Visual field checker

Abstract

To provide a visual field checker that can suppress increase in workload and work time to check a monitoring area of a flame sensor.SOLUTION: A visual field checker for checking a monitoring area of a flame sensor installed in a fire monitoring area by radiating a light ray comprises: a light-emitting unit for emitting the light ray onto the monitoring area; and an attachment detachably attached to the flame sensor, supporting the light-emitting unit. The light-emitting unit has a monitoring-area radiating function, in which the light ray can be radiated, as a bundle, to the flame sensor installed in the fire monitoring area by visually checking the area identifiably, in the state of being attached with the attachment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a field of view checker used to check the monitoring area of a flame detector.

Background Art

[0002] A flame detector that senses infrared light emitted from a flame is attached to a ceiling, a wall, etc. to monitor a predetermined area. There is a conventional technique in which a mounted dot irradiation laser pointer is manually rotated using a rotation mechanism to draw a circular monitoring range to confirm the position of the monitoring area of the flame detector (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Flame detectors are often installed at high places such as ceilings and walls. Therefore, in such an installation environment, work is required in a state where there is no scaffolding or the scaffolding is in a poor condition. However, the conventional field of view checker according to Patent Document 1 requires manual rotation of the rotation mechanism in such an installation environment, which has contributed to an increase in work load and work time.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain a field of view checker capable of suppressing an increase in work load and work time for checking the monitoring area of a flame detector.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The field of view checker according to the present disclosure is a field of view checker that irradiates and checks the monitoring area of a flame detector installed in a fire monitoring area with a light beam, and includes a light emitting unit that emits a light beam for irradiating the monitoring area, and an attachment that supports the light emitting unit and is detachably attached to the flame detector. In a mounted state where the light emitting unit is mounted via the attachment to the flame detector installed in the fire monitoring area, the light emitting unit has a monitoring area irradiation function of collectively irradiating a light beam so that the monitoring area can be specified by visual recognition.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain a field of view checker capable of suppressing an increase in the work load and work time for checking the monitoring area of a flame detector.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the field of view checker of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The field of view checker according to the present disclosure has a monitoring area irradiation function capable of collectively irradiating light rays so that a monitoring area can be specified by visual recognition from a light emitting unit attached to a flame sensor installed in a fire monitoring area via an attachment. This is a technical feature.

[0010] Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flame sensor to which the field of view checker according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure is attached. A light receiving window 11 is provided on the front surface of the flame sensor 10. The flame sensor 10 includes a light receiving element (not shown) that senses infrared light radiated from a flame and passing through the light receiving window 11. In FIG. 1, the central axis of the monitoring range by the light receiving element is shown as the central axis Q of the dashed-dotted line.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the field of view checker according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. The field of view checker 20 according to Embodiment 1 is used to visually confirm the monitoring area of the flame sensor 10 when the flame sensor 10 is installed or during maintenance and inspection. In particular, the technical feature of the field of view checker 20 is that it can collectively irradiate the monitoring area of the flame sensor 10 installed in the fire monitoring area with light rays for confirmation.

[0012] The field of view checker 20 includes a light emitting unit 21 and an attachment 22. The light emitting unit 21 emits light rays for collectively irradiating the monitoring area. Further, the attachment 22 supports the light emitting unit 21 and is configured to be detachably attached to the flame sensor 10.

[0013] The attachment 22 shown in FIG. 2 has a substantially U-shape and is formed by a front surface portion 22a and both end portions 22b. The light emitting unit 21 is disposed at the central position of the front surface portion 22a. In FIG. 2, the central axis of the light emitting unit 21 in the state of being attached to the front surface portion 22a is shown as the central axis X of the dashed-dotted line.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the vision checker 20 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure is attached to the flame detector 10. As an example, the vision checker 20 can be attached to the flame detector 10 by fitting both end portions 22b of the attachment 22 to the flame detector 10.

[0015] In addition, in the attached state where the vision checker 20 is attached to the flame detector 10, the central axis Q and the central axis X are made to coincide. In other words, the light emitting unit 21 is attached to the attachment 22 such that the central axis X of the light emitting unit 21 coincides with the central axis Q of the monitoring range by the light receiving element.

[0016] Further, the light emitting unit 21 according to Embodiment 1 has a monitoring area irradiation function of irradiating a batch of light rays so that the monitoring area can be specified visually in a state where the light emitting unit 21 is attached to the flame detector 10 installed in the fire monitoring area via the attachment 22.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a method of checking the monitoring area of the flame detector 10 by the vision checker 20 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 4, the vision checker 20 is attached to the flame detector 10 installed on the ceiling 1 so that the central axis X of the light emitting unit 21 coincides with the central axis Q of the monitoring range by the light receiving element, and a state in which the monitoring area S is irradiated in a batch from the light emitting unit 21 having the monitoring area irradiation function is shown.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, by irradiating a batch of light rays from the light emitting unit 21 in a state where the central axis Q and the central axis X coincide, an operator can easily visually confirm the monitoring area S irradiated with the batch of light rays as the monitoring area of the flame detector 10.

[0019] In addition, a supplementary explanation will be given of the method of irradiating the monitoring area S in a batch by the monitoring area irradiation function of the light emitting unit 21 according to Embodiment 1.

[0020] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram regarding the monitoring area irradiation function by the light emitting unit 21 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 5(A) shows a state where the light emitting unit 21 irradiates the entire area of the monitoring area S. For example, by using the light emitting unit 21 that can irradiate the entire range corresponding to the monitoring area S of the flame detector 10 at once, an operator can easily visually confirm the monitoring area of the flame detector 10.

[0021] Note that instead of using the light emitting unit 21 whose irradiation angle can be adjusted so as to be able to illuminate a desired monitoring area S, after using a light beam that irradiates an area wider than the monitoring area S, it is also possible to use a light shielding filter or the like that shields the area outside the monitoring area S.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a method of confirming the monitoring area of the flame detector 10 by the visual confirmation device 20 using the light shielding filter according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. The visual confirmation device 20 shown in FIG. 6(A) has a light shielding filter 21a provided on the front surface of the light emitting unit 21.

[0023] By providing the light shielding filter 21a on the front surface of the light emitting unit 21, the light irradiated from the light emitting unit 21 is shielded in the area outside the monitoring area S corresponding to the light shielding angle θ. In FIG. 6(A), an operator 2 in the area not shielded by the light shielding filter 21a and an operator 3 in the area shielded by the light shielding filter 21a are shown.

[0024] FIG. 6(B) shows the visual recognition state when the operator 2 in the area not shielded by the light shielding filter 21a looks up at the light emitting unit 21, and FIG. 6(C) shows the visual recognition state when the operator 3 in the area shielded by the light shielding filter 21a looks up at the light emitting unit 21.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 6(B), when an operator 2 in an area not shielded by the light-shielding filter 21a looks up at the light-emitting unit 21, the operator can visually recognize bright light that is not shielded. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 6(C), when an operator 3 in an area shielded by the light-shielding filter 21a looks up at the light-emitting unit 21, instead of directly visually recognizing the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 21, the operator will visually recognize dark light in the shielded state.

[0026] Therefore, it becomes possible to confirm the monitoring area of the flame detector 10 from the visual recognition state of the light-emitting unit 21 when looking up at the light-emitting unit 21. That is, by setting the shielding angle θ to an appropriate value, the limit line where light does not enter the eyes when looking up at the light-emitting unit 21 can be set as the limit position of the irradiation area.

[0027] Returning to the description of Fig. 5, Fig. 5(B) shows a state where the light-emitting unit 21 irradiates the outer peripheral portion of the monitoring area S in a ring shape. For example, by using the light-emitting unit 21 that has directivity and can irradiate the range that coincides with the outer periphery of the monitoring area S of the flame detector 10 in a circular shape in a batch, the operator can easily visually confirm the monitoring area of the flame detector 10.

[0028] Furthermore, Fig. 5(C) shows a state where the light-emitting unit 21 irradiates eight portions on the outer periphery of the monitoring area S in a spot-like manner. For example, by arranging a plurality of laser pointers with directivity and using the light-emitting unit 21 that can irradiate the outer periphery of the monitoring area S of the flame detector 10 individually in a batch, the operator can easily visually confirm the monitoring area of the flame detector 10. Note that the portions irradiated in a spot-like manner are not limited to the eight portions shown in Fig. 5(C), and it is sufficient if the outer periphery of the monitoring area S can be estimated, and three or more portions are acceptable.

[0029] That is, the monitoring area irradiation function by the light-emitting unit 21 does not require an operation of manually rotating a rotation mechanism as in the prior art, and by visually recognizing the result of batch irradiation, the monitoring area S can be specified. As exemplified in Figs. 5(A) to 5(C), various batch irradiation methods can be applied.

[0030] Note that, instead of performing batch irradiation as illustrated in FIGS. 5(A) to 5(C) as a constant light emission, the light emitting unit 21 can also perform blinking light emission. Further, the light emitting unit 21 can also perform a combination of the irradiations illustrated in FIGS. 5(A) to 5(C), switch them over time, and execute constant light emission or blinking light emission.

[0031] As described above, according to the first embodiment, a configuration is realized in which light rays can be batch-irradiated from the light emitting unit attached via the attachment to the flame sensor installed in the fire monitoring area so that the monitoring area can be specified visually. As a result, a visual confirmation device can be obtained that can suppress an increase in the work load and work time for confirming the monitoring area of the flame sensor.

[0032] In FIG. 3, both end portions 22b of the attachment 22 are described as being fitted to the housing of the flame sensor 10. However, the attachment 22 only needs to be configured to be detachably attached to the flame sensor 10 and is not limited to the fitting configuration. For example, a configuration that can be positioned at an appropriate relative position by a magnet, a screw, or the like can also be adopted.

[0033] In FIG. 2, the case where the attachment 22 has a substantially U shape is described. However, the shape of the attachment 22 is not limited to the substantially U shape. As long as it supports the light emitting unit 21 and has a shape that can be detachably attached to the flame sensor 10, a shape other than the substantially U shape can also be adopted as the shape of the attachment 22.

[0034] Second Embodiment. In the previous first embodiment, the visual confirmation device 20 that can irradiate the monitoring area corresponding to the monitoring range of the flame sensor 10 was described. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the visual confirmation device 20 that can further irradiate and visually confirm an area where more sensitive flame detection is possible within the monitoring area will be described.

[0035] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the monitoring area of the flame detector 10 in Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. FIG. 7(A) shows the monitoring range by the flame detector 10 when viewed from above, and FIG. 7(B) shows the relationship between the distance from the flame detector 10 and the minimum size of the detectable flame when viewed from the side of the flame detector 10.

[0036] Generally, the flame detector 10 has a higher sensitivity to detect a disaster in a region closer to the central axis Q (i.e., the central axis Q of the monitoring area by the flame detector 10) of the monitoring range by the light receiving element of the flame detector 10 than in a region farther from the central axis Q. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7(A), the region closer to the central axis Q has a longer detectable distance for the flame.

[0037] In FIG. 7(A), an example is shown where a flame can be detected in a region of ±35 degrees from the central axis Q within a range of 25 m from the flame detector 10, and a flame can be detected in a region of ±20 degrees from the central axis Q within a range of 35 m from the flame detector 10.

[0038] In the following description, among the monitoring areas corresponding to the monitoring range of the flame detector 10, a region closer to the central axis Q and capable of detecting a flame with higher sensitivity will be referred to as a high-sensitivity region. In the example of FIG. 7(A), a region within a range of 35 m from the flame detector 10 and within ±20 degrees from the central axis Q corresponds to the "high-sensitivity region".

[0039] Within the high-sensitivity region of the monitoring area, a flame can be detected within a range of 35 m from the flame detector 10, but outside the high-sensitivity region, a flame can only be detected within a range of 25 m from the flame detector 10.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 7(B), the flame detector 10 can detect a flame with a smaller size the closer it is to the flame detector 10, and conversely, it can only detect a flame with a larger size the farther it is from the flame detector 10.

[0041] Therefore, when the size of the fire monitoring area to be monitored by the flame detector 10 is small compared to the monitoring range of the flame detector 10, by setting the orientation of the flame detector 10 so that the fire monitoring area wraps around the high-sensitivity area as close as possible to the central axis Q, the flame can be detected with higher sensitivity.

[0042] Alternatively, in the fire monitoring area, if there is a key area that needs to be monitored with special attention, while keeping the entire fire monitoring area within the monitoring range of the flame detector 10, by setting the orientation of the flame detector 10 so that the key area wraps around the high-sensitivity area as close as possible to the central axis Q, the flame can be detected with higher sensitivity.

[0043] Here, the "key area" includes areas that become hot in the product manufacturing line of a factory, areas where sparks occur, the flow path where hot iron flows in a steel mill, places outside the building where arson is likely, and the like.

[0044] Therefore, the field-of-view checker 20 according to the second embodiment has a multi-region confirmation function that irradiates a monitoring region corresponding to the monitoring range of the flame detector 10 and can also irradiate the high-sensitivity region, as in the first embodiment.

[0045] That is, taking the previous Fig. 7(A) as a specific example, the field-of-view checker 20 according to the second embodiment has a multi-region confirmation function that combines a monitoring region irradiation function for irradiating a monitoring region corresponding to the region from ±35 degrees from the central axis Q and a high-sensitivity region irradiation function for irradiating a high-sensitivity region corresponding to the region from ±20 degrees from the central axis Q.

[0046] By using the field-of-view checker 20 having such a multi-region confirmation function, the entire monitoring region by the flame detector 10 can be easily confirmed, and it can also be easily confirmed where the high-sensitivity region is located. Therefore, the operator can easily visually confirm the monitoring region of the flame detector 10 and can also easily visually confirm whether the key area is included in the high-sensitivity region.

[0047] In addition, as the multi-region confirmation function, a display form in which the monitoring region and the high-sensitivity region are switched and displayed can be adopted, or a display form in which the monitoring region and the high-sensitivity region are simultaneously displayed in a distinguishable manner can also be adopted. That is, as the multi-region confirmation function according to the second embodiment, it is only necessary to be able to visually confirm the two regions of the monitoring region and the high-sensitivity region, and any display form can be adopted.

[0048] In addition to the two regions of the monitoring region and the high-sensitivity region, or instead of the high-sensitivity region, it is also possible to provide a central axis region irradiation function that irradiates a central axis region where the region of the central axis Q can be visually recognized as the multi-region confirmation function.

[0049] As described above, according to the second embodiment, by further providing the multi-region confirmation function, in addition to the effects of the previous first embodiment, it is also possible to easily visually confirm the location of the high-sensitivity region or the central axis region of the flame detector. As a result, when adjusting the orientation of the flame detector, a visual confirmation device that can reduce the work load and work time can be obtained.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0050] 10 Flame detector, 11 Light receiving window, 20 Visual confirmation device, 21 Light emitting unit, 21a Light shielding filter, 22 Attachment, 22a Front portion, 22b Both end portions.

Claims

1. A field of view checker that irradiates and checks the monitoring area of a flame detector installed in a fire monitoring area with a light beam, a light emitting part that emits a light beam for irradiating the monitoring area, and an attachment that supports the light emitting part and is detachably attached to the flame detector, comprising: in a mounted state where the light emitting part is mounted via the attachment to the flame detector installed in the fire monitoring area, the light emitting part has a monitoring area irradiation function of collectively irradiating the light beam so that the monitoring area can be specified by visual recognition, a field of view checker.

2. In the mounted state, the light emitting part further has a high-sensitivity area irradiation function of collectively irradiating the light beam so that a high-sensitivity area that is close to the central axis Q of the monitoring area and can detect a flame with higher sensitivity can be specified by visual recognition, in addition to the monitoring area irradiation function, The field of view checker according to claim 1.

3. In the mounted state, the light emitting part further has a central axis area irradiation function of collectively irradiating the light beam so that the central axis Q of the monitoring area can be specified by visual recognition, in addition to the monitoring area irradiation function, The field of view checker according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The light emitting part collectively irradiates the light beam in a state where the entire surface of the range that coincides with the monitoring area is irradiated, a state where the outer peripheral portion of the monitoring area is irradiated in a ring shape, or a state where three or more portions on the outer periphery of the monitoring area are irradiated spot by spot, The field of view checker according to claim 1.

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