Fire Protection Sleeve Structure for Large-Opening Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection collars are inefficient in closing openings with large inner diameters while minimizing material consumption, leading to high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A fire protection collar design featuring a flexible, non-combustible stabilizer element and an insulating strip with joint sections that fold over to stabilize and anchor the swelling material, reducing the need for expensive materials and ensuring reliable closure of large openings during a fire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fire protection collars are used to close large openings, then reliable fire protection is achieved, but material consumption increases and production costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The fire protection collar is divided into functional segments: a minimal amount of expanding material is used in combination with a stabilizer element and insulating strip with joint sections. This segmentation allows the expensive expanding material to be used only where absolutely necessary, while cheaper structural elements provide the bulk of the fire protection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating strip incorporates joint sections that can change their configuration parameter from folded (during normal conditions) to unfolded (during fire). This parameter change allows the structure to adapt: during fire, the joint sections unfold to create a stable framework that supports the expanding material, maximizing the effectiveness of the limited expanding material used.
2Reliability
If more expanding material is used to close large openings, then closure reliability improves, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer element and insulating strip with joint sections act as intermediaries between the expanding material and the pipe opening. These intermediaries provide structural support and geometry control, allowing the expanding material to work more efficiently. The joint sections specifically mediate between the folded insulating strip and the expanding material, transforming the structural configuration during fire to enhance closure reliability while minimizing expanding material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating strip with foldable joint sections serves as a disposable structural element that is inexpensive compared to the expanding material. During fire, these joint sections unfold and provide temporary structural support, after which the entire assembly is consumed or damaged. This approach sacrifices cheap structural elements to preserve the expensive expanding material for its critical fire-blocking function.
3Quantity of substance
If the insulating strip is folded over completely, then material usage is reduced, but folds form inside the sleeve reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The joint sections are pre-configured in a folded state during manufacturing, creating a compact structure with minimal internal folds. The folding geometry is specifically designed so that when the joint sections unfold during fire, they do so in a controlled manner that prevents random fold formation. This preliminary configuration ensures both material efficiency and internal smoothness are maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint sections transition from a static folded configuration during normal conditions to a dynamic unfolded configuration during fire. This dynamic behavior allows the structure to adapt: the folded state minimizes material usage and internal folds during installation and normal operation, while the unfolded state provides structural support during fire. The controlled unfolding process prevents random fold formation that would compromise internal smoothness.
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 allows for cost-effective production by minimizing the use of expensive expanding material while maintaining effective closure of large openings, with the stabilizer element and insulating strip ensuring the swelling material stays in place and reduces the inner cross-section, effectively blocking the pipe opening.
Implementation Method 1
a fire protection collar (10) for pipes and ducts, which basically defines an axial direction (parallel to the central axis and to the axis of the pipe or duct) and a circumferential direction as well as an inside and an outside, with an expanding material (14) that expands when exposed to heat
Implementation Method 2
the insulating strip has a number of joint sections in the form of individual flaps that are folded over
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A fire protection sleeve (10) for pipes and ducts has a material (14) that inflates when exposed to heat, wherein at least one stabilizer element (11) made of flexible and non-combustible material is provided on the inside of the inflating material in selected areas, which stabilizes the inflating inflating material in the event of a fire.