US3451163A

US3451163A - Fire shield damper device

Info

Publication number: US3451163A
Application number: US612585A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl A Malissa
Original assignee: AIRSTREAM PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: AIRSTREAM PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 1967-01-30
Filing date: 1967-01-30
Publication date: 1969-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1986-06-24
Also published as: GB1173936A

Description

J1me 1969 c. A. MALISSA 3,451,153

FIRE SHIELD DAMPER DEVICE Filed Jan. .50. 1967 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR. /35 CARL A. MAL/SSA ATTORNEY June 24, 1969 c. A. MALISSA FIRE SHIELD DAMPER DEVICE Sheet of 2 Filed Jan. 30. 1967 INVENTOR. CARL A. MAL/SSA A r TOR/v5 v United States Patent FIRE SHIELD DAMPER DEVICE Carl A. Malissa, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Airstream Products, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 612,585

Int. Cl. E05f 15/20 US. Cl. 497 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fire shield damper device has a plurality of blades slidable in tracks along the sides of a passageway or opening and normally retained at the upper end of the passageway in aligned relation behind each other to be released in response to melting of a fuse for sliding down along their respective tracks into successive, interlocked relation across the entire passageway to thereby close off the passageway.

This invention relates to a fire shield damper device for use at a passageway in a wall or a duct to prevent passage of flame, smoke and/or hot air through the passageway, and particularly to a multi-blade damper structure having a plurality of blades normally supported in collapsed, adjacent relation at the upper end of the passageway to be released into continuous, interlocked relation across the entire passageway in response to melting of a fuse in the blade supporting mechanism which normally retains the blades in their collapsed stacked relation.

Various devices of this type have been proposed heretofore for use as fire seals or the like. In general, these devices suifer from one or more defects. For example, in some structures, the blades, when released, do not provide adequate interlocking action to afford a proper seal. In other cases, the blades, where heated, expand and tend to bind in their guideways, or to buckle more or less, so that they cannot assume a proper, closed relationship across the passageway upon being released. Other prior art dampers in which the foregoing defects may not be present are usually complicated and expensive to construct.

The damper device of the invention comprises a framework adapted to be fitted against or in a passageway and having a housing at one end of the framework. A plurality of track members of unitary U-channel configuration are positioned along the sides of the framework, disposed in pairs and in transversely aligned, opposed relation. A plurality of blade members are provided, each having opposite sides respectively slidably mounted and received in respective aligned pairs of said track members and normally disposed in the housing behind each other, in aligned, stacked relation, adjacent ones of the blade members having means thereon for interlocking engagement with each other when the blade members are displaced from their stacked relationship in the housing by sliding along the respective track members through an opening provided in the housing. The damper device provides means for normally retaining the blades in their stacked ice relation within the housing which may include a swingable gate over the opening of the housing and a chain having as at least one of its links a heat fusible element. When the temperature at the fusible link reaches a predetermined degree, the chain is broken upon melting of the fusible element thereby releasing the gate which swings away from the opening and releases the blade members for sliding along the respective track members through the opening of the housing. The blade members are provided with a first end having a reversely bent lip and a second end having a rear-wardly directed reversely bent lip whereby the forwardly directed lips at the first ends of adjacent ones of said blade members engage the rearwardly directed lips at the second ends of the blade members immediately in front of them to interlock said blade members into a continuous curtain over the passageway when the blades reach the ends of their respective track members. The foremost one of the blade members has a forwardly extending flange at the first end thereof for engaging said housing when the foremost blade member has slid to its end position along its track member to provide a seal against the housing, while the rearmost one of the blades members has a rearwardly extending flange at the second end thereof extending at such an angle as to first clear an angle bar when the rearmost blade has slid to its end position along the track members and then firmly engage the angle bar to provide a seal thereagainst at the end opposite the end of the framework with said housing.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved shield or damper structure which is free from the foregoing and other disadvantages of known structures.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fire shield damper device of the type set forth the blades of which, when released, will assume a positive, firm interengaging relation with each other to insure full and adequate closure across the entire opening or passageway at which the damper is installed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved fire shield damper device wherein the blades are so constructed and mounted that they will not buckle or bend in their guideways when they become hot, so that they can slide down freely and quickly into interlocked relation across the opening.

Still another object is to provide an improved fire shield damper device as aforesaid which can be installed easily at the doorways or windows of fire walls, in air ducts, and the like, and which will provide across such doorways, windows, ducts, etc. a firm, continuous fire seal curtain to effectively close the same when the ambient has reached substantially a predetermined temperature as evidenced by the melting of a fuse incorporated in the device, and in response to such melting.

A further object is to provide, in a fire shield damper device as above set forth, an improved track structure of channel form and so constructed that the channel tracks will not only guide the descent of the several blade members of the device into closed relation across the opening or passageway, but which will not become objectionally distorted when heated, if at all.

A still further object of this invention is to provide improved track structure as aforesaid which is so constructed as to allow expansion of the blades thereinto so as to avoid distortion of the damper device structure.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved fire shield damper device which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture and install, relatively inexpensive in cost, and highly efiicient in use.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a framework for installation at openings or passageways such as doorways, windows, ducts, and the like. At the upper end of the framework is a housing or enclosure for a plurality of blades of fire-proof material, such as metal. The framework is also provided along its vertical sides with a plurality of transversely aligned channel tracks which form guideways along which the blades can slide vertically, these being a separate pair of opposed, aligned tracks for each blade.

The blade housing has a floor provided with an opening therein through which the respective blades can be slid up along their respective tracks or guideways into the housing for normal storage therein behind each other in aligned, stacked relation. A hinged gate just under the housing floor can be swung up against that floor after the blades have been moved up into the housing to normally hold the blades in the housing. A link chain having a heat meltable fuse as one or more of its links is secured to the front and rear walls of the housing in such position as to bear against the gate and thus prevent it from normally swinging down away from the housing floor. In this way, the stacked blades are normally retained within the housing.

The foremost blade of the stack has a slight, forward bend thereacross near its upper end to provide a forwardly extending flange at the upper end thereof, and a rearwardly directed reverse bend thereacross at its lower end to provide a flange or lip at the latter end. The rearmost blade of the stack has a forwardly directed reverse bend thereacross at its upper end to also provide a flange or lip at that end, and a slight rearward bend thereacross at its lower end which provides a rearwardly extending flange at the latter end. Each of the intermediate blades of the stack has, at its upper end, a forwardly directed reverse bend to provide a lip similar to that at the upper end of the rearmost blade, and also a rearwardly directed reverse bend at the lower end to provide a lip similar to that at the lower end of the foremost blade.

When the ambient temperature reaches that at which the fuse melts, the gate-retaining chain breaks to free the gate to swing down. The blades thus become free to drop down out of their housing along their respective guideways. Each pair of guideways or tracks has stops for limiting the distance their respective blades slide down therealong, the foremost pair of tracks permitting dropping of the foremost blade the least distance, the rearmost pair of tracks permitting the rearmost blade to drop all the way to the bottom of the framework, and the intermediate pairs of tracks permitting their respective blades to drop successively greater distances. As the blades drop down, the forwardly extending flange at the upper end of the foremost blade tightly engages the floor of the housing to provide a seal, and the forwardly extending lips at the upper end of successive blades behind the foremost one in turn tightly engage the rearwardly extending lips of the blades immediately in front of them to interlock and provide seals therebetween. Extending transversely across the entire width of the framework at the bottom thereof is an upwardly directed angle bar. The angle at which the flange at the lower end of the rearmost blade is inclined is such that it will at first freely slide past the upstanding angle bar but will then engage it firmly when the rearmost blade has reached its lowermost position to also provide a seal. Thus, the firmly interengaged blades, housing and angle bar provide a continuous wall or curtain across the entire opening to act as a shield against passage therethrough of flame, smoke, hot air, etc, the blades then being dispos d in .4 slightly stepped relation in a direction rearwardly through the opening as seen from the front thereof.

At their interengaging lips, 'the blades have four thicknesses of metal. This provides a rigid structural arrangement which avoids danger of buckling of the blades. Each blade is formed with a web along each of its sides, the webs being received snugly in their respective tracks or guideways to insure a good seal. However, each track is of such depth that, if the blades should expand laterally from the heat, there will be sufficient room therein to readily accommodate the webs. Thus, buckling and binding of the blades is avoided.

The novel features of the invention, both as to construction and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be understood more fully from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation showing one form of fire shield damper device according to this invention installed in the opening in a fire wall,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with a fragment of the outer frame used in installing the device shown in section and with the blades of the firewall shield in their lowered, interlocked, stepped positions,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction shown by the appended arrows,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, sectional detail of fragments of the two hindmost or lowermost blades encompassed within the circle 4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the blades when stacked within the housing and held therein by the swingable gate and the chain thereacross.

FIG. 6 is a sectional detail taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the appended arrows and FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the details of, and the relation between, one of the blades and its associated tracks.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which the same reference characters designate the same parts throughout, there is shown, in FIG. 1, a wall 1, such as a fire wall, for example, which has a passageway therethrough comprising a doorway, a window frame, or the like. Tight-1y fitted around the passageway is a frame 3 which embraces the wall 1 completely around the passageway. The frame 3 may be of channel form having flanges 5 which bear against the opposite surfaces of the wall and may be secured thereto by bolts, cement, or in any other suitable manner.

Within the frame 3 is a framework 7 which is secured tightly to the frame 3. The framework 7 may also be of channel form, and its vertical sides are formed with a plurality of vertical spaced slots 9 aligned transversely across the framework at each level. At the upper end of the framework 7 is an enclosure 11 for housing a plurality of blades 13a-13g. The housing 11 has an opening 15 in its floor 17 through which the blades 13a-13g can be inserted to normally occupy positions therein behind each other in aligned, stacked relation, as seen in FIG. 5. A gate 19 which is hingedly mounted just under the floor 17, when swung up against the housing floor 17, retains the plates 13a-13g in the housing 11. The gate 19 is held against the housing floor by a link chain 21 which is anchored to the framework 7 by rivets 23 or the like and which has, as one or more of its links (only one being shown in FIG. 5 by way of illustration), a meltable fuse 25.

The blades 13a-13g are mounted for vertical sliding movement along the framework 7 in guideways or tracks 27. These tracks are preferably also of channel form and are puddle welded to the sides of the framework 7 through the slots 9 by weld 29, as best shown in FIG. 6. This prevents distortion of the channel tracks 27. Each of the 5 blades 13a-13g has along its opposite sides a pair of laterally extending webs 31 (see FIG. 7) which ride in a separate pair of transversely aligned, opposed tracks 27. The tracks of each pair are so spaced that ample room is provided for the blades to expand laterally therein when heated so as to avoid binding and buckling of the blades. At various lengths corresponding to the positions that the blades will occupy in their lowered positions when they are released from the housing 11, the respective channel tracks are pinched and joined together, as by rivets 33, to provide stops 35 for the respective blades.

The foremost blade 13a, which drops the least distance when released from the housing 11, has a slight, forward bend across the top end to provide a flange 37 which can engage the housing floor 17 when that blade has dropped down to provide a seal therebetween. At its lower end, the blade 13a has a rearwardly directed reverse bend of about 35 to provide a lip 39a. The rearmost blade 13g has, at its upper end, a forwardly directed reverse bend of about 35 to provide a similar lip 39b; and at its lower end, the blade- 13g has a slight rearward bend thereacross to provide a rearwardly extending flange 41. Each of the intermediate blades 1312-13 has a similar 35 forwardly directed lip 3% at the upper end and a 35 rearwardly directed lip 39a at its lower end. Disposed on the bottom of the framework 7 and extending transversely along the entire width of the framework is an angle bar 43 which is adapted to be engaged firmly by the flange 41 to provide a seal thereat.

With the blades 13a-13g stacked in their normal, rest position behind each other within the housing 11, if the link 25 should be heated to a temperature at which it will melt or fuse, the chain 21 will become broken and the gate 19 will swing down. The blades then become free to slide down along their respective tracks 27. The stops 35 of the tracks for the blade 13a are so located as to permit the flange 37 to firmly engage the housing floor 17. As the successive blades 13b13g slide down along their respective tracks, the upper lips 3% thereof firmly engage and become interlocked with the adjacent lips 39a of the blades in front of them. Each successive engagement of a cooperative pair of

lips

39b and 39a causes the preceding pair of blades to be moved tightly interlocked with each other. Finally, when the rearmost blade has reached its lowest position, its flange 41 passes by the upstanding part of the angle bar 43 due to the inclination of the flange 41 until a flange 41 seats firmly against the angle bar 43 to provide a tight seal thereagainst. Thus, there is formed a continuous curtain or shield across the entire passageway from the housing 11 on down to the bottom of the framework 7, the curtain being provided by the interengaged, rearwardly stepped blades as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. As will be noted in FIGS. 2 and 4, the

interengaged lips

39a and 39b result in four thicknesses of metal transversely of the curtain at each interengagement of the lips. This aflords strong bracing of the curtain transversely thereof at spaced points vertically therealong, to provide a strong, rigid shield which will be substantially buckle proof.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a firm, highly effective fire shield damper device which can be used at any desired passageway for preventing the passage therethrough of flame, smoke, hot air, obnoxious vapors, and the like. Although only a single embodiment has been described herein, it will undoubtedly be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations in the form described, as well as other embodiments, all coming within the spirit of this invention, are possible. It is desired, therefore, that the foregoing shall be taken merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A damper device for use at a passageway, said device comprising (a) a framework adapted to be fitted snugly against said passageway having first and second ends and first and second parallel sides and providing a passageway opening therethrough,

(b) a housing at the first end of said framework, said housing being provided with an opening,

(c) a plurality of track members along the sides of said framework between its first and second ends disposed in pairs in transversely aligned, opposed relation, said members being of unitary U-channel configuration,

(d) a plurality of blade members each having opposite sides respectively slidably mounted and received in respective aligned pairs of said track members and normally disposed in said housing behind each other in aligned, stacked relation, adjacent ones of said blade members having means thereon for interlocking engagement with each other when said blade members are displaced from said stacked relation by sliding along their respective track members through said housing opening, and

(e) means for normally retaining said blade members in said stacked relation within said housing and conditionally releasing said blade members at the same time, whereby said plurality of blade members when released move under their own Weight to their respective displaced positions for interlocking engagement with each other closing said passageway opening of said framework.

2. A damper device according to claim 1 wherein said means for normally retaining said blade members within said housing comprises a swingable gate over the opening in said housing and a chain having as at least one of its links a heat fusible element, said chain becoming broken upon melting of said fusible element to thereby release said gate to swing away from said opening and thus release said blade members to slide along their respective said track members through said opening toward the second end of said framework.

3. A damper according to claim 1 wherein said track members comprising said channel members guide sliding movement of said blade members from said housing toward the second end of said framework to successive positions from front to rear.

4. A damper according to claim 1 wherein said channel members are pinched together at predetermined points to provide stops for limiting sliding movement of the respective said blade members in their respective track members toward the second end of said framework.

5. A damper according to claim 1 wherein said blade members each have first and second ends transverse said track member and the foremost one of said blade members has a forwardly extending flange at the first end thereof for engaging said housing when said foremost blade member has slid to its end position along its said track members toward the second end of said framework to provide a seal against said housing, wherein said framework at its second end has an angle bar extending transversely therealong, and wherein the rearmost one of the said blade members has a rearwardly extending flange at the second end thereof, said last named flange extending at such an angle as to first clear said angle bar when said rearmost blade has slid to its end position along its said track members proximate the second end of said framework and then to firmly engage said angle bar to provide a seal thereagainst.

6. A damper according to claim 5 wherein each of said blade members except said foremost one has at its first end a forwardly directed reversely bent lip, and wherein each of said blade members except said rearmost one has at its second end a rearwardly directed reversely bent lip, said track members having stop means for limiting sliding movement of said blade members at successively greater distances from said housing beginning with said foremost blade member and going rearwardly to said rearmost blade member, said forwardly directed lips at the first ends of adjacent ones of said blade members engaging said rearwardly directed lips at the second ends of the blade members immediately in front of them to interlock said blade members into a continuous curtain over said passageway when said blades reach said stop means at their respective track members.

7. A damper according to claim 6 characterized in that said interlocked lips provide stiffening braces as spaced points along said curtain between the ends of said framework to restrain said blades against buckling thereof.

8. A damper according to claim 6 wherein the sides of each of said blade members comprise oppositely directed webs extending between said first and second ends for sliding in their respective said track members and sealing said passageway.

9. A damper according to claim 6 wherein said lips are angularly related to their respective blades at an angle of about 35 10. A damper according to claim 8 wherein said track members of each said blade members are spaced from each other transversely of said framework a distance such as to permit lateral expansion of said webs thereinto in response to heat whereby to avoid buckling of said blade members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 916,288 3/1909 Fish 160202 X 1,096,446 5/1914 Mesker et a1. 160-202 X 1,234,873 7/1917 Clampitt 160-1 1,462,645 7/1923 Lancaster 160-490 1,489,737 4/1924 Burkart 160202 X 3,341,971 9/1967 Hartman 497 DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 160202