Fire Protection Flap Alignment Using Elastic Actuating Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection flaps struggle to maintain alignment parallel to the flow direction in their open position, leading to potential pressure losses and noise issues due to manufacturing tolerances and restoring forces.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an actuating handle and/or intermediate elements made of materials like elastomers or metals that allow further displacement beyond the open position, generating an additional restoring force to ensure the shut-off flap remains aligned parallel to the flow direction by interacting with a stop, thus overcoming frictional forces and maintaining contact with the stop in the open position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the shut-off flap is made adjustable on-site to align parallel to flow direction, then alignment precision can be improved, but manufacturing precision and installation complexity worsen due to tolerance fluctuations in transmission mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating handle is designed to automatically perform the alignment function when rotated to the open position. The asymmetric design causes the handle to naturally align parallel to the flow direction without requiring manual adjustment or additional alignment mechanisms, making the system self-aligning
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the shut-off flap adjustable to achieve alignment, the invention inverts the approach by making the actuating handle asymmetric so that its rotation naturally produces the desired alignment. The handle's asymmetric geometry is designed to compensate for tolerance fluctuations in the transmission mechanism
2Stability of the object's composition
If a stop is provided to fix the shut-off flap in open position, then alignment stability improves, but the shut-off flap may not remain perfectly parallel to flow direction due to restoring forces
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating handle is designed with asymmetric geometry that creates a counterbalancing effect against the restoring force. When the handle is rotated to the open position, its asymmetric design ensures that the shut-off flap remains aligned parallel to the flow direction even when the stop engages, counteracting the tendency of the restoring force to misalign the flap
3Measurement precision
If the actuating handle is made rigid for precise positioning, then positioning accuracy improves, but the ability to overcome frictional forces and maintain contact with the stop worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating handle is designed with asymmetric geometry that dynamically interacts with the transmission mechanism. This asymmetric design allows the handle to apply variable forces during rotation, enabling it to overcome static friction when engaging the stop while maintaining precise positioning once engaged
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
This configuration ensures the shut-off flap is consistently aligned parallel to the flow direction, reducing pressure losses and noise by maintaining contact with the stop, even with manufacturing tolerances, and preventing undesirable vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
the material of the actuating handle and/or an intermediate element arranged between the actuating handle and the axis of rotation is (are) designed in such a way that further displacement beyond the open position of the shut-off flap, in particular twisting, of the part interacting with the triggering device is possible
Implementation Method 2
the restoring force acts between the housing of the fire damper and the actuating handle or between the housing of the fire damper and the intermediate element
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~1d
Figure 1e~1g
AI summary
The invention relates to a fire protection flap with a housing (1) and with a shut-off flap (2) mounted therein so that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis (23). (2) there is a cooperating actuating handle (4) which is arranged on the outside of the housing (1) and can be rotated about an axis of rotation (5) assigned to it, with at least one stop (7) being provided on which the shut-off flap (2) in its in the open position, and wherein the fire protection flap has a triggering device (8) which can be brought into a fixing position and automatically moved into a release position, and wherein the actuating handle (4) and thus the shut-off flap (2) in the open position counteract a restoring force by means of the triggering device (8) can be fixed in a position corresponding to the open position of the butterfly valve (2) and out of this position after the triggering device (8) has been triggered and thus changed to its release position, it can be pivoted by the restoring force into a second position corresponding to the closed position of the shut-off valve (2).