Flexible Intumescent Fire Collar for Variable Pipe Openings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire-protection collars for closing through-passages in walls, ceilings, and floors during a fire are inflexible and require multiple components, making them difficult to adapt to different openings and pipe cross-sections.

Innovation Solution

A fire-protection-collar element comprising a thin, flexible metal foil sheath with an intumescent material lining that expands in fire, providing a robust and adaptable solution with an integral adhesive-free connection, allowing for easy installation and flexibility in fitting various openings and pipe sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional fire-protection collars are used with multiple individual components, then fire protection function is achieved, but device complexity increases and adaptability to different openings decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different openingsVSAvoidnumber of individual components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple traditional components (sheath, lining, holders, fastening means) into a single integrated fire-protection-collar element. The lining is positioned directly on the inner surface of the sheath, and holders are arranged on the outer surface, creating a unified structure that can be installed as one piece rather than assembling multiple separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated collar design serves multiple functions simultaneously: the sheath provides structural support and fire resistance, the lining provides intumescent protection, the holders provide mounting capability, and the fastening means provide attachment to the opening. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace multiple traditional elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional fire-protection collars are used with multiple components, then fire protection function is achieved, but ease of manufacture decreases and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction straightforwardnessVSAvoidnumber of individual components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the sheath and lining are connected with adhesive, then connection is achieved, but reliability under high temperature decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stability under fire conditionsVSAvoidconnection method complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the use of adhesive by employing a mechanical interlocking design where the lining is positioned directly on the inner surface of the sheath. This approach replaces the chemical bonding method (adhesive) with a physical positioning method that remains reliable under high temperature conditions where adhesives would fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a thin flexible foil sheath is used, then adaptability to different pipe cross sections improves, but structural strength may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility for different pipe sizesVSAvoidsheath structural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite structure where the thin flexible foil sheath is combined with the lining material positioned on its inner surface. This composite design allows the sheath to maintain flexibility for adapting to different pipe cross-sections while the combined structure with the lining provides enhanced structural strength and fire protection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 enables straightforward, cost-effective production and installation of a fire-protection collar that effectively prevents fire and smoke spread by expanding to seal openings, while maintaining stability and preventing detachment of components, even under high temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

at least one lining (12) which is made of or comprises a material which increases in volume in the event of a fire, preferably an intumescent material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIntumescent material expansion: Intumescent Materials

Implementation Method 2

the sheath, preferably the foil which forms the sheath, is advantageously bimetallic. In particular the use of two metals of different coefficients of linear expansion is advantageous here

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion differential: Bi-Metallic Strip

Data Source

PatentUS11648427B2Fire-protection collar

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 PROMAT AUSTRALIA

AI summary

The present invention relates to a fire-protection-collar element (10) for forming a fire-protection collar (35) for closing through-passages in walls (38), ceilings and/or floors in the event of a fire. The present invention also relates to a method for forming a fire-protection collar (35) for closing through-passages in walls (38), ceilings and/or floors in the event of a fire.