Two-Leaf Fire Door Segmented Mating Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire doors face challenges in maintaining fire resistance when flames approach from certain angles, leading to potential gaps between vertical battens, and existing solutions either increase weight and cost or fail to provide absolute certainty in preventing flame passage.
Innovation Solution
A two-leaf fire door design featuring L-shaped mating means with a tooth and slot mechanism that prevents mutual separation of mating upright members, ensuring stable coupling and preventing flame propagation, while being lightweight and cost-effective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If metal sheets with plasterboard are used to increase thickness, then fire resistance time is increased, but the door becomes considerably heavier and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The solution segments the fire door into two separate leaves (first leaf 4 and second leaf 5) that can move independently. Each leaf has its own upright members and can respond to thermal expansion separately, preventing the weight increase problem while maintaining fire resistance through the segmented structure's ability to maintain sealing under differential expansion conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements including the sliding mechanism between upright members that allows movement during fire conditions. The second leaf can move relative to the first leaf through controlled sliding, enabling the structure to adapt to thermal expansion dynamically rather than relying on increased static thickness, thus avoiding weight increase while maintaining fire resistance.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If metal sheets with plasterboard are used to increase thickness, then fire resistance time is increased, but production costs are considerably increased
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the door into two independent leaves with separate upright members, the patent avoids the need for expensive thick composite panels. Each leaf can be manufactured separately using standard thickness materials, reducing material costs while the segmented design maintains fire resistance through controlled movement and sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic sliding mechanism between upright members provides a cost-effective alternative to expensive thick static barriers. The mechanism uses simple mechanical elements (slots, teeth, guides) rather than expensive composite materials, achieving fire resistance through intelligent design rather than material quantity, thus reducing production costs.
3Ease of operation
If the vertical edges of the leaves move towards the hinged region, then the leaves detach from the fixed frame, but gaps are created through which flames can pass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection system into multiple independent upright members (first upright member 8, second upright member 9) with individual sliding mechanisms. This segmentation allows each member to move independently within its slot, maintaining sealing between leaves while accommodating thermal expansion, thus preserving both operational freedom and fire resistance reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary elements (sliding mechanisms with slots and teeth, guiding elements) between the leaves and the fixed frame. These intermediaries allow controlled movement during fire conditions while preventing uncontrolled detachment, maintaining the sealing function and fire resistance reliability even when leaves move due to thermal expansion.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If the leaves are made heavier with increased thickness, then resistance time is increased, but absolute certainty that battens will not move apart is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the structure into independent upright members with individual sliding mechanisms, the patent achieves reliable batten coupling stability without increased weight. Each segmented element can move independently within controlled limits, maintaining coupling stability through the sliding mechanism rather than through increased mass, thus achieving absolute certainty of preventing gap formation without weight penalty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic sliding mechanisms with slots and teeth that actively maintain batten coupling stability during fire conditions. The sliding mechanism allows controlled movement while preventing uncontrolled separation, providing active stability maintenance rather than passive stability through weight, thus achieving reliable coupling without increasing leaf thickness or weight.
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 effectively maintains coupling between fire door leaves under heavy conditions, ensuring optimal closing, reliability, and safety with wide guarantees, using readily available materials and being economically competitive.
Implementation Method 1
mating means acting between the leaves when, due to the presence of flames, relative sliding occurs between the abutment wing and the contact edge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A two-leaf fire door with improved fire resistance comprising a first leaf (4) and a second leaf (5) which are hinged to a fixed frame and define respectively an abutment wing (10) on the first leaf (4) and a contact edge (11) on the second leaf (5), the two-leaf fire door further comprising mating means which act between the leaves when, due to the presence of flames, relative sliding occurs between the abutment wing (10) and the contact edge (11), along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the pivoting axes of the leaves.