Patent Application
20190118837
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
244/118.6; 105/316; 105/321; 5/9.1
Bus and train transportation are regarded as one of the safest modes of public transportation. The manufacturers and operators of buses have gone to great lengths to establish and maintain this safety record. However, a fire resulting from a collision or failure of a component puts lives at risk and can have an enormous impact on operational costs as well as customer confidence.
Improving passenger and driver safety is always on the agenda. Part of the safety issues is fire safety which is a continuous process. There are always things to be learnt from experience and actual fire incidences and important learning tools at the disposal of stakeholders which can provide critical input into best practices for design, operation and human interaction. Fire safety in buses has been the focus of significant research in recent years but much improvement still remains, in particular related to fire prevention and safe egress. The sharing of information and best practices can benefit all parties but most importantly, the passenger safety.
Ceramic Fiber is produced from high purity aluminosilicate material through strictly controlled high temperature furnace melting and fiberizing process. The fiber is white and odorless, suitable for high temperature applications up to 2300° F. (1260° C.). Ceramic Fiber products include cloth, tape, rope, braid, tubing, paper, blanket, etc. Types of ceramics are:
Kaowool blanket is produced from kaolin, a naturally occurring alumina-silica fire clay. Kaowool, the world's most recognizable name in ceramic fiber blanket, is available in a wide variety of densities and sizes. Kaowool blanket offers excellent handle ability and high temperature stability. This allows it to meet a wide range of hot face and backup insulation applications in furnaces, kilns and other equipment requiring high temperature heat containment.
Kaowool RT Blanket is produced from a blend of high quality alumina, silica and kaolin using the spinning process. It is available in a wide variety of densities and sizes, and offers a highly cost effective alternative to Cerablanket with its 2300° F. (1260° C.) maximum temperature rating.
Cerablanket is produced from exceptionally pure oxides of alumina and silica using the spinning process. The resultant quality spun fibers have been optimized for high handling strength, with on average the highest tensile strength of any Thermal Ceramics ceramic fiber blanket. Cerablanket is available in a wide variety of densities and sizes. Cerablanket offers excellent handle ability and high temperature stability which allows it to meet a wide range of hot face and back up insulation applications in furnaces, kilns and other equipment requiring high temperature heat containment.
Cerachem Blanket is a 2600° F. (1427° C.) maximum temperature rated refractory blanket formed from a unique, patented, spun alumina-silica-zirconia fiber. It is specially designed for applications where high fiber tensile strength, low thermal conductivity and low shrinkage are required. Cerachem Blanket is used extensively in high temperature units in the ceramic, chemical processing, and ferrous metal industries. Thermal Ceramics Cerachem refractory blankets are ideal for a wide range of hot face lining and backup insulation applications in furnaces, kilns and other high temperature equipment.
Made from spun alumina-silica-chromia fiber, Cerachrome Blanket is well suited for hot face lining applications where higher temperatures are encountered, such as soaking pit covers, reheat and forging furnaces. Cerachrome Blanket with its chromia-stabilized chemistry offers improved long term shrinkage characteristics over zirconia containing blankets such as Cerachem. Cerachrome Blanket effectively fills the gap between zirconia blankets and high alumina products.
Fire resistant glass is one of the most important safety glass. Coefficient expansion of thermal expansion of the glass is extremely low. It could resist much thermal shock caused by extreme temperature gradient across the glass between fire exposed and non-fire exposed sides. Glass becomes molten but does not break under high temperature and high temperature gradient. It remains its integrity to keep away blaze, smoke and fume. This wire free fire resistant glass performs any one, two or three of following characteristics depending on Class and Grade.
All of these are significant contribute to evacuation of fire scene, the work of fire fighters and rescuers.
Fire resistant glass is classified into three categories:
The three classes of fire-resistant glasses are further classified into Grade I, Grade II, Grade III and Grade IV according to various levels of protection which is measured in terms of Integrity, Radiation and Insulation. The Table interpreting Class Vs Grade Vs Time is just for reference. Glass resists more than 90 min (could be as high as 180 min.), is classified into higher levels. There are also Classes E and EI which perform much better and are more safety for fire protection.
Monolithic glass is single pane. This fire protective glass blocks flames, fumes and smoke but not heat radiation. Its advantages are:
There are several types of monolithic fire rated glazing reaching different classes and grades of fire resistance.
Soda lime glass is always chemically strengthened to improve its thermal stability and internal strength. Then glass is thermally tempered by conventional tempering furnace by air quenching to it turn into Class C monolithic fire resistant glass. Xinology FR series fire resistant production system is used to carry out this process to produce Class C fire resistant glass.
Glass could be metallic coated on both sides to reflect away heat and minimize the possibility of thermal shock. Monolithic fire resistant glass performs consistent regardless of fire attack direction.
Borosilicate glass is excellent in heat proof. It has also very low coefficient of thermal expansion to resist thermal shock. Borosilicate glass is generally fully thermal tempered upgraded to fire resistant glass.
It is a special composition of glass and ceramic with excellent thermal shock and heat insulation.
Curtain systems are a modern alternative to conventional systems such as fire protection doors, gates and windows. With a curtain system, unreinforced openings will remain entirely useable and perfectly secured. Curtain systems can be fully integrated in the existing building concept. Due to the compact layout of the system, the fields of application are almost limitless.
The intuitive technology, the high-quality materials and the reliable construction allow an easy installation and low-maintenance operation.
Most of the time, fire smoke is a much more dangerous hazard than the fire itself. Smoke can spread quickly and silently within a building, transporting heat and therefore supporting the expansion of the fire. Just a few breaths could lead to deadly intoxication. Smoke curtains can effectively counteract the spreading of fire smoke and therefore lives can be saved.
A smoke curtain is a much better choice in such situations. In general cases, the system is rolled up and enables the unimpeded passing of the passage. The curtain only drops in case of an emergency and builds an enclosed space according to the required security targets. Usability and fire protection are perfectly combined. With a two-stage drop, it is possible to pass the curtain system before it is totally closed.
Modern fire protection concepts demand high standards from buildings and security systems. Owing to their flexibility and ability to easily combine fire protection technology and architectural design, curtain systems will be increasingly used.
Curtain systems can be configured for various applications. They can be used to actively control occurring combustion gases to create a steady space enclosure or establish an isolating heat barrier.
In all fire disasters, fire smoke, heat and toxic fumes are the main obstacles to safe evacuation of a building or area. A major contribution towards overcoming these hazards is the use of fire resistant and non-halogenated cables. These cables provided the following features:
Fire Resistant cables are used, where required by local fire codes, in the wiring of:
Fire Resistant Cable have been developed to maintain circuit integrity in a fire and to ensure maximum safe evacuation of personnel with no detrimental effects like toxic gases or smoke. The Fire-Resistant cables are constructed in the following typical format:
Fire Resistant cable may be single-core or multi-core constructions. The cable may be unarmoured, armoured, braided, with or without metallic screened. The Fire resistant cable may categorized by a letter symbol (e.g. A) or series of symbols (e.g. CWZ) in according to the requirements for fire resistance characteristics which they meet, the test temperature selected and the duration of the test for resistance to fire alone in according to BS 6387 as below:
The purpose of this plan is to reduce the damages in intercity train crash cases to the passengers. In the next phase, if the train catches fire with the increase in the incident time of smoke and fire entering to the train, the passenger is required to react appropriately. The coupe and the corridor are designed to prevent the fuel, fire, heat and wear from penetrating into the coupe so passengers can have plenty of time to get out of the train. In addition to sound proof its walls are heat and fire proof.
The target is to reduce the damages in intercity vehicles crash cases to the passengers (train and bus), at the first phase. In the next phase, if the vehicle catches fire, with the increase in the incident time of smoke and fire spreading to the wagon, the passenger has plenty of time to react appropriately.
According to the
Gangway is composed of these major parts:
That each part is explained on the following:
The side walls are made up of two metal plates, the gap between which is filled with fire-resistant materials such as rock wool or ceramic fiber. The jointing of the walls together or to the floor of the coupe is sealed by high temperature sealant tape so this layer prevents fuel leakage into the coupe.
This wall is common between coupes and wagon and does not absorb heat, and responds extremely well to fire. Beside it is soundproof it does not contribute to the development or the propagation of fire. This wall is made up of the materials resistant to high temperature and sound. It includes a window with a fire resistant glass and a manual fire-smoke curtain. Experts designed the wall with no common glass between the coupes, and the gap between the glass and the side walls does not allow the fire to transmit through the window to the side coupe.
The side wall of the gangway consists of two fixed parts with some windows and a sliding door. The wall of the gangway of the coupe, like its side walls, has been made of two metal plates filled with refractory materials such as rock wool or fiber ceramics.
Also, wagons are equipped with fire resistant glass and given that the glass can be crushed due to accidents, behind the windows there are manual fire-smoke curtains or Sliding metal sheet. Passenger can close it immediately that prevents fire and smoke from entering to the coupe (
The outer surface of the side wall of the gangway is covered with intumescent coatings. It reduces the heat transfer rate to the coupe during fire. In crashes due to impact or overturning of the walls, there may be a gap between the walls of the coupe and the bottom. A flexible fire and fuel barrier tape is used to prevent fire and smoke from entering the coupe.
To prevent smoke from entering from the sliding door, flexible intumescent tapes are used, which swells during a fire and fills the gap between the door and the span and prevents the smoke from entering the coupe. In order to prevent fuel penetration from the entrance door, the rail of the sliding door with a height of 30 mm is designed as shown in
The roof is coated with a layer of soft, high temperature resistant, soundproofed or airbag materials that could cause less damage to the passenger in the event of overturning of the train and collision of the passenger with the roof of the coupe.
Ladders are used for passenger climbing for second or third floor beds. Also, during an accident, passenger can break the window and by the ladder get off from the coupe (
Cooling/heating ventilation system in each coupe is independent of other coupes or gangways, so during fire smoke from other coupes or gangways does not penetrate the coupe.
The material used in the berth sleeper is resistant to high temperature. Berth sleeper airbags are designed to protect the passenger's head and body while the passenger is asleep in the berth sleeper, which inflates in the event of a rollover accident. These airbags are multi-stages. In the first stage, the airbag inflates along the berth sleeper and covers the head or the whole body of the passenger (
To save the passenger of severe injuries in heavy accidents, seat belts are installed on the bed in order to keep the passenger in place. Soft covers are also mounted on the side walls of the coupe and below the upper bed so that the passengers can receive less damage by creating a soft compartment around them in the case of overturning the wagon and passenger's collision with walls or under the upper bed. This berth sleeper airbag can be used in heavy truck sleeper cabs too.
In
in the first stage, the support airbag inflates (
At the time of the accident, the first stage airbag inflates from up to down and fully cover the upper limb of passenger and the seat back (
As the airbags inflate, the gas in the airbags, escapes in a controlled manner through small vent holes then the rubber bands retract the airbags (
According to
In the following table, airbags specify that protect a part of body in different crash test.
It's necessary to inflate second airbag after the first airbags inflated completely, to the berth sleeper airbag and seat airbag proper performance. These airbag inflation systems can be used:
The inflation of the airbags in the vehicle is controlled by a central airbag control unit.
The gangway is the most important route for the passengers to escape at the time of the incident. The gangway contains fire-smoke curtains and fire-smoke detector, so that when the wagon is fired, smoke quickly does not spread into the gangway and allow passengers to leave the wagon through the gangway.
In the wall of wagon on the side of the gangway, there are embedded sliding window with fire resistant glass that is connected to the control unit, and when the fire is detected by the fire-smoke detector, the window opens, so that the smoke exit from the open window in a controlled manner and do not fill in the gangway. It can also be used to exhausts smoke from the gangway through roof hatch that embedded between the two fire-smoke curtains at the roof of the gangway and exhaust the air in the gangway to outside the wagon (in addition to exhaust the air in the gangway in the normal state, it also takes command from the control unit). Wires and cables used in this wagon are resistant to heat and mechanical shock, and fireproof electrical ducts have been used.
If the curtain is open and the wagon overturns, the magnet on the bottom bar will prevent the bar from sliding off the wagon's floor. Anti-smoke curtains are made of some pieces to allow passengers to cross the curtain. These curtains delay the spread of fire and smoke in the gangway, providing time and space for passengers to leave the wagon.
In
