Rolling fire door

• US 5,022,452 A
• Filed: 12/08/1989
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jere S. Burrell
• Original Assignee: Jere S. Burrell
• Inventors: Burrell, Jere S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MACHADO, REINALDO
• Application Number:
  US07/447,804
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 160/2, 160/6, 160/8, 160/9, 160/296
• US Class Current: 160/7
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/10 Fire-proof curtains
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/60 Spring drums operated only by closure members
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/62 Counterweighting arrangements E06B9/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/74 adapted for selective electrical or manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/84 against dropping

Abstract

A rolling fire door consists of a plurality of interconnected fireproof slats forming a curtain which is received by a pair of tracks along the sides of an opening to be secured. A torsion spring assembly assists in the raising and lowering of the curtain during normal operation. A torsion spring tube, rotated by raising and lowering of the curtain, is connected to a hydraulic pump. Upon the sensing of smoke, fire or the like, the torsion spring mechanism is disengaged and the curtain begins to fall by its own weight within the pair of tracks. The falling of the curtain rotates the torsion spring tube and accordingly drives the hydraulic motor which includes a restriction providing a load to the rotation of the torsion spring tube, thereby restricting the rate of descent of the curtain.

Claims

1. A rolling fire door, comprising:

a curtain of a plurality of interconnected slats;

a pair of tracks receiving said curtain along lateral edges thereof;

a tube traversing said pair of tracks at a top end thereof and interconnected to said curtain, rotation of said tube in a first direction raising said curtain in said pair of tracks, and rotation of said tube in a second direction allowing said curtain to be lowered in said pair of tracks; and

control means, comprising a hydraulic pump connected to and driven by said tube for restricting and regulating a rate of descent of said curtain within said pair of tracks under its own weight and a flow control valve interposed in a flow path of said hydraulic pump, said flow control valve restricting flow through said flow path and thereby providing a load on said hydraulic pump and restricting rotation of said tube, said control means being adjustable to regulate said load, and further comprising a bypass valve within said flow path, said bypass valve being in shunt with said flow control valve, said hydraulic pump becoming free wheeling upon actuation of said bypass valve.

2. The rolling fire door according to claim 1, further comprising spring means interconnected with said tube for assisting in raising and lowering said curtain within said pair of tracks.

3. The rolling fire door according to claim 2, wherein said control means is connected to said spring means and operatively disconnects said spring means from said tube upon occurrence of a predetermined event.

4. The rolling fire door according to claim 3, wherein said spring means comprises a torsion spring interposed between said tube and a rod, rotation of said rod being restricted and allowed by said control means.

5. The rolling fire door according to claim 3, wherein said control means comprises a hydraulic pump.

6. The rolling fire door according to claim 5, wherein said hydraulic pump is driven by said tube.

7. A fire door, comprising:

a pair of spaced apart tracks;

a tube positioned above said tracks;

a curtain of a plurality of elongated fire proof members connected to said tube, rotation of said tube raising and lowering said curtain within said tracks;

a hydraulic pump connected to and driven by said tube; and

flow control means interposed within a hydraulic flow path of said pump for restricting flow of hydraulic fluid through said path and impeding rotation of said tube, said flow control means comprising an adjustable restricting valve within said path and a bypass valve within said path and in shunt with said adjustable restricting valve, opening of said bypass valve causing said hydraulic pump to be free wheeling, unimpeding rotation of said tube.

8. The fire door as recited in claim 7, further comprising spring means interconnected with said tube, said spring means assisting in raising and lowering said curtain.

9. The fire door as recited in claim 8, further comprising means connected to said spring means for selectively disengaging said spring means from said tube.

10. The fire door as recited in claim 9, wherein said spring means comprises a torsion spring interconnected between said tube and a rod.

11. The fire door as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for disengaging said spring means comprises a eutectic pin operatively engaging said rod and preventing rotation thereof, said eutectic pin failing at a predetermined temperature.

12. The fire door as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for disengaging said spring means comprises a solenoid actuated pin.