Fire Damper Expandable Frame Sealing to Reduce Mounting Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire dampers face challenges with complex sealing mechanisms that are difficult to mount and can adversely affect airflow, leading to insufficient sealing and increased costs, particularly in multi-blade designs.
Innovation Solution
A fire damper with an expandable sealing system comprising a resilient material strip and an intumescent strip, covered by a flexible fire-retardant fabric element, which provides adaptive sealing without disturbing airflow and reduces heat transfer, allowing for a simpler blade design and reduced manufacturing time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing mechanisms are used in fire dampers, then sealing between blades and frame is achieved, but the structure becomes difficult to mount and manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single integrated frame structure with sealing elements directly attached to the frame rails, eliminating the need for separate sealing components on each blade. This merging reduces the number of parts and simplifies the mounting process while maintaining reliable sealing between the blades and frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, guides blade movement, and incorporates sealing elements to prevent smoke and fire passage. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated sealing mechanisms, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable sealing.
2Reliability
If sealing mechanisms are added to fire dampers, then fire containment is improved, but air flow is adversely affected due to space occupation in the interface
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are positioned only at the critical interface zones between the blades and frame where fire containment is needed, rather than occupying the entire blade surface. This localized sealing approach maintains effective fire containment while minimizing interference with the overall air flow through the damper when in the open position.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are designed to be flexible and adaptive, changing their configuration based on the damper position. When the damper is open, the sealing elements retract or flex away to minimize air flow resistance. When the damper closes, the sealing elements engage to provide effective fire containment, thus dynamically adapting to operational requirements.
3Reliability
If multiple sealing mechanisms are provided on damper blades, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the individual blades and relocates it to the frame structure. Instead of each blade carrying its own sealing mechanisms, the frame is equipped with sealing elements that work in conjunction with the blades. This extraction reduces the number of sealing components needed while maintaining or improving sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sealing functions are merged into a unified frame-based sealing system. The frame incorporates sealing elements that address sealing requirements for multiple blades simultaneously, reducing the total number of sealing components needed compared to having separate sealing mechanisms on each blade, thus lowering overall system complexity and cost.
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 solution enhances sealing efficiency, reduces heat transfer, and simplifies the manufacturing and mounting process, while maintaining effective fire containment by creating a heat barrier and minimizing the need for additional seals between blades.
Implementation Method 1
The expandable sealing means comprises a strip of resilient material
Implementation Method 2
a strip of intumescent material configured to - upon activation - press against edge portions of said at least one damper blade
Implementation Method 3
Another advantage of the flexible sealing element is that it provides a reduced heat transfer between an inner and outer side of the fire damper. It hence creates a heat barrier between the two sides
Data Source
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AI summary
A fire damper for a ventilation system has expandable sealing means (11, 12) configured to seal the interface between outer edge portions of a damper blade (310) and inner wall portions of a fire damper frame (110). The expandable sealing means (11, 12) extends along the inner frame wall portions, which define an air flow opening of the fire damper, and it is covered by a flexible sealing fabric (13).