Fire Resistant Enclosure With Movable Hatches For Data Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire-resistant enclosures for data storage devices often seal ventilation openings during a fire, leading to superheated steam buildup that can damage the devices, and lack effective water resistance, resulting in significant damage from water exposure during fires or floods.
Innovation Solution
The enclosure design includes movable hatches that maintain a slight opening to allow superheated steam escape, preventing complete sealing and incorporating a water-resistant barrier to protect against water damage, with supersaturated gypsum or concrete walls to prolong cooling effectiveness, and a hatchless design for low-power devices without moving parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the movable hatch completely seals the ventilation opening during fire, then heat protection is improved, but superheated steam buildup causes device damage
Solution Approach 1:
The movable hatch is designed to close partially during fire conditions, leaving a small gap (1-5% of total opening area) that allows superheated steam to escape while still providing significant heat blocking. This partial closure resolves the contradiction by preventing complete sealing that would trap steam, while maintaining enough closure to protect against external fire heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary steam escape pathway through the partially closed hatch design, allowing superheated steam to find an escape route without compromising the overall sealing function. This intermediary pathway resolves the contradiction by providing a controlled release mechanism for steam while maintaining primary heat protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the enclosure is completely sealed to prevent water entry, then water resistance is improved, but steam escape is prevented causing temperature buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure employs partial sealing rather than complete sealing, allowing controlled steam escape while maintaining sufficient water resistance. The movable hatch design provides a balance where the opening remains small enough to block water during normal conditions but large enough to allow steam escape during fire conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable hatch provides dynamic sealing that adapts to different conditions - remaining open during normal operation for steam escape, closing partially during fire to block heat while allowing steam venting, and providing water resistance during flood conditions. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between sealing and venting requirements.
3Temperature
If a large ventilation opening is provided for cooling, then heat dissipation is improved, but water infiltration increases causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The movable hatch provides dynamic control of the ventilation opening, allowing it to be open during normal operation for effective cooling, then close partially or completely during fire or flood conditions to prevent water infiltration. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between needing large openings for cooling and small openings for water protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable hatch is pre-positioned to close automatically upon detecting fire or flood conditions, preventing water infiltration before it can cause damage. This preliminary protective action resolves the contradiction by proactively sealing the enclosure when water threat is detected, while maintaining open ventilation during safe operating conditions.
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 design significantly reduces interior temperatures during fires, preventing data loss and extending protection duration, while ensuring water resistance and compact, cost-effective construction.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for the escape of superheated steam
Implementation Method 2
The slight, yet critical, opening would allow the pressure inside the enclosure to equalize with the outer atmospheric pressure
Implementation Method 3
water based fire resistant insulations in which the enclosures are completely sealed. Similar to the effect of a stove top pressure cooking device for cooking food, a completely sealed container combined with the water carried by and chemically bound inside the gypsum or concrete walls is turned to steam
Implementation Method 4
the water carried by and chemically bound inside the gypsum or concrete walls is turned to steam
Implementation Method 5
fire resistant enclosures for data storage devices using water based fire resistant insulations
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A fire resistant and water resistant enclosure for an operable computer digital data storage device is provided The enclosure has walls made of gypsum or concrete and, in one embodiment, has two small ventilation openings which remain open during normal operation of the digital data storage device and during the presence of fire In the presence of fire, air and superheated steam from inside the enclosure expand and flow outwardly through the ventilation passageways As those gases flow outwardly, they simultaneously block or prevent the transfer of heat from the exterior fire inwardly through those passageways A water resistant pouch or coating surrounding the storage device prevents damage from flood, water, steam generated by the insulation or smoke from passing through said passageways and damaging the storage device.