Time delay release mechanism for a fire barrier
First Claim
1. A time delay release mechanism controlled by an electrical power source and connected to a fire barrier biased to close when power to said time delay release mechanism is interrupted, said time delay release mechanism comprising:
- an actuation member movable between an engaged position and a released position, said actuation member being operatively engageable with the fire barrier such that when said actuation member is in said engaged position said actuation member prevents closure of the fire barrier and when said actuation member is in said released position, said actuation member allows closure of the fire barrier;
driver means electrically connected to the electrical power source for moving said actuation member to said released position when power is supplied and for moving said actuation member to said engaged position when power is interrupted; and
a timer electrically connected to the electrical power source and mechanically connected to said actuation member such that when said timer receives power or when power to said timer is interrupted for a duration less than a predetermined time period, said timer disengages from said actuation member, said timer engaging said actuation member when power to said timer is interrupted for a duration greater than said predetermined time period so as to move said actuation member to said released position thereby overriding said actuation driver means to allow closure of the fire barrier, said timer disengaging from said actuation member and said actuation driver means retaining said actuation member in said released position when power is restored, thereby automatically resetting said brake actuation means and timer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A time delay release mechanism has a brake actuator including an actuation member movable between engaged and released positions. The actuation member, when in the engaged position, operatively engages a fire barrier for preventing closure thereof. The actuation member, when in the released position, is operatively disengaged from the fire barrier such that the release mechanism does not prevent closure thereof. The brake actuator includes an actuation driver which, when receiving electrical power, moves the actuation member to the released position. A timer, when receiving electrical power or when power thereto is interrupted for a duration less than a predetermined time period, disengages from the actuation member allowing the actuation driver, when power thereto is initially interrupted, to move the actuation member to the engaged position. The timer engages the actuation member, when power to the timer is interrupted for a duration greater than the predetermined time period, to move the actuation member to the released position thereby overriding the actuation driver to allow closure of the fire barrier. The timer disengages from the actuation member when power to the timer is restored and the actuation driver retains the actuation member in the released position when power to the actuation driver is restored, thereby automatically resetting the brake actuator and timer.
28 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A time delay release mechanism controlled by an electrical power source and connected to a fire barrier biased to close when power to said time delay release mechanism is interrupted, said time delay release mechanism comprising:
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an actuation member movable between an engaged position and a released position, said actuation member being operatively engageable with the fire barrier such that when said actuation member is in said engaged position said actuation member prevents closure of the fire barrier and when said actuation member is in said released position, said actuation member allows closure of the fire barrier; driver means electrically connected to the electrical power source for moving said actuation member to said released position when power is supplied and for moving said actuation member to said engaged position when power is interrupted; and a timer electrically connected to the electrical power source and mechanically connected to said actuation member such that when said timer receives power or when power to said timer is interrupted for a duration less than a predetermined time period, said timer disengages from said actuation member, said timer engaging said actuation member when power to said timer is interrupted for a duration greater than said predetermined time period so as to move said actuation member to said released position thereby overriding said actuation driver means to allow closure of the fire barrier, said timer disengaging from said actuation member and said actuation driver means retaining said actuation member in said released position when power is restored, thereby automatically resetting said brake actuation means and timer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A time delay release mechanism controlled by an electrical power source and connected to a fire barrier biased to close when power to said time delay release mechanism is interrupted, said time delay release mechanism comprising:
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brake actuation means electrically connected to the electrical power source and selectively engageable with the fire barrier, said brake actuation means being operatively disengaged from the fire barrier for allowing closure of the fire barrier when power is supplied to the brake actuation means; and a timer comprising an override means operatively engageable with said brake actuation means for operatively disengaging said brake actuation means from the fire barrier, said timer further including a trigger means operatively engageable with said override means for preventing said operative engagement between said override means and said brake actuation means, said trigger means being electrically connected to the electrical source such that when power is supplied said, trigger means operatively engages said override means for preventing said operative engagement between said override means and said brake actuation means, and when power is interrupted, said trigger means operatively disengages said override means so that said override means operatively engages said brake actuation means, said timer further comprising a capacitive storage device electrically connected in parallel to the electrical power source and said trigger means and being charged when power is supplied thereto, such that when power is interrupted said capacitive device discharges power stored therein to said trigger means causing said trigger means to maintain said operative engagement with said override means for a duration no greater than said predetermined time period, thereby allowing said brake actuation means, when power thereto is initially interrupted, to operatively engage the fire barrier for preventing closure thereof, said operative engagement between said trigger means and said override means being uninterrupted if power is restored within said predetermined time period, said trigger means disengaging from said override means if power from the electrical source to said trigger means is interrupted for a duration greater than said predetermined time period, so that closure of the fire barrier is delayed from the commencement of the power interruption for a time period determined by the time duration of discharge of said capacitive device, restoration of power operatively disengaging said brake actuation means from the fire barrier and recharging said capacitive device thereby automatically resetting said brake actuation means and timer.
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Specification