Smoke detector trained as an insect catcher

Abstract

Smoke detector (10) with a base (1) in which the components necessary for the detection and signaling of smoke gases in a room are housed, and a cover (2) closing the base (1) which has a plurality of openings (2.2) through which smoke gases can flow, and a plate (3) or film which can be inserted into the cover (2) and which is adhesive on at least one side, characterized in that the smoke detector (10) is designed as an insect catcher in that the plate (3) or film has an attractant adapted for insects and can be placed on a base (2.3) of the cover (2) which faces the room.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a smoke detector with a base in which the components necessary for the detection and signaling of smoke gases are accommodated, and a cover closing the base, which has a plurality of openings through which smoke gases can flow, and a plate or film which can be inserted into the cover and which is adhesive on at least one side.

[0002] Such a smoke detector is known, for example, from WO 97 / 09 876 A1.

[0003] DE 100 55 135 C2 discloses a device for catching flying insects, comprising a flat carrier whose upper surface contains an insect-attracting and / or insect-retaining substance. The carrier is designed such that the flying insects are always presented with a substantially horizontal surface coated with an insect-attracting and / or insect-retaining substance.

[0004] A photoelectronic smoke detector known from DE 600 01 338 T2 has a smoke chamber into which no outside light can penetrate. The smoke chamber is connected to the environment via openings. A small infrared lamp continuously shines within the smoke chamber, and a detector is provided that is not exposed to this infrared light. If smoke enters the smoke chamber, the light beam is refracted in the cloud of smoke and then hits the detector, immediately triggering the alarm. The special design of the base and lid, as well as the preferred use of non-reflective material, shields the smoke chamber from all external light sources to prevent false alarms.

[0005] However, insects penetrating the smoke detector's casing through the holes pose a problem. These insects may then enter the smoke chamber and move through the infrared light beam, triggering a false alarm. Especially in public buildings and office buildings, the smoke detector is directly connected to an emergency control center, so that emergency services are dispatched when the alarm is triggered. In the case of a false alarm, the building operator may sometimes have to pay for the emergency services.

[0006] To keep insects out of the smoke chamber, DE 600 01 338 T2 proposes providing an insect screen comprising a ribbon-like thin metallic plate that forms a grid and prevents insects from entering the smoke chamber. The insect screen can be formed by etching an area except for the edge parts of the thin metallic plate. This insect screen does shield the smoke chamber from insects. However, to shield the smoke chamber from even the smallest insects, the insect screen must have a very tight mesh. The disadvantage of this is that dust particles can become trapped in the tight mesh and block it. This then poses the risk that no smoke can penetrate the smoke chamber and the operational reliability of the smoke detector is no longer guaranteed. The insect screens must therefore be cleaned regularly, which represents an undesirable additional expense.

[0007] In the smoke detector known from WO 98 / 03 946 A1, the base of the smoke chamber is designed such that its center is at a greater distance from the plane determined by the light source and light receiver than at its edge. The base is funnel-shaped and has the shape of a cone or pyramid. This keeps dust particles depositing on the base away from the actual measuring zone and prevents light scattered by dust particles from entering the measuring zone. To act as an insect screen, the base can have a sieve- or grid-like structure, which can reduce the number of components. The assumption is that dust particles collect in the funnel-shaped depression in the base, allowing smoke to pass through the grid.

[0008] DE 10 2014 110 460 B3 proposes, in addition to the sensor technology for detecting scattered light particles in the smoke chamber, providing an evaluation unit for querying the optical sensor at several successive time intervals, wherein the evaluation unit is set up to issue a smoke warning depending on the sensor signals for a group of several successive queries. The time intervals of a group of queries differ from one another. This very complex technical solution assumes that the scattered light caused by insects in the smoke chamber (measuring chamber) is not constant over a measuring period and that insects that are detected at faster or slower speeds one after the other at the same time interval will each trigger an alarm when the query is carried out. However, this does not happen if the queries are carried out at different time intervals one after the other.Retrofitting existing smoke detectors with a complex evaluation unit is not possible.

[0009] EP 0 530 723 A1 proposes arranging and setting up the radiation sources and radiation receivers in the measuring chamber in such a way that the radiation generated by scattering from fire aerosol particles distributed homogeneously in the measuring chamber generates electrical signals in the radiation receiver that differ from electrical signals generated by radiation generated by foreign bodies distributed inhomogeneously in the measuring chamber. The evaluation circuit contains electronic means that compare these signals and generate an alarm signal if the homogeneity of the output signals indicates that a fire aerosol is present in the measuring chamber, and that a fault signal different from the alarm signal is generated if the difference between the signals exceeds a predetermined value. This is intended to prevent false alarms caused by insects entering the smoke chamber.This very complex proposal is also not suitable for retrofitting existing smoke detectors.

[0010] EP 1 783 712 B1 proposes operating the smoke detector with two independently operating sensor units. While both sensor units emit an identical signal in the presence of smoke, an insect moving in the smoke chamber is always detected by only one sensor unit due to the small beam cross-section. This allows a signal jump to be measured and a false alarm to be avoided when evaluating the signals.

[0011] Based on this, the invention is based on the object of improving a smoke detector in such a way that false alarms caused by insects penetrating the smoke chamber are avoided, the improvement is cost-effective and can also be retrofitted into existing smoke detectors.

[0012] To solve the problem, a generic smoke detector is characterized by the fact that the smoke detector is designed as an insect catcher, in that the plate or foil has an attractant adapted to insects and can be placed on a base of the lid facing the room.

[0013] Insects that enter the smoke detector are trapped by the adhesive plate, preventing them from entering the smoke chamber. The plate is placed near the openings to reliably capture the insects.

[0014] Coating the panel with an insect attractant provides two advantages. The smoke detector also serves as an insect trap for the room in which it is installed. The insects will detect the attractant and enter the smoke detector, immediately landing on the panel and then sticking to it.

[0015] The plate or foil is preferably circular and can be placed on a base of the lid, which, when the lid is placed on the base, faces the room, so that the plate is held in its position by the force of gravity.

[0016] At least one projection can be arranged in the area of ​​the base of the lid, clamping the plate or film against the lid. It is also possible to provide at least a small area of ​​the side of the plate or film opposite the adhesive side with an adhesive, so that the plate can be adhesively fixed in the lid or on the base of the lid.

[0017] Preferably, the adhesive side of the plate or film is covered with a removable protective film.

[0018] A plate or film for use in a smoke detector according to the invention is adhesive on at least one side and has an attractant adapted for insects.

[0019] Preferably, the plate or film has a circular contour, and particularly preferably the adhesive side is covered with a removable protective film.

[0020] The plate or film can be adhesively coated, at least in a small area, on the side opposite the adhesive side. This area can also be covered by a protective film.

[0021] An embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of a drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 - a perspective view of the outside of the lid; Fig. 2 - a perspective view of the inside of the lid; Fig. 3 - a section along the line III-III to Fig. 2; Fig. 4 - the perspective view of an arranged smoke detector.

[0022] The smoke detector 10 consists of the base 1 and the cover 2, which can be connected to the base 1. The base 1 is provided with a smoke chamber (not shown in detail here) with integrated components designed for smoke detection and alarm generation. This design of the smoke chamber is sufficiently well known in the art, so no further description is required here.

[0023] The cover 2 is flange-shaped. The essentially cylindrical flange 2.1 is provided with a plurality of openings 2.2 through which smoke gases enter the smoke detector 10 and can be detected as such in the smoke chamber (not shown here). The cylindrical flange 2.1 is open towards the base 1 and closed at the opposite end by a base 2.3. A round plate 3 rests on the base 2.3, the upper side 3.1 of which, facing the open flange 2.1, is adhesive. This adhesive upper side 3.1 is covered by a removable protective film 4 as long as the plate 3 is not in use. In addition to the adhesive upper side 3.1, the plate 3 can be coated or impregnated with an insect attractant. Such attractants are pheromones, i.e. endogenous biochemical attractants with which insects communicate when searching for food, but also during partner selection and reproduction.These pheromones are widely known and have been used in pest control for years.

[0024] On the underside 3.2, the plate 3 can be adhesively bonded at least in a small area, so that the plate can be fixed to the base 2.3 of the cover 2. Mechanical fixation of the plate 3 can also be achieved via the circular projections 2.4 provided in the cylindrical flange 2.1, between which the plate 3 can be clamped.

[0025] To put the device into operation, the cover 2 is removed from the base 1, the protective film 4 is removed from the top side 3.1 of the plate 3 and the plate 3 is placed on the bottom 2.3 of the cover 2 or clamped between the projections 2.4. The cover 2 is then reconnected to the base 1. Insects are attracted by the pheromone, which can alternatively be provided on the plate 3, and crawl through the openings 2.2 into the interior of the smoke detector. If they come into contact with the adhesive top side 3.1 of the plate 3, they stick there and can no longer penetrate the smoke chamber and cause a false alarm. If no pheromones are used, the insects are not specifically attracted but simply intercepted as they enter.

[0026] The shape of the plate 3 depends on the design of the cover 2 of the smoke detector 10. It does not necessarily have to be round, but can have any desired geometric shape. It can also be designed in the shape of a bushing with a short cylindrical shell if the cylindrical flange 2.1 of the cover 2 has a correspondingly long design, whereby the adhesive surface or the surface impregnated with pheromones can be increased. Because the plate 3 rests on the base 2.3 of the cover 2, it is secured in its functional position within the smoke detector 10 by the force of gravity. Insects adhering to it remain in the lower part of the smoke detector 10 even if the adhesive no longer has any effect. The plate 3 can be easily replaced during regular maintenance and inspection of the smoke detector 10.This measure provides cost-effective protection against false alarms triggered by insects, which can also be quickly and easily retrofitted into existing smoke detectors. List of reference symbols 1 base 2 lids 2.1 Flange 2.2 Breakthrough 2.3 Soil 2.4 Advantage 3 plates 3.1 Top 3.2 Bottom 4 Protective film 10 smoke detectors

Claims

[1] Smoke detector (10) with a base (1) in which the components necessary for the detection and signalling of smoke gases in a room are accommodated, and a cover (2) closing the base (1) which has a plurality of openings (2.2) through which smoke gases can flow, and a plate (3) or film which can be inserted into the cover (2) and which is adhesive on at least one side, characterized by that the smoke detector (10) is designed as an insect catcher in that the plate (3) or film has an attractant adapted for insects and can be placed on a base (2.3) of the cover (2) facing the room. [2] Smoke detector (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the plate (3) or film is circular. [3] Smoke detector (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat in the area of ​​the base (2.3) at least one projection (2.4) is arranged, which clamps the plate (3) or film against the lid (2). [4] Smoke detector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an adhesive upper side (3.1) of the plate (3) or film is covered with a removable protective film (4).

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