Rolling Fire Door Pass Frame Self-Closing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire door assemblies that require manual operation and space for a pass door complicate emergency egress and retrofitting, especially in self-closing applications where automatic closure is needed.
Innovation Solution
A self-closing fire door assembly with a shutter roller and a flexible panel that includes a pass door frame hingedly secured to the side of the opening, allowing for emergency egress, featuring a sliding guard member and magnetic attraction for sealing, and a closure mechanism to move the pass door frame into a transverse position for full closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pass door frame is hingedly connected to a vertical shutter guide channel, then passage is provided when the rolling curtain service door is closed, but the configuration requires manual positioning and locking prior to extension of the shutter curtain and cannot be utilized in self-closing fire door applications
Solution Approach 1:
The pass door frame is equipped with a closure mechanism that automatically moves the frame from a retracted position to a transverse sealing position against the flexible panel when the flexible panel is in its extended closed position. This self-actuating mechanism eliminates the need for manual positioning and locking, enabling automatic closure capability in self-closing fire door applications while maintaining the ability to provide passage when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a sliding fire door assembly is used, then a pass door can be incorporated into the movable fire door, but adjacent wall space is required which is unattractive to building designers and complicates retrofitting
Solution Approach 1:
The pass door frame is positioned adjacent a lateral side of the opening rather than requiring adjacent wall space in the traditional sliding door configuration. The frame can swing between a retracted position (substantially aligned with the sidewall of the opening) and a transverse position (extending across the opening), effectively utilizing the lateral dimension to provide pass functionality without compromising wall space for the main fire door assembly.
3Reliability
If the pass door frame is positioned to seal against the flexible panel, then a fire barrier is maintained, but the frame must be in the correct position prior to engagement with the narrow section of the curtain
Solution Approach 1:
The pass door frame is designed to be movable between a retracted position and a transverse position, allowing it to be preliminarily positioned in the retracted state during installation and operation. The closure mechanism automatically transitions the frame to the transverse sealing position when the flexible panel reaches its extended closed position, ensuring proper alignment timing without manual intervention and maintaining reliable fire barrier sealing.
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
Enables efficient emergency egress while maintaining a fire barrier without the need for manual operation or additional space, ensuring compliance with building codes and allowing for automatic closure in self-closing scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
The pass door frame includes a magnetic region for attracting and sealing the flexible panel edge
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling door assembly for selectively covering an opening in a building includes a shutter roller rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and a flexible panel windable on and off the roller for movement into retracted and extended positions, respectively. The flexible panel defines an upper portion having a first width and a lower portion having a second width less than the first width. At least one pass door frame is hingedly securable proximate a lateral side of the opening for movement between a first position, in which the pass door frame extends in a substantially transverse direction relative to the opening and a second position, in which the pass door frame is substantially aligned with the at least one sidewall. A pass door is movably mounted within the passage defined by the pass door frame to selectively provide ingress and egress therethrough and a closure system is provided for causing the pass door frame to move from the second position to the first position after extension of the flexible panel.