The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 21, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 13, 2002
John J. Sears, Meridian, ID (US);
Tasche L. Strieb, Boise, ID (US);
Eric Holstine, Boise, ID (US);
Kevin Klocek, New York, NY (US);
Thomas A. Allen, Boise, ID (US);
John J. Sears, Meridian, ID (US);
Tasche L. Strieb, Boise, ID (US);
Eric Holstine, Boise, ID (US);
Kevin Klocek, New York, NY (US);
Thomas A. Allen, Boise, ID (US);
Smoke Guard Corporation, Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
A system and method for rapidly and reliably sealing off a selected opening from the passage of smoke, noxious fumes, or contaminated air includes a powered clutch and viscous governor that provides a fail-safe mode of operation. A curtain is positioned in a housing adjacent to an upper limit of an opening such as a hoist access-way. The curtain is wrapped around a spindle that is connected to a spool via two cords. The curtain is held in the housing in a stored configuration by a powered clutch so that upon removal of power, either via a controller or by power loss, the clutch releases the spool allowing the cord to unwind lowering and thus deploying the curtain. A capacitor can be included to prevent inadvertent deployments due to momentary power loss. The speed at which the spool rotates, and correspondingly the curtain deploys, is limited by a viscous governor coupled to the spool. The curtain includes flexible magnets that attach to ferrous side rails forming a nearly air tight seal preventing the passage of smoke, noxious fumes or contaminated air through the opening.