EP2635162B1

EP2635162B1 - Curtain draw back system for an emergency exit, an assembly of an emergency exit and such a curtain draw back system and a method to adapt a curtain rail into such a curtain draw back system

Info

Publication number: EP2635162B1
Application number: EP11782245.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jeroen-Paul Van Egmond
Original assignee: Omnivention BV
Current assignee: Omnivention BV
Priority date: 2010-11-05
Filing date: 2011-11-04
Publication date: 2017-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-04
Also published as: EP2635162A1; NL2005632C2; WO2012060708A1

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a curtain draw back system for an emergency exit comprising at least one exit element that can be opened in case of an emergency.

Background of the invention

It is noted that US patent publication US 4,131,831 discloses a drapery opening and closing system provided for draw drapes which are movable over a traverse member between an open and closed position by use of a drape drive system, wherein the drapery opening and closing comprises a reversible motor electrically connected to a power source and mechanically connected by a drive pulley to a lower end of a pulley system connecting to the traverse member.
It is noted that US patent publication US 4,227,564 discloses a curtain track with a traverse cord that has at least one guidance channel in which the curtain hangers to which the curtain is to be attached are longitudinally freely movable. The cord is also positioned within this this track and is led over turn-around or exit rollers at the end of the track. The curtain hangers are in frictional engagement with the cord, so that they can be actuated by the cord but stop when resistance arises, whereupon the cord slips past them. The curtain can be operated both with the traverse cord and also by throwing.
Further, it is noted that an emergency exit is liable to safety regulations that demand the emergency exit to be freely accessible. In case of an emergency the exit has to be opened as quickly as possible without the need to remove obstacles before being able to reach said emergency exit. Due to the mentioned safety regulations, the authorities demand that no curtains or other window covering are provided in front of the emergency exit. One of a few acceptable window coverings comprises a curtain or other covering that is fit tightly to the respective exit element of the emergency exit and moves along with the exit element upon opening thereof. A normal curtain may only be provided adjacent an emergency exit if the curtain is in an opened state when people are present in a room in which the emergency exit is provided. If the curtain is in a closed state, thus provided in front of said emergency exit, the curtain should be opened immediately when people enter the room in which the exit is provided.
Due to the safety regulations, an emergency exit will always be visible from within a building or room in which the emergency exit is provided, thereby disturbing the appearance of the room in which the exit system is available.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a curtain draw back system that can be used with an emergency exit such that the emergency exit complies with the safety regulations that apply to such exits. More in particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a curtain draw back system that allows the emergency exit to be freely accessible in case of an emergency and at the same time allows the emergency exit to be hidden if necessary and/or desired.

Summary of the invention

Thereto, according to a first aspect of the invention, a curtain draw back system for an emergency exit is provided, wherein the emergency exit comprises at least one exit element that can be opened in case of an emergency, wherein the curtain draw back system comprises a rail configured to displaceably hold a covering such as a curtain, wherein the curtain draw back system comprises a draw back assembly operatively coupled to the rail, which draw back assembly is configured to withdraw the covering along the rail in dependence of a withdraw signal such that the at least one exit element will be freely accessible.
Due to such a draw back assembly, the covering provided in front of the emergency exit will be automatically withdrawn in case of an emergency. When an emergency occurs, a withdraw signal will be generated that triggers the draw back assembly such that it displaces the covering to move away from the emergency exit. The assembly provides for a quick response to the withdraw signal resulting in a very short opening time of the covering. Thus, no manual intervention to open the covering to gain access to the emergency exit is needed. The draw back assembly provides for withdrawal of the covering in a limited time period, i.e. a time period that is much shorter compared to a time period for manually removing said covering. In case of an emergency, the covering is removed at the time a user needs to leave the room via said exit or even before the user did approach the emergency exit. Due to the curtain draw back system according to the invention, the emergency exit to which the curtain draw back system is provided will comply with the safety regulations that apply and at the same time offers the possibility to integrate the emergency exit appearance with the total appearance of the wall and/or the room in which the exit is provided.
To be able to adequately transmit the withdraw signal to the draw back assembly, thus at the right moment, the curtain draw back system may comprise a control that is operatively coupled to the draw back assembly, which control may be adapted to generate the withdraw signal, and thus can start the operation of the draw back assembly. Preferably, the control is adapted to be operatively coupled to an emergency detector such as a fire alarm, a smoke detector or the like. In case of an emergency, the emergency detector will detect the emergency and transmit a signal to the control. The control generates the withdraw signal that controls the draw back assembly. For instance, in case of fire, the fire/smoke alarm will detect the fire and a signal will be transmitted to the control of the curtain draw back system. The control will control the draw back assembly to start the withdraw operation of the covering such that it displaces along the rail to obtain a free passage through the emergency exit. The control may further be configured to control the draw back assembly in dependence of a signal generated by an emergency button that is activated by a user. Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the control is configured to control the draw back assembly in case of power failure. It is noted that the drawback system according to the invention may also be used in cooperation with an electrically operable curtain or curtain system. Such a curtain or curtain system may be modified to cooperate with the draw back system. For instance by automatically disengaging the curtain or curtain system from the drive, the drawback system may be able to draw back the curtain or curtain system without the drive preventing said draw back movement.
Further, the draw back assembly comprises a draw back element that is adapted to provide a retraction movement, a displacing element coupled to the covering at a side facing away
from the draw back element and a retractor provided between the draw back element and the displacing element, which retractor is adapted to transmit the retraction movement of the drawback element into a displacement of at least the end of the covering facing away from the draw back element in a direction towards the draw back element. Such a construction of the draw back assembly provides an adequate solution to remove the covering out of the passage through the emergency exit in a minimum of time. Furthermore, such a construction provides a foolproof solution to displace the covering.
Furthermore, the draw back assembly comprises a locking means for holding the drawback element in an initial position, in which initial position the covering is provided at least partly in front of the emergency exit. Such locking means enable the draw back element being biased in the initial position. Preferably, the draw back element is biased such that the retraction movement will be between 0.5 and 1 second or even less than 0.5 seconds. To provide such a retraction movement period also the length of the rail, thus of the distance of the covering to be retracted, is of influence. In case the rail is longer or shorter, the draw back element should be biased accordingly to result in the abovementioned retraction movement period.
According to a further aspect of the invention, it may be advantageous if the retractor is coupled to a displacing element forming draw back runner provided in the rail at an end thereof facing away from draw back element. Such a connection enables easy installing of the curtain draw back system, or even adapting a curtain rail to becoming a curtain draw back system.
In order to be able to withdraw a covering that is provided in a rail that has at least one curve, it may be advantageous according to a further elaboration of the invention, to provide the rail, at least partly, with retractor guiding means. These guiding means enable easy guidance of the retractor during the retraction movement along curves provided in the curtain rail thereby securing the short retraction movement period and minimizing the risk of obstruction of the covering with respect to the rail during the retraction movement.
In a preferred embodiment of the curtain draw back system according to the invention, the draw back element may comprise a spring such as a tension spring. Such a spring may provide a predetermined tension that may be adapted to the kind of covering, for instance the weight of the covering, and the length of the rail. With such a configuration of the curtain draw back system a single withdrawal moment is obtained which movement encompasses automatic displacement of the displacement element along the displacement trajectory along the rail in a limited displacement time period upon release of the draw back element. In an alternative embodiment of the curtain draw back system according to the invention, the draw back element may comprise a displaceable weight that is adapted to displace substantially downward thereby moving the retractor in that same direction and consequently retracting the covering.
To release the draw back element from the - biased - initial position, the draw back assembly may comprise releasing means to unlock the locking means. The locking means may for instance comprise an electromagnet. After the retracting operation of the covering along the rail to provide free access to the emergency exit, the draw back assembly may be re-activated to re-activate the curtain draw back system. Re-activating may be obtained by the re-activating means comprised in the draw back assembly that enable to bias the draw back element such that it comprises the desired pre-stress.
The invention further relates to an assembly of an emergency exit and a curtain draw back system as above described.
Preferably, the assembly also comprises at least one of an emergency detector, such as a fire detector, a smoke detector, an emergency knob, wherein the emergency detector is operatively coupled to the control of the curtain withdraw system.
Furthermore, the assembly may be provided with a door opener that is operatively coupled to the exit element of the emergency exit and which door opener extends through the covering of the curtain withdraw system such that at least part of the door opener is accessible from the side of the curtain that faces away from the emergency exit. A user who is located in a room provided with such an assembly can easily operate the door opener since it is visible to said user at all times. In case the emergency detector did not yet detect an emergency, a signal to be transmitted to the control to operate the curtain draw back system may be generated upon touching the door opener or in case a reed contact is used, upon opening of the door. Thus, in case a user panics and wants to pass the emergency exit as soon as possible, the covering will be removed immediately upon opening the exit element by means of the door opener. Such a door opener furthermore provides for additional safety in case the draw back assembly unexpectedly fails to operate as desired. Upon opening the door, the curtain or part of the curtain that is still present in front of the emergency exit
The assembly may comprise a single draw back system extending along the entire length of the rail and comprising a single draw back assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the assembly may comprise a further draw back system, for instance extending from the first draw back system along part of the rail. In that case, the covering will comprises two parts, each part associated with one of the draw back systems. Both draw back systems may comprise a draw back assembly, which draw back assemblies may be arranged such with respect to each other that in use the covering parts draw back in opposite directions to provide a freely accessible emergency exit.
The invention also relates to a method to adapt curtain rail into a curtain draw back system for an emergency exit as above described, wherein the method comprises:

providing a curtain rail with a covering;
providing a draw back assembly;
mounting the draw back assembly onto said curtain rail;
insert a draw back runner in the curtain rail at an end thereof facing away from the draw back element;
interconnecting the draw back element and the draw back runner by means of a retractor.

With such a method it is possible to adapt a common curtain rail to become a curtain draw back system as described. By doing so, it will be possible to automatically open the curtain upon an appropriate and/or predetermined signal. The method therefore provides a solution to easily provide an emergency exit with a curtain draw back system according to the invention. Therefore, the method provides for similar advantages and effects as which are described before with the curtain draw back system and the assembly of an emergency exit and such a curtain draw back system.
The aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings, which are meant to illustrate and not to limit the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 schematically shows a front view of an embodiment of the curtain draw back system according to the invention;
Fig. 2 schematically shows a rear view of the curtain draw back system of Fig. 1;
Figs. 3a and 3b schematically show a top view and a front view of an embodiment of an assembly of an emergency exit and the curtain draw back system according to the invention;
Fig. 4 schematically shows a second embodiment of the curtain draw back system according to the invention;
Fig. 5 schematically shows a third embodiment of the curtain draw back system according to the invention;
Fig. 6 schematically shows a rear view of a fourth embodiment of the curtain draw back system according to the invention; and
Fig. 7 schematically shows the system of Fig. 6 in a different position.

It is to be noted that like parts in the different figures are provided with like reference numerals.

Detailed description

Referring to Figures 1, 3a and 3b, a curtain draw back system 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown. The curtain draw back system 1 can be used with an emergency exit 30 (see Figs. 3a and 3b) having at least one exit element 32 that can be opened in case of an emergency.
The draw back system 1 comprises a rail 10 that displaceably holds curtain runners 21 that hold a covering, in this case a curtain 28. The draw back system 1 comprises a draw back assembly 2 that is coupled to the rail 10. The draw back assembly 2 is provided with a draw back element 4, a displacing element 5 and a retractor 6 provided in between the draw back element 4 and the displacing element 5. In the initial position of the draw back assembly 2, in which the covering 28 is provided in front of the emergency exit 30, the draw back element 4 is provided near a first end 11 of the rail 10 and the displacing element 5 is provided near a second end 12 of the rail 10 facing away from the draw back element 4.
The draw back system 1 comprises a control 3 that is operatively coupled to the draw back assembly 2 and to an emergency detector 36 (see Figs 3a and 3b). Such an emergency detector 36 may for instance be a fire alarm, a smoke alarm, an emergency knob. The control 3 may also be operatively coupled to a door opener 34 and/or to a reed contact 35 that may be provided at the exit element 32 of the emergency exit 30.
In the shown embodiment, the draw back element 4 comprises a spring 13 that is biased in the initial position in which the curtain is closed, i.e. provided in front of the emergency exit 30 as shown in Figure 3b.
The displacing element 5 may be a draw back runner that may be integrated with a last curtain runner 21 provided in the rail. In the shown embodiment, the draw back runner 5 and the last curtain runner 21 are two separate parts that may be interconnected. The retractor 6 may be a cord, a line, a string or the like.
The rail 10 may be provided with retractor guiding means 14 that guide the retractor 6 along the rail 10 such that the curtain draw back system 1 will function as desired even in case the rail 10 is provided with curves.
The draw back assembly 2 may further comprise locking means 7 and releasing means 8. The locking means 7 may comprise an electromagnet 15 (see Figure 2), a locking arm 16 and a ratchet mechanism 17. These parts 15-17 may also be part of the releasing means 8. The releasing means 8 may further comprise a releasing knob 18.
The curtain draw back system 1 may further comprise re-activating means 9 such that the draw back system 1, more specifically the draw back assembly 2 of the system 1 may be reactivated after a retracting movement Rb. The re-activating means 9 may also comprise the ratchet mechanism 17.
Referring now to Figures 1-3b, operation of the curtain draw back system 1 will be described.
In case of an emergency that occurs in a room in which people are present, the emergency exit 30 has to be freely accessible. According to the present invention, a curtain draw back system 1 is provided that is mounted in front of the emergency exit 30. Upon occurrence of the emergency, the curtain draw back system 1 may be activated by means of the emergency detector 36, for instance a smoke alarm. The system 1 may also be activated by means of the door opener 34.
When the emergency detector 36 detects an emergency, a signal will be transmitted from the detector 36 to the control 3. The control 3 will generate a withdraw signal that controls the draw back assembly 2 of the draw back system 1. In the present embodiment of the draw back system 1 according to the invention, the control 3 controls the electromagnet 15 such that the locking arm 16, which in the initial position of the draw back assembly 2 is magnetically coupled to the electromagnet 15, is released. Due to a spring 19, the locking arm 16 is moved in a substantially downward direction Rd (see Figure 2). Upon displacement of the locking arm 16, the ratchet mechanism 17 will unlock the draw back element 4 and consequently, the draw back element 4 will displace the retractor 6. Therefore, the spring 13 will start rotating in a rotating direction Rr, taking along a drum 20 housing said spring 13. The retractor 6, in the shown embodiment a line, is coupled to the drum 20. Upon rotation of the drum 20, the line will be wound around the drum 20 with a relatively high speed. Since the line 6 is connected to the draw back runner 5, winding of the line 6 results in a retraction movement of the draw back runner 5 and of the curtain runners 21 and thus of the curtain 28. When the draw back runner 5 arrives at the end position near the draw back element 4, the retraction movement will end and the emergency exit 30 will be freely accessible. Due to the construction of the curtain draw back system, the curtain 28 may be retracted in a time period of approximately 0.5-1 second or even less than 0.5 seconds.
When the emergency has been overcome, the curtain draw back system 1 may be re-activated. Re-activation can be obtained by pulling the retractor 6 away from the draw back element 4 in a direction towards the second end 12 of the rail 10. Before pulling the retractor 6, the draw back element 4 has to be locked in the locking position. By pressing the locking knob 18, the draw back element 4 is locked. Then the electromagnet 15 is re-activated again bringing the locking arm 16 back into a locking position in which the ratchet mechanism 17 is able to provide the draw back element 4 with only one rotational direction (contrary to rotational direction Rr). Then, the retractor 6 can be pulled and unwinds in a direction opposite the rotational direction Rr.
Referring to Figures 3a and 3b, a curtain 28 is provided in front of the emergency exit 30. The exit element 32 comprises a door opener 34 that extends through the curtain 28 and along a side of the curtain 28 facing away from the emergency exit 30. In case a person is present in a room provided with the system 1 or with the assembly according to the present invention, the person is able to actively control the curtain retraction movement via the door opener 34. The door opener 34 may be operatively coupled to the control 3 or a reed contact 35 that responds to opening of the exit element 32 may transmit a signal to the control. In either case, upon opening of the exit element 32, the draw back assembly 2 operates in the above described way to ensure a free passage through the emergency exit 30.
To be certain that the curtain draw back system 1 still functions properly, even in case it is rarely used, a testing knob 37 may be provided. Upon pressing the testing knob 37, the draw back assembly 2 can be tested for instance once every few months.
In Figures 4 and 5 further embodiments of the curtain draw back system 1 according to the invention are shown. For the sake of clarity, only the differences with respect to the first embodiment will be described briefly. The curtain draw back system 1 as shown in Figure 4 comprises a different kind of draw back element 4 and consequently the electromagnet 15 is located adjacent the second end 12 of the rail 10. In this embodiment, the draw back element 4 comprises an elongate tension spring that is biased such that upon unlocking of the electromagnet 15, the draw back runner 5 is released and the tension spring 4 pulls together such that the draw back runner 5 takes along the curtain runners 21 and retracts the curtain towards the first end 11 of the rail 10.
The curtain draw back system 1 as shown in Figure 5 has a draw back element 4 comprising a weight 22 that can be automatically displaced in a downward direction Rd due to gravity upon unlocking of the draw back runner 5 as explained with Figure 4.
In Figures 6 and 7 a fourth embodiment of the curtain draw back system according to the invention is shown. This embodiment corresponds to a large extend with the embodiment as shown and described with Figures 1-3b. The only difference is the configuration of the locking means 7 and the releasing means 8. Therefore, description of parts that are similar to and function in the same way as parts described with Figures 1-3b will be omitted here. Only the differences will be elucidated.
The draw back assembly 2 according to this fourth embodiment comprises locking means 7 and releasing means 8. The locking means 7 and releasing means 8 may comprise an electromagnet 15 (see Figures 6 and 7), preferably a solenoid. A pin 15a extends through the solenoid and is, with one end, operatively coupled to a locking arm 16 and a ratchet mechanism 17. The locking arm 16 is pivotally connected to a housing of the draw back assembly 2, such that upon movement of the pin 15a through the solenoid 15, when the electrical current to the solenoid is interrupted, the free end 16a of the locking arm 16 can move down such that a pawl of the ratchet mechanism 17 provided on the locking arm 16 can disconnect from the ratchet wheel of the ratchet mechanism 17. The locking and releasing means 7, 8 may further comprise a spring 19 that is configured to displace the pin 15a, thus move it towards the locking arm 16 when it is released by the solenoid 15. The spring may be a tension spring and thus biased accordingly. A further spring 38 is provided that is configured to ensure that the pawl of the ratchet mechanism 17 engages with the ratchet wheel during re-activating of the draw back assembly 2 and in the initial position of the draw back system 1. Said spring 38 may be a compression spring.
The curtain draw back system 1 may further comprise re-activating means 9 such that the draw back system 1, more specifically the draw back assembly 2 of the system 1 may be reactivated after a retracting movement Rb. The re-activated means 9 may comprise a switch 39 operatively coupled to a free end of the locking arm 16. The re-activating means 9 may also comprise the ratchet mechanism 17.
Operation of the curtain draw back system 1 according to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7. For the description thereof is referred to the description of the operation of the curtain draw back system 1 as described with Figures 1-3b. Only the differences will be described below.
Upon generation of a withdraw signal by the control 3, the draw back assembly 2 of the draw back system 1 will be activated. Therefore, in the present embodiment of the draw back system 1 according to the invention, the control 3 controls the solenoid 15 such that the locking arm 16, at least its free end 16a is displaced in a direction away from the solenoid 15. The displacement is obtained by interrupting the electrical current to the solenoid 15 such that the pin 15a is not withheld by the magnetic field of the solenoid 15. The spring 19 is biased to displace the pin 15a towards the locking arm 16. At the free end 16a of the locking arm 16 a guiding element 16b is provided that is received in a slot 15b of the pin 15a. The locking arm 16 pivots away from the solenoid 15 in a downward direction Rd such that the pawl provided on the locking arm 16 disengages from the ratchet wheel of the ratchet mechanism 17 (see Figure 7). Upon releasing the ratchet wheel, the draw back element 4 will enable the spring 13 to start rotating in a rotating direction Rr, taking along a drum 20 housing said spring 13. The retractor 6, in the shown embodiment a line, is coupled to the drum 20. Upon rotation of the drum 20, the line will be wound around the drum 20 with a relatively high speed. Since the line 6 is connected to the draw back runner 5, winding of the line 6 results in a retraction movement of the draw back runner 5 and of the curtain runners 21 and thus of the curtain 28. When the draw back runner 5 arrives at the end position near the draw back element 4, the retraction movement will end and the emergency exit 30 will be freely accessible. Due to the construction of the curtain draw back system, the curtain 28 may be retracted in a time period of approximately 0.5-1 second or even less than 0.5 seconds.
When the emergency has been overcome, the curtain draw back system 1 may be re-activated. Re-activation can be obtained by removing the electrical current interruption such that the pin 15a is brought back in its initial position within the solenoid 15 by means of the generated electrical field. Subsequently, the switch 39 is slid towards the solenoid 15 such that the locking arm 16 is brought back in the initial position (see Figure 6) engaging the ratchet mechanism 17. Then, the retractor 6 is pulled away from the draw back element 4 in a direction towards the second end 12 of the rail 10. Due to the slot 15b in the pin 15a and the spring 38, the locking arm 16, and thus the pawl provided thereon, may move up and down when the pawl passes the teeth of the ratchet wheel during the pulling movement of the retractor 6 thereby unwinding in a direction opposite the rotational direction Rr. The draw back system 1 according to this embodiment enables automatic retraction of the curtain 28 in case of power interruption. After all, the solenoid 15 will release the pin 15a in case of power interruption thereby starting the withdrawal operation of the curtain 28.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. First of all, the curtain draw back system may be suitable for emergency exits provided in spaces in which large groups of people gather and in which spaces a nice appearance may be demanded. Such spaces may for instance be: restaurants, conference centres, meeting rooms, crematoriums and the like. Of course, the curtain withdraw system can also be used with common burglary alarm systems. In that case, the withdraw signal may be generated by means of burglary sensors. The curtains may be retracted at the moment the burglary sensor detects a burglar enabling a clear view inside the building for the police or security services. The curtain draw back system may also be used for other applications such as automated curtain systems.
The draw back assembly may have different constructions. Furthermore, the draw back runner may be a separate runner and provided additionally to the last curtain runner in the rail. Alternatively, the draw back runner and the last curtain runner may be integrated and formed in one piece. Furthermore, different coverings may be provided on the curtain draw back system. The rail may have different lengths as long as the retraction properties are adapted accordingly.
However, other modifications, variations and alternatives are also possible. The specifications, drawings and examples are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.
In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word 'comprising' does not exclude the presence of other features or steps then those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the words 'a' and 'an' shall not be construed as limited to 'only one', but instead are used to mean 'at least one', and do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

Curtain draw back system for an emergency exit (30) comprising at least one exit element (32) that can be opened in case of an emergency, wherein the curtain draw back system (1) comprises a rail (10) configured to displaceably hold a covering (28) such as a curtain, wherein the curtain draw back system (1) comprises a draw back assembly (2) coupled to the rail, which draw back assembly is configured to withdraw the covering along the rail in dependence of a withdraw signal such that the at least one exit element will be freely accessible, wherein the draw back assembly (2) comprises a draw back element (4) that is adapted to provide a retraction movement, a displacing element (5) coupled to the covering (28) at a side thereof facing away from the draw back element (4) and a retractor (6) provided between the draw back element (4) and the displacing element (5), which retractor (6) is adapted to convert the retraction movement of the drawback element (4) into a displacement of at least the end of the covering (28) facing away from the draw back element (4) in a direction (Rb) towards the draw back element (4), characterized in that the draw back assembly (2) further comprises a locking means (7) for holding the draw back element (4) in an initial position, in which initial position the covering (28) is provided at least partly in front of the emergency exit (30), wherein the draw back element (4) is biased in the initial position.
The curtain draw back system according to claim 1, wherein the curtain draw back system comprises a control (3) that is operatively coupled to the draw back assembly, which control is adapted to generate the withdraw signal.
The curtain draw back system according to claim 2, wherein the control is adapted to be operatively coupled to an emergency detector (36), such as a fire alarm, a smoke detector or the like.
The curtain draw back system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retractor (6) is coupled to a displacing element forming draw back runner in use provided in the rail at an end thereof facing away from the draw back element.
The curtain draw back system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rail is, at least partly, provided with retractor guiding means (14).
The curtain draw back system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the draw back element comprises a spring (13), such as a tension spring.
The curtain draw back system according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the draw back element comprises a displaceable weight (22).
The curtain draw back system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the draw back assembly comprises releasing means (8) to unlock the locking means (7).
The curtain draw back system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means comprises an electromagnet (15).
The curtain draw back system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises re-activating means for re-activating the curtain draw back system after retracting movement.
Assembly of an emergency exit (30) and a curtain draw back system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the assembly further comprises at least one of an emergency detector (36), such as a fire detector, a smoke detector, an emergency knob or the like, wherein the emergency detector is operatively coupled to the control of the curtain withdraw system.
The assembly according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the assembly comprises a door opener (34) that is operatively coupled to the exit element of the emergency exit and which door opener extends through the covering of the curtain draw back system such that at least part of the door opener is accessible from the side of the covering that faces away from the emergency exit.
Method to adapt a curtain rail into a curtain draw back system for an emergency exit according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the method comprises:
- providing a curtain rail with a covering;

- providing a draw back assembly;

- mounting the draw back assembly onto said curtain rail;

- insert a draw back runner in the curtain rail at an end thereof facing away from the draw back element;

- interconnecting the draw back element and the draw back runner by means of a retractor.
Method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises providing a door opener to the exit element of the emergency exit, which door opener extends, at least partly, through the covering of the curtain draw back system such that a user is able to access the opener in case the covering covers the emergency exit.