Balancing strip collector for retractable curtain

Abstract

A door assembly includes: a rotatable curtain deployment member positionable about a structure opening; a curtain panel fixed to the curtain deployment member, the curtain being movable, upon rotation of the curtain deployment member, between a retracted position and an extended position, the curtain panel having at least one portion of increased thickness; a rotatable balancing strip member configured to substantially parallel with the curtain deployment member, and configured to rotate synchronously therewith in a common rotational direction, and a balancing strip having a first end attached to the balancing strip member, and a second end attached to the curtain deployment member and axially spaced from the portion of increased thickness. When the curtain panel deploys to the retracted position, the balancing strip deploys to the curtain deployment member, and when the curtain panel deploys to the extended position, the balancing strip deploys to the balancing strip member.

Claims

1. A door assembly positionable about a structure opening in a structure wall, the door assembly comprising: a rotatable curtain deployment member having a longitudinal axis and positionable about the structure opening; a curtain panel having a first end fixed to the curtain deployment member, and a free end, the free end being movable in a moveable direction, upon rotation of the curtain deployment member, between a retracted position where the structure opening is at least partially uncovered, and an extended position where the curtain panel covers at least a portion of the structure opening, the curtain panel having at least one portion of increased thickness aligned with a location on the curtain deployment member, the at least one portion of increased thickness extending in the moveable direction over at least a portion of the curtain panel; a rotatable balancing strip member having a longitudinal axis and a length, at least a portion of the length being longitudinally coextensive with the curtain deployment member, the balancing strip member configured to be mounted about the structure opening in a substantially parallel arrangement with the curtain deployment member, the balancing strip member being engaged with the curtain deployment member so as to rotate synchronously, with the curtain deployment member, and a balancing strip having a first end attached to the balancing strip member, and a second end attached to the curtain deployment member, the balancing strip having an axial width that is less than the axial width of the curtain panel, and being axially spaced from the at least one portion of increased thickness, wherein upon synchronous movement of the balancing strip member and curtain deployment member in a direction to deploy the curtain panel into the retracted position, at least a portion of the balancing strip deploys from the balancing strip member to the curtain deployment member, and wherein upon synchronous movement of the balancing strip member and curtain deployment member to deploy the curtain panel to the extended position, the portion of the balancing strip deploys from the curtain deployment member to the balancing strip member.

2. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the balancing strip when rolled up on the curtain deployment member is set to correspond to a thickness of the portion of increased thickness of the curtain panel when the curtain panel is rolled up on the curtain deployment member.

3. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the balancing strip ends are positioned at an aligned location on the curtain deployment member and the balancing strip member.

4. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one portion of increased thickness of the curtain panel extends in the moveable direction over a portion of the curtain panel less than the entire length of the curtain deployment member in the moveable direction, and a thickness of the balancing strip is configured so as to have a thickness that approximates the thickness of the at least one portion of increased thickness of the curtain panel only over a portion of the length of the balancing strip that corresponds with the at least one portion of increased thickness of the curtain deployment member.

5. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the curtain panel is flexible, establishes a fire barrier across the structure opening in the extended position, and comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a fire resistant textile material, a fire resistant textile composite material, and a fire resistant metallic material.

6. The door assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a sprocket and chain, or pulley and belt, connection formed between the balancing strip member and the curtain deployment member, the connection providing synchronization of rotational movement, in a common rotational direction, between the rotatable balancing strip member and the curtain deployment member.

7. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable balancing strip member comprises: a constant tensioning spring assembly, the constant tensioning spring assembly being configured to provide a spring bias for the rotatable balancing strip member in a direction opposite a take up direction of the curtain panel and the balancing strip, so as to provide a pull on the balancing strip portion traversing a gap between the rotatable curtain deployment member and the rotatable balancing strip member, the pull preventing the occurrence of slack in the portion of the balancing strip between the rotatable curtain deployment member and the rotatable balancing strip member.

8. The door assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to directly drive the rotatable curtain deployment member to wind the curtain panel and the balancing strips onto the rotatable curtain deployment member.

9. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of increased thickness comprises at least one overlapping portion of the curtain panel.

10. The door assembly according to claim 9, wherein a location of the balancing strip in the longitudinal direction is at a location that does not longitudinally overlap with the at least one overlapping portion, so that the balancing strip is located longitudinally separated from each at least one overlapping portion so that the curtain panel is evenly suspended over the at least one overlapping portion and the balancing strip.

11. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein in the extended position of the curtain panel, each at least one balancing strip is completely wound around the rotatable balancing strip member except for a connecting portion of the balancing strip which extends to, and connects with, the rotatable curtain deployment member.

12. The door assembly according to claim 11, wherein the connection of the connecting portion of the balancing strip to the rotatable curtain deployment member occurs at an affixing location on the rotatable curtain deployment member.

13. The door assembly according to claim 12, wherein the connection of the connecting portion of the balancing strip to the rotatable curtain deployment member is implemented by at least one selected from the group consisting of: an adhesive, a connection with a slot formed in the rotatable curtain deployment member, staples, and non-staple fasteners.

14. The door assembly according to claim 12, wherein the connecting portion of the balancing strip is attached, at the affixing location, at a side of the rotatable curtain deployment member from which the curtain panel hangs, and to which the curtain panel, when being rolled up, will travel such that, when the rotatable curtain deployment member turns so as to retract the curtain panel onto the rotatable curtain deployment member, the same turning of the rotatable curtain deployment member will, for each instance of the balancing strip, cause a taking up initially of the connecting portion of the balancing strip, and subsequently the remainder of the balancing strip, onto the rotatable curtain deployment member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known fire curtain or door assembly formed according to an embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a known fire door assembly with the center panel partially separated from the side panels to reveal the fasteners;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the known fire door assembly shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion 26 shown in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view from an egress side of a known fire curtain or door assembly showing the closure device when the first panel portion is in a blocking condition;

(7) FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the known fire door assembly of FIG. 5 from the opposite egress side showing the closure device when the first panel portion is in an open position;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a known fire door assembly formed according to another embodiment;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a known fire door assembly formed according to another embodiment;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a known fire door assembly formed according to another embodiment;

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a known fire door assembly formed according to another embodiment;

(12) FIG. 11A1 shows a view of a curtain for a fire door assembly wound around the curtain coil barrel in the absence of the balancing strip collector, with a wider portion shown in an area of an overlapping region of the curtain material;

(13) FIG. 11A2 shows a coning effect that results from the unevenness caused by the overlapping region;

(14) FIG. 11B shows a rolled up curtain without the balancing strips. As shown, a bottom bar 13 attached to a leading edge of the curtain is angled in the opening as a result of the wider overlapping portions of the curtain;

(15) FIG. 12A1 is an elevation view of the fire door assembly having the balancing strip collector of the present invention;

(16) FIG. 12A2 shows the view of the door assembly of FIG. 12A but with the curtain in a partially rolled up position and the bottom bar 13 positioned substantially parallel to the curtain coil barrel 12;

(17) FIG. 12B shows the view of the door assembly of FIG. 12A2 but with the curtain fully deployed;

(18) FIG. 13 is a detail of a portion of the fire door assembly with the balancing strip of FIG. 12A1;

(19) FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the fire door assembly with the balancing strip of FIG. 12A1 when viewed from the side;

(20) FIG. 15 is a view of a curtain for a fire door assembly wound around the curtain core barrel using the balancing strip collector of the present invention; and

(21) FIG. 16 is a side view showing the synchronizing sprocket and chain assembly that synchronizes the rotation of the two barrels of the balancing strip collector of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(22) In the description to follow, components performing the same function as in the above-described FIGS. 1-10 will be assigned like reference numerals.

(23) In the various embodiments described below and depicted in the figures, the door assembly having a balancing strip collector of the present invention may be used, for example in a fire and/or smoke blocking device in the form of a fire door or curtain assembly. The fire and/or smoke blocking device in which the balancing strip collector may be used can also be formed as a fire curtain assembly, a smoke door assembly, a smoke curtain assembly, or similar assemblies that are labeled assemblies and can be used in a fire and/or smoke situation to cover a structure opening, so as to prevent fire and/or smoke from spreading to other sections of the structure. While the embodiments disclosed below are illustrated with respect to a fire door or curtain assembly, the inventive balancing strip collector can be used in other contexts in which curtains having regions of uneven thickness are employed.

(24) FIG. 11A1 is a view of a curtain (e.g., curtain panel) 20 of the type having an overlapping region 26 such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,440,100 when the curtain is retracted onto, i.e., rolled up on, the curtain coil barrel 12. As can be seen from the view in FIG. 11A1, due to the differences in thickness between the overlapping region 26 and the relatively thinner, non-overlapping portions of the curtain 20, the thickness of the wound up curtain 20 varies over the longitudinal extent of the curtain coil barrel (e.g., rotatable curtain deployment member) 12. In particular, the portion of the curtain at the overlapping region 26, being thicker, i.e., consisting of two layers, causes an uneven longitudinal thickness profile. This is shown in FIG. 11B where in the bottom bar 13 attached to the leading edge of the curtain is angled with respect to the curtain coil barrel 12. FIG. 11A2 illustrates a coning effect that occurs due to the overlapping region 26. In this effect, the unevenness causes the curtain to roll up further and further to one side, due to a shifting force applied during winding of the uneven curtain.

(25) FIG. 12A1 shows a fire door or curtain assembly similar to the type shown, for example, in FIG. 2, but employing the inventive balancing strip collector apparatus of the present invention. As can be seen from FIG. 12A1, similar to FIG. 2 but with only one region 26, the curtain 20 has a first panel portion 22 arranged in a center portion along the transverse width of the curtain panel 20. A second panel portion 24 is arranged on a side of the first panel 22. The first and second panel portions 22, 24 can have mutually opposite edge portions 22, 24 that are releasably connectable to form a blocking condition, as is shown, for example, in FIG. 1, where the fire door assembly 1 acts as a barrier to prevent fire and/or smoke from spreading from one side of the fire door assembly 1 to the other side. FIGS. 12A2 and 12B show the curtain with the balancing strips in various positions. As shown, the bottom bar remains substantially parallel with the curtain coil barrel 12.

(26) Just as in FIG. 2, the opposite edge portions 22, 24 can connect to each other in an end-to-end fashion. In FIG. 12A1, the first panel portion 22 can at least partially overlap with the second panel portion 22 to form an overlapping region 26.

(27) As discussed above with respect to FIGS. 11A1 and 11A2, the overlapping region 26 that can cause an uneven rolling up of the curtain 20. To compensate for this unevenness, the inventive balancing strip collector apparatus is provided.

(28) The balancing strip collector includes, in addition to the curtain coil barrel 12, a balancing strip collector barrel 12A. The balancing strip collector barrel 12A is arranged parallel to the curtain coil barrel 12 and is engaged with the curtain coil barrel 12, in a manner discussed further below, so as to rotate in the same direction as the curtain coil barrel 12. Each barrel 12, 12A, is supported, at each end, by an endplate 274.

(29) FIGS. 12A1 and 12B show the fire door assembly employing the inventive balancing strip collector apparatus of the present invention in a position in which the curtain 20 is in the deployed, i.e., unwound state. In the unwound, i.e., deployed, state of the curtain 20, each of the balancing strips 230 are completely wound around the balancing strip collector barrel 12A except for a connecting portion 231 which extends to, and connects with, the curtain coil barrel 12. The connection of the connecting portion 231 to the curtain coil barrel 12 occurs at an affixing location 232 on the curtain coil barrel 12, and can be, for example, implemented by adhesive, connection with a slot formed in the curtain core barrel 12, staples or other fasteners, or combinations of these techniques.

(30) As can be seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, the connecting portion 231 is attached, at the affixing location 232, at the back of the curtain coil barrel 12, i.e., the side of the curtain coil barrel 12 from which the curtain 20 hangs, and to which the curtain 20, when being rolled up, will travel. By virtue of this arrangement, when the curtain coil barrel 12 turns so as to retract the curtain 20 onto the curtain coil barrel 12, i.e., when the curtain is lifted out of the doorway, the same turning of the curtain coil barrel 12 will, for each instance of the balancing strip, cause a taking up initially of connecting portion 231 of the balancing strip 230, and subsequently the remainder of the balancing strip 230, onto the curtain coil barrel 12.

(31) In retracting the curtain 20, the curtain 20 is wound up so as to wrap around the curtain coil barrel 12. Due to the arrangement of the balancing strip collector apparatus, the balancing strip 230 will, during this time, also be wound onto the curtain coil barrel 12.

(32) The balancing strip 230 is selected so as to have, at appropriate locations along its length, a thickness that substantially corresponds to the additional thickness of the overlapping area or areas 26. In this manner, and with suitable placement of the balancing strip (or strips) on the balancing strip collector barrel 12A, the rolling up of the curtain 20, together with the rolling up of the balancing strip 230, onto the curtain coil barrel 12 will result in a smooth generally cylindrical wound curtain 20, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 15, which shows a completely retracted curtain in which the uneven-ness that would have been caused by the overlapping area(s) 26 is balanced out by the added thicknesses provided by the winding of the balancing strip 230 on the curtain coil barrel 12 at appropriate locations.

(33) It should be noted that the overlapping portions 26 may not need to extend over the entire height of the curtain 20. This is shown, for example, in FIG. 12A1 in which the overlapping portions 26 are only located below a distance A from the top of the curtain. To account for this, the thickness of the balancing strip 230 is set to be of a minimal (negligible) thickness when rolling up the upper portion (having length A) of the curtain 20. The balancing strip 230 then thickens, to approximate the thickness of the overlapping portion or portions 26, once the curtain is rolled past the length A, i.e., once the overlapping portions 26 reach the curtain coil barrel 12. Thus, the balancing effect of the balancing strip, or strips, will only begin when it is needed, that is, only when the overlapping portions 26 actually begin rolling up on the curtain coil barrel 12.

(34) The locations of the balancing strip(s) 230 in the longitudinal direction should preferably be at locations that do not longitudinally overlap with the overlapping area(s) 26, as doing so would simply having an additive effect on the lumpiness in the rolling up of the curtain. Preferably, the balancing strips 230 should be located longitudinally separated from the overlapping area(s) 26 so that the curtain 20 is evenly suspended over the overlapping area(s) 26 and the wound balancing strips 230. Depending on the arrangement of the overlapping areas 26, one, or two, or perhaps more, balancing strips may be necessary to provide the best balancing effect.

(35) In view of the connection between the balancing strips 230 on the balancing strip collector barrel 12A and the curtain coil barrel 12, the apparatus of the present invention only requires a single motor 241, i.e., a motor that directly drives the curtail coil barrel 12, to wind the curtain 20 and the balancing strips 230 onto the curtain coil barrel 12. However, for unwinding the curtain, it is required that the turning of the balancing strip collector barrel 12A be mechanically synchronized with the turning of the curtain coil barrel 12. This synchronization is provided by a sprocket and chain (or pulley and belt) connection 249 formed between barrels 12 and 12A.

(36) As shown in the elevational view of FIG. 13 and the detailed end view of FIG. 16, the connection 249, in the sprocket and chain configuration, includes a curtain coil connecting sprocket 258, coupled to one end of the curtain coil barrel 12, balancing strips connecting sprocket 260, coupled to a corresponding end of the balancing strip collector barrel 12A, and a connecting chain 276, which connects and synchronizes the rotation of, the barrels 12 and 12A. As can be seen in FIG. 13, the curtain coil barrel 12 is coupled to the curtain coil connecting sprocket 258 by a shaft 120, while the balancing strip collector barrel 12A is coupled to the balancing strips connecting sprocket 260 by a shaft 120A. As discussed above, a pulley and belt configuration may be employed in place of the sprocket and chain configuration. In such a case, the sprockets would be replaced by corresponding pulleys, while the chain would be replaced by a belt.

(37) While the synchronization supplied by the connection 249 provides for a general synchronization between the rolling up of the curtain 20 and the balancing strips 230, the inventors have found that, in use, some slack may occur in the portion of the balancing strips 230 that traverses the barrels 12 and 12A during both deployment and retraction of the curtain 20. Such slack can result in irregular rolling up of the balancing strips 230. To compensate for, or prevent, any slack that may occur, a constant tensioning spring assembly 262, shown in FIG. 13, is provided with the balancing strip collector barrel 12A. The purpose of the constant tensioning spring assembly 262 is to provide a spring bias for the balancing strip collector barrel 12A in a direction opposite the take up direction of the curtain and the balancing strips. This biasing provides a pull on the balancing strip portion traversing the gap between the barrels 12 and 12A, the pull preventing the occurrence of any slack in the portion between the two barrels. The biasing force is adjusted to be enough to prevent slack, but less than the force provided by the motor 241, to still allow the motor 241 to be able to rotate both of the barrels 12 and 12A.

(38) By virtue of the invention, a curtain 20 can be rolled upon on the curtain coil roller 12 without the occurrence of bulges in the locations corresponding to the overlapping portions 26.

(39) Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice.