Fire Door Canvas Perimeter Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire doors, whether sliding or canvas-based, face challenges with high energy requirements for activation, slow operation, and large installations, which hinder effective and efficient fire and heat isolation due to gaps around the perimeter of the fireproof canvas.
Innovation Solution
A fire door design featuring a fixed and moving gripper frame system with an actuating device, including pivoted rods, an activation lever, and a weighted bar, ensures a tight perimeter seal by guiding and pressing the fireproof canvas against a fixed frame, eliminating gaps and enabling efficient closure with minimal space occupation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sliding door made from rigid panel or screen is used, then fire and heat isolation is improved, but the door becomes heavy, requiring great energy for activation and slow operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy rigid panels with a flexible fireproof canvas that can be rolled up and down. This flexible membrane approach maintains fire and heat isolation effectiveness while dramatically reducing the weight and energy required for activation, allowing the door to be operated with minimal effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The fireproof canvas is segmented into a rolled-up configuration that can be easily stored and deployed. The canvas is divided into sections that can be rolled into a compact drum, allowing the entire door to be operated as a single lightweight unit rather than requiring heavy rigid panels to be moved across the entire opening.
2Reliability
If a sliding door made from rigid panel or screen is used, then fire and heat isolation is improved, but the door becomes slow in operation
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible fireproof canvas rolls up and down much faster than heavy rigid panels can slide. The canvas can be quickly deployed from a compact drum position to cover the opening, providing rapid fire and heat isolation response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static rigid panels to a dynamic rolled canvas mechanism. The canvas can be quickly rolled up into a compact drum position for storage and then rapidly unrolled to cover the opening, providing fast operation while maintaining effective fire and heat isolation.
3Reliability
If a sliding door is installed, then fire and heat isolation is improved, but an over-sized installation is required so as to have the door in the opening position and parallel to the wall
Solution Approach 1:
The fireproof canvas is nested within a compact drum structure that can be stored in a small space above or beside the opening. When not in use, the canvas is rolled up and stored compactly, requiring minimal installation space. When needed, the canvas is quickly unrolled to cover the opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The system moves the canvas from a horizontal sliding position to a vertical rolling position. The drum is positioned above or beside the opening, and the canvas rolls vertically into place, allowing the door to be installed in a compact footprint while maintaining effective fire and heat isolation when deployed.
4Device complexity
If a fireproof canvas is used without perimeter seal mechanism, then the door is simpler, but perimeter grooves or gaps remain allowing passage of flames or smoke
Solution Approach 1:
A rubber sealing element is introduced as an intermediary between the fireproof canvas and the frame. This flexible seal presses against the canvas edges to eliminate gaps and perimeter grooves, preventing flame and smoke passage while adding minimal complexity to the overall door mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible rubber seal is used to press against the fireproof canvas edges, creating a tight perimeter seal. This flexible sealing element conforms to the canvas shape and maintains contact during operation, effectively preventing flame and smoke passage through perimeter gaps.
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 achieves a robust and efficient fire and heat isolation with a simple, safe mechanism that minimizes space requirements and ensures effective sealing of the fireproof canvas, preventing flame and smoke passage around the edges and top, thereby enhancing fire safety.
Implementation Method 1
The actuating device is formed from a weight or bar, fitted to the lower end of the fireproof canvas. This weight or bar has three functions: The first is to make a force for the dropping of the canvas exercising a force that gives rise to the dropping of same
Implementation Method 2
The actuating lever is connected to a spring that tends to hold it in the position corresponding to the non-operating position of the moving gripper frame, thus the mechanism remaining armed
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~7
AI summary
Fire door which comprises - a fireproof canvas (1) in an upper drum (11); - a fixed frame (2) formed by two vertical profiles and an upper horizontal one in the form of a doorway, - a moving gripper frame (3) formed also by two vertical profiles and another horizontal one parallel to the fixed frame (2) and movable between a non-operational position, in which it is positioned at a distance from the fixed frame (2), said frames jointly demarcating a space for passage of the fireproof canvas (1), and an operational position wherein said moving gripper frame (3) presses the fireproof canvas (1) against the fixed frame (2), thereby sealing the door, - a second fixed frame (4) formed by two vertical profiles, serving as a support element for the moving gripper frame (3) and, - an actuating device for shifting the moving gripper frame (3) into the operational position.