Smoke tester

Abstract

To provide a smoke tester that can be used for smoke detectors installed in various locations and for various types of smoke testing.SOLUTION: A smoke tester according to the present invention includes a smoke tester housing and a cylindrical detector cover for covering the smoke detector. The detector cover is flexible and capable of being held in a resized state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a smoke application tester for applying smoke to a smoke detector to perform an operation test. [Background technology]

[0002] Smoke detectors are required to undergo a smoke test once every six months as an operation test. An operation test is performed by an operator applying a smoke tester such as that shown in Patent Document 1 to the smoke detector to apply smoke and test whether the fire receiver is activated. A detector cover is attached to the tip of the smoke tester, and with the smoke detector covered, smoke is generated inside the detector cover to activate the smoke detector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-180579 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the detector cover of the smoke tester is large, it is easier to cover the smoke detector. Also, if the internal volume of the detector cover is large, the smoke tester can be pressed against the ceiling or the like multiple times to quickly remove the test smoke from inside the smoke detector and move on to the next smoke detector test. However, depending on the installation location of the smoke detector, such as when it is installed near a ceiling with complex beams or a ceiling with unevenness, it may not be possible to test with a large detector cover. Also, depending on the building, there may be cases where it is not desirable to have the detector cover come into contact with the ceiling due to reasons such as a system ceiling or a ceiling with a delicate design. In such cases, it was necessary to prepare a separate smoke tester with a small detector cover or to replace the detector cover with a small detector cover. Also, for smoke detectors with a smoke inlet on the side, it was necessary to prepare a separate smoke tester with a large detector cover or to replace the detector cover with a large detector cover.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a smoke tester capable of testing smoke detectors installed in various locations and various types of smoke tests. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, a smoke tester comprises a smoke generator housing and a cylindrical detector cover for covering a smoke detector, the detector cover being flexible and capable of being held in a state in which its size is changed. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a smoke application tester that can adjust the size of the detector cover and perform smoke application tests on smoke detectors installed in various locations. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional smoke tester. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of a large-sized smoke tester in Example 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the large-sized smoke tester in Example 1 with its upper portion pressed. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of a small-sized smoke tester in Example 1. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a top view of a smoke tester in Example 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a top view of a smoke tester in Example 2. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an upper portion of the smoke tester of Example 3 pressed against a smoke detector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] In this embodiment, the up and down directions are indicated by the direction of a smoke tester when testing a smoke detector SS installed on a ceiling panel R.

[0010] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a conventional smoke generator tester 3. The smoke generator housing 31 and detector cover 32 are shown in cross section. The smoke generator housing 31 can be separated into a cylindrical upper part and a cylindrical lower part with a bottom, and houses a gas cylinder 4 that contains the raw material for the test smoke S. The smoke generator housing 31 has a cylindrical shape with the bottom closed.

[0011] Connecting fittings 34 protrude from two points on the outer periphery of smoke generator housing 31, and connecting fittings 34 are rotatably fixed to the end of a U-shaped arm 5. A support rod 6 is also fixed to the center of arm 5. An operator can carry out a smoke generation test by holding support rod 6 and lifting smoke generation tester 3 up to the position of smoke detector SS.

[0012] A cylinder nozzle 41 is provided on the top of the gas cylinder 4, and a nozzle head 42 is attached to the cylinder nozzle 41. A nozzle flange 421 protrudes laterally in an annular shape at the middle of the nozzle head 42. When the nozzle head 42 is pressed down, the cylinder nozzle 41 is also pressed down, and the test smoke S is released from the top of the nozzle head 42.

[0013] A lever base 331 protrudes from the inside of the smoke generator housing 31, and a lever rotation part 332 is fixed on the lever base 331. An end of a U-shaped operating lever 333 is rotatably engaged in a hole provided in the lever rotation part 332. Operating lever 333 protrudes downward midway to form a protruding part 333a, which is placed on nozzle flange 421 of nozzle head 42. Protruding part 333a is also provided on the back side of FIG. 1, and operating lever 333 is placed on nozzle flange 421 at two points.

[0014] In the smoke generator housing 31, a side opening 311 is provided at a position substantially opposite to the lever base 331. The operating lever 333 protrudes from the side opening 311 to the outside of the smoke generator housing 31, and the operating wire 7 is attached to the protruding position.

[0015] Meanwhile, the sensor cover 32 provided above the smoke generator housing 31 has an annular portion 321 at the upper end and a bellows portion 322 below it. The sensor cover 32 can bring the annular portion 321 into close contact with the underside or periphery of the smoke sensor SS by the expansion and contraction of the bellows portion 322.

[0016] When performing a smoke test, an operator lifts the smoke tester 3 using the support rod 6, and pulls the operating wire 7 while the annular portion 321 is in contact with the underside or periphery of the smoke detector SS. This causes the protruding portion 333a of the operating lever 333 to press down on the nozzle head 42, lowering the cylinder nozzle 41, and discharging mist-like test smoke S upward from the nozzle head 42. The test smoke S diffuses inside the detector cover 32 and enters the smoke detector SS through the opening SS1, activating the smoke detector SS and enabling the smoke test to be performed.

[0017] Furthermore, with the annular portion 321 attached to the smoke detector SS, an operator can move the support rod 6 up and down to move the smoke generator housing portion 31 up and down, thereby creating air movement and quickly removing the test smoke S inside the smoke detector SS. If the test smoke S is quickly removed, it is possible to start testing the next smoke detector SS early, and the test time for smoke testing of multiple smoke detectors SS in a building can be shortened. EXAMPLES

[0018] Next, a description will be given of the smoke tester 1 in Example 1 of the present application. Fig. 2 is a side view of the smoke tester 1 in Example 1. The smoke tester 1 is equipped with an arm 5, a support rod 6, and the like, similar to the conventional smoke tester 3, but these are omitted in the drawings.

[0019] In the smoke generator tester 1, a cylindrical detector cover 12 for covering the smoke detector SS is connected to the top of the smoke generator housing section 11. The detector cover 12 has an annular section 121 at its upper end. A bellows section 122 is provided below the annular section 121, and the lower side of the bellows section 122 is connected to the top of the smoke generator housing section 11. The detector cover 12 expands and contracts in the vertical direction due to the bellows section 122. The detector cover 12 is flexible.

[0020] A wire 123 is wound around the annular portion 121. Two connecting rods 13 are provided vertically on the sides of the annular portion 121. Each connecting rod 13 has a cylindrical tip tube 131 facing laterally at its upper end. The wire 123 is inserted through the two tip tubes 131.

[0021] In Fig. 2, the lower part of the connecting rod 13 passes through the rod passing member 14 and is engaged with the rod stopper 15. In the state shown in Fig. 2, the bellows part 122 is trying to stretch in order to maintain its shape, so the connecting rod 13 is pulled up and the rod stopper 15 is lifted. And, the rod stopper 15 is in contact with the lower surface of the rod passing member 14 due to the force of the lift.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows the smoke tester 1 in a state where the upper annular portion 121 is being pressed from above. As a result of the annular portion 121 being pressed from above, the bellows portion 122 is contracted in the vertical direction. Also, the connecting rod 13 moves downward inside the rod passage member 14, and a gap is created between the lower surface of the rod passage member 14 and the upper surface of the rod stopper 15. This state is the state in which an operator lifts the smoke tester 1 during a smoke test and presses the upper portion against the smoke detector SS. Note that the smoke detector SS is not shown in FIG. 3. When the smoke tester 1 is lowered from the state shown in FIG. 3 and the pressing of the annular portion 121 is stopped, the restoring force of the bellows portion 122 returns the smoke tester 1 to the state shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] The rod stopper 15 can move the position of the connecting rod 13 that it engages. When an operator presses down the annular portion 121 with his / her hand or the like to the state shown in FIG. 3 and presses the movable button 151, the engagement with the connecting rod 13 is released and the rod stopper 15 can move vertically relative to the connecting rod 13. FIG. 4 shows the state in which the movable button 151 is pressed to move the rod stopper 15 until it abuts against the rod passing member 14 and the movable button 151 is returned to its original position. In this way, the movable button 151 makes it possible to change the position of the rod stopper 15 that engages with the connecting rod 13 and hold it in that state, and the bellows portion 122 is contracted and the size of the sensor cover 12 can be changed and held in that state.

[0024] In the state shown in Fig. 4, the annular portion 121 can be further pressed from above to contract the bellows portion 122 in the vertical direction. At that time, the connecting rod 13 moves down, creating a gap between the rod passing member 14 and the rod stopper 15. When pressing on the annular portion 121 is stopped, the restoring force of the bellows portion 122 returns the smoke application tester 1 to the state shown in Fig. 4. As a result, although the stroke is short, with the annular portion 121 attached to the smoke detector SS, the operator can move the support rod 6 up and down to move the smoke application tester housing portion 11 up and down, generating air movement, and the test smoke S inside the smoke detector SS can be quickly removed.

[0025] 2 and 4 show a state in which the upper surface of the rod stopper 15 is in contact with the lower surface of the rod passing member 14, and the distance from the smoke generator housing 11 to the annular portion 121 is at its maximum. In this way, by changing the position of the rod stopper 15 that engages with the connecting rod 13, the maximum distance of the annular portion 121 provided at the upper end of the sensor cover 12 from the smoke generator housing 11 can be changed. And, the rod stopper 15 that engages with the connecting rod 13 can be held in a changed position, and the sensor cover 12 can be held in a changed size.

[0026] In addition, the annular portion 121 in FIG. 4 is smaller in diameter than the annular portion 121 in FIG. 3 by forming a plurality of pleats F in the annular portion 121 by squeezing the wire 123 provided on the outer periphery of the annular portion 121 like a purse. FIG. 5 shows the annular portion 121 as viewed from above. In FIG. 5, the dotted line shows the annular portion 121 in the state of FIG. 3 before squeezing. As shown in FIG. 5, in the annular portion 121 in the state where the wire end 123a is pulled and squeezed, the plurality of pleats F protrude inward, the circumference becomes smaller, and the diameter of the annular portion 121 becomes smaller. The other end of the wire 123 is fixed to the annular portion 121 with respect to the wire end 123a, which is a free end. Although not shown, the wire end 123a can be fixed to the outside of the annular portion 121.

[0027] In FIG. 5, the two tip tubes 131 are located at the connecting rods 13. The tip tubes 131 are positioned to one side in the circular shape of the annular portion 121. This is because the line connecting the installation positions of the two connecting rods 13 in the smoke generator housing 11 is shifted from the opposing positions in the smoke generator housing 11. As a result, even if the diameter of the annular portion 121 changes, the position of the tip tubes 131 located at the upper end of the connecting rod 13 does not change much, and the diameter of the annular portion 121 can be changed without bending the connecting rod 13. If the connecting rods 13 are installed at opposing positions in the cylindrical smoke generator housing 11, the distance between the upper ends of the two connecting rods 13 is the diameter of the annular portion 121, so that the connecting rod 13 will bend when the diameter of the annular portion 121 changes.

[0028] In this way, in the first embodiment, the diameter of the annular portion 121 can be changed by changing the length of the wire 123. By shortening the wire 123, the diameter of the annular portion 121 can be changed and maintained in that state, and the size of the sensor cover 12 can be changed and maintained in that state.

[0029] As described above, the sensor cover 12 is flexible, and the annular portion 121 at the upper end of the sensor cover 12 is capable of changing and maintaining the maximum distance from the smoke generator accommodating portion 11, or of changing and maintaining the diameter size, so that the sensor cover 12 can be maintained in a state of changed size. EXAMPLES

[0030] In the second embodiment, the structure of the upper end of the sensor cover 12 in the first embodiment is changed. The other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore the description will be omitted.

[0031] Fig. 6 shows a top view of the annular portion 221 and the like of Example 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view compared to Fig. 5. Wire passing tubes 222 are provided at multiple locations inside the annular portion 221, and a wire 223 passes through the wire passing tubes 222. Adjacent wire passing tubes 222 are spaced apart, and the wire 223 is visible. One end of the wire 223 passes through a hole (not shown) provided in the annular portion 221 and protrudes outside the annular portion 221 to form a wire end portion 223a. The other end of the wire 223 is fixed inside the wire passing tube 222.

[0032] When the diameter of the annular portion 221 is reduced, the wire end 223a is pulled and fixed to the outside of the annular portion 221. This reduces the diameter of the wire 223. When the diameter of the wire 223 is reduced, the interval between adjacent wire passage tubes 222 becomes smaller, and the annular portion 221 etc. becomes pleated and protrudes outward accordingly. In the second embodiment as well, the wire 223 can be shortened to hold the annular portion 221 in a changed diameter state, and the sensor cover can be held in a changed size state.

[0033] In the second embodiment, the diameter of the annular portion 221 is reduced, and the remaining portion forms outward pleats. Therefore, during a smoke test, the pleats do not protrude into the inside of the annular portion 221 that houses the smoke detector SS, and therefore the pleats are unlikely to interfere with the smoke detector SS. EXAMPLES

[0034] In the first and second embodiments, after the smoke detector SS detects the test smoke S, the operator moves the support rod 6 up and down to move the smoke generator housing 11 up and down, thereby generating air movement, and the test smoke S inside the smoke detector SS can be quickly removed. In the third embodiment, an air blower 861 such as a fan is provided to quickly remove the test smoke S inside the smoke detector SS.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper part of the smoke generator tester 8 of the third embodiment. The smoke generator tester 8 includes a blower 861 such as a fan, a blower control unit 862 for controlling the operation of the blower 861, and a light receiving unit 863 for receiving light in a smoke generator housing unit 81. The rest of the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment, and a wire 823 for changing the size of the sensor cover 82 is provided on the outer periphery of the annular unit 821. The blower 861 can take in air outside the smoke generator housing unit 81. The blower control unit 862 and the light receiving unit 863 are attached to a blower stand 86 that protrudes inward from the smoke generator housing unit 81.

[0036] The light emitting unit SS2 of the smoke detector SS is an LED, which emits red light when the smoke detector SS detects smoke. The light receiving unit 863 has two light receiving elements, one of which is provided with a red filter. Therefore, the light receiving unit 863 outputs a light amount signal indicating the amount of light that is the sum of red wavelengths and wavelengths other than red, and a red light amount signal indicating the amount of light of the red wavelength.

[0037] When performing a smoke application test, an operator presses the annular portion 821 against the smoke detector SS as shown in Fig. 7. At this time, the bellows portion 822 contracts, and the annular portion 821 is pressed against the smoke detector SS with almost no gap. Then, the test smoke S is released into the detector cover 82. The test smoke S enters the smoke detector SS from the opening SS1, and is detected, causing the light emitting portion SS2 to emit red light. In the third embodiment, the smoke application device housing portion 81 and the detector cover 82 are non-light-transmitting.

[0038] The red light from the light-emitting unit SS2 passes through a red filter and enters a light-receiving element, and the light-receiving unit 863 outputs a red light quantity signal. Light that does not pass through the red filter enters another light-receiving element, and the light-receiving unit 863 outputs a light quantity signal. Since the smoke generator housing 81 and the detector cover 82 are non-light-transmitting, light from outside the smoke generator tester 8 does not generally enter the light-receiving unit 863.

[0039] The light amount signal and the red light amount signal are input to an air blowing control unit 862. When the red light amount signal is equal to or greater than a threshold value and the value obtained by dividing the red light amount signal by the light amount signal is equal to or greater than a set value, the air blowing control unit 862 activates an air blowing unit 861 to blow air.

[0040] In the third embodiment, since the smoke generator housing 81 and the detector cover 82 are non-transparent to light, when the annular portion 821 is pressed against the smoke detector SS with almost no gap, the inside of the detector cover 82 becomes dark. When the light-emitting portion SS2 emits red light, the inside of the detector cover 82 becomes almost red. When the smoke generator tester 8 is not pressed against the smoke detector SS and external light enters the inside of the detector cover 82, or when the light-emitting portion SS2 is not emitting light, the value obtained by dividing the red light quantity signal by the light quantity signal is small. However, when the light-emitting portion SS2 emits light while the smoke generator tester 8 is pressed against the smoke detector SS, the value obtained by dividing the red light quantity signal by the light quantity signal becomes large. The air blowing control portion 862 detects that this value has increased and operates the air blowing portion 861 for a certain period of time. The operating time of the air blowing portion 861 can be changed by setting.

[0041] 7, the air blower 861 is activated to take in air from outside the smoke tester 8. This allows air to flow from inside the detector cover 82 into the opening SS1 of the smoke detector SS, diluting the test smoke S inside the smoke detector SS and expelling it to the outside, thereby quickly removing the test smoke S from inside the smoke detector SS. If the test smoke S is quickly removed, it is possible to start testing the next smoke detector SS early, and the time required for smoke testing of multiple smoke detectors SS in a building can be shortened.

[0042] In the third embodiment, the blower 861 is connected to the outside of the smoke tester 8, and outside air is taken in to remove the test smoke S. However, even if the blower 861 is not connected to the outside of the smoke tester 8 and the air is stirred inside the smoke tester 8, the concentration of the test smoke S inside the smoke detector SS can be reduced and the smoke test time can be shortened. In the third embodiment, the blower 861 is operated for a certain period of time upon detecting that the value obtained by dividing the red light quantity signal by the light quantity signal has increased. However, the blower 861 may be stopped when the value obtained by dividing the red light quantity signal by the light quantity signal after the detection becomes smaller than a predetermined value. Then, the detector cover 82 moves away from the smoke detector SS, and the value obtained by dividing the red light quantity signal by the light quantity signal decreases, and the blower 861 is stopped.

[0043] In the first to third embodiments, the connecting location of the connecting rod 13 to the smoke generator housing 11 is shifted from the opposing position. However, the connecting rod 13 may be disposed at the opposing position to allow the connecting rod 13 to bend.

[0044] Although the examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, 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 examples 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]

[0045] S test smoke, F pleat, R ceiling panel, SS smoke detector, SS1 opening, SS2 light-emitting part, 1 smoke tester, 11 smoke generator housing, 12 detector cover, 121 ring portion, 122 bellows portion, 123 wire, 123a wire end, 13 connecting rod, 131 tip tube, 14 rod passage member, 15 rod stopper, 151 movable button, 221 annular portion, 222 wire passage tube, 223 wire, 223a wire end portion, 3 smoke tester, 31 smoke generator housing, 311 side opening, 32 detector cover, 321 ring portion, 322 bellows portion, 331 lever base, 332 lever rotation portion, 333 operating lever, 333a protrusion, 34 connecting metal fitting, 4 gas cylinder, 41 cylinder nozzle, 42 nozzle head, 421 nozzle flange, 5 arm, 6 support rod, 7 operating wire, 8 Smoke tester, 81 Smoke tester housing, 82 Sensor cover, 821 Ring section, 822 Bellows section, 823 Wire, 86 Blower stand, 861 Blower section, 862 Blower control section, 863 Light receiving section,

Claims

1. The smoke detector includes a smoke detector housing and a cylindrical detector cover for covering the smoke detector. The sensor cover is flexible and can be held in a state where the size is changed. A smoke tester characterized by the above.

2. The upper end of the detector cover can be maintained at a variable maximum distance from the smoke generator housing.

2. A smoke tester according to claim 1.

3. The upper end of the detector cover and the smoke generator housing are connected by a connecting rod.

3. A smoke tester according to claim 2.

4. The upper end of the sensor cover is capable of being held in a state where the diameter size is changed.

4. A smoke tester according to claim 1, wherein the smoke tester is a smoke tester having a temperature of 100.degree.

5. The upper end of the detector cover and the smoke generator housing are connected by two connecting rods, The installation positions of the two connecting rods in the smoke generator accommodating section are offset from opposite positions.

5. A smoke tester according to claim 4.

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