Thermal Break Hook Design for Fast Fire Cabinet Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermal break elements in fire protection devices require significant elongation and uniform heating for activation, which can delay the reaction time and complicate design due to airflow considerations.

Innovation Solution

A deformable hook-shaped base body section made of plastic, designed to respond to heat and force stress, triggers the fire protection device through rapid deformation, eliminating the need for significant elongation and allowing for a compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If significant elongation and uniform heating are required for activation, then the base body can be activated, but the reaction time is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation reliabilityVSAvoidreaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is divided into a first base body section and a second base body section, with the first section being deformable and hook-shaped to provide localized deformation rather than requiring uniform elongation of the entire base body, thus reducing reaction time while maintaining activation reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first base body section is designed with specific local properties (deformable, hook-shaped) that concentrate the thermal and mechanical response in a specific region, enabling faster localized deformation and activation without requiring uniform heating and elongation of the entire base body

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If significant elongation is required for activation, then the base body can be activated, but the design becomes complicated due to airflow considerations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation reliabilityVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the base body into distinct sections with different functions (first deformable hook-shaped section for activation, second section for structural support), the design simplifies airflow management as the deformable section is isolated and its movement pattern is more predictable and compact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the base body to elongate significantly to activate the release mechanism, the invention inverts the approach by designing a hook-shaped first section that deforms locally to disengage the connecting element, thereby simplifying the overall design and reducing airflow-related complexities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Speed

If the base body is made deformable under heat and force stress, then rapid activation is achieved, but the structural strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation speedVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is segmented into a deformable first section and a structurally stronger second section, allowing the first section to be optimized for rapid deformation under heat and force stress while the second section maintains overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first base body section is given local deformable properties (viscoelastic, plastic, and/or viscoplastic behavior) specifically at the hook-shaped region where activation occurs, while the rest of the base body maintains sufficient structural strength to support the fire protection device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 rapid activation of the fire protection device, simplifies integration with the release mechanism, and enhances versatility by ensuring a reliable and quick response to fire temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

the base body is designed to be deformable under heat stress and under force stress, in particular tensile and/or compressive stress

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal deformation: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

the first basic body section can be rheologically shaped under thermal and force stress, for example, viscoelastic, plastic, and/or viscoplastic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelastic deformation: Viscoelasticity

Implementation Method 3

the first basic body section can be rheologically shaped under thermal and force stress, for example, viscoelastic, plastic, and/or viscoplastic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 4

the first base body section is designed to be deformable at least partially under heat stress and force stress

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal stress: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 5

the first base body section is designed to be deformable at least partially under heat stress and force stress

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP4678244A9Fire protection cabinet, fire protection device and thermal separation element
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 DIN DIETMAR NOCKER FACILITYMANAGEMENT GMBH
  • EP4678244A9 patent drawingFigure 1~1a
  • EP4678244A9 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4678244A9 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

A fire protection cabinet (1), a fire protection device (2) for it, a thermal break element (5, 50) for this fire protection device (2), and a method are shown. To create a fast-acting thermal break element (5, 50), it is proposed that the base body (7) has at least one hook-shaped first base body section (8) with the point or area of ​​application (P) for hooking the connecting element (6), wherein the first base body section (8) is designed to be deformable, at least in sections, under the heat load (H1, H2) and under the force load (F) in order to allow a movement, in particular at least a rotational movement, that disengages the connecting element (6) and triggers the protective function on the fire protection device (2).