GB2396651A - Device and assembly for shattering a window - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly, device and method allow a window of, for example, a rail vehicle, to be shattered in emergency situations. The device comprises an actuator 2 and two or more separate hammers, 18 the actuator applying an impulse to the hammers when operated, the hammers being substantially independently arranged so that each transmits and impulse separately to the edge of its respective pane. This enables reliable breaking of double glazing.

Description

GB 2396651 A continuation (72) Inventor(s): Martin Charles Price Nicholas

Dean Swift (74) Agent and/or Address for Service: Haseltine Lake & Co Imperial House, 15-19 Kingsway, LONDON, WC2B BUD, United Kingdom

239665 1

-1- DEVICE AND ASSEMBLY FOR SHATTERING A WINDOW

The present invention relates to a device and assembly for shattering a window. The invention may be 5 used in numerous industrial and domestic applications and is of particular relevance for breaking windows in an emergency situation.

In particular, the invention has application in shattering windows to allow escape from or emergency 10 movement between sections of vehicles following a crash, fire or other emergency situation. It may equally be applied for aeroplanes, submarines, cars, trucks, buses or other powered or even unpowered vehicles such as caravans. Furthermore, the invention 15 may be used to allow quick entrance or exit from buildings and other permanent constructions or rooms thereof. Primarily, however, the invention finds application in allowing emergency exit from rail 20 vehicles, an area which has recently received much attention due to accidents and fires on the public railway network.

One commonly used safety device to allow emergency exit from an endangered rail carriage is a hammer 25 (possibly including some form of spring-loading), which is normally stored behind a transparent panel to allow use only in emergency, but may alternatively be attached to a window pane. To break a sheet of toughened glass, such a hammer needs a sharp point and 30 the user must strike the window pane with some considerable force on the main window surface to shatter the window.

Rail vehicles are generally double glazed and therefore having broken the first pane, the user must 35 strike the window pane again to brake the second pane of the window which is arranged in parallel with the

-2- first. This leads to the additional problem that the hammer point is blunted from having struck the first pane and may not function as well for the second stroke. Furthermore the presence of the second pane 5 and air gap between the panes may act to some extent as a reinforcement of the first pane, making this more difficult to shatter.

Another disadvantage of the prior art device when

not attached in any way to the main structure of the 10 train in use is that it can be easily dropped in the confusion of an accident and may be difficult to retrieve, in particular in smoke or amongst items displaced in a crash.

The present invention aims to overcome or at least 15 mitigate some of the disadvantages seen in the prior art. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for shattering a multiple-pane (or multiple-glazed) window, comprising an actuator and two 20 or more adjacent hammers, one for each pane, wherein the actuator applies an impulse to the hammers when operated, the hammers being substantially independently arranged so that each transmits an impulse separately to the edge of its respective pane.

25 This aspect of the invention allows an actuator to operate two hammers, thus avoiding at least some of the problems inherent in shattering a multiple-pane (normally double-pane, such as double-glazed) window.

Although in theory both hammers may act on the 30 main window surface and in this case should be arranged in such a way that one acts with some delay allowing the other to shatter the first pane before travelling through to the second pane, the main concept underlying this aspect of the invention is to shatter the panes in 35 such a manner that the efficacy of one hammer cannot be detrimentally affected by that of the adjacent parallel

l -3- hammer. This independence is achieved better if the impulse is transmitted in the plane of the window to the edge (surface) of each pane, so that both panes may be struck simultaneously.

5 A single actuator is provided. In one preferred embodiment, a single actuator comprises a single driving means, the force being transferred separately to the hammers using a plurality of transfer parts, such as bolts.

10 The actuator, for example, may comprise two or more bolts of any suitable construction, which act in parallel to transfer the impulse to the hammers.

Preferably the bolts should be constructed in such a way that at least some relative longitudinal movement 15 is allowed between them and they can thus operate the hammers independently.

Advantageously, the bolts may be constructed or arranged to be interlocking to some extent (with clearance to allow the above relative movement). This 20 interlocking may provide a certain mutual guidance on actuation and lessen rattling during vehicle movement.

A further possible effect of such a construction or arrangement is that it allows one bolt to move into contact with the other to give secondary actuation once 25 it has actuated its hammer far enough to shatter the window. Any relative movement by a distance exceeding the clearance will bring the first bolt into contact with the second bolt. This situation will occur if, for some reason, the other bolt has not travelled far 30 enough to shatter its pane (for example, if the hammer mishits or the glass is particularly tough). In this case, there will be relative movement between the bolts as the first bolt completes its stroke. The additional impulse provided by the first bolt may be sufficient to 35 shatter this second pane.

-4- The division between the bolts may be any lateral division or structure, preferably having the desired effect of allowing a second attempt to break one of the panes. 5 Further, for example, in a doublehammer device the spring retention means may be a double-hooked lever which pivots to hook over the bolt pins on assembly, in order to prime the device. In this case the user pivots the retention piece to release both bolt pins 10 and allow the spring force to fire each bolt at its hammer. Furthermore, if a hammer pivot is provided, the pivot pin may pass through both hammers of the double-

hammer device.

15 Reference herein to a window is generally to a transparent or translucent frangible panel or panels incorporated in a wall, ceiling or floor to allow light to enter. Such windows are usually of glass or transparent plastic materials. However, it is not 20 intended to exclude panels such as opaque panels which may be used as an escape hatch or any other type of frangible panel which may be required to be removed suddenly for some reason, such as ingress or egress of fluids, objects, people etc. 25 Reference herein to an impulse is to a sudden force which is suitable for shattering a frangible panel. Reference herein to the impulse being transmitted at an angle to the window is to any significant deviation from the input angle.

30 Preferably, the actuator comprises driving means and a force transfer part to transfer force from the driving means to the hammer, although the force transfer part may be omitted in more compact constructions. In preferred embodiments, however, a 35 transfer part is provided and driven ballistically in use to be "catapulted" into contact with the hammer.

-5- This prevents the transfer part slowing the action of the driving means.

The driving means may comprise an electric motor, a hydraulic or pneumatic system, an explosive charge 5 and detonator, biasing means or any other suitable means. Suitably, the driving means actuate at a high speed, for example to give a speed of between 5 and 15 metres per second. Preferably the driving means comprises an energy store such as biasing means, for 10 example in the form of a tension or compression spring.

Although the spring might be designed to be operated by the user to store the energy necessary for actuation, it is preferably arranged to store energy on assembly and, for example, be primed or retained in 15 position by spring retention means until needed. The user may then release the spring to actuate the device.

In one advantageous construction, the device includes a spring force measuring means, such as a load cell, which may be positioned at either end of the 20 spring so that the spring force acts directly or indirectly on it. The load cell can be used in device maintenance to detect any deterioration in spring force which will cause a changing or low load cell output.

The load cell may be linked to a central control panel 25 for regular checks and/or production of a warning signal if the output falls below a predetermined level.

Alternatively or additionally the output may be readable from contacts on the device body.

The transfer part preferably comprises two 30 independent bolts, which are preferably mounted in series with the biasing means and contacted directly or indirectly by the biasing means. For example, if a helical spring is the biasing means the bolts may be mounted along the longitudinal spring axis.

35 The bolts may be simply guided in their movement by their housing. Additionally or alternatively they

-6- may be guided by bolt-guiding means, such as a pin and groove or other construction. Such a pin or projection of the bolts may act together with a retention member to form the spring retention means. In this case the 5 pin and groove may also act as the bolt guiding-means.

In one preferred construction the bolts act directly as the hammers. Thus the actuator comprises driving means only and the bolts transmit the impulse to the panes of the window.

10 Each hammer of the device may include hammer retention means to retain it in its starting position when not in operation. Such means are particularly advantageous when the device is mounted in a vehicle to avoid undesirable displacement of the hammer during 15 vehicle movement. Suitably the hammer retention means comprise a spring or catch or breakable member whose retaining effect can be overcome by the impulse.

Each hammer may be of any suitable construction and may, for example, comprise a simple block of 20 material which is propelled (for example around 90 degrees in the pivoted version) from a starting position adjacent to the actuator (or its bolt) and spaced from the window pane to an actuated position contacting the pane and spaced from the bolt. Thus 25 such a hammer may be small in relation to its travelling distance and, for example, propelled in a "catapulted" manner around a track. Such an arrangement may be similar to that of the indoor game "Bagatelle", in which metal balls are launched along a 30 track using a spring which is tensioned by the player and suddenly released. Preferably, however, the hammer is of larger construction so that its weight contributes to the shattering of the window. Thus its size may be considerably greater than the travelling 35 distance between its starting position and actuated position. Its size may be defined, for example, in

terms of the dimension in the direction of travel, for example, in terms of the distance between its impulse-

receiving surface and impulse-transmitting surface.

The device may be arranged to transmit the impulse 5 without angular deviation to the window, resulting in a straight impact. Alternatively, each hammer can be arranged so that it transmits an impulse to its respective pane of the window at an angle to the impulse exerted by the actuator.

10 This embodiment allows the device to be mounted within a wall (or ceiling or floor) surrounding the window whilst still allowing easy actuation of the device by the user to strike an edge surface of the window. The angled transmission also allows the device 15 to be mounted along the edge of the window, in particular a vertical side edge, without taking up extensive space in the wall. Such positioning has advantages of simple installation and makes the device easy to locate for the user.

20 The deviation of the impulse may be any that is suitable to allow the above-mentioned effects of easy actuation and compact mounting. Preferably the impulse is transmitted at an angle transverse to the impulse exerted, for example the angle may be of between 45 and 25 145, more preferably 70 and llO degrees. Suitably, the angle is of approximately 90 degrees.

Any hammer arrangement allowing the impulse to be transmitted at an angle may be used in construction of the device; for example each hammer may pivot about a 30 point spaced from the line along which the impulse is exerted by the actuator. Alternatively, each hammer may travel in a cam track or be otherwise guided. In the former case, a pivot pin may be provided about which the hammer pivots, the pin being suitably held by 35 any mounting or housing means of the device.

-8- In one preferred embodiment the impulse-receiving and transmitting surfaces are substantially at right angles. For example, each hammer may have the general shape of a segment or quadrant of a circle and pivot 5 around the approximate centre of the circle. In this case the transmitting and receiving portions may project circumferentially from the segment, the receiving portion preferably having a rounded surface and the transmitting portion having a chisel surface 10 (i.e. the projection narrows towards a thin or sharpened contact edge) giving a contact line.

According to an assembly aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly comprising a multiple-

glazed window and a built-in device for shattering the 15 window wherein the device comprises an actuator and two or more adjacent hammers, one for each pane, the actuator applying an impulse to the hammers when operated, the hammers being substantially independently arranged so that each transmits the impulse separately 20 to the edge of its respective pane.

Preferably, the impulse is transmitted in the plane of the window, and the built-in device is arranged to the side of the window.

The assembly may incorporate any features of the 25 device as described herein.

The built-in device is preferably mounted using mounting means along an edge of the window and may suitably be parallel thereto for ease of installation.

More preferably the device is mounted parallel to the 30 vertical-edge of a window.

The built-in device might be mounted by removing at least a portion of a structural wall member and incorporating a straight-impact device (possibly in which the bolt acts as a hammer) in its place. In this 35 case, the device is mounted at an edge (surface) of the window, transverse to that edge.

- 9 - The built-in device may be arranged in such a way that the impulse is transmitted to the edge of the window along a thin line of contact. This line of contact is preferably perpendicular to the main window 5 surface.

One factor in whether the pane of glass shatters is the shape of the impulse-transmitting surface of the hammer (the portion which hits the pane). Accordingly each hammer of the device may be arranged so that it 10 transmits the impulse to its respective pane of the window along a thin line of contact.

As mentioned above, prior-art hammers are pointed.

However, if force is applied in the plane of the window to an edge surface using a single point, it has the 15 drawback that it may only cause chipping or flaking.

Without being limited to this theory, it seems that such a thin line of contact, provided for example by a chisel edge, is particularly advantageous for shattering an edge surface of a window and avoids such 20 drawbacks.

The thin line of contact may be of any suitable shape, such as wavy or jagged but is preferably substantially rectilinear.

The impulse-transmitting surface giving the line 25 of contact may be provided on an insert of hardened material in the hammer. Alternatively it may be integrally formed as part of the hammer and hardened if necessary. 30 For a better understanding of the invention embodiments of it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of 35 the device according to the invention showing the main operating components;

-10 Fig. 2 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line Z-Z of Fig. 2 of the device.

The device l for shattering a window shown in Figure l is primarily intended for shattering both panes of a double glazed window, for example, in a rail vehicle. The device comprises three main functional 10 elements: a compression spring 2 acting as a biasing means or energy store, a bolt arrangement 3 as a transfer part made up of two independent bolts 4 and 5, and a hammer arrangement 6 made up of two independent (upper and lower) hammers. In use, the spring 2 and 15 bolt arrangement 3 together form an actuator. When the spring is released from tension it fires both bolts towards the hammers at a speed of approximately ll.5 metres per second. The spring gives a force of approximately 500 N when fully compressed, having about 20 90 mm of compression.

The spring 2 is held at its end further from the hammer by crossbars 9 and positioned within an actuator housing lo. The near end of the spring (that is the end closer to the hammer) is compressed by the bolt 25 arrangement 3. The bolt arrangement comprises a generally lower (4) and an upper (5) bolt; these are extended at the end adjacent the spring to each form an end section spanning the full height of both bolts but only half the normal bolt width.

30 The shape of the bolts 4, 5 with their generally horizontal division changing to a vertical division at the spring end can be appreciated from Figures l and 3.

The function of this particular shape is to provide a certain mutual guidance. Moreover, an initial 35 substantially independent action is afforded by a clearance between lateral adjacent internal surfaces of

-11 the two bolts. Figure 1 shows the upper clearance 16 and there is a similar lower clearance. These limited clearances allow the action of one bolt to aid the other bolt at the end of travel. For example, if on 5 actuation the upper bolt 5 does not succeed in moving its hammer 8 sufficiently to break its pane, the lower bolt 4 may complete the action of the upper bolt 5.

Once the lower bolt has moved its hammer far enough to shatter its pane of glass it will come into contact 10 with the upper bolt 5 due to the adjacent internal lateral surfaces and its remaining impulse may be sufficient to break the other pane of glass.

Each of the bolt end sections has a pin 11 extending laterally from it. The pin has two 15 functions. Firstly it acts as a guiding pin and travels within the longitudinal slot 12 of the actuator housing. Secondly, and more importantly, it acts with a double-hook lever 13 to retain the spring prior to use. The lever is pivoted about a pivot pin 14 and 20 fastened over both guiding pins using hooks 15.

The shape of the lever 13 and its position before actuation are shown more clearly in Figure 2. The lever piece projects at a slight angle from the main actuator housing to allow the user to grip it and pull 25 it away from the housing, releasing the guiding pins of the bolts 11 from contact with the projection or hook 15 at its distal end.

The bolts 4, 5 travel within the actuator housing 10, being partially guided by the housing and 30 partially guided by their matching shape. They hit their respective hammers with a speed of approximately 11.5 metres per second. The hammers are provided with hammer retention means (not shown) such as a spring or catch which attaches to a hammer mounting 17 and a 35 suitable portion of the hammer such as the projection 18.

-12 The hammer structure and mounting is shown in Figures 1 and 3. Each hammer protrudes beyond its partial housing and mounting arrangement 21. It is substantially in the form of a quadrant of a circle and 5 partially hollow though bulkily built, having sizeable radial webs joining the curved exterior to the hub of the hammer about which it pivots. Webs are provided at at least either side of the quadrant and preferably at least one extra radial web is provided. A 10 circumferential projection is also positioned at either side of the quadrant for the impulse-receiving and -

transmitting surfaces. The receiving projection is curved whereas the other projection has a chisel edge as previously described. When hit on its receiving 15 surface by the bolt, the hammer rotates around pivot pin 19 to hit a pane with its chisel edge 20. It may thereby break or, in the case of a spring, extend its retention means. In operation, the hammer acts to transfer the impulse from the bolt around approximately 20 90 to the pane of the window.

The device, with or without any of the above-

mentioned variations, is to be mounted to adjacent a window in such a way that the hammer or hammers strike the edge of the pane or panes of glass. The device may 25 be mounted substantially vertically within a cavity or other wall with the lever projecting from the wall.

The construction of the device according to the invention allows it to be mounted along an edge of the window whilst still giving easy actuation. Furthermore 30 the majority of the device is hidden from view to discourage vandalism. Further measures may be taken to prevent vandalism such as a transparent panel or seal or other such device that must be broken to access the lever. 35 The device may be connected by control means to other similar devices such that actuation of one

-13 triggers actuation of others or such that a central control, for example in the driver's compartment of a rail vehicle, can be used to actuate them all.

The device may be provided with a speed sensor or 5 link to a speed sensor arranged to influence the action of a removable/reversible blocking mechanism so that the device cannot be operated when a vehicle in which it is mounted is moving, or moving quickly (for example over a few kilometres per hour). This avoids any 10 potentially dangerous actuation and egress at high speeds. In one embodiment the blocking mechanism may be a slidable pin, which may be positioned by a solenoid to block, action of the driving means and/or bolt and/or hammer but is normally retracted (for 15 example, by a spring). The pin can be withdrawn from its blocking position by a signal from the speed sensor to the solenoid when the speed is below, say, 3kmhl.

Such a solenoid is thus in fail-safe mode (the solenoid is deactivated so that the pin withdraws from its 20 blocking position if no power is present).

Although the invention has been illustrated by a single embodiment, the skilled addressee will readily appreciate possible modifications. For example, a single bolt may be provided within the housing shown 25 and it may actuate both hammers. The spring may be a tension spring with a corresponding retention mechanism, or an explosive device or other means may be provided for actuation. The bolts may even be omitted for a simpler device in which the spring acts directly 30 on the hammers.

-14 Reference Numerals 1 device 2 spring 5 3 bolt arrangement 4 lower bolt 5 upper bolt 6 hammer arrangement 7 lower hammer 10 8 upper hammer 9 cross bars 10 actuator housing 11 bolt pin 12 actuator housing slot 15 13 lever piece 14 lever pin 15 hook 16 upper clearance 17 hammer mounting 20 18 hammer projection 19 hammer pivot 20 chisel edge 21 hammer mounting

Claims (30)

-15 CLAIMS:

1. A device for shattering a multiple-glazed window, comprising an actuator and two or more adjacent hammers, 5 one for each pane, wherein the actuator applies an impulse to the hammers when operated, the hammers being substantially independently arranged so that each transmits the impulse separately to the edge of its respective pane.

10

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a single driving means, the force being transferred separately to the hammers using a plurality of transfer parts, such as bolts.

15

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the bolts act in parallel to transfer the impulse to the hammers.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the bolts are constructed in such a way that at least some relative 20 longitudinal movement is allowed between them and they can thus operate the hammers essentially independently.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the bolts are arranged to be at least partially interlocking with a 25 clearance between them in the longitudinal direction for the said relative movement.

6. A device according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein a double-hooked lever is provided for retaining the driving 30 means, the lever arranged to pivot and hook over a pin on each bolt in order to prime the device.

7 r A device according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the force transfer parts are driven ballistically in use to be 35 catapulted into contact with the hammers.

8. A device according to any of claims 2 to 7 wherein the driving means comprises an energy store.

-16

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the energy store is a biasing means arranged to store energy on assembly and be retained in position by retention means until needed.

10. A device according to claim 9, further including a spring force measuring means for detecting spring force deterioration in the biasing means.

10

11. A device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the transfer parts comprise at least one bolt mounted in series with the biasing means and contacted directly or indirectly to it.

15

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one bolt is guided in its movement by a housing.

13. A device according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the or each transfer part is provided with at least one 20 pin, which acts together with a retention member to retain the biasing means.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein each hammer is in the form of a bolt driven directly by the actuator.

15. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each hammer is provided with hammer retention means to retain it in its starting position.

30

16. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the dimension of each hammer in the direction of travel is considerably greater than the distance between its starting position and actuated position.

35

17. A device according to any preceding claim,.wherein the hammers are arranged to transmit the impulse without angular deviation to the window, resulting in a straight impact.

-17

18. A device according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein each hammer is arranged to transmit an impulse to its respective pane of the window at an angle to the impulse 5 exerted by the actuator.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the impulse is transmitted at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

10

20. A device according to claim 18 or 19, wherein each hammer pivots about a pivot pin spaced from the line along which the impulse is exerted by the actuator.

21. A device according to any of claims 18 to 20, wherein 15 each hammer has impulse-receiving and -transmitting surfaces which are substantially at right angles.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein each hammer has the general shape of a segment of a circle and pivots 20 around the approximate centre of the circle, the impulse-

transmitting and -receiving portions projecting circumferentially from the segment.

23. An assembly comprising a multiple-glazed window and a 25 built-in device for shattering the window, wherein the device comprises an actuator and two or more adjacent hammers, one for each pane, the actuator applying an impulse to the hammers when operated, the hammers being substantially independently arranged so that each transmits 30 the impulse separately to the edge of its respective pane.

24. An assembly according to claim 23, wherein the device is arranged to the side of the window.

35

25. An assembly according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the device is mounted using mounting means along an edge of the window for ease of installation.

-18

26. An assembly according to claim 25, wherein the device is mounted parallel to the vertical edge of a window.

27. An assembly according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the 5 device is mounted at an edge of the window and transverse to said edge by removing at least a portion of a wall member and incorporating a straight-impact device in its place. 10

28. An assembly according to any of the preceding assembly claims 23 to 27, including a reversible blocking mechanism arranged in use to stop transmission of the impulse to the window when the assembly is moving over a predetermined speed.

29. A rail vehicle incorporating a device according to any of the preceding device claims, and/or an assembly according to any of the preceding assembly claims.

20

30. A device or an assembly substantially as described in the description with reference to the figures.