JP7719038B2 - Fire detectors and inspection testers - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fire detector that can be removed for testing and an inspection and testing device that can be installed and tested.

The Fire Service Act requires that smoke detectors used as fire detectors undergo sensitivity testing once a year. Sensitivity testing is performed by a qualified technician using a sensitivity testing device such as the one shown in Patent Document 1. A sensitivity testing device is a type of inspection testing device, shaped like a portable box. As shown in Figure 1(c), the inspection testing device 4 includes a testing device main body 41 and a fire detector testing device mounting base 42. Figure 1(a) shows the fire detector 3 mounted on a ceiling mounting base 6 fixed to a ceiling 5 in a normal monitoring state, while Figure 2(b) shows the fire detector 3 removed from the ceiling mounting base 6. Figure 1(c) also shows the fire detector 3 mounted on the inspection testing device 4. As shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(c), the fire detector 3 is removed from its installation location and mounted on the testing device mounting base 42. The inspection testing is performed by measuring the sensitivity of the fire detector 3 in the state shown in Figure 1(c).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-149160

The smoke detector (fire detector 3) receives a communication command for inspection and testing from the inspection and testing device 4 and enters inspection and testing mode. However, if the fire detector 3 enters inspection and testing mode during normal monitoring while installed on a ceiling or other surface, there is a risk of it responding erroneously to the receiver (not shown). For this reason, it is prohibited from entering communication mode during normal monitoring. When the fire detector's power supply changes from a non-supplied state to a supplied state, it detects a voltage rise and enters communication mode, which permits communication with the inspection and testing device for a fixed period of time. As a result, when the fire detector is attached to the inspection and testing device, power voltage is supplied and communication with the inspection and testing device is permitted for a fixed period of time, such as 30 seconds. If a communication command for inspection and testing is received during this permitted period of time, the fire detector 3 enters inspection and testing mode and begins communication with the inspection and testing device 4 for the inspection and testing.

However, modern fire detectors consume less power, and the internal voltage V of a fire detector 3 removed from its ceiling mounting base 6 slowly decreases as shown by the horizontal axis 0 to T1 in Figure 2(a) and the horizontal axis 0 to T2 in Figure 2(b). Figure 2 shows the change in internal voltage V of a fire detector 3 over time immediately after the fire detector 3 is removed from its ceiling mounting base 6 attached to the ceiling 5 at t=0. The vertical axis represents internal voltage V, and the horizontal axis represents time t. If a fire detector 3 installed on a ceiling 5 or the like is removed and immediately connected to the tester mounting base 42 of the inspection tester 4, the voltage will change as shown in Figure 2(a). Figure 2(a) shows the change in internal voltage V over time when the fire detector 3 is removed and connected to the tester mounting base 42 of the inspection tester 4 at time T1. At time T1, power supply voltage is supplied from the tester main body 41 to the fire detector 3 with barely any decrease in internal voltage V. As a result, the rising change in internal voltage V when the fire detector 3 changes from a non-supply state to a supply state is not detected, and the device does not enter communication mode.

Figure 2(b) shows the change in internal voltage V over time when the fire detector is removed from the ceiling mounting base 6 and then attached to the tester mounting base 42 of the inspection tester 4 after a sufficient amount of time has passed. At T2, the internal voltage V has dropped sufficiently, and the fire detector 3's internal voltage V rises significantly due to the power supply from the inspection tester 4, causing it to transition to communication mode. The fire detector 3 can then transition to inspection and testing mode in response to a signal from the inspection tester 4. In order for the fire detector 3 to transition to communication mode, it is necessary to wait until the internal voltage V of the fire detector 3 has dropped sufficiently, as at time T2 in Figure 2(b), before connecting it to the inspection tester 4. As such, conventionally, it was not possible to connect the fire detector 3 to the inspection tester 4 until the internal voltage V of the fire detector 3 had dropped sufficiently, which resulted in a long inspection and testing time.

The present invention addresses the problem that the internal voltage V of a fire detector does not drop easily when it is disconnected from the power source, and if the fire detector is immediately connected to an inspection tester for inspection testing, it is unable to switch to communication mode for inspection testing, making it difficult to carry out inspection testing quickly.

One embodiment of the present invention is a fire detector that can be removed from its installation unit and connected to an inspection and testing device. The fire detector has a switch device that initiates a communication mode with the inspection and testing device when the switch device is turned on.

This invention allows for quick inspection and testing of fire detectors whose internal voltage V does not drop easily when disconnected from a power source by connecting them to an inspection and testing device.

A diagram showing the situation where a fire detector is removed and inspected using an inspection tester. A graph showing the change in the internal voltage of a fire detector when it is removed from the ceiling. A diagram showing a situation in which a fire detector equipped with a geomagnetic sensor is attached to a ceiling. A diagram showing a fire detector equipped with a geomagnetic sensor attached to an inspection and testing device. 10 is a graph showing the allowable range T of the angle and strength of the magnetic field detected by the geomagnetic sensor.

Figure 3 shows a fire detector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention mounted on a ceiling mounting base 6 on a ceiling 5, which is the installation location. The fire detector 1 according to this embodiment is a smoke detector and is a P-type. The fire detector 1 includes a geomagnetic sensor 11, a type of magnetic sensor. Geomagnetic sensors can detect the direction of a magnetic field in the x, y, and z directions of the sensor itself. Geomagnetic sensors are used in smartphones and other devices, and are high-performance, relatively inexpensive devices, making them suitable for use as the magnetic sensor of the present invention. The output of the geomagnetic sensor 11 is determined by the switch device 12. When the switch device 12 is turned on, the control device 13 controls the communication device 14 to initiate a communication mode with the inspection and testing device 2, described below. Once the communication mode is initiated, the device is ready to perform an inspection and testing via communication from the inspection and testing device 2. In the state shown in Figure 3, the geomagnetic sensor 11 does not detect any specific magnetic field, and the switch device 12 is off. Therefore, the device does not enter communication mode. Even if an operator removes the fire detector 1 from the ceiling mounting base 6 for inspection or testing, the geomagnetic sensor 11 does not detect a specific magnetic field before attaching it to the inspection/testing device 2, so the switch device 12 is off and does not enter communication mode. In this embodiment, the geomagnetic sensor 11 is not used to detect geomagnetism, but rather to detect a specific magnetic field, and is set so that geomagnetism is not detected as a specific magnetic field.

Because the geomagnetic sensor 11 is installed inside the fire detector 1, unlike a switch installed outside the fire detector 1, it cannot be accidentally touched by workers, etc. Furthermore, even if a child brings a magnet close to the fire detector 1 while it is attached to the ceiling mounting base 6, the switch device 12 will not turn on because the direction of the magnetic field will be different from the predetermined direction. As will be described later, the switch device 12 will not turn on unless it detects a specific magnetic field.

Figure 4 shows a fire detector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention removed from the ceiling mounting base 6 on the ceiling 5, where it is installed, and connected to the tester mounting base 22 of the inspection/testing device 2. The fire detector 1 obtains power through its connection to the tester mounting base 22, and is in a powered state. The geomagnetic sensor 11 detects the magnetic field generated by the magnet 23 and sends the detected magnetic field value to the switch device 12. The switch device 12 determines that the detected magnetic field value is a specific magnetic field and turns on. The control device 13 then starts the communication mode using the communication device 14.

When the fire detector 1 is attached to the ceiling mounting base 6, the geomagnetic sensor 11 is subject to the geomagnetic field, but the switch device 12 does not turn on due to a magnetic field of geomagnetic strength. When an operator removes the fire detector 1 from the ceiling mounting base 6 for inspection and testing, the fire detector 1 is powered off. The internal voltage V then gradually decreases, as shown in Figure 2. If the fire detector 1 is immediately attached to the tester mounting base 22 of the inspection and testing device 2, the internal voltage V rises, as shown in Figure 2(a) T1. At this time, the geomagnetic sensor 11 of the fire detector 1 detects a specific magnetic field generated by the magnet 23 of the inspection and testing device 2. The switch device 12 then turns on when the geomagnetic sensor 11 detects the specific magnetic field generated by the magnet 23. When the switch device 12 turns on, it enters communication mode and is ready to communicate with the inspection and testing device 2. The inspection and testing device 2 then sends a communication command for inspection and testing to the fire detector 1. Fire detector 1 receives the inspection test communication command and transitions to inspection test mode.

The magnet 23 of the inspection/testing device 2 is installed so that its north pole is in the +z direction in Figure 4. The switch device 12 of the fire detector 1 turns on when the geomagnetic sensor 11 detects a magnetic field with a north pole in the -z direction in Figure 4. The control device 13 then starts communication with the testing device main body 21 via the communication device 14. Considering the magnetic field caused by pranks such as bringing a magnet close, it is preferable to have a small allowable angle for the north pole direction.

Figure 5 shows a graph showing the tolerance range T for the angle and strength of the magnetic field detected by the geomagnetic sensor 11. The horizontal axis represents the deviation angle Δθ from the z direction, and the vertical axis represents the magnetic field strength H. When the angle and strength of the magnetic field detected by the geomagnetic sensor 11 are within the tolerance range T, which is a certain range of the deviation angle Δθ and the magnetic field strength H, the switch device 12 turns on. If a magnet is brought close as a prank, the probability that the angle and strength of the magnetic field detected by the geomagnetic sensor 11 will be within the tolerance range T, which is a certain range of the deviation angle Δθ and the magnetic field strength H, is low. In this way, by turning on the switch device 12 when the geomagnetic sensor 11 detects a magnetic field of a specific direction and strength, the switch device 12 will not turn on in the event of a magnetic field caused by a prank, etc., and the start of communication mode is suppressed.

Furthermore, the detection of a specific magnetic field may be performed over a predetermined detection period, where the angle and strength of the magnetic field are within a certain tolerance range T, which is a fixed range of the deviation angle Δθ and magnetic field strength H. In this case, detection is performed four times over a predetermined detection period of, for example, one second, and if the deviation angle Δθ and magnetic field strength H are within the tolerance range T shown in Figure 5 in all of the detections, the switch device 12 will turn on. Even if a magnet is brought close as a prank, the probability that the deviation angle Δθ and magnetic field strength H will be within the tolerance range T shown in Figure 5 in all four detections is extremely small. This further prevents communication from being initiated due to pranks, etc.

The geomagnetic sensor 11, switch device 12, and control device 13 of the fire detector 1 are activated by the internal voltage V remaining in the fire detector 1. The operable voltage Vd at which these devices can operate is preferably equal to or lower than the off-voltage Voff, which is the voltage at which a rising change in the internal voltage V can be detected when the fire detector 1 changes from a non-supply state to a supply state. Even if it is not equal to or lower than the off-voltage Voff, the operable voltage Vd is preferably close to or lower than the off-voltage Voff. By setting the operable voltage Vd at this level, the fire detector 1 can quickly transition to communication mode even if some time has passed since it was removed from the ceiling mounting base 6.

The magnetic sensor may be installed inside the tester body 21 as in the embodiment, or it may be installed on the tester mounting base 22. The magnet installed in the inspection tester may be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. The switch device may be incorporated into the control device and implemented by a program.

In addition, while the embodiment uses a geomagnetic sensor as the magnetic sensor, other magnetic sensors or sensors that measure angular velocity, such as a gyro sensor, can also be used. When using a gyro sensor, it is envisioned that a method will be used in which the angle and time when the fire detector 1 is turned upside down for attachment to an inspection tester is detected and communication is permitted. For example, if the state when the fire detector is attached to the ceiling is defined as 0°, and the state when the fire detector is removed and turned upside down is defined as 180°, communication can be permitted when the gyro sensor detects an angle change from 120° to 240° within a specified time.

In the embodiment, a fire detector mounted on a ceiling is shown as an example, but it may also be a fire detector installed on a sloped ceiling or wall. Also, in the embodiment, fire detector 1 is a P-type smoke detector, but it may also be another fire detector or inspection/testing device that switches to communication mode when its internal voltage rises.

In addition, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments, and design changes that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

1 Fire detector, 11 Geomagnetic sensor, 12 Switch device, 13 Control device, 14 Communication device,
2 Inspection tester, 21 Tester body, 22 Tester mounting base, 23 Magnet,
3 Fire detector,
4 Inspection tester, 41 Tester body, 42 Tester mounting base,
5 Ceiling, 6 Ceiling mounting base

Claims (4)

A fire detector that is removed from the installation section and connected to an inspection and testing device,
A switch device is provided.
A fire detector characterized in that when the switch device is turned on, a communication mode with the inspection tester is initiated. A magnetic sensor is included.
2. The fire detector according to claim 1, wherein the switch device is turned on when the magnetic sensor detects a magnetic field from a magnet provided in the inspection/testing device. A fire detector as described in claim 2, characterized in that the switch device turns on when the magnetic sensor detects a specific magnetic field. An inspection and testing device that installs a fire detector and performs an inspection test,
a tester mounting base for mounting the fire detector;
An inspection tester characterized by having a magnet for placing the fire detector, which starts the communication mode by detecting a magnetic field when attached to the tester mounting base, into the communication mode.