The present invention relates to a device for releasing and resetting a fire and smoke barrier, in particular to a device capable of releasing a fire and smoke barrier in an emergency, and automatically resetting the fire and smoke barrier when the emergency is terminated, and relates to a door operator equipped with such a device.
In case of emergency, for example, in case of fire, shutting of a traditional fire and smoke barrier is usually triggered by a fusible link. When the fusible link is molten and broken due to fire heat, the barrier falls down due to its weight. Related technology is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,567,573 (Patent literature 1), titled “Door Operator of Fireproof Door.” As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b of the Patent literature 1, when a fusible link is molten at a high temperature, a shift lever is hit by a sliding member leftward biased by a potential energy of an elastic member so as to release a fire door.
However, the fusible link is a disposable product which cannot be recovered once it is broken and must be replaced with a new one. Moreover, there are doubts about reliability of the fusible link. That is, it may be broken by external forces, resulting in unexpected actions. The mechanical properties of the fusible link may be changed if a tension force is applied to the fusible link for a long time. For example, the fusible link unexpectedly breaks when no fire accident occurs, or the fusible link cannot be molten and broken when a fire accident occurs. It is more important that once the fusible link is broken, the fire door release device cannot be automatically reset. For example, for the device of the Patent literature 1, resetting of the fire door release device is quite inconvenient because it is necessary to manually pull back the shift lever and the sliding member and then replace the broken fusible link with a new one.
Furthermore, the applicant of the present invention has developed a resettable safety door release device, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,805 (Patent literature 2), titled “Safety Door Central Release Device”, in which an electromagnetic device is used for controlling the actuation of a release mechanism. Specifically, as shown in
Although the device of the Patent literature 2 is capable of clamping or releasing the cord repeatedly by the jaws of the release mechanism the stroke distance caused by the magnetic attraction effect is rather limited so that it is unable to realize a long-distance reset. Owing to the distance and the need to overcome the spring force, a higher voltage for the electromagnetic device is required during resetting. Resetting of the cord is quite inconvenient because the process for resetting the cord is manually carried out, and the door operator is usually installed at a high place and is not convenient for personnel to operate.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a device for releasing and resetting a fire and smoke barrier capable of releasing the fire and smoke barrier quickly and realizing the long-distance reset.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a device for releasing and resetting a fire and smoke barrier, which is used for actuating a barrier release member. The device mainly comprises an electromagnetic clutch module, a push rod ejecting module, and a push rod resetting module. The electromagnetic clutch module comprises an electromagnetic attraction unit and a clutch member. The electromagnetic attraction unit is provided to attract and hold the clutch member. The push rod ejecting module is coupled to the clutch member and stores an elastic potential energy sufficient to push the barrier release member. The push rod resetting module is coupled to the clutch member and provided to reset the push rod ejecting module. When the electromagnetic attraction unit is electrically deenergized, the clutch member is released by the electromagnetic attraction unit, and the barrier release member is pushed by the push rod ejecting module with aid of the elastic potential energy. When the push rod resetting module and the electromagnetic clutch module are electrically energized, the clutch member is attracted and held by the electromagnetic attraction unit, and the push rod ejecting module is reset by the push rod resetting module.
In other words, according to the present invention, the actuation of the push rod ejecting module and the push rod resetting module is controlled by means of the electromagnetic clutch module. In a normal use state, the clutch member is held by the electromagnetic attraction unit, so that the push rod ejecting module cannot be actuated. Upon power failure, for example upon an accident or a simulation test, the clutch member is released by the electromagnetic attraction unit, and the barrier release member is actuated by the push rod ejecting module to shut the fire and smoke barrier. Upon power restoration, the clutch member is attracted and held by the electromagnetic attraction unit, and the push rod ejecting module is reset by the push rod resetting module. Accordingly, the present invention is safe and reliable, and the stroke distance of the push rod ejecting module is not limited. Also, the present invention has low energy consumption because in a standby state, only a small current needs to be supplied to the electromagnetic attraction unit from an external power source or a battery module.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a device for releasing and resetting a fire and smoke barrier, which is used for actuating a barrier release member. The device mainly comprises a push rod ejecting module, an electromagnetic holding module and a push rod resetting module. The push rod ejecting module stores an elastic potential energy sufficient to push the barrier release member. The electromagnetic holding module and the push rod resetting module are coupled to the push rod ejecting module. When the electromagnetic holding module is electrically deenergized, the barrier release member is pushed by the push rod ejecting module with aid of the elastic potential energy. When the push rod resetting module and the electromagnetic holding module are electrically energized, the push rod ejecting module is reset by the push rod resetting module. The push rod ejecting module is attracted and held by the electromagnetic holding module, so that the barrier release member cannot be actuated.
According to the present invention, the push rod ejecting module is reset by means of the push rod resetting module, and the electromagnetic holding module is used for holding the push rod ejecting module so that the push rod ejecting module is unable to actuate the barrier release member. In a normal use state, the electromagnetic holding module holds the push rod ejecting module, so that the push rod ejecting module is unable to actuate the barrier release member. Upon power failure, for example upon an accident or a simulation test, the push rod ejecting module is released by the electromagnetic holding module, and the barrier release member is actuated by the push rod ejecting module to shut the fire and smoke barrier. Upon power restoration, the push rod ejecting module is reset by the push rod resetting module. If resetting of the push rod ejecting module is completed, the electromagnetic holding module is used for holding the push rod ejecting module.
In describing preferred embodiments of a device for releasing and resetting a fire and smoke barrier of the present invention in detail, it is noted that similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals. The drawings of the present invention are merely illustrative and are not necessarily drawn to scale, and all details are not necessarily shown in the drawings.
In describing an embodiment of the present invention, reference is made to
Reference is made to
The push rod ejecting module 3 includes a push rod 31 and a compression spring 32. The push rod 31 is provided with a rack portion 310, and the compression spring 32 is capable of storing an elastic potential energy and is abutted against the push rod 31. The push rod resetting module 4 of this embodiment includes a motor 41, a resetting gear 42, a worm 43 and a resetting shaft 44. The resetting shaft 44 is provided with a worm gear 45. The worm 43 is connected to the motor 41 and engaged with the worm gear 45. The resetting gear 42 is fitted on the resetting shaft 44, but the resetting gear 42 is rotatable with respect to the resetting shaft 44.
A planetary gear set P shown in the figure includes a ring gear P1, two planetary gears P2 and a sun gear P3. The ring gear P1 is disposed on the clutch member 22, the two planetary gears P2 are pivotally connected to an end face of the resetting gear 42 and engaged with the ring gear P1, and the sun gear P3 is engaged with the two planetary gears P2 and connected to the resetting shaft 44.
The operation of the device for releasing and resetting the fire and smoke barrier of this embodiment will be described below. At the beginning, the device for releasing and resetting the fire and smoke barrier is in a deactivated state, and the clutch member 22 is attracted and held by the electromagnetic attraction unit 21. At this time, the planetary gear set P cannot be rotated so that the resetting gear 42 cannot be rotated. The push rod 31 is maintained in a home position, and the compression spring 32 is in a compressed state.
In case of emergency where the fire and smoke barrier needs to be released, the electromagnetic attraction unit 21 is powered off due to power failure caused by a fire accident or due to interruption of power supply caused by a fire control device of a building. The clutch member 22 is detached from the electromagnetic attraction unit 21 and becomes freely rotatable. At this time, the push rod 31 is ejected with aid of the elastic potential energy of the compression spring 32, and then the push rod 31 pushes the release lever R1 of the barrier release member R, thereby releasing the fire and smoke barrier. The specific operation of the release lever R1 for releasing the fire and smoke barrier will be described in detail later. With the movement of the push rod 31, the resetting gear 42 is rotated by the rack portion 310 so that the two planetary gears P2 roll around the center of the resetting gear 42. Since the sun gear P3 and the resetting shaft 44 are kept stationary, the clutch member 22 is rotated with rotation of the planetary gears P2.
When the emergency situation is terminated, the barrier release member R needs to be reset. In order to reset the barrier release member R, the motor 41 of the push rod resetting module 4 and the electromagnetic clutch module 2 are simultaneously and electrically energized. At this time, the clutch member 22 is attracted and held by the electromagnetic clutch module 2, and the motor 41 of the push rod resetting module 4 is activated to rotate the resetting shaft 44 via the worm 43 and the worm gear 45. The sun gear P3 is rotated by the resetting shaft 44 while the two planetary gears P2 roll around the sun gear P3. Because the clutch member 22 is held, rolling of the two planetary gears P2 causes the resetting gear 42 to rotate, thereby resetting the push rod 31 through the rack portion 310. The motor 41 is not deactivated until a limit switch I is trigged by the push rod 31.
The detailed construction of the clutch module C of the door operator is described below. As shown in
The sleeve 6 is provided, on one side of the brake plate 51, with a brake pad 61 for applying a braking force to the brake plate 51. A brake pad attractor 7 is provided on the other side of the brake pad 61 and is fixed to the frame F. The brake pad attractor 7 of this embodiment is an electromagnetic attraction device, which is capable of attracting the brake pad 6 when being excited by an electric current. A brake spring S is externally fitted on the sleeve 6 and has one end abutted against the frame F and the other end abutted against the brake pad 61. In other words, the brake spring S storing an elastic potential energy is capable of elastically biasing the brake pad 61 and abutting the brake pad 61 against the brake plate 51 while the brake pad attractor 7 is capable of generating a magnetic attraction force for attracting the brake pad 61 against the elastic potential energy of the brake spring S.
The barrier release member R of this embodiment includes the release lever R1 and an actuator plate R2. One end of the release lever R1 corresponds to the push rod 31 of the push rod ejecting module 3, and the other end of the release lever R1 is connected to the actuator plate R2. The actuator plate R2 is located between the frame F and the sleeve 6. When the release lever R1 is operated, the sleeve 6 together with the brake pad 61 is axially moved with respect to the main drive shaft 5 by the actuator R2 so that the brake pad 61 is detached from the brake plate 51.
The operation of the clutch module C in use states of the door operator is described below with reference to
As shown in
However, in case of disaster, the release lever R1 of the barrier release member R is pushed by the push rod 31 of the device 1 for releasing and resetting the fire and smoke barrier as shown in
In describing resetting of the barrier release member R, reference is made to
In describing the details of the configuration and operation of a second embodiment of the present invention, reference is made to
As shown in the figures, this embodiment mainly comprises a push rod ejecting module 3, an electromagnetic holding module 12, an push rod resetting module 8, a warning module 9 and a push rod stopping module A. The push rod ejecting module 3 includes a push rod 31 and a compression spring 32. The push rod 31 is provided with a rack portion 310, and the compression spring 32 is abutted against the push rod 31 and stores an elastic potential energy sufficient to push the barrier release member R.
The electromagnetic holding module 12 includes a magnetically attractable plate 121 and an electromagnetic unit 122. The magnetically attractable plate 121 is disposed at the end of the push rod 31. When the electromagnetic unit 122 is electrically energized and magnetically excited due to electromagnetic effect, the magnetically attractable plate 121 is attracted by the electromagnetic unit 122, thereby holding the push rod 31.
The push rod resetting module 8 mainly includes a motor 81, a resetting gear 82, a first bevel gear 801, a second bevel gear 802, a transmission shaft 83, a second cam 84 and a second micro switch 85. The second bevel gear 802 is disposed on the transmission shaft 83, the first bevel gear 801 is connected to the motor 81 and engaged with the second bevel gear 802, and the resetting gear 82 is disposed on the transmission shaft 83 and engaged with the rack portion 310 of the push rod 31. Accordingly, when the first bevel gear 801 is rotated by the motor 81, the second bevel gear 802 together with the transmission shaft 83 is rotated by the first bevel gear 801, so that the resetting gear 82 is rotated to pull the push rod 31 back.
In this embodiment, the resetting gear 82 comprises an untoothed circumferential surface section 821 while a flat section 311 is provided at the front end of the push rod 31. The untoothed circumferential surface section 821 of the resetting gear 82 is so configured to not interfere the rack portion 310 when the push rod 31 is ejected. As such, the resetting gear 82, the first bevel gear 801 or the second bevel gear 802 can be prevented from being damaged by the push rod 31 ejected at high speed.
The flat section 311 at the front end of the push rod 31 is so configured to restrict the stroke distance of the push rod 31. As such, the magnetically attractable plate 121 is prevented from colliding with the electromagnetic unit 122 due to the excessive stroke distance. A spring (not shown) provided between the end of the push rod 31 and the magnetically attractable plate 121 serves as a cushion and capable of slightly adjusting a contact angle of the magnetically attractable plate 121 to the electromagnetic unit 122 so that the magnetically attractable plate 121 is in contact with the electromagnetic unit 122 in parallel so as to maintain an excellent attractive force.
The second cam 84 is mounted on the transmission shaft 83, and the second micro switch 85 is electrically connected to the motor 81. The second cam 84 is rotated integrally with the transmission shaft 83. If the second micro switch 85 is triggered by the second cam 84, the motor 81 would be deactivated.
The warning module 9 of this embodiment includes a buzzer 91, a first cam 93 and a first micro switch 92. The first micro switch 92 is electrically connected to the buzzer 91 for activating or deactivating the buzzer 91. The first cam 93 is mounted on the transmission shaft 83 and rotated integrally with the transmission shaft 83. If the first micro switch 92 is triggered by the first cam 93, the buzzer 91 would be deactivated.
In describing the push rod stopping module A, reference is made to
Accordingly, the push rod stopping module A of the present embodiment is provided to block the push rod 31 because the electromagnetic holding module 12 is not electrically energized and cannot attract and hold the push rod 31 before the device is installed. After the device is installed, the electromagnetic holding module 12 is electrically energized and thus can hold the push rod 31. In this case, the stop lever A1 has to be swung down to not interfere the push rod 31. If the stop lever A1 is not swung down, the third micro switch A2 would be continuously triggered by the stop lever A1, causing the buzzer 91 to continuously generate an alarm sound.
The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail below. Reference is made to
Reference is made to
Reference is made to
Once the transmission shaft 83 starts to rotate, the first cam 93 and the second cam 84 rotated integrally with the transmission shaft 83 stop triggering the first micro switch 92 and the second micro switch 85 respectively. At this time, the buzzer 91 (as shown in
It should be understood that the embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes and are not limiting. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but that it have the full scope permitted by the language of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
108121911 | Jun 2019 | TW | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5673514 | McKeon | Oct 1997 | A |
6055885 | Shea | May 2000 | A |
7275631 | Hsieh | Oct 2007 | B2 |
7293805 | Hsieh | Nov 2007 | B1 |
7699144 | Hsieh | Apr 2010 | B2 |
8230759 | Hsieh | Jul 2012 | B2 |
8397787 | Daus | Mar 2013 | B1 |
8484897 | Hsieh | Jul 2013 | B2 |
8567573 | Hsieh | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8807294 | Hsieh | Aug 2014 | B2 |
8985181 | Hsieh | Mar 2015 | B2 |
9162094 | Hsieh | Oct 2015 | B2 |
9376864 | Hsieh | Jun 2016 | B2 |
11111723 | Hsieh | Sep 2021 | B2 |
11261660 | Hebeisen | Mar 2022 | B2 |
20060124250 | Hsieh | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20120024484 | Hsieh | Feb 2012 | A1 |
20130025804 | Hsieh | Jan 2013 | A1 |
20140318719 | Hsieh | Oct 2014 | A1 |
20170167194 | Freberg | Jun 2017 | A1 |
20200080373 | Hsieh | Mar 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
201517359 | Jun 2010 | CN |
203756009 | Aug 2014 | CN |
203947944 | Nov 2014 | CN |
2011185035 | Sep 2011 | JP |
2012140851 | Jul 2012 | JP |
200724771 | Jul 2007 | TW |
201305426 | Feb 2013 | TW |
201309892 | Mar 2013 | TW |
Entry |
---|
TW Office Action dated Dec. 30, 2019 in corresponding Taiwan application (No. 108121911). |
Search Report issued in TW Office Action dated Dec. 30, 2019 in corresponding Taiwan application (No. 108121911). |
Examination report No. 1 for standard AU patent application (No. 2020200280) dated Apr. 16, 2021. |
Singapore Written Opinion dated Aug. 31, 2020 in application No. 10201913390X. |
Search Report issued in Singapore Written Opinion dated Aug. 31, 2020 in application No. 10201913390X. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20200399948 A1 | Dec 2020 | US |