FR2467936A1 - Remote controlled smoke vent for roof - uses folding edge-hung double doors mounted on ridged plinth stack and locating external drive gear - Google Patents

Abstract

The remote controlled motorised roof door is of a double edge-hung form with a closure lap, providing for smoke extraction in the event of fire. A plinth stack (1) locates external drive gear having side walls (3) of a triangular ridged profile. Door hinges (16) surmount end walls (4), and doors may comprise twin inter-articulating leaves (9,9a). The doors may fold to the vertical to open, extending the walls and forming an extended shaft together with deflectors (12). Drive gear may use a motor (M) to rotate chain wheels (15) through a pinion, to displace endless chains (13,14). Each chain may displace a runner from which two pin-jointed arms extend to the respective door leaves. A slide (21) may encounter a ramp (5) to effect a pressed closure seal.

Description

The present invention relates to a new ventilation hatch forming a smoke outlet.

 We know that the safety regulations in construction impose to provide in the roofs of some buildings ventilation hatches allowing, in case of fire, the evacuation of smoke.

These hatches include a movable panel or flap, the actuation of which, in the direction of opening, is most often caused by a spring mechanism so that said hatches can always be opened, even in the event of a major disaster.

The triggering of the spring mechanism is most often ensured by an electromagnet controlled by an auxiliary current source or, possibly, this spring mechanism can also be triggered by a heat-sensitive element.

 Safety regulations also require that the ventilation hatches be checked periodically and that their operation takes place at specified time intervals.

 It is relatively easy to provide a remote control to trigger the spring mechanism causing the opening, but it is then essential that the closing be carried out manually by personnel having to move on the roofs or, at least, at a lower level. allowing access to each hatch.

 Thus, the repetitive functional tests made compulsory constitute tedious work and require a significant execution time.

 In addition, the need to provide both an automatic opening command and a hand-operated remote control constitutes an additional constraint.

The present invention creates a new hatch, the operation of which, both for opening and closing, can be controlled remotely or automatically without any difficulty.

In addition, by its embodiment, the hatch of the invention can be perfectly waterproof both with water and with air, which makes good quality thermal insulation possible.

 According to the invention, the ventilation hatch forming a smoke outlet is characterized in that it comprises a fixed hopper on which the panels are articulated, said hopper externally carrying mechanisms for the opening and closing, respectively, of said panels. .

 Various other characteristics of the invention will also emerge from the detailed description which follows.

 Embodiments of the invention are shown, by way of nonlimiting examples, in the accompanying drawings.

 Fig. 1 is a perspective, partly schematic, of the ventilation device forming a smoke outlet of the invention.

 Fig. 2 is a section on a larger scale seen along line II-II of FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic elevation illustrating a particular characteristic of the invention.

 Fig. 4 is a schematic elevation, on a larger scale, of an embodiment detail.

Fig. 5 is a schematic elevation, partially broken away, of a variant.

 Fig. 6 is an elevation, on a larger scale, of an embodiment detail.

Fig. 7 is a section seen along the line VII-VII of FIG. 5.

 Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section, on a larger scale, of an embodiment detail.

The device of the invention comprises a fixed hopper 1 intended to be fixed to an appropriate roofing statement by a flange 2. The hopper 1 has two sides 3 of generally triangular shape and two sides 4 of rectangular shape. The above hopper is fitted near the upper edge of the sides; of rectangular shape, of guide profiles 5, the ends 5a of which are slightly curved to engage below a gutter 6 carried by the sides 3, 4 at their top. The gutter 6 delimits a gutter at its median part and wings 6a on its lateral sides. The triangular sides 3 support, in the vicinity of the lateral sides of rectangular shape -4, the axes silhouetted at 7, in FIG. 3, these axes used for the articulation of leaves or panels 8, 9, themselves articulated with other leaves or panels 8a, 9a intended to extend them by forming an accordion arrangement.

Fig. 1 shows that the panels 8a, 9a delimit a covering edge 10 coming above the panels 8, 9 during closing, in order to ensure good sealing. A flexible seal, not shown, is advantageously disposed below each overlapping edge 10. Silhouetted seals at 11 are also fixed, preferably all around the upper edge of the hopper, so that the panels 8, 8a and 9, 9a are applied against these seals when said panels are in the closed position.

 The panels described above are rectangular in shape and their size is chosen so that they protrude on either side of the hopper. These panels are arranged between two deflectors 12, of rectangular shape, placed on either side of the triangular sides 3. The space separating the deflectors 12 corresponds to the length of the panels 8, 8a, 9, 9a and their height simply corresponds at the height of the above panels when they are raised, as illustrated in fig. 3.

 In the example shown and to allow remote control of the panels of the ventilation device described above, there are outside three triangular sides 3 of the chains 13, 13a, 14, 14a mounted on chain wheels 15, 16. The chains 13, 14 are for example chains of the GALE type used as a transmission element on bicycles.

The chain wheels 15 of the two groups of chains 13, 13a, on the one hand, and 14, 14a, on the other hand, are connected together by shafts 17, 18 and the two shafts are connected together by sprockets 19 to turn at the same time but in the opposite direction
The upper strand of each chain 13, 14 carries, as shown in the right part of FIG. 1 and fig. 2, a drive finger 20 of a carriage 21 comprising rollers 22 arranged in the profiled rails 5. The carriages are connected by connecting rods 23, fig. 2, to a reinforcing profile 24 disposed on the edge of the panels 8a, 9a.

 The pinions described above are arranged in a housing 25 carrying a geared motor 26 which may include an electric motor of the kind used for tralenement of truck wiper blades.

In addition to the above, each upper strand of the chains 13, 14 and, optionally, of the chains 13a, 14a, carries a device 27 for unlocking and locking, clearly visible in FIG. 4, and intended to cooperate with the panels 8 and 9.

Each panel has on its sides a bracket 28 whose horizontal brsnche 28a is placed on the path of a double cam 29 which has a boss 29a and a ramp 29. The cam 29 is fixed to the corresponding chain strand.

As is apparent from the above, the mechanisms described, namely the chains, the motors, the roller carriages etc., are arranged outside the hopper but they are normally sheltered by the overlapping part of the panels 8, 8a, 9 , 9a and, as regards the pinions and the motor, they are housed by the housing 25.

In the closed position, the panels 8, 8a 9, 9a rest on the seals 11 of the frame that defines the hopper 1 which is, therefore, closed.

The carriages 21 are arranged in the curved part 5a of the profiled rails 5 and, consequently, the end of the panels 8a, 9a is covered by the wings 6a of the gutter 6 so that a good seal which can be total is obtained if a joint is provided below the wings 6a of the gutter or on the extreme edges of the panels 8a, 9a. Thus, one can easily achieve a seal both with water and with air, which makes it possible to ensure satisfactory thermal insulation.

 To cause opening, it suffices to power the gear motor 26 which drives the chains, the upper strand of which moves in the direction shown by the arrows fl, f2 in FIGS. 1 and 4.

 The movement of the chains has the effect first of all of causing the boss 29a of the cams 29 to act on the horizontal wing 28a of the brackets 28. This results in a slight lifting of the panels 8, 9 which are therefore no longer aligned with the panels 8a, 9a but form a convex angle with respect to each other.

 The movement in the same direction continuing, the panels are gradually raised by being folded in the manner of an accordion and they finally come to occupy the position illustrated in fig. 3 and the right part of FIG. 1. It can be seen in the drawing that the panels thus form, with the deflectors 12, a chimney which extends the hopper and which therefore facilitates the draft, which makes it possible to greatly improve the ventilation coefficient.

 Since the control mechanisms are located outside the hopper, they are not damaged even if the exhaust fumes are hot.

 To close the hatch, the motor is operated in the opposite direction and, consequently, the chains are moved in the opposite direction to that illustrated by the arrows fl, f2.

 At the end of the race, the ramps 29b come to bear on the horizontal branch 28a of each bracket 29, which tends to cause this bracket to descend and, consequently, to press the panels on the joints while ensuring the locking of these panels.

 In the variant of fig. 5 to 7, the guide profiles consist of rails 51 on which carriages 211 are clearly visible in FIG. 6, these carriages comprising sets of rollers 30 which fit the rail and which allow the passage of the curvature provided in Sa to engage the panels 8a or 9a below the channel 6.

 According to this variant, to control the panels, connecting rods 31 are articulated on each side of the panels 8 and 9. The free end of the connecting rods 31 is articulated on an axis 32 which is passed through a buttonhole 33 of a plate 34 (fig. 8) carried by a nut 35. Each nut 35 is disposed on a screw 36 disposed inside - an elongated housing 37 (fig. 5 and 7) in the top of which a slot is provided for the passage and guiding of the plate 34. The housings 37 are fixed to the hopper, for example to the flange 2, by supports 38 allowing them to be adjusted and easily assembled and disassembled in order to allow possible repairs.

 The plates 34 also carry levers 39, the end of which forms a ramp 40 (FIG. 8). To drive the screws 36, these are provided with pinions 41 engaged with toothed crowns 42. The toothed crowns 42 arranged on either side of the sides 3 of the hopper are connected by a shaft 43 and, from preferably, an expansion compensation device is provided, for example the ends of the shaft 43 are grooved so that this shaft can slide relative to the toothed rings 42.

 As in the previous example, deformable seals are arranged on top of the sides of the hopper as well as between the panels as shown by the reference 46. Seals 47 can also be arranged at the ends of the panels 8a, 9a for lean against the inside of the gutter 6.

 In this second embodiment described, the operation is as follows.

To bring the panels 9, 9a from the closed position illustrated in FIG. 5 in the open position occupied by the panels 8, 8a, the shaft 43 is caused to drive by the electric motor 26 described with reference to FIG.

2. Thus, the screws 36 are driven and the nuts 35 move. Initially, the axis 32 runs through the buttonhole 33. During this time, the cam 40 releases a stirrup 48 disposed below the panel 9a (as well as the panel 8a). When the axis 32 reaches the opposite end of the buttonhole 33, the connecting rod 31 is pushed and, consequently, it raises the panel 9 which pivots around the axis 7 in the direction of the arrow f1.

The panel 9a is guided by its end by means of a carriage 21 so that the two panels form a
V whose angle is more and more acute to finally come to occupy the position represented on the right of the drawing for the panels 8, 8a, position for which the hopper is entirely released.

To close the hopper, the shaft 43 is actuated in the opposite direction and, consequently, if we consider the panels 8, Ba, the connecting rod 31 pivots the panel 8 which drives the panel 8a. The panels are thus brought parallel to the upper edge of the triangular sides 3 of the hopper by the traction exerted on the panel 8.

 At the end of the race, the ramp 40 of the lever 39 engages in the stirrup 48, which has the effect of pressing the panel 8a, respectively the panel 9a, on the joint interposed between the hopper and its underside. In the same way, the connecting rod 31, the axis 32 of which has returned to the position illustrated in FIG. 8, exerts an action which plates the panel 8, respectively the panel 9, on the joint interposed between the hopper and its underside.

The seals 46 and 47 are also compressed so that the closure produced can be perfectly sealed.

 As shown in fig. 7, the width of the panels such as 8a is chosen so that they completely cover the bolts containing the screws as well as the connecting rods and levers described. In addition, a closing cover 49 is advantageously understood outside, so that the mechanical assemblies are housed in boxes, which further improves the insulation of the hopper.

 All the control devices being placed outside the hopper, the internal walls of the latter are smooth and it is therefore easy to cover them with various insulating pads over their entire surface and without it thermal bridge exists.

 The travel of the nuts 35 is advantageously limited by limit switches 50, 51 arranged in one of the housings 37 of one of the screws, these limit switches controlling the power supply to the gear motor.

 The control mechanisms described in the foregoing constitute an advantageous embodiment according to the invention but it is obvious that various variants can be made to it, in particular the bicycle type chains used can be replaced by belts, likewise the grole geared motor which it is advantageous to realize by an electric group of wiper being in many examples in the trade can be replaced by a pneumatic or electric motor, itself associated with a reserve source, for example a tank compressed air or a hydraulic accumulator.

When the motor used is electric, it is advantageous that it is of a low voltage type to allow the use of an auxiliary current source, that is to say either a secondary network or an accumulator.

 Likewise, it would not go beyond the scope of the invention to replace the chains or the screws with hydraulic or electro-mechanical jacks articulated on the hopper 1 and some of the panels, for example the panels 8, 9.

 The panels 8, 9 can be made of metal or synthetic material and in this case, the chosen material can be transparent or translucent; they can also be partly made of metal and partly made of transparent or translucent material to serve simultaneously for illumination and, in this case, comprise several layers separated by air voids ensuring the insulation.

Similarly, the nut 35 is advantageously provided with a shoe for sliding on the housing so that the screw 36 is not subjected to bending forces.

Claims (15)

 1 - Aeration hatch forming a smoke outlet, characterized in that it comprises a fixed hopper on which the panels are articulated, said hopper externally carrying mechanisms for opening and closing said panels respectively.  2 - hatch according to claim 1, characterized in that the hopper has two triangular sides carrying at their top a gutter covering the end of two end panels hinged to other panels, themselves hinged to the hopper to the like an accordion.  3 - hatch according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by seals interposed between the hopper, the top of the hopper and the panels hinged thereto.  4 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the panels hinged together each have at least one overlapping edge. 5 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by two deflectors arranged on either side of the panels transversely thereto to form a chimney blank when said hinged panels are in the raised position.  6 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by at least one device for unlocking and locking the articulated panels to apply them firmly on the seals of the hopper in the closed position and cause their compression.  7 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mechanism for opening, respectively closing the hinged panels, comprises profiled guide rails of an articulated carriage at the end of the panels end engaging under the gutter.  8 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the carriages are connected to a drive member of the chain type, belt and the like, driven by a gear motor.  9 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the opening respectively the closing of the hinged panels is controlled by connecting rods whose foot is articulated on a plate forming part of a nut mounted on screws s 'extending outside two of the sides of the hopper in housings having a guide groove of said plate, said screws being interconnected by toothed wheels synchronized by a shaft passing through the hopper.  10 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the connecting rods are respectively connected to the plate by an axis which can slide in a buttonhole of this plate which carries, moreover, a lever terminated by an inclined ramp cooperating with a stirrup carried by each of the panels not directly connected to the connecting rod, constituting with said connecting rods the means for locking the panels which apply these to the joints of the hopper. in the closed position. 11 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the unlocking and locking device is carried by the upper side of the chains or belts and comprises a cam associated with a ramp cooperating with a bracket fixed to the panels. 12 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the gear motor is of the type with electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor and is associated with an auxiliary energy source. 13 - hatch according to the one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by cowlings arranged on either side of the mechanisms for their opening and closing and by overlapping edges of said cowlings formed by the lateral sides of the panels.  14 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the panels are partly at least in transparent or translucent material and optionally with several layers of material.  15 - hatch according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by at least one shoe connected to the nut and bearing on the housing containing the drive screw of this nut.