GB2360703A

GB2360703A - Fire curtain system

Info

Publication number: GB2360703A
Application number: GB0007908A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Julian S Shen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-31
Filing date: 2000-03-31
Publication date: 2001-10-03
Also published as: DE10017377A1; GB0007908D0

Abstract

The curtain 4 is housed in a protection case 3 when inoperative and descends to floor level under fire and/or smoke conditions. Typically the curtain 4 is associated with a hose device 41 which fills with water and aids the descent of and cools the curtain. Sprinklers 21 in the casing protect the curtain and help to extinguish any fire.

Description

2360703 The present invention relates to fire and smoke control equipment,

and more particularly, to fire and smoke control equipment which can isolate a fire source and smoke source and keep the fire and smoke from being widely spread.

In the fire control regulations of several countries, some demand to separate the fire area from the non-fire area when a fire breaks out in order to isolate the fire and smoke and to keep the fire from spreading and to avoid smoke damage. Conventionally, a gate or an electric shutter are applied to accomplish the separation. However, the gate or the electric shutter are usually incapable of sealing the fire scene because of obstacles is on the ground. And even more, the gate or the electric shutter may block an escape passage, injure the escapee and even death.

Reaardina the above disadvantages, there is a need to provide safe and reliable fire and smoke control equipment which is a main object of the present invention.

An object of the present invention is to provide safe and reliable fire and smoke control equipment which uses a fire curtain that can be extended to the ground from a high place such as a ceiling, the heights of an entrance, exit on passage, automatically or manually, to isolate and restrict the fire source and smoke source when a fire breaks out. The equipment of the present invention is less affected by obstacles on the ground, and more US-2676 importantly, the escapee can lift the fire curtain to run away from the fire scene, the passage will not be obstructed, and injury or death can be prevented.

In an embodiment, the fire and smoke control equipment of the present invention further comprises a hose device which is supplied with water and is capable of reducing the temperature of the fire curtain to keep the fire curtain from being destroyed at a Illigh temperature. The Z_ Z7 containment effect can be ensured. Furthermore, the fire curtain comprises a plurality of water outlets which connect to the hose device for spraying water. The fire control effect can be improved and the fire curtain will be more thoroughly protective. In the equipment, the fire curtain further comprises a water draining plug for draining water still in the hose device after the fire ceases.

In the other embodiment, the fire and smoke control equipment of the present invention further comprises a ground mask which ensures containment through better contact between the fire curtain and the ground.

The disclosed fire and smoke control equipment of the present invention can be applied in a public place which is required to be separated into several fire control regions, such as a shopping mall, an exhibition hall, a market, and so on. The equipment also can be applied to separate a warehouse of a factory.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- U.. PTSJA.\USzis-2676.doc Fig. 1 depicts fire and smoke control equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the fire curtain is received in a protection case; FiCI. 2 depicts a perspective,dew of the fire and smoke control equipment, in which the protection case comprises a locking means; Fig. 3 depicts the other embodiment mode of the fire and smoke control equipment according to the present mivention, in which the fire curtain is extended to the ground and commences spraying water; Fig. 4 depicts the other side of the fire and smoke control equipment shown in Fillr and Fill,. 5 depicts fire and smoke control equipment according to the other embodiment of the present invention.

Fire and smoke control equipment 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. The fire and smoke control equipment 1 includes a water pipe assembly 2, a protection case 3 and a fire curtain 4 (as shown in Fig. -3)). Ordinarily, the fire curtain 4 is received in the protection case 3. The fire and smoke control equipment 1 is connected to a common fire control system which may. for example, include a valve 5 such as a deluge valve or a diaphragm differential pressure valve, a pressured water pipe assembly 6, a sprinkler 7, a solenoid valve 8, a manual open valve 9 and a fire control panel 10. as shown in Fig.

1. The water pipe assembly 2 of the fire and smoke control equipment 1 is connected to the fire control system which receives water from a water source and supplies water,.shen a fire breaks out.

The protection case 3 is placed at a certain high level of a building, such as the height of an entrance or an exit, and a ceiling. The protection case 3 is for receiving the fire curtain 4, for vermin protection and avoiding It) 1,7Sizt.s.-26 76.doc US-2676 -4- other contamination, and for maffitaining good condition. The fire curtain 4 is made of a fireproof substance such as a complex thermal- resist fiber blended material and has a top end and a bottom end. The top end is fixed to the protection case 3 and the bottom end is free to move downwards.

As shown Mi Fig. 4, when a fire breaks out, the fire curtain 4 is extended to ground automatically or manually to isolate the fire source or smoke source by opening the protection case 3. The protection case 3 Will be opened by forces of pressured water in the water pipe assembly 2 or by unlocking a locking means 31 which is shown in Fig. 2. Wien the protection case 3 is opened, the fire curtain 4 inside will be released and extended downwards. The locking means 311 can be a device which performs a function of locking, such as a normal lock or an electromagnetic lock. The locking means 31 can be unlocked manually or automatically. In an automatic operation, the fire control panel 7 receives a fire signal when a fire breaks out and sends a start signal to the valve 5 and the locking means 31 which hereto is an electromagnetic valve. Mliereby, the protection case 3 is opened and the valve 5 releases water to the fire curtain and water starts to spray.

Fig. 3 shows the other embodiment mode of the fire and smoke control equipment 1 of the present invention, in which the fire curtain 4 is extended to the ground and commences spraying water. In various embodiments, the fire curtain 4 further comprises a hose device 41. The hose device 41 connects the water pipe assembly 2 and is filled with water for reducing temperature of the fire curtain 4 and for preventing damage of the fire curtain 4 in a high temperature environment. Therefore, the containment effect of the fire and smoke control equipment 1 of the present invention will be ensured. Furthermore, the hose device 41 which is filled with water adds weight to the fire curtain 4 and consequently enhances the hanging stability of the fire curtain 4. The fire curtain 4 is kept from U:,PTSIJAMUSlus-2676.doc US-2676 -5 - swiname, caused by air which result from temperature differences in the fire scene. Therefore, the isolation effect will be flirther ensured.

The hose device 41 is made of one or several hoses twined and enveloped in the fire curtain 4. When pressured water from the water pipe assembly 2 comes into the hose device 41, the water helps the fire curtain 4 to rapidly extend downwards. The fire curtain 4 further comprises a water draining plug 42 near the bottom end. The water draining plug 42 allows the fire curtain 4 to release water in the hose device 41 when the fire ceases.

The water pipe assembly 2 further comprises a plurality of sprinklers 21 for spraying out water to reduce temperature and to protect the fire curtain 4.

In the other embodiment, the fire curtain 4 of the present invention further comprises a ground-contact mask 43 at the bottom end of the fire curtain 4. The around mask 43 helps the fire curtain 4 to hang smoothly and to make better contact with the ground. The containment effect will is be improved. The ground mask 43 is made of complex rubber and has a height of 1.5 em or above. Since the fire curtain 4 is flexible, it will accommodate fluctuations of the ground and therefore interference resulting from obstacles on the ground can be avoided. Fig. 4 shows the other side of the fire and smoke control equipment 1 in Fig. 3) As shown in Fig. 5, in a still further embodiment of the present invention, the fire curtain 4 further comprises a plurality of openings 44 for spraying out water. The water outlets 44 are connected to the hose device 41, capable of improving fire control effect and capable of providing the fire curtain 4 with more thorough protection.

W Now take an example to describe the action of the equipment of the invention. Under normal circumstances, as shown in Fig. 1, the valve 5 stops pressured water. When a fire breaks out, the sprinkler 7 and the solenoid valve 8 turn on. The valve 5 is opened and the locking means 3 1 is unlocked to open the protection case 3. Meanwhile, pressured water U. PT.SVAMU.S",tis-2676.doc US-2676 -6 enters the hose device 41 and the fire curtain 4 is forced to extend and hanc, c to the ground, as shown in Fig. 33. The sprinklers 21 also spray out water to extinguish the fire, dispel smoke and protect the fire curtain 4. The a1 11 ef ct ons wi fectively confine the fire in a limited area and moreover will help to extinguish the fire and keep the fire and smoke from spreading.

When the fire is under control or ceases, the water drainina plug 332 is opened on to release water in the hose device 41 and empty the hose device 4 1. The fire curtain 42 is then packed into the protection case 3 for the next use.

By the fire and smoke control equipment disclosed in the present invention, a more reliable fire scene containment is provided and the escape passage is kept from being obstructed to secure the escapee's life.

The typical embodiments of this invention have been sufficiently described in the above examples and descriptions. Though special terms

1 are used, they are merely for general and descriptive meanings and not for a restrictive purpose. It should be understood that the scopes of the invention are intended to be protected by the following claims.

U: PT.:'J.4iV!Yiii.Y-2676,doc

Claims

1. A fire and smoke control equipment, comprising:

a protection case; and a fire curtain havinga top end and a bottom end, the fire curtain received in the protection case with the top end thereof being fixed in the 1 protection case and the bottom end thereof capable of moving downward; 1 thereby when the case is placed at a certain high level of a building. the fire 1 - curtain can expand by moving the bottom end of the curtain downward up to a (Tround level.

t7 The fire and smoke control equipment of Claim 1, further comprising a water pipe assembly connectable to a water source for supplying water to the fire curtain.

3. The fire and smoke control equipment of Claim 2,,".lierein the water pipe assembly further comprises a plurality of sprinklers connecting thereto for spraying water outward.

4. The fire and smoke control equipment of Claim 2 or 3, wherein the fire curtain further comprises a hose device which connects to the water pipe assembly.

5. The fire and smoke control equipment of Claini4, wherein the fire curtain further comprises a plurality of water releasing openings formed thereon in connection with the hose device for spraying water outward.

6. The fire and smoke control equipment of Claim 4 or 5, wherein the fire curtain further comprises a water draining plug adjacent to the bottom end.

7. The fire and smoke control equipment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fire curtain further comprises a ground mask extending from the bottom end of the fire curtain.

8. Fire and smoke control apparatus constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore descried with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.