IE20190121A2 - Pipe seal - Google Patents

Abstract

apparatus for the production of solid dosage forms, wherein the apparatus comprises a material processing chamber which is operable for manufacturing a product according to a pre-set product formation process path. The apparatus has at least one sensor for continuously monitoring formation of the product in the material processing chamber during the product formation process non-invasively in real time by sensing at least one product fimctional attribute value and a means for comparing each sensed product functional attribute value with a desirable product functional attribute Value for that point on the product formation process path. A controller controls operation of the material processing chamber in response to the sensed product functional attribute Value for maintaining the product on the product formation process path.

Description

PIPE SEAL Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for preventing the passage of fire and smoke through wall mounted flammable ventilation ducting of a building.

Background to the invention The use of flammable ventilation ducting produced from a variety of plastics materials such as polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride is widespread. The internal diameter of such ducting can vary significantly depending on the volume of ventilation air required. Where significant volumes of ventilation air are required, diameters typically range from 250mm to 1200mm.

The wall thickness of conventional ventilation ducting is typically 4mm.

Ventilation systems conventionally comprise continuous runs of flammable plastics ducting which passes between numerous adjoining rooms and enclosed spaces though suitably dimensioned through—holes formed iii the walls separating such rooms and spaces.

A major problem with such ventilation systems is that in the event of a fire occurring in one room or enclosed space, the flammable plastics ventilation ducting rapidly melts enabling smoke and flames to pass through the now exposed wall opening to an adjoining room until, quite rapidly, the entire building is filled with smoke and fumes and on fire.

Occasionally the internal surfaces of ventilation ducting are coated with a lining of a material which intumesces in the event of fire. However, with larger diameter ducting, there is often insufficient time for the material to intumesce sufficiently to prevent the passage of smoke and flames from one room to an adjoining room.

The present invention sets out to provide apparatus which responds rapidly in the event of a fire to seal off ventilation passageways located in walls of adjoining rooms and spaces.

Summary of the Invention In one aspect, the invention provides apparatus for preventing or inhibiting the passage of smoke and/or flames through an opening formed in a wall separating two adjoining rooms or enclosed spaces of a building within which flammable ventilation ducting is located, the apparatus comprising a collar secured one to each side of said wall about the periphery of said opening and dimensioned whereby the internal periphery of said collar lies in Contact with or closely adjacent to the external periphery of said ventilation ducting, and closure means connected through hinges to support structure adjacent to each said collar, said closure means being moveable automatically from an initial position in which its end remote from the respective hinges rests against the external surface of said ducting and a second position in which, following destruction of the ducting, it closes said opening.

The closure means is preferably produced from a metallic material such as steel.

The inner surface of the closure means is preferably coated with an intumescent material such as a quilt coated on one or both sides with a liquid intumescent material.

Each said closure means may further comprise a cap member whose rim initially lies in contact with the outer surface of said ventilation ducting and which is dimensioned to overlie said inflammable collar following destruction of the ducting in the event of a fire.

The outer surface of the closure means preferably includes a board material (typically of approximately 10mm. thickness) coated with a liquid intumescent material.

To enhance protection, a coating including an intumescent material may be applied to the external surface of the length of ducting which, in use, locates within the respective wall opening.

Alternatively, a layer of intumescent containing material may be adhered to the outer surface of the relevant ducting sections.

The closure means may be urged by springs into contact with said external surface of the ventilation ducting.

Each closure means may comprise a single closure member whose dimensions are greater than the respective dimensions of the ducting.

Each closure means may comprise two or more closure members whose combined dimensions are greater than the respective dimensions of the ducting.

Brief Description of the Drawingg The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a side view of alternative apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention The apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 includes a length of conventional ventilation ducting 10 protruding from one side of a through-hole 12 formed in a partition wall 14 between a room or enclosed space “A” and an adjoining room or enclosed space.

Typically, such ducting is produced from a highly flammable plastics material such as polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride, the internal diameter of the ducting typically being between mm and 1200mm.

The ducting 10 may be of circular, rectangular or other cross- section.

Located around the periphery of the ducting as it emerges from each side of the wall 14 is a metallic collar 16 which is secured to the wall by any conventional means and whose open end 18 defines a close fit with the external surface of the ducting 10.

Protruding from the side of each collar 16 remote from the wall 14 is a metallic tube 20 whose diameter is such that it defines a relatively close fit over the ducting 10.

Supported adjacent the end of the tube 20 is a closure member . The member 22 is connected through hinges 24 to a spar 26 secured to and supported by the metallic tube 20. Alternatively, the spar 26 is secured to the collar 16.

The closure member 22 is preferably produced from a metallic material such as steel. Also, the internal surface of the closure member is preferably coated with an intumescent material such as a quilt coated with a liquid intumescent as supplied by the Applicant under its ENVIROGRF registered trade mark. The external surface of the closure member 22 is preferably lined with a board material typically of l0mm thickness coated with a liquid intumescent material.

To enhance protection, a coating of an intumescent material may be applied to the external surface of the length of ducting which in use locates within the wall opening.

Alternatively, or additionally, a layer of intumescent containing material may be adhered to the outer surface of the length of ducting which, in use, locates within the wall opening.

The dimensions of the closure member 22 are greater than the respective dimensions of the ducting 10 whereby, when folded downwardly about the hinges 24, it will entirely cover the open end of the ducting and define a seal which prevents the passage of smoke and flames from one room or confined space to the other.

The internal and/or external surfaces are preferably coated with a material which intumesces in the event of fire or excessive heat.

One or more springs 28 are provided to urge the closure member 22 into contact with the ventilation ducting l0 and, in the event of a fire, to assist movement of the closure member 22 to close off the exposed end of the ventilation pipe 10.

In use, should a fire break out within the room or enclosed space “A”, the ducting 10 will swiftly be destroyed to enable the closure member 22 assisted by the springs 28 to pivot about the hinges 26 to move into firm contact with and close the now exposed end of the tube 20 and the through—hole 12.

For conventional plastics ducting of smaller diameters, it is known to coat the inner surfaces of the ducting or through—hole with an intumescent material which rapidly expands in the event of fire to completely fill the through-hole and thereby prevent the passage of smoke and fire to an adjoining room or enclosed for ducting for conveying higher volumes of air space. However, and therefore larger diameters, the time taken for an intumescent material to react to entirely fill the ducting interior to prevent the egress of smoke and flames is too long to prevent the spread of fire and smoke to an adjoining room or enclosed space. This problem is overcome by means of the present invention.

In an alternative unillustrated embodiment of the invention the closure member 20 is replaced by a pair of closure members positioned one to each side of the ventilation pipe 10. Each such closure member is supported on hinges and a spring mechanism is provided to urge each closure member into Contact with one side surface of the ducting. More than two closure members may be provided.

In much the same way as described above, in the event of a fire occurring in the room or confined space “A” the closure members assisted by the springs pivot about the hinges to move into firm contact with one another and the now exposed end of the tube 20 and the through—hole 12.

Turning now to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 (in which like members to those illustrated in Figure 1 have been given the same reference numerals), it will be seen that the closure member 22 has been replaced by a cap member 30 whose sides 32 are spaced so that, on destruction of the ventilation duct 10 in the event of a fire, the cap member pivots about the hinges 34 to overlie the metallic collar 20 to completely seal the now open end of the tube 10 and the collar 20. As for the Figure l embodiment, one or more springs may be provided to assist movement of the cap member 30.

In each of the embodiments, the external surface of the ventilation duct is preferably coated with a coating or lining of intumescent material (typically those supplied by the Applicant under its ENVIROGRAF registered trade mark). On occasions in which a lining is employed, this preferably comprises a layer of intumescent cloth or quilt adhered to the length of ventilation ducting which, in use, lies within the through hole 12.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of apparatus for preventing or inhibiting the passage of smoke and/or flames in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of apparatus for preventing or inhibiting the passage of smoke and/or flames in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. Apparatus for preventing or inhibiting the passage of smoke and/or flames through an opening formed in a wall separating two adjoining rooms or enclosed spaces of a building within which flammable ventilation ducting is located, the apparatus comprising a collar secured one to each side of said wall about the periphery of said opening and dimensioned whereby the internal periphery of said collar lies in contact with or closely adjacent to the external periphery of said ventilation ducting, and closure to a support structure means connected through hinges adjacent to each said collar, said closure means being moveable automatically from an initial position in which its end remote from the respective hinges rests against the external surface of said ducting and a second position in which, following destruction of the ducting it closes said opening. .Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said closure means further comprises a cap member whose rim initially lies in contact with the outer surface of said ventilation ducting and which is dimensioned to overlie said first inflammable collar in the event of a fire. .Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the closure means is urged by springs into Contact with said external surface of the ventilation ducting Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said closure means comprises a single closure member whose dimensions are greater than the respective dimensions of the ducting. 5.Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closure means comprises two or more closure members whose combined dimensions are greater than the respective dimensions of the ducting.