초록 ▼

The present invention presents a novel alternative to side-hinged swinging doors that offers access to a broad egress opening width needed to meet higher occupancy egress requirements while simultaneously qualifying as a fire/smoke barrier. In a preferred embodiment, a single overhead coiling fire d

The present invention presents a novel alternative to side-hinged swinging doors that offers access to a broad egress opening width needed to meet higher occupancy egress requirements while simultaneously qualifying as a fire/smoke barrier. In a preferred embodiment, a single overhead coiling fire door shaft assembly is counter-balanced to allow a fire door curtain to automatically close at a governed controlled descent upon reaching an established critical low battery condition. An operator is provided that will run the door under both normal condition and during a power failure or fire/smoke condition at an established average door speed, and also provide established levels of low battery warning signals/actions while also providing the ability to open as required for emergency egress until the temperature at the opening is not conducive for human life.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for providing vertical acting egress and fire and smoke protection using an overhead coiling door comprising the steps of: power closing the door to a closed position upon entering an alarm state;while still in the alarm state power opening the door to a pre-established emergency egress

1. A method for providing vertical acting egress and fire and smoke protection using an overhead coiling door comprising the steps of: power closing the door to a closed position upon entering an alarm state;while still in the alarm state power opening the door to a pre-established emergency egress height upon activation of an egress device, pausing for a pre-established period of time, and reclosing; andreturning to a fully open position once the alarm state ends;wherein the door is powered by an operator powered by a self-contained power cell and an additional operator logic having a normal power cell condition, a Level 1 low power cell condition, a Level 2 low power cell condition, and a Level 3 low power cell condition;wherein the Level 1 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the normal power cell condition wherein the operator functions as if in the normal power cell condition;the Level 2 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the Level 1 low power cell condition wherein the door power closes when in the alarm state; andpower operates to the emergency egress height upon activation of the egress device pauses for a pre-established period of time, and recloses while still in the alarm state;the Level 3 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the Level 2 low power cell condition wherein the operator moves the door to the emergency egress height and releases an operator clutch and motor drive, wherein a preset counter balance operatively connected to the door balances the door at the emergency egress height; and wherein upon activation of a predetermined temperature high temperature limit trip sensor, prevents power operation and releases spring tension moving the door to a fully closed position by gravity;wherein the operator reengages the clutch and motor drive when the power cell returns to a normal power cell condition and the predetermined temperature high temperature limit trip sensor did not activate; andwherein spring tension is released by a spring release mechanism comprising: a first sprocket rotationally fixed to a shaft arising from an inner bracket;a governor comprising a second sprocket rotationally fixed to the governor and operatively engaging the first sprocket, the governor operatively engaged by a first ratcheting pawl attached to the inner bracket;an outer bracket attached to the inner bracket;a dropout pawl attached to the outer bracket comprising a pin/swing arm engagement area;a swing arm stop attached to the outer bracket comprising a channel to allow pass through of a pin;a shaft operatively connected to the first sprocket extending through an outer bracket orifice to rotationally receive a swing arm, the swing arm rotationally restricted by engagement with the dropout pawl pin and swing arm engagement area; anda tensioned adjusting wheel rotatively engaged to the shaft comprising a plurality of receptacles to receive the pin. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein an alarm signal causes the door to enter into the alarm state. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the power cell is continually charged while AC power is present. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the door returns to the fully open position after the alarm state is cleared. 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of resetting the pre-established period of time to allow for multiple individuals to exit before the door begins to reclose. 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising an operatively connected closing speed governor functionally independent of the operator clutch and motor drive release. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein a warning is generated during a non-alarm state Level 1 low power cell condition. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the warning is used to aid in power cell maintenance. 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising an operatively connected obstruction sensing device to halt power closing of the door upon activation. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the sensing device acts as both the egress device and the obstruction sensing device. 11. A vertical acting egress comprising a door and a powered operator wherein: the door power closes to a closed position upon entering an alarm state;while still in the alarm state the door power opens to a pre-established emergency egress height upon activation of an egress device, pausing for a pre-established period of time, and reclosing; andthe door returns to a fully open position once the alarm state ends;wherein the door is powered by the operator powered by a self-contained power cell and an additional operator logic having a normal power cell condition, a Level 1 low power cell condition, a Level 2 low power cell condition, and a Level 3 low power cell condition;wherein the Level 1 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the normal power cell condition wherein the operator functions as if in the normal power cell condition;the Level 2 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the Level 1 low power cell condition wherein the door power closes when in the alarm state; and power operates to the emergency egress height upon activation of the egress device pauses for a pre-established period of time, and recloses while still in the alarm state;the Level 3 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the Level 2 low power cell condition wherein the operator moves the door to the emergency egress height and releases an operator clutch and motor drive, wherein a preset counter balance operatively connected to the door balances the door at the emergency egress height; and wherein upon activation of a predetermined temperature high temperature limit trip sensor, prevents power operation and releases spring tension moving the door to a fully closed position by gravity;wherein the operator reengages the clutch and motor drive when the power cell returns to a normal power cell condition and the predetermined temperature high temperature limit trip sensor did not activate; andwherein spring tension is released by a spring release mechanism comprising: a first sprocket rotationally fixed to a shaft arising from an inner bracket;a governor comprising a second sprocket rotationally fixed to the governor and operatively engaging the first sprocket, the governor operatively engaged by a first ratcheting pawl attached to the inner bracket;an outer bracket attached to the inner bracket;a dropout pawl attached to the outer bracket comprising a pin and swing arm engagement area;a swing arm stop attached to the outer bracket comprising a channel to allow pass through of a pin;a shaft operatively connected to the first sprocket extending through an outer bracket orifice to rotationally receive a swing arm, the swing arm rotationally restricted by engagement with the dropout pawl pin and swing arm engagement area; anda tensioned adjusting wheel rotatively engaged to the shaft comprising a plurality of receptacles to receive the pin. 12. The vertical acting egress of claim 11 wherein an alarm signal causes the door to enter into the alarm state. 13. The vertical acting egress of claim 11 wherein the power cell is continually charged while AC power is present. 14. The vertical acting egress of claim 11 wherein the door returns to the fully open position after the alarm state is cleared. 15. The vertical acting egress of claim 11 further comprising the step of resetting the pre-established period of time to allow for multiple individuals to exit before the door begins to reclose. 16. The vertical acting egress of claim 11 further comprising an operatively connected closing speed governor functionally independent of the operator clutch and motor drive release. 17. The vertical acting egress of claim 11 wherein a warning is generated during a non-alarm state Level 1 low power cell condition. 18. The vertical acting egress of claim 17 wherein the warning is used to aid in power cell maintenance. 19. The vertical acting egress of claim 11 further comprising an operatively connected obstruction sensing device to halt power closing of the door upon activation. 20. The vertical acting egress of claim 19 wherein the sensing device acts as both the egress device and the obstruction sensing device. 21. A method for providing vertical acting egress and fire and smoke protection using an overhead coiling door comprising the steps of: power closing the door to a closed position upon entering an alarm state;while still in the alarm state power opening the door to a pre-established emergency egress height upon activation of an egress device, pausing for a pre-established period of time, and reclosing; andreturning to a fully open position once the alarm state ends;wherein the door is powered by an operator powered by a self-contained power cell and an additional operator logic having a normal power cell condition, a Level 1 low power cell condition, a Level 2 low power cell condition, and a Level 3 low power cell condition;wherein the Level 1 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the normal power cell condition wherein the operator functions as if in the normal power cell condition;the Level 2 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the Level 1 low power cell condition wherein the door power closes when in the alarm state; and power operates to the emergency egress height upon activation of the egress device pauses for a pre-established period of time, and recloses while still in the alarm state;the Level 3 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the Level 2 low power cell condition wherein the operator moves the door to the emergency egress height and releases an operator clutch and motor drive, wherein a preset counter balance operatively connected to the door balances the door at the emergency egress height; and wherein upon activation of a predetermined temperature high temperature limit trip sensor, prevents power operation and releases spring tension moving the door to a fully closed position by gravity;wherein the operator reengages the clutch and motor drive when the power cell returns to a normal power cell condition and the predetermined temperature high temperature limit trip sensor did not activate. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the power cell is continually charged while AC power is present. 23. The method of claim 21 wherein a warning used to aid in power cell maintenance is generated during a non-alarm state Level 1 low power cell condition. 24. The method of claim 21 further comprising an operatively connected obstruction sensing device acting as both the egress device and the obstruction sensing device halts power closing of the door upon sensing device activation. 25. The method of claim 21 further comprising an operatively connected closing speed governor functionally independent of the operator clutch and motor drive release. 26. A vertical acting egress comprising a door and a powered operator wherein: the door power closes to a closed position upon entering an alarm state;while still in the alarm state the door power opens to a pre-established emergency egress height upon activation of an egress device, pausing for a pre-established period of time, and reclosing; andthe door returns to a fully open position once the alarm state ends;wherein the door is powered by the operator powered by a self-contained power cell and an additional operator logic having a normal power cell condition, a Level 1 low power cell condition, a Level 2 low power cell condition, and a Level 3 low power cell condition;wherein the Level 1 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the normal power cell condition wherein the operator functions as if in the normal power cell condition;the Level 2 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the Level 1 low power cell condition wherein the door power closes when in the alarm state; and power operates to the emergency egress height upon activation of the egress device pauses for a pre-established period of time, and recloses while still in the alarm state;the Level 3 low power cell condition comprises a power cell condition below the Level 2 low power cell condition wherein the operator moves the door to the emergency egress height and releases an operator clutch and motor drive, wherein a preset counter balance operatively connected to the door balances the door at the emergency egress height; and wherein upon activation of a predetermined temperature high temperature limit trip sensor, prevents power operation and releases spring tension moving the door to a fully closed position by gravity;wherein the operator reengages the clutch and motor drive when the power cell returns to a normal power cell condition and the predetermined temperature high temperature limit trip sensor did not activate. 27. The vertical acting egress of claim 26 wherein the power cell is continually charged while AC power is present. 28. The vertical acting egress of claim 26 wherein a warning used to aid in power cell maintenance is generated during a non-alarm state Level 1 low power cell condition. 29. The vertical acting egress of claim 26 further comprising an operatively connected obstruction sensing device acting as both the egress device and the obstruction sensing device halts power closing of the door upon sensing device activation. 30. The vertical acting egress of claim 26 further comprising an operatively connected closing speed governor functionally independent of the operator clutch and motor drive release.