Floating End Plate Mounts for Fire Curtain Roller Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire and smoke curtain assemblies suffer from bowing issues due to insufficient support at the center of the roller when the curtain is partially or fully wound, affecting deployment and rewinding, especially when the weight of the curtain is considerable.
Innovation Solution
A fire and smoke barrier assembly with a headbox that includes a supporting roller between ends, paired with floating mounts and roller guides, ensuring continuous support through adjustable roller bearings, and additional roller supports to maintain stability during winding and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If additional rollers are provided beneath the roller to support the curtain weight, then the roller stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into multiple independent supporting rollers positioned at different locations beneath the main roller. Each roller independently supports a portion of the curtain weight, distributing the load and improving stability without requiring a complex monolithic support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting rollers act as intermediary elements between the main roller and the headbox structure. These intermediate components transfer the curtain weight through the supporting rollers to the headbox, providing stable support while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If supporting structures are added to prevent roller bowing, then the reliability of curtain deployment is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting rollers are passively positioned beneath the main roller and automatically support the curtain weight as it is wound or deployed. The system serves itself by using the gravity of the curtain to press it against the supporting rollers, which in turn prevent bowing without requiring active control or complex mechanisms that would complicate operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the roller is fully supported at all positions, then the prevention of bowing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Support is provided at specific critical locations beneath the main roller where bowing is most likely to occur during curtain winding and deployment. The supporting rollers are positioned to provide local support exactly where needed, rather than attempting to support the entire roller continuously, thereby preventing bowing while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 assembly provides continuous support to the roller and curtain, preventing bowing and ensuring smooth operation during deployment and retraction, even when the curtain is partially or fully wound.
Implementation Method 1
each holding two or more roller bearings
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A fire and smoke barrier assembly comprising a headbox for securing above an opening and holding a roller on to which a fire and smoke curtain can be rolled for storage and deployed. Within the headbox is a supporting roller secured between its ends for supporting the roller and curtain; a pair of roller guides; a pair of floating mounts, arranged on the roller guides, each holding two or more roller bearings at least one being positioned either side of the roller guides, and provided with a support for an end of the roller. In use, the roller will be supported at each end, within the headbox, on the floating mounts, which are secured to the roller guides, allowing the roller and curtain thereon to move up and down the roller guides as the depth of curtain on the roller increases or decreases during winding or deployment.