U.S. patent number 3,665,838 [Application Number 05/006,673] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-30 for air chamber assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Wilson Lighting Limited. Invention is credited to Charles G. Shepherd.
United States Patent |
3,665,838 |
Shepherd |
May 30, 1972 |
AIR CHAMBER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An air chamber assembly including two adjacently disposed
fluorescent lighting units mounted in the ceiling of, for example,
a commercial office or school, the assembly comprising an air
chamber which is located within a space between the two lighting
units and which is defined by a hollow air chamber casing, or air
boot. The casing is formed with a ventilation air inlet duct
through which air having the desired temperature and humidity may
be supplied to the interior of the casing from a suitably located
source of such air within the associated building. The assembly
also comprises a support beam which is of inverted channel form in
cross-section and which has a web portion, depending parallel limb
portions, and outwardly directed flange portions projecting from
the longitudinal edges of the limb portions of the beam remote from
the web portion in a plane parallel to the plane containing the web
portion. In certain embodiments of the invention, heat-fusible
plates, rods or bodies are disposed between the web portion or the
flange portions of the beam and the air chamber casing, thereby to
maintain an edge portion of the casing a pre-determined spaced
distance from the beam. In an alternative embodiment of the
invention, heat-fusible strips are provided, each strip being
secured to a portion of the casing which is pivotally mounted
relative to the remainder of the casing, and to said remainder of
the casing. Movement of the pivotal portions of the casing is thus
prevented except on fusion of the heat-fusible strips, the pivotal
portions of the casing each having an edge which is disposed in
supported contact with the beam to maintain the above-mentioned
edge portion of the casing at said pre-determined distance from the
beam except on pivotal movement of the pivotal portions of the
casing. The pre-determined spaced distance between the
above-mentioned edge portion of the casing and the beam defines a
ventilation air outlet duct through which ventilation air may flow
from the interior of the casing to the room space or the like below
the assembly, the casing being urged under gravity in the downward
direction to cause this edge portion of the casing to enter into
air-tight sealing contact with the flange portions of the beam on
fusion of the heat-fusible plates, rods, bodies or strips.
Inventors: |
Shepherd; Charles G. (Oakville,
Ontario, CA) |
Assignee: |
Wilson Lighting Limited
(Toronto, Ontario, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
21722040 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/006,673 |
Filed: |
January 29, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/257; 49/5;
52/317; 454/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62C
2/242 (20130101); A62C 2/06 (20130101); F24F
13/078 (20130101); F24F 11/35 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24F
13/078 (20060101); F24F 13/06 (20060101); A62C
2/06 (20060101); A62C 2/00 (20060101); A62C
2/24 (20060101); F24f 011/02 (); F24f 013/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;49/1,7,5
;98/4DL,4VT,86,1,115KH ;52/DIG.5,317,218 ;160/1,5 ;240/2V
;169/2,42 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wayner; William E.
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1. Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air
chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the
passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a
support member, and spacer means which comprises heat-fusible means
and which is disposed in supporting relation between the air
chamber casing and the support member thereby to maintain an edge
portion of the air chamber casing a pre-determined spaced distance
from the support member, said pre-determined spaced distance
defining a second air flow duct therebetween communicating with a
space to be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between
the interior of the air chamber casing and said space, and the
casing being urged under the influence of gravity acting on the
casing in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter
into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the support
member on fusion of the heat-fusible means.
2. Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air
chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the
passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a
support member, and spacer means which consists of heat-fusible
means disposed in supporting relation between the support member
and the air chamber casing with the heat-fusible means bearing
directly on the support member and on the air chamber casing,
thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a
predetermined spaced distance from the support member, said
predetermined spaced distance defining a second air flow duct
therebetween communicating with a space to be ventilated for the
passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air chamber
casing and said space, and the casing being urged in the direction
to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially
air-tight sealing contact with the support member of fusion of the
heat-fusible means.
3. Air chamber assembly according to claim 2, wherein the support
member comprises a beam of inverted channel form in cross-section,
the beam having a web portion, depending substantially parallel
limb portions, and outwardly directed flange portions projecting
from the longitudinal edges of the limb portions of the beam remote
from the web portion in a plane substantially parallel to the plane
containing the web portion; and the heat-fusible means comprises a
pair of spaced plates of heat-fusible material, the opposed side
edges of each of which are grooved with the lateral edge portions
of the casing bounding a recess formed therein disposed within the
grooves, the lower edge of each plate being in supported contact
with the upper face of the web portion of the beam thereby to
maintain said edge portion of the air chamber casing said
pre-determined distance above the outwardly directed flange
portions of the beam, while permitting the air chamber casing to
descent under gravity with resultant entry of the web and limb
portions of the beam into the recesses formed in the casing and
entry of said edge portion of the casing into substantially
air-tight sealing contact with the flange portions of the beam, on
fusion of the plates.
4. Air chamber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
heat-fusible means comprises at least one rod of heat-fusible
material, one end portion of the rod being mounted in engagement
with the support member and the other end of the rod supporting the
air chamber casing.
5. Air chamber assembly according to claim 4, wherein said one end
portion of the heat-fusible rod is in screw-threaded engagement
with an aperture formed in the support member, thereby permitting
variation in the magnitude of said pre-determined distance between
said edge portion of the air chamber casing and the support
member.
6. Air chamber assembly according to claim 1, including two
adjacently disposed lighting unit structures each of which
comprises spaced end walls and a member which rigidly interconnects
the end walls and which is adapted to support at least one lamp,
each end wall including an end wall portion and said flange
portions which project from the inner wall portion, and which
present edges, and the adjacent end walls of the two adjacently
disposed lighting unit structures together constituting the air
chamber casing, with the edges of the side flange portions of said
adjacent end walls being secured together in a substantially
air-tight manner.
7. Air chamber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
heat-fusible means comprises a body the upper surface of which
presents two spaced, parallel flanges, a bracket member presented
by the air chamber casing being disposed between said spaced,
parallel flanges in supported contact with the body.
8. Air chamber assembly according to claim 7, wherein a rigid plate
is pivotally mounted on the air chamber casing, said pivotal plate
presenting an edge which is disposed substantially in contact with
the web portion of the support beam.
9. Air chamber assembly according to claim 8, wherein the pivotal
plate is constituted by a portion of the air chamber casing bounded
by two slots, one end of each of which communicates with an edge of
the casing, and by a third slot which terminates adjacent to the
other ends of said two slots, the third slot constituting the axis
about which the pivotal plate may move relative to the casing.
10. Air chamber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacer
means further comprises a rigid plate which is pivotally mounted on
the air chamber casing, said pivotal plate presenting an edge which
is disposed in supported contact with the support member thereby to
maintain said edge portion of the casing said pre-determined
distance from the support member and the heat-fusible means being
secured to the pivotal plate and to the casing to prevent pivotal
movement of the pivotal plate relative to the casing except on
fusion of the heat-fusible means.
11. Air chamber assembly according to claim 10, wherein the pivotal
plate is constituted by a portion of the air chamber casing bounded
by two slots one end of each of which communicates with an edge of
the casing, and by a third slot which terminates adjacent to the
other ends of said two slots, the third slot constituting the axis
about which the pivotal plate may move relative to the casing.
12. Air chamber assembly comprising a hollow air chamber casing, a
first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of
ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support
beam of inverted channel form in cross-section, the beam having a
web portion, depending substantially parallel limb portions, and
outwardly directed flange portions projecting from the longitudinal
edges of the limb portions of the beam remote from the web portion
in a plane substantially parallel to the plane containing the web
portion, and heat-fusible spacer means disposed between the web
portion of the support beam and the air chamber casing thereby to
maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a pre-determined
spaced distance from the flange portions of the support beam, said
pre-determined spaced distance constituting a second air flow duct
for the passage of ventilation air from or to, respectively, the
interior of the air chamber casing, and the casing being urged
under gravity in the downward direction to cause said edge portion
thereof to enter into substantially air-tight sealing contact with
the flange portions of the support beam on fusion of the spacer
means.
13. Air chamber assembly according to claim 12, wherein the spacer
means comprises a hollow body the upper surface of which presents
two spaced, parallel flanges, a bracket member presented by the air
chamber casing being disposed between said spaced, parallel flanges
in supported contact with the hollow body.
14. Air chamber assembly according to claim 12, wherein a rigid
plate is pivotally mounted mounted on the air chamber casing, said
pivotal plate presenting an edge which is disposed substantially in
contact with the web portion of the support beam.
15. Air chamber assembly according to claim 14, wherein the pivotal
plate is constituted by a portion of the air chamber casing bounded
by two slots, one end of each of which communicates with an edge of
the casing, and by a third slot which terminates adjacent to the
other ends of said two slots, the third slot constituting the axis
about which the pivotal plate may move relative to the casing.
16. Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air
chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the
passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a
support member, and spacer means which comprises heat-fusible means
and which is disposed in supporting relation between the air
chamber casing and the support member with the heat-fusible means
under compression thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air
chamber casing a pre-determined spaced distance from the support
member, said pre-determined spaced distance defining a second air
flow duct therebetween communicating with a space to be ventilated
for the passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air
chamber casing and said space, and the casing being urged in the
direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into
substantially air-tight sealing contact with the support member on
fusion of the heat-fusible means.
17. Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air
chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the
passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a
support member, and spacer means which comprises heat-fusible means
and which is disposed is supporting relation between the air
chamber casing and the support member, with the heat-fusible means
not under tensile stressing, thereby to maintain an edge portion of
the air chamber casing a pre-determined spaced distance from the
support member, said pre-determined spaced distance defining a
second air flow duct therebetween communicating with a space to be
ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior
of the air chamber casing and said space, and the casing being
urged in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter
into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the support
member on fusion of the heat-fusible means.
Description
This invention is concerned with an air chamber assembly which
includes a hollow air chamber casing to which ventilation air may
operatively be supplied from a convenient source thereof, and from
which the ventilation air may, in turn, be supplied to the room
space or the like disposed below the assembly, the air chamber
defined by the casing being particularly, although not exclusively,
intended to be disposed between adjacent lighting units in the
ceiling of a building, such as a commercial office or school.
It is a disadvantage of such an assembly that if a fire should
occur in the room space or the like below the assembly the fire may
rapidly spread to other room spaces or the like within the
building, such spreading of the fire occuring through the
ventilation air outlet from the air chamber, the ventilation air
inlet to the chamber and the ducting which connects the ventilation
air inlets of the various air chamber assemblies within the
building to the source of ventilation air. Clearly, it is desirable
to ensure that, if a fire should occur within a room space or the
like in a building, the fire is isolated within the room space or
the like in question and does not spread to the remaining room
spaces or the like in the building. With the view to achieving this
desirable result, it has hitherto been proposed to provide the
ventilation air outlet from each air chamber with a valve
mechanism, such as a butterfly type valve, which automatically
closes when the temperature within the room space below the
assembly rises to a pre-determined value, but while such valve
mechanisms have operated reasonably satisfactorily they are
relatively complex and expensive and, for this reason, their use
has only been on a very limited scale.
Fairly simple arrangements by means of which an opening or duct may
be closed when the temperature to which the arrangement are
subjected rises to a pre-determined value, the passage of fire
through the opening or duct thereby being prevented, are known. The
most relevant such arrangements of which the inventor is aware are
those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 997,481 which issued on July 11,
1911 to G. Walker et al.; 2,580,540 which issued on Jan. 1, 1952 to
C.R. Graves and 3,341,971 which issued on Sept. 19, 1967 to G.F.
Hartman, Jr. Thus, in the constructions disclosed in these patents
the openings or ducts through which fire could pass are operatively
closed by the fire proof doors 5 of Walker, the slab 20 of Graves
or the damper blades 24 of Hartman, Jr., the operation of these
members being initiated by the melting of a heat-fusible element or
elements.
It will be noted, however, that these members which operatively
serve to close the openings or ducts in the constructions disclosed
in the above-numbered patents serve no purpose until the
heat-fusible element or elements melt. Thus, the members in
question are, of course, entirely redundant except when a fire
occurs, or when the temperature to which the arrangements are
subjected otherwise rises to a predetermined value.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an
improved form of air chamber assembly in which the ventilation air
outlet duct is automatically closed when a fire occurs in the room
space or the like below the assembly, and in which the member for
closing the ventilation air outlet duct serves, under normal
operating conditions, to define an edge of the ventilation air
outlet duct, the member accordingly having a functional purpose
both when the assembly is in a normal condition of operation and
when the assembly is subjected to fire heat.
An air chamber assembly according to one aspect of the present
invention comprises means defining a hollow air chamber casing, a
first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of
ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support
member, and spacer means which comprises heat-fusible means and
which is so disposed in supporting relation between the air chamber
casing and the support member that an edge portion of the casing is
substantially maintained at a pre-determined spaced distance from
the support member. This pre-determined spaced distance defines a
second air flow duct between said edge portion of the air chamber
casing and the support member, which communicates with a space to
be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the
interior of the air chamber casing, the casing and said space being
urged under the influence of gravity acting on the casing in the
direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into
substratially air-tight sealing contact with the support member on
fusion of the heat-fusible means.
In certain embodiments of the invention, the spacer means consists
of the heat-fusible means, while in other embodiments of the
invention the spacer means consists of both the heat-fusible means
and a rigid plate which is pivotally mounted on the casing and
which is preferably constituted by a portion of the casing
pivotally connected to the remainder of the casing, the pivotal
plate presenting an edge which is disposed in supported contact
with the support member, and the heat-fusible means being secured
to the pivotal plate and to the remainder of the casing to prevent
pivotal movement of the pivotal plate except on fusion of the
heat-fusible means.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and more
readily carried into effect the same will now, by way of example,
be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above showing elements
of a pair of air chamber assemblies according to a first embodiment
of the invention, the assemblies including adjacently disposed
lighting units, the parts of elements of the assemblies being
broken away for clarity;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of the
heat-fusible spacer means illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 1 but on an enlarged scale, of
part of one of the air chamber assemblies illustrated in FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, but showing a different
operative condition of the assembly illustrated therein;
FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, but showing a second
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a view, corresponding to FIG. 3, but showing a third
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, but showing the third
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, but showing a fourth
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a sectional end view of a fifth embodiment of the
invention; and
FIG. 10 is a sectional view on the line A--A in FIG. 9.
Throughout the views of the drawings, like reference numerals are
used to denote like parts.
Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, 10
denotes generally a support structure comprising a plurality of
interconnected support members each of which is constituted by a
support beam 11 or 12, the beams 11, 12 being suspended by means of
tie members 13 from, for example, a flooring support deck (not
shown). The beams 11 and 12 are each of inverted channel form in
cross-section, and have a web portion 14, depending substantially
parallel limb portions 15, and outwardly directed flange portions
16 projecting from the longitudinal edges of the limb portions 15
remote from the web portion 14 in a plane substantially parallel to
the plane containing the web portion 14.
The support structure constituted by the beams 11, 12 is
preferably, but not necessarily, in the form of one of the support
structures disclosed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 874,138
filed on Nov. 6, 1969.
17 denotes generally each of a plurality of means defining hollow
air chamber casings, each casing 17 comprising two end walls 18
which are substantially identical and each of which consists of an
end wall portion 19 outwardly inclined in an upward direction from
a lower edge portion 20 thereof, and side flange portions 21 which
project inwardly from the end wall portion 19.
The side flange portions 21 of each end wall 18 have inner edges
constituted by upstanding ribs 22 which are secured, in a
substantially air-tight manner, to the upstanding ribs 22 of the
side flange portions 21 of the other end wall 18 of each casing 17
by means, for example, of bolts 23 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
The edges constituted by the upstanding ribs 22 of the side flange
portions 21 of each end wall 18 are disposed in a substantially
vertical plane, so that the side flange portions 21 are of
progressively increasing breadth in an upward direction, the side
flange portions 21 of each end wall 18 being of notched form, as
indicated by the reference numeral 24, at the upper portions
thereof remote from the end wall portion 19. A substantially
vertical closure plate 25 is secured to the side flange portions 21
of each end wall 18 at the notched portion 24 thereof, the lower
edge 26 of the plate 25 being secured in a substantially air-tight
manner to the end wall portion 19. Furthermore, in each casing 17,
a substantially horizontal closure plate 27 is secured, in a
substantially air-tight manner, partially to the side flange
portion 21, at the notched portions 24 thereof, of each end wall
18, and partially to the side flange portions 21, at the notched
portions 24 thereof, of the other end wall 18 of the casing 17.
These substantially air-tight securements between the plate 27 and
the side wall flanges 21 are effected between downwardly inclined
end portion 28 of the plate 27 and the side flange portions 21.
Each plate 27 also presents upstanding lateral flange portions 29
which are disposed in substantially air-tight abutting contact with
the plates 25 of the pair of end walls 18 comprising each casing
17.
The space between the pair of end walls 18 comprising each casing
17, i.e. the space which is bounded by the plate 27 and the lower
parts of the end wall portions 19 and the side flange portions 21
of the two end walls 18, constitutes an air chamber.
A first air flow duct is formed in each air chamber casing 17 for
the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the
casing 17, this duct, in the embodiment of the invention
illustrated in FIG. 1, being constituted by an opening 30 formed in
the plate 27. Ducting 31 may be operatively connected to the
opening 30 in the plates 27, the ducting 31 serving to convey air
having the desired temperature and humidity to the appropriate air
chambers from a convenience source (not shown) thereof. In any
particular installation, if certain of the air chambers are not
required the closure plates 27 bounding the air chambers may be
omitted, in which case these chambers serve as air return
passages.
Spacer means comprising heat-fusible means is disposed in
supporting relation between each air chamber casing 17 and the
appropriate one of the support beams 11 thereby to maintain an edge
portion of the casing 17, which edge portion is constituted by the
edge portions 20 of the end walls 18 of the casing 17, a
predetermined spaced distance above the flange portions 16 of the
support beam 11, said pre-determined spaced distance defining a
second air flow duct between said edge portion of the casing 17 and
the support beam 11, which communicates with a space to be
ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior
of the air chamber casing and said space. Except in the case
hereinbefore referred to in which the air chambers serve as air
return passages, the first air flow duct constituted by the opening
30 in the plate 27 of each casing 17 constitutes, of course, a
ventilation air inlet duct to the interior of the casing 17 and the
second air flow duct constitutes a ventilation air outlet duct from
the interior of the casing 17.
With particular reference to the first embodiment of the invention
illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the spacer means consists of a pair of
spaced plates 32 of heat-fusible material, the opposed side edges
of each plate 32 being provided with grooves 33. The side flange
portions 21 of each end wall 18 of the casing 17 are notched at the
lower portions thereof remote from the end wall portion 19, the
edges of each side flange portion 21 of one of the end walls 18 and
the edges of the adjacent side flange portion 21 of the other of
the end walls 18, which edges define said notched portions in the
two side flange portions 21, together bounding a recess 34 within
which the appropriate plate 32 is located with lateral portions of
said edges disposed within the grooves 33 in said plate 32. The
lower edge 35 of each plate 32 bears directly on and is in
supported contact with the upper face of the web portion 14 of the
beam 11. Each plate 32 also bears directly on the casing 17.
The edge portion of the air chamber casing 17 constituted by the
edge portions 20 of the end walls 18 is thus maintained said
pre-determined distance above the outwardly directed flange
portions 16 of the beam 11 by means of the plates 32, the air
chamber casing 17 being, however, urged, by being permitted to
descend under the influence of gravity acting thereon, in the
direction to cause entry of the web and limb portions 14 and 15,
respectively, of the beam 11 into the recesses 34, with resultant
entry of the edge portion of the air chamber casing 17 which is
constituted by the edge portions 20 of the end walls 18 into
substantially air-tight sealing contact with the flange portions 16
of the beam 11, on fusion of the plates 32.
As will be appreciated, the two plates 32 are disposed in the
manner hereinbefore described on opposite sides of the air chamber
casing 17.
The second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5
differs from that described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 in
that the heat-fusible spacer means is constituted, not by the
plates 32, but by a pair of rods 36 of heat-fusible material, one
end portion 37 of each rod 36 being mounted in engagement with the
associated beam 11 by being disposed in screw-threaded engagement
through an aperture 38 formed in the web portion 14 of the beam 11.
The lower end of each rod 36 is preferably slotted as shown at 39
in FIG. 5 thereby to permit the rod 35 to be rotated relative to
the beam 11, by means, for example, of a screw driver engaged with
the slot 39. In this manner, the magnitude of the predetermined
distance between the edge portion of the air chamber casing 17
constituted by the edge portions 20 of the end walls 18 and the
flange portions 16 of the beam 11 may be adjusted, the upper end 40
of each rod 36 being provided with a support disc which is in
supporting engagement with the air chamber casing 17.
While, in the second embodiment of the invention as described above
with reference to FIG. 5 of the drawings, there is, in each air
chamber assembly a pair of rods 36, it will be understood that, by
disposing the rod 36 substantially centrally of the assembly, a
single rod 36 may be used.
Referring now to the third embodiment of the invention illustrated
in FIGS. 6 and 7, the spacer means comprises, in addition to
heat-fusible means which in this embodiment is constituted by
strips 41 of heat-fusible material, a rigid plate 42 which is
pivotally mounted on the casing 17 and which is constituted by a
portion of the casing 17 bounded by two slots 43, and end 44 of
each of which communicates with an edge of the casing 17, and by a
third slot 45 which terminates adjacent to the other ends 46 of the
slots 43. The third slot 45 constitutes the pivotal axis of the
portion 42 relative to the remainder of the air chamber casing 17.
The heat-fusible strips 41 are secured to the pivotal portion 42
and to the remaining portion of the air chamber casing 17 to
prevent pivotal movement of the portion 42 relative to the
remaining portion of the casing 17, except on fusion of the
heat-fusible means, each strip 41 preferably being so secured by
being mounted with one end thereof disposed in secured engagement
with a tooth 47 which is lanced from one of the upstanding ribs 22
presented by said remaining portion of the air chamber casing 17
and the other end of said strip 41 being similarly engaged by a
similarly formed tooth 48 presented by a portion of the
above-mentioned upstanding rib 22 which projects from the pivotal
portion 42 of the casing 17. The second strip 41 is similarly
secured relative to the portions of the other upstanding rib 22,
the ribs 22 being, of course, discontinuous for a pre-determined
distance in the region of the third slot 45 thereby to permit
pivotal movement of the portion 42 relative to the remaining
portion of the casing 17, in the manner indicated in FIG. 7, when
the strips 41 are fused by being subjected to a temperature in
excess of a pre-determined value. Such pivotal movement of the
portion 42 results in the edge portion of the air chamber casing 17
which is constituted by the edge portions 20 of the end walls 18
descending into substantially air-tight contact with the flange
portions 16 of the beam 11 as illustrated in FIG. 7, said edge
portion of the casing 17 normally being maintained the
pre-determined distance from the flange portions 16 of the beam 11
by the supporting contact between the web portion 14 of the beam 11
and the lower edges 49 of the pivotal portions 42.
With reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in
FIG. 8, this embodiment differs from that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to
4 in that instead of the plates 32 there is provided a pair of
spaced hollow bodies 50 which are preferably of trapezoidal form in
cross-section, the lower surface of each body 50 being in supported
contact with the web portion 14 of the associated beam 11, and the
upper surface of each body 50 presenting two spaced, parallel
flanges 51 within which one limb 52 of a substantially L-shaped
metal bracket member 53, the other limb 54 of which is secured as
by bolts 55 to the air chamber casing 17, is disposed. As in the
case of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fourth
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 incorporates rigid plates 42 each
of which is pivotally mounted on the casing 17, and preferably
comprises a portion of the casing 17 bounded by slots 43 and 45,
the portions 42 presenting lower edges 49 disposed substantially in
contact with the web portion 14 of the beam 11, and being pivotally
mounted relative to the remaining portion of the air chamber casing
17 thereby, on fusion of the bodies 50, to permit the edge portion
of the casing 17 which is constituted by the edge portions 20 of
the end walls 18 to descend under gravity into substantially
air-tight contact with the flange portions 16 of the beam 11.
While, in the fourth embodiment of the invention as described above
with reference to FIG. 8 of the drawings, there is, in each air
chamber assembly a pair of bodies 50, it will be understood that by
disposing the body 50 substantially centrally of the assembly, a
single body 50 may be used. Finally, the fifth embodiment of the
invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, differs from the first
embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 merely in
that the heat-fusible spacer means comprises a pair of spaced,
hollow bodies 56 which are disposed between the flange portions 16
of the associated beam 11 and the edge portions 20 of the end walls
18 of the casing 17 thereby to maintain the edge portion of the
casing 17 which is constituted by said edge portions 20 said
pre-determined distance from the flange portions 16 of the beam 11.
Each of the bodies 56 is provided with a longitudinally extending
notch 57 within which the edge portion 20 of the associated end
wall 18 of the casing 17 is disposed as shown in FIG. 10, the
bodies 56 being disposed at the ends of the ventilation air outlet
slot and being partially of tapered form as shown at 58 thereby to
ensure that the ventilation air outlet slot is of substantially
rectangular form. In this manner, difficulties which may arise in
ensuring that the desired air flow pattern through the ventilation
air outlet slots are achieved, these difficulties resulting from
the tapered form of the end portions of the slots, are
substantially overcome. In the third embodiment of the invention
shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the lower edge portions of
the strips 41 are in tension, and the upper edge portions of the
strips 41 are in compression. Referring to the remaining
embodiments of the invention as hereinbefore described with
reference to the drawings, it will be noted that the heat-fusible
means constituted by the plates 32 of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1 to 4, the rods 36 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the bodies
50 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and the bodies 56 of the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are under compression and are
not under tensile stressing, the heat-fusible means constituted by,
for example, the plates 32 shown in FIG. 1 being, however, also
under shear stressing.
With particular reference again to FIG. 1 of the drawings, 59
denotes generally each of two lighting unit structures, only the
forward portion of the rear lighting unit structure 59 being
illustrated.
The lighting unit structure 59 are substantially identical and each
comprises spaced end walls one of which is constituted by one of
the end walls 18 of one of the air chamber casings 17 and the other
of which is constituted by one of the end walls 18 of the adjacent
air chamber casing 17. Each lighting unit structure 59 also
comprises a member 60 which constitutes part of a lighting element
and which has a web portion 61, a pair of opposed, parallel limb
portions 62 and a pair of outwardly inclined flange portions 63,
the portions 63 being connected to the limb portions 62 through
ledges 64.
A closure plate (not shown) is secured to the undersides of the
ledges 64 of each member 60, a lamp (not shown), which is
preferably in the form of a fluorescent lighting lamp, being
mounted on the underside of the closure plate. The closure plate
and the lamp constitute further parts of the above-mentioned
lighting element. The space bounded by the web and limb portions
61, 62 of each member 60 and by the associated closure plate
operatively contains the ballast and other auziliary circuit
elements of the lighting element. These circuit elements may be of
conventional form. A translucent lens (not shown) is mounted on
each member 60 and is operatively retained in position by means of
inwardly directed edge portions of the inclined flange portions 63,
each end portion of the translucent lens being disposed through a
correspondingly formed opening in the end wall portion 19 of the
appropriate end wall 18 with the lens mounted on the lower edge 26
of the plate 25 which is secured to said end wall portion 19.
In each structure 59 the member 60 rigidly interconnects the
associated end walls 18 by means, for example, of bolts 65 between
the inclined flange portions 63 of the member 60 and the side
flange portions 21 of the end walls 18.
Heat insulation panels 66 are each mounted with the lower edge
portions thereof in supported engagement with the appropriate
flange portion 16 of one of the beams 12 and with the upper edge
portion thereof in supported engagement with the appropriate
inclined flange portion 63 of the member 60 of the appropriate
structure 59. The lower faces of the panels 66 are preferably
formed of a light reflecting material thereby to reflect the light
from the fluorescent lighting lamp of the associated lighting
element into the room space of the like disposed therebelow.
The purpose of the notched portions 24 in the side flange portions
21 of the end walls 18, and of the associated closure plates 25 and
27, is to permit increased flexibility in the manner in which air
chamber assemblies and the lighting unit structures 59 may be used.
Thus, for example, where it is desired to use air chamber
assemblies and the structures 59 in such a manner that the members
60 of the structures 59 are disposed substantially at right angles
to horizontal beams or girders, such as girders supporting the
ceiling, and where it is required that the level of the upper faces
of the members 60 be above the lower faces of these beams or
girders, the beams or girders, and disposed through the spaces
bounded by the plates 25 and 27 of the air chamber casings 17.
Where beams or girders are so disposed it is not, of course,
possible for the associated air chambers to be used, or if they are
to be used alternative arrangements (not shown) to that constituted
by the opening 30 in the plate 27 will be required for supplying
the air to the chambers. It is to be emphasized that the
above-described manner of using the air chamber assemblies and the
lighting unit structures 59 in which beams or girders are disposed
through the spaces bounded by the plates 25 and 27 of the casings
17 is merely one example of the ways in which the assemblies and
structures 59 may be used where the notched portions 24 in the side
flange portions 21 of the end walls 18, or notched portions of
different forms, are provided.
Furthermore, it is, of course, to be understood that where notched
portions in the side flange portions 21 of each end wall 18 are not
required, such as where the above problem resulting from the
presence of horizontal beams or girders does not arise, the notched
portions 24 in the side flange portions 21 of each end wall 18, and
the associated closure plates 25 and 27, may be omitted, and that
these are not, therefore, essential features of the invention.
While as described above with reference to FIG. 1 the end walls 18
of each air chamber casing 17 each also constitutes an end wall of
one of the lighting unit structures 59, as in the case of the
invention forming the subject of my co-pending application, Ser.
No. 874,140 filed on Nov. 6, 1969, it is to be understood that in
the present invention the air chamber casing 17 may be quite
separate and distinct from any lighting unit structures between
which the casing 17 is operatively disposed.
The present invention thus provides an air chamber assembly in
which the pre-determined space between the edge portion of the
casing 17 constituted by the edge portions 20 of the end walls 18,
and the flange portions 16 of the associated beam 11 is
automatically closed when a fire occurs in the room space or the
like below the assembly, the end flange portions 19 of the end
walls 18 which close this space serving, of course, to define an
edge of the space under normal operating conditions. The end flange
portions 19 accordingly have a functional purpose both when the
assembly is in a normal condition of operation and when the
assembly is subjected to fire heat.
* * * * *