FR3052672B1 - CONTROL UNIT FOR CONTROLLING A FIREPROOF VALVE OR A SMOKE EXHAUST SHUTTER COMPRISING AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a control unit for a fire damper comprising: • an incoming shaft; An outgoing shaft coupled to the valve; A gear train (5) coupling the incoming and outgoing axes in rotation; A spring (8) biasing said incoming axle, gear train (5), outgoing axle to a safety position; Locking means (4) acting on the incoming axle, the gear train (5), the outgoing axle or the valve to allow the valve to be held in the locked position against the force of said spring ( 8); • an electronic circuitry for controlling the locking means (4) between an active position with the valve in the locked position, and an alarm position with the valve released and moved to the safety position by said spring (8); Said electronic circuitry comprises a switch integrated in the circuit, modifying the signal protocol to operate the locking means (4).

Description

CONTROL UNIT FOR CONTROLLING A CUT-OFF VALVE OR A SMOKE EXHAUST SHUTTER COMPRISING AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY

Technical area

The present invention relates to a control unit for controlling a fire damper or a smoke evacuation shutter, in particular a control unit comprising an actuating mechanism for opening and closing the shutter or shutter when input of external triggers.

Background of the invention

Fire dampers and smoke evacuation shutters are a mandatory safety feature in large buildings and are commonly coupled with monitoring systems to control and operate the valve or shutter position. a central point of the building or in an adjoining emergency room.

To facilitate the monitoring and control of different fire dampers or shutters, it is known to equip the fire damper or shutter of control units comprising a mechanism for electrically closing the fire damper or opening the door. shutter in the case of a test event or an alarm. In the past, several of these control units have been developed on the basis of different control protocols. In France, two main protocols exist, one of which is based on closing the fire damper and opening the smoke evacuation shutter when supplying an electrical signal to the control unit and another protocol based on interrupting a signal at the control unit.

Based on the chosen protocol, a different type of control unit must be installed on each fire damper or smoke evacuation shutter. A disadvantage of the coexistence of the two protocols is that service providers and firewall installation companies need to know what kind of protocol is used when installing control units or when replacing control units and must have control units of both types in stock at all times, as the installation of a control unit of an incorrect type would lead to non-operation of the fire damper and thus create dangerous situations.

To overcome the aforementioned drawback, there is a need on the market for a fire damper control unit and / or smoke evacuation shutter that can be used with both protocols.

The present invention addresses the aforementioned need of the market by providing

ICG011155 EN Depot Texte.docx a control unit for controlling a fire damper or a smoke evacuation shutter, said control unit comprising:

• an incoming axis;

An outgoing axle adapted to be coupled to the flap or shutter to open or close;

• a gear train coupling the incoming and outgoing axes in rotation;

A spring urging said incoming axle, gear train, outgoing axle or valve / shutter towards a safety position of the valve or the shutter;

Locking means acting on the incoming axle, the gear train, the outgoing axle or the valve / shutter in order to keep the valve / shutter in the locked position against the force of said spring;

An electronic circuitry for controlling the locking means between an active position, in which the shutter / shutter can be kept in the locked position, and an alarm position, in which the shutter / shutter is released and is moved to the safety position by said spring; characterized in that said electronic circuitry comprises a switch integrated in the circuit, allowing the modification of the signal protocol to actuate the locking means.

Summary of the invention

The control unit preferably comprises a drive unit coupled to the incoming axis for cocking the shutter.

The locking means preferably comprise a solenoid and a power supply / signal for the locking means.

Preferably, the control unit comprises a power supply separate from the power supply / signal of the locking means.

According to a preferred embodiment, the circuitry is configured to enable activation of the locking means to release the valve when supplying an electrical signal to the supply of the locking means when the switch is in a first position and to enable activation of the locking means to release the valve during a power interruption at the power supply of the locking means when the switch is in a second position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the circuitry comprises a capacitor coupled to the solenoid.

The invention relates in particular to a control unit for controlling a fire damper or a smoke evacuation shutter, said control unit comprising:

• an incoming axis;

An outgoing axle adapted to be coupled to the flap or shutter to open or close;

ICG011155 EN Depot Text.docx • a gear train coupling the incoming and outgoing axes in rotation;

A spring urging said incoming axle, gear train, outgoing axle or valve / shutter towards a safety position of the valve;

Locking means acting on the incoming axle, the gear train, the outgoing axle or the valve / shutter in order to keep the valve / shutter in the locked position against the force of said spring;

An electronic circuitry for controlling the locking means between an active position, in which the shutter / shutter can be kept in the locked position, and an alarm position, in which the shutter / shutter is released and is moved to the safety position by said spring;

said electronic circuitry comprises a switch integrated in the circuit, allowing modification of the signal protocol to operate the locking means.

Alternatively, the control unit comprises a drive unit coupled to the incoming axis to arm the valve / shutter.

According to one variant, the locking means are actuated by a solenoid.

According to another variant, the control unit comprises a power supply / signal for the locking means.

According to yet another variant, the control unit comprises a power supply for the power unit, said power supply of the motor being separated from the power supply of the locking means.

According to a variant, the circuitry being configured to allow the activation of the locking means to release the valve during the supply of an electrical signal to the power supply of the locking means when the switch is in a first position and to allow activating the locking means to release the valve during an interruption of energy at the power supply of the locking means when the switch is in a second position.

According to another variant, the circuitry comprises a capacitor coupled to the solenoid.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the housing of a smoke evacuator or a fire damper.

Fig. 2 schematically shows the gear train and the locking means of a control unit according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cross section of FIG. 2.

detailed description

ICG011155 EN Depot Text.docx

A control unit according to the present invention for controlling a fire damper or a smoke evacuation shutter is unique in that it can be operated according to two different protocols to activate the fire damper or the smoke evacuation shutter, so that a simple switch on the control unit allows switching between operating protocols.

As the control unit according to the invention can be used for both fire dampers commonly installed in ventilation ducts and for switching from an open position to a closed position in the event of a fire for to prevent the spread of smoke and / or fire through the ventilation ducts, and the smoke evacuation shutters commonly installed between a room and a smoke evacuation duct and intended to move from a closed position to a open position in the case of the generation of smoke in the room concerned to evacuate the smoke of the room concerned, both the fire damper and the smoke evacuation shutter will be designated by valve in the present application .

The control unit comprises an outgoing shaft to be coupled to the valve to open and / or close the valve and an incoming shaft to be actuated (by hand or by means of a motor) to close and / or open the valve (in position armed, closed for a smoke evacuation shutter and open for a fire damper).

As is commonly known in the art of fire damper valves and smoke evacuation shutters, the inbound and outgoing shafts are rotatably coupled via a gear train, usually a gear train of a plurality of gears. interacting. As is usual, a spring acts on the gear train or on the incoming or outgoing axis, by biasing the outgoing axis in rotation in the direction of a drive of the valve in the alarm position, that is, ie closed for a fire damper and open for a smoke evacuation shutter. The movement of the valve in the alarm position is prevented by the locking means which block the rotation of the outgoing axle against the force applied by the spring. According to the present invention, the locking means act on the gear train of the control unit. The locking means preferably comprises a latch which is controlled by an unlocking mechanism comprising a solenoid acting on the latch which, in turn, acts on the gear train.

The unlocking mechanism as such controls the disengagement of the locking means of the incoming axle or the gear train to allow the outgoing axle to rotate to the alarm position. The operation of the unlocking mechanism, in particular a solenoid, is preferably obtained by an electronic circuitry. The circuitry regulates the electrical power exerted on the solenoid to change its position between a

ICG011155 EN Depot Text.docx engagement position, blocking the valve in the armed position, that is, open for a fire damper and closed for a smoke evacuation shutter, and a non-engagement position in which the locking of the incoming axle or the gear train is interrupted.

The circuitry includes a signal receiver, for example a pair of connectors for receiving control wires coupled to a control panel; a microprocessor programmed to convert an incoming signal from the signal receiver into an electrical signal directing the unlocking mechanism such as the solenoid; and optionally a sensor for detecting the position of the valve or the outgoing axis, the sensor being coupled to the microprocessor to signal the position of the valve to the alarm center.

In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry further comprises a power source or connectors for coupling the control unit to an external power source and an electrically driven motor driven by the microprocessor and coupled to the axis. incoming to rotate the axis entering in a direction against the force exerted by the spring in the direction of cocking the valve.

According to the invention, the circuitry further comprises a switch coupled to the microprocessor for modifying the operating protocol of the microprocessor and, consequently, the operating mode of the locking means. The operating protocols according to which the microprocessor can operate are a first protocol and a second protocol. According to the first protocol, the control unit, when in the armed position, does not receive a signal or energy. In the case of an alarm, an electrical signal is transmitted to the control unit which, when received by the microprocessor, triggers the disengagement of the locking means of the incoming axle or the gear train, releasing in this way the valve which will move in the alarm position by the force of the expansion spring. According to the second protocol, the control unit is constantly powered, ideally at a level sufficient to keep the microprocessor operational and, at the time of a power failure, the microprocessor activates the locking means by means of the unlocking mechanism to disengage the incoming axle or the gear train, thereby releasing the valve which will move to the alarm position by the force of the expansion spring.

In the latter case, the energy required to activate the unlocking mechanism (for example a solenoid) is preferably stored in the control unit by implementing a capacitor in the circuitry which is charged during normal operation. (powered) and which discharges to activate the unlocking mechanism. As such, the unlock mechanism once the capacitor is charged, does not consume

ICG011155 EN Depot Text.docx additional energy during normal operation (armed state) and the overall energy consumption of the control unit may be limited. An example of a circuitry for controlling a solenoid by means of a capacitor is disclosed, for example, in JP 2006 187 524 and KR 100 276 862 and is described in more detail below.

The control unit, as described above, is preferably enclosed in a watertight and dust-tight housing, so that the outgoing axle is accessible from outside the housing. It is preferred that the switch is also accessible from outside the housing as well as the connectors and if necessary the power supply for the electric drive motor. The power supply of the motor may be provided by a battery, in which case a battery connector coupled to the circuitry is preferably accessible from outside the housing.

By providing an electric battery connector connected to the electrical circuitry that powers the motor, the (re) arming of the valve can be done even in the case where the power supply of the network is not available, by means of the energy provided by a battery. In addition, by providing connectors that can be reached from outside the housing, the housing must not be opened to connect a battery or replace an empty battery.

In one embodiment of the present invention, outside of the housing of the control unit, there may be provided a slot comprising battery connectors in which a battery can be removably attached so that the battery can be kept in place during tests or during (re) arming of the valve.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the battery connector may be adapted to contact a battery, but without yet connecting said battery to the battery connector. In this case, any type or size of battery can be used as long as it provides sufficient power and adjusts to the connector by manual force.

Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a slot 2 can be provided in the housing 1 of the control unit which is designed so that the battery can be at least partially inserted for an easy and effective connection, but not attached thereto. The battery must therefore be kept in contact with the connectors by a manual force. An advantage of this situation is that a battery can not be left in the slot after (re) arming the valve, thereby avoiding low battery problems. In addition, this battery can simply be part of the technician's tool kit.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 1 of the control can be further designed so that the battery slot 2 can be closed by means of a

ICG011155 EN Depot Text.docx cover 3, preferably locked on the cover, to keep the slot away from moisture and dust.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the housing of the smoke evacuator or fire damper can be sealed against water and dust. In particular, the housing can be protected against entry of dust and water ingress as a result of splashing or spraying water. Preferably, the housing can meet a degree of protection IP42 or higher according to IEC60529 standard.

In an embodiment according to the present invention, there may be provided a smoke evacuation valve or a fire damper including an engine activation switch for activating the engine after connecting a battery to the battery connector. However, preferably, the connection of the battery to the battery connector can automatically trigger an activation of the engine. The electrical circuit supplying the motor can then be designed so that, if a power supply of the network is available, the motor can (re) arm the valve by connecting the network and, in the case where the power of the network is not available, the motor can be powered using the energy of a battery.

In another embodiment according to the present invention, the smoke evacuator or fire damper housing comprises a microcontroller coupled to the electrical circuit for selecting the power source of the motor. The microcontroller may decide to use the energy of the network or the energy of a battery to move the valve in the armed position depending on the availability of the respective power source. Preferably, the microcontroller can choose the network as a source of energy for the motor in the case where the energy of the network is detected. As a result, even when a battery is connected to the battery connector and network power is also available or switched during (re) arming, network power will be used to (re) arm the valve.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a smoke evacuation or fire damper may be provided, wherein the connection of a battery with the battery connector automatically triggers the microcontroller to activate the motor. If a power supply of the network is available, the connection of the battery triggers the microcontroller to activate the motor and the microcontroller decides the (re) arming of the valve by means of the energy of the network. In the case where the power of the network is not available and the battery triggers the microcontroller to activate the motor, the microcontroller decides to power the motor using the battery energy.

In addition, a smoke evacuation or fire damper valve according to the present invention can include any mechanical type of actuation of

ICG011155 EN Depot Text.docx flapper used in conventional smoke evacuators or fire dampers. Preferably, to ensure a sufficiently rapid movement of the valve from the armed position to the emergency position, the valve actuation mechanism is biased by a spring combined with an electrically driven solenoid release mechanism 14 on a means. locking which cooperates with the incoming axis or the gear train.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, the unlocking mechanism comprises a latch 4 interacting with the gear train 5, the incoming axis or the axis leaving the control unit, said latch 4 being located on an actuator body 6 integrated in the control unit and having a bistable position (rotation about an axis 7), a locking position, in which the latch 4 locks the gear train and an unlocking position, in which the lock disengages from the train 5 (in Fig. 2, the actuator body 6 is in the locking position).

The actuator body is biased by a spring 8 having a bistable position, which spring 8 holds the actuator body 6 in one of its bistable positions when the lock 4 is moved over a stroke length L1, said length L1 being longer small as the distance L2 between two adjacent teeth of a toothed wheel with which the latch cooperates or said length L1 being smaller than the depth D2 of the tooth or teeth of the toothed wheel with which the latch cooperates.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the actuator body 6 preferably comprises a secondary arm 9 and a mechanical unlocking mechanism comprising a notch biased by a spring 11 movable between a first position, in which the notch 10 interacts with the secondary arm 9, thereby forcing the actuator body into the unlocking position, and a second position, wherein the notch allows the secondary arm to move to a position corresponding to the armed position of the actuator body.

The notch 10 is preferably biased by a spring 11 coupled to a fuse (thermomechanical) 12. The rupture / melting of the fuse causing the biasing by the spring 11 of the notch 10 in the first position, thereby forcing the actuator body 6 in the unlocking position.

Alternatively or additionally, the notch is biased by a spring (which may be the same spring 11) coupled to a push / pull button 13 accessible from outside the control unit, the operation of the push / pull button causing the spring 11 to urge the notch into the first position, which has the effect of forcing the actuator body 6 into the unlocking position.

Preferably and as shown in FIG. 3, the notch urged by the spring 11 cooperates with both the push button 13 and the fuse 12. In the

ICG011155 EN Depot Text.docx case of a pull button, this button would cooperate with the notch requested by the spring 11 '.

The actuator body cooperating with an electrical unlocking means allows the movement of the actuator body from the locking position to the unlocking position.

In the non-energized state, the solenoid 14 maintains the actuator body 6 and, consequently, the latch 4 and the valve in the armed position after being armed by the activation of the engine. This electrically driven solenoid unlocking mechanism typically includes a coil and a movable metal rod also known as a plunger that performs linear movement within the coil, and a switching device connecting the coil to a capacitor. charged in the case of an alarm. When the capacitor provides power to the winding, the plunger is retracted by the magnetic force unlocking the latch which holds the mechanism biased by the spring, the mechanism is activated and the flap moves from the armed position to the position of the spring. 'emergency. Typically, the power supply to the winding of the solenoid can be obtained in two ways: in the case of an alarm, one or the other energy of the network is switched to provide an electric signal charging the capacitor, the everything being followed by the connection of the winding with the charged capacitor; one or the other energy of the network is disconnected, the whole being followed by the connection of the winding with the capacitor already charged.

Preferably, the solenoid can be switched by the electrical circuit so that it is only controlled by the signal and not by the battery. In this way, when connecting the battery with the battery connector, the motor can be triggered to move the valve to the armed position without affecting the solenoid. The solenoid plunger will remain in its inactivated (armed) position ready to be energized in the event of an emergency. When removing the battery again, the solenoid will not remain affected either. In addition, smoke evacuators or fire dampers according to the present invention can be equipped with a thermoelectric fuse interrupting the power supply when the temperature in the air duct in connection with the evacuator or the shutter exceeds a temperature limit, for example 72 ° C, or with a thermomechanical fuse mechanically releasing the mechanism biased by the spring when the temperature exceeds a certain limit. Thus, the mechanism by which the valve moves away from the armed position in the emergency position can be activated by a solenoid energy pulse or by an interruption of the energy or automatically by the fusion of a thermal fuse. because of the temperature limit exceeded in the pipe or by a mechanical action of pushing or pulling a button.

ICG011155 EN Depot Text.docx

Preferably, the actuator body 6 comprises a reset latch 15 (shown in Fig. 2) cooperating with a pin 16 provided on one of the gear wheels of the gear train 4. During the resetting of the valve by rotation of the incoming axis, the pin 16, when it passes through the reset latch, moves the actuator body 6 in its armed position (unless it is forced by the mechanical or electrical unlocking mechanism) , thus ensuring the correct cocking of the valve and the activation of the locking means so that after cocking of the valve, the gear train is prevented from rotating in a direction moving the valve to the safety position again, unless the unlocking mechanism is activated.

In another embodiment, smoke evacuators or fire dampers according to the present invention may be equipped with a visual indicator, for example a light emitting diode (LED) indicating the state of the (re) arming process.

In addition, the smoke evacuation valves or fire dampers according to the present invention may be equipped with a visual or audible indicator when the valve is not successfully armed.

The microcontroller can furthermore be equipped to distinguish between a weak battery and a mechanical obstruction when the valve is not armed successfully. In the case where the microcontroller detects that the flap does not arrive in the specified position to be actuated successfully during an alarm, while the battery is not low or that the power supply of the network is available, the microcontroller will indicate a mechanical obstruction.

In a further embodiment, there is provided a ventilation system that uses smoke evacuation valves or fire dampers as described in the aforementioned embodiments.

Claims (5)

A control unit for controlling a fire damper or a smoke evacuation shutter, said control unit comprising: • an incoming axis; An outgoing axle adapted to be coupled to the flap or shutter to open or close; A gear train (5) coupling the incoming and outgoing axes in rotation; A spring (8) urging said incoming axle, gear train (5), outgoing axle or valve / shutter towards a safety position of the valve; Locking means (4) acting on the incoming axle, the gear train (5), the outgoing axle or the valve / shutter to allow the valve / shutter to be held in locked position against the force of said spring (8); An electronic circuitry for controlling the locking means (4) between an active position, in which the valve / shutter can be kept in the locked position, and an alarm position, in which the valve / shutter is released and is moved in safety position by said spring (8); characterized in that said electronic circuitry comprises a switch integrated in the circuit, allowing modification of the signal protocol to operate the locking means (4); the control unit comprises a power supply / signal for the locking means (4) the control unit comprises a power supply for the power unit, said power supply of the motor being separated from the power supply of the locking means (4). 2. Control unit according to claim 1, comprising a drive unit coupled to the incoming axis to arm the valve / shutter. 3. Control unit according to claim 1, wherein the locking means (4) are actuated by a solenoid (14). 4. Control unit according to claim 1, the circuitry being configured to enable activation of the locking means (4) to release the valve during the supply of an electrical signal to the power supply of the locking means (4). ) when the switch is in a first position and to enable activation of the locking means (4) to release the valve during a power interruption at the power supply ICG011155 EN Rr Text.docx electrical locking means (4) when the switch is in a second position. 5. Control unit according to claim 3, the circuitry comprising a capacitor coupled to the solenoid (14).