Pivotable Smoke Door With Nested Screen For Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smoke ventilation systems in buildings often require dedicated openings that are undesirable from an architectural perspective and are not designed to handle large wind forces, limiting their effectiveness and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A smoke door construction featuring an outer and inner frame with a pivotable smoke screen that can open to 75-90% of its area, allowing smoke evacuation, and can be automatically activated by a fire detection system, utilizing existing door openings and smaller actuators to create a dual-purpose smoke ventilation solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a door or window is used as a smoke evacuation opening with automatic opening equipment mounted on the frame and sash structure, then smoke ventilation capability is improved, but the device complexity and structural modification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is segmented into three functional components: the outer frame (fixed in building opening), the inner frame (pivotable on hinges), and the smoke screen (openable within inner frame). This segmentation allows the smoke ventilation function to be isolated to specific components rather than requiring modification of the entire door structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining smoke evacuation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The smoke screen is nested within the inner frame, which itself is nested within the outer frame structure. This nested configuration allows the smoke ventilation mechanism to be contained within the existing door footprint without requiring external mounting equipment on the building facade, simplifying the overall system while preserving architectural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the inner frame is constructed to be openable with limited opening like normal windows, then ease of operation is improved, but the area of opening for smoke ventilation is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The opening function is segmented between the inner frame (which pivots on hinges for access) and the smoke screen (which opens within the inner frame to create the ventilation aperture). This allows the inner frame to maintain limited opening for normal operation while the smoke screen provides the large opening area needed for smoke evacuation when activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The smoke screen is designed to be dynamically openable within the inner frame boundary, transitioning from a closed position (maintaining door integrity) to an open position (creating 75-90% opening area). This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt between normal door function and smoke ventilation function without compromising either requirement.
3Reliability
If dedicated openings are provided for smoke ventilation, then smoke evacuation effectiveness is improved, but architectural appearance and integration are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: normal access control through the inner frame, and smoke ventilation through the smoke screen. By making the smoke screen an integral part of the door structure rather than a separate facade opening, the system achieves smoke evacuation effectiveness while preserving the architectural appearance and integration of the building envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The smoke screen and smoke ventilation function are nested within the existing door structure (outer frame and inner frame), eliminating the need for separate dedicated openings in the building facade. This nesting approach maintains the architectural integrity and appearance while providing effective smoke evacuation capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is directed to a smoke door construction comprising an outer frame adapted to be mounted in an opening in a building, where hinged to said outer frame an inner frame is provided, said inner frame comprising a door opening and locking mechanism, such that the inner frame may pivot on hinges relative to the outer frame, from a position where the inner frame is in contact with the outer frame and a position where the inner frame is pivoted away from said outer frame and only contacts the outer frame by the hinges, and where a smoke screen is openable relative to the inner frame creating an opening corresponding to 75 to 90 % of an area delimited by the inner frame, such that said smoke screen may be opened allowing gas smoke and/or air through the smoke door construction.