U.S. patent application number 10/497138 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-17 for intumescent gap seals.
Invention is credited to Boot, Peter Lawrence.
Application Number | 20050034389 10/497138 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9926824 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050034389 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boot, Peter Lawrence |
February 17, 2005 |
Intumescent gap seals
Abstract
An intumescent gap seal comprises at least one flexible
resilient sealing member (7,8) adapted to span a gap (4) defined
between adjacent parts of a building (5,6) and an intumescent
member (9) which, in an unexpanded state, is narrower than the gap
(4). The or each sealing member (7,8) may comprise a curved
elongate member to ease installation. Such a sealing member (7,8)
will tend to keep its resilience better, so that its draught
proofing qualities are maintained and will be easier to
install.
Inventors: |
Boot, Peter Lawrence;
(Worcestershire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark L Weber
Fourth Floor
First National Tower
Akron
OH
44308-1456
US
|
Family ID: |
9926824 |
Appl. No.: |
10/497138 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 26, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB02/05288 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/211 ;
52/204.2; 52/61 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 1/948 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/211 ;
052/204.2; 052/061 |
International
Class: |
E04D 001/36; E04D
013/14; E04D 003/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2001 |
GB |
0128800.0 |
Claims
1. An intumescent gap seal adapted to span a gap defined between
adjacent parts of a building, comprising at least one flexible
resilient sealing member adapted to span said gap, and an
intumescent member which, in an unexpanded state, is narrower than
said gap.
2. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one sealing
member comprises a curved elongate member having lateral edges
engaging a respective building part of the adjacent parts of the
building.
3. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which a central portion of said
at least one flexible resilient sealing member is thicker than said
lateral edges.
4. A seal as claimed in claim 2, in which said at least one
flexible resilient sealing member is arranged so that a concave
side faces the outside of the gap defined between the adjacent
parts of the building.
5. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which said intumescent member
is attached to a central porition of said at least one flexible
resilient sealing member.
6. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which said intumescent member
is an elongate strip of rectangular cross-section.
7. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which two of said at least one
flexible resilient sealing members are provided, separated by said
intumescent member.
8. A seal as claimed in claim 2, in which two flexible resilient
sealing members are provided, separated by said intumescent member
and arranged in the same orientation so that each curves in the
same way.
9. A seal as claimed in claim 8, in which said intumescent member
is attached to a convex side of one of said sealing members and a
concave side of the other of said sealing members.
10. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which the said sealing members
are of plastics.
11. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which said sealing members are
of rubber material.
12. A seal as claimed in claim 1 in which said sealing members are
of EPDM.
13. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which said intumescent member
comprises a mixture of intumescing material and a carrier
material.
14. A seal as claimed in claim 13, in which said intumescing
material is graphite.
15. A seal as claimed in claim 13, in which said carrier material
is a plastics material.
16. A seal as claimed in claim 15, in which said plastics material
is compatible with the material of said at least one flexible
resilient sealing member.
17. A seal as claimed in claim 15, in which said carrier material
is the same as the material of said at least one flexible resilient
sealing member.
18. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which said at least one
flexible resilient sealing member is co-extruded with said
intumescent member.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to intumescent gap seals.
[0002] Such seals are provided in expansion joints of buildings. An
expansion joint is where a gap is left in brickwork, concrete or
other building material, to allow for expansion and contraction of
the building material with temperature. An intumescent gap seal
draughtproofs the gap, and has intumescent material which expands
in the event of a fire so that the seal provides a physical barrier
in the gap to stop the spread of fire through the gap.
[0003] One known intumescent gap seal, designed for interior use,
is of rectangular cross-section, and comprises thin layers of
intumescent material interleaved with thicker layers of plastics
foam. When inserted in a gap, the foam, but not the intumescent
material, is compressed when the gap is reduced by expansion of the
building. The foam expands when the gap increases on contraction of
the building. This seal has two disadvantages. The first is that it
is quite bulky, and may be difficult to install, as it needs to be
compressed along its length to fit in the gap. The second is that,
with time, the foam tends to become rigid, and can no longer expand
and contract efficiently, so that the draughtproofing suffers. This
is especially noticeable at low temperatures, when the building
contracts and the foam is required to expand.
[0004] According to the present invention, an intumescent gap seal
comprises at least one flexible resilient sealing member adapted to
span a gap defined between adjacent parts of a building, and an
intumescent member which, in an unexpanded state, is narrower than
the gap.
[0005] Providing a flexible resilient sealing member to span the
whole gap, and an intumescent member which is smaller than the gap
eases installation, as it is only the sealing member which needs to
be compressed for installation, and its flexibility makes this
relatively easy. Such a sealing member will also tend to keep its
resilience better, so that its draughtproofing qualities are
maintained.
[0006] Preferably, the or each sealing member comprises a curved
elongate member, whose lateral edges engage with a respective
building part. A central portion of the or each sealing member is
preferably thicker than the lateral edges.
[0007] Preferably, the or each sealing member is arranged so that
its concave side faces the outside of the gap. In the event of a
fire, the concave face of the or the outer sealing member burns,
but that sealing member tends to remain as a barrier to the fire
while the intumescent member expands fully and forms a seal. The
intumescent material is therefore protected initially from damage
by smoke and ash being blown onto it.
[0008] The intumescent member is attached to the central portion of
the or each sealing member. Conveniently, the intumescent member is
an elongate strip of rectangular cross-section.
[0009] Preferably, two sealing members are provided, separated by
the intumescent member. This has the advantage that, in the event
of a fire, the two sealing members define barriers within which the
intumescent material expands. The sealing members are arranged in
the same orientation, that is, so that each curves in the same way.
This eases installation. Naturally, in this case the intumescent
member is attached to a convex side of one sealing member and a
concave side of the other sealing member.
[0010] The sealing members are preferably of a plastics or rubber
material. A particularly preferred material is EPDM, as it is
durable and has the required resilience over a wide temperature
range. However, any other suitable thermosetting or thermoplastic
material may be used.
[0011] The intumescent member conveniently comprises a mixture of
intumescing material and a carrier material. The intumescing
material may be graphite, while the carrier material may be a
plastics material. Where the carrier material is a plastics
material this is preferably similar to or compatible with the
material of the sealing members. Thus, if the sealing members are
of EPDM, the carrier material is also EPDM.
[0012] The sealing member or members are preferably co-extruded
with the intumescent member, as this simplifies the manufacturing
process, while providing a firm attachment between the sealing and
intumescent members.
[0013] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of
example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of an intumescent gap seal; and
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross-section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0016] The intumescent gap seal 1 shown in the figures is adapted
to fit in an expansion joint 2 (see FIG. 2) in a building 3.
Expansion joints are gaps 4 left between adjacent building parts 5,
6, in brickwork or other building material, to allow for expansion
and contraction of the building material with temperature. The
intumescent gap seal 1 is inserted in the gap 4 to draughtproof the
gap 4 in normal use. In the event of a fire, intumescent material
forming part of the seal 1 expands, so that the seal 1 provides a
physical barrier in the gap 4 to stop the spread of fire through
the gap 4.
[0017] The seal 1 shown in the drawings comprises two flexible
resilient sealing members 7, 8, each adapted to span the gap 4, and
spaced apart by an intumescent member 9 which, in the unexpanded
state shown, is narrower than the gap 4.
[0018] Each flexible resilient sealing member 7, 8 is of curved
elongate form, having tapered lateral edges 10, 11 which each
engage a respective building part 5, 6. A central portion 12 of
each sealing member 7, 8 is slightly thickened, and has the
intumescent member 9 attached to it. The sealing members 7, 8 are
both oriented in the same way, so that the intumescent member 9 is
attached to the convex side of the sealing member 7 and the concave
side of the sealing member 8. The sealing members 7, 8 are extruded
from EPDM, and then cured.
[0019] The intumescent member 9 comprises an elongate strip of
substantially rectangular cross section. In its unexpanded state,
it is considerably narrower than the gap 4, but in the event of a
fire it will readily expand to fill the gap 4. The intumescent
member is made of an intumescent material, such as graphite,
together with a carrier material, in this case EPDM. The
intumescent member 9 can then be co-extruded with the sealing
members 7, 8, and cured with them. This simplifies manufacturing,
while providing a good bond between the sealing members 7, 8 and
the intumescent member 9.
[0020] Producing the seal 1 by extrusion means that relatively long
lengths can be manufactured, from which appropriate lengths can be
cut for installation.
[0021] The gap seal 1 is in fact designed for interior use,
although it could be used outside, as EPDM is weatherproof.
[0022] In use, a suitable length of seal 1 is cut, and it is then
inserted into the gap 4 so that the concave sides of the sealing
members 7, 8 face the outside of the gap. It is easy to insert, as
the lateral edges 10, 11 deflect resiliently. The edges 10, 11 then
seal against the respective building parts 5, 6 to provide
draughtproofing. The edges 10, 11 will remain in contact with the
building parts 5, 6 as the building expands and contracts, due to
the resilience of the sealing members 7, 8.
[0023] In the event of a fire, the outer sealing member 7 will
start to burn, and the heat will be transmitted through to the
intumescent member 9. When this reaches its threshold temperature
(about 170.degree. C.) it will expand. It has been found that, even
though the outer sealing member 7 is burning, it will tend to stay
in place and create a barrier for the intumescent material.
Similarly, the inner sealing member 8 will also create a barrier,
so that the expanded intumescent material tends to be confined
between the two sealing members. This provides at least partial
control of the expanded intumescent material, which is
advantageous, as it is retained in the gap 4, rather than expanding
outside it, and falling out. The physical barrier provided by the
intumescent material is therefore enhanced.
[0024] In the initial stages of a fire, the outer sealing member 7
also protects the intumescent material while it is expanding, from
damage by smoke, gas and ash which may be blown onto it. The
intumescent material will normally be fully expanded and formed as
a seal before the outer sealing member 7 burns away and exposes
it.
[0025] In a modification (not shown) the sealing members 7, 8 may
be of a different shape, for example the edges 10, 11 may have more
than one sealing face. In other modifications (not shown) only one
sealing member may be provided, or more than two sealing members
may be provided. The intumescent member 9 may also be of a
different shape.
[0026] While in the embodiment described the sealing members 7, 8
and the carrier material are of EPDM, other materials (whether
thermoplastic or thermosetting plastics or rubber materials) could
be used. It would also be possible for the sealing members 7, 8 to
be joined by a hollow tube, in which a strip of intumescent
material could be inserted.
* * * * *