Smoke detection facility

Abstract

To promptly, efficiently and certainly perform smoke detection specifying a generation position of smoke in a monitoring area.SOLUTION: A smoke detection facility comprises: a fixed type smoke detection device 100 which detects smoke in a computer room 104 as a monitoring area; and a portable type smoke detection device 10 which detects smoke contained in the sucked air as moving in the computer room 104 to specify a generation position of smoke, wherein sensitivity higher than detection sensitivity of the fixed type smoke detection device 100 for detecting smoke is fixed to initial sensitivity when detection is started, and fixation of the initial sensitivity is cancelled when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected in the portable type smoke detection device 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a smoke detection facility including a portable smoke detection device and a fixed smoke detection device that detect trace amounts of smoke contained in the air sucked from a monitoring area.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a computer room where a server or the like is installed, or a clean room in semiconductor manufacturing equipment or the like, a fixed smoke detection device that highly sensitively detects smoke is provided. This fixed smoke detection device sucks air from a sampling pipe installed in a monitoring area and operates by detecting extremely low-concentration smoke floating in the air.

[0003] When such a fixed smoke detection device operates, since the smoke generation position may not be visually captured, a portable smoke detection device with a sampling pipe attached to the tip of a hose is used to identify the smoke generation position while moving within the monitoring area.

[0004] In addition, in a conventional fixed smoke detection device, since there are a plurality of sampling holes in the sampling pipe, there is a problem that even if smoke is detected, the smoke generation position cannot be specified.

[0005] To solve this problem, a photoelectric smoke sensor having a suction port is arranged at a predetermined interval, for example, in a sampling pipe that sucks air from a protected space, and an address is set for each photoelectric smoke sensor, so that the smoke generation position can be specified based on the address of the photoelectric smoke sensor that has detected smoke.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Patent Document 6

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, in the operation of identifying the location where smoke is generated using a conventional portable smoke detection device, the operation is started with the smoke detection sensitivity of the portable smoke detection device being made less sensitive than that of a fixed smoke detection device. However, there are many cases where the smoke in the monitoring area is not thin enough to be confirmed visually. In addition, since the range where such thin smoke is locally present is often a narrow range within the entire monitoring area, if the operation is started with a smoke detection sensitivity lower than that of a fixed smoke detection device from the beginning, the location where smoke is generated may be missed. Also, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to identify the location where smoke is generated while moving the monitoring area.

[0008] In addition, no method has been proposed for identifying the smoke generation section in the monitoring area with a conventional fixed smoke detection device and further identifying the detailed smoke generation location with a portable smoke detection device.

[0009] In addition, in a conventional fixed smoke detection device, in order to identify the smoke generation section, a photoelectric smoke sensor must be provided for each suction position of the sampling pipe. Therefore, the number of photoelectric smoke sensors increases according to the number of suction ports provided in the sampling pipe, resulting in a problem that the equipment configuration becomes complicated and the equipment cost increases significantly.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a smoke detection facility including a portable smoke detection device that enables quick, efficient, and reliable identification of the location of smoke generation while moving through a monitoring area.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a smoke detection facility including a stationary smoke detection device that can identify the smoke generation section at low equipment costs without avoiding complexity and requiring a significant increase in equipment configuration.

[0012] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a smoke detection facility in which the operation of narrowing down and identifying the smoke generation position while moving using a portable smoke detection device for the smoke generation section in the monitoring area specified by the stationary smoke detection device can be performed quickly, efficiently, and reliably.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] (Smoke Detection Facility 1) The present invention is a smoke detection facility, a stationary smoke detection device for detecting smoke in a monitoring area, a portable smoke detection device that moves within the monitoring area and detects smoke contained in the sucked air to identify the smoke generation position, and includes The portable smoke detection device is characterized in that, at the start of detection, the detection sensitivity for detecting smoke is fixed at an initial sensitivity higher than the detection sensitivity of the stationary smoke detection device, and the fixation of the initial sensitivity is released when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected.

[0014] (Smoke Detection Facility 2) In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smoke detection facility, a stationary smoke detection device for detecting smoke in a monitoring area, a portable smoke detection device that moves within the monitoring area and detects smoke contained in the sucked air to identify the smoke generation position, and includes The portable smoke detection device is characterized in that at the start of detection, the detection sensitivity for detecting smoke in the monitoring area is fixed at a predetermined initial sensitivity, and when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected in the state of the initial sensitivity, the fixation of the initial sensitivity is released and it becomes possible to switch to a detection sensitivity lower than the initial sensitivity.

[0015] (Switching function of detection sensitivity of portable smoke detection device) The portable smoke detection device does not function to switch the detection sensitivity at the start of detection, and functions to switch the detection sensitivity when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected.

[0016] (Initial sensitivity of portable smoke detection device) The initial sensitivity of the portable smoke detection device is a detection sensitivity higher than the detection sensitivity that can be switched when the switching of the detection sensitivity functions.

[0017] (Fixed smoke detection device for identifying smoke generation section) The monitoring area is divided into predetermined sections, The fixed smoke detection device detects smoke by identifying the smoke generation section where smoke has occurred.

[0018] (Configuration of fixed smoke detection device) The fixed smoke detection device a sampling pipe laid in the monitoring area so that sampling holes are located in each of the sections, and on-off valves provided corresponding to each of the sampling holes, and includes By controlling the opening and closing of each on-off valve, the air in an arbitrary section is sucked from the corresponding sampling hole.

[0019] (Fixed smoke detection device equipped with indicator lights) The fixed smoke detection device further includes indicator lights in each of the sections, When detecting smoke by identifying the smoke generation section, the smoke generation section is indicated by the indicator light provided in the corresponding section.

Effect of the invention

[0020] [Basic effects of the first invention of the present application] According to the portable smoke detection device and the method for specifying the smoke generation position of the present invention, when starting the operation of specifying the smoke generation position while moving the monitoring area, the smoke detection sensitivity in the portable smoke detection device must always be the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity in the fixed smoke detection device, and the initial sensitivity is set to the high smoke detection sensitivity. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a sensitivity setting error at the start of the operation related to the switching operation, and it is not possible to start the operation with a narrow detection range by setting a low sensitivity from the beginning as in the prior art and miss the smoke generation position. It is possible to perform the operation of specifying the smoke generation position quickly, efficiently, and surely while moving the monitoring area.

[0021] In addition, the initial sensitivity is set to the same or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity of the smoke detection device main body in the fixed smoke detection device. At this time, the detection sensitivity switching does not function. When used to specify the smoke generation position, the operation starts from the initial sensitivity of the smoke detection sensitivity. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected during the use for specifying the smoke generation position, the detection sensitivity switching becomes functional. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent starting the operation by switching to a lower sensitivity than the smoke detection sensitivity in the fixed smoke detection device when starting the operation. Furthermore, when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected at the initial sensitivity of the smoke detection sensitivity, the detection sensitivity switching becomes functional. After that, it is possible to narrow down the smoke generation position while manually or automatically, or manually and automatically decreasing the smoke detection sensitivity, and also manually or automatically, or manually and automatically increasing and decreasing the detection sensitivity as necessary. For this reason, it is possible to specify the smoke generation position quickly, efficiently, and surely.

[0022] Also, by selectively combining the manual sensitivity switching function and the automatic sensitivity switching function of the smoke detection sensitivity, for example, initially select the manual sensitivity switching function and start from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), while moving and observing the reaction, search for the smoke generation position, and when a predetermined smoke detection signal is obtained, it can be manually switched to low sensitivity. Therefore, while appropriately switching to low sensitivity, narrow down the search. After the smoke generation position has been considerably narrowed down, if the selection is changed to the automatic sensitivity switching function, it will restart from the initial sensitivity, so there will be no sudden loss of reaction, and it can be immediately switched to an appropriate sensitivity (low sensitivity) by the automatic sensitivity switching function. Since the smoke generation position has already been considerably narrowed down, the subsequent work of automatically identifying the smoke generation position can be advanced without being troubled by the switching operation.

[0023] Also, initially select the automatic sensitivity switching function and start from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), while moving and observing the reaction, search for the smoke generation position. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is obtained, it will automatically switch to low sensitivity, and thus narrow down the range. If, during this process, the smoke detection signal suddenly stops being obtained, and the selection is changed to the manual sensitivity switching function, at this time, since it will restart from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), it becomes possible to efficiently advance the search operation for the smoke generation position according to the situation.

[0024] Also, by providing a reset means for resetting the sensitivity automatically switched by the automatic sensitivity switching function, at the start of operation, select the automatic sensitivity switching function and start from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), while moving and observing the reaction, search for the smoke generation position. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is obtained, it will automatically switch to low sensitivity, and thus narrow down the range. If, during this process, the smoke detection signal suddenly stops being obtained, and the automatic sensitivity switching function is reset by the reset means, it can be forcibly returned to the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), and since it will restart from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), it becomes possible to efficiently advance the search operation for the smoke generation position according to the situation.

[0025] In addition, when starting from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity) with the automatic sensitivity switching function and receiving a manual switching operation by the manual sensitivity switching function during the operation, the automatic sensitivity switching function restarts the automatic sensitivity switching not from the initial sensitivity but from the sensitivity forcibly switched manually, and in this way, it becomes possible to skip the switching stage in the automatic sensitivity switching function. By finely combining the manual switching operation of the automatic sensitivity switching function and the manual sensitivity switching function, it becomes possible to efficiently proceed with the search operation for the smoke generation position.

[0026] [Basic effects of the second invention] The second invention of the present application is a portable smoke detection device that sucks air in the monitoring area while moving within the monitoring area through a sampling hole, detects smoke contained in the sucked air, and specifies the smoke generation position. Since it is provided with a notification means for performing notification by sound and / or vibration in response to the detected change in smoke concentration, when starting the operation of specifying the smoke generation position while moving within the monitoring area, the operator can know the change in smoke concentration by the notification by sound and / or vibration without looking at the smoke concentration indicator. By moving while searching for the direction in which the smoke concentration increases from the notification by sound and / or vibration, it is possible to efficiently narrow down and specify the smoke generation position.

[0027] (Effect by notification of change in smoke concentration) In addition, since the notification means changes the output form of sound and / or vibration in response to the detected change in smoke concentration, the operator can efficiently narrow down and specify the smoke generation position while recognizing the change in smoke concentration in real time from the sound and / or vibration notified while moving within the warning area.

[0028] (Effect by notification of change trend of smoke concentration) In addition, since the notification means makes the output form of sound and / or vibration different according to the detected change trend of smoke concentration, when the operator knows the downward trend of smoke concentration from the notification by sound and / or vibration, the operator moves away from that direction, and when the operator knows the upward trend of smoke concentration, the operator moves in the direction indicating that trend. By doing so, it is possible to efficiently narrow down and specify the smoke generation position.

[0029] (Effect of notifying the rising trend of smoke concentration) The alarm means is designed to identify at least an upward trend among the predetermined change trends of the detected smoke concentration, that is, rising, stagnating, and falling, by sound and / or vibration.Therefore, by being notified by sound and / or vibration, the worker can at least recognize the upward trend of the smoke concentration and move in that direction, thereby efficiently narrowing down and identifying the location where the smoke is coming from.

[0030] (Effects of changing the output frequency of sound and / or vibration) In addition, the alarm means changes the output period of the specified sound and / or vibration, and when the detected smoke density increases, the output period of the sound and / or vibration is set to a predetermined short period, or the period is shortened in accordance with the increase in smoke density, and when the smoke density decreases, the output period of the specified sound and / or vibration is set to a predetermined long period, or the period is lengthened in accordance with the downward trend in smoke density, and when the change in smoke density tends to stagnate, the output period of the specified sound and / or vibration is set to a predetermined period between the predetermined short period and the predetermined long period, or is fixed at the predetermined period and does not change.As a result, while moving within the alert area, the worker can efficiently narrow down and identify the location of the smoke generation while recognizing in real time changing conditions such as an increase, stagnation, or decrease in smoke density from the length of the output period of the specified sound and / or vibration that is notified.

[0031] (Effect of changing the output duty of sound and / or vibration) In addition, the notification means changes the output duty of a predetermined sound and / or a predetermined vibration every predetermined repetition period. When the detected smoke density increases, the output duty of the predetermined sound and / or the predetermined vibration is set to a predetermined maximum output duty, or the output duty is increased in response to the increase in the smoke density. When the smoke density decreases, the output duty of the predetermined sound and / or the predetermined vibration is set to a predetermined minimum output duty, or the output duty is decreased in response to the decrease in the smoke density. When the change in the smoke density tends to stagnate, the output duty of the predetermined sound and / or the predetermined vibration is set to a predetermined output duty between the maximum output duty and the minimum output duty, or is fixed to the predetermined output duty without change. Therefore, while moving in the warning area, the operator can efficiently narrow down and identify the smoke generation position in real time by recognizing the change situation such as the increase, stagnation, or decrease of the smoke density from the change in the output duty of the predetermined sound or the predetermined vibration notified.

[0032] [Basic effects of the third invention] The present invention is a fixed smoke detection device arranged in a monitoring area and detecting smoke contained in the air sucked through a sampling pipe. It is provided with an on-off valve provided corresponding to each predetermined number of sampling holes of the sampling pipe, an on-off valve control unit that controls the opening and closing of the on-off valve so as to keep the amount of air sucked by the sampling pipe substantially constant, and a smoke detection control unit that specifies the smoke generation position based on the control state of the on-off valve by the on-off valve control unit when detecting smoke contained in the air sucked through the sampling pipe. Therefore, when smoke is detected, the smoke generation position is specified based on the control states of a plurality of on-off valves that are controlled to open and close so as to keep the amount of air sucked by the sampling pipe substantially constant, and by notifying this, even for smoke that cannot be confirmed with the naked eye, by examining the target device existing at the smoke generation position, the device generating the smoke can be specified and appropriately dealt with.

[0033] Even if a plurality of on-off valves are controlled to open and close in order to identify the smoke generation position, the amount of air sucked by the sampling pipe is kept substantially constant. Therefore, there is no need to perform complicated control such as varying the suction amount of the suction pump provided in the smoke detection device main body, and the device configuration can be simplified.

[0034] (Effect by sequential opening drive of on-off valve) In addition, the on-off valve control unit repeatedly performs control to open-drive the on-off valves in a predetermined order for a predetermined number at a time for a predetermined time and close-drive the remaining on-off valves. When the smoke detection control unit detects smoke, it identifies the position corresponding to the on-off valve that is open-driving as the smoke generation position. Therefore, by repeatedly performing the on-off control of sequentially opening-driving and closing a plurality of normally closed on-off valves for a predetermined time, when the on-off valve close to the smoke generation position is open-driven for a certain time, smoke is detected, and the smoke generation position can be identified and notified from the on-off valve that is open-driving when the smoke is detected.

[0035] In addition, among the plurality of on-off valves provided in the sampling pipe, only at least one of them is open-driven to suck air, and the remaining on-off valves are closed-driven. The amount of air sucked by the sampling pipe may be set as the suction amount per at least one on-off valve corresponding to the sampling hole. Since the suction amount of the air sucked through the sampling pipe is significantly reduced and a small suction pump can be used, miniaturization and cost reduction of the device configuration can be achieved.

[0036] (Effect by opening drive time of on-off valve) In addition, since the opening drive time for driving a plurality of on-off valves is set based on the time until the air sucked from the on-off valve reaches the smoke detection device main body through the sampling pipe, during the period from opening to closing the on-off valve, the air sucked from the open-driven on-off valve can surely reach the smoke detection device main body and the presence or absence of smoke can be detected.

[0037] (Effect by sequential closing drive of on-off valve) In addition, the on-off valve control unit controls the on-off valves to be closed for a predetermined time in a predetermined order for each predetermined number, and the remaining on-off valves are opened. This control is sequentially repeated. The smoke detection control unit is configured to identify the position corresponding to the on-off valve being closed as the smoke generation position when the state changes from detecting smoke to not detecting smoke. Therefore, by repeatedly performing the on-off control of closing the plurality of normally open on-off valves by closing them for a predetermined time in order, when the on-off valve close to the smoke generation position is closed for a certain period of time and the detection of smoke is interrupted, the smoke generation position can be identified and notified from the on-off valve being closed when the state changes to not detecting smoke.

[0038] In addition, at least one of the plurality of on-off valves provided in the sampling pipe is closed, and the remaining on-off valves are all open to suck air. Even when the on-off valves are driven to open and close, smoke detection is performed quickly and reliably. At the same time, by interrupting the detection of smoke when the valve is closed, the smoke generation position can be surely identified and notified.

[0039] (Effect by the closing drive time of the on-off valve) In addition, the closing drive time for closing the plurality of on-off valves is set based on the time until the air sucked from the on-off valve reaches the smoke detection device main body through the sampling pipe. Therefore, during the period from closing to opening the on-off valve, the air containing the detected smoke sucked from the on-off valve does not reach the smoke detection device main body, and the smoke detection is surely interrupted, so that the smoke generation position can be identified.

[0040] (Effect by the individual setting of the number of on-off operations of the on-off valve) In addition, the predetermined number of on-off valves to be controlled for on-off is individually set according to the control cycle repeated sequentially. Therefore, the suction conditions can be optimally maintained according to the equipment installation situation, the environment of the warning area, the position of the sampling hole, etc.

[0041] (Basic effect of the fourth invention) The fourth invention of the present application specifies a smoke generation section within a monitoring area using a fixed smoke detection device, and then specifies the smoke generation position within the smoke generation section using a portable smoke detection device. Therefore, a predetermined smoke generation section within the monitoring area is specified by the fixed smoke detection device, and the smoke generation position can be specified by using the portable smoke detection device within or near the section. Thus, the operation of specifying the smoke generation position is made efficient.

[0042] (Effect according to another form of the fourth invention) In another form of the fourth invention of the present application, in a method for specifying a smoke generation position in which a smoke generation section is specified using a fixed smoke detection device and the smoke generation position is specified using a portable smoke detection device in the smoke generation section, when specifying the fire occurrence position using the portable smoke detection device, a sensitivity higher than the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detection device is used as the initial sensitivity, and at this time, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity does not function. When used to specify the smoke generation position while moving within the smoke generation section, the operation starts from the initial sensitivity. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected during the use for specifying the smoke generation position, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity functions. Subsequently, by reducing the smoke detection sensitivity, the smoke generation position is narrowed down and specified. Therefore, when starting the operation of specifying the smoke generation position while moving through the smoke generation section specified by the portable smoke detection device when the smoke generation section is specified by the fixed smoke detection device, the smoke detection sensitivity in the portable smoke detection device is always the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity in the fixed smoke detection device, starting with a high smoke detection sensitivity as the initial sensitivity, preventing a sensitivity setting error at the start of the operation related to the switching operation, and avoiding missing the smoke generation position by starting the operation with a low sensitivity as in the prior art. This enables the operation of specifying the smoke generation position while moving through the monitoring area to be performed quickly, efficiently, and reliably.

[0043] In addition, when starting the operation of identifying the smoke generation position with a portable smoke detection device, it is possible to surely prevent starting the operation with the sensitivity switched lower than the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detection device. Further, when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected at the initial sensitivity of the smoke detection sensitivity, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity becomes functional. Thereafter, it becomes possible to perform an operation of narrowing down the smoke generation position while lowering the smoke detection sensitivity. For this reason, it is possible to identify the smoke generation position quickly, efficiently, and surely.

[0044] (Effect by opening / closing control of on-off valve) In addition, the fixed smoke detection device is provided with an on-off valve provided corresponding to every predetermined number of sampling holes of the sampling pipe, an on-off valve control unit that controls the opening and closing of the on-off valve so as to keep the amount of air sucked by the sampling pipe substantially constant, and a smoke detection control unit that identifies the smoke generation position based on the control state of the on-off valve by the on-off valve control unit when detecting smoke contained in the air sucked through the sampling pipe. Therefore, when smoke is detected, the smoke generation position is identified based on the control states of a plurality of on-off valves that are controlled to open and close so as to keep the amount of air sucked by the sampling pipe substantially constant, and by notifying this, even for smoke that cannot be confirmed with the naked eye, by examining the target device existing at the smoke generation position, it is possible to identify the device generating the smoke and appropriately take measures.

[0045] In addition, even when controlling the opening and closing of a plurality of on-off valves to identify the smoke generation position, since the amount of air sucked by the sampling pipe is kept substantially constant, it is not necessary to perform complicated control such as varying the suction amount of the suction pump provided in the smoke detection device main body, and the configuration of the device can be simplified.

[0046] (Effect by notification of smoke generation section by indicator light of on-off valve) In addition, since the fixed smoke detection device is configured to notify the specified smoke generation section by means of a display provided at the arrangement position of the on-off valve, and the smoke detection section is specified by the lighting or blinking of the indicator lamp provided on the on-off valve, even in a wide warning area, it is possible to easily know where the smoke generation section is, and thus start the operation of narrowing down the smoke generation position by means of the portable smoke detection device.

[0047] (Effect by specifying smoke generation section by smoke detector) In addition, for each suction position of the sampling pipe arranged in the warning area, the fixed smoke detection device is provided with a smoke detector for detecting the smoke contained in the sucked air, and the smoke generation section is specified based on the ID information of the smoke detector. Therefore, although the equipment cost increases by providing a plurality of smoke detectors, the smoke generation section can be surely specified by the smoke detection of the smoke detector by means of the simple control of sucking air by the sampling pipe.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0048]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0049] [Embodiment of the First Invention] (Basic Concept of the Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a portable smoke detection device, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation display unit provided on the portable smoke detection device main body taken out, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the portable smoke detection device main body for switching the smoke detection sensitivity operation

[0050] The basic concept in the embodiment of the portable smoke detection device according to the first invention of the present application is a portable smoke detection device 10 that sucks air in the monitoring area through a sampling hole while moving within the monitoring area, detects smoke contained in the sucked air, and identifies the smoke generation position. The portable smoke detection device 10 is provided with a sensitivity switching control unit 42 that switches and controls the smoke detection sensitivity. When starting operation, the sensitivity switching control unit 42 sets the initial sensitivity to the same or higher smoke detection sensitivity as that of a fixed smoke detection device 100 (described later with reference to FIG. 3) that detects smoke in the monitoring area. At this time, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity does not function. When it is used to identify the smoke generation position while moving within the monitoring area after the fixed smoke detection device 100 detects the occurrence of smoke, the operation starts from the initial sensitivity. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected during the use for identifying the smoke generation position, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity is made to function.

[0051] According to such a portable smoke detection device 10, when starting the operation of identifying the smoke generation position while moving within the monitoring area, the smoke detection sensitivity in the portable smoke detection device 10 always starts with the same or higher smoke detection sensitivity as that in the fixed smoke detection device 100 as the initial sensitivity. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a sensitivity setting error at the start of the operation related to the switching operation, and it is possible to prevent missing the smoke generation position by starting the operation with a narrow detection range by setting a low sensitivity from the beginning as in the prior art. It enables the operation of identifying the smoke generation position while moving within the monitoring area to be performed quickly, efficiently, and reliably.

[0052] In another aspect of the first invention of the present application, after a fixed smoke detection device 100 that detects smoke in a monitoring area detects the occurrence of smoke, a portable smoke detection device 10 is used to move within the monitoring area while sucking air in the monitoring area through a sampling hole, and detect the smoke contained in the sucked air to identify the smoke generation position. A method for identifying the smoke generation position, wherein the portable smoke detection device 10 has a switchable smoke detection sensitivity. At the start of operation, the initial sensitivity is the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detection device 10. At this time, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity does not function. When used to identify the smoke generation position, the operation starts from the initial sensitivity. During the use for identifying the smoke generation position while moving in the monitoring area, when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity becomes functional, and the smoke generation position is identified while switching the smoke detection sensitivity. This will be described in detail below.

[0053] (Configuration of Smoke Detection Device) Based on FIGS. 1 to 3, an embodiment of the portable smoke detection device according to the present invention will be described.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, the portable smoke detection device 10 in the present embodiment is provided with a sampling tube 14 detachably attached to a portable smoke detection device main body 12.

[0055] The sampling tube 14 has a suction pipe 14a connected to the tip side of a holder portion 14c provided with a handle 14d, and a sampling hole (suction hole) 14b is opened at the tip of the suction pipe 14a. A hose 14e, which is a flexible tube, is connected to the base end side of the holder portion 14c, and the hose 14e is detachably connected to a hose connection port 16 of the smoke detection device main body 12.

[0056] The smoke detection device main body 12 can be held by a handle 18 or carried on the shoulder by a hanger belt or the like while performing an operation to identify the smoke generation position. A power switch 20 is provided on the upper part, and an operation display unit 22 is provided on the front surface.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 2, the operation display unit 22 includes an alarm display unit 24 and a sensitivity switching operation unit 26. In the alarm display unit 24, there are a caution lamp 24c, a warning lamp 24b, and an alarm lamp 24a that light up in response to an increase in smoke concentration. In addition, a suction check lamp 24d, a failure representative lamp 24e, and a power lamp 24f are provided. The operation display unit 22 may be provided in whole or in part in the holder unit 14c. In that case, an electrical wiring for connecting the smoke detection device main body 12 and the holder unit 14c is provided as necessary.

[0058] The sensitivity switching operation unit 26 is a sensitivity switching means having a function of switching sensitivity, and includes sensitivity switching buttons (switch buttons) 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d, enabling manual switching of the smoke detection sensitivity in four steps. For example, the sensitivity switching button 26a selects the highest first smoke detection sensitivity that operates at a smoke concentration of 0.005 to 0.1% / m, the sensitivity switching button 26b selects the second smoke detection sensitivity that operates at a smoke concentration of 0.1 to 0.2% / m, the sensitivity switching button 26c selects the third smoke detection sensitivity that operates at a smoke concentration of 0.2 to 0.5% / m, and the sensitivity switching button 26d selects the lowest fourth smoke detection sensitivity that operates at a smoke concentration of 0.5 to 5.0% / m. Each sensitivity switching button is a self-illuminating (illuminated) switch, and the selected sensitivity can be determined by the display.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 3, the smoke detection device main body 12 includes a control unit 30, a smoke detection unit 32, a suction unit 34, a battery power supply unit 36, a power switch 20, a sensitivity switching operation unit 26, and an alarm display unit 24.

[0060] The suction unit 34 includes a suction fan driven by a motor. By the rotational drive of the suction fan, air containing smoke particles is sucked from the target space, i.e., the monitoring area, through the sampling hole 14b, taken into the smoke detection unit 32 via the suction pipe 14a and the hose 14e, and exhausted through the exhaust hole.

[0061] The smoke detection unit 32 forms a smoke detection point by imaging laser light from a laser light source, for example, on the air flow sucked and taken in, and when smoke particles pass through this smoke detection point, the scattered light generated is received by a photodiode to output a detection pulse, which is counted at predetermined time intervals, and based on this count number, smoke is detected and a smoke detection signal is output.

[0062] In addition, a light source such as an LED may be used instead of the laser light source. The light receiving sensor is not limited to a photodiode, and various light receiving sensors may be applicable.

[0063] The battery power supply unit 36 includes a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, and is capable of being charged by connecting a charging unit to the connector 38. Power is supplied from the battery power supply unit 36 to other units.

[0064] The control unit 30 is composed of a computer circuit or the like including a CPU, a memory, various input / output ports, etc. as hardware, and is provided with the functions of a smoke detection control unit 40 and a sensitivity switching control unit 42 realized by the execution of a program by the CPU.

[0065] When a smoke detection signal detected according to the initial sensitivity or the smoke detection sensitivity set by the sensitivity switching control unit 42 is output from the smoke detection unit 32, the caution lamp 24c, warning lamp 24b, and alarm lamp 24a provided in the alarm display unit 24 are sequentially lit according to the caution level, warning level, and alarm level indicating the increase in the smoke density of the smoke detection signal to notify the smoke detection and the change in the smoke density. Instead of or in addition to these display lamps, an indicator for variably displaying the detected smoke density according to the count status of the detection pulse may be provided. The smoke detection control unit 40 can generally know the currently detected smoke density from the currently set smoke detection sensitivity and the smoke detection signal (pulse count status, etc.). Based on this, the above display corresponding to the currently detected smoke density can be performed.

[0066] Here, for example, when the highest first smoke detection sensitivity that operates at a smoke concentration of 0.005 to 0.1% / m is selected by the sensitivity switching button 26a, when a smoke detection signal corresponding to a smoke concentration of 0.005% / m is output from the smoke detection unit 32, the caution lamp 24c lights up. Also, for example, when a smoke detection signal corresponding to a smoke concentration of 0.05% / m is output, the warning lamp 24b lights up. Further, when a smoke detection signal at a level corresponding to a predetermined concentration higher than this is detected, the alarm lamp 24a lights up. For example, when a smoke detection signal corresponding to a smoke concentration of 0.1% / m is output, the alarm lamp 24a lights up. In this embodiment, it is described that the lighting of the alarm lamp 24a corresponds to the operation. This is the same in other embodiments as well.

[0067] The sensitivity switching control unit 42 includes a manual sensitivity switching function 43. At the start of operation after power-on by operating the power switch 20, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 4, the smoke detection sensitivity is set as the initial sensitivity to be the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity in a fixed smoke detection device installed in a monitoring area such as a computer room. At this time, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity does not function. Therefore, when it is used to identify the location of smoke generation in the monitoring area when the fixed smoke detection device operates, the work starts from a smoke detection sensitivity that is the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity in the fixed smoke detection device set as the initial sensitivity in the smoke detection device main body 12. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected during the use for identifying the location of smoke generation, control is performed to make the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity by the sensitivity switching operation unit 26 function.

[0068] The initial sensitivity is registered in the memory of the control unit 30 by a dedicated setting device at the time of factory shipment, for example. Alternatively, it may be possible to read the set sensitivity from the fixed smoke detection device, and a sensitivity higher than this may be registered in the memory of the control unit 30 as the initial sensitivity. When the power is turned on, the control unit 30 reads the initial sensitivity registered in the memory by the manual sensitivity switching function 43 of the sensitivity switching control unit 42, sets it in the smoke detection control unit 40, and then starts operation. Note that the initial sensitivity can also be set by a DIP switch or the like in addition to being stored in the memory.

[0069] Also, for example, after power-on, an operation is performed on a separately provided detection start switch or the like, and when this operation is performed, a suction fan or the like is started to drive, and before starting electrical soft sampling, the manual sensitivity switching function 43 of the sensitivity switching control unit 42 automatically sets the initial sensitivity pre-stored in the memory to the smoke detection control unit 40, and smoke detection based on the initial sensitivity may be started.

[0070] If the initial sensitivity is, for example, a detection sensitivity at which a fixed smoke detection device installed to detect smoke in a monitoring area operates at a smoke concentration of 0.1% / m (for example, it becomes the aforementioned "alarm level"), then a sensitivity higher than this, that is, for example, a sensitivity corresponding to a smoke concentration of 0.005 to 0.1% / m selected by the sensitivity switching button 26a, is assumed. Note that the initial sensitivity does not necessarily have to match the sensitivity selectable by the sensitivity switching buttons 26a to 26d, and it may be a high sensitivity exceeding the sensitivity selected by the sensitivity switching button 26a.

[0071] Here, by making the total length of the sampling tube 14 and the hose (flexible tube) 14e connected to the portable smoke detection device 10 shorter than the sampling tube connected to the fixed smoke detection device, reducing the number of sampling holes, and making the suction flow rate per unit time the same, etc., the spatial spread (smoke detection range) that can effectively detect smoke by the amount of air suction per unit time as seen from the sampling holes is made larger than that of the fixed smoke detection device. Therefore, the portable smoke detection device 10 can efficiently perform the operation of specifying the position where smoke is generated and localized in a wide monitoring area.

[0072] Also, the portable smoke detection device 10 with the initial sensitivity set to the same or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detection device cannot switch the sensitivity because the sensitivity switching function is not in a state where it can function until a predetermined smoke detection signal, for example, a smoke detection signal corresponding to the level at which it operates with the initial sensitivity, is obtained from the start of the operation with the initial sensitivity. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent starting the operation by switching to a lower sensitivity than the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detection device.

[0073] Furthermore, when the portable smoke detection device 10 detects a predetermined smoke detection signal corresponding to the smoke detection sensitivity set as the initial sensitivity during the operation to identify the source of smoke, it sets, for example, a software flag, and only when this flag is set, the sensitivity switching operation unit 26 is enabled to switch the detection sensitivity. After that, the smoke detection sensitivity can be gradually lowered (up or down as necessary) to narrow down the source of smoke.

[0074] The manual sensitivity switching function 43 of the sensitivity switching control unit 42 may set the above-mentioned initial sensitivity in the smoke detection control unit 40 at the start of operation and prohibit or disable switching of the smoke detection sensitivity, and perform control to release the prohibition or disablement of sensitivity switching when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected at the initial sensitivity during use to identify the source of smoke. Here, prohibiting or disabling sensitivity switching includes cases where a switching operation is possible but the manual sensitivity switching function 43 of the sensitivity switching control unit 42 does not effectively accept the switching operation, or where a detection operation associated with sensitivity switching is performed but the detection result is not displayed on the alarm display unit 24, etc.

[0075] In addition, when prohibiting / cancelling sensitivity switching, a method can be adopted in which the manual sensitivity switching function 43 of the sensitivity switching control unit 42 controls, for example, a shutter mechanism to open and close the covers provided on the sensitivity switching buttons 26a to 26d, thereby switching between prohibition / cancellation of sensitivity switching operation, i.e., when the cover is closed, operation is disabled, and when the cover is open, operation is enabled.

[0076] Based on FIG. 4, an operation of identifying a smoke source position by the portable smoke detection device of this embodiment in a monitoring area of ​​a fixed smoke detection device will be described.

[0077] In the example of FIG. 4, a fixed smoke detector 100 is installed in a computer room 104 where a server rack 106 housing a server is arranged, with the computer room 104 being the monitoring area. A sampling pipe 102 is drawn out from the fixed smoke detector main body 101 to the monitoring area. Sampling holes are formed in the sampling pipe 102 at predetermined intervals. Air in the monitoring area is inhaled through the sampling holes and sent to the fixed smoke detector main body 101, and it is configured to detect and give an alarm for extremely thin (low-concentration) smoke that cannot be visually confirmed in the same manner as the smoke detector main body 12 in the portable smoke detector 10.

[0078] Here, the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detector 100 is set such that, as described above, when there is smoke at a predetermined concentration, for example, a concentration of 0.1% / m, in the space corresponding to the position of the sampling hole farthest from the fixed smoke detector main body 101 among the plurality of sampling holes provided in the sampling pipe 102 (the space region where the air existing there is effectively sucked through the sampling hole), it detects this and operates.

[0079] When the fixed smoke detector main body 101 detects smoke and operates, an alarm signal is sent to a highly sensitive smoke monitoring panel 110 installed in the monitoring room 108, and a fire alarm is output.

[0080] When a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected by the fixed smoke detector main body 101 and a fire alarm is output, the staff brings the portable smoke detector 10 of this embodiment into the computer room 104 which is the monitoring area, and while moving inside the computer room 104, starts the operation of sucking air through the sampling hole 14b provided at the tip of the sampling pipe 14 to identify the smoke generation position.

[0081] At this time, the smoke detection sensitivity of the portable smoke detection device 10 is set to an initial sensitivity that is the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detection device 100, and in this state, the sensitivity switching does not function. Even if the work starts from a location far from the smoke generation position, the smoke can be detected promptly, and unlike the conventional method of starting work with a low sensitivity in advance, the smoke generation position will not be missed.

[0082] Also, when the portable smoke detection device 10 operates by detecting a predetermined smoke detection signal after starting work, the sensitivity switching by the sensitivity switching operation unit 26, which has not functioned until then, becomes functional. The staff member, for example, gradually lowers the smoke detection sensitivity from the first 0.005 - 0.1% / m of the smoke detection sensitivity corresponding to the sensitivity switching button 26a set as the initial sensitivity to the second, third, and fourth smoke detection sensitivities to narrow down the smoke generation position.

[0083] [Another Embodiment of Automatically Switching Detection Sensitivity] Based on FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the portable smoke detection device main body that enables selection of automatic and manual switching of the smoke detection sensitivity will be described.

[0084] The smoke detection device main body 12 of the portable smoke detection device 10, similar to FIG. 3, includes a control unit 30, a smoke detection unit 32, a suction unit 34, a battery power supply unit 36, a power switch 20, an alarm display unit 24, and a sensitivity switching operation unit 26. The control unit 30 is provided with a smoke detection control unit 40 and a sensitivity switching control unit 42, similar to FIG. 3. The sensitivity switching control unit 42 is provided with an automatic sensitivity switching function 44 in addition to the manual sensitivity switching function 43 of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the sensitivity switching operation unit 26 is provided with a manual sensitivity switching button 48 and an automatic sensitivity switching button 50 that function as selection means.

[0085] When the manual sensitivity switching button 48 is used to select manual switching of the smoke detection sensitivity, similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, manual switching of the smoke detection sensitivity by the manual sensitivity switching function 43 based on the operation of the sensitivity switching buttons 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d is enabled. When the automatic sensitivity switching button 50 is used to select automatic switching of the smoke detection sensitivity, sensitivity switching control is performed by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 that automatically switches the smoke detection sensitivity based on the smoke detection signal.

[0086] Note that in either manual switching or automatic switching of the smoke detection sensitivity by the manual sensitivity switching function 43 or the automatic sensitivity switching function 44, the caution lamp 24c, the warning lamp 24b, and the alarm lamp 24a light up in sequence in response to an increase in the smoke density, enabling the detection of smoke and the change in the smoke density.

[0087] Also in this embodiment, similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, a smoke detection sensitivity equal to or higher than that of the fixed smoke detection device is registered as the initial sensitivity. After power-on, when the fixed smoke detection device is used to detect smoke and identify the location of smoke generation in the monitoring area by the manual sensitivity switching function 43 or the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 selected by operating the manual sensitivity switching button 48 or the automatic sensitivity switching button 50, it starts from the initial sensitivity. At this time, the sensitivity switching of the manual sensitivity switching function 43 or the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 is in a non-functional state. Then, during use for identifying the location of smoke generation at the initial sensitivity, when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected, the sensitivity switching of the manual sensitivity switching function 43 or the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 becomes functional.

[0088] When the sensitivity switching becomes functional, if the manual sensitivity switching button 48 is used to select manual switching of the smoke detection sensitivity, smoke detection is performed at the smoke detection sensitivity selected by switching with any of the sensitivity switching buttons 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 3. On the other hand, if the automatic sensitivity switching button 50 is used to select automatic switching of the smoke detection sensitivity, automatic sensitivity switching control is performed to automatically switch the detection sensitivity based on the smoke detection signal.

[0089] The automatic sensitivity switching control by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 automatically switches and controls the smoke detection sensitivity by, for example, AGC (Automatic Gain Control) so that the signal level of the smoke detection signal falls within a predetermined level range.

[0090] That is, when the signal level of the smoke detection signal output from the smoke detection unit 32 exceeds a predetermined upper threshold value, the automatic sensitivity switching function 44, by electrical and software processing, for example, reduces the gain of the signal amplification amplifier to lower the detection sensitivity. When the signal level of the smoke detection signal falls below a predetermined lower threshold value, for example, the gain of the amplifier is increased to raise the detection sensitivity, thereby automatically switching the smoke detection sensitivity so that it falls within a predetermined level range. If the signal level of the smoke detection signal is within the predetermined level range, the smoke detection sensitivity is maintained. When it exceeds the upper threshold value, the smoke detection sensitivity is switched to low sensitivity, and when it falls below the lower level, the smoke detection sensitivity is switched to high sensitivity for control.

[0091] Note that the AGC control for automatic sensitivity switching by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 is configured to control an analog switch for gain switching, a digital potentiometer, or an electronic volume (these correspond to sensitivity switching means) provided in the amplifier of the smoke detection unit 32 from the control unit 30.

[0092] As a result, by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44, as approaching the smoke generation position, the smoke detection sensitivity can be automatically lowered, and the work of narrowing down the smoke generation position can be performed.

[0093] [Embodiment Combining Manual and Automatic Switching of Smoke Detection Sensitivity] As another embodiment of the portable smoke detection device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sensitivity switching control unit 42 can efficiently proceed with the work of specifying the smoke generation position by an appropriate combination of manual and automatic switching of the smoke detection sensitivity.

[0094] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in this embodiment, the sensitivity switching control unit 42 is provided with a manual sensitivity switching function 43 and an automatic sensitivity switching function 44, and the sensitivity switching operation unit 26 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a manual sensitivity switching button 48 and an automatic sensitivity switching button 50 that function as selection means.

[0095] When starting operation and when selected by the manual sensitivity switching button 48 and the automatic sensitivity switching button 50, the sensitivity switching control unit 42 sets the smoke detection sensitivity that is the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity in a fixed smoke detection device that detects smoke in the monitoring area as the initial sensitivity. At this time, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity does not function. During use for specifying the smoke generation position, when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected, control is performed to put the manual sensitivity switching function 43 or the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 selected by the manual sensitivity switching button 48 or the automatic sensitivity switching button 50 into a functioning state. By appropriately combining the manual sensitivity switching function 43 and the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 through the selection operations of the manual sensitivity switching button 48 and the automatic sensitivity switching button 50, the search operation for the smoke generation position is made more efficient.

[0096] For example, first, select the manual sensitivity switching function 43 by operating the manual sensitivity switching button 48 and start the operation from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), and search for the smoke generation position while moving while observing the reaction. Since the manual sensitivity switching function 43 can be manually switched to low sensitivity when a predetermined smoke detection signal is obtained, the sensitivity switching buttons 26a to 26d are appropriately switched to low sensitivity and the narrowing-down is advanced.

[0097] After thus considerably narrowing down the smoke generation position, if the selection is changed to the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 by operating the automatic sensitivity switching button 50, it restarts from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), so there is no sudden loss of reaction, and it can be switched to an appropriate sensitivity (low sensitivity) by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44. At this time, since the smoke generation position has already been considerably narrowed down, the identification of the smoke generation position can be advanced by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 without being bothered by the switching operation.

[0098] For example, initially, the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 is selected by operating the automatic sensitivity switching button 50, starting from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), and while moving while observing the reaction, the smoke generation position is searched. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is obtained, the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 automatically switches to the low sensitivity, and thus the range is narrowed down. During the process, when there are sudden fluctuations such as the smoke detection signal suddenly disappearing or becoming quite large, if the selection is changed to the manual sensitivity switching function 43 by operating the manual sensitivity switching button 48, at this time, since it restarts from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), the possibility of losing sight is low. Moreover, since it can be manually switched to an appropriate sensitivity and fixed, the search operation can be performed while suppressing the influence of large fluctuations. As a result, the search operation for the smoke generation position can be efficiently advanced.

[0099] [Embodiment with Automatic Sensitivity Switching Function and Reset Function] As another embodiment of the portable smoke detection device in which the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 is provided in the sensitivity switching control unit 42 shown in FIG. 5, a reset switch that also functions as a reset means is further provided in the sensitivity switching operation unit 26.

[0100] The sensitivity switching control unit 42 of this embodiment includes an automatic sensitivity switching function 44 that automatically switches the smoke detection sensitivity, and a reset switch that resets the sensitivity automatically switched by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44. At the start of operation and when reset by the reset switch, the smoke detection sensitivity that is the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity in a fixed smoke detection device that detects smoke in the monitoring area is set as the initial sensitivity. At this time, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity does not function, and during use for specifying the smoke generation position, when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected, control is performed to bring the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 into a functioning state.

[0101] Therefore, for example, when starting the operation of turning on the power of a portable smoke detection device, the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 starts the operation from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), searches for the smoke generation position while moving while observing the reaction, and automatically switches to the low sensitivity when a predetermined smoke detection signal is obtained, thus narrowing down the range in this way. During this process, when the smoke detection signal suddenly disappears, if the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 is reset by operating the reset switch, it can be forcibly returned to the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), and since it restarts from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity), the smoke detection signal can be obtained again, and it becomes possible to efficiently proceed with the search operation for the smoke generation position.

[0102] [Embodiment of starting with automatic switching and switching sensitivity manually] As another embodiment of a portable smoke detection device in which a manual sensitivity switching function 43 and an automatic sensitivity switching function 44 are provided in the sensitivity switching control unit 42 shown in FIG. 5, the manual sensitivity switching by the manual sensitivity switching function 43 is combined with the switching of the initial sensitivity in the automatic sensitivity switching function 44.

[0103] The sensitivity switching control unit 42 of this embodiment includes an automatic sensitivity switching function 44 that automatically switches the smoke detection sensitivity and a manual sensitivity switching function 43 that manually switches the smoke detection sensitivity. At the start of the operation, the initial sensitivity is set to the smoke detection sensitivity that is the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity in a fixed smoke detection device that detects smoke in the monitoring area. At this time, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity does not function. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected, the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 and the manual sensitivity switching function 43 are put into a functioning state. At this time, when manual sensitivity switching is performed, control is performed to automatically switch the smoke detection sensitivity with the smoke detection sensitivity switched by the manual sensitivity switching function 43 as the initial sensitivity.

[0104] Therefore, according to this embodiment, the search operation for specifying the smoke generation position starts, for example, from the initial sensitivity (high sensitivity) by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44. At this time, the switching to the low sensitivity by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 and the manual sensitivity switching function 43 does not function. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is obtained, the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 and the manual sensitivity switching function 43 are put into a functioning state.

[0105] In this way, the operation of searching for the smoke generation position is advanced. When a manual switching operation by the sensitivity switching buttons 26a to 26d for the manual sensitivity switching function 43 is received during the operation, the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 restarts the automatic sensitivity switching not from the initial sensitivity but from the sensitivity forcibly switched manually.

[0106] As a result, the switching stage in the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 can be skipped by the switching operation of the manual sensitivity switching function 43. By finely combining the manual switching operations of the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 and the manual sensitivity switching function 43, it becomes possible to efficiently proceed with the search operation for specifying the smoke generation position.

[0107] [Modification of the First Invention] In the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, the smoke detection sensitivity is switched manually or automatically, but it may be switched automatically only. The sensitivity switching by the automatic sensitivity switching function 44 switches the sensitivity to smoke and includes various methods other than the above. For example, instead of the gain of the amplifier, the threshold value (such as the operating threshold value) for the smoke detection signal level may be switched, or the count threshold value of the received light pulses may be switched. Further, the light emission conditions such as the drive current of the light source in the smoke detection unit may be switched. Also, these may be combined, or these may be appropriately combined.

[0108] Further, the present invention includes appropriate modifications that do not impair its objects and advantages, and is not limited by the numerical values shown in the above embodiments.

[0109] [Embodiment of the Second Invention] (Basic Concept of the Embodiment) FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a portable smoke detector according to the second invention of the present application, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a portable smoke detector main body that notifies changes in smoke concentration by sound, FIG. 9 is a time chart showing an output pattern of buzzer sounds corresponding to a decrease and an increase in smoke concentration, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a portable smoke detector main body that notifies changes in smoke concentration by vibration.

[0110] The basic concept of the portable smoke detection device according to the second invention of the present application is a portable smoke detection device 10 that moves within a monitoring area, sucks air in the monitoring area through a sampling hole, detects smoke contained in the sucked air, and identifies the smoke generation position. Since it is provided with the acoustic notification unit 70 in FIG. 8 or the vibration notification unit 72 in FIG. 9 that functions as a notification means for performing notification by sound or vibration according to the detected change in smoke concentration, when starting the operation of identifying the smoke generation position while moving in the monitoring area, the operator can know the change in smoke concentration by notification by sound and / or vibration without looking at the smoke concentration indicator 60. By moving while searching for the direction in which the smoke concentration increases from the notification by sound and / or vibration, the smoke generation position can be efficiently narrowed down and identified.

[0111] For example, the acoustic notification unit 70 or the vibration notification unit 72 changes the form of notification by sound or vibration according to the increasing, stagnant, or decreasing trend of the smoke concentration detected by the smoke detection unit 32. Therefore, in addition to the decreasing or increasing trend of the smoke concentration, the operator can know the stagnant trend of the smoke concentration change in the increasing or decreasing trend. For example, when shifting from the increasing trend to the stagnant trend, it can be recognized that the operator has moved close to the smoke generation position, and the smoke generation position can be efficiently narrowed down and identified. This will be described in detail below.

[0112] [Overview of Portable Smoke Detection Device] As shown in FIG. 7(A), the portable smoke detection device 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a sampling tube 14 detachably attached to a portable smoke detection device main body 12 that can be carried around. A smoke concentration indicator 60 that displays the smoke concentration in a bar graph is provided on the holder portion 14c of the sampling tube 14. In addition to the bar graph display, the smoke concentration indicator 60 may display the smoke concentration numerically, or display it with a pointer on an indicator or numerically.

[0113] In addition, the smoke density indicator 60 is provided with an acoustic hole 62, and an acoustic notification unit such as a speaker or a buzzer is provided inside. Corresponding to this, a signal line for connecting the smoke density indicator 60 and the acoustic notification unit provided in the holder portion 14c to the portable smoke detection device main body 12 is embedded in the hose 14e. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

[0114] (Functional Configuration of Portable Smoke Detection Device Main Body) As shown in FIG. 8, the portable smoke detection device main body 12 is provided with a control unit 30, a smoke detection unit 32, a suction unit 34, a battery power supply unit 36, a power switch 20, a sensitivity switching operation unit 26, and an alarm display unit 28. The configurations and functions of these are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

[0115] In addition to this, in the present embodiment, a transmission unit 64 is provided, and on the sampling tube 14 side connected by a hose, a transmission unit 66, a smoke density indicator 60, and an acoustic notification unit 70 that functions as an acoustic notification means are provided.

[0116] The smoke detection control unit 40 instructs the transmission unit 64 to transmit the smoke density detection signal output based on the number of detection pulses by the smoke detection unit 32 to the transmission unit 66 of the sampling tube 14, and controls the smoke density indicator 60 to display the smoke density in a bar graph. Note that the smoke density indicator 60 can switch the display range of the smoke density in conjunction with a switching operation or a manual or automatic switching of the smoke detection sensitivity.

[0117] (Acoustic Notification of Smoke Density) The smoke detection control unit 40 of the portable smoke detection device main body 12 performs control to change the sound from the acoustic notification unit 70 provided on the sampling tube 14 side in accordance with the change in the density of the smoke in the smoke density detection signal output from the smoke detection unit 32. The change in the smoke density may be determined based on a moving average process or the like.

[0118] The control for changing the sound from the acoustic notification unit 70 according to the change in the smoke concentration by the smoke detection control unit 40 is to notify the predetermined change tendency of the smoke concentration detected by the smoke detection unit 32 by sound and / or vibration. For example, according to the rising, stagnating, or falling tendency of the detected smoke concentration, the form of the sound notification is changed.

[0119] The control for changing the sound from the acoustic notification unit 70 according to the change in the smoke concentration by the smoke detection control unit 40 is, for example, the following controls A1 to A3. (Control A1) When the detected smoke concentration is rising (when it is a predetermined rising tendency), the output cycle of the sound is set to a predetermined short cycle, or the output cycle is shortened according to the rise in the smoke concentration. (Control A2) When the detected smoke concentration is falling (when it is a predetermined falling tendency), the output cycle of the sound is set to a predetermined long cycle, or the output cycle is lengthened according to the falling tendency of the smoke concentration. (Control A3) When the detected change in the smoke concentration is a predetermined stagnating tendency, the output cycle of the sound is set to a predetermined cycle between the predetermined long cycle and the predetermined short cycle, or is fixed at the predetermined cycle without change.

[0120] By changing the output cycle of the sound according to the controls A1 to A3 in response to the change in the smoke concentration detected by the smoke detection unit 32 like this, an operator who performs the work of specifying the smoke generation position while moving the portable smoke detection device 10 within the warning area can intuitively recognize the change situation such as the rise, stagnation, or fall of the smoke concentration in real time from the change in the output cycle of the sound, and can efficiently narrow down and specify the smoke generation position.

[0121] Also, as another embodiment of the control for changing the sound from the acoustic notification unit 70 according to the change in the smoke concentration by the smoke detection control unit 40, when the output duty of a predetermined buzzer sound is changed from the acoustic notification unit 50 at predetermined intervals, for example, the following controls B1 to B3 are used. (Control B1) When the detected smoke concentration is rising, the output duty of the buzzer sound is set to a predetermined maximum output duty, or the output duty of the buzzer sound is increased according to the rise in the smoke concentration. (Control B2) When the detected smoke density decreases, set the output duty of the buzzer sound to a predetermined minimum output duty, or decrease the output duty of the buzzer sound in response to the decrease in smoke density. (Control B3) When the detected change in smoke density shows a tendency to stagnate, fix the output duty of the buzzer sound to a predetermined output duty between the predetermined maximum output duty and the predetermined minimum output duty, or fix it to the predetermined output duty and do not change it.

[0122] FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the output pattern of the buzzer sound corresponding to the decrease and increase in smoke density. FIG. 9(A) shows the case where the smoke density decreases, and within the repetition period T, the on-time T1 is made shorter than the off-time (T - T1) to decrease the output duty. FIG. 9(B) shows the case where the smoke density increases, and the on-time T2 and the off-time (T - T2) are made the same to increase the output duty.

[0123] Due to the change in the output duty of the buzzer sound of Controls B1 to B3 according to the change in the smoke density detected by such a smoke detection unit 32, an operator who performs the operation of specifying the smoke generation position while moving the portable smoke detection device 10 within the warning area can intuitively recognize the change situation such as the increase, stagnation, or decrease in the smoke density from the change in the output duty of the predetermined sound in real time, and can efficiently narrow down and specify the smoke generation position.

[0124] Note that as the change in the sound corresponding to the change in the smoke density from the sound notification unit 70, the output pitch of a predetermined sound such as "pip", "pip pip", "pip pip pip"... "pip... pip" may be increased in response to the increase in the smoke density and decreased in response to the decrease in the smoke density, or the frequency or pitch of the sound may be changed.

[0125] (Vibration notification of smoke density) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, on the sampling tube 14 side connected to the portable smoke detection device main body 12 by a hose, a vibration notification unit 72 provided with, for example, a piezoelectric vibrator or the like is provided.

[0126] The smoke detection control unit 40 of the portable smoke detection device main body 12 performs control to change the vibration from the vibration notification unit 72 provided on the sampling tube 14 side according to the change in the concentration of the smoke in the smoke concentration detection signal output from the smoke detection unit 32.

[0127] The control by the smoke detection control unit 40 to change the vibration from the vibration notification unit 72 according to the change in the smoke concentration is to notify the predetermined change tendency of the smoke concentration detected by the smoke detection unit 32 by vibration. For example, according to the rising, stagnant, or falling tendency of the detected smoke concentration, the form of the notification by vibration is changed.

[0128] The control by the smoke detection control unit 40 to change the vibration from the vibration notification unit 72 according to the change in the smoke concentration is, for example, the following controls C1 to C3. (Control C1) When the detected smoke concentration rises (when it is a predetermined rising tendency), the output period of the vibration is set to a predetermined short period, or the output period is shortened according to the rise in the smoke concentration. (Control C2) When the detected smoke concentration falls (when it is a predetermined falling tendency), the output period of the vibration is set to a predetermined long period, or the output period is lengthened according to the fall in the smoke concentration. (Control C3) When the detected change in the smoke concentration is a predetermined stagnant tendency, the output period of the vibration is set to a predetermined period between the predetermined long period and the predetermined short period wave, or is fixed to the predetermined period without change. The output period of the vibration to be changed is set to an output period corresponding to a frequency range of, for example, ten-odd Hz or less that can be sensed by an operator holding the holder portion 14c of the sampling tube 14 in hand.

[0129] By changing the output period of the vibration according to controls C1 to C3 in response to the change in the smoke concentration detected by the smoke detection unit 32 in this way, an operator who performs the work of specifying the smoke generation position while moving the portable smoke detection device 10 within the warning area can intuitively recognize the change situation such as the rise, stagnation, or fall of the smoke concentration in real time from the change in the output period of the vibration, and can efficiently narrow down and specify the smoke generation position.

[0130] As another embodiment of the control for changing the vibration from the vibration notification unit 72 according to the change in the smoke concentration by the smoke detection control unit 40, when the output duty of a predetermined vibration is changed from the vibration notification unit 72 at every predetermined cycle, for example, the following controls D1 to D3 are performed. (Control D1) When the detected smoke concentration increases, set the output duty of the vibration to a predetermined maximum output duty, or increase the output duty of the vibration according to the increase in the smoke concentration. (Control D2) When the detected smoke concentration decreases, set the output duty of the vibration to a predetermined minimum output duty, or decrease the output duty of the vibration according to the decrease in the smoke concentration. (Control D3) When the detected change in the smoke concentration has a stagnant tendency, fix the output duty of the vibration to a predetermined output duty between the predetermined maximum output duty and the predetermined minimum output duty, or fix it to a predetermined output duty and do not change it.

[0131] By changing the output duty of the predetermined vibration of the controls D1 to D3 according to the change in the smoke concentration detected by such a smoke detection unit 32, an operator who performs the operation of specifying the smoke generation position while moving the portable smoke detection device 10 within the warning area can intuitively recognize the change situation such as an increase, stagnation, or decrease in the smoke concentration in real time from the change in the output duty of the predetermined vibration, and can efficiently narrow down and specify the smoke generation position.

[0132] Note that both the acoustic notification unit 70 shown in FIG. 8 and the vibration notification unit 72 shown in FIG. 10 may be provided in the holder portion 14c of the sampling tube 14 so that the detected change in the smoke concentration is notified by both sound and vibration.

[0133] [Embodiment of the Third Invention of the Present Application] (Basic Concept of the Embodiment of the Smoke Detection Device) FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a fixed smoke detection device according to the third invention of the present application, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a smoke detection device main body that detects smoke and specifies the smoke generation position.

[0134] The smoke detection device 100 according to this embodiment is arranged in a warning area such as a computer room 122, and detects smoke contained in the air sucked through the sampling pipe 14. For every predetermined number of sampling holes of the sampling pipe 14, for example, corresponding to each one sampling hole, on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 are provided. The on-off valve control unit 46 drives the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 to open for a predetermined time in a predetermined order for every predetermined number, for example, for every one, so as to keep the air volume per unit time sucked by the sampling pipe 14 substantially constant, and repeatedly performs control to drive the remaining on-off valves to close. When the smoke detection control unit 44 detects smoke contained in the air sucked through the sampling pipe 14, it specifies and reports the smoke generation position based on the control states of the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8.

[0135] When smoke is detected in this way, the smoke generation position is specified based on the positions of the on-off valves that are being driven open among the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8. Specifically, for example, the position of the sampling hole that has sucked the smoke can be known according to the control state of the on-off valve, that is, which on-off valve is being controlled to open when the smoke is detected. Therefore, it is specified that the position corresponding to the sampling hole in the warning area is the smoke generation position.

[0136] Also, even if the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 are controlled to open and close to specify the smoke generation position, the air volume per unit time sucked by the sampling pipe 14 is kept substantially constant. Therefore, there is no need to perform complicated control such as varying the suction volume of the suction pump provided in the fixed smoke detection device main body, and the configuration of the device can be simplified.

[0137] In addition, in another smoke detection device 100 according to this embodiment, the on-off valve control unit 146 repeatedly controls the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 to be closed for a predetermined time in a predetermined order for a predetermined number of units, for example, one unit at a time, so as to keep the amount of air per unit time sucked in by the sampling tube 14 approximately constant, and the remaining on-off valves are repeatedly controlled to be open, and the smoke generation location is identified and notified based on the control state of the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 when the smoke detection control unit 44 changes from a state in which smoke is detected to a state in which smoke is not detected.

[0138] In this case as well, when the state changes from a state in which smoke is detected to a state in which smoke is not detected, the smoke generation position is identified based on the position of the control valve among the multiple on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 that is being driven to close. Specifically, for example, the position of the sampling hole that sucked in the smoke can be determined depending on the control state of the on-off valve, i.e., which on-off valve is being driven to close when the state changes from a state in which smoke is detected to a state in which smoke is not detected, and therefore the position in the alert area that corresponds to that sampling hole can be identified as the smoke generation position.

[0139] Furthermore, since the amount of air sucked by the sampling pipe 114 is kept substantially constant, there is no need to perform complex control such as varying the amount of air sucked by the suction pump provided in the fixed smoke detector main body 112 .

[0140] Although an example is shown here in which the on-off valves are sequentially driven to open or close one by one, multiple valves may be driven at a time. In order to keep the amount of air sucked by the sampling pipe 114 approximately constant, the number of valves to be driven may be set individually for each control operation, instead of a fixed number, according to a control table or the like registered in advance in the on-off valve control unit 46, as necessary.

[0141] In this way, even if the smoke cannot be seen with the naked eye, for example, the device emitting the smoke can be identified and appropriate measures taken by examining the target device present at the location where the smoke is emitted.

[0142] The smoke detection device 100 according to this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0143] [Overview of Fixed Smoke Detection Device] As shown in FIG. 11, in a monitoring area such as a computer room 122 where a server rack 124 is arranged, a fixed smoke detection device 100 according to this embodiment is installed. The fixed smoke detection device 100 includes a fixed smoke detection device main body 112 fixed to a wall surface and a sampling pipe 114 laid in the monitoring area.

[0144] The sampling pipe 114 is drawn upward from the upper part of the fixed smoke detection device main body 112, bent laterally at a position close to the ceiling surface, horizontally arranged along the ceiling surface above the server rack 124, and on the horizontal portion of the sampling pipe 114, on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 having sampling holes at predetermined intervals are arranged, for example, downward.

[0145] For the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8, for example, solenoid valves are used, and normally closed solenoid valves that are closed in the non-energized state and opened in the energized state are used. Signal lines (control lines) 120 are individually connected to the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 as shown by dotted lines from the fixed smoke detection device main body 112, and the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 can be individually opened and closed driven under the control of the fixed smoke detection device main body 112.

[0146] In addition to being arranged as a straight pipe as in this embodiment, the sampling pipe 114 may be branched and arranged in a plurality of systems as appropriate according to the protection target in the monitoring area. Further, a suction pipe may be connected to the sampling holes of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 provided in the sampling pipe 114 and connected to the housing of the server rack 124 so as to suck the air inside the server rack 124 unit by unit.

[0147] In this embodiment, on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 are provided corresponding to one of the sampling holes of the sampling pipe 114, but on-off valves may be provided corresponding to every two or more predetermined numbers of sampling holes.

[0148] The fixed smoke detection device main body 112 detects smoke contained in the air sucked through the sampling pipe 114. The smoke concentration detected by the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 is, for example, in the range of 0.005% / m to 5.0% / m.

[0149] Also, the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 repeatedly performs an opening and closing operation of opening and then closing the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 provided in the sampling pipe 114, one by one in order from, for example, the on-off valve 16-1, for a predetermined opening drive time T1 to T8. For this reason, the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 are opened one by one in order for a predetermined opening drive time T1 to T8, and the air sucked from the sampling holes of the on-off valve 16-1 opened during each opening drive time T1 to T8 reaches the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 through the sampling pipe 114, and the presence or absence of smoke is detected.

[0150] Addresses A1 to A8 are preset in the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 as ID information indicating the smoke generation position. When the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 detects smoke, the smoke generation position is specified based on the address Ai of the on-off valve 16-i (i is an arbitrary value from 1 to 8) that is being driven to open at that time, and a signal including the fact of smoke detection and the smoke generation position is transmitted to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 installed in the monitoring room 126 or the like, and a smoke detection alarm (for example, a fire alarm display, a fire alarm sound, etc.) indicating the fact of smoke detection and the smoke generation position is output (notified).

[0151] [Configuration of Smoke Detection Device Main Body] As shown in FIG. 12, the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 includes a control unit 130, a smoke detection unit 132, a suction unit 134, an on-off valve drive unit 136, an operation unit 138, an alarm display unit 140, and a transmission unit 142.

[0152] The suction unit 134 includes a suction fan driven by a motor, and sucks air from the sampling pipe 114 by rotationally driving the suction fan, passes it through the smoke detection unit 132, and exhausts it from the exhaust port.

[0153] The smoke detection unit 132 forms a smoke detection point by imaging the laser light from, for example, a laser light source on the air flow sucked and taken in, and when the sucked air contains smoke particles, the scattered light generated when the smoke particles pass through this smoke detection point is received by a photodiode to output a detection pulse and count it at predetermined time intervals, and based on this count number, smoke is detected and a smoke detection signal is output.

[0154] In addition, a light source such as an LED may be used in addition to the laser light source. The light receiving sensor is not limited to a photodiode, and various light receiving sensors may be applicable.

[0155] The on-off valve drive unit 136 connects signal lines 120 to the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 in FIG. 7 provided in the sampling pipe 114, and individually drives the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 one by one by outputting an open drive signal to the signal line 120.

[0156] The operation unit 138 is provided with various operation switches necessary for smoke detection, such as a power switch, a reset switch, and a sensitivity switching switch. The sensitivity switching switch switches the smoke detection sensitivity by the fixed smoke detection device main body 112.

[0157] The alarm display unit 140 performs alarm display due to smoke detection and fault display due to detection of faults such as blockage of the sampling pipe 114. The transmission unit 142 transmits signals indicating smoke detection and the smoke generation position to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 shown in FIG. 7.

[0158] The control unit 130 is composed of a computer circuit etc. equipped with a CPU, a memory, various input / output ports etc. as hardware, and the functions of the smoke detection control unit 144 and the on-off valve control unit 46 are provided by the execution of a program by the CPU.

[0159] When the smoke detection signal output from the smoke detection unit 132 reaches a predetermined condition (here, a predetermined number of counts) corresponding to the smoke detection sensitivity (predetermined concentration of smoke to be detected), the smoke detection control unit 144 detects smoke, lights or blinks the warning lamp provided in the warning display unit 140 which is the warning output means to notify the smoke detection, and instructs the transmission unit 142 to transmit a signal indicating the smoke detection to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 to output a smoke detection warning (fire warning). Instead of this, or in addition, an alarm sound may be output.

[0160] Further, the smoke detection control unit 144 identifies the smoke generation position based on the opening / closing control state of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 by the on-off valve control unit 46 when smoke is detected. That is, the position corresponding to the on-off valve that is open-driven when smoke is detected is identified as the smoke detection position, and the transmission unit 142 is instructed to transmit a signal indicating the smoke generation position to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 to perform control to display the smoke generation position (fire generation position).

[0161] The on-off valve control unit 46 repeats, with a cycle T0, the control of opening and driving the normally closed on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 in order from the on-off valve 16-1 closest to the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 to the on-off valve 16-8 at the farthest position for a respective opening drive time T1 to T8 preset for each of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 as shown in the time chart of FIG. 13.

[0162] Here, the opening drive times T1 to T8 of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 are set as the time obtained by adding a predetermined smoke detection time to the moving time corresponding to the distance from when each of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 is opened as a sampling hole until the sucked air reaches the smoke detection unit 132 of the fixed smoke detection device main body 112.

[0163] The opening drive times T1 to T8 can be calculated from the moving distance of the aspirated air from the sampling holes, the aspirated amount per unit time by the suction unit 134, and the air moving speed determined by the inner diameter of the sampling pipe 114. Furthermore, since the arrangement form of the sampling pipe 114 varies depending on the warning area, after installation, smoke may be aspirated through the sampling holes of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 for testing, and the time until the smoke is detected may be measured and set based on this measurement.

[0164] Also, by the opening and closing control that sequentially drives one of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8, the number of sampling holes determined by the number of open on-off valves is always one. Therefore, even when performing the opening and closing control that sequentially drives one of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 to the closed state, the aspirated amount per unit time of the sampling pipe 114 is always approximately constant, and complex control such as varying the aspirated amount according to the number of sampling holes is unnecessary, enabling stable aspiration of air from the monitored area by the suction unit 134.

[0165] Furthermore, by the opening and closing control of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 by the on-off valve control unit 46, the sampling pipe 114 is always in a state where one on-off valve is open and air is aspirated from only one sampling hole. Therefore, the air aspirated amount by the suction unit 134 may be a small aspirated amount corresponding to one sampling hole. As a result, the suction fan can be miniaturized, and the inner diameter of the sampling pipe 114 can also be reduced, simplifying the equipment configuration and enabling cost reduction.

[0166] [Smoke Detection Control Associated with Sequential Opening Control of On-Off Valves] Based on the flowchart of FIG. 14, the smoke detection control by the control unit 130 of FIG. 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 130 of the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 initializes the addresses Ai and opening drive times Ti of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 provided in the sampling pipe 114 in step S1 to the address A1 and opening drive time T1 of, for example, the on-off valve 16-1 that is first driven to open.

[0167] Subsequently, the control unit 130 proceeds to step S2, drives the on-off valve 16-1 at address A1 to open. At this time, the other on-off valves 16-2 to 16-8 are closed. In step S3, the presence or absence of smoke detection is monitored. If smoke is detected, a signal indicating the detection of smoke is transmitted to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 to output a smoke detection alarm (fire alarm). On the other hand, if no smoke is detected in step S3, the elapse of the opening drive time T1 is monitored in step S4.

[0168] If the control unit 130 determines smoke detection in step S3 during the opening drive time T1, it proceeds to step S5. Since the on-off valve 16-1 is being driven to open at this time, the smoke generation position is specified as the position corresponding to the sampling hole of the on-off valve 16-1 at address A1. A signal indicating the detection of smoke and the specified smoke generation position is transmitted to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 to output a smoke detection alarm specifying the smoke generation position. At the same time, a smoke detection alarm is also output on its own alarm display unit 140.

[0169] On the other hand, when the opening drive time T1 elapses without detecting smoke in steps S3 and S5, or after a smoke detection alarm specifying the smoke generation position is issued when smoke is detected in steps S3 and S4, the control unit 130 determines in step S6 whether it is the final address A8. If it is not the final address A8, in step S7, the address A1 is changed to the next address A2, the opening drive time T1 is updated to T2, and it returns to step S2 to perform smoke detection by driving the next on-off valve 16-2 to open in the same manner.

[0170] Also, when the control unit 130 determines the final address A8 in step S6, it returns to step S1, initializes the address A1 and the opening drive time T1 again, and repeats the processing from step S2.

[0171] In the above-described embodiment, for each of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8, they are driven to open for a predetermined time T1 to T8 in a predetermined order, and the remaining on-off valves are driven to close, and this control is repeated. However, for every predetermined number of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8, for example, for every two valves, they may be driven to open for a predetermined time in a predetermined order, and the control of driving the remaining on-off valves to close may be repeated. In this case, the position corresponding to the sampling holes by the two on-off valves that are being driven to open when smoke detection is determined is specified as the smoke generation position.

[0172] Note that even when smoke is detected in steps S3 and S5 and the smoke generation position is specified, when the opening drive time Ti has elapsed, the process from step S1 may be repeated via step S6.

[0173] Also, in the above control example, a smoke detection alarm is output when smoke is detected in step S3, and a smoke detection alarm indicating the specified smoke generation position is output when the smoke generation position is specified in step S5. However, a smoke detection alarm may not be output when smoke is detected in step S13, and a smoke detection alarm indicating the specified smoke generation position may be output when the smoke generation position is specified in step S5. By doing so, the smoke generation situation can be repeatedly confirmed, and the reliability is improved.

[0174] [Another Embodiment of Specifying the Smoke Generation Position by Sequentially Closing the On-Off Valves] Next, another embodiment of a smoke detection device that specifies the smoke generation position based on sequentially closing the on-off valves will be described.

[0175] In this embodiment, the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 provided in the sampling pipe 114 of FIG. 11 are normally open type solenoid valves. Therefore, the on-off valve control unit 46 of the control unit 130 outputs a closing drive signal by instructing the on-off valve drive unit 136, and controls the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 that are normally open to be driven to close for a predetermined time in a predetermined order for each one, and the remaining on-off valves are in an open state.

[0176] As shown in the time chart of FIG. 15, the on-off valve control unit 46 of the control unit 130 performs control to close the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 one by one in order, starting from the on-off valve 16-1 closest to the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 and moving towards the on-off valve 16-8 at the farthest position, repeating the closing drive control for a preset closing drive time T11 to T18 for each of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 at a cycle T10.

[0177] Also, when the smoke detection control unit 144 detects smoke in the sucked air while any one of the on-off valves 16-i among the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 is open, and when the state changes to a state where no smoke is detected when the on-off valve 16-i is temporarily closed to block the suction of air from here, the smoke generation position is specified corresponding to the on-off valve 16-i, and an instruction is given to the transmission unit 142 to transmit a signal indicating the fact of smoke detection and the smoke generation position to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 to output a smoke detection alarm specifying the smoke generation position.

[0178] More specifically, when smoke is detected, the fact of smoke generation is transmitted to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128, and then, after specifying the smoke generation position, the smoke generation position information is transmitted to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128. The ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 sequentially displays these as alarms.

[0179] Here, the closing drive times T11 to T18 of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 are set as the time obtained by adding a predetermined smoke detection time to the moving time corresponding to the distance from when each of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 is closed as a sampling hole until the air sucked before closing reaches the smoke detection unit 132 of the fixed smoke detection device main body 112. Although the closing drive times T11 to T18 are set to be constant, they may be different times, and they may be obtained by calculation and set, or they may be set based on actual measurement.

[0180] By performing the opening / closing control to sequentially close each of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 one by one, the number of sampling holes determined by the number of open on-off valves is always seven. Therefore, even when performing the opening / closing control to sequentially close each of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 one by one, the amount of suction per unit time of the sampling pipe 114 is always approximately constant, and complicated control such as varying the suction amount according to the number of sampling holes is unnecessary, enabling stable suction of air from the monitoring area by the suction unit 134.

[0181] [Smoke detection control associated with sequential closing control of on-off valves] Based on the flowchart of FIG. 16, the smoke detection control associated with the sequential closing control of the on-off valves by the control unit 130 in FIG. 14 will be described.

[0182] As shown in FIG. 16, the control unit 130 of the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 initializes the addresses Ai and closing drive times T1i of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8 provided in the sampling pipe 114 in step S11, for example, the address A1 and the closing drive time T11 of the on-off valve 16-1 to be initially closed.

[0183] Subsequently, the control unit 130 proceeds to step S12, closes the on-off valve 16-1 with address A1, and at this time, the other on-off valves 16-2 to 16-8 are open. In step S13, the presence or absence of smoke detection is monitored. If smoke is detected, a signal indicating the detection of smoke is transmitted to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 to output a smoke detection alarm. On the other hand, if no smoke is detected in step S13, the elapse of the closing drive time T11 is monitored in step S16.

[0184] Subsequently, when the control unit 130 determines that the closing drive time T11 has elapsed in step S16, it determines whether it is the final address in step S15. Since it is not the final address in this case, it proceeds to step S16, updates the address A1 to A2 and the closing drive time T11 to the closing drive time T, and closes the on-off valve 16-2 in step S12 with the closing drive. At this time, the other on-off valves 16-1, 16-3 to 16-4 are open. In this control state, the elapse of the drive time T12 is monitored by the processes of steps S13 and S16. When it is determined in step S13 that the state has changed to a state where no smoke is detected before the elapse, the position corresponding to the on-off valve 16-2 at address A2 is specified as the smoke generation position in step S14, and the smoke generation position information is transmitted to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128 to output a smoke detection alarm specifying the smoke generation position.

[0185] Also, when the state where smoke is detected continues even after the closing drive time T12 has elapsed in step S16, the control unit 130 does not specify the smoke generation position, proceeds to step S17 via step S15, updates the address A2 to A3 and the closing drive time T12 to the closing drive time T13.

[0186] Thereafter, the control unit 130 repeats the process from step S12 while sequentially updating the address and the closing drive time in step S17. When it determines the final address A8 in step S15, it returns to step S11, initializes the address A1 and the opening drive time T11 again, and repeats the process from step S12.

[0187] Note that even when smoke is detected and the smoke generation position is specified in steps S13 and S14, the process from step S1 may be repeated via step S6 when the closing drive time Ti has elapsed. By doing so, the smoke generation situation can be repeatedly confirmed, and the reliability is improved.

[0188] Also, in the above control example, when smoke is detected in step S13, a smoke detection alarm is output, and when the smoke generation position is specified in step S14, a smoke detection alarm specifying the smoke generation position is output. However, when smoke is detected in step S13, the smoke detection alarm may not be output, and when the smoke generation position is specified in step S5, a smoke detection alarm specifying the smoke generation position may be output. For example, as the smoke detection alarm, a display corresponding to the smoke generation section is performed together with a buzzer sound. Also, announce the occurrence of smoke and its occurrence area by voice message or the like.

[0189] Also, in the above embodiment, for each one of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8, control is repeated to close-drive them for a predetermined time T11 to T18 in a predetermined order and open-drive the remaining on-off valves. However, for each predetermined number of the on-off valves 16-1 to 16-8, for example, for every two valves, control may be repeated to close-drive them for a predetermined time in a predetermined order and open-drive the remaining on-off valves. In this case, when it is determined that the state has changed to a state where no smoke is detected, the position corresponding to the sampling holes by the two on-off valves that are being closed-driven is specified as the smoke generation position.

[0190] [Selection of open-drive control and close-drive control] The open-drive control for specifying the smoke generation position by the open-drive of the on-off valve shown in the time chart of FIG. 13 and the close-drive control for specifying the smoke generation position by the close-drive of the on-off valve shown in the time chart of FIG. 15 can select either one in consideration of the power related to the control of the on-off valve. Also, it may be possible to select between open-drive control and close-drive control on the device side.

[0191] [Modification example of the third invention] In the above embodiment, an electromagnetic valve is used as a normally closed type or normally open type on-off valve, but an electric valve that is opened and closed by motor drive may also be used. When an electric valve is used as the on-off valve, since the opening and closing of the sampling holes are performed gently in terms of time, fluctuations in a certain suction amount by the sampling pipe are suppressed, and stable suction is possible even when the on-off valve is opened and closed.

[0192] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the on-off valves are driven to open or close in order from the side closer to the smoke detection device main body. However, since it is sufficient that a predetermined number of the plurality of on-off valves are driven to open or close in order, the order in which the on-off valves are driven to open or close can be appropriately determined as needed.

[0193] Also, the form of determination by opening drive and the form of determination by closing drive described above may be selectable on the device side.

[0194] Also, the present invention includes appropriate modifications that do not impair its object and advantages, and is not limited by the numerical values shown in the above-described embodiment.

[0195] [Basic Concept of Embodiment According to Fourth Invention] FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a method for specifying a smoke generation position by using a fixed smoke detection device and a portable smoke detection device to specify the smoke generation position.

[0196] The basic concept of the embodiment for realizing the method of specifying the smoke generation position in the present invention is to identify the smoke generation section with the fixed smoke detection device 10 by sucking air from the sampling pipe 14 arranged in the warning area such as the computer room 122, and to identify the smoke generation position while moving the portable smoke detection device 100 equipped with the sampling pipe 14 in the smoke generation section identified by the fixed smoke detection device 10. When identifying the fire occurrence position using the portable smoke detection device 100, the initial sensitivity is set to a higher sensitivity than the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detection device 10. At this time, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity does not function. When it is used to identify the smoke generation position while moving within the smoke generation section, the operation starts from the initial sensitivity. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected during the use for identifying the smoke generation position, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity becomes functional. Subsequently, by reducing the smoke detection sensitivity, the smoke generation position is narrowed down and identified. When starting the operation of identifying the smoke generation position while moving the portable smoke detection device 100 in the identified smoke generation section when the smoke generation section is identified by the fixed smoke detection device 10, the smoke detection sensitivity in the portable smoke detection device 100 must always be the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity in the fixed smoke detection device 10, starting with a high smoke detection sensitivity as the initial sensitivity. Therefore, when starting the operation of identifying the smoke generation position while moving within or near the smoke generation section identified by the portable smoke detection device when the smoke generation section is identified by the fixed smoke detection device, by ensuring that the smoke detection sensitivity in the portable smoke detection device is always the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity in the fixed smoke detection device, starting with a high smoke detection sensitivity as the initial sensitivity, it is possible to prevent a sensitivity setting error at the start of the operation related to the switching operation, and to avoid missing the smoke generation position by starting the operation with a low sensitivity from the beginning as in the prior art, enabling the operation of identifying the smoke generation position while moving the monitoring area to be carried out quickly, efficiently, and reliably.

[0197] In addition, when starting the operation of identifying the smoke generation position by a portable smoke detection device, it is possible to surely prevent starting the operation with the sensitivity switched lower than the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detection device. Further, when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected at the initial sensitivity of the smoke detection sensitivity, the switching of the smoke detection sensitivity becomes functional. Thereafter, it is possible to perform the operation of narrowing down the smoke generation position while lowering the smoke detection sensitivity. Therefore, it is possible to identify the smoke generation position quickly, efficiently, and surely. This will be described in detail below.

[0198] (Fixed smoke detection device) The fixed smoke detection device 10 shown in FIG. 17 is the same as that shown in FIG. 11, and is different in that display lights 15 for displaying the smoke generation section are provided on the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8. Individual signal lines (control lines) 120 are connected to the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 as shown by dotted lines from the fixed smoke detection device main body 112. Under the control of the fixed smoke detection device main body 112, the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 can be individually opened and closed, and the display light 150 is lit or blinked to indicate the specified smoke generation section. Also, the portable smoke detection device 10 is the same as that in the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0199] (Operation of identifying the smoke generation position) Based on FIG. 17, the operation according to the method of identifying the smoke generation position in this embodiment will be described as follows.

[0200] In the example of FIG. 17, a fixed smoke detection device 100 is installed with a computer room 122 where a server rack 124 housing a server is arranged as a monitoring area. A sampling pipe 114 is drawn out from the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 to the monitoring area, and on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 are provided corresponding to each sampling hole of the sampling pipe 114. The on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 are driven to open for a predetermined time in a predetermined order, for example, one by one, so as to keep the air volume sucked by the sampling pipe 114 substantially constant per unit time, and the remaining on-off valves are driven to close. This control is repeated. When smoke contained in the air sucked through the sampling pipe 114 is detected, the smoke generation position is specified and notified based on the control states of the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8.

[0201] When the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 detects smoke and operates, an alarm signal including smoke generation section information is sent to a highly sensitive smoke monitoring panel 128 installed in the monitoring room 126, and a fire alarm indicating the smoke generation section is output. Also, among the indicator lights 150 provided at the arrangement positions of the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 provided on the sampling pipe 114, the indicator light 150 of the specified smoke generation section blinks, for example, to display the smoke generation section.

[0202] When smoke is detected by the fixed smoke detection device main body 112 and a fire alarm is output in this way, an operator brings, for example, the portable smoke detection device 10 shown in FIG. 7 into the computer room 122 which is the monitoring area, knows that the location of the on-off valve 116-i where the indicator light 150 is blinking is the smoke generation section, and starts an operation of specifying the smoke generation position by sucking air from the sampling hole at the tip of the sampling pipe 14 while moving the portable smoke detection device 10 around the smoke generation section.

[0203] At this time, the smoke detection sensitivity of the portable smoke detector 10 is set to an initial sensitivity that is the same as or higher than the smoke detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detector 100, and in this state, the sensitivity switching does not function. Even if the operation starts from a location far from the smoke generation position, the smoke can be detected promptly, and unlike the conventional method of starting the operation with a low sensitivity in advance, the smoke generation position will not be missed.

[0204] Also, when the portable smoke detector 10 operates by detecting a predetermined smoke detection signal after the operation starts, the sensitivity switching that has not functioned until then enters a functioning state. The staff member, for example, gradually reduces the smoke detection sensitivity from the first 0.005 - 0.1% / m corresponding to the sensitivity switching button 26a shown in FIG. 2 set as the initial sensitivity to the second, third, and fourth smoke detection sensitivities to narrow down the smoke generation position.

[0205] In this way, while the staff member moves the portable smoke detector 10 to narrow down the smoke generation position, the smoke concentration being detected at that time is displayed as a bar graph on the smoke concentration display 46 provided on the sampling tube 14 side of the portable smoke detector 10, and at the same time, a sound corresponding to the change in the smoke concentration is output from the acoustic notification unit 70 shown in FIG. 8. If, for example, the output period of the sound becomes longer during movement, it can be known that the staff member is approaching the smoke generation position, and if the output period of the sound becomes shorter, it can be known that the staff member is moving away from the smoke generation position. Relying on such a change in the sound, the staff member can efficiently move to the smoke generation position to narrow it down and discover and confirm the fire occurrence position.

[0206] (Fixed smoke detector with a smoke detector provided at the suction position of the sampling tube) As the fixed smoke detector 100 used in the method for specifying the smoke generation position according to the fourth invention of the present application, instead of the on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 provided on the sampling tube 114 in FIG. 17, a photoelectric smoke detector may be provided.

[0207] The smoke detector provided at the suction position of the sampling pipe 114 outputs a smoke detection signal to the fixed smoke detector main body 112 when it detects the smoke contained in the sucked air. As a result, the fixed smoke detector main body 12 outputs a fire alarm signal specifying the smoke generation section to the ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 128, and outputs a fire alarm specifying the fire occurrence section (smoke generation section) based on the ID information of the smoke detector.

[0208] In addition, the smoke detector provided on the sampling pipe 114 is provided with an alarm indicator light. When it senses smoke, the alarm indicator light lights up or blinks, thereby enabling the display of the smoke generation section.

[0209] In this way, the fixed smoke detector 100 with a smoke detector provided at the suction position of the sampling pipe 114 increases the equipment cost by providing a plurality of smoke detectors, but can surely identify the smoke generation section by the smoke detection of the smoke detector by simple control of sucking air by the sampling pipe 114.

[0210] Note that the operation in the work of specifying the smoke generation position using the portable smoke detector 10 when the smoke generation section is specified by the fixed smoke detector 10 with a smoke detector provided at the suction position of the sampling pipe 114 is the same as that in the case of the fixed smoke detector 100 provided with on-off valves 116-1 to 116-8 on the sampling pipe 114.

[0211] In addition, the portable smoke detector 10 used for specifying the smoke generation position in FIG. 16 is not limited to the embodiment in FIG. 7, and does not prevent the use of the portable smoke detector 10 according to other embodiments.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0212] 10: Portable smoke detector 12: Smoke detector main body 14: Sampling pipe 14b: Sampling hole 16: Hose connection port 18: Handle 20: Power switch 22: Operation display unit 24: Alarm display unit 26: Sensitivity switching operation unit 26a~26d: Sensitivity switching buttons 30: Control unit 32: Smoke detection unit 34: Suction unit 36: Battery power supply unit 40: Smoke detection control unit 42: Sensitivity switching control unit 43: Manual sensitivity switching function 44: Automatic sensitivity switching function 48: Manual sensitivity switching button 50: Automatic sensitivity switching button 60: Smoke density indicator 62: Sound hole 64,66: Transmission unit 70: Sound alarm unit 72: Vibration alarm unit 100: Fixed smoke detection device 112: Fixed smoke detection device body 114: Sampling tube 116-1~116-8: On-off valve 120: Signal line 122: Computer room 124: Server rack 126: Monitoring room 128: Ultra-high sensitivity smoke monitoring panel 130: Control unit 132: Smoke detection unit 134: Suction unit 136: On-off valve drive unit 138: Operation unit 140: Alarm display unit 142: Transmission unit 144: Smoke detection control unit 146: On-off valve control unit 150: Indicator lamp

Claims

1. A fixed smoke detection device for detecting smoke in a monitoring area, and a portable smoke detection device that moves within the monitoring area and detects smoke contained in the sucked air to identify the location of smoke generation, comprising: The portable smoke detection device has, at the start of detection, a detection sensitivity for detecting the smoke fixed at a sensitivity higher than the detection sensitivity of the fixed smoke detection device as an initial sensitivity, and when a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected, the fixation of the initial sensitivity is released. A smoke detection facility characterized by this.

2. A fixed smoke detection device for detecting smoke in a monitoring area, and a portable smoke detection device that moves within the monitoring area and detects smoke contained in the sucked air to identify the location of smoke generation, comprising: The portable smoke detection device has, at the start of detection, a detection sensitivity for detecting smoke in the monitoring area fixed at a predetermined initial sensitivity. When a predetermined smoke detection signal is detected in the state of the initial sensitivity, the fixation of the initial sensitivity is released, and it can be switched to a detection sensitivity lower than the initial sensitivity. A smoke detection facility characterized by this.

3. The smoke detection facility according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the portable smoke detection device does not function to switch the detection sensitivity at the start of detection, and functions to switch the detection sensitivity when the predetermined smoke detection signal is detected. A smoke detection facility characterized by this.

4. The smoke detection facility according to Claim 3, wherein the initial sensitivity of the portable smoke detection device is a detection sensitivity higher than the detection sensitivity that can be switched when the detection sensitivity switching functions. A smoke detection facility characterized by this.

5. The smoke detection facility according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the monitoring area is divided into predetermined sections, and the fixed smoke detection device identifies the smoke generation section where smoke has occurred and detects the smoke. A smoke detection facility characterized by this.

6. The smoke detection facility according to Claim 5, wherein the fixed smoke detection device comprises a sampling pipe laid in the monitoring area such that sampling holes are located in each of the sections, and on-off valves provided corresponding to each of the sampling holes, and by controlling the opening and closing of each of the on-off valves, sucks air from an arbitrary section through the corresponding sampling hole. A smoke detection facility characterized by this.

7. The smoke detection facility according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the fixed smoke detection device further includes an indicator light in each of the sections. ​ A smoke detection facility, characterized in that when the smoke generation section is specified and smoke is detected, the smoke generation section is indicated by the indicator lamp provided in the corresponding section.

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