Wall Firestop Shutter With Fusible Release for Pressure Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire barrier devices face issues with pressure differences in zone ventilation systems and rapid water level increases during flooding, as well as inadequate fire containment due to malfunctioning shutters and intumescent material swelling.
Innovation Solution
A fire barrier device with a thermally fusible element that maintains the passage orifice open under normal conditions, using a shutter flap with an intumescent plug and a grid with refractory glue to delay fire progression by closing the orifice upon thermal activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shutter continuously blocks the passage opening to ensure fire containment, then fire spread is delayed, but pressure differences between zones increase and water level rises quickly during flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is designed to be movable between open and closed positions rather than being fixed. It automatically transitions from open to closed position when exposed to fire temperatures, allowing the device to adapt its sealing function based on the presence or absence of fire hazard.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally fusible element changes its physical state (melts) in response to temperature changes. This parameter change triggers the shutter to move from open to closed position, enabling fire containment only when necessary while maintaining normal pressure balance between zones.
2Reliability
If the intumescent material swells to block the passage opening, then fire spread is delayed, but the device cannot function during flooding events
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter mechanism provides dynamic control over the passage opening, allowing it to remain open during flooding events and close only when fire is detected. This enables the device to respond differently to various hazards rather than being permanently sealed.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates multiple functional elements (shutter mechanism, thermally fusible element, intumescent material) that work together to achieve fire containment, providing redundancy and ensuring reliable fire protection while maintaining operational flexibility for other scenarios.
3Reliability
If the thermally fusible element melts to close the shutter, then fire containment is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermally fusible element automatically melts in response to fire temperatures, which directly triggers the shutter to close. This self-activating mechanism eliminates the need for external control systems, sensors, or power sources, thereby maintaining device simplicity while ensuring reliable fire barrier activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod acts as a mechanical intermediary that transmits the effect of the melting thermally fusible element to the shutter, causing it to move from open to closed position. This simple mechanical linkage efficiently translates the thermal response into the desired sealing action without requiring complex control mechanisms.
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
Ensures equal pressure between zones, prevents water level rise during flooding, and effectively delays fire spread by maintaining the shutter in an open position until thermal activation, allowing the intumescent material to swell and block the passage.
Implementation Method 1
the thermally fusible element melts; the shutter is no longer held in the open position and falls by gravity
Implementation Method 2
the shutter is no longer held in the open position and falls by gravity onto the passage opening, which delays the spread of the fire
Implementation Method 3
the shutter is no longer held in the open position and falls by gravity onto the passage opening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The subject of the invention is a fire barrier device for crossing a wall (2), in particular for the crossing of the wall by a fluid and/or an electric cable, the device comprising a sleeve (5) for crossing the wall provided with a main body and a passage orifice (10), said sleeve (5) being configured so that the main body is housed in said wall and the inlet orifice (10) is arranged outside the wall (2), the fire barrier device (1) comprising a flap for closing the orifice (10) by gravity, the said flap being movable between a closed position of the orifice (10) and an open position of the orifice (10), the device (1) comprising a shutter control member (25) between the open position and the closed position, the member (25) comprising a thermally fusible element (26) for hold the shutter in the open position.