Fire Curtain Brake Release for Power-Free Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire and smoke curtains often require a power source for activation and retention, and their deployment mechanisms can be unreliable, making them costly and complex to install and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A non-powered fire and smoke curtain assembly with a roller, brake disc, and a release mechanism that includes a lever plate, slide element, and thermal fuse link, allowing deployment without power, using a chain pull or thermal fuse to release the brake, enabling the curtain to deploy during a fire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a power source is used to activate and retain the curtain, then the curtain can be reliably deployed and re-wound, but the system becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the power source from the system entirely, extracting the problematic component that caused complexity while maintaining curtain functionality through a passive mechanical retention system using friction between the roller and end plate
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses self-retention through friction between the roller and end plate, eliminating the need for external power to maintain the curtain in the retracted position. The curtain deployment mechanism is activated manually or thermally without requiring powered motors or control systems
2Ease of operation
If a powered mechanism is used for curtain retention and deployment, then the curtain can be automatically re-wound, but the system requires maintenance and power connections
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the powered re-winding mechanism from the system, eliminating the need for motors, power connections, and associated control systems that require installation and maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using power to actively rewind the curtain, the system inverts the approach by using passive friction to hold the curtain in place, allowing manual or thermal deployment without requiring powered re-winding capability
3Extent of automation
If fusible links are used for deployment, then automatic fire-triggered deployment is achieved, but the mechanism becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses thermal expansion or melting of a fusible element connected to the brake disc release mechanism. When fire heat reaches a critical temperature, the fusible element changes state (expands or melts), automatically releasing the brake disc and allowing the roller to deploy the curtain through gravitational force
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
Provides a cost-effective, simple, and reliable deployment of fire and smoke curtains without a power source, suitable for various installations including car parks, with minimal maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a brake disc attached to the shaft of the roller and acting against the end plate to slow rotation of the roller during deployment
Implementation Method 2
a spring on the slide element acting between the stop and the lock element, to retain the slide element in a retained position in the absence of any other force
Implementation Method 3
the connector will incorporate a thermal fuse link element, such that in the event of a fire, the heat therefrom will break the link releasing the curtain for deployment
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A fire and/or smoke curtain assembly comprising a roller (2), a fire and smoke curtain (1), and a retaining mechanism for retaining the curtain rolled onto the roller and for allowing deployment of the event of a fire. The mechanism comprising an end plate (20) for holding an end (16) of the roller, a brake disc (30) attached to the end of the roller. A connector (86) attaches to the brake disc, the connector being connected to a hook (98) or ring element, being attached to a release mechanism (40) comprising a lock element (57) secured to the end plate at a proximal end, having a stop (60) at its distal end and provided with a hook element (68) onto which the hook or ring element of the connector is fitted, sliding lock element adapted to slide along a fixed plate, from a secure position in which the sliding lock is adapted to hold the hook or ring, and a release position, in which the hook or ring is released, thereby releasing the brake to allow rotation of the roller and deploy the curtain.