Fire Collar Spring Layout for Thin-Wall Smoke Blocking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire collars face challenges in effectively preventing smoke and heat transfer due to slow expansion of intumescent materials and limited adaptability to thinner concrete walls, as they require a minimum wall thickness of 150 mm.
Innovation Solution
A fire collar design featuring a housing with a bore, mounting means, intumescent material, and torsion springs with modified leg configurations that allow for broader engagement with intumescent material, enabling faster obstruction of the bore and reduced height for use in thinner walls, along with a stainless steel gauze for enhanced expansion directionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional torsion springs with straight legs are used, then the fire collar can effectively obstruct the bore, but the device height must be at least 150 mm to accommodate the spring length
Solution Approach 1:
The torsion spring legs are modified to include bends instead of being straight, allowing the spring to achieve the necessary operational stroke within a reduced overall height. The bent configuration enables the spring to engage the intumescent material effectively while accommodating the housing in thinner concrete walls.
2Productivity
If intumescent material is used without gauze reinforcement, then the material can expand freely, but the expansion is slow and not well-directed toward obstructing the bore
Solution Approach 1:
A stainless steel gauze is introduced as an intermediary layer between the intumescent material and the bore opening. The gauze reinforces the expanding material, directs its expansion inward toward the bore, and prevents the material from dispersing outward, thereby accelerating effective obstruction while maintaining reliability.
3Device complexity
If the second leg of the torsion spring is made substantially straight, then the spring structure is simple, but the engagement area with intumescent material is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The second leg of the torsion spring includes bends that increase its surface area and improve engagement with the intumescent material. The bent configuration provides better mechanical interaction and control over the material's expansion while maintaining a relatively simple spring structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modified fire collar effectively obstructs smoke and heat transfer in thinner concrete structures by enhancing the engagement area of the intumescent material and utilizing stainless steel gauze to direct expansion inwardly, thus preventing smoke and gas egress during fires.
Implementation Method 1
The intumescent material, upon exposure to heat and/or flames, will also expand, thereby further aiding in closing off the penetration
Implementation Method 2
Movement of the torsion springs occurs when a fusible link holding the two legs of the spring breaks in response to the temperature of the link exceeding a predetermined level
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a fire collar (10) that includes a housing (11) having a bore that includes a first opening (13) and a second opening (18), said second opening being spaced from said first opening by at least one side wall (12), and wherein the fire collar further includes mounting means (14) for mounting said housing to a supporting structure, said mounting means being located adjacent said first opening. The fire collar also includes a layer of intumescent material (46) contained within the bore, adjacent the first opening, and supported in said bore adjacent the side wall. The fire collar also includes one or more torsion springs (48) which are operatively connected to the housing and wherein each spring includes a first leg (50) and a second leg (51). The second leg (51) is capable of movement between a first or non-operating position proximal to the layer of intumescent material and a second or operational position whereby said layer of intumescent material that is in contact with said second leg, either directly or indirectly, at least partially