AU2011205195A1 - Access Panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an access panel assembly 10 having a frame 12 and an opening through the frame 12, and a square or rectangular closure 16 to close said opening, characterised ) in that said closure 16 includes a plurality of locking members 18 located at each of the corners 20 of said square or rectangular closure 16. In ACCESS PANEL DETAILS SPEED CLIPS SASH FAST , 16 STEEL MESH--- CCESS PAN E IIVDUC DRY INFILL/ CD WELDED PIN 12.1 FIRE TED AIR SEAL OR AD2EIVEPlN4 (NON-C MBUSTIBLE VERMDUCT - 24 WITH 4.5" RN-DOWN) SECTION THROUGH PANEL 12.2 FIXING DETAILS

Description

1 Access Panel Field of the invention [001] The present invention relates to access panels in particular to those which are fire rated. Background of the invention [002] Access panels are commonly used in electro mechanical services and equipments to maintain an easy and fire proof access to various locations of the system. While fire rated access panels are known, there has been a need to improve on the previously known fire panels. [003] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application. Summary of the invention [004] The present invention provides an access panel assembly having a frame and an opening through the frame, and a square or rectangular closure to close said opening, characterised in that said closure includes a plurality of locking members located at each of the corners of said square or rectangular closure. [005] The closure, if a side is greater than of the order of 400 mm or more, that side can have one or more locking members between respective corner located locking members. [0061 The locking members can be of the type having a rotating latch, such as a sash type fastener locks, which increase in clamping pressure as the latch is rotated. [007] The locking members can be internally mounted on the closure and require rotation by a key or similar tool. [008] The closure can include one or more handles. [009] Between a rim or flange of said frame and a peripheral surface of said closure, there can be located non combustible seal or gasket. [010] The seal or gasket can be compressed by the action of the locking members. [011] The seal or gasket can be turned down on the edges so that a horizontal and a vertical surface of the closure and the frame are in contact with the seal of gasket. ji 2 Brief description of the drawings [012] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [013] Figure 1 is a plan view of an access panel; [014] Figure 2 is a cross section through an installed access panel; [015] Figure 3 is a side view an access panel; [016] Figure 4 is an underneath view of an access panel assembly of a frame and closure; [017] Figure 5 is another plan view of an access panel assembly; [018] Figure 6 is a short side view of the closure of previous figures; [019] Figure 7 is a perspective view of an assembled frame and closure of an access panel; [020] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the frame and closure of figure 7; and [0211 Figure 9 is a plan view of an access panel, with locks only at the corners of the panel. Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments [022] As is depicted in the figures is an access panel assembly 10 having an outer frame 12 and an opening 14 through the frame 12, and a square or rectangular closure or access panel 16 to close the opening 14. As is best seen in figures 7 and 8 the closure 16 includes a plurality of locking members 18, with one located at each of the corners 20 of said square or rectangular closure 16. A squarish access panel is illustrated in Figure 9, where only on the four corners is there located locking members 18. [023] If the closure or access panel 16 has sides, greater than 300 to 500 mm, or of the order 350 to 450 mm, or most preferably about 400mm, the closure 16 of figures 1 to 8 has a additional locking members 18' between respective corner located locking members 18 on the longest sides. [024] The locking members 18 and 18' are of the type having a rotating latch, such as a sash type fastener locks, which increase in clamping pressure as the latch is rotated. t 3 [025] The locking members 18, 18' can instead be internally mounted on the closure 16 and require rotation by a key or similar tool, but the rotation of the lock member 18,18' to the locked position, can also increase the clamping pressure, in the same manner as a sash type lock. [026] The closure 16 includes two handles 22 to assist persons using the access panel assembly 10 to remove or re install the closure or access panel 16 in the frame 12. [027] As is illustrated in Figure 2, a rim or flange 12.1 of the frame 12 and a peripheral surface 16.1 of the closure 16, has a non combustible seal or gasket 24 located therebetween. The seal or gasket 24 is preferably compressed by the action of the locking members 20, when they are in the locked condition. [028] As illustrated in Figure 2, the seal or gasket 24 can be held between both generally horizontal (12.1 and 16.1) and generally vertical surfaces(12.2 and 16.2), whereby the periphery of the gasket or seal 24 is turned down on the edges so that horizontal and a vertical surfaces 12.1, 16.1,12.2,16.2 of the closure 16 and the frame 12 are in contact with the seal of gasket 24. [029] As is illustrated in Figure 1, the access panels can be of the following preferred dimensions: Panel Dimensions: TYPE AXB CXD EXF DUCT SIZE AP-0 456X608 502X652 551X698 FILTER PLENUMS ONLY AP-1 327X463 368X500 418X548 OVER 601 AP-2 198X332 240X375 289X426 301 to 600 AP-3 116X206 150X240 183X291 150 to 300 [030] Such frames and closures can provide the following opening clearances: TYPE NET CLEARNCE AP-0 500X650 AP-1 327X463 AP-2 198X332 AP-3 116X206 4 [031] Sash type fastener locks 18,18' are used on the access panels 16 at locations as ) designed for the best results. Locks 18 are located at corners 20 and at specific centres as required. The corner locks 18 are designed to maintain the integrity of seal when the panels 16 are subjected to high pressures. [032] The air gasket or seal 24 is a specially designed non -combustible fire rated air seal or gasket to maintain the air seal through adverse conditions. The air seal is placed at 45 degrees turn down on the edges to obtain a maximum sealing action when the panel is closed. [033] For site installation please refer to Figure 2. The access panel assembly 10 can be used in air handling duct systems and other electro-mechanical equipment. After the base frame is fixed to the duct surface by means of screws or riveting, while the closure is fixed on to the base frame. The closure 16 is hollow and is filled with VERMIDUCT@, which is a non combustible or flame retardant composition, via an aperture 26 to make the whole assembly fire rated. [034] The access panel assembly 10 as described above has two main components. They are base frame 12 and the closure 16. The base frame 12 is built of galvanized iron or steel material and has a profile shape to match the closure 16 inside it. The base frame 12 has a peripheral thin cover edge or rim which would act as a sealing member. The closure 16 is also made of galvanized iron or steel material with sash locks 18, 18' fixed onto it by means of rivets. A hole or aperture 26 is provided on the top of the closure 16 to enable infill into the closure 16 after the installation. Two handles 22 are affixed on to the closure 16 to ease opening and closing operations. A manufactured non-combustible fabric 24 is attached to the joint surface (12.1,12.2,16.1,16.2) between the base frame 12 and the closure 16 to act as a seal or an air seal. [035] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of'. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear. [036] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. [037] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific 5 forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (9)

1. An access panel assembly having a frame and an opening through the frame, and a square or rectangular closure to close said opening, characterised in that said closure includes a plurality of locking members located at each of the corners of said square or rectangular closure.

2. An access panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure has a side greater than order of 400 mm or more, that side can has at least one locking member between respective corner located locking members on the sides of side greater than order of 400 mm or more.

3. An access panel assembly as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the locking members are of the type having a rotating latch, such as a sash type fastener locks.

4. An access panel assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking members can be internally mounted on the closure and require rotation by a key or similar tool.

5. An access panel assembly as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein rotation of said locking members to a locked condition increases clamping pressure of said closure to said frame, as the latch is rotated in a locking direction.

6. An access panel assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the closure can include one or more handles.

7. An access panel assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein between a rim or flange of said frame and a peripheral surface of said closure, there can be located a substantially non combustible seal or gasket.

8. An access panel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the seal or gasket can be compressed by the locking action of the locking members.

9. An access panel as claimed in any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the seal or gasket can be turned down on the edges so that a horizontal and a vertical surface of the closure and the frame are in contact with the seal of gasket. Dated this 9th day of August 2011 L. & A. Fazzini Manufacturing Pty Ltd