Field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to a smoke shafts in particular for guiding smoke and/or other
gaseous substances such as ventilation air in case of fire.
Background of the invention
[0002] Smoke shafts (also referred to as smoke ducts) are used in buildings for removing
smoke, heat and combustion products from one or more fire compartments of the building,
such as floors of the building, to the outside of the building. Smoke shafts can also
be used to take replacement air into the building. Smoke, heat and combustion products
may be produced in case of fire, for example, and become hazardous for the people
inside the building. If smoke, heat and combustion products are not removed by smoke
shafts, these might be guided to a stairway and disable it from serving as an escape
route. The same smoke shaft may serve a single fire compartment or plurality of different
fire compartments. In multi-storey buildings, the smoke shafts may, for example, provide
a duct from lower parts of the building through intermediate floors and further up
through the roof possibly having openings leading to different floors for thus being
able to remove smoke, heat and combustion products from different floors. The upper
end of the smoke shaft has an opening, which may be covered with a hatch. The hatch
may comprise a window e.g. so that the smoke shaft can provide light into the building.
This is advantageous particularly if the smoke shaft lower end opens into a room right
below the roof.
[0003] In prior art, one way to fabricate and install a smoke shaft has been to build it
from tubular sections by piling them on top of each other. Such tubular sections are
known which have sandwich walls having insulation layer between face sheets. One way
to fix such tubular sections to each other has been to screw them together by horizontal
screws. However, a problem has been that the screws may form a harmful heat bridge
in the structure. A challenge has been to ensure engagement between vertically consecutive
smoke shaft sections such that the seam between them has good tightness throughout
the lifetime of the smoke shaft. It is particularly important that the structure is
not prone to lose its tightness due to thermal expansion or shrinkage in case of fire.
Another challenge has been that the fabrication method requires often on-site piling
of the smoke shaft sections, whereby engagement between the vertically consecutive
smoke shaft sections can not be freely secured.
Brief description of the invention
[0004] The object of the invention is to introduce a new solution for a smoke shaft, which
is improved in terms of firmness and tightness of the engagement between vertically
consecutive smoke shaft sections in different conditions while being well suitable
to be fabricated on site.
[0005] An object is particularly to introduce a solution by which one or more of the above-mentioned
drawbacks of prior art and/or drawbacks discussed or implied elsewhere in the description
can be solved.
[0006] It is brought forward a new tubular smoke shaft section comprising, in particular
when in an upright position, plurality of vertical walls in connection with each other
and arranged to border a hollow upwards and downwards open smoke guiding channel ,
wherein each said wall has a sandwich structure and comprises a first face sheet forming
an inner face of the wall and a second face sheet forming an outer face of the wall,
and an insulation layer between said first face sheet and said second face sheet ,
the tubular smoke shaft section having an upper end and a lower end, said ends in
particular being shaped to form counterparts for each other for enabling piling of
tubular smoke shaft sections on top of each other. The tubular smoke shaft section
comprises fixing members comprising one or more first horizontal plate portions extending
horizontally inside the smoke guiding channel or inside the vertical projection of
the smoke guiding channel at the upper end of the smoke shaft section, and one or
more second horizontal plate portions extending horizontallyinside the smoke guiding
channel or inside the vertical projection of the smoke guiding channel at the lower
end of the smoke shaft section, wherein said first and second horizontal plate portions
are positioned such that they overlap vertically.
[0007] With this kind of solution one or more of the above-mentioned objects can be facilitated.
Thereby, it is enabled positioning the first horizontal fixing plate portion opposite
to a second horizontal fixing plate portion of a second smoke shaft section on top
of said first tubular smoke shaft section, and for enabling positioning the second
horizontal fixing plate portion opposite to a first horizontal fixing plate portion
of a third smoke shaft section below said first tubular smoke shaft section, for thereby
facilitating fixing of them together. This is advantageous, because thus the inner
parts of the tubular consecutive sections can be fixed together simply and firmly
by reaching from above. Thus, a firm and tight structure is achieved, which can be
easily fabricated by piling.
[0008] Preferable further details of the tubular smoke shaft section are introduced in the
following, which further details can be combined with the tubular smoke shaft section
individually or in any combination.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the fixing members are attached on the first face sheets
of one or more of said walls.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, adjacent walls have been connected to each other by mitre
joints.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second face sheets of each said wall are
vertical and parallel.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, said fixing members comprise attached on at least one
wall, in particular on the first face sheet thereof,
a first elongated horizontal bar comprising a first horizontal plate portion extending
horizontally, in particular inside the smoke guiding channel or inside the vertical
projection of the smoke guiding channel, at the upper end of the smoke shaft section,
and
a second elongated horizontal bar comprising a second horizontal plate portion extending
horizontally, in particular inside the smoke guiding channel or inside the vertical
projection of the smoke guiding channel, at the lower end of the smoke shaft section,
the first and second horizontal bars being such positioned that the first and second
horizontal plate portions overlap vertically.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, said fixing members comprise an elongated vertical bar
extending vertically inside the smoke guiding channel, or at least partially inside
the smoke guiding channel, in at least one corner of adjacent two walls, in particular
attached on said adjacent two walls, in particular on the first face sheets thereof,
the elongated vertical bar comprising:
a first horizontal plate portion at the upper end of the elongated vertical bar, which
first horizontal plate portion extends horizontally, in particular inside the smoke
guiding channel or inside the vertical projection of the smoke guiding channel, and
a second horizontal plate portion at the lower end of the elongated vertical bar,
which second horizontal plate portion extends horizontally, in particular inside the
smoke guiding channel or inside the vertical projection of the smoke guiding channel,
and
the first and second horizontal plate portions of the elongated vertical bar are positioned
to overlap vertically.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the overlapping first and second horizontal plate portions,
in particular of the elongated vertical bar and/or the horizontal bars comprise coinciding
fixing holes, in particular for an elongated fixing member such as a fixing bolt member.
The fixing holes preferably extend through the first and second horizontal plate portions
in vertical direction.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, a counterpart member for an elongated fixing member has
been inserted in one hole of coinciding holes of the overlapping first and second
horizontal plate portions in particular of the elongated vertical bar and/or the horizontal
bars, said hole being a hole of a first horizontal plate portion. Preferably, said
counterpart member is locked or lockable unrotatable relative to the hole. Preferably,
said counterpart member is a nut member, preferably a rivet nut with internal threads,
the elongated fixing member being a bolt member with external threads.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, each said horizontal bar and/or each said vertical bar
comprises, preferably being an angle bar, a first plate branch and a second plate
branch, which are at right angle relative to each other. A plate branch of each said
horizontal bar preferably forms one of the aforementioned horizontal plate portions.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, said vertical bar comprises at the vertical and lower
end thereof a horizontal plate portion.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, only said first branch of said branches of each said horizontal
bar is fixed against the first face sheet, the second branch extending horizontally
inside the smoke guiding channel, or inside the vertical projection of the smoke guiding
channel, forming the horizontal plate portion of the fixing member in question.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the first branch of said vertical bar is attached on a
first face sheet of one of two adjacent walls, and the second branch of said vertical
bar is attached on a first face sheet of the other of two adjacent walls.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the upper end of the wall is provided with a first form
locking shape and the lower end of the wall with a second form locking shape, the
first and second form locking shapes being counterparts for each other. Preferably,
the first form locking shape comprises a male form locking shape and the second form
locking shape a female form locking shape forming a counterpart for the male form
locking member, or vice versa.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the lower edge of the second sheet has been bent to form
a downwardly open groove, particularly the second sheet being bent inwards, upwards,
inwards and downwards (inwards meaning towards the wall central plane), and the upper
edge of the second sheet is arranged to fit into the groove, preferably bent inwards,
upwards inwards and downwards. This could also be vice versa. This structure provides
that two smoke shaft sections piled on top of each other can be simply locked, working
from the outside, vertically immovably together by aid of an elongated fixing member
extending through the edges of the smoke shaft sections. Thus, in addition to the
fixing by aid of the fixing members inside the smoke guiding channel, also second
sheets of the smoke shaft walls are well secured together, which provides very firm
and tight engagement between vertically consecutive smoke shaft sections in different
conditions yet being well suitable to be fabricated on site.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the lower edge of the second sheet has been bent to form
a downwardly open groove, particularly the second sheet being bent inwards, upwards,
inwards and downwards (inwards meaning towards the wall center plane), and the upper
edge of the second sheet is arranged to fit into the groove, preferably bent inwards,
upwards inwards and downwards.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the insulation layer is a mineral wool layer, in particular
which comprises or is made of mineral wool.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, said first face sheet and/or said second face sheet is
a metal sheet, in particular a sheet which comprises or is made of metal.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the tubular smoke shaft section is a rectangular tube.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the face sheets are not in contact with each other nor
connected by a metal member. This is advantageous, because otherwise a heat bridge
would be formed between the face sheets.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the overlapping first and second horizontal plate portions
extend inside the vertical projection of the smoke guiding channel.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, one or both of the overlapping first and second horizontal
plate portions extend inside the smoke guiding channel.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, each said first horizontal plate portion has a horizontal
planar face facing upwards, and each said second horizontal plate portion has a horizontal
planar face facing downwards.
[0030] It is also brought forward a new smoke shaft wherein the smoke shaft comprises plurality
of tubular smoke shaft sections as described anywhere above and/or in any of the claims
of the application, which smoke shaft sections are piled on top of each other in alignment
such that their smoke guiding channels together form a continuous vertically oriented
smoke guiding channel, consecutive smoke shaft sections being fixed together with
said fixing members.
[0031] With this kind of solution one or more of the above-mentioned objects can be facilitated.
[0032] Preferable further details of the smoke shaft have been introduced above as well
as will be introduced in the following, which further details can be combined with
the smoke shaft individually or in any combination.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the smoke shaft extends through one or more openings formed
in a floor structure and/or through one or more openings formed in a roof structure
of a building.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the smoke shaft comprises a first smoke shaft section
and a second smoke shaft section on top of the first smoke shaft section , the first
horizontal fixing plate portions of the first smoke shaft section being positioned
vertically opposite to the second horizontal fixing plate portions of the second smoke
shaft section and/or a third smoke shaft section below the first smoke shaft section,
the second horizontal fixing plate portions of the first smoke shaft section being
positioned vertically opposite to the first horizontal fixing plate portions of the
third smoke shaft section.
[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second smoke shaft section piled on top
of each other are locked vertically immovably together by aid of an elongated fixing
member, such as bolt or screw or rivet extending through the lower edge of the second
sheet of a second smoke shaft section and the upper edge of the second sheet of the
first smoke shaft section located below said second smoke shaft section and/or the
first and third smoke shaft section piled on top of each other are locked vertically
immovably together by aid of an elongated fixing member, such as bolt or screw or
rivet extending through the lower edge of the second sheet of the first smoke shaft
section and the upper edge of the second sheet of the third smoke shaft section located
below said first smoke shaft section.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment, vertically oppositely positioned first and second horizontal
fixing plate portions of the first and second smoke shaft section and/or vertically
oppositely positioned first and second horizontal fixing plate portions of the first
and third smoke shaft section are fixed together, in particular with an elongated
fixing member extending through coinciding holes of said vertically oppositely positioned
first and second horizontal fixing plate portions.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the upper end thereof is at least partially outside of
the building wherein the smoke shaft is installed.
[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the upper end thereof is provided with an openable hatch
covering in an openable manner the smoke guiding channel.
[0039] In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the smoke shaft sections, except at least
the lowermost, rests at least partially carried by the smoke shaft section below it.
[0040] It is also brought forward a new smoke shaft arrangement comprising a smoke shaft
as defined anywhere above or in any of the claims of the application.
Brief description of the drawings
[0041] In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of
example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which
FIG. 1 partially a smoke shaft according to an embodiment as well as an embodiment
of a tubular smoke shaft section 1 according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of conscutive smoke shaft sections of Figure
1.
A-A of the upper end of a wall of a tubular smoke shaft section of Figure 1.
FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 3.
FIG. 5 illustrates the cross section A-A of Figure 1.
FIG. 6 illustrates the cross section B-B of Figure 1.
FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 6.
FIG. 8 illustrates preferred further details of the smoke shaft of Figure 1 and an
arrangement comprising the smoke shaft.
Detailed description
[0042] Figure 1 illustrates partially a smoke shaft 100 according to an embodiment as well
as an embodiment of a tubular smoke shaft section 1 according to an embodiment. The
Figure illustrates in particular two tubular smoke shaft section 1 piled on top of
each other, but preferably the smoke shaft 100 comprises more of them piled on top
of each other.
[0043] The tubular smoke shaft section 1 is illustrated in Figure 1 and described hereinafter
as it is when in upright position.
[0044] The tubular smoke shaft section 1 comprises plurality of walls 3a,3b,3c,3d, which
are vertical when the tubular smoke shaft section 1 is in an upright position. Said
vertical walls 3a,3b,3c,3d, in particular four walls, are in connection with each
other and arranged to border a hollow, upwards and downwards open, smoke guiding channel
4.
[0045] Each said wall 3a,3b,3c,3d has a sandwich structure and comprises a first face sheet
31 forming an inner face of the wall 3a,3b,3c,3d and a second face sheet 32 forming
an outer face of the wall 3a,3b,3c,3d, and an insulation layer 33 between said first
face sheet 31 and said second face sheet 32. Each said face sheet 31,32 is preferably
rectangular or at least substantially rectangular in shape.
[0046] The tubular smoke shaft section 1 has an upper end E1 and a lower end E2 shaped to
form counterparts for each other for enabling piling of tubular smoke shaft sections
1 on top of each other.
[0047] The tubular smoke shaft section 1 comprises fixing members 11,12,13 comprising first
horizontal plate portions 11a,13a extending horizontally inside the smoke guiding
channel 4 at the upper end E1 of the smoke shaft section 1, and second horizontal
plate portions 12a,13b extending horizontally inside the smoke guiding channel 4 at
the lower end E2 of the smoke shaft section 1, wherein said first and second horizontal
plate portions 11a,12a;13a,13b are positioned such that they overlap vertically. Thereby,
it is enabled positioning the first horizontal fixing plate portion 11a,13a opposite
to a second horizontal fixing plate portion 12a,13b of a second smoke shaft section
1,1b on top of said first tubular smoke shaft section 1,1a, and for enabling positioning
the second horizontal fixing plate portion opposite to a first horizontal fixing plate
portion of a third smoke shaft section 1,1c below said first tubular smoke shaft section
1,1a, for thereby facilitating fixing of them together. The plate portions being horizontal
provides that they can be placed vertically opposite each other and simply fixed immovably
to each other. The horizontal plate portions 11a,12a,13a extending horizontally inside
the smoke guiding channel 4, or at least inside the vertical projection of the smoke
guiding channel 4, provides that horizontal plate portions 11a,12a,13a of consecutive
smoke shaft sections can be reached from above and fixed simply to each other.
[0048] Each said first horizontal plate portion 11a,13a has in particular a horizontal planar
face facing upwards, and each said second horizontal plate portion 12a,13b has in
particular a horizontal planar face facing downwards. Thus, the horizontal plate portions
of consecutive smoke shaft sections are simple to arrange to overlap and to fix on
each other. For instance, vertically oriented fixing holes are easy to provide on
them to extend through the planar faces.
[0049] The fixing members 11,12,13 can comprise horizontal or vertical fixing members also
referred to as elongated horizontal bars and elongated vertical bars. The advantage
of a horizontal fixing member 11,12 is that it is simple to design to have vast horizontal
plate portion which thereby simply provides a vast fixing area. The advantage of a
vertical fixing member 13 is that it can be simply designed to have both the first
and second horizontal plate portions 13a,13b comprised in the same fixing member 13.
In the preferred embodiments illustrated in Figures the smoke shaft section 1 comprises
both kinds of fixing members 11,12,13, which is preferable since this provides a very
reliable engagement. However, this is not necessary, because it would be also possible
to utilize only horizontal fixing members 11,12 or only vertical fixing members 13,
if maximal firmness of the fixing is not necessary.
[0050] In the preferred embodiments, the fixing members 11,12,13 comprise attached on each
wall 3a,3b,3c,3d, and more specifically on the first face sheet 31 thereof:
a first elongated horizontal bar 11 comprising a first horizontal plate portion 11a,
which first elongated horizontal bar 11 extends horizontally inside the smoke guiding
channel 4 at the upper end E1 of the smoke shaft section 1, and
a second elongated horizontal bar 12 comprising a second horizontal plate portion
12a, which second elongated horizontal bar 12extending horizontally inside the smoke
guiding channel 4 at the lower end E2 of the smoke shaft section 1.
[0051] The first and second horizontal bars 11,12 are such positioned that the first and
second horizontal plate portions 11a,12a overlap vertically.
[0052] The overlapping first and second horizontal plate portions 11a,12;13a,13b, of the
horizontal bars 11,12 comprise coinciding fixing holes 11a1,12a1;13a1,13b1 for an
elongated fixing member 14 such as a fixing bolt member 14 as illustrated.
[0053] A counterpart member 15 for an elongated fixing member 14 has been inserted in one
hole 11a1 of coinciding holes 11a1,12a1 of the overlapping first and second horizontal
plate portions 11a,12a; of the horizontal bars 11,12, said hole 13a1 being a hole
of a first horizontal plate portion 11a said counterpart member 15 being locked or
lockable unrotatable relative to the hole 11a1. Thus, the elongated fixing member
14 is simply fixable by working from above, which is advantageous for the installation
process where the smoke shaft 100 is to be fabricated by piling. Thus, the fitter
person can reach into the channel 4 from above so as to fix the uppermost smoke shaft
section to the one below it. Said counterpart member 15 is preferably a rivet member,
preferably a rivet nut with internal threads, the elongated fixing member 14 being
a bolt member with external threads. A rivet member is advantageous because it provides
a firm and well holding fixing to the plat portion and hole where it is inserted.
[0054] In the preferred embodiments, the fixing members 11-13 comprise an elongated vertical
bar 13 extending vertically inside the smoke guiding channel 4 in at least one, however
preferably in each, corner of adjacent two walls 3a,3b;3b,3c;3c,3d;3d,3a, in particular
attached on said adjacent two walls 3a,3b;3b,3c;3c,3d;3d,3a, in particular on the
first face sheets 31 thereof. The elongated vertical bar 13 comprises
[0055] a first horizontal plate portion 13a at the upper end of the elongated vertical bar
13, which first horizontal plate portion 13a extends horizontally inside the smoke
guiding channel 4, and
a second horizontal plate portion 13b at the upper end of the elongated vertical bar
13, which second horizontal plate portion 13b extends horizontally inside the smoke
guiding channel 4.
[0056] The first and second horizontal plate portions 13a,13b of the elongated vertical
bar 13 are positioned to overlap vertically.
[0057] The overlapping first and second horizontal plate portions 13a,13b of the elongated
vertical bar 13 comprise coinciding fixing holes 13a1,13b for an elongated fixing
member 14 such as a fixing bolt member 14 as illustrated.
[0058] A counterpart member 15 for an elongated fixing member 14 has been inserted in one
hole 11a1; 13a1 of coinciding holes 11a1,12a1;13a1,13b of the overlapping first and
second horizontal plate portions 11a,12;13a,13b in particular of the elongated vertical
bar 13 and/or the horizontal bars 11,12, said hole 11a1; 13a1 being a hole of a first
horizontal plate portion 11a,12a,13a, said counterpart member 15 being locked or lockable
unrotatable relative to the hole 11a1; 13a1. Thus, the elongated fixing member 14
is simply fixable by working from above. Thus, the fitter person can reach into the
channel 4 from above so as to fix the uppermost smoke shaft section to the one below
it. Said counterpart member 15 is preferably a nut member, preferably a rivet nut
with internal threads, the elongated fixing member 14 being a bolt member with external
threads. A rivet nut is advantageous because it provides simply a firm and well holding
fixing to the plate portion and to the hole where it is inserted, which is also simply
usable in difficult position of the fitter when reaching inside the smoke guiding
channel 4.
[0059] Each said wall 3a,3b,3c,3d having a sandwich structure is preferably such that the
insulation layer 33 is a mineral wool layer, in particular which comprises or is made
of mineral wool. Said first face sheet 31 and/or said second face sheet 32 is a metal
sheet, in particular a sheet which comprises or is made of metal. Each said wall 3a,3b,3c,3d
having a sandwich structure is preferably such the face sheets 31,32 thereof are vertical
and parallel to each other. Each said wall 3a,3b,3c,3d is preferably moreover such
that the face sheets 31,32 are not in contact with each other. Preferably, the face
sheets 31,32 are not connected by a metal member. This is advantageous, because otherwise
a heat bridge would be formed between the face sheets.
[0060] Generally, the tubular smoke shaft section 1 is preferably such that it has four
of said walls 3a-3d which are at right angle relative to each other such that the
tubular smoke shaft section 1 is a rectangular tube. The second face sheets 32 of
all the walls 3a-3d can be of same one-piece structure. Thus, tightness of the overall
structure is improved.
[0061] Each said wall 3a,3b,3c,3d having a sandwich structure is preferably such that the
upper end of the wall is provided with a first form locking shape and the lower end
of the wall with a second form locking shape the first and second form locking shapes
being counterparts for each other. Figure 5 illustrates a cross section of the upper
end of a wall 3a,3b,3c,3d as well as a cross section of the lower end of a wall 3a,3b,3c,3d.
In this Figure the upper and lower ends are of different smoke shaft sections 1, but
these smoke shaft sections 1 are similar, so they have similar lower and upper ends.
[0062] The form locking shapes facilitate tightness of the seam between piled smoke shaft
sections 1 as well as accurate and firm positioning of them relative to each other.
The structure is also relatively rigid. Also, the piling steps are quick and easy
to perform.
[0063] In the illustrated embodiment, the first form locking shape of the upper end of the
wall comprises a male form locking shape and the second form locking shape of the
lower end of the wall comprises a female form locking shape forming a counterpart
for the male form locking member. This could alternatively be vice versa.
[0064] The structure is more specifically such that the lower edge 41 of the first sheet
31 has been bent to form a downwardly open groove 42, particularly the second sheet
32 being bent inwards, upwards, inwards and downwards (inwards meaning towards the
wall central plane), and the upper edge 43 of the first sheet 31 is arranged to fit
into the groove 42, preferably bent inwards, upwards inwards and downwards.
[0065] The lower edge 51 of the second sheet 32 has been bent to form a downwardly open
groove 52, particularly the second sheet 32 being bent inwards, upwards, inwards and
downwards (inwards meaning towards the wall central plane), and the upper edge 53
of the second sheet 32 is arranged to fit into the groove 52, preferably bent inwards,
upwards inwards and downwards.
[0066] The edges 41,43 and 51,53 shaped as described provides the aforementioned advantages
of shape locking efficiently, and in such a manner that the face sheets 31,32 are
able to carry vertical loads. Also, the consecutive smoke shaft sections 1 piled on
top of each other are thus easy to lock vertically immovably together by aid of an
elongated fixing member 60, such as bolt or screw or rivet extending through the lower
edge 51 of the second sheet 32 of a first smoke shaft section 1 and the upper edge
53 of the second sheet 32 of a second smoke shaft section 1 located below said first
smoke shaft section 1. Thus, the fixing need not extend deep into the wall structure
whereby it does not constitute a harmful heat bridge. Sealing substance 54 can be
provided in the seam between the walls. A sealing member 34 can be provided between
insulation layers of walls that are on top of each other. The sealing member 34 is
preferably an elastic band comprising intumescent material. Thus, it can expand in
high temperatures and thereby compensate for any existing or emerging spaces or voids
inside or around the insulation layers 33 of the walls.
[0067] Each said horizontal bar 11,12 preferably comprises a first plate branch b1 and a
second branch b2, which are at right angle relative to each other. Said horizontal
bar 11,12 forms the horizontal plate portion 11a,12a. Each said horizontal bar 11,12
is preferably an angle bar. Only said first branch b1 of said branches b1,b2 of each
said horizontal bar 11,12 is fixed against the first face sheet 31, the second branch
b2 extending horizontally inside the smoke guiding channel 4 forming the horizontal
plate portion 11a,12a of the fixing member 11,12 in question.
[0068] Each said vertical bar 13 preferably comprises a first plate branch b1 and a second
branch b2, which are at right angle relative to each other. Said vertical bar 13 comprises
at the vertical and lower end thereof a horizontal plate portion 11a,12a. Each said
vertical bar 13 is preferably an angle bar. The first branch b1 of said vertical bar
13 is attached on a first face sheet 31 of one of two adjacent walls 3a,3b;3b,3c;3c,3d;3d,3a,
and the second branch b2 of said vertical bar 13 is attached on a first face sheets
31 of the other of two adjacent walls 3a,3b;3b,3c;3c,3d;3d,3a. Thus, they also strengthen
the corner structure of the smoke shaft section 1.
[0069] The adjacent walls 3d,3a; 3a,3b;3b;3c;3c,3d have been preferably connected to each
other by mitre joints M, as illustrated for example in Figures 6 and 7. In this case,
the vertical fixing members 13 facilitate also tightness of the mitre joint M. Sealing
substance can be provided in the seam between the seam and the vertical bar 13.
[0070] Figure 8 illustrates an arrangement comprising an embodiment of a smoke shaft 100
wherein the smoke shaft comprises plurality of tubular smoke shaft sections 1 as described
referring to Figures 1-7 and piled on top of each other in alignment such that their
smoke guiding channels 4 together form a continuous vertically oriented smoke guiding
channel. The consecutive smoke shaft sections 1 are fixed together with said fixing
members 11,12,13.
[0071] One or more of the smoke shaft section 1, except at least the lowermost, rests at
least partially carried by the smoke shaft section 1 below it.
[0072] The smoke shaft 100 comprises a first smoke shaft section 1,1a and second smoke shaft
section 1,1b on top of the first smoke shaft section 1,1a section, the first horizontal
fixing plate portions 11a,13a of the first smoke shaft section 1,1a being positioned
vertically opposite to the second horizontal fixing plate portions 12a,13b of the
second smoke shaft section 1,1b. This has been illustrated particularly in Figures
3-5. This has been illustrated particularly in Figures 3-5. The first smoke shaft
section is marked in Figure 1 with additional reference 1a and the third smoke shaft
section with reference 1c.
[0073] The smoke shaft 100 comprises a third smoke shaft section 1,1c below the first smoke
shaft section 1,1a section, the second horizontal fixing plate portions 12a,13b of
the first smoke shaft section 1,1a being positioned vertically opposite to the first
horizontal fixing plate portions 11a,13a of the third smoke shaft section 1,1c. This
has been illustrated particularly in Figures 3-5. The first smoke shaft section is
marked in Figure 1 with additional reference 1a and the second smoke shaft section
with reference 1b.
[0074] Vertically oppositely positioned first and second horizontal fixing plate portions
11a,12a;13a,13b of the first and second smoke shaft section 1a,1b and/or vertically
oppositely positioned first and second horizontal fixing plate portions 11a,12a;13a,13b
of the first and third smoke shaft section 1a,1c are fixed together, in particular
with an elongated fixing member 14 extending through coinciding holes 11a1,12a1;13a1,13b1
of said vertically oppositely positioned first and second horizontal fixing plate
portions 11a,12a;13a,13b.
[0075] As illustrated in Figure 5, the first and second smoke shaft section 1a,1b piled
on top of each other are preferably locked vertically immovably together by aid of
an elongated fixing member 60, such as bolt or screw or rivet extending through the
lower edge of the second sheet 32 of a second smoke shaft section 1b and the upper
edge of the second sheet 32 of the first smoke shaft section 1a located below said
second smoke shaft section 1b and/or the first and third smoke shaft section 1a,1c
piled on top of each other are locked vertically immovably together by aid of an elongated
fixing member 60, such as bolt or screw or rivet extending through the lower edge
of the second sheet 32 of the first smoke shaft section 1a and the upper edge of the
second sheet 32 of the third smoke shaft section 1c located below said first smoke
shaft section 1a.
[0076] In the arrangement, the smoke shaft 100 extends through an opening 2 formed in a
floor structure 101 and an opening 2 formed in a roof structure 102. Thereby it extends
through the fire compartment that is between said structures 101 and 102. Generally,
the smoke shaft can extend through any number of structures 101 and/or 102, whereby
it could extend through one or more fire compartments. The smoke shaft 100 could for
example extend through openings 2 formed in more than one floors 101. An insulation
arrangement 5 is provided around the smoke shaft 100 at the point of each opening
2. The upper end of the smoke shaft 100 is at least partially outside of the building
wherein the smoke shaft is installed. The upper end thereof is preferably provided
with an openable hatch 35 covering in an openable manner an opening leading to the
smoke guiding channel 4 of the smoke shaft 100.
[0077] One or more smoke shaft sections 1 of the smoke shaft 100 preferably comprises one
or more smoke inlets 36 leading into the smoke channel 4 of the smoke shaft section
1 in question, as illustrated in Figure 12. The smoke inlets 36 preferably comprise
an openable hatch covering them.
[0078] Generally, the dimensions of the tubular smoke shaft section 1 can be freely chosen.
However, the dimensions are preferably such that x is at most 1250 mm and y is at
most 1000 mm, where x is horizontal width of the smoke guiding channel 4 and y is
horizontal depth of the smoke guiding channel 4. Thickness of each said insulation
layer is preferably more than 50 mm, preferably more than 80 mm. Preferably, the insulation
layer 33 of each wall 3a-3d fills more than 80 % of the space between the face sheets
31,32 of the wall.
[0079] Generally preferably, the fixing members 11,12,13 are attached on the first face
sheets 31 of one or more of said walls 3a,3b,3c,3d. Hereby, they can be simply included
in the structure without forming heat bridges.
[0080] Generally, said first horizontal plate portions 11a,13a of a smoke shaft section
1 are higher than the second horizontal plate portions 11a,13a. Preferably, the upper
faces of said first horizontal plate portions 11a,13a of a smoke shaft section 1 are
below the upper edges 43 of the first sheets 31 of the smoke shaft section 1 and the
lower faces of said second horizontal plate portions 12,13b of a smoke shaft section
1 are preferably above the lower edges 41 of the first sheets 31 of the smoke shaft
section 1.
[0081] Generally, the smoke shaft is for guiding smoke and/or other gaseous substances such
as ventilation air in case of fire. It is primarily for this use, and not for serving
as a chimney of a fireplace, whereby it is not connected to a fire place.
[0082] In the illustrated embodiments both of the overlapping first and second horizontal
plate portions 11a,12a;13a,13b extend inside the smoke guiding channel 4, whereby
a rigid structure which is well operable from above is achieved. However, it is not
necessary that they both are inside the smoke guiding channel 4 since alternatively
for example only one of them could be inside the smoke guiding channel 4, in which
case the other would extend above or below the smoke guiding channel 4 of the section
in question. Generally most preferably, however, the overlapping first and second
horizontal plate portions 11a,12a;13a,13b extend inside the vertical projection of
the smoke guiding channel 4 of the tubular smoke shaft section in question.
[0083] It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying Figures are
only intended to teach the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can
be implemented in various ways. The above-described embodiments of the invention may
thus be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by
those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood
that the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above
but may vary within the scope of the claims.
1. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) comprising plurality of vertical walls (3a,3b,3c,3d)
in connection with each other and arranged to border a hollow upwards and downwards
open smoke guiding channel (4), wherein each said wall (3a,3b,3c,3d) has a sandwich
structure and comprises a first face sheet (31) forming an inner face of the wall
(3a,3b,3c,3d) and a second face sheet (32) forming an outer face of the wall (3a,3b,3c,3d),
and an insulation layer (33) between said first face sheet (31) and said second face
sheet (32), the tubular smoke shaft section (1) having an upper end (E1) and a lower
end (E2), in particular shaped to form counterparts for each other for enabling piling
of tubular smoke shaft sections (1) on top of each other, characterized in that the tubular smoke shaft section (1) comprises fixing members (11,12,13) comprising
one or more first horizontal plate portions (11a,13a) extending horizontally inside
the smoke guiding channel (4) or inside the vertical projection of the smoke guiding
channel (4) at the upper end (E1) of the smoke shaft section (1), and one or more
second horizontal plate portions (12a,13b) extending horizontally inside the smoke
guiding channel (4) or inside the vertical projection of the smoke guiding channel
(4) at the lower end (E2) of the smoke shaft section (1), wherein said first and second
horizontal plate portions (11a,12a;13a,13b) are positioned such that they overlap
vertically.
2. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
the fixing members (11,12,13) are attached on the first face sheets (31) of one or
more of said walls (3a,3b,3c,3d).
3. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
said fixing members (11-13) comprise attached on at least one wall (3a,3b,3c,3d),
in particular on the first face sheet (31) thereof:
a first elongated horizontal bar (11) comprising a first horizontal plate portion
(11a) extending horizontally, in particular inside the smoke guiding channel (4) or
inside the vertical projection of the smoke guiding channel (4), at the upper end
(E1) of the smoke shaft section (1), and
a second elongated horizontal bar (12) comprising a second horizontal plate portion
(12a) extending horizontally, in particular inside the smoke guiding channel (4) or
inside the vertical projection of the smoke guiding channel (4), at the lower end
(E2) of the smoke shaft section (1),
wherein the first and second horizontal bars (11,12) are such positioned that the
first and second horizontal plate portions (11a,12a) overlap vertically.
4. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
said fixing members (11-13) comprise an elongated vertical bar (13) extending vertically
at least partially inside the smoke guiding channel (4) in at least one corner of
adjacent two walls (3a,3b;3b,3c;3c,3d;3d,3a), in particular attached on said adjacent
two walls (3a,3b;3b,3c;3c,3d;3d,3a), in particular on the first face sheets (31) thereof,
the elongated vertical bar (13) comprising:
a first horizontal plate portion (13a) at the upper end of the elongated vertical
bar (13), which first horizontal plate portion (13a) extends horizontally, in particular
inside the smoke guiding channel (4) or inside the vertical projection of the smoke
guiding channel (4), and
a second horizontal plate portion (13b) at the lower end of the elongated vertical
bar (13), which second horizontal plate portion (13b) extends horizontally, in particular
inside the smoke guiding channel (4) or inside the vertical projection of the smoke
guiding channel (4),
wherein the first and second horizontal plate portions (13a,13b) of the elongated
vertical bar (13) are positioned to overlap vertically.
5. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
the overlapping first and second horizontal plate portions (11a,12a;13a,13b), in particular
of the elongated vertical bar (13) and/or of the horizontal bars (11,12), comprise
coinciding fixing holes (11a1,12a1;13a1,13b1), in particular for an elongated fixing
member (14), such as a fixing bolt member.
6. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
a counterpart member (15) for an elongated fixing member (14) has been inserted in
one hole (11a1; 13a1) of coinciding holes (11a1,12a1;13a1,13b1) of the overlapping
first and second horizontal plate portions (11a,12;13a,13b) in particular of the elongated
vertical bar (13) and/or the horizontal bars (11,12), said hole (11a1; 13a1) being
a hole of a first horizontal plate portion (11a,12a,13a), wherein said counterpart
member (15) is preferably locked or lockable unrotatable relative to the hole (11a1;
13a1), said counterpart member (15) preferably being a nut member, most preferably
a rivet nut with internal threads, the elongated fixing member (14) preferably being
a bolt member with external threads.
7. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
each said horizontal bar (11,12) and/or each said vertical bar (13) comprises a first
plate branch (b1) and a second plate branch (b2), which are at right angle relative
to each other.
8. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
each said vertical bar (13) comprises at the vertical and lower end thereof a horizontal
plate portion (13a,13b).
9. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
only said first branch (b1) of said branches (b1,b2) of each said horizontal bar (11,12)
is fixed against the first face sheet (31), the second branch (b2) extending horizontally,
in particular inside the smoke guiding channel (4) or inside the vertical projection
of the smoke guiding channel (4), forming the horizontal plate portion (11a,12a) of
the fixing member (11,12) in question.
10. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
the first branch (b1) of said vertical bar (13) is attached on a first face sheet
(31) of one of two adjacent walls (3a,3b;3b,3c;3c,3d;3d,3a), and the second branch
(b2) of said vertical bar (13) is attached on a first face sheet (31) of the other
of two adjacent walls (3a,3b;3b,3c;3c,3d;3d,3a).
11. A tubular smoke shaft section (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
the lower edge (51) of the second sheet (32) has been bent to form a downwardly open
groove (52), and the upper edge (53) of the second sheet (32) is arranged to fit into
the groove (52), or vice versa.
12. A smoke shaft (100) wherein the smoke shaft (100) comprises plurality of tubular smoke
shaft sections (1) as defined in any of the preceding claims, piled on top of each
other in alignment such that their smoke guiding channels (4) together form a continuous
vertically oriented smoke guiding channel, consecutive smoke shaft sections (1) being
fixed together with said fixing members (11,12,13).
13. A smoke shaft (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the smoke shaft
(100) comprises a first smoke shaft section (1,1a) and a second smoke shaft section
(1,1b) on top of the first smoke shaft section (1,1a), the first horizontal fixing
plate portions (11a,13a) of the first smoke shaft section (1,1a) being positioned
vertically opposite to the second horizontal fixing plate portions (12a,13b) of the
second smoke shaft section (1,1b) and/or a third smoke shaft section (1,1c) below
the first smoke shaft section (1,1a) section, the second horizontal fixing plate portions
(12a,13b) of the first smoke shaft section (1,1a) being positioned vertically opposite
to the first horizontal fixing plate portions (11a,13a) of the third smoke shaft section
(1,1c).
14. A smoke shaft (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first and second
smoke shaft section (1a,1b) piled on top of each other are locked vertically immovably
together by aid of an elongated fixing member (60), such as bolt or screw or rivet
extending through the lower edge of the second sheet (32) of a second smoke shaft
section (1b) and the upper edge of the second sheet (32) of the first smoke shaft
section (1a) located below said second smoke shaft section (1b) and/or the first and
third smoke shaft section (1a,1c) piled on top of each other are locked vertically
immovably together by aid of an elongated fixing member (60), such as bolt or screw
or rivet extending through the lower edge of the second sheet (32) of the first smoke
shaft section (1a) and the upper edge of the second sheet (32) of the third smoke
shaft section (1c) located below said first smoke shaft section (1a).
15. A smoke shaft (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein vertically oppositely
positioned first and second horizontal fixing plate portions (11a,12a;13a,13b) of
the first and second smoke shaft section (1a,1b) and/or vertically oppositely positioned
first and second horizontal fixing plate portions (11a,12a;13a,13b) of the first and
third smoke shaft section (1a,1c) are fixed together, in particular with an elongated
fixing member (14) extending through coinciding holes (11a1,12a1;13a1,13b1) of said
vertically oppositely positioned first and second horizontal fixing plate portions
(lla,12a; 13a,13b).