Controlled equipment and fire alarm systems

Abstract

To obtain a fire alarm system with a configuration that simplifies the installation work of controlled devices that operate in conjunction with the detection results of detectors compared to conventional systems. [Solution] A fire alarm system comprising: a plurality of fire detectors installed in a fire monitoring area that detect the occurrence of a fire; a plurality of controlled devices that operate in conjunction with the detection results of each of the plurality of fire detectors; and a fire receiver that issues a fire alarm based on the detection results of each of the plurality of fire detectors and outputs a control command to execute the linked operation control of the linked controlled device based on the detection result of the fire detector that is the source of the connection, further comprising a wireless power supply unit that executes linked operation control by wirelessly supplying drive power to the linked controlled device based on the control command output from the fire receiver.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a controlled device that operates in conjunction with the detection result of a fire detector, and a fire notification facility equipped with the controlled device.

Background Art

[0002] There is a fire notification facility that includes a fire receiver, a transmitter, a repeater, an acoustic device, a detector, a controlled device, etc., and protects people inside a building or the like that is the fire protection target from a fire (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the fire notification facility, when the detector detects heat or smoke, a fire signal is transmitted to the fire receiver. The fire receiver that has received the fire signal issues an alarm, sounds the acoustic device, and notifies people inside the fire protection target of the occurrence of the fire according to the location where the fire occurred.

[0004] Furthermore, the fire receiver that has received the fire signal performs operation control of a plurality of controlled devices that function to prevent the spread of fire, smoke, etc., or to prompt evacuation, in conjunction with the detection results of each of the plurality of detectors. Here, examples of the plurality of controlled devices include fire doors, fire dampers, bells, etc.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0006]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0007] In fire alarm systems like the one disclosed in Patent Document 1, the drive power required by multiple controlled devices is supplied from the fire alarm receiver to each controlled device via a relay and wired connection. However, this configuration requires manpower for wired connections and space for wiring, which contributes to an increased workload.

[0008] Furthermore, in cases where additional controlled devices are required after the fire alarm system has been activated, a further increase in workload due to additional wiring is expected. Therefore, a reduction in the workload associated with the installation of controlled devices was desired.

[0009] This disclosure is made to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a controlled device and a fire alarm system that have a configuration that can simplify the installation work of a controlled device that operates in conjunction with the detection results of a detector compared to conventional methods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The controlled device relating to this disclosure is a controlled device installed in a fire monitoring area and operates in conjunction with the detection results of a fire detector that detects the occurrence of a fire, and includes a relay that receives power supplied wirelessly from an external source and uses it as driving power for the controlled device to operate in conjunction.

[0011] Furthermore, the fire alarm system according to this disclosure is a fire alarm system installed in a fire monitoring area and comprising: a plurality of fire detectors that sense the occurrence of a fire; a plurality of controlled devices that operate in conjunction with the detection results of each of the plurality of fire detectors; and a fire receiver that issues a fire alarm based on the detection results of each of the plurality of fire detectors and outputs a control command to execute the linked operation control of the linked controlled device based on the detection result of the fire detector that is the source of the connection. The system further comprises a wireless power supply unit that executes linked operation control by wirelessly supplying drive power to the linked controlled device based on the control command output from the fire receiver. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to this disclosure, it is possible to obtain a controlled device and a fire alarm system that have a configuration that simplifies the installation work of the controlled device, which operates in conjunction with the detection results of the detector, compared to conventional methods. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the fire alarm system according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram showing the specific configuration of Group B of the fire alarm system according to Embodiment 2 of this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the controlled equipment and fire alarm system of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The controlled equipment and fire alarm system related to this disclosure are technically characterized by having a configuration that allows the power to drive the controlled equipment to be supplied wirelessly, instead of being supplied by a wire from the fire alarm receiver.

[0015] Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a fire alarm facility according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. The fire alarm facility 100 according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a fire receiver 10, a plurality of fire detectors 20, a plurality of controlled device groups 30, and a wireless power supply unit 50.

[0016] Each of the plurality of fire detectors 20 is a sensor provided in a fire monitoring area for detecting the occurrence of a fire.

[0017] Each of the plurality of controlled device groups 30 is configured to include a plurality of controlled devices that operate in conjunction with the detection results of each of the plurality of fire detectors 20. In FIG. 1, as specific examples of the plurality of controlled devices included in the controlled device group 30, a fire door 31, a fire damper 32, and a bell 33 are shown.

[0018] For example, the controlled device group 30 in Group B corresponds to a set of controlled devices at the linked destination associated with the fire detector 20 at the linked source so as to operate based on the detection result of the fire detector 20 in Group B which is the linked source. Note that the linkage relationship between the fire detector 20 at the linked source and the controlled device group 30 at the linked destination can be set in advance as a linkage table according to the fire monitoring area.

[0019] In FIG. 1, a case where three fire detectors 20 are arranged in a fire monitoring area and three groups A to C are configured is illustrated. Further, in each group, a controlled device group 30 that operates in conjunction with the detection result of the fire detector 20 is shown.

[0020] Regarding each controlled device included in the controlled device group 30, the controlled device group 30 included in Group B is specifically illustrated, and the specific configuration of the controlled device groups 30 included in Group A and Group C is omitted in the drawing. The controlled device group 30 in each group can be appropriately configured according to the controlled devices installed in the area within the fire monitoring area that each group is in charge of.

[0021] The fire alarm receiver 10 issues a fire alarm based on the detection results of each of the plurality of fire detectors 20, and outputs a control command for executing interlock operation control of the controlled device group 30 at the interlock destination based on the detection result of the fire detector 20 at the interlock source.

[0022] By executing such interlock operation control, the fire alarm receiver 10 comprehensively manages a fire monitoring area composed of each area grouped by the fire detector 20 and the controlled device group 30.

[0023] The wireless power supply unit 50 executes interlock operation control by wirelessly supplying driving power to each controlled device included in the controlled device group 30 at the interlock destination based on the control command output from the fire alarm receiver 10.

[0024] As an example of a method for wirelessly supplying power, microwave power supply can be mentioned. By using microwave power supply, wireless power supply can be realized at a distance of about several meters to 10 meters, and power of up to several watts can be supplied several meters ahead.

[0025] The wireless power supply unit 50 can be composed of power supply devices A to C corresponding to each of groups A to C.

[0026] For example, when the fire alarm receiver 10 receives a fire signal output by the fire detector 20 in group B detecting a fire, it outputs a control command for performing microwave power supply to the controlled device group 30 in group B from the power supply device 52 in the wireless power supply unit 50.

[0027] As a result, the power supply device 52 that has received the control command can execute interlock operation control by wirelessly supplying driving power to the controlled device group 30 in group B, which is the interlock destination specified based on the control command.

[0028] In this way, by grouping one or more controlled devices that can be wirelessly supplied with driving power by a single power supply device as a group of controlled devices, the fire alarm receiver 10 can easily perform interlocking operation control using microwave power supply by selecting the desired power supply device and outputting a control command.

[0029] As described above, according to Embodiment 1, a configuration can be realized in which the power to drive the controlled equipment can be supplied wirelessly from the fire alarm receiver instead of by wire. Therefore, the workload associated with wired connections is eliminated, and the installation work of the controlled equipment can be simplified compared to conventional methods.

[0030] Furthermore, by eliminating the need for power supply from the fire alarm receiver, it is possible to reduce the power supply capacity of the fire alarm receiver. In addition, even if the addition or modification of controlled equipment becomes necessary after the fire alarm system has gone into operation, it will be possible to respond easily with reduced workload.

[0031] Furthermore, by employing a wireless power supply unit capable of microwave power transmission, the distance between the controlled equipment and the power supply device can be set to a range of several meters to 10 meters, thereby improving the flexibility of appropriate layout design in the installation environment.

[0032] Embodiment 2. In this second embodiment, we will describe a configuration in which each controlled device included in the controlled device group 30 has a repeater capable of receiving microwave power.

[0033] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the specific configuration of Group B of the fire alarm system 100 according to Embodiment 2 of this disclosure. Figure 2 illustrates the case in which a repeater is used compared to the configuration of Group B shown in Figure 1. Therefore, the flow of interlocking operation control when a repeater is used will be explained based on the configuration of Figure 2.

[0034] Figure 2 shows that, as in Figure 1, the controlled devices constituting the controlled device group 30 in group B include a fire door 31, a fire damper 32, and a bell 33.

[0035] Furthermore, Figure 2 shows a case where a repeater 40 capable of receiving microwave power supplied wirelessly from the wireless power supply unit 50 is provided in each of the fire door 31, fire damper 32, and bell 33.

[0036] The repeater 40 is equipped with a receiving antenna for receiving microwave power transmission. Furthermore, the repeater 40 has a function to monitor the status of the controlled equipment to which it is installed and to transmit the status monitoring result, which includes address information uniquely assigned to the controlled equipment, to the fire alarm receiver 10 as a monitoring result.

[0037] Therefore, the fire alarm receiver 10 can perform status monitoring of multiple controlled devices by communicating with the repeaters 40 of each of the fire doors 31, fire dampers 32, and bells 33 that correspond to multiple controlled devices within the controlled device group 30. By performing status monitoring, it becomes possible to identify which controlled devices are in a normal state.

[0038] In Figure 2, the fire alarm receiver 10 receives a fire signal from the fire detector 20 in group B, identifies the fire detector in group B as the source fire detector 20, and determines that a fire has occurred in the area of ​​group B within the fire monitoring area.

[0039] Furthermore, the fire alarm receiver 10 can determine whether the fire door 31, fire damper 32, and bell 33 are in a normal state by constantly monitoring their condition via the relays 40 provided by each of the fire doors 31, fire dampers 32, and bells 33 equipped in group B.

[0040] As a result, when the fire receiver 10 receives a fire signal, it can output a control command to supply drive power via microwave power to a desired group of controlled devices 30 at a desired timing, based on the detection results from each of the multiple fire detectors 20 and the results of status monitoring via the relay.

[0041] Upon receiving a control command, the wireless power supply unit 50 can supply drive power to each of the fire doors 31, fire dampers 32, and bells 33 equipped in group B by supplying microwave power from the power supply device 52, and can synchronize the operation of the group of controlled devices 30, which are the desired linked devices, at the timing corresponding to the control command.

[0042] As described above, according to Embodiment 2, by configuring the controlled equipment to include a repeater with a receiving antenna capable of receiving microwave power, it is possible to easily realize a configuration in which power supplied wirelessly from an external source can be received and supplied as driving power to controlled equipment that operates in conjunction with other devices. Therefore, the same effects as in Embodiment 1 can be achieved.

[0043] Furthermore, by using a repeater, the fire alarm receiver can monitor the status of each controlled device, making it easy for the fire alarm receiver to determine which controlled devices are deployed in an operational state.

[0044] As a result, the fire alarm receiver, which centrally controls the fire monitoring area, can output control commands to supply drive power via microwave power to desired groups of controlled equipment at desired timings, based on the detection results from multiple fire detectors and the status monitoring results for each group of controlled equipment.

[0045] Finally, the following is a summary of supplementary explanations common to Embodiments 1 and 2. The key feature of the present idea, as described in Embodiments 1 and 2, is that it operates controlled equipment using wireless power transfer. Therefore, the wireless power transfer method described herein can be used not only for equipment used in R-type systems, but also for equipment used in P-type systems.

[0046] Furthermore, in Embodiments 1 and 2, the controlled equipment and the repeater (hereinafter referred to as controlled equipment, etc.) were described as performing linked operations triggered by receiving wireless power based on a control command from the fire alarm receiver. However, this disclosure is not limited to such linked operations.

[0047] If the fire alarm receiver and the controlled equipment are connected via wired connections such as signal lines and transmission lines, it is also possible to perform linked operations triggered by receiving wireless power and, furthermore, by receiving a second control command (start command) from the fire alarm receiver via the wired connection.

[0048] Furthermore, in Embodiments 1 and 2, it is conceivable that the controlled equipment and the repeater may not receive sufficient driving power through wireless power supply alone. Therefore, considering such cases of power supply deficiency, if the fire alarm receiver and the controlled equipment are connected via wired connections such as signal lines and transmission lines, a configuration may be adopted in which supplementary power is supplied from the fire alarm receiver via the wired connections.

[0049] Furthermore, in consideration of such power supply shortages, a configuration can be adopted in which the controlled equipment is equipped with a battery to supply supplemental power, regardless of whether the fire alarm receiver and the controlled equipment are connected via wired signals, transmission lines, etc.

[0050] Furthermore, a system with redundant power sources for drive power can be constructed by using both a configuration in which drive power is supplied to the controlled equipment and repeaters via wired connections such as signal lines and transmission lines from the fire alarm receiver (conventional configuration), as in the past, and a configuration in which drive power is supplied by wireless power supply from a wireless power supply unit (inventive configuration), as described in Embodiments 1 and 2.

[0051] When such a redundant system is constructed, for example, the fire alarm receiver can normally supply power to each fire-protected device using the conventional configuration, and in the event of a wired disconnection, it can supply power to each fire-protected device using the configuration of the present invention, thus creating two power supply paths. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10 Fire alarm receiver, 20 Fire detector, 30 Controlled equipment group, 31 Fire door, 32 Fire damper, 33 Bell, 40 Repeater, 50 Wireless power supply unit, 51-53 Power supply device, 100 Fire alarm system.

Claims

1. Installed in the fire monitoring area, multiple fire detectors are used to detect the occurrence of a fire. Multiple controlled devices, each associated with a specific controlled device, operate in conjunction with the detection result of the source fire detector among the multiple fire detectors, A fire alarm receiver that issues a fire alarm based on the detection results of each of the multiple fire detectors, and outputs a control command to execute the interlocking operation control of the controlled equipment linked to it, based on the detection results of the fire detector that is the source of the interlocking. A fire alarm system equipped with, A wireless power supply unit that performs the interlocking operation control by wirelessly supplying drive power to the controlled device linked to the fire alarm receiver based on the control command output from the fire alarm receiver. A fire alarm system that also includes the following features.

2. The aforementioned multiple controlled devices are grouped into multiple controlled device groups, which are sets of controlled devices that are linked to each fire detector that is the source of the linkage. The fire alarm receiver outputs a control command to supply the drive power to the group of controlled devices corresponding to the controlled device to which it is linked, based on the detection result of the fire detector that is the source of the interlock. The wireless power supply unit performs the interlocking operation control by wirelessly supplying the drive power to the group of controlled devices identified based on the control command. The fire alarm system according to claim 1.

3. Each of the plurality of controlled devices has a repeater that wirelessly receives the drive power supplied from the wireless power supply unit. The aforementioned fire alarm receiver is By communicating with the relay device that each of the multiple controlled devices has, the status monitoring of the multiple controlled devices is performed. Based on the detection results from each of the multiple fire detectors and the results of the status monitoring, the control command is output to supply drive power to the desired group of controlled devices at the desired timing. The fire alarm system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A controlled device installed in a fire monitoring area, which operates in conjunction with the detection results of a fire detector that detects the occurrence of a fire, A repeater that receives power supplied wirelessly from an external source and uses it as driving power for the controlled devices to operate in conjunction. A controlled device equipped with the following features.

5. The relay device has the function of monitoring the status of the controlled device and outputting the monitoring results to the outside. The controlled device according to claim 4.

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