Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Controlled by condition responsive means
Patent
1993-03-10
1994-12-06
Friedman, Carl D.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Controlled by condition responsive means
52202, 52509, 52764, E04B 198
Patent
active
053699173
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention is for a clamping device for retaining an explosion panel on the safety opening of holders in which there is a powder, gas or vapour, which explosion panel in the event of excess pressure, for example resulting from an explosion in the holder, is thrown open or blown away, so that the holder sustains little or no damage.
European patent application EP-A-O 351 457 of applicant describes a clamping device of this sort in which use is made of a stiff explosion panel in stainless steel which is provided all around with a side with a clamping edge which is folded inwards, on which grip the free ends of several inclined clip strips which are directed towards said clamping strip and which are attached to a frame provided around the safety opening of the holder and thus press the explosion panel firmly to the frame.
When an explosion occurs in the holder, the explosion panel is raised by the generated pressure and the stiff clamping edge of the explosion panel bends the free ends of the clip strips upwards, causing the explosion panel to slide freely over the clip strips and be blown away from the safety opening.
A disadvantage of such an explosion panel with clamping edges is that the stainless steel from which the panel is made is an expensive material and that moreover the production of such a panel which must be pressed into a certain form in order to give it adequate stiffness is expensive. Another disadvantage is that dirt can easily lodge between the clip strips and the clamping edge of the panel, so that it is more difficult for the clip strips to react and only when the pressure on the explosion panel is greater than intended. Another disadvantage is that when the opening pressure of the explosion panel is high, the inclined clip strips must hold the clamping edge of the panel firmly against the edge of the safety opening, so that for blowing away the panel, the additional friction which arises during the raising of the panel between the panel and the frame provided around the safety opening, must be overcome. The opening pressure required for this is consequently difficult to predict.
From the U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,695 a pressure-relieving facade structure for a building is known. This structure has a plurality of slab-like elements, a plurality of retaining legs each extending from one of the slab-like elements toward the facade of the building and having a thickened clamping projection at its free end, and a plurality of elastic receiving elements attached to the facade of the building and releasably receiving the clamping projections of the retaining legs with elastic clamping action.
Also, this structure has the disadvantage that dirt can easily lodge between the different elements of the structure. Besides the elastic elements have the disadvantage that they are unsuitable for holding an explosion panel on the safety opening of a holder, because of the shape and the material of the elastic elements.
In order to remedy these disadvantages a clamping device has, pursuant to the chief characteristic of the invention, been realized which consists of several upright connecting blocks, for each connecting block a housing which fits over same for protecting the connecting block, in each housing two clamping edges which lie opposite one another, which clamping blocks and housings are mounted at a distance from one another, one of the two to the perimeter of the explosion panel and the others to the perimeter of the frame, and in each housing at least two diverging clip strips one end of which is mounted on the connecting block while the other end presses on one of the clamping edges of the housing for connecting the housing with the connecting block or the explosion panel with the holder.
The use of two diverging clip strips means that the resultant of the two pressures acting obliquely on the clamping edges is vertical, so that the whole is in equilibrium and the explosion panel is blown away vertically, so that furthermore all friction between the explosion panel and the frame fastened around
REFERENCES:
patent: 4656793 (1987-04-01), Fons
patent: 4787180 (1988-11-01), Robinson et al.
Drucker William A.
Friedman Carl D.
Stuvex International Naamloze Vennootschap
Wilkens Kevin D.
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