Barrier

Abstract

 A barrier (1) deployable from a roller (3) or other deployment device comprising a textile screen (2), an edge guide (5) for the screen and complementary formations at an edge of the screen (2) and the edge guide (5). The screen edge formation comprising series of discrete metallic elements secured to the edge of the screen (2) and spaced therealong, the elements being thicker than the textile of the screen (2), and the edge guide formation comprising an over-hung longitudinal opening sized to allow the textile of the screen (2) to slide in the groove and to captivate the metallic elements. On deployment of the screen (2), the screen edge slides along the edge guide (5) with the metallic elements sliding within the guide and securing the screen to the guide.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a barrier, particularly though not exclusively for a smoke or fire barrier.

[0002] As smoke and fire barriers have become larger, the tendency for them to belly in use has increased. Bellying causes the edges to pull away from the portal which they are closing and any guide frame provided. The result is that fire and smoke can escape. This is undesirable.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved barrier of the type able to be deployed by unrolling from a roller better able to resist pulling away of its edges and adapted for provision of seals to improve smoke and fire retention performance.

[0004] According to the invention there is provided a barrier deployable from a roller or other deployment device, the barrier comprising:

• a textile screen per se;
• at least one edge guide for the screen and;
• complementary formations at an edge of the screen and the edge guide:
  • the screen edge formation comprising series of discrete metallic elements secured to the edge of the screen and spaced therealong, the elements being thicker than the textile of the screen;
  • the edge guide formation comprising an over-hung longitudinal opening sized to allow the textile of the screen to slide in the groove and to captivate the metallic elements;

the arrangement being such that on deployment of the screen, the screen edge slides along the edge guide with the metallic elements sliding within the guide and securing the screen to the guide.

[0005] Normally the same screen and guide formations will be provided at both vertical - in use - edges of the barrier.

[0006] The effectiveness of the metallic elements in securing the edge of the screen decreases with their pitch. It is estimated that the pitch of the elements should be not more than ten times the dimension of the elements measured in the direction of the edge. Convenient pitch is five or less times this dimension.

[0007] The metallic elements can be contained within a hem stitched at the edges of the screen. In this format, the elements can metallic balls. They can abut inside the hem, with their pitch being their diameter.

[0008] Alternatively, the metallic elements can be crimped to the edge of the screen or to a tape stitched to the edge. A particularly convenient manner of providing the elements is as one half of a sliding clasp fastener, with the tape stitched on. The pitch of the elements is twice their dimension along the edge, in this instance.

[0009] Preferably the guide is provided with a seal between its overhang and the metallic elements. Conveniently this incorporates intumescent material for assisting in sealing in the event of fire.

[0010] To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a general view of a barrier according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a scrap front view of a portion of an edge of a screen of the barrier and its guide;

Figure 3 is a similar scrap view of an edge portion of another screen of the invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the Figure 3 scrap;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a varied screen edge;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 of the variation; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 of a further variant.

[0011] Referring to Figures 1 & 2, a barrier 1 has a smoke screen 2 wound before deployment on a roller 3. It has a bottom bar 4 weighing down the bottom of the screen and fixed edge guides 5. These are channels 6 fixed to the portal (not shown) to be closed by the screen. The channels have in-turned lips 7.

[0012] The edges 11 of the screen have hems 12 with stitching 13 containing a series of steel balls 14 in lines 15. The gap between the in-turned lips on either side of the screen is sufficient to allow the hemmed double thickness of screen material to pass freely along the guide. However, the steel balls 14 are of a diameter considerably bigger than the gap, whereby the edges of the screen is captivated in the guides.

[0013] Providing the balls as a series of discrete elements allows the screen to be rolled on the roller 3, without excessive increase in the roller diameter due to elongate elements in the hem holding the hem away from the roller.

[0014] Turning on to Figures 3 & 4, the screen edge 111 there shown has stitched 113 to it a tape 112 of a sliding clasp fastener, with crimped on teeth 114. These are comparatively thinner than the balls and form a more compact roll. However, their pitch is smaller and they provide a substantially continuous connection of the screen 102 to its guides 105, via in-turned lips 107. The teeth, being intended in their original purpose to inter-digitate with another series on another tape, are set at a pitch equal to twice their dimension along the length of the edge.

[0015] The gap G between the lips 107 is sufficient only to allow the tape 112 to slid freely along the guide. Typically the gap will be the same as the gap between the opposite sides of the guide lips of the clasp of a sliding clasp fastener using the same tape. This gap will allow only a very small air flow past the edge of the screen.
When a pressure gap across the barrier pulls the tap against one of the lips, this air flow is decreased even more. To further enhance sealing, intumescent draught excluder seals 120 are provided with the guide on opposite side of the teeth.

[0016] The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the outside of the in-turned lips can be recessed 150 and provided on angled surfaces 151 with intumescent seals 152. This arrangement provides that differential pressure across the curtain bellies it firmly against the seal 152 on the low pressure of the barrier.

[0017] A further variant is shown in Figure 7 for a ball edge barrier, in which the guide is an extruded channel 205, with in-turned lips 251 similar to the lips 151. The lips are continued 260 back inwards and have internal flanges 261. The lips and the flanges are bevelled and both provided with resilient, intumescent seals 262 to provide added sealing against the passage of smoke and fire.

Claims

1. A barrier deployable from a roller or other deployment device, the barrier comprising:

• a textile screen per se;

• at least one edge guide for the screen and;

• complementary formations at an edge of the screen and the edge guide:

• the screen edge formation comprising series of discrete metallic elements secured to the edge of the screen and spaced therealong, the elements being thicker than the textile of the screen;

• the edge guide formation comprising an over-hung longitudinal opening sized to allow the textile of the screen to slide in the groove and to captivate the metallic elements;

the arrangement being such that on deployment of the screen, the screen edge slides along the edge guide with the metallic elements sliding within the guide and securing the screen to the guide.

2. A barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the same screen and guide formations are provided at both vertical - in use - edges of the barrier.

3. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pitch of the elements is not more than ten times the dimension of the elements measured in the direction of the edge.

4. A barrier as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pitch of the elements is five or less times the dimension of the elements.

5. A barrier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the metallic elements are contained within a hem stitched at the edges of the screen.

6. A barrier as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elements are metallic balls.

7. A barrier as claimed in claim 6, wherein the metallic balls abut inside the hem, with their pitch being their diameter.

8. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the metallic elements are crimped to the edge of the screen or to a tape stitched to the edge.

9. A barrier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the elements are provided as one half of a sliding clasp fastener, with the tape stitched on.

10. A barrier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the guide is provided with a seal between its overhang and the metallic elements.

11. A barrier as claimed in claim 10, wherein the overhang incorporates intumescent material for assisting in sealing in the event of fire.

Drawing