Refractory element

Cooling liquid flowing through cooling-liquid passages cools in heat-transmission manner an inner layer on an inner surface of an impermeable intermediate layer and is directed through a piping to an interface between the intermediate and outer layers, whereby the porous outer layer is cooled by latent heat generated by evaporation of the cooling liquid infiltrated into the porous outer layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a refractory element. 
Conventionally, a building or the like is fireproofed by using refractory 
interior and exterior members and/or heat-insulating members between 
interior and exterior members. 
Upon fire, goods and the like are protected from burning by covering the 
same with refractory sheets. 
Use of such refractory and/or heat-insulating members for fireproofing 
buildings or the like has the following problems: 
(1) When a fire occurs outside a building or the like, intrusion of heat 
from the exterior to the interior of the building or the like cannot be 
completely prevented by the refractory and/or heat-insulating members, 
resulting in rise of temperature in the interior of the building or the 
like. 
(2) Construction of refractory members and/or heat-insulating members will 
take a long time since they are separate parts. 
In like manner, to cover goods and the like with refractory sheets may 
prevent the former from burning but cannot completely block intrusion of 
heat through the refractory sheets, resulting in degradation of and damage 
to the goods and the like. 
In view of the above, the present invention was made to provide a 
refractory element which can maintain the interior temperature at a 
predetermined level and which can facilitate the construction when applied 
in the form of refractory panel. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention, the above-mentioned objects are 
attained by a refractory element comprising an impermeable intermediate 
layer, an inner, heat-transmission cooling layer with liquid passages for 
causing a cooling liquid to flow along an inner surface of the 
intermediate layer, a porous, outer, ooze cooling layer on an outer 
surface of the intermediate layer and a pipeline for directing the cooling 
liquid to an interface between the intermediate and outer layers whereby 
of the liquid oozes through the pores of the outer layer. 
The cooling liquid flowing through the passages cools in heat-transmission 
manner the inner layer and is directed through the piping to the interface 
between the intermediate and outer layers, whereby the porous outer layer 
is cooled by latent heat generated by evaporation of the cooling liquid 
infiltrated into the porous outer layer. 
The intermediate layer may be made of refractory and heat-insulating 
material to enhance a degree of fireproofness. 
When the inner, intermediate and outer layers are constructed in the form 
of panels, a refractory chamber, such as an emergency elevator and the 
like can be constructed easily. 
When the inner, intermediate and outer layers are constructed in the form 
of sheet so as to cover goods and the like in case of fire, the degrading 
of quality and damages of the goods and the like can be prevented. 
The present invention will become more apparent from the following 
description of preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
First Embodiment, FIGS. 1-5 
An impermeable intermediate layer 1, which is fabricated from a sheet of 
aluminum, stainless steel or the like, has its outer and inner surfaces on 
which are disposed an outer, porous, ooze cooling layer 4 and an inner 
heat-transmission cooling layer 8. 
The outer layer 4 comprises a soft porous member 2 such as a sheet of 
ceramic paper made of fibrous SiO.sub.2 and a hard porous member 3 such as 
a reinforced sheet of ceramic paper made of ceramic paper impregnated with 
silicon. 
The inner layer 8 comprises a cooling piping 7 through which cooling liquid 
passes. The cooling piping 7 has a main pipe section 5 extending along a 
base line and along one side line of the intermediate layer 1 and branched 
pipe sections 6 each connected at its one end to the main pipe section 5 
and meanderingly disposed on the inner surface of the intermediate layer 
1. A cooling liquid supply opening means 10 in the form of a readily 
attachable joint or the like is joined to an inlet end 9 of the cooling 
piping 7 at the lower end of the main pipe section 5. 
A cooling liquid distribution port means 12 in the form of a readily 
attachable joint or the like and engageable with the opening means 10 is 
attached to a distribution end 11 of the cooling piping 7 at the upper end 
of the main pipe section 5. 
An extension pipe 14 extends from a terminal end 13 of the cooling piping 7 
at the other end of each branched pipe section 6 over the upper side of the 
intermediate layer 1 to a rear surface thereof. 
The extension pipe 14 is connected to a pipeline 17 comprising a plurality 
of branched pipe sections 16 each having at its leading end a 
cooling-liquid oozing port 15 and disposed between the intermediate layer 
1 and the porous member 2. 
The refractory elements with the above-described construction in the form 
of panel (which is often referred to as refractory panels 18 in this 
specification) are joined to a frame 19 with the heat-transmission cooling 
layer 8 and the ooze cooling layer 4 being at the inside and outside, 
respectively, thereby providing a refractory chamber 20. 
As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a cooling liquid supply pipe 23 made of 
copper and having openings 22 is spirally wound around a flexible pipe 21 
such as stainless, corrugated pipe and is covered with a permeable 
refractory cloth 24 such as silica cloth, thereby providing a refractory 
flexible pipe 25. The pipe 25 is connected at its one end to the bottom of 
the refractory chamber 20, and an electrical cable 26 and a cooling liquid 
supply pipe 27 which is different from the abovementioned cooling liquid 
supply pipe extend through the pipe 25 into the refractory chamber 20. 
The supply pipe 27 is connected to the port means 10 of each refractory 
panel 18 (in this case, the distribution port means 12 of each panel 18 is 
closed); alternatively, when the cooling pipings 7 of the refractory panels 
18 are being communicated with each other in series by connecting the port 
means 12 and 10, the supply pipe 27 is connected to an unconnected one of 
the supply port means 10 (in this case an unconnected one of the 
distribution port means 12 is closed). 
Reference numeral 28 denotes a cooling liquid; and 29, an inner material 
covering the inner layer 8 of the refractory panel 18. 
Next the mode of operation of the refractory panel 18 of the type described 
above will be described in detail. 
Normally the cooling liquid 28 is not made to flow through the supply pipe 
27 extending through the flexible pipe 25 and the supply pipe 23 wound 
around the flexible pipe 21 in the pipe 25. 
In case of a fire, in response to a fire alarming system, cooling liquid 28 
is forced to flow through the supply pipes 23 and 27. Alternatively, this 
operation may be manually started by a person in charge of fire 
prevention. 
Then, in the refractory flexible pipe 25, the cooling liquid 28 oozes 
through the openings 22 of the supply pipe 23 around the flexible pipe 21 
and is spread through the permeable refractory cloth 24 by the capillary 
action to thereby wet the whole surface of the refractory cloth 24. 
When the thus wholly wet refractory cloth 24 on the refractory flexible 
pipe 25 is exposed to fire from the exterior, the cooling liquid 28 
evaporates through the cloth 24 to dissipate the heat of the cloth 24 as 
latent heat, whereby the pipe 25 is protected from heat. The cooling 
liquid 28 is continuously supplied by the capillary action to the cloth 24 
from which the cooling liquid is evaporating. Therefore, the refractory 
cloth 24 can be maintained in a wetted state as long as the quantity of 
the cooling liquid to flow through the supply pipe 23 is maintained at a 
suitable level. 
Since the refractory pipe 25 is protected from heat in the manner described 
above, stable and dependable supply of the cooling liquid 28 to the 
refractory chamber 20 through the supply pipe 27 can be ensured. 
In the refractory chamber 20, the cooling liquid 28 is supplied through the 
supply pipe 27 to the supply port means 10 of each refractory panel 18. As 
a result, the cooling liquid 28 flows through the main pipe section 5 and 
the branched pipe sections 16, thereby cooling the inner, 
heat-transmission cooling layer 8. Therefore, in the interior of the 
refractory panels 18 and thus in the refractory chamber 20, the 
temperature is maintained at a constant level. 
Thereafter, the cooling liquid 28 is introduced through the extension pipe 
14 into the branched pipe sections 16 of the pipeline 17 and then 
discharged through the discharge port 15. 
The discharged cooling liquid 28 infiltrates into the porous materials 2 
and 3 of the outer layer 4 by the capillary action to wet the whole 
surface of the layer 4. 
When the refractory chamber 20 is exposed to the exterior heat under the 
condition of the cooling layer 24 being maintained in a wholly wetted 
state, the cooling liquid 28 evaporates from the cooling layer 4 to 
dissipate the heat on the layer 4 as evaporation latent heat to thereby 
prevent intrusion of heat from the exterior into the interior of the 
refractory chamber 20. 
According to the present invention, after the cooling liquid 28 has been 
used to cool the inner, heat-transmission cooling layer 8 in the 
refractory chamber 20, it is used again to cool the outer, ooze cooling 
layer 4. Therefore, a high degree of cooling efficiency is obtained by 
less amount of cooling liquid. 
In addition, the outer, intermediate and inner layers 4, 1 and 8 are 
integrally incorporated in the form of the refractory panel 18, the 
fabrication or construction can be much facilitated. 
As described above, the temperature in the refractory chamber 20 can be 
maintained constant or a predetermined level, the refractory chamber 20 is 
adapted to be used as a shelter or a computer room. In addition, corridors 
in a building may be lined with the refractory panels 18 so as to be used 
as an emergency evacuation route in case of fire. 
Second Embodiment, FIGS. 6-12 
A second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first 
embodiment described above in that the refractory intermediate layer 1 
comprises a refractory member 30 and impermeable members 31, 32 such as 
sheets of aluminum or stainless steel, the latter members 31, 32 being 
bonded to opposite surfaces of the former member 30 in sandwich manner, 
and that an outer, ooze cooling layer 4 comprises a porous member 2 having 
an outer surface to which an exterior member 34 such as a sheet of 
stainless steel or a heat-resisting composite member with a large number 
of pores 33 is bonded through spacers 35 so as to provide vapor passages 
36. 
In addition, an interior member 29 is preliminarily bonded to the cooling 
piping 7. 
The refractory panels 18 with above-described construction are used to 
construct, for example, an elevator as shown in FIGS. 10-12. 
A vertically extending recess 38 is defined on an outer wall of a high 
building 37. An emergency elevator body 39 with walls made of or lined 
with the refractory panels 18 is located within the recess 38 such that it 
can be vertically movable. More specifically, the elevator body 39 is 
suspended by a wire 42 from an emergency exit room 41 constructed on a top 
40 of the building 37. 
The wire 42 is securely joined at its upper end to an upper portion of the 
exit room 41 while a lower end thereof is wound around the winch drum 44 
of a lift apparatus 43 securely joined to a top of the elevator body 39 so 
that when the wire 42 is wound or unwound by the winch drum 44, the 
elevator body 39 is lifted or lowered. 
The refractory panels 18 are bonded to the elevator body 39 such that the 
heat-transmission cooling layers 8 define interior walls of the elevator 
body 39 while the ooze cooling layers 4 define exterior walls. 
Installed on the top of the elevator body 39 are an emergency air cylinder 
45 capable of supplying air into the elevator body 39 and a water supply 
system or water tank 46 which is normally filled with a predetermined 
quantity of water and which is communicated through valves (not shown) to 
the cooling pipings 7 of the refractory panels 18 (See FIG. 11). 
One end of a refractory cable 47 extending from the exterior of the 
building 37 is connected to a predetermined position of the elevator body 
39 such that a water supply pipe 48 for supplying the water into the water 
tank 46, an electric power cable 49 for supplying the power to the lift 
system 43 and an air supply pipe 50 for supplying the air into the 
elevator body 39 independently of the air storage cylinder 45 extends 
through the refractory cable 47 from the exterior of the building 37 into 
the elevator body 39. 
The other end of the refractory cable 47 is connected to, for example, a 
rescue trailer 51 as shown in FIG. 12 which is equipped with a generator, 
a water pump, an air pump and the like and which is parked near the 
building 37. 
Reference numeral 52 indicates an entrance door; 53, an exit door; and 54, 
guide rollers for prevention of direct contact of the elevator body 39 
with the building 37 during lifting or lowering of the body 39. 
Next the mode of operation of the second embodiment will be described. 
Normally, the wire 42 is wound around the winch drum 44 of the lift system 
43 to stop the elevator body 39 within the emergency exit room 41. In case 
of a fire, evacuees in the building 37 go up to the top 40 of the building 
37 and then open the doors 52 and escape into the elevator body 39. Next, 
the valve of the air storage cylinder 45 is opened to fill the interior of 
the elevator body 39 with fresh air so that the pressure therein rises 
slightly in excess of the atmospheric pressure, thereby preventing the 
intrusion of the smoke into the interior of the elevator body 39. 
Thereafter, the valve of the water storage cylinder 46 is opened to supply 
the water to the cooling pipings 7 of the refractory panels 18. 
The water supplied into each of the cooling pipings 7 cools the surface of 
the heat-transmission cooling layer 8 of the refractory panel 18 or the 
interior of the elevator body 39 and is introduced into the pipeline 17 
and discharged through the discharge holes 15 so that it infiltrates into 
the porous member 2 of the ooze cooling layer 4, thereby wetting the same. 
On the ground, the other end of the refractory cable 47 is immediately 
connected to the rescue trailer 51 so as to supply the electric power, 
water and air into the elevator body 39. 
When the refractory cable 47 is connected to the rescue trailer 51, the 
evacuees in the elevator body 39 operate the lift system 43 to lower the 
elevator body 39. Upon arrival on the ground, they open the exit doors 53 
and get out of the elevator body 39. 
In this case, when the elevator body 39 is exposed to the heat from the 
fire as it is lowered, as in the case of the first embodiment, the water 
evaporates through the surface of the porous members 2 of the refractory 
panels 18 to dissipate heat from the ooze cooling layer 4 as the latent 
heat. As a result, intrusion of heat from the exterior to the interior of 
the elevator body 39 can be prevented. 
In addition, because of the refractory intermediate layer 1 inwardly of the 
outer layer 4, intrusion of heat from the exterior can be substantially 
prevented. 
Therefore, the evacuees can be protected from heat and escape safely from 
the high building 39. 
In the second embodiment, so far the electric power has been described as 
being supplied from the rescue trailer 51 through the heat-resisting cable 
47. This is because there is a possibility that the electric power source 
in the building 37 cannot be used. But, a further lift system for winding 
or rewinding the wire 42 may be disposed on the top of the rescue room 41 
to be energized by the power from a power source in the building 37. The 
lift system 43 and this further lift system may be used alternatively or 
in combination. 
The reason why the air and water are supplied through the refractory cable 
47 from the rescue trailer 51 is that when many persons are to escape from 
the building 37 in fire, the elevator body 39 must be shuttled or 
repeatedly lowered and lifted so that there is a fear of the air and water 
supply being exhausted from the air storage cylinder 45 and the water tank 
46. The air and water may be directly supplied to the interior of the 
elevator body 39 from the rescue trailer 51 without providing the elevator 
body 39 with the air storage cylinder 45 and the water tank 46. In this 
case, it is apparent that the water pump on the rescue trailer 51 is used 
as a water supply to the elevator body 39. 
It should be noted here that the refractory cable 47 is wound or unwound by 
a winch drum which has connecting means for the water, electric power and 
air supply sources. 
FIG. 13 illustrates another example of an elevator constructed with the 
refractory panels 18 according to the present invention. In this example, 
the inner walls of an elevator shaft 55 are constructed or lined with the 
refractory panels 18 which are communicated through a valve 57 with a 
water storage tank 56 constructed on the top of the building 37. 
As described above, the walls of the elevator shaft 55 are constructed or 
lined with the refractory panels 18 so that in case of fire, temperature 
rise in the shaft 55 can be prevented to further ensure the safety of the 
evacuees. 
Third Embodiment, FIGS. 14 and 15 
The third embodiment is substantially similar in construction to the first 
and second embodiments described above except that the outer, ooze cooling 
layer 4 comprises the porous member 2, a wire net 58 and a lattice 59. The 
third embodiment can also attain the features attained by the first and 
second embodiments. 
Fourth Embodiment, FIG. 16 
The fourth embodiment is substantially similar in construction to the 
first, second and third embodiments except that the inner, 
heat-transmission cooling layer 8 comprises a cooling liquid jacket 63 
which has a corrugated plate 60 to defines cooling liquid passages 61 and 
62 on both surfaces of the plate 60 and a pipeline 64 which extends from 
the jacket 63 through the heat-insulating intermediate layer 1 to the 
porous member 2. The fourth embodiment also can attain the effects 
attained by the first, second and third embodiments. 
Fifth Embodiment, FIGS. 17-20 
In the fifth embodiment, the refractory element 65 is constructed in the 
form of blanket. 
More specifically, the intermediate layer 1 comprises a heat-resisting 
sheet 66 such as Kevlar (trademark) cloth on both surfaces of which 
aluminum is deposited. 
The cooling piping 7 comprising nylon tubes, Teflon (trademark) tubes, 
cooper tubes or the like is sewed to the refractory sheet 66 and is 
covered with the interior member 73 which in turn is made of material 
substantially similar to that of the heat-resisting sheet 66, thereby 
constructing the heat-transmission cooling layer 8. Porous ceramic paper 
67 is sandwiched by silica cloth sheets 68 and 69 which are made by 
weaving silica fibers and they are integrated into a cloth-like body 70, 
thereby constructing the ooze cooling layer 4. 
Belts 71 and buckles 72 are respectively attached to opposite sides of the 
refractory blanket 65. 
Except the above, the fifth embodiment is substantially similar in 
construction to the first to the fifth embodiments and also can be used in 
a similar manner described above. Therefore, the effects and features 
attained by the above-described embodiments can be also attained by the 
fifth embodiment. 
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the 
above-described embodiments and that various modifications may be effected 
without departing from the true spirit of the present invention.