Intumescent Release Element for Fire-Responsive Door Housing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door devices, particularly locking devices, do not effectively open in the event of a fire, posing a risk to the safety of building occupants and the integrity of the door mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A door device with a triggering device made of intumescent material that expands significantly at elevated temperatures, allowing the housing to open and potentially removing obstacles, thereby ensuring the safe operation of the locking mechanism and preventing overheating of electrochemical energy stores.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the housing remains closed during fire to maintain structural integrity, then the door device structure is preserved, but the electrochemical energy stores overheat and fail

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidtemperature of electrochemical energy stores

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a stationary base and a movable front panel separated by a release element. The front panel can be detached from the base when the release element expands, allowing the electrochemical energy stores to be exposed to external cooling while the base remains attached to the door structure, thus resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The release element made of intumescent material acts as an intermediary between the fire heat and the housing. When exposed to fire, the release element expands and triggers the opening mechanism, mediating the thermal stress and enabling the housing to open automatically to protect the electrochemical energy stores from overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If the housing opens automatically at trigger temperature to protect electrochemical energy stores, then overheating is prevented, but the door device may open unintentionally during normal operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature of electrochemical energy storesVSAvoidreliability of door device

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The release element is made of intumescent material that undergoes a dramatic parameter change (volume expansion) only at specific high temperatures typical of fire conditions. This selective parameter change ensures the housing opens reliably at fire temperatures while remaining stable and closed during normal operating temperature ranges, thus preventing unintentional opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The release element uses composite intumescent material that combines multiple properties: thermal stability at normal temperatures, dramatic volume expansion at fire temperatures, and mechanical strength to trigger the opening mechanism. This composite material behavior ensures reliable fire-responsive opening while maintaining stability during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If a traditional release mechanism is used to open the housing, then the structure is simple, but the housing does not open reliably in the event of a fire

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease mechanism structureVSAvoidhousing opening reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The release element utilizes the phase transition behavior of intumescent materials that undergo dramatic volumetric expansion when exposed to fire temperatures. This phase transition provides a reliable, automatic triggering mechanism that ensures the housing opens consistently in fire conditions without requiring complex mechanical release systems, thus achieving high reliability with relatively simple structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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 door device reliably opens at high temperatures, ensuring the safety of occupants by preventing excessive heating of electrochemical energy stores and maintaining the integrity of the door mechanism during a fire, while also allowing for the safe removal of energy sources from the heat source.

Implementation Method 1

the triggering device includes a triggering material, wherein the volume of the triggering material increases at and/or above the triggering temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIntumescence: Intumescent Materials

Implementation Method 2

The triggering material can absorb heat to increase its volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

the triggering material can undergo a phase transition partially or completely at and/or above the triggering temperature. For instance, the triggering material can partially or completely evaporate at the triggering temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3425150B1Door device

Publication Date: 2021.03.10 DORMAKABA DEUT GMBH

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a door device (1), in particular a locking device, with a housing (10) and with a release device (30), wherein the release device (30) serves to open the housing (10) at and/or above a release temperature (30). According to the invention, the release device (30) comprises a release material, wherein the volume of the release material increases at and/or above the release temperature.