Fire Retardant Element with Retaining Clips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection elements made of aluminum hollow profiles fail to maintain fire protection integrity as the aluminum alloys become malleable and soften at temperatures below those encountered in fires, causing the fire protection panels to fall out and compromising the structure's integrity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating individual retaining clips within the hollow profiles that provide a force-fitting or form-fitting connection with the inner walls, ensuring the fire protection panels remain in place even if the profile wall melts, and using intumescent strips to enhance bonding and prevent panel dislodgment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If aluminum hollow profiles are used for fire protection elements, then the structure provides initial fire resistance and ease of manufacture, but the aluminum becomes malleable and softens at temperatures below fire temperatures, causing the fire protection panels to fall out
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining clips are provided as separate, discrete components that can be independently installed within the hollow profiles to secure the fire protection panels. This segmentation allows the clips to be positioned at specific intervals to provide reliable anchoring without requiring the entire aluminum profile to maintain structural integrity throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining clips act as intermediary elements between the aluminum hollow profile and the fire protection panel. These clips transfer and distribute the mechanical loads, preventing the panel from falling out even when the aluminum profile softens or melts during fire exposure.
2Ease of operation
If fire protection panels are simply placed and fixed in the hollow chambers, then the installation is simple and quick, but the panels fall out when the profile wall softens or melts during fire
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining clips are pre-installed or pre-positioned within the hollow profiles before the fire protection panels are inserted. This preliminary action ensures that the clips are already in place to secure the panels, eliminating the need for complex fastening operations during installation while guaranteeing reliable panel retention during fire exposure.
3Duration of action of moving object
If multiple slide-in parts are inserted one behind the other into the hollow chambers, then the fire protection coverage is extended, but the upper parts heat up faster and may dislodge without connection to lower parts
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining clips connect multiple slide-in parts together, merging them into a unified, stable assembly. This connection ensures that even when the upper parts of the construction heat up faster during fire exposure, the entire series of panels remains structurally stable and secured within the hollow profile.
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 retaining clips and intumescent strips ensure that fire protection panels remain securely fixed, maintaining the structural integrity and enhancing the fire protection effect by preventing panel dislodgment and maintaining the panels' position even during the softening or melting of the aluminum profile walls.
Implementation Method 1
when the temperature rises, the energy-consuming release of water of crystallization begins in the fire protection panels. The escaping water vapor has a cooling effect, which delays further heating of the construction
Implementation Method 2
The escaping water vapor has a cooling effect, which delays further heating of the construction
Implementation Method 3
They can be covered with intumescent strips on one or more of their outer surfaces. These intumescent strips, which begin to melt above approx. 300°C, then penetrate the gap between the insert part and the profile, and the adhesive forces that then occur cause the fire protection panels, the intumescent material and the aluminum wall to be bonded together
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The element has an insertion element (2) arranged in an inner space of an aluminum hollow profile (1) for fire protection. The insertion element consists of crystallization chemical e.g. fire protection materials such as silicate or gypsum material. A retaining bracket (3) entirely or partially surrounds the insertion element. The insertion element and the bracket are connected with each other in a region of abutting surfaces (4). The bracket is connected with the inner wall in a force-fit and/or form-fit manner. Another retaining bracket is arranged in a region between the abutting surfaces.