System and method for sealing openings in response to smoke, noxious fumes, or contaminated air using a roll-down barrier
US7028742B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 2004 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE06B2009/808
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A system and method for rapidly and reliably sealing off a selected opening from the passage of smoke, noxious fumes, or contaminated air includes a powered clutch and viscous governor that provides a fail-safe mode of operation. A curtain is positioned in a housing adjacent to an upper limit of an opening such as a hoist access-way. The curtain is wrapped around a spindle that is connected to a spool via two cords. The curtain is held in the housing in a stored configuration by a powered clutch so that upon removal of power, either via a controller or by power loss, the clutch releases the spool allowing the cord to unwind lowering and thus deploying the curtain. A capacitor can be included to prevent inadvertent deployments due to momentary power loss. The speed at which the spool rotates, and correspondingly the curtain deploys, is limited by a viscous governor coupled to the spool. The curtain includes flexible magnets that attach to ferrous side rails forming a nearly air tight seal preventing the passage of smoke, noxious fumes or contaminated air through the opening.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.