C0; EP4006293A1; ES2962800T3; IT202000026939A1

Description

The present invention generally relates to the field of sliding doors and, more particularly, to a sliding fire door and a respective sliding guide system.
As is known, sliding fire doors, which are also called firebreak doors or gates, are safety devices that separate two contiguous rooms from the fire in order to avoid that the flames spread to the adjacent room, if a fire occurs in a room. Hence, sliding fire doors have considerable mass and weight, very often over 1000 Kg, to be able to perform their technical functions consisting primarily in ensuring a quick and unhesitating closing and in resisting to the very high temperatures that typically occur during a fire.
A typical sliding fire door is provided with one or more panels designed to close a passageway at which the sliding door itself is installed. Each panel is slidingly engaged with a support and sliding linear guide, which is configured to be fixed to a wall at the passageway and is normally arranged above the panel or panels. Appropriate sliding means connect each panel to the support and sliding upper linear guide. To allow the normal and continuous passage of people and goods, each panel of the sliding fire door is usually left in the open position. However, closing the panel or panels is, in the event of fire, an absolute priority and therefore it must be guaranteed in the shortest possible time. To guarantee the complete and total closing of the sliding door in the event of fire, a widely used closing system involves the application of an energy accumulated in the form of a counterweight to the panel or panels of the sliding door itself. The counterweight is typically constrained to each panel of the sliding door by means of a rope and pulley drive system and is provided with a retaining device, generally an electromagnetic device, which allows the respective panel to be retained when opening without the counterweight coming into operation. In the event of fire, the counterweight is released from its retaining system to automatically pull the respective panel towards its closing position.
A single panel of a sliding fire door can achieve large dimensions, with an overall length (which is, of course, compatible with the dimensions of the passageway) that can far exceed three meters. For sliding fire doors of not particularly large dimensions, with panels having an overall length which does not exceed three to five meters, additional sliding lower linear guides, i.e., positioned on the walking surface at the passageway, are not normally provided for in addition to the respective support and sliding upper linear guides. On the contrary, for sliding fire doors of large dimensions, with panels having an overall length exceeding five meters, the presence of sliding lower linear guides is required for each panel in addition to the respective support and sliding upper linear guides. These sliding lower linear guides are in fact needed to prevent each panel of the sliding door from deforming due to the wind, or to phenomena that occur in the event of fire, such as bursts or deformations due to the heat, as will be better specified in the following.
The sliding lower linear guides of the known type for sliding fire doors can consist of a rail protruding from the walking surface, such as the one shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 14 and 15, where the walking surface is indicated with F. This protruding rail is indicated with R, preferably has a rectangular cross-sectional shape (but it could have any shape whatsoever) and is designed to engage with a corresponding linear cavity obtained under each panel of the sliding fire door.
However, the possibility is not excluded that the sliding lower linear guides of the known type for sliding fire doors are made in different shapes, although staying protruding in any case with respect to the walking surface F. Merely by way of example, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, the sliding lower linear guides of the known type for sliding fire doors could also consist of a plurality of rollers R which protrude with respect to the walking surface F to engage with the linear cavity obtained under each panel of the sliding fire door.
Regardless of their embodiment, the sliding lower linear guides of the known type for sliding fire doors can cause a few drawbacks that are listed in the following. First of all, as the sliding lower linear guides of the known type are protruding from the walking surface, they can constitute an obstacle to the passage of pedestrians, who could trip over them, or of vehicles, that should jump. These drawbacks are particularly annoying in case of sliding fire doors which are installed in usually crowded spaces, such as airports or shopping centres.
Another drawback of the sliding lower linear guides of the known type for sliding fire doors is due to the fact that, over time, these sliding lower linear guides can accumulate a quantity of dirt such to slow down, or even prevent, automatic closing of the panel or panels of the sliding door in the event of fire. In other words, in the event of dirt accumulation on the sliding lower linear guides, the counterweight closing mechanism of the sliding fire door might not exert dragging force sufficient to make each panel overcome the obstacles caused by the dirt itself and to allow this panel to slide to close quickly or, in any case, within the prescribed times. A drawback of this type can occur, for example, with a sliding lower linear guide as the one disclosed in document CN-A-105927079 which, in fact, illustrates a sliding lower linear guide for a sliding fire door according to the preamble of claim 1.
A further drawback of the sliding lower linear guides of the known type for sliding fire doors is due to the fact that, in the event of fire, the panel or panels of the sliding doors inevitably undergo an expansion due to the increase in temperature. This expansion, which is also called "bulging", mainly occurs in the lower part of each panel, i.e., the part which is closest to contact with any sliding lower linear guides. Thus, in the event of fire, a decoupling between each panel and the respective sliding lower linear guide might occur with consequent "derailment" of the panel during its movement towards the closing position.
Still another drawback of the sliding lower linear guide of the known type for sliding fire doors is due to the fact that each panel, especially if it has large dimensions in length and/or in height, is particularly sensible to the wind. Strong air currents can in fact cause unwanted movements ("sail" effect) of each panel of the sliding fire door, with possible decoupling between this panel and the respective sliding lower linear guide. Possible decoupling between each panel and the respective sliding lower linear guide could also occur in the event of explosions, if any, caused by a fire in progress.
The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a sliding fire door and a respective sliding guide system which are capable of solving the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional way.
Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a sliding guide system for a sliding fire door, in particular a sliding guide system located below with respect to the sliding fire door, which does not constitute an obstacle of any type to the circulation of people, vehicles and/or goods through the sliding fire door itself.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sliding guide system for a sliding fire door, in particular a sliding guide system located below with respect to the sliding fire door, which always ensures a quick closing of the sliding fire door under any weather condition and at any high temperature that could occur in the event of fire.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a sliding guide system for a sliding fire door, in particular a sliding guide system located below with respect to the sliding fire door, which ensures cleaning conditions such that they do not affect in any way and under any operating condition the proper functioning of the sliding fire door itself.
These objects according to the present invention are achieved by providing a sliding fire door and a respective sliding guide system as set forth in claim 1.
Further features of the invention are highlighted by the dependent claims, which are an integral part of the present description.
The features and advantages of a sliding fire door and a respective sliding guide system according to the present invention will be clearer from the following exemplifying and non-limiting description, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a sliding fire door and a respective sliding guide system according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, obtained along a vertical plane, of the sliding fire door of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a detailed view of the particular indicated with III in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sliding fire door and a respective sliding guide system according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, obtained along a vertical plane, of the sliding fire door of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a detailed view of the particular indicated with VI in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a sliding fire door and a respective sliding guide system according to the present invention;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view, obtained along a vertical plane, of the sliding fire door of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a detailed view of the particular indicated with IX in Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a sliding fire door and a respective sliding guide system according to the present invention;
Figure 11 is a detailed view of the particular indicated with XI in Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a detailed view of the particular indicated with XII in Figure 10;
Figure 13 is a detailed view of the particular indicated with XIII in Figure 10;
Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view, obtained along a vertical plane, of a sliding fire door provided with a sliding lower linear guide according to the known prior art;
Figure 15 is a detailed view of the particular indicated with XV in Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view, obtained along a vertical plane, of a sliding fire door provided with another sliding lower linear guide according to the known prior art; and
Figure 17 is a detailed view of the particular indicated with XVII in Figure 16.

With reference to Figures 1 to 13, some preferred embodiments of a sliding fire door according to the present invention, indicated as a whole with reference number 10, are shown. The sliding fire door 10, in the various figures, is not represented in scale but it is in any case designed to be installed at a passageway P obtained through a wall W of a building.
The sliding fire door 10 comprises, in per se known manner, at least one sliding panel 12 arranged for closing the passageway P, as well as at least one support and sliding upper linear guide 14 of each sliding panel 12. The upper linear guide 14 is configured to be fixed to the wall W at the passageway P, is positioned above with respect to each sliding panel 12 and is oriented along a first direction X which is substantially horizontal and parallel with respect to a walking surface F.
Each sliding panel 12 can be conveniently manufactured by joining, along the first horizontal direction X, a plurality of modules manufactured with a metal material (typically a steel sheet). As shown, for example, in the cross-sectional views of Figures 2, 5 and 8, each module of the sliding panel 12 can be internally hollow and can be internally filled with insulating materials for insulation purpose.
The sliding fire door 10 also comprises one or more sliding means 16, fixed above each sliding panel 12 and slidingly engaged with the upper linear guide 14 to allow each sliding panel 12 to translate, along the first horizontal direction X, between an opening position and a closing position of the passageway P and vice versa. For example, and again in per se known manner, the sliding means 16 can comprise a plurality of wheels 32 (see Figures 2, 5 and 8), rotatably connected to each sliding panel 12, and at least one guide rail 34, constrained to the support and sliding upper linear guide 14 and on which the wheels 32 roll during the horizontal translation of each sliding panel 12.
The sliding fire door 10 also comprises at least one sliding lower linear guide 18 of each sliding panel 12. The lower linear guide 18 is configured for being fixed on the walking surface F at the passageway P, is positioned below with respect to each sliding panel 12 and is oriented along a second horizontal direction Y parallel and coplanar with respect to the first horizontal direction X. Each sliding panel 12 is therefore provided with one or more guide means 20, which are fixed below this sliding panel 12 and can be engaged with the lower linear guide 18.
The sliding fire door 10 can also comprise, in per se known manner, at least one counterweight (not shown), which can be constrained to a respective sliding panel 12 by means of a rope drive system. Each counterweight is arranged to move along a direction which is substantially vertical and perpendicular with respect to the horizontal directions X and Y. Each counterweight is usually provided with a retaining device adapted to prevent the counterweight from moving when the respective sliding panel 12 is in the opening position. The retaining device can consist, for example, of an electromagnet. An unlocking device, consisting for example of a thermal fuse, is arranged instead for releasing the retaining device in the event of fire, so as to "release" the counterweight and allow the respective sliding panel 12 to move towards the closing position of the passageway P.
According to the invention, each lower linear guide 18 comprises one or more box-shaped channels 22 arranged to be buried below the walking surface F, as shown for example in the enlarged views of Figures 3, 6 and 9. Each box-shaped channel 22 can be made as a continuous element, or it can consist of two or more sections of the box-shaped channel 22 arranged in sequence along the second horizontal direction Y. Each box-shaped channel 22 therefore comprises at least one upper wall 24 which is arranged to be coplanar with respect to the walking surface F and is provided with at least one elongated slot 26 oriented along the second horizontal direction Y. In other words, the upper wall 24 of each box-shaped channel 22 is connected to the walking surface F, while no portion of the lower linear guide 18 protrudes above this walking surface F. The entire box-shaped channel 22 and the relative accessories, as will be better specified below, are in fact hidden in a special excavation which will have to be carried out below the walking surface F during the installation of the sliding fire door 10.
Each guide means 20 of each sliding panel 12 consists of an elongated profile, oriented along the second horizontal direction Y and, as shown for example in the enlarged views of Figures 3, 6 and 9, having an inverted T shape in cross section, i.e., a section orthogonal with respect to a plane on which the first and second horizontal directions X, Y lie. Each elongated profile 20 can have an overall length which is less than or equal to the overall length of the respective sliding panel 12 and can be made as a continuous element, or it can consist of two or more sections of the elongated profile 20 arranged in sequence along the second horizontal direction Y. Each elongated profile 20 comprises at least one vertical flat portion 28, which forms the stem of the inverted T and is arranged to slidingly fit into the elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18, and at least one horizontal flat portion 30, which forms the head of the inverted T and is arranged to slide within the box-shaped channel 22 at a predefined distance D below the upper wall 24 of this box-shaped channel 22.
Each elongated profile 20 therefore performs a dual function with respect to the lower linear guide 18 of the sliding panel 12. The vertical flat portion 28 of each elongated profile 20, inserting into the elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18 and slidingly moving together with the respective sliding panel 12, in fact performs the function of guiding the horizontal movement of this sliding panel 12. The horizontal flat portion 30 of each elongated profile 20, slidingly moving within the box-shaped channel 22 but having a width L (Figures 3, 6 and 9), measured along a third direction Z (Figures 1, 4 and 7) perpendicular to the first and second horizontal direction X, Y, which is greater than the width of the elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18, instead performs an anti-lifting function of the sliding panel 12 during its horizontal movement, for example in strong wind conditions or in the presence of problems caused by an ongoing fire.
Preferably, the width L of the horizontal flat portion 30 of each elongated profile 20 is less than the overall width of the box-shaped channel 22, again measured along the third direction Z perpendicular with respect to the first and second horizontal directions X, Y. In this way, also considering the predefined distance D which separates the horizontal flat portion 30 of each elongated profile 20 from the upper wall 24 of the box-shaped channel 22, each elongated profile 20 has a predefined "clearance" both vertically and horizontally within this box-shaped channel 22, so as to compensate for any thermal expansion and/or any misalignments of the sliding panel 12, always guaranteeing both the sliding of this sliding panel 12 and the anti-lifting and/or anti-derailment functions.
According to the preferred embodiments, shown in the figures, of the sliding fire door 10, each box-shaped channel 22 has a cross-sectional rectangular shape, i.e., an orthogonal section with respect to the first and second horizontal direction X, Y. Each box-shaped channel 22, therefore comprises, in addition to its upper wall 24, both a pair of side walls 36, 38, which are parallel to each other, and a bottom wall 40, which is parallel with respect to the upper wall 24.
According to the second embodiment, shown in Figures 4 to 6, of the sliding fire door 10, one or more enlarged elements 42, i.e., having a width, measured along the third direction Z perpendicular to the first and second horizontal directions X, Y, which is greater than the width of this vertical flat portion 28 can be provided on the vertical flat portion 28 of each elongated profile 20. These enlarged elements 42 can consist, for example, of pins placed at predefined distances, along the second horizontal direction Y, on the vertical flat portion 28 of each elongated profile 20. The function of these enlarged elements 42, whose width is slightly less than the width of the elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18, is to limit as much as possible oscillations of the sliding panel 12, for example in strong wind conditions, while maintaining a sufficient smoothness of this sliding panel 12. Preferably, the width of the elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18 is between 10 mm and 20 mm and is even more preferably equal to about 14 mm.
According to the third embodiment, shown in Figures 7 to 9, of the sliding fire door 10, one or more rolling elements 44, arranged to roll along at least one of the side walls 36, 38 of the box-shaped channel 22, can be provided on the horizontal flat portion 30 of each elongated profile 20. These rolling elements 44 can consist, for example, of rolling bearings having a substantially vertical axis. The function of these rolling elements 44 is to ensure a homogeneous linear movement of the sliding panel along its horizontal opening/closing direction, as well as to facilitate the opening and closing operations of this sliding panel 12.
According to the fourth embodiment, shown in Figures 10 to 13, of the sliding fire door 10, at least one movable covering element 46 can be provided, connected to the sliding panel 12 and arranged to keep covered at least part of the elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18, that is to say the part of this elongated slot 26 which is not overlaid by the sliding panel 12 and could therefore collect dirt or other debris. This movable covering element 46 can consist, for example, of a belt connected to a lower edge of the sliding panel 12 on one side, and to the opposite lower edge of this sliding panel 12, on the other side. This belt 46, which has a width substantially equal to (or slightly less than) the width of the elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18, moves together with the sliding movement of the sliding panel 12 to always keep said elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18 covered in any position of this sliding panel 12. The movement of the belt 46 can be guided by one or more pulleys 48. The return path of the belt 46, that is the path during which this belt 46 does not cover the elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18, can be carried out inside the box-shaped channel 22, or can be carried out outside this box-shaped channel 22, for example above the sliding panel 12 if the installation conditions of the sliding fire door 10 require it. In any case, it is possible to replace the belt 46 with other movable covering elements suitable for keeping the elongated slot 26 covered, such as plate chains or other similar components.
According to the invention, as shown for example in the enlarged views of Figures 3, 6 and 9, regardless of the embodiment of the sliding fire door 10 and alternatively or in addition to the movable covering element 46 to keep the elongated slot 26 of the lower linear guide 18 covered, one or more ducts 50, 52 are provided inside the box-shaped channel 22 for supplying air and/or water at a predefined pressure inside this box-like channel 22. The function of these ducts 50, 52 is to carry out cleaning cycles continuous, or based on predefined time intervals, of the box-shaped channel 22. The means for feeding air and/or water into the ducts 50, 52, as well as the discharge and/or air and/or water recirculation means, can be of any type known in the state of the art.
It has thus been seen that the sliding fire door according to the present invention achieves the purposes highlighted above.
The sliding fire door of the present invention thus conceived is however susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which falling within the scope of the same inventive concept; furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the technical requirements.
The scope of protection of the invention is therefore defined by the attached claims.

Claims

A sliding fire door (10) to be installed at a passageway (P) obtained through a wall (W) of a building, the sliding fire door (10) comprising:
- at least one sliding panel (12) arranged for closing said passageway (P);

- at least one support and sliding upper linear guide (14) of said at least one sliding panel (12), said at least one upper linear guide (14) being configured to be fixed to said wall (W) at said passageway (P), being positioned above said at least one sliding panel (12) and being oriented along a first direction (X) which is substantially horizontal and parallel with respect to a walking surface (F);

- one or more sliding means (16), fixed above said at least one sliding panel (12) and slidingly engaged with said at least one upper linear guide (14) to allow said at least one sliding panel (12) to translate, along said first horizontal direction (X), between an opening position and a closing position of said passageway (P) and vice versa;

- at least one support and sliding lower linear guide (18) of said at least one sliding panel (12), said at least one lower linear guide (18) being configured to be fixed on said walking surface (F) at said passageway (P), being positioned below said at least one sliding panel (12) and being oriented along a second horizontal direction (Y) which is parallel and coplanar with respect to said first horizontal direction (X); and

- one or more guide means (20), fixed below said at least one sliding panel (12) and engageable with said at least one lower linear guide (18),
wherein said at least one lower linear guide (18) comprises one or more box-shaped channels (22), wherein each box-shaped channel (22) comprises at least one upper wall (24) which is provided with at least one elongated slot (26) oriented along said second horizontal direction (Y), and wherein each guide means (20) consists of an elongated profile, oriented along said second horizontal direction (Y) and having an inverted T shape in cross section, said elongated profile (20) comprising at least one vertical flat portion (28), which forms the stem of the inverted T and is arranged to slidably fit into said elongated slot (26), and at least one horizontal flat portion (30), which forms the head of the inverted T and is arranged to slide within said box-shaped channel (22) at a predefined distance (D) below said upper wall (24), the sliding fire door (10) being characterized in that said one or more box-shaped channels (22) are arranged to be buried below said walking surface (F), wherein said at least one upper wall (24) of each box-shaped channel (22) is arranged to be coplanar with respect to said walking surface (F), and in that one or more ducts (50, 52) are provided inside said one or more box-shaped channel (22) for supplying air and/or water at a predefined pressure inside said one or more box-shaped channel (22).
The sliding fire door (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said horizontal flat portion (30) has a width (L), measured along a third direction (Z) perpendicular with respect to said first (X) and second (Y) horizontal direction, which is greater than the width of said elongated slot (26).
The sliding fire door (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said horizontal flat portion (30) has a width (L), measured along a third direction (Z) perpendicular with respect to said first (X) and second (Y) horizontal direction, which is smaller than the overall width, again measured along said third direction (Z), of said box-shaped channel (22).
The sliding fire door (10) according to any claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each box-shaped channel (22) has a cross-sectional rectangular shape and comprises, in addition to said upper wall (24), a pair of side walls (36, 38) which are parallel to each other and a bottom wall (40), which is parallel with respect to said upper wall (24).
The sliding fire door (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that one or more rolling elements (44) are provided on said horizontal flat portion (30), which are arranged to roll along at least one of said side walls (36, 38) of the box-shaped channel (22).
The sliding fire door (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said rolling elements (44) consist of rolling bearings having a substantially vertical axis.
The sliding fire door (10) according to any claims 1 to 6, characterized in that on said vertical flat portion (28) there are provided one or more enlarged elements (42), that is to say having a width, measured along a third direction (Z) perpendicular to said first (X) and second (Y) horizontal direction, which is greater than the width of said vertical flat portion (28).
The sliding fire door (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that said enlarged elements (42) consist of pins placed at predefined distances, along said second horizontal direction (Y), on said vertical flat portion (28).
The sliding fire door (10) according to any claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises at least one movable covering element (46) connected to said sliding panel (12) and arranged to keep covered at least part of said elongated slot (26), that is to say the part of said elongated slot (26) which is not overlaid by said sliding panel (12).
The sliding fire door (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that said movable covering element (46) consists of a belt connected to a lower edge of said sliding panel (12) on one side, and to the opposite lower edge of said sliding panel (12) on the other side, said belt (46) having a width which is substantially equal to the width of said elongated slot (26) and moving together with the sliding movement of said sliding panel (12) to always keep said elongated slot (26) covered in any position of said sliding panel (12).