CEILING PANEL

Abstract

There is provided a ceiling panel for a pod room. The ceiling panel comprises one or more cover components movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and an actuation mechanism configured to move the one or more cover components from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to a trigger. The ceiling panel may provide a specified percentage open area in the open configuration. The ceiling panel may be adapted to acoustically insulate the pod room in the closed configuration.

Claims

1-44. (canceled)

45. A pod room comprising a ceiling panel, the ceiling panel comprising: one or more cover components movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and wherein the one or more cover components are adapted to acoustically insulate the pod room in the closed configuration, wherein the one or more cover components in the open configuration produce at least a 70% open area, wherein the one or more cover components comprise a plurality of pivotable louvres which are fixed at intervals relative to one another, the louvres being pivotable between contacting positions in which the louvres contact one another to define the closed configuration, and non-contacting positions which define the open configuration; and an actuation mechanism configured to move the one or more cover components from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to a trigger.

46. The pod room of claim 45, wherein the ceiling panel further comprises a connection element pivotably connected to each louvre to effect synchronous movement of the louvres.

47. The pod room of claim 45, wherein the louvres comprise any one or more of fire-rated board, foam or fabric.

48. The pod room of claim 45, wherein the cover components comprise a composite of a higher density material and a lower density material.

49. The pod room of claim 48, wherein the higher density material forms a core and the lower density material forms a cladding around at least a portion of the higher density material.

50. The pod room of claim 49, wherein the core is substantially planar.

51. The pod room of claim 50, wherein the cladding extends around the core.

52. The pod room of claim 50, wherein the cladding further comprises a flange.

53. The pod room of claim 48, wherein the higher density material has a density of at least 500 kg/m.sup.3.

54. The pod room of claim 48, wherein at least one of the higher density material and the lower density material comprises a sound insulating material.

55. The pod room of claim 48, wherein at least one of the higher density material and the lower density material comprises a sound absorbent material.

56. The pod room of claim 55, wherein the absorbent material has a fractional absorption coefficient of at least 0.6.

57. The pod room of claim 55, wherein the absorbent material has a thickness of between 5 mm and 25 mm.

58. The pod room of claim 55, wherein the absorbent material has a thickness of about 15 mm.

59. The pod room of claim 45, wherein the louvres have a louvre pitch of between 30 mm and 500 mm.

60. The pod room of claim 45, wherein the louvres have a louvre pitch of between 150 and 250 mm.

61. The pod room of claim 45, wherein the louvres have a louvre thickness of between 6 mm and 70 mm.

62. The pod room of claim 45, wherein the louvres have a louvre thickness of between 25 mm and 50 mm.

63. The pod room of claim 45, wherein the actuation mechanism is further configured to move the one or more cover components towards the closed configuration when a passive infrared sensor senses movement of people entering the pod room.

64. The pod room of claim 45, further comprising a detection unit configured to provide the trigger to the actuation mechanism in response to detection of a predetermined condition, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a failure of the detection unit or removal of the detection unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] A description is now given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

[0041] FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show a round pod room having a ceiling system in a closed configuration;

[0042] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show the pod room of FIG. 1 with the ceiling system in an open configuration:

[0043] FIG. 3A shows a single ceiling panel of the ceiling system of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a closed configuration, and FIG. 38 shows the ceiling panel of FIG. 3A in an open configuration;

[0044] FIGS. 4A and 48 are side elevations of the ceiling panel of FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively in closed and open configurations:

[0045] FIGS. 5A, 5B and SC are side elevations of a ceiling panel with the cover components in an open configuration, wherein the open configurations produce different specified percentage open areas.

[0046] FIG. 6A is a partial side elevation showing several cover components in the closed configuration. Inset FIG. 6B shows a detail of the overlapping portion of two neighbouring cover components.

[0047] FIGS. 7A and 7B show an actuation mechanism with the ceiling system of FIGS. 1-4 in open and closed configurations, respectively;

[0048] FIG. 8 shows detection units of the ceiling system of FIGS. 1-7;

[0049] FIG. 9 shows control circuitry;

[0050] FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C show a square pod room having a ceiling system in a closed configuration:

[0051] FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C show the pod room of FIG. 10 with the ceiling system in an open configuration;

[0052] FIG. 12A shows a single ceiling panel in a closed configuration, and FIG. 12B shows the ceiling panel of FIG. 12A in an open configuration;

[0053] FIGS. 13A and 13B are side elevations of the ceiling panel of FIGS. 12A and 12B respectively in closed and open configurations;

[0054] FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C illustrate a ceiling system respectively in closed, partially-open and fully open configurations;

[0055] FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15C illustrate a ceiling system respectively in closed, partially-open and fully open configurations

[0056] FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate an actuation mechanism of a ceiling panel respectively in closed and open configurations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show a pod room 10 having a ceiling system 100 in a closed configuration, and FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show the pod room 10 with the ceiling system 100 in an open configuration. As shown in these figures, the pod room 10 is a round pod. The ceiling system 100 comprises a plurality of ceiling panels 102, each of which comprises one or more cover components 104 movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

[0058] The ceiling system 100 provides an opening roof system for fire suppression of standalone pod rooms 10. The ceiling system 100 may be activated in the event of a fire within the pod room 10, which may not be physically connected or extended to the ceiling of the environment or building in which the pod room 10 is installed.

[0059] The cover components 104 comprise a plurality of pivotable louvres 104, the louvres being pivotable between contacting positions in which the louvres overlay one another to define the closed configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, and non-contacting positions which define the open configuration, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C. In one implementation, the louvres 104 open through about 90 degrees until they reach a substantially vertical orientation in order to create at least 70% open area in the ceiling system.

[0060] The ceiling panel 102 comprises an actuation mechanism 103, which includes a spring release (not shown) configured to bias the cover components 104 towards the open configuration. The actuation mechanism 103 further comprises an electromechanical actuator (not shown) configured in a powered state to hold the cover components 104 in the closed configuration against the bias of the spring release, and in an unpowered state to allow the spring release to move the cover components 104 towards the open configuration.

[0061] FIG. 3A shows a single ceiling panel 102 in a closed configuration, and FIG. 3B shows the ceiling panel 102 in an open configuration. As can be seen, the ceiling panel 102 comprises a connection element 106 pivotably connected to each louvre 104 to effect synchronous movement of the louvres 104.

[0062] FIGS. 4A and 4B are side elevations of the ceiling panel 102 of FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively in closed and open configurations, showing the connection element 106 in more detail.

[0063] Each louvre 104 is connected by a single connection element 106 or bar 106. Each louvre 104 has a fixedly attached (e.g. cast or moulded) lever arm 108, one end of which is pivotably attached to the bar 106 and a second end of which is pivotably attached to a frame 110 of the ceiling panel 102. The spring release 103 and electromechanical actuator 105 are connected to one of the louvres 104 (in one example a first louvre 104) by means of a lever arm 108 and thereby to all of the other louvres 104 by means of the connection bar 106 interconnected to all the louvres 104.

[0064] FIGS. 5A-C show side elevations of differing sized louvres 104, 404 for a ceiling panel 102, 402 in the open configuration. In the embodiment in FIG. 5A, louvres 104 with louvre width 37 mm, thickness 12 mm and louvre pitch 37 mm are disposed along the ceiling panel 102. When in the open configuration, these louvres achieve a 67.0% open area. FIG. 5B shows a different embodiment with louvres 104 having a louvre width 425 mm, thickness 12 mm and louvre pitch 425 mm disposed along the ceiling panel 102. When in the open configuration, these louvres achieve a 97% open area. The larger louvres achieve a greater specified percentage open area, but they extend into the space of the pod room and reduce the useable space inside.

[0065] FIG. 5C shows a preferred embodiment with louvres 404 having a louvre width 248 mm, thickness 40 mm and louvre pitch 207.5 mm, disposed along the ceiling panel 402. When in the open configuration, these louvres 404 achieve a 72% open area.

[0066] FIG. 6A shows a partial side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a ceiling panel 402 in the closed configuration. Ceiling panel 402 contains composite louvres 404 comprising planar higher density material cores 406 and lower density material cladding 408 disposed around the planar cores 406. Either of the higher density or the lower density materials may comprise sound absorbent material having a fractional absorption coefficient of 0.6 or more. Furthermore, either one of the higher density or the lower density materials may comprise a sound insulating material. The overlapping portions or flanges 410 of two adjacent louvres comprise the lower density material and are configured to improve the acoustic seal in the closed configuration. A nib 412 may protrude substantially perpendicularly to the flange 410 of louvre 404 and defines, alongside the overlapping portion or flange 410 of a neighbouring louvre 404, an acoustically insulating cavity 414 between the louvres 404. As is shown more clearly in the inset FIG. 6B, the nib 412a positioned on overlapping portion or flange 410a may directly abut the overlapping portion or flange 410b of the neighbouring louvre. Corresponding nib 412b positioned on overlapping portion or flange 410b may directly abut the overlapping portion or flange 410a. Together the overlapping portions and nibs define acoustic insulating cavity 414. The acoustically insulating cavity 414 increases the number of reflections of an energy wave (such as sound wave), reducing the intensity of the energy wave which passes through the ceiling panel 402.

[0067] FIGS. 7A and 7B show the actuation mechanism 103 connecting to the bar 106 by means of a rotating actuator arm 114 fixed to the actuation mechanism 103 locating into a slot 110 of the lever arm 108 and thereby to all the louvres 104 by means of the bar 106.

[0068] The ceiling system 100 further comprises an optional detection unit configured to respond to the detection of a predetermined condition by cutting power to an actuation mechanism of one or more of the ceiling panels 102, causing the actuation mechanism to enter the unpowered state, and allowing the spring release to move the louvres 104 to the open configuration.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 8, in one example, the detection unit comprises a smoke detector 116 configured to respond to the detection of smoke. In another example, the detection unit comprises a movement detector 118 configured to respond to the detection of an absence of movement in the pod room 10. In a further example, the detection unit comprises a heat detector configured to respond to the detection of a temperature within the pod room 10 reaching a predetermined threshold. One example of a heat detector comprises a fusible link 120 configured to fuse and thereby cut power to the said actuation mechanism when the temperature within the pod room reaches the predetermined threshold. It should be understood that, although FIG. 8 for illustration purposes shows three different detection units, the ceiling system 100 may comprise any number of detection units of any type, or no detection unit at all.

[0070] In use, the louvres 104 may be opened, for example in the event of a fire, in a number of different ways:— [0071] 1. By the smoke detector 116 wired in such a way as to cut power to the actuation mechanism 103, thereby allowing the spring release to open the louvres 104. [0072] 2. In the event of a power cut, the spring release will automatically open the louvres 104, as the actuation mechanism 103 is connected to the power in the pod room 10. In this case, there is no need for a detection unit. [0073] 3. When the movement detector 118 senses no movement of people in the pod room 10, the movement detector 118 cuts the power and the louvres 104 will automatically be opened by means of the spring release. [0074] 4. In the event of no smoke, the heat detector fusible link 120 may cut power to the pod room 10 at a predetermined threshold temperature, which in one example may be around 68 to 73° C. The heat detector fusible link 120 may also be used without a smoke detector. [0075] 5. In the event of an electrical equipment failure fusing the systems and cutting the power. [0076] 6. If the smoke detector fails or is removed, the power is cut.

[0077] All the above work by cutting power to the actuation mechanism 103 allowing the louvres 104 to open by means of the spring release.

[0078] FIG. 9 shows circuitry which is designed and programmed to link all the electrical equipment and sensors together within the pod room 10 to enable automatic opening through cutting the power of the roof in the event of a fire or closing of the roof when the PIR 118 senses movement of people entering the pod for a meeting or for work.

[0079] In the open configuration, the ceiling system 100 enables the heat from a fire inside the pod room 10 to be released as quickly as possible, which may allow a sprinkler head to be activated. Once the sprinkler head has activated, the open configuration of the louvres 104 allows enough water to ingress into the pod room 10 to control the fire.

[0080] The louvres 104 may be designed with fire rated board, foam and fabric and the combination may be designed to have an acoustic performance level of absorption, insulation and diffusion by means of a specific density of integral board, outer acoustic performance foam and the pattern on each louvre 104.

[0081] Although not shown, the louvres 104 may be designed to overlap the edges of the frame 110 to generate an acoustic seal and minimise any gaps.

[0082] FIGS. 10A-C, 11A-C, 12A-B and 13A-B show a pod room 10 which differs from that described above in that the pod room 10 is a square pod rather than a round pod.

[0083] Variants include a ceiling system 200 as shown in FIGS. 14A-C having flexible concertina type retracting roof material driven by an actuator to draw the roof open to one side, and a ceiling system 300 as shown in FIGS. 15A-C having a retracting tambour door type construction driven by an actuator and rolling across and down the sides of the pod room. These variants may generate a 70% open area.

[0084] FIGS. 16A and 16B show an actuation mechanism in which the louvres 104 are biased towards the open configuration by a counterweight 205 or spring attached to one side of each louvre 104. The louvres 104 are held in the closed configuration by a fusible link 203, which is configured to fuse at a predetermined threshold temperature, which in this case is 73° C. The fusible link 203 connects one pivoting arm of one set of louvres 104 to another pivoting arm 108 in a second set of louvres 104, each set of louvres 104 being united by a connection bar 106 and being biased to rotate in the opposite direction to the other set. As shown, the fusible link 205 link connects one connection bar 106 to the other in the closed configuration, such that fusing of the fusible link 203 breaks the link between the connection bars 106 and frees the counterweights 205 or spring to move the louvres 104 towards the open configuration.

[0085] The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that aspects of the present invention may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.