GB2265456A

GB2265456A - System for exhausting fire smoke by reversing axial flow fan of an air conditioning unit

Info

Publication number: GB2265456A
Application number: GB9206692A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chuen-Shen Hsieh
Original assignee: HSIEH CHUEN SHEN
Current assignee: HSIEH CHUEN SHEN
Priority date: 1992-03-27
Filing date: 1992-03-27
Publication date: 1993-09-29
Also published as: GB9206692D0

Abstract

A fire smoke exhaust system comprises a fire detector to inform a fire alarm station of a fire causing it to give alarm to each floor through a station-floor interconnecting system, to cut off an air conditioning unit in a building, and to turn on a generator, a power switching control and an anti-phase switching control, said anti-phase switching control being triggered by said fire alarm station to reverse an axial flow fan 8 in an air outlet from an air supply conduit 91 of said air conditioning system causing it to suck in smoke for exhaust out of said building through an exhaust conduit 10, the conduits 91, 10 including check valves 11, 12 which open in the same direction. <IMAGE>

Description

FIRE SMOKE EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR EXHAUSTING FIRE SMOKE BY REVERSING AXIAL FLOW FANS OF AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fire smoke exhaust system. More particularly, the present inventi.on relates to a fire smoke exhaust. system for exhausting fire smoke from a building by reversing the axial flow fans of an air conditioning system.

According to statistics, most fire victims were caused to die by fire smoke but not by the fire.

Therefore, avoiding from sucking in fire smoke greatly increases the chance to survive a fire. Further, when a fire happens, fire smoke may block up the sight, causing emergency rescue and fire escape difficult. Since modern multi-story buildings are generally made from fire-resisting building materials that are not easy to burn, it becomes more important to expel fire smoke from a building during a fire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present. invention has been accomplished under the aforesaid circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fire smoke exhaust system which utilizes the air conditioning system of a building for expelling fire smoke arisen from a fire.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fire smoke exhaust system which is inexpensive to install, occupies less space, and can be concealed from the sight without obstructing the upholstery of a building.

According to the present invention, there is provided a fire smoke exhaust system which is generally comprised of a fire detector to inform a fire alarm station of a fire causing it to give alarm to each floor through a station-floor interconnecting system, to cut off an air conditioning unit in a building, and to turn on a generator, a power switching control and an antiphase switching control. The anti-phase switching control turned on by the fiVe alarm station upon the detection of a fire by the fire detector, to reverse an axial flow fans in the triple outlet air conduit of the air conditioning system causing it to suck in outside smoke into the air conduit for exhaust out of the building through an exhaust pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure of the present invention; Fig. 1-A is a plan view showing the installation of the present invention in a building; Fig. 2 is a cross section of a triple outlet air conduit according to the present invention, showing that a current of air is delivered out of the air outlet hole of the air outlet pipe thereof through an axial flow fan; Fig. 3 is another cross section of the triple air conduit of Fig. 2, showing that outside smoke is sucked into the triple outlet air conduit for exhaust through.the smoke outlet pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Refe'rrinq to Fig. 1-A, the present invention comprises at least one fire detector 1 in each unit zone on each floor in a building, a fire alarm station 2 and a generator 3 on the ground or base floor of such building, a power switching control 4 in each unit zone on each floor in such building, a station-floor interconnection system 6, an air conditioning unit 7, and at least one anti-phase switching control 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, the fire detector 1 sends a signal to the fire alarm station 2 upon detection of a fire. The fire alarm station 2 ihforms people in every unit zone in each floor of the fire through the station-floor interconnecting system 6 so as to cut off the air-conditioning system 7. Upon detection of a fire, the fire detector 1 simultaneously sends a signal to the generator 3 causing it to provide a working voltage to the power switching control 4 and the anti-phase switching control 5, and therefore, the axial flow fan 8 in the air conditioning unit 7 is electrically connected to the generator 3, and caused by the anti-phase switching control 5 to rotate in a reverse direction (see Figs. 2 and 3) for exhausting fire smoke.

Referring to Figs.. 2 and 3, a triple outlet air conduit 9 for the air conditioning unit 7 is comprised of an air intake pipe 91 connected to the air conditioning unit 7, an air outlet pipe 92, and a smoke exhaust pipe 10 connected to the exhaust system of the building in which the present invention is installed.

An axial flow fan 8 is fastened in the air outlet pipe 92. When the air conditioning unit 7 is in operation, a filtered and regulated current of air is delivered through the axial' flow fan 8 out of the outlet hole 93 of the air outlet pipe 92 for each unit zone in each floor of the building. Further, check valves 11, 12 are respectively fastened in the air intake pipe 91 and the smoke exhaust pipe 10 of the triple outlet air conduit 9 in the same direction. When the anti-phase switching control 5 is triggered, the axial flow fan 8 is caused to rotate in a reverse direction for sucking outside air and smoke into the triple outlet air conduit 9. Because of the arrangement of the check valves 11, 12, fire smoke is sucked in the triple outlet air conduit 9 by the axial flow fan 8, and exhausted out of the building through the exhaust system A (not shown) thereof via the smoke exhaust pipe 10.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fire smoke exhaust system comprising a fire detector, a fire alarm station, a generator, a power switching control, an anti-phase switching control, a station-floor interconnecting system, an air conditioning unit, an axial flow fan, an air conduit for said air conditioning unit, said fire detector being to inform said fire alarm station of a fire, causing it to give alarm to each floor through said station-floor interconnecting system, to cut off said air conditioning unit, and to turn on said generator and said power switching control and said anti-phase switching control, and characterized in that said triple outlet air conduit is comprised of an air intake pipe connected to said air conditioning unit, an air outlet pipe, and a smoke exhaust pipe connected to an exhaust system of the building in which the floor smoke exhaust system is installed, said air intake pipe and said smoke exhaust pipe each having a check valve fastened in the same direction, said air outlet pipe having an axial flow fan therein, said axial flow fan being caused to rotate in one direction for delivering a current of air from said air conditioning unit to the space in said building upon the operation of said air conditioning unit, or caused to rotate in a reverse direction for sucking in outside smoke into said smoke exhaust pipe for exhaust out of said building.

2. A fire smoke exhaust system according to claim 1 and as herein described.

3 A fire smoke exhaust system as herein described with reference to. and as shown in. the accompanying drawings.