Fireproof louvered closures such as doors and windows, and methods for providing the same

Abstract

A fireproof louver panel includes a panel frame and a plurality of longitudinally extending slats attached to the panel frame. One or more of the slats has a shell and an intumescent layer that expands under heat to form an airtight seal. A fireproof door or window may include an external frame, an internal core of a fireproof material (among other materials), and one or more such fireproof louver panels. A method of fireproofing an opening includes affixing a movable fireproof closure in the opening, and placement intumescent layers on the closure and on louvers disposed therein so that the opening is sealed when the first intumescent layer and the second intumescent layer are both subjected to heat.

1 ) A fireproof louver panel, the panel comprising 
 a panel frame; and    a plurality of longitudinally extending slats attached to the panel frame,    wherein one or more of the slats comprises a shell and an intumescent layer that expands under heat to form an airtight seal.    
   
   
       2 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending slats have a thickness, angle, and spacing sufficient to form said airtight seal when subjected to heat.  
   
   
       3 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness is from 0.05 to 0.5 inches, the angle is from 30 degrees to 75 degrees, and the spacing is from 0.05 to 0.5 inches.  
   
   
       4 ) The panel of  claim 3 , wherein the thickness is about 0.25 inches, the angle is about 60 degrees, and the spacing is about 0.25 inches.  
   
   
       5 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending slats are perpendicular to the plane of the door and have a thickness and spacing sufficient to form an airtight seal when subjected to heat.  
   
   
       6 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises at least one opening through which the intumescent layer expands under heat.  
   
   
       7 ) The panel of  claim 6 , wherein the opening is shaped to cause the intumescent layer, when under heat, to expand in the plane of the door.  
   
   
       8 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the shell breaks open when the intumescent layer expands under heat.  
   
   
       9 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the intumescent layer is inside an inner cavity of the shell.  
   
   
       10 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the shell of the one or more slats comprises an upper layer and a lower layer, and wherein the one or more slats further comprises an outer skin which surrounds the upper layer, the lower layer, and the intumescent material.  
   
   
       11 ) The panel of  claim 10 , wherein the outer skin comprises a wrapping material structurally configured to open at a chosen location during expansion of the intumescent layer.  
   
   
       12 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the intumescent material is selected from the group consisting of: hydrated sodium silicate; foaming graphite; expanding graphite; poly-ammonium phosphates; and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the intumescent material forms a non-combustible heat-sealing foam when heated.  
   
   
       14 ) The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the slats are jalousie-type slats.  
   
   
       15 ) A fireproof door, the door comprising: 
 an external frame;    an internal core comprising a fireproof material; and    the panel of  claim 1 .    
   
   
       16 ) The door of  claim 15 , 
 wherein a further intumescent layer is disposed at the outside of the external frame; and    wherein the intumescent material and the further intumescent material provide an airtight seal extending beyond the dimensions of the external frame.    
   
   
       17 ) The door of  claim 15 , the door further comprising: 
 a window disposed in a window opening therein, wherein the panel of  claim 1  is disposed in the window opening adjacent the window.    
   
   
       18 ) A fireproof window, the window comprising: 
 an external frame;    a flat translucent internal core comprising a fireproof material; and    the panel of  claim 1  adjacent a flat side of the flat-translucent internal core.    
   
   
       19 ) A method of fireproofing an opening, the method comprising: 
 affixing within the opening a movable fireproof closure having a first intumescent layer attached at the exterior of the closure and a panel frame within the closure, the panel frame having attached thereto a plurality of longitudinally extending slats, wherein one or more of the slats comprises a second intumescent layer; and    configuring placement of the first and second intumescent layers so that the opening is sealed when the first intumescent layer and the second intumescent layer are both subjected to heat.    
   
   
       20 ) A system for fireproofing an opening in an otherwise fireproofed door, the system comprising: 
 means for supporting longitudinally extending slats in the opening; and    means disposed within the slats for expanding under heat to form an airtight seal.