Fire screen for a structural panel

• US 3,935,681 A
• Filed: 08/07/1974
• Issued: 02/03/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glaverbel SA (AGC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Glaverbel SA (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Voiturier, Jean-Pierre, Jacquemin, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Murtagh, John E.
• Application Number:
  US05/495,513
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 109/29, 109/33, 109/32, 169/2 R, 169/26, 52/202, 52/203, 52/232, 52/171
• US Class Current: 52/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10045 with at least one intermediate layer consisting of a glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10055 with at least one intermediate air space
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10302 Edge sealing
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/942 slab-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/54 Slab-like translucent elements floors for transmitting light E04B5/46; translucent or open-work ceilings E04B9/32, E04B9/34; translucent roof coverings E04D3/06, E04D3/28
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 5/165 Fireproof windows layered glass panes with expansion layers for fire protection B32B17/10311

Abstract

A structural panel comprising one or a plurality of spaced sheet members has a frame around its edge. At least one body of material capable of screening the structural panel against fire is provided in the form of a chemically activated substance. The substance or substances are retained in an inoperative position in the vicinity of the structural panel and are released to an operative position in response to a predetermined rise of temperature wherein a body of material covers substantially one or more faces of the panel.

Claims

1. A fire screen for a light transmitting structural panel comprising means for providing at least one body of material capable of screening a structural panel against fire, means for retaining said fire screening means in an inoperative position in the vicinity of the periphery of the structural panel, and means responsive to a rise to a predetermined temperature for releasing said fire screeing means from its inoperative position into an operative position in which at least one fire screening body of material covers substantially the area of the panel, said fire screening means comprising a plurality of substances disposed apart from each other in the inoperative position.

2. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said substances mix together upon release of the fire screening means and react chemically to form said fire screening body of material.

3. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said substances include a foaming agent whereby in the operative position said fire screening body of material will comprise a foam.

4. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said substances is a flowable material which when released forms said fire screening body of material, said releasing means yields in response to an increase in temperature to a predetermined value.

5. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said substances which when heated will undergo a chemical reaction to generate a pressure to release said fire screening means to its operative position.

6. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said substances is responsive to a predetermined pressure to release said fire screening means to form said fire screening body of material, said temperature responsive release means retaining a quantity of gas under pressure and yieldable at a rise in temperature to a predetermined value.

7. A fire screen as claimed in claim 6 wherein said quantity of gas is retained remote from said panel.

8. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said substances is responsive to a predetermined pressure to release said fire screening means to form said fire screening body of material, and means responsive to being heated to a predetermined temperature for generating a gas to release said fire screening means.

9. A fire screen as claimed in claim 8 wherein said gas generating means is disposed remote from said panel.

10. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fire screening means is disposed on an upper edge of the panel.

11. A fire screen as claimed in claim 3 wherein the foam is formed upon release of the fire screening means.

12. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said structural panel is hollow, said fire screening means being released to an operative position within the panel.

13. A fire screen as claimed in claim 4 wherein said flowable material is a liquid.

14. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fire screening means comprises a hydrated material containing absorbed water and becomes flowable when heated, said hydrated material is one selected from the group of sodium silicate, silicagel, borax, silica aluminate, a ferrous sulphate or a ferrous carbonate.

15. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fire screening means comprises a hydrated material containing absorbed water and becomes flowable when heated, the liquid ingredient of the hydrated material will evaporate after the fire screening means has been released to its operative position to leave a substantially solid fire screeing body of material.

16. A fire screen as claimed in claim 4 wherein said panel is hollow, said fire screening material flowing into and filling the panel upon being released.

17. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a frame enclosing said panel, means within said frame for defining a chamber therein, said fire screening means being contained in said chamber.

18. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel comprises a plurality of spaced sheet members, and resilient spacer means for retaining said sheet members in spaced relation.

19. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel comprises at least one sheet of chemicially tempered glass.

20. A fire screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel comprises at least one laminated sheet, said laminates sheet comprising a plurality of sheets of chemically tempered glass and a layer of plastic therebetween uniting said glass sheets.