Side Guide Door for Fire Curtains Using Electromagnets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side guides for pleated smoke, fire, or fire and smoke curtains can be unsightly when the curtain is retracted, and they may collect debris, which can prevent the curtain's full deployment.
Innovation Solution
A side guide with a channel that fits into a wall, featuring a door that is normally open due to external sprung hinges and can be closed electromagnetically. The door is designed to be tidily closed when the curtain is not in use, and electromagnets are used to control the door's position, allowing it to open automatically in case of a fire or smoke alarm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the side guide channel is left open to guide the curtain, then the curtain can deploy smoothly, but the side guide becomes unsightly and collects debris when the curtain is retracted
Solution Approach 1:
The door is pre-positioned in an open state using springs during normal operation, allowing the channel to guide the curtain smoothly. When the curtain is retracted, the door automatically closes to present a tidy appearance and prevent debris accumulation. This preliminary positioning and automatic switching resolves the contradiction between deployment reliability and aesthetic appearance.
2Shape
If a closed door system is used to cover the channel, then appearance is improved, but the curtain deployment may be prevented by debris or mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The door system transitions from a static closed state to a dynamic system that can automatically open when needed. Springs provide the force to open the door during curtain deployment, while electromagnets provide controlled closing. This dynamic behavior ensures the door remains closed for aesthetics but opens reliably when the curtain needs to deploy.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual or mechanical door opening mechanism is replaced with an electromagnet-based control system. The electromagnets can be activated by fire or smoke detectors to automatically open the door, providing a more reliable and automated solution compared to purely mechanical systems that might fail due to debris or mechanical wear.
3Reliability
If electromagnets are positioned within the channel, then the door can be held closed reliably, but the channel space for guiding the bottom bar is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing electromagnets only within the channel width, the system uses electromagnets positioned on the inside of the door itself, utilizing the door's thickness dimension. This allows the channel width to remain fully available for guiding the bottom bar while the electromagnets on the door provide reliable holding force through the armature plates.
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 side guide provides a tidy appearance when the curtain is retracted, prevents debris accumulation, and ensures smooth deployment of the curtain by automatically opening the door in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
electromagnets positioned adjacent a second side within the channel or on an inside of the door; and corresponding armature plates on an inside of the door or adjacent a second side within the channel for connecting to the electromagnets for holding the door closed against hinges
Implementation Method 2
the door being connected to one side by external sprung hinges for holding the door in a normally open position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A side guide for a fire, smoke, or fire and smoke curtain assembly comprises a channel for fitting into or onto a wall and having a back and two sides sized to guide a bottom bar of a pleated curtain during deployment or retraction. The guide is also provided with a door sized to fit between the sides closing the channel, the door being connected to one side by external sprung hinges for holding the door in a normally open position, and having electromagnets positioned adjacent a second side within the channel or on an inside of the door and corresponding armature plates on an inside of the door or adjacent a second side within the channel for connecting to the electromagnets for holding the door closed against hinges. The electromagnets are provided as normally on, but immediately released on detection of a fire or failure of the electricity supply to enable deployment of the curtain.