GB2600994A

GB2600994A - Assembly and method of installing an assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2600994A
Application number: GB2018036.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hodges Michael
Original assignee: Apreco Ltd
Current assignee: Apreco Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-17
Filing date: 2020-11-17
Publication date: 2022-05-18
Also published as: IE20210187A3; GB2600994A9; IE20210187A2; GB202018036D0

Abstract

An assembly 1 comprises a mounting device 6 configured to be attached to a wall, an air pressure stabiliser 2 which comprises at least one control member 22 pivotably supported in an opening in a frame 21 for movement in response to differential air pressure across opposite sides of the frame. A damper 8 is used to substantially block airflow to or from the air pressure stabiliser. The damper is attached to the mounting device, partially inside a cavity defined by a wall when the mounting device is fixed thereto. There may be a housing 4 that can enclose the pressure stabiliser in an enclosure 42. The damper may comprise a series of blades (81, figure 3) which may be controlled by an actuator assembly 10 that is formed of a controller 110 and a support 120 that mounts the actuator assembly to a casing 82 of the damper.

Description

Title: Assembly and method of installing an assembly

Field of the invention

Embodiments of the invention relate to an assembly comprising an air pressure stabiliser and a damper, and a method of installing such an assembly.

Background

Air pressure stabilisers, such as those disclosed in W09931442A1, are typically provided within wall cavities of buildings. One application for such air pressure stabilisers is to allow clean environments, for instance operating theatres within hospitals, to maintain an environmental pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure to prevent the possibility of contaminated air from entering the environment, e.g. via doors or windows. Air pressure stabilisers can also be used to suppress any pressure differential that may arise across walls separating adjacent areas (i.e. rooms, corridors, etc.) of a building.

Pressure differentials may arise upon activation of a fire suppression system that releases a quantity of gas within an area. This latter application is known as pressure relief venting.

Air pressure stabilisers typically comprise control members (e.g. blades) pivotably supported in an opening. The control members react to changes in the differential pressure across the wall. In the case of clean environment applications, the blades react to the positive pressure within the environment and allow air to flow from the environment through the opening. In the event that a door is opened the blades move to block the opening and this has the effect of redirecting the flow of air out of the door, thereby creating an invisible barrier at the doorway which can prevent airborne particles from entering the environment. In the case of pressure relief venting, the blades typically block the opening until the differential pressure exceeds a predetermined value, at which point the blades open to allow the pressure across the wall to equalise.

Dampers are typically used in air-flow ducting, such as is used in heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, to prevent the spread of fire and / or smoke in a building along the ducting. There is a wide variety of different types of damper available.

Dampers can comprise blades that pivot between open and closed positions on axles supported centrally within the damper casing. The blades remain in their open position until fire or smoke is detected, at which point the blades are switched to their closed position. When the blades are closed the spread of fire and / or smoke through the ducting is mitigated. The blades can be actuated upon the detection of heat and / or smoke.

It is known to provide an assembly comprising an air pressure stabiliser and a fire damper. In such known assemblies the air pressure stabiliser is provided 20 within the cavity of a wall and the damper is hung from the wall and therefore protrudes therefrom.

There are problems associated with this type of arrangement. Dampers are typically heavier than air pressure stabilisers. Indeed, dampers are not intended to be hung from walls, particularly dry (stud) walls, because the structural integrity of the wall can be compromised. This is especially so in the event of a fire. Furthermore, dampers are typically large units which can mean a significant volume of space within the room is occupied by the damper.

There is a need, therefore, to provide an improved assembly comprising an air pressure stabiliser and a damper.

Summary of invention

It is a non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide an assembly which does not compromise the structural integrity of a dry wall, e.g. in the event of a fire.

It is a further non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide an assembly which results in more space available within a room in which the assembly is installed.

It is a further non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide a method of installing an assembly which addresses one or more of the aforementioned problems According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly comprising a mounting device configured to be attached to a wall; an air pressure stabiliser comprising at least one control member pivotably supported in an opening in a frame for movement, in response to differential air pressure across opposite sides of the frame, between a closed configuration in which the control member(s) substantially block(s) the opening and an open configuration in which the control member(s) leave(s) the opening substantially unobstructed for flow of air therethrough; and a damper for substantially blocking airflow to or from the air pressure stabiliser, the damper being attached to the mounting device, wherein, in use, the damper is located at least partially inside a cavity defined by a wall when the mounting device is fixed thereto.

Optionally, the assembly comprises a housing for locating at least part of the air pressure stabiliser, wherein the housing is attached to the mounting device such that airflow is able to communicate between the air pressure stabiliser and the damper.

Optionally, the mounting device has a planar surface for abutting a surface of a wall to which the mounting device is fixed, in use.

Optionally, the planar surface has an inner boundary defining an opening for receiving at least part of the damper, and an outer boundary defining the peripheral edge of the mounting device.

Optionally, the mounting device comprises a first flange for attachment to the damper, the first flange projecting from the planar surface at or adjacent the inner boundary.

Optionally, the first flange projects from the planar surface towards the air pressure stabiliser.

Optionally, the first flange extends around at least a portion of the inner boundary of the planar surface.

Optionally, the first flange extends around substantially the entire inner boundary of the planar surface.

Optionally, the mounting device comprises a second flange for attachment to the housing, the second flange projecting from the planar surface at or adjacent the outer boundary.

Optionally, the second flange projects from the planar surface towards the air pressure stabiliser.

Optionally, the second flange extends around at least a portion of the outer boundary of the planar surface.

Optionally, the second flange extends around substantially the entire outer boundary of the planar surface.

Optionally, the damper further comprises an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly may comprise a controller and a support for supporting the controller. The actuator assembly may further comprise a heat sensor. The controller may be configured to control movement of one or more blade(s) of the damper between open and closed positions upon receiving a signal from the heat sensor when the heat sensor detects a change in the temperature of the air adjacent the assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the controller may be configured to control movement of one or more blade(s) of the damper between open and closed positions upon receiving a signal from a fire or smoke detector when such a detector determines that there is a fire.

Optionally, the planar surface defines a slot for receiving at least part of the support.

Optionally, the slot is oversized relative to the support.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing an assembly, the assembly comprising an air pressure stabiliser comprising at least one control member pivotably supported in an opening in a frame for movement, in response to differential air pressure across opposite sides of the frame, between a closed configuration in which the control member(s) substantially block(s) the opening and an open configuration in which the control member(s) leave(s) the opening substantially unobstructed for flow of air therethrough; and a damper for substantially blocking airflow to or from the air pressure stabiliser, the method comprising the steps of: providing a wall defining a cavity; locating the damper at least partially inside the cavity; and mounting the air pressure stabiliser to the wall to permit airflow communication between the damper and the air pressure stabiliser.

Optionally, the method comprises attaching the damper to a mounting device; and fixing the mounting device to the wall.

Optionally, the method comprises locating at least part of the air pressure stabiliser inside a housing; and attaching the housing to the mounting device such that airflow is able to communicate between the air pressure stabiliser and the damper.

Optionally, the wall is a drywall.

Optional features from one aspect of the invention may be combined with other aspects where not explicitly stated.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a frontal view of an assembly; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the assembly when viewed in the direction of the arrows shown at the line A-A on Figure 1; Figure 3 a frontal view of the assembly with the housing and the air pressure stabiliser removed; Figure 4 is an isometric view of a mounting device; and Figure 5 is an isometric view of a blanking plate.

Description of invention

Referring first to figures 1 and 2 there is shown an assembly, indicated generally at 1.

The assembly 1 comprises an air pressure stabiliser 2. The air pressure stabiliser 2 may have a frame 21 and at least one control member 22 pivotably supported in an opening 23 defined by the frame 21. In embodiments, the air pressure stabiliser 2 may comprise plural control members 22. The illustrated embodiment has six control members 22. However, some embodiments may have fewer than or more than six control members 22. As described in W09931442A1, the control members 22 move in response to differential air pressure across opposite sides of the frame 21, between a closed configuration in which the control members 22 substantially block the opening 23 and an open configuration in which the control members 22 leave the opening 23 substantially unobstructed for flow of air along a direction represented generally by the line B-B. In embodiments, the air pressure stabiliser 2 may comprise an attachment portion 24 which may extend from the frame 21 along an axis orthogonal to the line B-B. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment portion 24 extends around the entire opening 23.

However, in some embodiments, the attachment portion 24 may extend around only a portion of the opening 23. For instance, the attachment portion 24 may be divided into numerous attachment portion parts spaced around the opening 23 and separated by gaps.

In embodiments, the assembly 1 may comprise a housing 4. The housing 4 may comprise a frame 41 which defines an enclosure 42 for at least partially locating the air pressure stabiliser 2. In particular, the frame 21 (and hence the control member(s) 22 of the air pressure stabiliser 2) may be located in the enclosure 42. In embodiments, the frame 41 may define an opening 43 which provides an airflow path between a room inside which the assembly 1 is installed and the air pressure stabiliser 2. In embodiments, the frame 41 of the housing 4 may comprise a front-facing panel 44. The air pressure stabiliser 2 may be attached to the housing 4. For instance, in some embodiments, the or each attachment portion 24 of the air pressure stabiliser 2 may be attached to the front-facing panel 44 of the housing 4. The attachment may be by any means known in the art, such as by using fixings, e.g. rivets, welding or an adhesive.

Referring now to figure 4, the assembly 1 may comprise a mounting device 6.

The mounting device 6 is configured to be fixed to a wall 100, such as a drywall. In embodiments, the mounting device 6 may have a planar surface 61 for abutting a surface of the wall 100. In embodiments, the planar surface 61 may comprise apertures 61a for receiving suitable fixings for fixing the mounting device 6 to the wall 100. In embodiments, the planar surface 61 may have an inner boundary 62 defining an opening 63 for receiving at least pad of the damper 8, and an outer boundary 64 defining the peripheral edge of the mounting device 6. In embodiments, the mounting device 6 may comprise a first flange 65 for attachment to the damper 8. The first flange 65 may project from the planar surface 61 at the inner boundary 62 thereof. The first flange 65 may project from the planar surface 61 towards the air pressure stabiliser 2 along the line B-B. In the illustrated embodiment, the first flange 65 extends around substantially the entire inner boundary 62 of the planar surface 61, save for small gaps 66 at corner parts of the inner boundary 62. However, in some embodiments the first flange 65 may have significantly larger gaps and / or additional or fewer gaps, such that the first flange 65 extends around only a portion of the inner boundary 62. For instance, the first flange 65 may be divided into numerous first flange pads spaced around the inner boundary 62 and separated by gaps. In embodiments, the mounting device 6 may comprise a second flange 67 for attachment to the housing 4. The second flange 67 may project from the planar surface 61 at the outer boundary 64 thereof. The second flange 67 may project from the planar surface 61 towards the air pressure stabiliser 2 along the line B-B. In the illustrated embodiment, the second flange 67 extends around substantially the entire outer boundary 64 of the planar surface 61. However, in some embodiments the second flange 67 may extend around only a portion of the outer boundary 64. For instance, the second flange 67 may be divided into numerous second flange parts spaced around the outer boundary 64 and separated by gaps.

The first flange 65 and the second flange 67 may project in the same direction from the planar surface 61 in respective parallel planes. Advantageously, this results in the mounting device 6 having a substantially "U-shaped" profile which can provide the mounting device 6 with improved structural integrity. This means that the mounting device 6 may be less prone to warping after prolonged use, for example.

Referring back to figure 2, the housing 4 may be attached to the mounting device 6. In embodiments, the frame 41 of the housing 4 may be attached to the second flange 67 of the mounting device 6. The attachment may be by any means known in the art, such as by using fixings, e.g. rivets, welding or an adhesive. The attachment is such that airflow is able to communicate between the air pressure stabiliser 2 and the damper 8.

Referring to figures 2 and 3, the assembly 1 comprises a damper 8. The damper 8 is configured for substantially blocking airflow to or from the air pressure stabiliser 2 upon detection of heat and / or smoke. The damper 8 may have one or more blade(s) 81 that can pivot between open and closed positions on axles supported centrally within a casing 82. In the illustrated embodiment, the damper 8 comprises ten blades 81. However, in some embodiments the damper 8 may comprise fewer than or more than ten blades 81. The blades 81 remain in their open position until fire and / or smoke is detected, at which point the blades 81 are switched to their closed position (as shown in figure 3).

In embodiments, the damper 8 may comprise a projection 83 which extends 30 from the casing 82. The projection 83 may extend towards the air pressure assembly 2 along the line B-B. The damper 8 may be attached to the mounting device 6. In embodiments, the opening 63 of the mounting device 6 may receive at least part of the projection 83, which itself may be attached to the first flange 65. The attachment may be by any means known in the art, such as by using fixings, e.g. rivets, welding or an adhesive.

Advantageously, the arrangement of the assembly 1 is such that when the mounting device 6 is fixed to the wall 100 the damper Scan be located at least partially inside a cavity 101 defined therein. This means that the casing 82 -which supports the blade(s) 81 -is located inside the cavity 101. This arrangement is advantageous because it can reinforce the wall 100. Moreover, this arrangement does not compromise the structural integrity of the wall, e.g. in the event of a fire. This is because the casing 82 is not hanging from the wall 100. The casing 82 (and blades 81 contained therein) are typically the heaviest components of the assembly 1. Being able to locate the casing 82 inside the cavity 101 can remove stresses experienced by the wall 100. Of course, the projection 83 of the damper 8 may project slightly from the wall 100 so as to be received by the mounting device 6.

As mentioned, the blade(s) 81 of the damper 8 may be switchable in response to a fire and / or smoke being detected. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the damper 8 may further comprise an actuator assembly 10 for actuating the blade(s) 81. The actuator assembly 10 may comprise a controller 110 and a support 120 for supporting the controller 110 relative to the casing 82. The support 120 may be connected to the casing 82 so as to hold the controller 110 nearby. The arrangement of the assembly 1 provides the further advantage that more space becomes available within the room inside which the assembly 1 is installed. This is by virtue of the fact that only the projection 83, the controller 110 and the support 120 stand proud of the wall 100. Therefore, the volume of the enclosure 42 (and hence the housing 4) can be made smaller.

In embodiments, the actuator assembly 10 may comprise a heat sensor 130. The heat sensor 130 may be located adjacent the blade(s) 81 for detecting increases in heat in the airflow passing between the damper 8 and the air pressure stabiliser 2. The actuator assembly 10 may be configured so that the controller 110 causes the blades 81 to switch between their open and closed positions upon receiving a signal from the heat sensor 130 indicative of a change in the temperature of the air above or below a predetermined value. Additionally or alternatively, the actuator assembly 10 may be configured so that the controller 110 is in electrical communication with a fire or smoke alarm. In such embodiments, the controller 110 may cause the blades 81 to switch between their open and closed positions upon receiving a signal from the fire or smoke alarm, for instance upon the fire or smoke alarm detecting the presence of fire or smoke.

Referring to figure 4, the planar surface 61 may define a slot 61b for receiving at least part of the support 120. This is advantageous, at least in embodiments where the support 120 is connected to the casing 82, because it means that the controller 110 can also be located within the enclosure 42, improving the ergonomic nature of the assembly 1. In embodiments, the slot 61b may be oversized relative to the support 120. This means there is a clearance around the support 120 to enable adjustment of the mounting device 6 relative to the wall 100 in the plane of the planar surface 61. This adjustment may be necessary due to slight variations in the location of the support 120 relative to the casing 82 and / or manufacturing tolerances in the design of the assembly 1, in particular the mounting device 6. In embodiments where the slot 61b is oversized relative to the support 120, the assembly 1 may comprise a blanking plate 12, as shown in figure 5. The blanking plate 12 may define an aperture 13 for receiving the support 120. The blanking plate 12 is movable in the plane of the planar surface 61 so as to seal any clearance around the support 120. The blanking plate 12 may be attachable to the mounting device 6 by any means known in the art, such as by using fixings, e.g. rivets, welding or an adhesive.

In embodiments, the assembly 1 may comprise a rear flange 14 and a grille 16, as shown in figure 2. The rear flange 14 may be coupled to the mounting device 6, e.g. by fixings extending through the wall 100, to attach the assembly 1 securely to the wall 100. The grille 16 may be secured to the rear flange 14 to prevent large objects from entering the cavity 101.

A method of installing the assembly 1 will now be described.

The method may involve the steps of providing the wall 100 with the cavity 101 and locating the damper 8 at least partially inside the cavity 101. In particular, the entire casing 82 of the damper 8 -and hence the blades 81 -may be located inside the cavity 101. As mentioned above, this provides an advantage that the wall 100 is somewhat reinforced and, perhaps more importantly, the structural integrity of the wall is not compromised. Furthermore, the fact that the casing 82 is located within the cavity 101 means that there are fewer parts of the damper 8 standing proud of the wall 100. This means that the housing 4 can be made smaller, thereby increasing the volume of space inside the room.

In embodiments, the method may involve attaching the damper 8 to the mounting device 6 and fixing the mounting device 6 to the wall 100. In such 25 embodiments, the damper 8 may be attached to the mounting device 6 prior to fixing the mounting device 6 to the wall 100.

In embodiments, the method may include locating at least part of the air pressure stabiliser 2 inside the housing 4 and attaching the housing 4 to the mounting device 6 such that airflow is able to communicate between the air pressure stabiliser 2 and the damper 8.

In general operation, the blades 81 of the damper 8 are set to their open position to allow airflow across the wall 100 via the air pressure stabiliser 2. The control members 22 of the air pressure stabiliser 2 operate in their usual manner by opening and closing in response to any changes in differential pressure across the wall 100. In the event that the damper 8 detects the presence of smoke or a fire, the blades 81 are set to their closed position to prevent airflow across the wall 100, thereby mitigating the spread of fire and / or smoke through a building.

As used herein the wording "substantially blocks" (or variations thereof) is intended to mean that the blades 81 of the damper 8 close to the extent that the spread of fire and / or smoke across the wall is reduced to meet the requirements of applicable international standards.

As used herein the wording "substantially unobstructed" (or variations thereof) is intended to mean that the blades 81 of the damper 8 open to the extent that there is sufficient airflow across the wall 100 to allow the air pressure stabiliser 2 to function properly.

As used herein the term "drywall" is intended to refer to a wall panel comprising calcium sulphate dihydrate (gypsum).

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and/or to encompass equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An assembly comprising: a mounting device configured to be attached to a wall; an air pressure stabiliser comprising at least one control member pivotably supported in an opening in a frame for movement, in response to differential air pressure across opposite sides of the frame, between a closed configuration in which the control member(s) substantially block(s) the opening and an open configuration in which the control member(s) leave(s) the opening substantially unobstructed for flow of air therethrough; and a damper for substantially blocking airflow to or from the air pressure stabiliser, the damper being attached to the mounting device, wherein, in use, the damper is located at least partially inside a cavity defined by a wall when the mounting device is fixed thereto.
2. An assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a housing for locating at least part of the air pressure stabiliser, wherein the housing is attached to the mounting device such that airflow is able to communicate between the air pressure stabiliser and the damper.
3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mounting device has a planar surface for abutting a surface of a wall to which the mounting device is fixed, in use.
4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein the planar surface has an inner boundary defining an opening for receiving at least part of the damper, and an outer boundary defining the peripheral edge of the mounting device.
5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the mounting device comprises a first flange for attachment to the damper, the first flange projecting from the planar surface at or adjacent the inner boundary.
6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein the first flange projects from the planar surface towards the air pressure stabiliser.
7. An assembly according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the first flange extends around at least a portion of the inner boundary of the planar surface.
8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein the first flange extends around substantially the entire inner boundary of the planar surface.
9. An assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the mounting device comprises a second flange for attachment to the housing, the second flange projecting from the planar surface at or adjacent the outer boundary.
10. An assembly according to claim 9 wherein the second flange projects from the planar surface towards the air pressure stabiliser.
11. An assembly according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the second flange extends around at least a portion of the outer boundary of the planar surface.
12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein the second flange extends around substantially the entire outer boundary of the planar surface.
13. An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the damper comprises: an actuator assembly comprising: a controller; and a support for supporting the controller.
14. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the planar surface defines a slot for receiving at least part of the support.
15. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein the slot is oversized relative to the support.
16. A method of installing an assembly, the assembly comprising: an air pressure stabiliser comprising at least one control member pivotably supported in an opening in a frame for movement, in response to differential air pressure across opposite sides of the frame, between a closed configuration in which the control member(s) substantially block(s) the opening and an open configuration in which the control member(s) leave(s) the opening substantially unobstructed for flow of air therethrough; and a damper for substantially blocking airflow to or from the air pressure stabiliser, the method comprising the steps of: providing a wall defining a cavity; locating the damper at least partially inside the cavity; and mounting the air pressure stabiliser to the wall to permit airflow communication between the damper and the air pressure stabiliser.
17. A method according to claim 16 comprising: attaching the damper to a mounting device; and fixing the mounting device to the wall.
18. A method according to claim 17 comprising: locating at least part of the air pressure stabiliser inside a housing; and attaching the housing to the mounting device such that airflow is able to communicate between the air pressure stabiliser and the damper.