Fire sensor and sensor mounting unit

Abstract

To solve the problem that an operator has to come closer to a sensor base in attaching / detaching a fire sensor body but it is required to install a scaffold for attachment / detachment of the fire sensor body in a case where the fire sensor is installed at a place with a high ceiling such as a lobby and an entrance.SOLUTION: A fire sensor includes a fire sensor body and a sensor base. The fire sensor body comprises lock pieces each of which includes: an elastic base part; and a distal end part having a tapered surface and a lock surface. The sensor base has window parts on a side surface. One of the fire sensor body and the sensor base includes, on an attachment side, two ring-shaped terminals different in diameters. The other one of the fire sensor body and the sensor base includes two contact terminals to be brought into contact with the ring-shaped terminals. The lock pieces are locked to the window parts, so as to allow the contact terminals to be brought into contact with the ring-shaped terminals. Thus, the fire sensor body can be attached to the sensor base.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire detector and a unit for mounting the detector, and more particularly to a fire detector and a unit for mounting the detector that are useful in facilities with high ceilings. [Background technology]

[0002] Fire detectors, such as smoke detectors and flame detectors, are installed on ceilings etc. to detect smoke and flames, and thus fires. Such fire detectors are installed by attaching the fire detector body to a detector base installed on the ceiling etc. Then, when inspecting or replacing the fire detector, the fire detector body is removed from the detector base and then reattached.

[0003] In the invention of Patent Document 1, a pair of fitting terminals is provided on the detector base, and a pair of metal fittings is provided on the detector body. The fire detector body attached to the detector base can be removed by rotating it by hand, which disengages the fitting terminals from the metal fittings, disconnecting the electrical connection. Also, the worker can hold the fire detector body in his / her hand, press it against the detector base, and rotate it in the opposite direction to when removing it, which engages the fitting terminals with the metal fittings, allowing the fire detector body to be attached to the detector base. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-147774 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the invention of Patent Document 1, a worker needs to approach the detector base when attaching or removing the fire detector body. Therefore, when installing a fire detector in a place with a high ceiling such as a lobby or entrance, it is necessary to set up scaffolding to attach or remove the fire detector body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention is a fire detector comprising a fire detector body and a detector base, wherein the fire detector body has an elastic base and a locking piece having a tip with a tapered surface and a locking surface, the detector base has a window on a side, one of the fire detector body and the detector base has two annular terminals of different diameters on the mounting side, and the other of the fire detector body and the detector base has two contact terminals that contact the annular terminals, and the detector body can be mounted to the detector base by locking the locking piece into the window, thereby bringing the contact terminals into contact with the annular terminals.

[0007] In addition, the detector mounting unit, which is one embodiment of the present invention, is characterized in that it is equipped with pushing devices provided at two opposing positions, and by using the pushing devices to push the pushing pieces toward each other, the locking piece of the fire detector main body can be pushed into the inside of the window portion of the detector base, making it possible to remove the fire detector main body from the detector base. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, in the case of a fire detector installed at a high place, the fire detector main body can be removed from the detector base or attached to the detector base using an aircraft (flying robot) such as a multicopter. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] A fire detector in Example 1. Fig. 1(a) is a bottom view of a detector base, and Fig. 1(b) is a side view of the detector base and a fire detector main body. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fire detector according to the first embodiment attached to a ceiling. [Diagram 3] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a contact state between the annular terminal and the contact terminal in the first embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state immediately before the fire detector main body is attached to the detector base of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state immediately before removing the fire detector main body from the detector base of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] A fire detector in Example 2. Fig. 6(a) is a side view of a detector base and a fire detector main body, and Fig. 6(b) is a top view of the fire detector main body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS EXAMPLES

[0010] Fig. 1 shows a fire detector of the first embodiment, which is composed of a fire detector main body 1 and a detector base 2. Fig. 1(a) is a bottom view of the detector base 2 in the direction in which it is attached to the ceiling. Fig. 1(b) shows a side view of the detector base 2 and the fire detector main body 1, which are separated. The fire detector main body 1 is provided with a locking piece 11 and contact terminals 12, 13, which are connection mechanisms for connecting to the detector base 2. In the fire detector main body 1, a fire is detected by a detection function unit 14 located below the locking piece 11 and the contact terminals 12, 13. The detection function unit 14 is provided with a smoke detection sensor (not shown), a smoke detection circuit (not shown), and the like.

[0011] The sensor base 2 in FIG. 1(a) has a cylindrical outer tube portion 21 on the outer periphery, and a plate-shaped upper plate portion 22 is provided on the upper side of the outer tube portion 21 when the sensor base 2 is attached to the ceiling. The upper plate portion 22 is provided with four screw holes 221, and the annular terminals 23 and 24, which are annular terminals, are provided on the lower surface. The annular terminals 23 and 24 are centered on the outer tube portion 21, and the annular terminal 23 has the smallest diameter, and the outer tube portion 21 has the largest diameter. The diameter of the annular terminal 24 is between the diameters of the annular terminal 23 and the outer tube portion 21. The annular terminals 23 and 24 have annular grooves 231 and 241 at the center in the width direction. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1(a), the upper plate portion 22 is provided with four screw holes 221, and the sensor base 2 can be attached to the lower surface of the ceiling C by screwing screws (not shown) into the screw holes 221.

[0012] 1(b), the sensor base 2 has four window portions 213 on its side surface. The outer cylinder portion 21 of the sensor base 2 has a shape in which a cylindrical body 211 is joined at four connection portions 212, and has window portions 213 at four locations on the outer periphery of the outer cylinder portion 21. The sides of the window portion 213 are the connection portions 212, and the lower portion is the cylindrical body 211. As long as the cylindrical body 211 is fixed, the number of window portions 213 and connection portions 212 does not have to be four. It is preferable that the area of ​​the window portion 213 relative to the circumference of the outer cylinder portion 21 is large, and it is preferable that the area of ​​the window portion 213 relative to the circumference of the outer cylinder portion 21 is 50% or more and 95% or less.

[0013] The fire detector main body 1 also has locking pieces 11 at two opposing locations. The locking piece 11 has an elastic base 111 and a tip 112 with a tapered surface and a locking surface. The locking piece 11 has a tapered surface that faces diagonally upward on the outer lateral side of the fire detector main body 1 when installed, and has a locking surface below that. Two contact terminals 12, 13 are provided on the inside of the locking piece 11 and protrude upward from the sensing function part 14. The contact terminals 12, 13 are formed of a convex, rod-shaped conductor.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the fire detector attached to the ceiling C. The detector base 2 is attached to the ceiling C, and the fire detector main body 1 is attached to the detector base 2. A part of the tip 112 of the locking piece 11 protrudes from the inside of the outer cylinder part 21 in the detector base 2 to the window part 213, and the lower part of the tip 112 is locked to the cylindrical body 211. The locking pieces 11 provided at two opposite positions protrude from the inside to the outside into the window part 213 of the detector base 2, and the fire detector main body 1 is fixed to the detector base 2. The locking pieces 11 cannot be locked at the location where the connection part 212 is located, but in the first embodiment, the area of ​​the window part 213 relative to the circumference of the outer cylinder part 21 is large, so that the degree of freedom of the rotation angle when the fire detector main body 1 is attached to the detector base 2 is high.

[0015] 2, the contact terminal 13, which is the larger diameter contact terminal, can be seen inside through the window 213. The contact terminal 13 of the fire detector main body 1 is connected to the annular terminal 24. The contact terminal 12 is connected to the annular terminal 23, which is smaller in diameter and hidden inside the annular terminal 24.

[0016] 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contact portion between the contact terminals 12, 13 and the annular terminals 23, 24. The contact terminals 12, 13 protrude upward from the sensing function portion 14, and the annular terminals 23, 24 protrude downward from the upper plate portion 22. The annular terminals 23, 24 have annular grooves 231, 241 that expand in the mounting direction. The contact terminals 12, 13 enter into the annular grooves 231, 241 that are grooves formed in the annular terminals 23, 24. The contact terminals 12, 13 then contact the annular terminals 23, 24 from the inside of the annular grooves 231, 241. The contact terminals 12, 13 are accommodated in the annular grooves 231, 241, respectively, and contact the annular terminals 23, 24 for electrical connection.

[0017] When attaching or detaching the fire detector main body 1 to or from the detector base 2 located at a high place, the fire detector main body 1 is carried mounted on a multicopter 3, which is a type of drone. FIG. 4 shows the state immediately before the fire detector main body 1 is attached to the detector base 2. A detector mounting unit 4 is attached to the top of the multicopter 3, and a camera 5 is attached to the side. The image from the camera 5 is wirelessly transmitted to the controller (not shown) of the multicopter 3, and is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the controller.

[0018] The detector mounting unit 4 includes a unit body 41, a mounting base 42, a pushing device 43, and a pushing piece 44. The mounting base 42 is cylindrical and is capable of receiving the lower protrusion of the fire detector body 1 therein. In FIG. 4, the configuration of the detector mounting unit 4 is shown in cross section. The unit body 41 is a cylindrical shape with a bottom, including a cylindrical unit outer circumferential cylinder 411 and a unit bottom 412 provided at the lower part of the unit outer circumferential cylinder 411. The unit bottom 412 is attached to the multicopter 3, whereby the detector mounting unit 4 is fixed to the multicopter 3.

[0019] In the detector mounting unit 4, a mounting base 42 is attached to the unit bottom 412 inside the unit outer casing 411. In Fig. 4, the fire detector main body 1 is mounted on the detector mounting unit 4 by placing the fire detector main body 1 on the mounting base 42. The mounting base 42 can be removed from the unit bottom 412 as described later. Push-in devices 43 are provided at two opposing positions on the upper part of the unit outer casing 411. The push-in devices 43 are attached to the outside of the unit outer casing 411, and the push-in pieces 44 penetrate the push-in devices 43 and the unit outer casing 411.

[0020] <Fire detector body installation> In Fig. 4, the multicopter 3 flies by rotating the propellers 31 and approaches the sensor base 2 fixed to the ceiling C. Then, while checking the position of the sensor base 2 using the image from the camera 5, the worker moves the multicopter 3 so that the two locking pieces 11 are housed inside the outer cylinder 21 of the sensor base 2. Then, in the fire sensor main body 1 shown in Fig. 1(b), the tapered surface at the tip 112 of the locking piece 11 is pushed inward by the cylindrical body 211, and the elastic base 111 is curved. After the locking piece 11 rises inside the outer cylinder 21, the elasticity of the base 111 causes the tip 112 to be pushed out into the window 213 of the sensor base 2 and locked.

[0021] At this time, as shown in Figure 3, the contact terminals 12, 13 of the fire detector main body 1 are received in and make contact with the annular grooves 231, 241 in the annular terminals 23, 24 of the detector base 2, making an electrical connection. In this manner, the fire detector main body 1 is attached to the detector base 2 on the ceiling C by the multicopter 3, and viewed from the side, as shown in Figure 2.

[0022] <Removing the fire detector body> Fig. 5 shows the state immediately before removing the fire detector main body 1 from the detector base 2. The mounting base 42 shown in Fig. 4 has been removed. The multicopter 3 flies by rotating the propellers 31, and approaches the fire detector main body 1 attached to the detector base 2 on the ceiling C. Then, while checking the position of the fire detector main body 1 using the image from the camera 5, the worker moves the multicopter 3 so that the positions of the two locking pieces 11 of the fire detector main body 1 and the push-in piece 44 of the detector mounting unit 4 are aligned.

[0023] With the two locking pieces 11 of the fire detector main body 1 and the pushing pieces 44 of the detector mounting unit 4 aligned, the worker drives the pushing device 43 to protrude the two pushing pieces 44 inward. Then, the pushing pieces 44 push the tip 112 of the locking pieces 11 in the window 213 inward. This releases the lock, and the fire detector main body 1 falls into the unit main body 41 in the detector mounting unit 4 by its own weight. Since there is no mounting base 42 inside the unit main body 41, the fire detector main body 1 can fall to the unit bottom 412. After returning the pushing pieces 44 to their original positions, the worker moves the multicopter 3, lands it, and retrieves the fire detector main body 1. EXAMPLES

[0024] FIG. 6 shows a fire detector of Example 2, which is composed of a fire detector main body 6 and a detector base 7. FIG. 6(a) shows a side view of the separated detector base 7 and the fire detector main body 6. FIG. 6(b) is a top view of the fire detector main body 6 as seen from the direction in which it is attached to the ceiling. The fire detector main body 6 has a locking piece 61, which is a connection mechanism for connecting to the detector base 7. The fire detector main body 6 detects a fire by a detection function unit 64 located below the locking piece 61. The detection function unit 64 is provided with a smoke detection sensor (not shown), a smoke detection circuit (not shown), and the like.

[0025] Unlike the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the fire detector body 6 is provided with ring terminals 62, 63, and the detector base 7 is provided with contact terminals 73, 74. The detector base 7 in FIG. 6(a) has a cylindrical outer tube portion 71 on the outer periphery, and a plate-shaped upper plate portion 72 is provided on the upper side of the outer tube portion 71 when the detector base 7 is mounted on a ceiling. The upper plate portion 72 is provided with four screw holes 721 (not shown), and the contact terminals 73 and 74 are provided on the lower surface. The contact terminals 73, 74 are formed of a rod-shaped conductor having a convex shape. In addition, the outer tube portion 71 has four window portions 713 on the side surface. The outer tube portion 71 of the detector base 7 has a shape in which a cylindrical body 711 is joined at four connection portions 712, and has four window portions 713 on the outer periphery of the outer tube portion 71. The side of the window portion 713 is the connection portion 712, and the lower portion is the cylindrical body 711. As long as the cylindrical body 711 is fixed, the number of the window portions 713 and the connection portions 712 does not have to be four. The area of ​​the window portions 713 relative to the circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 71 is preferably large, and the area of ​​the window portions 713 relative to the circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 71 is preferably 50% or more and 95% or less.

[0026] The fire detector main body 6 also has locking pieces 61 at two opposing locations. The locking piece 61 has an elastic base 611 and a tip 612 with a tapered surface and a locking surface. The fire detector main body 6 has a locking piece 61. The locking piece 61 has a tapered surface that faces diagonally upward on the outer lateral side of the fire detector main body 6 when installed, and has a locking surface below that. Two annular terminals 62, 63 are provided on the upper surface of the detection function part 64 inside the locking piece 61. The annular terminals 62, 63 are made of conductors. In FIG. 6(a), the outer annular terminal 63 is visible.

[0027] The fire detector main body 6 in Fig. 6(b) has annular terminals 62, 63, which are annular terminals, provided on the upper surface. The annular terminals 62 and 63 are concentric, with the annular terminal 63 having a larger diameter. The annular terminals 62, 63 are provided with annular grooves 621, 631 that widen in the mounting direction. The annular grooves 621, 631 are similar to the annular grooves 231, 241 in the detector base 2 of the first embodiment. In addition, two locking pieces 61 are provided at opposing positions on the outer periphery.

[0028] The fire detector main body 6 of the second embodiment is attached to the detector base 7 by engaging the locking piece 61 with the window portion 713 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. After attachment, the contact terminals 73 and 74 are fitted into the annular grooves 621 and 631 and electrically connected to the annular terminals 62 and 63, in the same manner as shown in FIG.

[0029] In the second embodiment, the fire detector main body 6 can be attached to and detached from the detector base 7 using the multicopter 3 and the detector mounting unit 4 in the same manner as described in FIGS.

[0030] As explained in the prior art, the fire detector body and the detector base are attached by rotational engagement. On the other hand, it is difficult to apply rotational force from a drone, which is a multicopter flying object, and it is difficult to remove the fire detector body 1 attached by rotational engagement with a drone. However, in the first and second embodiments, the fire detector bodies 1 and 6 are attached to and removed from the detector bases 2 and 7 without rotating them, so that the fire detector bodies 1 and 6 can be easily attached and removed using a drone.

[0031] In the fire detectors of Examples 1 and 2, one of the fire detector body and the detector base has two ring-shaped terminals of different diameters on the mounting side, and the other of the fire detector body and the detector base has two contact terminals that contact the ring-shaped terminals. Note that, although a smoke detector is shown as an example of a fire detector in Examples 1 and 2, other detectors such as a flame detector may also be used. Also, the number of locking pieces does not have to be two as long as there are multiple locking pieces. The pushing device and pushing pieces of the detector mounting unit are provided in accordance with the number and positions of the locking pieces.

[0032] The window portions 213, 713 in the first and second embodiments have connecting portions 212, 712 provided on the outer cylinder portions 21, 71 on the sides thereof, and the cylindrical bodies 211, 711 are held by the connecting portions 212, 712. However, the connecting portions may be provided inward from the positions of the locking pieces 11, 61, and connected to the cylindrical bodies from there.

[0033] The contact terminals 12, 13 in the first embodiment and the contact terminals 73, 74 in the second embodiment may be made of an elastic material in part, so that when the tips of the contact terminals come into contact with each other, they are pushed and contract in the height direction. The contact terminals 12, 13, 73, 74 in the first and second embodiments are rod-shaped and protrude, but may be curved plates along the annular groove. Furthermore, instead of the rod-shaped contact terminals 12, 13, 73, 74, leaf spring contact terminals may be used, and instead of the annular terminals 23, 24, 62, 63 having the annular grooves 231, 241, 621, 631, annular terminals made of a circular contact plate may be used to make contact.

[0034] The sensor mounting unit 4 is used by attaching it to an aircraft such as a multicopter 3, but the aircraft and the sensor mounting unit may be integrated. Also, although the camera 5 is attached to the aircraft in the embodiment, it may be attached to the sensor mounting unit 4.

[0035] The multicopter 3, the pushing device 43, etc. may be operated manually, but may also be automatically controlled using images from the camera 5, etc., using machine learning or the like. In the embodiment, the camera 5 and the pushing device 43 are installed in the same direction as seen from the center of the sensor mounting unit 4, so that the operating status of the pushing device 43 can be easily confirmed from the image of the camera 5. However, to make it even easier to confirm, the outer end of the pushing piece 44 may be colored in a conspicuous color.

[0036] In the above embodiments, the sensor mounting unit 4 is attached to an aircraft such as a multicopter 3 to attach and detach a fire sensor installed at a high place. However, the fire sensor attachment and detachment mechanism in the sensor mounting unit 4 can also be applied to a general attachment / detachment device using a support rod, which also makes it possible to attach and detach a fire sensor installed at a high place.

[0037] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention includes design changes within the scope of the present invention. The above-mentioned embodiments can be combined by utilizing each other's technologies as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in the purpose and configuration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 fire detector body, 11 locking piece, 111 base, 112 tip, 12 contact terminal, 13 contact terminal, 14 sensing function part, 2 Sensor base, 21 Outer cylinder portion, 211 Cylindrical body, 212 Connection portion, 213 Window portion, 22 Upper plate portion, 221 Screw hole, 23 Annular terminal, 231 Annular groove, 24 Annular terminal, 241 Annular groove, 3 multicopters, 31 propellers, 4 Detector mounting unit, 41 unit body, 411 unit outer cylinder, 412 unit bottom, 42 mounting base, 43 pushing device, 44 pushing piece, 5 Camera, 6 Fire detector body, 61 locking piece, 611 base, 612 tip, 62 annular terminal, 621 annular groove, 63 annular terminal, 631 annular groove, 64 detection function part, 7 Sensor base, 71 outer cylinder portion, 711 cylindrical body, 712 connection portion, 713 window portion, 72 upper plate portion, 721 screw hole, 73 contact terminal, 74 contact terminal, C Ceiling

Claims

1. A fire detector body, A detector base, The fire detector body has a base portion having elasticity and a locking piece having a tip portion having a tapered surface and a locking surface, The sensor base has a window on a side surface, One of the fire detector body and the detector base has two annular terminals with different diameters on an attachment side, and the other of the fire detector body and the detector base has two contact terminals that contact the annular terminals, By engaging the locking piece with the window portion, the contact terminal can be brought into contact with the annular terminal, and the fire detector body can be attached to the detector base. A fire detector characterized by:

2. The annular terminal has an annular groove that expands in the mounting direction, and the contact terminal is received in the annular groove and makes contact with the annular terminal.

2. A fire detector according to claim 1.

3. The device has two pushing devices provided at opposite positions, By pushing the pushing pieces toward each other with the pushing device, the locking piece of the fire detector body can be pushed into the inside of the window part of the detector base, and the fire detector body can be removed from the detector base. A detector mounting unit comprising:

Images