BARRIER SYSTEMS WITH PROGRAMMABLE ACCELERATION PROFILE AND AUTO-RETRIES FOR PRESSURED EGRESS

• US 20100294437A1
• Filed: 04/28/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smoke Guard, Inc. (CSW Industrials, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Smoke Guard, Inc. (CSW Industrials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gonzales, Curtis P.
• Application Number:
  US12/769,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20100294437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/7
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/10 Fire-proof curtains
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/13 with closing members of one piece, e.g. of corrugated sheet metal

Abstract

Barrier systems and associated methods, including vapor and/or fire barrier systems, are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a barrier system that includes a barrier that is moved between a deployed position and a retracted position. The flexible barrier is configured to prevent migration of smoke or other harmful vapor, but to allow egress through the barrier upon request. A pressure gradient across the barrier can cause the barrier to bow and inhibit raising the barrier. A control system directs a drive system to stop raising the barrier, wait a predetermined time, and then raise the barrier again. In some embodiments, the barrier can be returned toward the deployed position before raising the barrier again.

Claims

7. A method of permitting egress through a flexible barrier deployed in a passageway to inhibit the migration of vapor through the passageway, wherein the barrier divides the passageway between a first and a second region, the method comprising:

receiving an egress request to move the barrier toward a retracted position;

moving the barrier toward the retracted position with a drive mechanism in response to the egress request;

monitoring a current level in the drive mechanism;

stopping the drive mechanism if the current level exceeds a predetermined threshold;

waiting a predetermined time period; and

resuming the drive mechanism for moving the barrier toward the retracted position.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

incrementing a counter when the drive mechanism is stopped; and

entering a fail state in which the drive mechanism is stopped.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the fail state further comprises notifying an external system of the fail state.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising opening a pressure-release valve across the barrier after waiting the predetermined time period and before resuming the drive mechanism.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the predetermined time period comprises a first predetermined time period, and wherein resuming barrier movement comprises:

moving the barrier toward the deployed position a predetermined distance;

pausing barrier movement for a second predetermined time period; and

moving the barrier toward the retracted position.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the predetermined time period comprises at least 1 second.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the predetermined time period comprises between 0 and 5 seconds.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein after waiting the predetermined time period, the method further comprises:

repeating moving the barrier toward the retracted position, monitoring the current level, and stopping movement of the barrier if the current level exceeds a predetermined threshold;

incrementing a counter for each repetition; and

ceasing the repetition when the counter reaches a predetermined limit.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising at least one of increasing or decreasing the predetermined time period for each repetition.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein the current level in the drive mechanism is configured to increase if movement of the barrier is obstructed.

17. The method of claim 7 wherein moving the barrier toward the retracted position comprises relieving a pressure differential between the first and second regions.

18. A method for retracting a pressurized vapor barrier from a passageway, the method comprising:

receiving an egress request from an external source;

retracting the barrier from the passageway initially at a variable rate until the barrier reaches a predetermined position at which pressure on the barrier is at least marginally equalized; and

retracting the barrier at a constant rate after the barrier reaches the predetermined position, wherein the variable rate is lower than the constant rate.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the variable rate comprises a monotonically increasing rate until the variable rate reaches the constant rate.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the variable rate comprises a stepped rate, wherein the stepped rate comprises at least one rate lower than the constant rate.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the variable rate comprises at least one of a non-linearly increasing rate or a non-linearly decreasing rate.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the variable rate comprises a linearly increasing rate until the variable rate reaches the constant rate.

23-1. The method of claim 23 wherein the drive system comprises an electrical motor configured to draw electrical current generally proportional to the resistance force.