Fire-retardant valve with interlock

Abstract

Fire damper comprising a tunnel (10) provided with a closure device comprising a frame (20) in which a blade (30) is mounted to rotate at most 90° between an open position and a closed position around a pivot axis (40) transverse to the blade in which a first external face (31) of the blade (30) is extended on its four sides by a first external edge (21) of said frame (20) and a second external face (32) of the blade (30) is extended on its four sides by a second external edge (22) of said frame (20).The valve comprises a system for locking the closure device in the closed position provided with at least one steel bar (50) for locking the blade relative to said frame in said closed position, said steel bar, arranged perpendicular to said pivot axis (40) being provided at a first end on the frame side with at least one lock block (60) comprising an end wall (61) parallel to and flush with a segment of said external edge (21, 22) parallel to said axis; said steel bar being mounted on said external face with a sliding freedom on the lock block side such that an expansion of said steel bar drives (601) said end bar (61) of said lock block onto said external edge.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of fire dampers intended to prevent the spread of fire from one room to another via ventilation ducts.

[0002] Fire dampers generally have a tunnel containing a sealing device that is closed in the event of a fire. When the damper is closed, the tunnel and the sealing device are designed to provide a fire-tight, thermally insulated barrier that prevents the spread of fire from one side of the damper to the other for a period corresponding to the conditions imposed on such dampers. Prior art

[0003] Document FR2944212 describes a fire damper comprising a tunnel in which the closure device is mounted, consisting of a blade pivoting in a frame, the blade also being called a butterfly damper. The blade pivots between a closed position separating an interior side, for example the interior of a room, from an exterior side, for example the exterior of a building or another room, and an open position allowing communication between the two sides, for example to ventilate the room.

[0004] In order to lock the shutter device in the closed position in the event of a fire, the valve comprises angle irons reinforcing the two faces of the blade of the shutter device which are mounted by means of screws in oblong holes in the angle irons on the faces of the blade to allow their free expansion. At the position of the ends of the angle irons, the shutter device being closed, the interior of the tunnel is provided with locking plates receiving the end of the angle irons when the angle irons are elongated by the expansion caused by a rise in temperature. This construction effectively secures the shutter device to the body of the valve, in the closed position, that is to say in the active position, without a motorized mechanism to ensure this locking in the closed position since the locking is achieved by the expansion of the angle irons which necessarily occurs, at least on the side subjected to the fire. Technical problem

[0005] The above solution is, however, complex to implement because if the elongation of the angles is too pronounced, the locking plates are pushed outwards, which can cause the tunnel walls to tear off and affect the fire resistance of the flap. Statement of the invention

[0006] In view of this situation, the present disclosure proposes a fire damper provided with an improved locking system which does not create constraints on the walls of the frame receiving the blade.

[0007] To this end, the present disclosure proposes a fire damper comprising a tunnel provided with a closure device comprising a frame in which a blade is mounted to rotate at most 90° between an open position and a closed position around a pivot axis transverse to the blade and in which a first external face of the blade is extended on its four sides by a first external edge of said frame and a second external face of the blade is extended on its four sides by a second external edge of said frame, said damper comprising a system for locking the closure device in the closed position provided with at least one steel bar for locking the blade relative to said frame in said closed position, said steel bar,arranged perpendicular to said pivot axis being provided at a first end on the frame side with at least one lock block comprising an end bar parallel to and flush with a segment of said external edge parallel to said axis; said steel bar being mounted on said external face with a sliding freedom on the lock block side such that an expansion of said steel bar drives said end bar of said lock block onto said external edge.,

[0008] The characteristics set out in the following paragraphs correspond to embodiments which can be implemented independently of one another or in combination with one another.

[0009] The end bar of the lock is sized to rest on said outer edge when moving.

[0010] The lock block may include a connection of reduced thickness, between a plate of the lock block and the end bar.

[0011] This connection of reduced thickness creates a weakened connection part between said plate of the lock block and said end bar, the movement of said end bar on said external edge forcing said weakened connection part to bend to block the closure device with said lock by embedding the end bar between said external edge and said plate and preventing the pivoting of the blade relative to the frame.

[0012] The end bar can in particular hit the outer edge, causing the weakened connecting part to bend.

[0013] The steel bar is advantageously shaped into a U-shaped angle iron and comprises a central blade which is applied to said external face and two lateral flanks which extend perpendicular to said external face and perpendicular to said pivot axis.

[0014] The steel bar is thus stiffened.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the lock block comprises a body transverse to the two sides of the U-shaped angle iron pierced with a hole extending between two ends of the body, a bolt passing through the two sides of the U-shaped angle iron and said transverse body for fixing the lock block to the U-shaped angle iron.

[0016] The transverse body can advantageously surmount the plate of the lock block parallel to the external face on which the steel bar carrying said lock block is mounted, said plate extending opposite the transverse body by two support tabs of the lock block on a sheet reinforcing the blade.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment, the plate of the lock block overhangs a screw for fixing said reinforcing sheet, the two support tabs of the lock block on said reinforcing sheet of the blade being located on either side of the head of said screw.

[0018] The sides of the U-shaped angle advantageously include shoulders which rest on a rear face of the tabs opposite said end bar of said lock block. This ensures better thrust of the steel bar on the lock block.

[0019] The steel bar may have, along its longitudinal direction, a fixed central fixing point and a sliding fixing point parallel to said external face at each of its ends. The steel bar extends towards its two ends under heat from the central fixing point.

[0020] The valve may comprise at least two of said steel bars and said locking blocks per face of the butterfly flap to ensure good distribution of the locking means.

[0021] The sides of the blade between said external faces and the sides of the frame are advantageously beveled according to a distribution of the bevels adapted to allow rotation of said register between said closed position and said open position, the locking blocks being located at the level of the bevel ends for which said first and second faces have their width reduced in the direction perpendicular to the pivot axis. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description below of non-limiting exemplary embodiments, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an example of a closed fire damper of the present disclosure in a side sectional view; Figure 2 shows an example of a fire damper of the present disclosure open in perspective; Figure 3shows an example of a shutter blade in perspective; Figure 4 shows a detail of an exemplary fire damper locking system of the present disclosure in perspective; Figure 5 shows an example of a fire damper lock block of the present disclosure in a cross-sectional side view; Figures 6A, 6B, 6C show sectional side views of locking steps of an exemplary fire damper of the present disclosure; Figure 7 shows a schematic front view of a closed fire damper of the present disclosure. Description of the embodiments

[0023] The following drawings and description contain elements which may not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also contribute to its definition, where appropriate.

[0024] Reference is now made to the figures 1 And 2which represent a fire damper comprising a tunnel 10, in particular made with a fire-resistant material, provided within it with a rectangular frame 20 in which a rectangular blade 30 is mounted to rotate at most 90° between a closed position according to figure 11 and an open position according to figure 2 The blade pivots around a pivot axis 40 transverse to the closure device. The frame and the blade are provided with complementary inclined walls such as the upper walls 33, 23 and the lower walls 27, 37 which improve the fire resistance and the smoke tightness of the fire damper.

[0025] As represented in figure 1 and in figure 7, a first external face 31 of the blade 30 is extended on its four sides by a first external edge 21 of the frame 20. Similarly, a second external face 32 of the blade 30 is extended on its four sides by a second external edge 22 of said frame 20 as shown in figure 1 .

[0026] To lock it in the closed position during a fire where the temperature expands the materials, the valve comprises a system for locking the closure device in the closed position provided with at least one steel bar 50 arranged on one face of the blade, perpendicular to said pivot axis 40 as shown schematically in figure 7 , the steel bar being provided at a first end on the frame side with at least one lock block 60.

[0027] As represented in figure 4 , the lock block comprises an end bar 61 parallel to and flush with a segment of said external edge 21, 22 parallel to said axis at normal room temperature.

[0028] The lock block as shown in the Figure 5 comprises a connection 62 of reduced thickness between the end bar 61 and a plate 63 of the lock block. This connection of reduced thickness creates a weakened connection part between said lock block and said end bar. Above the plate, the lock block 60 comprises a transverse body 64 pierced with a hole 65 extending between two ends of the body. Under the plate, the lock block comprises two tabs 66 for supporting the lock block on the face of the blade receiving it.

[0029] Back to the figure 4in particular, the steel bar is shaped into a U-shaped angle iron and comprises a central blade 50a which is applied to said external face and two lateral flanks 51 which extend perpendicular to said external face and perpendicular to said pivot axis 40. The body 64 of the lock block 60 is positioned transversely to the two flanks 51 of the U-shaped angle iron and a bolt passes through the two flanks 51 of the U-shaped angle iron and the hole 65 of said transverse body to fix the lock block on the U-shaped angle iron.

[0030] THE Figures 6A to 6C represent the operation of the locking system.

[0031] There Figure 6A represents the bar 50 in the unlocked position of the shutter device at normal room temperature. The bar has a fixed central fixing point 502 for which a screw 502b passes through a tight round hole, 502a in figure 7, and is screwed into the body of the blade. The bar also has two sliding fixing points 501, 503 for which screws 501b, 503b pass through oblong holes, 501a, 503a according to the figure 7 In this position, the metal of the bar is retracted and the movable fixing points are at the rear stop.

[0032] There Figure 6B is an intermediate position for which the high temperature of a fire on the locking system side causes expansion of the steel bar. In this configuration, the sliding fixing points are such that the screws 501b, 503b are centered in the oblong holes 501a, 503a while the bar 61 of the lock block 60 mounts on the external edge 21 of the frame 20.

[0033] There Figure 6Cis the final position for which the high temperature of the fire on the locking system side causes additional expansion of the steel bar. In this configuration, the sliding fixing points are such that the screws 501b, 503b are at the front stop in the oblong holes 501a, 503a while the bar 61 of the lock block 60 advancing on the external edge 21 of the frame 20 folds under the plate 63.

[0034] Thus the transverse body 64 pushed by the steel bar forces the bar 61 to rise on said external edge 21 by folding 602 to block the blade 30 and prevent the pivoting of the blade relative to the frame 20.

[0035] When moving the bar on the end edge 21, and in the temperature conditions due to the fire, the bar 61 abuts on the end of the external edge 21 which causes the connection of reduced thickness to bend, the bar then positioning itself between the plate 63 and the external edge 21, the bar fitting between these two elements.

[0036] The end bar according to the example comprises a lower wall provided with a bevel 61a which contributes to the embedding of the bar between the plate 63 and the end of the external edge 21 by producing a face which is flat on the external edge once the bar is embedded between the plate and the external edge.

[0037] As seen in figure 4 , the two support tabs 66 of the lock block rest at least partly on a reinforcing sheet 30a of the blade.

[0038] In the example of the figure 1, the plate of the lock block overhangs a screw head 71 for fixing said reinforcing sheet 30a, the two tabs 66 for supporting the lock block on said reinforcing sheet of the blade being located on either side of the head of said screw 71.

[0039] To ensure the thrust of the lock block by the steel bar, the sides 51 of the U-shaped angle iron have shoulders which bear on a rear face of the tabs 66 opposite said end wall 61 of said lock block.

[0040] Fire damper comprises at least two of said steel bars 50 and said locking blocks 60 on each face 31, 32, the example of the figure 2 comprising three per side.

[0041] As seen above, the sides of the blade between said external faces and the sides of the frame are beveled to reduce the thermal bridge between the faces of the closed fire damper.

[0042] The bevels of the sides are made according to a distribution adapted to allow rotation of the blade 30 between said closed position and said open position. According to the figure 3 , the locking blocks are located at the ends of beveled blanks for which said first and second faces 31, 32 have their width reduced in the direction perpendicular to the pivot axis 40.

[0043] The beveled sides are made according to a distribution adapted to allow rotation of the blade between said closed position and said open position. The bevels on the sides parallel to the pivot axis are inclined at the same angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the blade and parallel to said axis, for example from +20° to +30°.

[0044] The bevels on the flanks perpendicular to the pivot axis are oriented for a first side relative to the pivot axis at opposite angles relative to a plane perpendicular to the register and perpendicular to said axis, for example +20° to +30° for a first perpendicular half flank and -20° to -30° for a second half flank and at opposite inverted angles on a second side of the pivot axis, for example -20° to -30° for the first half flank and +20° to +30° for the second half flank.

[0045] Back to the figure 7 , the fire damper comprises in a known manner an automatic closing device 42 and a manual operating device 42.

[0046] Fire resistance classifications are described in standard NF EN 13501-3+A1 May 2012 “Fire classification of construction products and elements - Part 3: Classification using fire resistance test data for products and elements used in maintenance installations: Fire-resistant ducts and valves”.

[0047] The fire resistance tests themselves are carried out according to standard NF EN 1366-2 August 2015 “Fire resistance tests for technical installations - Part 2: Fire-resistant dampers”.

[0048] The locking system of the present disclosure in which the expansion of the bars causes the movement of the locking blocks without requiring any other device is a completely passive system which is triggered by the increase in temperature due to the fire.

[0049] It improves the shutter locking function at high temperatures, especially around 950 - 1000°C, and the fire resistance time.

[0050] The tests are carried out by exposing the valve to a temperature curve (T = 345 log 10 (8 t + 1) + 20) where t is the time in minutes defined in standard NF EN 1363-1: 2012 “Fire resistance tests - Part 1: General requirements” which defines the following conditions: 10 minutes: 678°C. 30 minutes: 842°C. 90 minutes: 1006°C. 120 minutes 1049°C. 180 minutes: 1110°C.

[0051] The locking device described in document FR2944212 A1 allowed test durations of close to 120 minutes. The addition of the locking blocks allows a substantial increase in classification by allowing test durations of close to 180 minutes.

[0052] The invention is not limited to the examples described above, only by way of example and in particular, the tunnel and / or the frame and the blade may be square or more generally rectangular, the tunnel and / or the frame and the blade may also be of circular section.

Claims

1. Fire damper comprising a tunnel (10) provided with a closure device comprising a frame (20) in which a blade (30) is mounted to rotate at most 90° between an open position and a closed position around a pivot axis (40) transverse to the blade in which a first external face (31) of the blade (30) is extended on its four sides by a first external edge (21) of said frame (20) and a second external face (32) of the blade (30) is extended on its four sides by a second external edge (22) of said frame (20), characterized in thatsaid valve comprises a system for locking the closure device in the closed position provided with at least one steel bar (50) for locking the blade relative to said frame in said closed position, said steel bar, arranged perpendicular to said pivot axis (40) being provided at a first end on the frame side with at least one lock block (60) comprising an end wall (61) parallel to and flush with a segment of said external edge (21, 22) parallel to said axis; said steel bar being mounted on said external face with a sliding freedom on the lock block side such that an expansion of said steel bar drives (601) said end bar (61) of said lock block onto said external edge.

2. Fire damper according to claim 1 for which the lock block comprises a connection (62) of reduced thickness, between a plate (63) of the lock block and the end bar, producing a weakened connection part between said plate of the lock block and said end bar, the movement of said end bar on said external edge forcing said weakened connection part to bend (602) to block the closure device with said lock by embedding the end bar between said external edge (21) and said plate (63) and preventing the pivoting of the blade (30) relative to the frame (20).

3. Fire damper according to claim 1 or 2 for which the steel bar is shaped into a U-shaped angle iron and comprises a central blade (50a) which is applied to said external face and two lateral flanks (51) which extend perpendicular to said external face and perpendicular to said pivot axis (40).

4. Fire damper according to claim 3 for which the locking block (60) comprises a transverse body (64) on the two sides (51) of the U-shaped angle iron and pierced with a hole (65) extending between two ends of the body, a bolt passing through the two sides (51) of the U-shaped angle iron and said transverse body to fix the locking block on the U-shaped angle iron.

5. Fire damper according to claim 4 for which the transverse body (64) surmounts the plate (63) of the lock block, said plate (63) extending opposite the transverse body by two tabs (66) for supporting the lock block on a reinforcing sheet (30a) of the blade (30).

6. Fire damper according to claim 5 for which the plate of the locking block overhangs a screw head (71) for fixing said reinforcing sheet, the two tabs (66) for supporting the locking block on said reinforcing sheet of the blade being located on either side of the head of said screw (71).

7. Fire damper according to claim 4, 5 or 6 for which the sides (51) of the U-shaped angle iron comprise shoulders which rest on a rear face of the tabs (66) opposite said end bar (61) of said lock block.

8. Fire damper according to any one of the preceding claims, for which the steel bar comprises, in its longitudinal direction, a fixed central fixing point (502) and a fixing point (501, 503) sliding parallel to said external face at each of its ends.

9. Fire damper according to any one of the preceding claims comprising at least two of said steel bars (50) and said locking blocks (60) per face (31, 32).

10. Fire damper according to any one of the preceding claims, for which the flanks (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the blade (30) between said external faces and the flanks of the frame are beveled according to a distribution of the bevels adapted to allow rotation of the blade between said closed position and said open position, the locking blocks being located at the bevel ends for which said first and second faces (31, 32) have their width reduced in the direction perpendicular to the pivot axis (40).

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