Ventilation apparatus with integral intumescent fire and smoke stop and method of manufacturing thereof

Abstract

An improved ventilation assembly for preventing fire and smoke from undermining a fire rated surface. The ventilation assembly includes a housing having at least one side wall defining an interior space, and a top wall coupled to the side wall, with an inlet adjacent the at least one side wall and an outlet coupled to the housing. A fluid, such as air, flows between the inlet and the outlet. A fire shielding material is disposed within the interior space, where the fire shielding material expands upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat such that the fire shielding material obstructs the flow of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A ventilation assembly comprising: 
 a housing having: 
 i) at least one side wall defining an interior space, and  
 ii) a top wall coupled to the side wall;  
   an inlet adjacent the at least one side wall;    an outlet coupled to the housing, a fluid flowing between the inlet and the outlet; and    a fire shielding material disposed within the interior space, the fire shielding material expanding upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat such that the fire shielding material obstructs the flow of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet.    
     
     
         2 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fire shielding material is an intumescent thermoplastic polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fire shielding material is coupled to at least one of the side wall and the top wall.  
     
     
         4 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the fire shielding material is applied to the interior space in the form of a liquid.  
     
     
         5 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wall is formed in substantially a circular configuration.  
     
     
         6 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wall is a plurality of side walls formed in a substantially rectangular configuration.  
     
     
         7 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fan motor assembly disposed within the interior space between the top wall and the inlet.  
     
     
         8 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the fan motor assembly moves the fluid between the inlet and the outlet.  
     
     
         9 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising a thermal cutoff to disable the fan motor assembly at least upon the application of the predetermined amount of heat.  
     
     
         10 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the fire shielding material is disposed between the fan motor assembly and the inlet.  
     
     
         11 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the fire shielding material is disposed between the fan motor assembly and the outlet.  
     
     
         12 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is air.  
     
     
         13 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is at least one of smoke and fire.  
     
     
         14 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is mounted in a fire rated surface.  
     
     
         15 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the fire rated surface has a substantially vertical orientation.  
     
     
         16 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the fire rated surface has a substantially horizontal orientation.  
     
     
         17 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is disposed in the at least one side wall.  
     
     
         18 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is disposed in the top wall.  
     
     
         19 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fire shielding material is mounted with an adhesive.  
     
     
         20 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are substantially perpendicular to one another.  
     
     
         21 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly is formed from at least one of a metal and a polymer.  
     
     
         22 . An ventilation assembly comprising: 
 housing means for defining an interior space, and    inlet means for permitting the entry of a fluid into the interior space;    outlet means for permitting the exit of the fluid from the interior space; and    fire shielding means for expanding upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat and obstructing the flow of the fluid between the inlet means and the outlet means.    
     
     
         23 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 22 , further comprising circulation means for moving the fluid between the inlet means and outlet means prior to the application of the predetermined amount of heat.  
     
     
         24 . An electric motor according to  claim 22 , wherein the inlet means and the outlet means are substantially perpendicular to one another.  
     
     
         25 . A method for selectively allowing and preventing the flow of a fluid through a fire rated surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 forming a housing defining an interior space, and    coupling an inlet adjacent the housing means;    coupling an outlet to the housing means, the fluid flowing between the inlet means and the outlet means; and    disposing a fire shielding material within the interior space,    wherein upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat the fire shielding material expands and prevents the flow of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet.    
     
     
         26 . An exhaust fan assembly having a rear cover, a housing defining and interior space and attached to the rear cover in fluid tight relation, an inlet adjacent the housing, and an outlet coupled to one of the rear cover and the housing, the improvement which comprises: 
 a fire shielding material disposed within the interior space, the fire shielding material expanding upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat such that the fire shielding material obstructs a flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet.    
     
     
         27 . The ventilation assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is at least one of smoke and fire.