Abstract: A large industrial ceiling fan includes exceptionally long fan blades with blade tips that can be tilted upward to more broadly distribute the air. Such broad distribution might be particularly beneficial in cases where the fan is installed relatively low to avoid obstacles such as hanging lights, sprinkler heads and rafters. A low mounting position is possible, because the fan is suspended from a hanger of adjustable length. The fan includes several joints that are redundantly bolted and welded for safety. A continuous retaining ring provides additional safety. A resilient bushing enhances the flexibility of the fan blades and reduces strain where the fan blades connect to a central mounting hub. To more broadly distribute the airflow underneath the fan, each fan blade has a twisted geometry to provide an angle of attack that decreases from the root to the tip of the blade.

Abstract: An overhead fan system of a building comprises a ceiling fan underneath a nearby fire sprinkler head. The ceiling fan has particularly low fan solidity to minimize the fan obstructing the spray of water from the sprinkler head. To further reduce the obstruction, some example fans include fan blades that automatically retract in the event of a fire.

Abstract: In the event of a fire, in some examples, a ceiling fan stops its fan blades at a predetermined position so as to avoid obstructing the spray from an overhead sprinkler head. The fan can be stopped by various means including, but not limited to, a spring loaded roller engaging a lobed member to urge the fan to a chosen stop position, an electromechanical brake that grips a rotating member at certain locations, a stationary magnet attracted to one or more iron pads that rotate to certain locations, and a motor controller responsive to a rotational position sensor.

Abstract: A fire safety system includes a sensor arrangement and control scheme for quickly sensing a fire, accurately identifying its location, and controlling a set of ceiling fans and overhead sprinklers to efficiently extinguish the fire. The fire safety system is particularly suited for large buildings such as warehouses, factories, gymnasiums, retail stores, auditoriums, convention centers, theaters or other buildings with large open areas. In some examples, the overhead fans are disabled prior to activating the sprinklers. The placement of the fire sensors, in some cases, are selected upon first considering the location of the overhead fans.

Abstract: A fire safety system includes a sensor arrangement and control scheme for quickly sensing a fire, accurately identifying its location, and controlling a set of ceiling fans and overhead sprinklers to efficiently extinguish the fire. The fire safety system is particularly suited for large buildings such as warehouses, factories, gymnasiums, retail stores, auditoriums, convention centers, theaters or other buildings with large open areas. In some examples, the overhead fans are disabled prior to activating the sprinklers. The placement of the fire sensors, in some cases, are selected upon first considering the location of the overhead fans.

Abstract: A retractable barrier system includes an example gear assembly that can be manipulated for rapidly deploying a flexible barrier, exerting high torque for the initial tightening of the barrier, maintaining high static tension in barrier when in use, and/or rapidly retracting barrier for storage. In some examples, the gear assembly is a worm drive with a worm that can be selectively disengaged from a worm gear. Other optional features of the barrier system include selective right-hand/left-hand configurations, an electric switch that can be added to indicate whether the barrier system is in use, an intermediate coupling that joins the distal ends of two barriers for creating an extra long barrier system, and removable vehicle-mounted posts for certain loading dock applications.

Abstract: A large industrial ceiling fan includes exceptionally long fan blades with blade tips that can be tilted upward to more broadly distribute the air. Such broad distribution might be particularly beneficial in cases where the fan is installed relatively low to avoid obstacles such as hanging lights, sprinkler heads and rafters. A low mounting position is possible, because the fan is suspended from a hanger of adjustable length. The fan includes several joints that are redundantly bolted and welded for safety. A continuous retaining ring provides additional safety. A resilient bushing enhances the flexibility of the fan blades and reduces strain where the fan blades connect to a central mounting hub. To more broadly distribute the airflow underneath the fan, each fan blade has a twisted geometry to provide an angle of attack that decreases from the root to the tip of the blade.

Abstract: A retractable barrier includes a rollup or otherwise retractable panel that can extend between two spaced apart support members. When not in use, the panel can retract onto one of the support members to permit passage. The barrier provides substantial impact resistance by having the reactive force of the impact transfer directly between the barrier's retractable panel and its support members without having to rely on the strength of the panel's take-up roller or the strength of the roller's anti-rotation mechanism. This can be accomplished by having a slot-engaging stop member mounted directly to the panel itself. The stop member is preferably a pipe, rod, bar or some other vertically elongate member that can broadly distribute an impact reactive force over the height of the panel. In some embodiments, the barrier can be set for various doorway widths by simply repositioning the stop member's location on the retractable panel.

Abstract: A retractable barrier includes a rollup or otherwise retractable panel that can extend between two spaced apart support members. When not in use, the panel can retract onto one of the support members to permit passage. The barrier provides substantial impact resistance by having the reactive force of the impact transfer directly between the barrier's retractable panel and its support members without having to rely on the strength of the panel's take-up roller or the strength of the roller's anti-rotation mechanism. This can be accomplished by having a slot-engaging stop member mounted directly to the panel itself. The stop member is preferably a pipe, rod, bar or some other vertically elongate member that can broadly distribute an impact reactive force over the height of the panel. In some embodiments, the barrier can be set for various doorway widths by simply repositioning the stop member's location on the retractable panel.

Abstract: A retractable barrier includes a rollup or otherwise retractable panel that can extend between two spaced apart support members. When not in use, the panel can retract onto one of the support members to permit passage. The barrier provides substantial impact resistance by having the reactive force of the impact transfer directly between the barrier's retractable panel and its support members without having to rely on the strength of the panel's take-up roller or the strength of the roller's anti-rotation mechanism. This can be accomplished by having a slot-engaging stop member mounted directly to the panel itself. The stop member is preferably a pipe, rod, bar or some other vertically elongate member that can broadly distribute an impact reactive force over the height of the panel. In some embodiments, the barrier can be set for various doorway widths by simply repositioning the stop member's location on the retractable panel.

Abstract: To avoid repeated damage to a lower section of a metal roll-up door, the lower section is replaced by a more impactable curtain assembly. The curtain assembly is so readily scalable, horizontally and vertically, that much of it can be manufactured and field assembled right at the installation site. The curtain assembly may comprise one or more strips of fabric that are cut from a roll of a certain width. The length of the fabric strips corresponds to the width of the doorway, and the number of strips is based on the vertical span of the door section that is being replaced. Windbars can be attached where adjacent strips connect to each other. A weighted, semi-rigid bottom bar reinforces the lower edge of the finished roll-up curtain. Under impact, the bottom bar has sufficient flexibility to allow the curtain to resiliently break away from within the door's vertical guide tracks.

Abstract: A door panel comprises several interlocking panel members. The panel members can be extrusions that are readily cut to length to create assembled door panels that match doorways of various widths. The ability to readily provide a door panel in various widths and lengths makes such a panel particularly useful as a replacement panel whose size needs to match that of existing door panels. In some embodiments, a physical property of the panel member's extruded material varies from one panel member to another and/or varies within a single panel member to provide a door panel with certain desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A door panel comprises several interlocking panel members. The panel members can be extrusions that are readily cut to length to create assembled door panels that match doorways of various widths. The ability to readily provide a door panel in various widths and lengths makes such a panel particularly useful as a replacement panel whose size needs to match that of existing door panels. In some embodiments, a physical property of the panel member's extruded material varies from one panel member to another and/or varies within a single panel member to provide a door panel with certain desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A guiding mechanism for use in combination with an industrial door that includes an extension member extending across a doorway when the door is in a doorway blocking position is provided. The guiding mechanism includes a guard bracket extending along the doorway and having a mounting segment and a guard segment, and a track extending along the doorway and including a guideway for receiving a roller of the extension member and for guiding the roller as the door moves between blocking and unblocking positions. The track is affixedly mounted to the mounting segment such that the guard segment protects the track from an obstacle during a track impact condition.

Abstract: A sectional door includes a series of track-guided pivotal door panels, wherein at least one of the door panels comprises several interlocked panel members. The panel members are of various widths so they can be assembled in different combinations to create a door panel of a desired total width. The panel members can be extrusions that are readily cut to length to match doorways of various widths. The ability to readily provide a panel in various widths and lengths makes such a door panel particularly useful as a replacement panel whose size needs to match that of existing door panels. In some cases, one or more panel members can be transparent to create a door panel with an integral window.

Abstract: A sectional door includes a series of track-guided pivotal door panels, wherein at least one of the door panels comprises several interlocked panel members. The panel members are of various widths so they can be assembled in different combinations to create a door panel of a desired total width. The panel members can be extrusions that are readily cut to length to match doorways of various widths. The ability to readily provide a panel in various widths and lengths makes such a door panel particularly useful as a replacement panel whose size needs to match that of existing door panels. In some cases, one or more panel members can be transparent to create a door panel with an integral window.

Abstract: A seal assembly for an overhead-storing door seals the horizontal joints between adjacent panels of the door. The panels are pivotally interconnected at the joints to allow the door to open and close by traveling along a set of lateral tracks that curve between horizontal and vertical. The door closes in the vertical position, and stores horizontally overhead. The seal assembly can also be used for sealing the leading edge of the door panel that closes against the floor. The seal assembly includes a seal holder with a T-shaped anchor that engages a complimental T-shaped seal-receiving opening in a foam core of at least one of the door panels. The seal holder includes shaped grooves for attaching a flexible U-shaped seal member and, if desired, for inserting a reinforcing bar that increases the rigidity of the seal holder. In attaching the seal member to the seal holder, the T-shaped anchor slides in a first direction into the mating seal-receiving opening in the foam core.

Abstract: A guiding mechanism for use in combination with an industrial door that includes an extension member extending across a doorway when the door is in a doorway blocking position is provided. The guiding mechanism includes a guard bracket extending along the doorway and having a mounting segment and a guard segment, and a track extending along the doorway and including a guideway for receiving a roller of the extension member and for guiding the roller as the door moves between blocking and unblocking positions. The track is affixedly mounted to the mounting segment such that the guard segment protects the track from an obstacle during a track impact condition.

Abstract: A visor mounting system includes a visor pivot rod with an end which extends through a bezel and a locking member which is spring-loaded to cooperate with the bezel and pivot rod for allowing the visor to be initially inserted in an aperture in the underlying roof support and subsequently rotated using the visor as the installation tool to a position in which the locking member moves toward the bezel and lockably engages the vehicle roof.

Abstract: A visor mounting system includes a visor pivot rod with an end which extends through a bezel and a non-circular locking plate which cooperates with the bezel and pivot rod for allowing the visor to be initially inserted in an aperture in the underlying roof support and subsequently rotated using the visor as the installation tool to a position in which the locking plate lockably engages an aperture in the vehicle roof completing the installation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking plate includes arcuate collars which slidably interfit with arcuate collars of the bezel to interlock the plate and bezel from relative rotation and yet allow the locking plate and bezel to move with respect to one another.