Mechanical contact type heat detectors and automated heat detector testing systems

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a mechanical contact type heat detector that can be installed in environments prone to noise interference and that requires minimal testing effort. [Solution] The mechanical contact type heat detector of the present invention is a mechanical contact type heat detector having a heat-sensing part and a mechanical contact that changes state mechanically due to a change in the shape of the heat-sensing part, and is characterized in that it comprises a temperature control element and a temperature sensor, the heat-sensing part is heated by the temperature control element, and when the mechanical contact closes, temperature information is obtained from the temperature sensor and an automatic test is performed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanical contact type thermal sensor and a thermal sensor automatic test system.

Background Art

[0002] As thermal sensors for fire detection, there are mechanical contact types and thermistor types. The mechanical contact type senses a fire by the shape change of the heat-sensitive part due to the temperature rise caused by the heat of the fire, which changes the state of the mechanical contact. Patent Document 1 is an example of a mechanical contact type thermal sensor, which is called a constant temperature spot type sensor that detects a fire when the bimetal, which is the heat-sensitive part, is deformed by heat and the mechanical contact is closed. The constant temperature spot type sensor gives an alarm when a certain temperature is reached. Also, a differential spot type sensor using a diaphragm and having a leak hole is also a mechanical contact type thermal sensor. The differential spot type sensor gives an alarm when the temperature rises rapidly due to a fire.

[0003] On the other hand, the thermistor type thermal sensor detects a fire by detecting the change in the resistance value of the thermistor due to temperature. Patent Document 2 shows an example of a thermistor type thermal sensor.

[0004] Since the thermistor type thermal sensor performs operations such as detecting a change in resistance value, it includes electronic devices in the sensor and it is easy to perform an automatic test. On the other hand, the mechanical contact type thermal sensor has a simple structure in which the mechanical contact closes due to the shape change of the heat-sensitive part by heat, short-circuiting the sensing line from the fire receiver. Therefore, the mechanical contact type thermal sensor does not have a circuit for performing an automatic test, and the operation test has been performed by a heating test by an inspector's patrol.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0006] The operational testing method, in which inspectors patrol and heat each individual heat detector, is time-consuming and costly. Furthermore, it is difficult for inspectors to patrol highly airtight rooms. Therefore, it is preferable to install heat detectors with an automated testing function and perform automated testing. In order to introduce an automated testing system, thermistor-type heat detectors have been commonly used. Thermistor-type heat detectors have electronic components that operate by measuring temperature, and it is easy to incorporate automated testing functions into these electronic components. Mechanical contact-type heat detectors have a simple structure as they operate by closing contacts with bimetals or diaphragms, and do not have electronic components in the sensing part.

[0007] However, when installing heat detectors in noisy environments such as MRI rooms or anechoic chambers, it is difficult to use thermistor-type heat detectors. Because thermistor-type heat detectors use electronic equipment to determine if a fire is occurring, noise can cause false alarms. Therefore, it is expected that mechanical contact-type heat detectors will continue to be installed in such environments. However, mechanical contact-type heat detectors require operational testing by inspectors who patrol and heat each individual heat detector, which is more costly than when heat detectors with automatic testing functions are installed.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a mechanical contact type heat detector that can be installed in environments prone to noise interference and does not require inspectors to patrol and perform heating operation tests. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A mechanical contact type heat detector in one embodiment of the present invention is a mechanical contact type heat detector having a heat-sensing part and a mechanical contact that changes state mechanically due to a change in the shape of the heat-sensing part, and is characterized in that it comprises a temperature control element and a temperature sensor, the temperature control element heats the heat-sensing part, and when the mechanical contact closes, temperature information is obtained from the temperature sensor and an automatic test is performed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present invention provides a mechanical contact type heat detector that can be installed in environments prone to noise interference and does not require high-cost operational testing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Side view of the mechanical contact type heat detector of Example 1. [Figure 2] A diagram showing an automated heat detector testing system equipped with a mechanical contact type heat detector according to Example 1. [Figure 3] Circuit diagrams of the mechanical contact type heat detectors in Examples 1 and 4. [Figure 4] Operation flow diagram of the mechanical contact type heat detector in Example 1. [Figure 5] Side view of the mechanical contact type heat detector of Example 2. [Figure 6] Side view of the mechanical contact type heat detector of Example 3. [Figure 7] Side cross-sectional view of the mechanical contact type heat detector of Example 4. [Figure 8] Operation flow diagram of the mechanical contact type heat detector in Example 4. [Figure 9] Side cross-sectional view of the mechanical contact type heat detector of Example 5. [Figure 10] Side cross-sectional view of the mechanical contact type heat detector of Example 6. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] In the following embodiments, with the mechanical contact type heat sensor attached to the ceiling C, the vertical direction is shown with the upward direction being the direction of the ceiling C. However, the mechanical contact type heat sensor can also be attached to a wall, a slanted ceiling, etc. In such cases, the upward direction in the embodiments is the direction of the wall, the slanted ceiling, etc.

Embodiment

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the mechanical contact type heat sensor 1 of Embodiment 1 attached to the ceiling C. The mechanical contact type heat sensor 1 is a fixed temperature type and operates when it reaches a predetermined temperature due to the heat of a fire. The mechanical contact type heat sensor 1 has a plurality of heat receiving plate supports 12 extending from the lower part of the housing 11 toward the center direction from the side to the bottom, and the heat receiving plate 13 is fixed by the heat receiving plate supports 12. In FIG. 1, some of the heat receiving plate supports 12 are omitted for clarity, and the parts of the heat receiving plate 13, the heat sensing part 14, the temperature adjusting element 16, and the temperature sensor 17 are shown in cross section. The internal structures of the heat sensing part 14 and the temperature sensor 17 are omitted from the description. The heat receiving plate 13 is annular, and a mechanical contact type heat sensing part 14 is fitted into the central hole. Then, a temperature adjusting element 16 is provided in contact with the back surface on the side of the housing 11 of the heat receiving plate 13, and a temperature sensor 17 is provided in contact with the lower surface on the side opposite to the housing 11 in the heat sensing part 14. The heat sensing part 14, the temperature adjusting element 16, and the temperature sensor 17 are wired from inside the housing 11. In FIG. 1, these wirings are omitted from the description.

[0014] On the outer surface of the housing 11, a confirmation lamp 15 is provided facing downward. Inside the heat sensing part 14, a mechanical contact 141, which will be described later, and a bimetal disk (not shown) as a heat sensitive part are provided. The mechanical contact type heat sensor 1 has a mechanical contact 141 that mechanically closes due to the shape change of the bimetal disk as the heat sensitive part. The structure of the heat sensing part 14 is the same as the structure of the heat sensing part 24 of Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 5(b).

[0015] The mechanical contact type heat detector 1 of Example 1 has an annular temperature control element 16 in contact with the upper surface of a heat receiving plate 13 and a temperature sensor 17 in contact with a heat sensing unit 14. The temperature control element 16 and the heat sensing unit 14 are spaced apart, and heat is conducted from the temperature control element 16 to the heat sensing unit 14 via the heat receiving plate 13. The temperature sensor 17 is in contact with the heat sensing unit 14. The temperature control element 16 is composed of a Peltier element and can heat or cool the heat sensing unit 14 from its lower surface via the heat receiving plate 13. When the lower surface of the temperature control element 16 is heated, the upper surface is cooled, and when the lower surface is cooled, the upper surface is heated. The upper surface of the temperature control element 16 is not in contact with the heat sensing unit 14, and the temperature of the upper surface is not transmitted to the heat sensing unit 14. The temperature of the heat sensing unit 14 is measured by the temperature sensor 17.

[0016] Figure 2 shows an automated heat detector testing system equipped with a mechanical contact type heat detector 1 according to Embodiment 1. The automated heat detector testing system consists of a fire alarm receiver R, multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 1, wiring connecting them, and a termination device E. A pair of detection lines CL, a pair of power lines PL, and an information line DL extend from the fire alarm receiver R, and the termination device E is provided at the end of the pair of detection lines CL. The detection lines CL and power lines PL are connected by wiring to the multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 1. The information line DL is also connected to the multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 1.

[0017] Figure 3 shows the circuit configuration of the mechanical contact type thermal sensor 1 in the first embodiment. The mechanical contact type thermal sensor 1 has, as its circuit configuration, in addition to the aforementioned confirmation lamp 15 and mechanical contact 141, an automatic test unit 18. The automatic test unit 18 has a control unit 181, a memory 182, a temperature adjustment unit 183, a temperature measurement unit 184, a transmission / reception unit 185, a voltage detection unit 186, and a connection unit 187. The control unit 181 is connected to other components of the automatic test unit 18 and a bus wiring 188. The connection unit 187 is connected to a pair of sensing lines CL via a pair of sensing internal lines 191 and terminals. The automatic test unit 18 is connected to a pair of power supply lines PL via a pair of power supply internal lines 192 and terminals. The transmission / reception unit 185 is connected to an information wiring DL via an information internal line 193 and terminals. The automatic test unit 18 is shielded, and noise is unlikely to enter the circuit of the automatic test unit 18.

[0018] The control unit 181 is a CPU and operates according to a program stored in the memory 182. The memory 182 stores a sensor address set for each mechanical contact type thermal sensor 1, and a first predetermined temperature and a second predetermined temperature, which will be described later. The first predetermined temperature is a temperature lower than the temperature at which the bimetal disk in the operating state returns to its original state in the heat sensing unit 14, and is set to 40°C in the first embodiment. The second predetermined temperature is the temperature at which a normal heat sensing unit 14 operates, and is set to 70°C in the first embodiment. The first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature may be set to temperatures other than 40°C and 70°C.

[0019] The temperature adjustment unit 183 includes the temperature adjustment element 16 shown in FIG. 1 and generates a voltage for temperature adjustment by the temperature adjustment element 16. The temperature adjustment element 16 is a Peltier element and can be heated or cooled depending on the direction of voltage application. The temperature measurement unit 184 includes the temperature sensor 17 shown in FIG. 1 and acquires temperature information. The transmission / reception unit 185 is connected to a fire alarm receiver R having a test function via an information internal line 193, terminals, and an information wiring DL.

[0020] The voltage detection unit 186 is connected to the sensing wire 191 via the connection unit 187. The connection unit 187 has a normally open contact, and when power is not supplied to the automatic test unit 18 from the power line PL, the voltage detection unit 186 is disconnected from the sensing wire 191. When the automatic test unit 18 enters the test state, the normally open contact of the connection unit 187 is closed by the control unit 181, connecting the voltage detection unit 186 to the sensing wire 191. As shown in Figure 3, a mechanical contact 141 is connected to the sensing wire 191 in parallel with the connection unit 187, and an indicator light 15 is connected in series with the connection unit 187 and the mechanical contact 141. The automatic test unit 18 is connected to a power supply wire 192 for supplying power.

[0021] The detection line CL and power line PL shown in Figure 3 are connected to the fire alarm receiver R as shown in Figure 2, and multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 1 are connected in parallel to the detection line CL and power line PL by jumper wiring. Multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 1 are also connected to the information line DL. Almost all of the components of the automatic test unit 18 shown in Figure 3 are installed inside the housing 11 as shown in Figure 1, but as shown in Figure 1, the temperature control element 16 of the temperature control unit 183 and the temperature sensor 17 of the temperature measurement unit 184 are installed outside the housing 11.

[0022] Next, the operation of the mechanical contact type heat detector 1 in Embodiment 1 will be explained with reference to the operation flow diagram in Figure 4. The operation flow in Figure 4 is controlled by the control unit 181. When automatic testing is not being performed, the power supply wire 192 for supplying power is not connected to the automatic test unit 18, so the normally open contact connection part 187 shown in Figure 3 is open in the mechanical contact type heat detector 1, and the voltage detection unit 186 is not connected to the sensing wire 191. This eliminates the influence of the automatic test unit 18 on the sensing wire CL during fire monitoring, thereby enhancing safety. Even if noise enters the automatic test unit 18, which is an electronic device, the normally open contact connection part 187 will not connect when power is not supplied to the automatic test unit 18.

[0023] When performing an automated test, the fire alarm receiver R supplies voltage between a pair of power lines PL. Power is then supplied from power lines PL to the automated test unit 18 via the terminal and power supply extension 192, and the automated test unit 18 starts up. The control unit 181 then determines, via the information wiring DL, terminal and information extension 193, whether there is a test start instruction for its own detector address (step S1). If NO, the process returns to before step S1; if YES, the process proceeds to step S2.

[0024] In step S2, the connection unit 187 is connected, the voltage detection unit 186 is connected to the sensing wire 191 to start voltage detection, and the temperature measurement unit 184 also starts temperature measurement. Next, the temperature control unit 183 supplies power to the temperature control element 16, which is a Peltier element, to heat its lower surface and start heating the heat sensing unit 14 via the heat receiving plate 13 (step S3). Then, the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 186 is monitored to see if it becomes 0V (step S4). If the mechanical contact 141 is closed, the voltage is 0V and the result is YES, so the device proceeds to the next step S5. If the mechanical contact 141 is open, the voltage is not 0V and the result is NO, so the device proceeds to step S6.

[0025] In step S5, the temperature information obtained by the temperature measurement unit 184 at this point is transmitted to the fire alarm receiver R via the information wiring DL, along with the detector address set for each mechanical contact type heat detector 1. After that, heating is terminated, and the temperature control unit 183 supplies power to the temperature control element 16 in the opposite direction to heating, cooling the heat sensing unit 14 to a first predetermined temperature via the heat receiving plate 13. After the voltage detection unit 186 is disconnected, the transmitting / receiving unit 185 transmits the end of the test to the fire alarm receiver R via the information internal line 193 and terminals and the information wiring DL (step S8). The first predetermined temperature is set to a temperature lower than the temperature at which the bimetallic disc returns to its original position in the heat sensing unit 14. In Embodiment 1, the first predetermined temperature is set to 40°C. Then, the automatic test of the mechanical contact type heat detector 1 is terminated. Step S8 is the test termination process for the mechanical contact type heat detector 1.

[0026] On the other hand, in step S6, it is determined whether the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 17 of the temperature measurement unit 184 is equal to or greater than the second predetermined temperature. The second predetermined temperature is a temperature higher than 65°C, which is the temperature at which the normal heat sensing unit 14 operates. In Example 1, the second predetermined temperature is set to 70°C. If the result is YES, which is equal to or greater than the second predetermined temperature, the non-differential information is transmitted to the fire receiver R along with the detector address (step S7), and the process proceeds to the test completion process in step S8. If the result is NO, which is not equal to or greater than the second predetermined temperature, the process returns to before step S4.

[0027] Next, we will explain the automatic test from the perspective of the entire heat detector automatic test system. When the automatic test is started manually or by a timer, etc., at the fire receiver R shown in Figure 2, power is supplied to the power line PL. All mechanical contact type heat detectors 1 connected to the power line PL start the operation flow shown in Figure 4 when power is supplied from the power line PL to the automatic test unit 18 shown in Figure 3 via terminals and power supply wiring 192. The fire receiver R then specifies the detector address of the first mechanical contact type heat detector 1 via the information wiring DL and issues a test start instruction. When the first mechanical contact type heat detector 1 receives a test start instruction to its address in step S1, in step S2 it connects the connection part 187 and connects the voltage detection unit 186 to the detection wiring 191, and starts voltage detection between the detection wiring 191.

[0028] Then, in step S3, power is supplied to the temperature control element 16 in the temperature control unit 183, and the heat sensing unit 14 is indirectly heated via the heat receiving plate 13. The temperature control element 16 shown in Figure 1 is a Peltier element, and power is supplied by applying a voltage in a direction that heats the lower surface in contact with the heat receiving plate 13. When the temperature of the heat sensing unit 14 rises due to heating, the bimetallic disc inverts and closes the mechanical contact 141 shown in Figure 3, causing a pair of sensing wires 191 to short-circuit, and the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 186 via the connection unit 187 becomes 0V. In step S4, when the voltage detection unit 186 detects a voltage of 0V, the temperature measuring unit 184, which includes a temperature sensor 17, measures the temperature of the heat sensing unit 14. Then, in step S5, the temperature information of the measurement result and the sensor address stored in the memory 182 are transmitted from the transmitting / receiving unit 185 to the fire alarm receiver R via the information wire 193 and terminals and information wiring DL. The fire alarm receiver R records the received detector address and temperature information.

[0029] After transmission, in step S8, the first mechanical contact type heat detector 1 performs a test termination process. In the test termination process, the control unit 181 controls the heating by the temperature control unit 183 and applies a voltage in the opposite direction to the heating to the temperature control element 16, which is a Peltier element, to cool the heat sensing unit 14. The temperature control element 16 shown in Figure 1 cools the lower surface that is in contact with the heat receiving plate 13, and the heat sensing unit 14 is indirectly cooled. Then, when the bimetallic disc of the heat sensing unit 14 returns to its original position and the mechanical contact 141 opens, the voltage returns to the sensing wire 191, and the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 186 is no longer 0V. When the temperature measurement unit 184 detects that the temperature of the heat sensing unit 14 has dropped to a first predetermined temperature, the temperature control unit 183 terminates the application of voltage to the temperature control element 16, ending the cooling, and disconnects the connection part 187.

[0030] In the operation flow diagram shown in Figure 4, the system waits until the voltage reaches 0V by becoming NO in step S4 and again in step S6. However, if the heat sensing unit 14 is faulty, the mechanical contact 141 may not close even if the temperature exceeds the operating temperature of a normal heat sensing unit 14 (e.g., 65°C). In such cases, the system detects that the temperature is above the second predetermined temperature (70°C) in step S6, transmits the non-operation information along with the detector address to the fire receiver R in step S7, and then performs the test completion process in step S8.

[0031] In the fire alarm receiver R, after receiving the detector address and temperature information, etc., when the voltage between the detection extension 191 returns, the detector address of the second mechanical contact type heat detector 1 is set, and a test start instruction is sent from the information wiring DL. If non-operation information is received, the detector address of the second mechanical contact type heat detector 1 is also set, and a test start instruction is sent from the information wiring DL. Then, an automatic test is performed in the same way as the first mechanical contact type heat detector 1. This is repeated until the last mechanical contact type heat detector 1 is reached.

[0032] As described above, the fire alarm receiver R stores temperature information and non-operation information for multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 1 connected to the fire alarm receiver R, along with the detector addresses. If the stored temperature information is outside the specified temperature range or if non-operation information is received, the mechanical contact type heat detector 1 with that detector address is stored as having a detector malfunction. In the mechanical contact type heat detector 1, the temperature control element 16 heats the bimetallic disc, which is the heat sensing part, and when the mechanical contact 141 closes, it obtains temperature information from the temperature sensor 17 and performs an automatic test. [Examples]

[0033] Figure 5 shows the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 of Example 2. Figure 5(a) is a side view of the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 of Example 2 mounted on the ceiling C, and Figure 5(b) is an enlarged cross-section of the dotted circle area in Figure 5(a). In Figure 5(a), some of the heat receiving plate supports 22 are omitted for clarity. In the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 of Example 2, the positions of the temperature control element 26 and temperature sensor 27 differ from those of the temperature control element 16 and temperature sensor 17 in the mechanical contact type heat detector 1 of Example 1. The automatic heat detector test system of Example 2 is the same as the automatic heat detector test system of Example 1 shown in Figure 2, and consists of a fire alarm receiver R, multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 2, wiring connecting them, and a termination device E.

[0034] The mechanical contact type heat detector 2 of Example 2 is a fixed-temperature type, similar to the mechanical contact type heat detector 1 of Example 1, and activates when a predetermined temperature is reached due to the heat of a fire. As shown in Figure 5(a), the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 has a plurality of heat receiving plate supports 22 extending from the side toward the center downwards at the lower part of the housing 21, and the heat receiving plate 23 is fixed by the heat receiving plate supports 22. The heat receiving plate 23 is annular in shape, and a mechanical contact type heat sensing part 24 is fitted into and supported by a hole in the center. In addition, an indicator light 25 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 21.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5(b), the heat sensing unit 24 comprises a mechanical contact 241, a heat conduction cover 242, a bimetallic disc 243, a transmission pin 244, and a contact spring 245. The tip of the contact spring 245 is the moving contact 241a of the mechanical contact 241, and when it comes into contact with the fixed contact 241b of the mechanical contact 241, the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 becomes operational. The mechanical contact type heat detector 2 has a mechanical contact 241 that closes mechanically due to a change in the shape of the bimetallic disc 243, which is the heat sensing part.

[0036] The heat conduction cover 242 of the heat sensing unit 24 is a bottomed cylindrical shape, with a disc-shaped bimetallic disc 243 provided on the upper surface of the bottom, and a temperature control element 26 attached to the lower surface of the bottom. The temperature control element 26 is a Peltier element, which heats or cools the bimetallic disc 243 via the heat conduction cover 242 by the direction of applied voltage, thereby changing its temperature. A heat receiving plate 23 is in contact with the side of the heat conduction cover 242. A temperature sensor 27 is attached to the outside of the heat receiving plate 23 in contact with the heat conduction cover 242. The heat sensing unit 24, temperature control element 26, and temperature sensor 27 are wired from inside the housing 21, but these wires are not shown in Figure 5.

[0037] The temperature rise of the heat receiving plate 23 due to the heat of the fire and the temperature change by the temperature control element 26 are transmitted to the bimetallic disc 243 via the heat conduction cover 242. As shown in Figure 5(b), at normal room temperature, the bimetallic disc 243 is convex downwards, the transmission pin 244 is lowered, and the mechanical contact 241 is open. A potential difference is generated between the dynamic contact 241a and the fixed contact 241b, supplied from the fire receiver R via the sensing wire CL.

[0038] When heat is transferred to the bimetallic disc 243 and its temperature rises, the bimetallic disc 243 becomes convex upward, pushing up the transmission pin 244. When the pushed-up transmission pin 244 pushes up the contact spring 245, the dynamic contact 241a contacts the fixed contact 241b, closing the mechanical contact 241, and the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 becomes operational due to conductivity. When operational, the closing of the mechanical contact 241 short-circuits the sensing wire CL, eliminating the potential difference, and the fire alarm receiver R connected to the sensing wire CL can detect the fire.

[0039] After the device enters the operating state, when the temperature of the bimetallic disc 243 decreases, as shown in Figure 5(b), the bimetallic disc 243 returns to a convex state, the mechanical contact 241 opens, and the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 becomes inactive. Then, the potential difference returns to the pair of sensing wires CL.

[0040] The operation flow of the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 in Example 2 is the same as in Example 1. The temperature control element 26 heats the bimetallic disc 243, which is the heat sensing part, and when the mechanical contact 241 closes, temperature information is obtained from the temperature sensor 27 and an automatic test is performed.

[0041] In the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 of Example 2, the positions of the temperature control element 26 and the temperature sensor 27 differ from those of the mechanical contact type heat detector 1 of Example 1. The temperature control element 26 of the mechanical contact type heat detector 2 is in contact with the underside of the heat conduction cover 242 in the heat sensing section 24, and the temperature sensor 27 is in contact with the heat receiving plate 23. [Examples]

[0042] Figure 6 shows a side view of the mechanical contact type heat detector 3 of Embodiment 3, which is mounted on the ceiling C. In Embodiment 3, as with the mechanical contact type heat detectors 1 and 2 of Embodiments 1 and 2, the mechanical contact type heat detector 3 is a fixed-temperature type and activates when it reaches a predetermined temperature due to the heat of a fire. In the mechanical contact type heat detector 3, a heat receiving plate support column 32 protrudes downward from the lower center of the housing 31, a heat sensing part 34 is provided at the lower end of the heat receiving plate support column 32, and an annular heat receiving plate 33 is connected around the heat sensing part 34. The heat receiving plate support column 32 causes the heat receiving plate 33 and the heat sensing part 34 to be spaced apart downward from the housing 31. The heat receiving plate 33 is annular, and the mechanical contact type heat sensing part 34 is fitted into its center. In addition, an indicator light 35 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 31. Inside the heat sensing part 34, a mechanical contact (not shown) and a bimetallic disc (not shown) are provided, as in Embodiments 1 and 2. The mechanical contact type heat detector 3 has a mechanical contact that closes mechanically due to a change in the shape of a bimetallic disc, which is the heat-sensing part. The automatic heat detector test system of Embodiment 3 is the same as the automatic heat detector test system of Embodiment 1 shown in Figure 2, and consists of a fire receiver R, a plurality of mechanical contact type heat detectors 3, wiring connecting them, and a termination device E.

[0043] As shown in Figure 6, the mechanical contact type heat detector 3 of Embodiment 3 has a temperature control element 36 and a temperature sensor 37 on the upper part of the housing 31. The temperature control element 36 is composed of a disc-shaped Peltier element and can heat or cool the heat sensing unit 34 via a heat conductor 38 and a heat receiving plate 33. The heat conductor 38 has a structure in which multiple heat conductor columns 382 protrude downward from the outer surface of a disc-shaped disc heat conductor 381, and the heat conductor columns 382 are connected to the circumference of the heat receiving plate 33. When the lower surface of the temperature control element 36 is heated or cooled, the heat is conducted from the disc heat conductor 381 to the heat conductor columns 382, ​​and further conducted from the heat receiving plate 33 to the heat sensing unit 34. In addition, the temperature sensor 37 provided inside the disc heat conductor 381 measures the temperature of the heat sensing unit 34 via the heat conductor 38 and the heat receiving plate 33. In Example 3, the heat conductor 38 is in contact with the lower surface of the temperature control element 36, which is a Peltier element, and the heat storage element 39 is in contact with the upper surface.

[0044] The operation flow of the mechanical contact type heat detector 3 in Example 3 is the same as in Examples 1 and 2. The temperature control element 36 heats the bimetallic disc, which is the heat sensing part, and when the mechanical contact closes, temperature information is obtained from the temperature sensor 37 and an automatic test is performed.

[0045] In the mechanical contact type heat detector 3 of Example 3, when heating the heat sensing unit 34, a voltage is applied to the temperature control element 36, which is a Peltier element, so that the temperature of the lower surface of the temperature control element 36 rises and the temperature of the upper surface in contact with the heat storage body 39 falls. Also, when cooling the heat sensing unit 34, a voltage is applied to the temperature control element 36, which is a Peltier element, so that the temperature of the lower surface of the temperature control element 36 falls and the temperature of the upper surface in contact with the heat storage body 39 rises. The presence of the heat storage body 39 suppresses temperature changes on the upper surface of the temperature control element 36, allowing for efficient temperature control of the lower surface of the temperature control element 36. [Examples]

[0046] Figure 7 shows a side cross-sectional view of the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 of Embodiment 4, which is mounted on the ceiling C. Unlike the mechanical contact type heat detectors 1 to 3 of Embodiments 1 to 3, which are fixed-temperature type, the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 of Embodiment 4 is differential type and operates in response to the rate of temperature rise due to the heat of a fire, due to the presence of a leak hole 424. The mechanical contact type heat detector 4 has a heat sensing unit 42 at the bottom. The heat sensing unit 42 has a heat sensing cover 421 at the bottom and an air chamber 425 between the diaphragm 422 and the diaphragm surrounding plate 423 above it. The lower side of the air chamber 425 is the heat sensing cover 421, and the upper side of the air chamber 425 is formed by a disc-shaped diaphragm 422 and an annular diaphragm surrounding plate 423 surrounding the diaphragm 422. A leak hole 424 is provided in the diaphragm surrounding plate 423, and the air chamber 425 is sealed except for the narrow hole, the leak hole 424. On the other hand, the inside of the housing 41, which communicates with the inside of the air chamber 425 through the leak hole 424, is at the same pressure as the outside of the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 through a hole (not shown) in the housing 41 that communicates with the outside. In addition, an indicator light 43 is provided in the housing 41.

[0047] Inside the housing 41, above the diaphragm 422, there is a contact spring 426 and a contact conductor 427, which constitute the heat sensing unit 42. The dynamic contact 426a and the fixed contact 427a at the tips of the contact spring 426 and the contact conductor 427 are close together, and these contacts form a mechanical contact 428. The mechanical contact type heat detector 4 has a mechanical contact 428 that closes mechanically due to a change in the shape of the diaphragm 422, which constitutes the heat sensing unit. The mechanical contact 428 is located above the center of the diaphragm 422, and in the non-differential state shown in Figure 7, the dynamic contact 426a and the fixed contact 427a are open. On the opposite side of the dynamic contact 426a from the perspective of the contact spring 426, the projection 426b is in contact with the vicinity of the center of the diaphragm 422.

[0048] When the air in the air chamber 425 expands due to the heat of the fire, the diaphragm 422 inflates upward. This pushes the projection 426b at the tip of the contact spring 426, causing the dynamic contact 426a to lift and make contact with the fixed contact 427a of the contact conductor 427, creating electrical conductivity and activating the mechanical contact type heat detector 4. The dynamic contact 426a and the fixed contact 427a form a mechanical contact 428.

[0049] When the air in the air chamber 425 expands, the diaphragm 422 expands upward while air leaks out of the narrow hole, the leak hole 424, into the inside of the housing 41. The housing 41 has a hole that communicates with the outside, and the pressure inside the housing 41 is the same as the pressure outside the mechanical contact type heat detector 4. If the room temperature rises gradually, the expansion rate of the air in the air chamber 425 is slow, and the diaphragm 422 hardly expands upward due to the leakage of air from the leak hole 424, so it does not activate. On the other hand, in the case of a rapid temperature rise due to a fire, the expansion of the air in the air chamber 425 is faster than the leakage of air from the leak hole 424. Therefore, the diaphragm 422 expands upward, the mechanical contact 428 closes, and the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 activates. The differential type mechanical contact type heat detector 4 functions as described above. The mechanical contact type heat detector 4 has a mechanical contact 428 that closes mechanically due to a change in the shape of the diaphragm 422, which is the heat sensing element.

[0050] The mechanical contact type heat detector 4 of Embodiment 4 shown in Figure 7 has a temperature control element 44, a temperature sensor 45, and a heat storage body 46. The temperature control element 44 is a disc-shaped Peltier element and is installed on the upper part of the housing 41, close to the position where it is in contact with the ceiling C. The temperature control element 44 is located on the opposite side of the diaphragm 422 when viewed from the mechanical contact 428. The heat storage body 46 is also disc-shaped and is installed in contact with the upper surface of the temperature control element 44. The temperature sensor 45 is installed inside the air chamber 425.

[0051] During automated testing, the temperature of the lower surface of the temperature control element 44 is conducted through the internal space of the housing 41 and the metal housing 41 to the diaphragm 422 and the heat-sensitive cover 421. This changes the temperature of the air chamber 425, causing the air in the air chamber 425 to expand or contract. A heat storage body 46 is connected to the upper surface of the temperature control element 44, which is a Peltier element, to improve the temperature control efficiency of the lower surface of the temperature control element 44.

[0052] The automatic heat detector testing system of Example 4, equipped with mechanical contact type heat detectors 4, is similar to the automatic heat detector testing system of Example 1 shown in Figure 2. A detection line CL, a power line PL, and an information line DL extend from the fire alarm receiver R, and a termination device E is provided at the end of the detection line CL. The detection line CL and the power line PL are connected by wiring to multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 4. The information line DL is also connected to multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 4.

[0053] The circuit configuration of the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 in Embodiment 4 is the same as that of the mechanical contact type heat detector 1 in Embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 3. The mechanical contact type heat detector 4 has an automatic test unit 47 in addition to an indicator light 43 and a mechanical contact 428 as part of its circuit configuration. The automatic test unit 47 has a control unit 471, a memory 472, a temperature control unit 473, a temperature measurement unit 474, a transmitting / receiving unit 475, a voltage detection unit 476, and a connection unit 477. The control unit 471 is connected to the other components of the automatic test unit 47 by bus wiring 478. The connection unit 477 is connected to a pair of sensing internal wires 481 and a pair of sensing lines CL via terminals. The automatic test unit 47 is connected to a pair of power supply internal wires 482 and a pair of power supply lines PL via terminals. The transmitting / receiving unit 475 is connected to an information internal wire 483 and an information wiring DL via terminals. The automatic test unit 47 is shielded, making it difficult for noise to enter the circuit of the automatic test unit 47.

[0054] The control unit 471 is a CPU and operates according to a program stored in memory 472. Memory 472 also stores the sensor address set for each mechanical contact type heat detector 4, as well as the third predetermined temperature and the fourth predetermined temperature. The third predetermined temperature is a temperature lower than the fire temperature and is set to 25°C in Example 4. The mechanical contact type heat detector 4 is differential, and in Example 4, the third predetermined temperature, which is the reference temperature, is set to 25°C, assuming room temperature as the reference temperature at which the temperature starts to rise when a fire is detected. The fourth predetermined temperature is the temperature at which a normal heat sensing unit 42 should activate through automatic testing and is set to 70°C. The specific values ​​of the third and fourth predetermined temperatures are not limited to these and may be other temperatures.

[0055] The operation of the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 in Embodiment 4 is explained by the operation flow diagram in Figure 8. The operation flow in Figure 8 is the operation controlled by the control unit 471. Similar to Embodiment 1, when automatic testing is not being performed, the power supply wire 482 for supplying power is not connected to the automatic test unit 47, so the normally open contact connection part 477 shown in Figure 3 is open in the mechanical contact type heat detector 4. The voltage detection unit 476 is not connected to the sensing wire 481. This eliminates the influence of the automatic test unit 47 on the sensing wire CL during fire monitoring, thereby enhancing safety. Even if noise enters the automatic test unit 47, which is an electronic device, the normally open contact connection part 477 will not connect when power is not supplied to the automatic test unit 47.

[0056] When performing an automated test, the fire alarm receiver R supplies voltage between a pair of power lines PL. This then supplies power to the automated test unit 47 from the power line PL through the terminal and power supply internal wire 482 in the mechanical contact type heat detector 4, causing the automated test unit 47 to start up. The temperature measurement unit 474, shown in Figures 3 and 7, then begins measuring the temperature using its temperature sensor 45, adjusting it to a reference temperature, the third predetermined temperature (25°C), and transmits a temperature adjustment completion signal indicating that the temperature adjustment is complete (step S11). During temperature adjustment, the temperature control unit 473 supplies power to the temperature control element 44, which is a Peltier element, to heat or cool the lower surface of the temperature control element 44. This heating or cooling is conducted to the air chamber 425 via the housing 41 and the internal space of the housing 41, adjusting the air chamber 425 to its reference temperature, the third predetermined temperature. Then, when the temperature measuring unit 474 detects that the third predetermined temperature has been reached, the transmitting / receiving unit 475 transmits a temperature adjustment completion signal, along with the sensor address, to the fire alarm receiver R via the information wiring DL, indicating that the temperature adjustment has been completed. When heating is performed when adjusting to the third predetermined temperature in step S11, the heating is performed slowly so as not to close the mechanical contact 428.

[0057] After transmitting the temperature adjustment completion signal, the control unit 471 determines whether there is a test start instruction to its own sensor address via the information wiring DL and terminal and information extension 483 (step S12). If NO, it returns to the step before S12; if YES, it proceeds to step S13.

[0058] In step S13, the connection unit 477 is connected, the voltage detection unit 476 is connected to the sensing wire 481 to start voltage detection, and heating is started by the temperature control unit 473. Because the starting temperature of the heating test is adjusted to the third predetermined temperature, which is the reference temperature, in step S11, the operation test of the differential mechanical contact type heat detector 4 can be performed under almost the same conditions regardless of the room temperature during the test.

[0059] Then, the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 476 is monitored to see if it becomes 0V (step S14). If the mechanical contact 428 of the heat sensing unit 42 is closed, the voltage is 0V and the result is YES, so the process proceeds to the next step S15. If the mechanical contact 428 is open, the voltage is not 0V and the result is NO, so the process proceeds to step S16. In Figure 7, when the center of the diaphragm 422 is lifted upward due to the expansion of air, the protruding body 426b is pushed, the dynamic contact 426a rises and contacts the fixed contact 427a, and the mechanical contact 428 closes, the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 476 becomes 0V.

[0060] In step S15, the temperature information obtained by the temperature measurement unit 474 at this point is transmitted via the information wiring DL along with the detector address set for each mechanical contact type heat detector 4. As a result, the temperature information measured when the mechanical contact 428 closes is transmitted to the fire alarm receiver R. After that, heating is terminated, the heat sensing unit 42 is cooled to a third predetermined temperature (25°C), the voltage detection unit 476 is disconnected, and the transmission / reception unit 475 transmits a test termination message to the fire alarm receiver R via the information extension 483, terminals, and information wiring DL (step S18). When the heat sensing unit 42 is cooled, the temperature control unit 473 supplies power to the temperature control element 44 in the opposite direction to heating to cool the lower surface of the temperature control element 44. The third predetermined temperature is a temperature lower than the fire temperature, and in Example 4, it is set to 25°C. Then, the automatic test of the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 is terminated. Step S18 is the test termination process for the mechanical contact type heat detector 4.

[0061] In Example 4, the predetermined temperature in step S18 is set to the same third predetermined temperature (25°C) as in step S11, but it may be set to another temperature such as 40°C. By setting the predetermined temperature in step S18 to a temperature that is as high as possible while ensuring that the mechanical contact 428 opens and becomes non-operating, the operation test can be completed earlier.

[0062] On the other hand, in step S16, it is determined whether the temperature measured by the temperature measuring unit 474 is equal to or greater than the fourth predetermined temperature. The fourth predetermined temperature is higher than 65°C, which is the temperature at which a normal heat sensing unit 42 should activate during automatic testing. In Example 4, it is set to 70°C, the same as the second predetermined temperature in Example 1. In step S16, if the result is YES, which is equal to or greater than the fourth predetermined temperature, non-differential information is transmitted to the fire receiver R along with the detector address (step S17), and the process proceeds to the test completion process in step S18. If the result is NO, which is not equal to or greater than the fourth predetermined temperature, the process returns to before step S14.

[0063] Next, the automatic test from the perspective of the entire heat detector automatic test system will be described. When the automatic test is started manually or by a timer at the fire alarm receiver R, power is supplied to the power line PL. All mechanical contact type heat detectors 4 connected to the power line PL start the operation flow shown in Figure 8 when power is supplied from the power line PL to the automatic test unit 47 via terminals and power supply wiring 192. Then, in step S11, the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 starts measuring the temperature and adjusts the air in the air chamber 425 to the reference temperature, which is the third predetermined temperature (25°C), and transmits a temperature adjustment completion signal and detector address to the fire alarm receiver R. The temperature control element 44 shown in Figure 7 is a Peltier element, and because a heat storage body 46 is connected to its upper surface, the temperature of the lower surface can be efficiently controlled.

[0064] When the fire alarm receiver R receives a temperature adjustment completion signal from all connected mechanical contact type heat detectors 4, it specifies the detector address of the first mechanical contact type heat detector 4 via the information wiring DL after a predetermined waiting period and issues a test start instruction. The predetermined waiting period is set to the time it takes for the air pressure inside the heated or cooled air chamber 425 to be approximately the same as the air pressure outside the mechanical contact type heat detector 4.

[0065] When the first mechanical contact type heat detector 4 receives a test start instruction to its address in step S12, it connects the connection part 477 in step S13, connects the voltage detection unit 476 to the sensing wire 481, and starts voltage detection between the sensing wires 481. It also starts heating using the temperature control unit 473.

[0066] When the heat sensing unit 42, whose temperature has risen due to heating, closes the mechanical contact 428, the sensing wire 481 is short-circuited, and the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 476 becomes 0V. When the voltage detection unit 476 detects a voltage of 0V in step S14, in step S15, the temperature information, which is the result of measuring the air temperature in the air chamber 425 at the time the mechanical contact 428 closed, and the sensor address stored in the memory 472 are transmitted from the transmitting / receiving unit 475 to the fire alarm receiver R via the information wire 483, terminals, and information wiring DL. The fire alarm receiver R records the received sensor address and temperature information.

[0067] After transmitting temperature information, the first mechanical contact type heat detector 4 performs a test termination process in step S18. In the test termination process, the control unit 471 controls the heating of the heat sensing unit 42 by the temperature control unit 473 and applies a voltage in the opposite direction to the heating to the temperature control element 44, which is a Peltier element, to cool the heat sensing unit 42. The lower surface of the temperature control element 44 shown in Figure 7 is cooled, indirectly cooling the air in the air chamber 425 of the heat sensing unit 42. Then, due to the contraction of the air, the center of the diaphragm 422 that was protruding above the heat sensing unit 42 lowers. When the mechanical contact 428 opens and the state shown in Figure 7 is reached, the voltage returns to the sensing wire 481, and the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 476 is no longer 0V. When the temperature measurement unit 474 detects that the temperature of the heat sensing unit 42 has dropped to the third predetermined temperature, the temperature control unit 473 terminates the application of voltage to the temperature control element 44, ending the cooling, and disconnects the connection part 477.

[0068] In the operation flow diagram shown in Figure 8, when step S14 becomes NO and step S16 becomes NO, the system waits until the voltage drops to 0V. However, if the heat sensing unit 42 is faulty, the mechanical contact 428 may not close even if the temperature exceeds the operating temperature of a normal heat sensing unit 42. For example, if there is a hole in the heat sensing cover 421, the air pressure in the air chamber 425 will not rise, the diaphragm 422 will not inflate, and the mechanical contact 428 will not close. In such cases, step S16 detects that the temperature is above the fourth predetermined temperature (70°C), step S17 transmits non-operation information along with the detector address to the fire receiver R, and then the test completion process in step S18 is performed.

[0069] When the fire alarm receiver R receives a test completion signal from the information wiring DL, it sets the detector address of the second mechanical contact type heat detector 4 and sends a test start instruction from the information wiring DL. Then, it performs an automatic test of the second mechanical contact type heat detector 4 in the same way as the first mechanical contact type heat detector 4. This is repeated until the last mechanical contact type heat detector 4 is reached.

[0070] As described above, the fire alarm receiver R stores temperature information and non-operation information for multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 4 connected to the fire alarm receiver R, along with the detector addresses. If the stored temperature information is outside the specified temperature range or if non-operation information is received, the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 with that detector address is stored as having a detector malfunction.

[0071] In Embodiment 4, when the fire alarm receiver R receives temperature adjustment completion signals from all connected mechanical contact type heat detectors 4, it automatically tests each mechanical contact type heat detector 4 sequentially after a predetermined waiting time following the reception of the last temperature adjustment completion signal. However, it is also possible to issue a test start instruction after a predetermined waiting time for the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 that sent the temperature adjustment completion signal first, and then automatically test them sequentially. Since the time it takes to reach the third predetermined temperature, which is the reference temperature, varies depending on the installation environment of the mechanical contact type heat detector 4, by performing the automatic test starting with the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 that sent the temperature adjustment completion signal, the automatic test of all mechanical contact type heat detectors 4 can be completed earlier. [Examples]

[0072] Figure 9 shows a side cross-sectional view of the mechanical contact type heat detector 5 of Embodiment 5, which is mounted on the ceiling C. The mechanical contact type heat detector 5 is differential and operates in response to the rate of temperature rise due to the heat of a fire, due to the presence of a leak hole 524. The mechanical contact type heat detector 5 has a heat sensing unit 52 at the bottom of the housing 51. The heat sensing unit 52 has an air chamber 525 between a lower heat sensing cover 521 and a diaphragm 522 and diaphragm surrounding plate 523 above it. The lower side of the air chamber 525 is the heat sensing cover 521, and the upper side of the air chamber 525 is formed by a disc-shaped diaphragm 522 and an annular diaphragm surrounding plate 523 surrounding the diaphragm 522. A narrow hole, the leak hole 524, is provided in the diaphragm surrounding plate 523, and the air chamber 525 is sealed except for the leak hole 524. On the other hand, the inside of the housing 51, which communicates with the inside of the air chamber 525 through the leak hole 524, is at the same pressure as the outside of the mechanical contact type heat detector 5 due to a hole (not shown) provided in the cylindrical heat conductor 562 and a hole (not shown) provided in the housing 51 that communicates with the outside. In addition, an indicator light 53 is provided in the housing 51. The temperature sensor 55 is provided inside the air chamber 525.

[0073] As shown in Figure 9, inside the housing 51, above the diaphragm 522, there is a contact spring 526 and a contact conductor 527 as the heat sensing part 52. The moving contact 526a and the fixed contact 527a at the tips of the contact spring 526 and the contact conductor 527 are close together, and these contacts form a mechanical contact 528. In the mechanical contact type heat detector 5, the heat sensing part is formed by the heat sensing cover 521, the diaphragm 522, the diaphragm surrounding plate 523, and the leak hole 524. The mechanical contact 528 has mechanical contacts that close mechanically due to a change in the shape of the diaphragm 522 in the heat sensing part. As described above, the mechanical contact type heat detector 5 has mechanical contacts 528 that close mechanically due to a change in the shape of the diaphragm 522, which is the component of the heat sensing part. These configurations are the same as those of the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 in Embodiment 4. The mechanical contact 528 is located above the center of the diaphragm 522, and in the non-differential state shown in Figure 9, the moving contact 526a and the fixed contact 527a are open. On the opposite side of the dynamic contact 526a from the perspective of the contact spring 526, the projection 526b is in contact with the vicinity of the center of the diaphragm 522.

[0074] These configurations are the same as those of the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 in Example 4. The mechanical contact type heat detector 5 in Example 5 does not have a heat storage body, but a heat storage body may be provided on the upper surface of the temperature control element 54, as in Example 4.

[0075] The mechanical contact type heat detector 5 of Embodiment 5 shown in Figure 9 has a heat conductor 56 inside the housing 51. The heat conductor 56 has a disc-shaped disc heat conductor 561 in contact with the lower surface of the temperature control element 54, and below the disc heat conductor 561 is a cylindrical heat conductor 562. The cylindrical heat conductor 562 is provided with holes (not shown). Below the cylindrical heat conductor 562 is an annular heat conductor 563. The annular heat conductor 563 is in contact with the annular diaphragm surrounding plate 523. The cylindrical heat conductor 562 is provided with holes (not shown), and the upper part of the diaphragm 522 and the upper part of the leak hole 524 are in communication and at the same pressure. In the mechanical contact type heat detector 5 of Embodiment 5, the heat conductor 56 efficiently conducts the temperature of the lower surface of the temperature control element 54 to the air in the air chamber 525.

[0076] The operation flow of the mechanical contact type heat detector 5 in Example 5 is the same as that of the mechanical contact type heat detector 4 in Example 4 shown in Figure 8. The automatic heat detector test system equipped with the mechanical contact type heat detector 5 in Example 5 is the same as the automatic heat detector test system in Example 1 shown in Figure 2, and consists of a fire alarm receiver R, multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 5, wiring connecting them, and a termination device E. [Examples]

[0077] Figure 10 shows a side cross-sectional view of the mechanical contact type heat detector 6 of Embodiment 6, which is mounted on the ceiling C. The mechanical contact type heat detector 6 is differential and operates in response to the rate of temperature rise due to the heat of a fire, due to the presence of a leak hole 624. The mechanical contact type heat detector 6 has a heat sensing unit 62 at the bottom of the housing 61. The heat sensing unit 62 has an air chamber 625 between a lower heat sensing cover 621 and an upper diaphragm 622 and diaphragm surrounding plate 623. The lower side of the air chamber 625 is the heat sensing cover 621, and the upper side of the air chamber 625 is formed by a disc-shaped diaphragm 622 and an annular diaphragm surrounding plate 623 surrounding the diaphragm 622. A narrow hole, the leak hole 624, is provided in the diaphragm surrounding plate 623, and the air chamber 625 is sealed except for the leak hole 624. On the other hand, the inside of the housing 61, which communicates with the inside of the air chamber 625 through the leak hole 624, is at the same pressure as the outside of the mechanical contact type heat detector 6, due to holes (not shown) that communicate with the outside provided in the housing 61 and the external heat conductor 662. The temperature sensor 65 is installed inside the air chamber 625. A heat conductor 66 is connected to the lower surface of the temperature control element 64, which is a Peltier element, to improve the heat conduction efficiency of transferring the temperature of the lower surface of the temperature control element 64 to the air in the air chamber 625.

[0078] Inside the housing 61, above the diaphragm 622, there is a heat sensing section 62 consisting of a contact spring 626 and a contact conductor 627. The moving contact 626a and the fixed contact 627a at the tips of the contact spring 626 and the contact conductor 627 are close together, and these contacts form a mechanical contact 628. In the mechanical contact type heat detector 6, the heat sensing section is formed by the heat sensing cover 621, the diaphragm 622, the diaphragm surrounding plate 623, and the leak hole 624. The mechanical contact 628 has mechanical contacts that close mechanically due to a change in the shape of the diaphragm 622 in the heat sensing section. As described above, the mechanical contact type heat detector 6 has mechanical contacts 628 that close mechanically due to a change in the shape of the heat sensing section. The mechanical contact 628 is located above the center of the diaphragm 622, and in the non-differential state shown in Figure 10, the moving contact 626a and the fixed contact 627a are open. On the opposite side of the dynamic contact 626a of the contact spring 626, the projection 626b is in contact with the vicinity of the center of the diaphragm 622.

[0079] These configurations are the same as those of the mechanical contact type heat detectors 4 and 5 in Examples 4 and 5. Although the mechanical contact type heat detector 6 in Example 6 does not have a heat storage body, a heat storage body may be provided on the upper surface of the temperature control element 64, as in Example 4.

[0080] The mechanical contact type heat detector 6 of Embodiment 6 has heat conductors 66 inside and outside the housing 61. Inside the housing 61, a disc-shaped heat conductor 661 is in contact with the lower surface of the temperature control element 64. The outer circumference of the disc-shaped heat conductor 661 is connected to a cylindrical external heat conductor 662. The external heat conductor 662 covers the entire lateral perimeter of the resin housing 61, and its lower part narrows and contacts a part of the metal heat-sensing cover 621. The lower surface of the heat-sensing cover 621 is exposed downwards in a circular shape. An indicator light 63 is fixed to the external heat conductor 662. The heat conductor 66 efficiently conducts the temperature of the lower surface of the temperature control element 64 from the outside of the housing 61 to the air in the air chamber 625 via the heat-sensing cover 621. In addition, heat from a fire is conducted to the air in the air chamber 625 via the heat-sensing cover 621 and the external heat conductor 662.

[0081] The operation flow of the mechanical contact type heat detector 6 in Example 6 is the same as that of the mechanical contact type heat detectors 4 and 5 in Examples 4 and 5. The automatic heat detector test system equipped with the mechanical contact type heat detector 6 in Example 6 is the same as the automatic heat detector test system in Example 1 shown in Figure 2, and consists of a fire alarm receiver R, multiple mechanical contact type heat detectors 6, wiring connecting them, and termination equipment E.

[0082] In the mechanical contact type heat detector 1 of Embodiment 1, power is not supplied to the automatic test unit 18 until the automatic test begins. Furthermore, the connection part 187, which uses normally open contacts, is in a disconnected state. Therefore, even in environments prone to noise, such as MRI rooms or anechoic chambers, false fire alarms will not occur due to the operation of the automatic test unit 18, which is equipped with electronic circuits. Moreover, the mechanical contact type heat detector 1 does not have any configurations using electronic circuits other than the automatic test unit 18. The same applies to other embodiments.

[0083] The mechanical contact type heat detectors 1 to 6 in Examples 1 to 6 have electronic equipment for automated testing, but do not use electronic equipment for heat detection. Therefore, false alarms are less likely to occur even in noisy environments such as MRI rooms and anechoic chambers. Automated testing using electronic equipment can be performed normally by operating during times when there is less noise.

[0084] In Examples 1 to 6, a Peltier element is used to heat and then cool in order to complete the automated test early, but it is also possible to use a simple heating element and cool by natural heat dissipation.

[0085] In the automatic heat detector testing system of Example 1, all fire detectors are mechanical contact type heat detectors. However, mechanical contact type heat detectors may be connected to the fire receiver R and used together with other fire detectors such as smoke detectors and thermistor type heat detectors. Furthermore, the mechanical contact type heat detectors of Examples 1 to 6 may be mixed and matched. Automatic testing functionality does not need to be added to all fire detectors.

[0086] The mechanical contacts in Examples 1 to 6 are typical mechanical contacts of a mechanical contact type heat detector, and they close mechanically when the shape of the heat-sensing part changes due to a fire or the like. However, the mechanical contacts may also open mechanically when the shape of the heat-sensing part changes, or their state may change mechanically when the shape of the heat-sensing part changes.

[0087] Furthermore, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included. In addition, the above-described embodiments and modifications can be combined by utilizing each other's technologies, as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in their purpose and configuration. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0088] C Ceiling, R Fire alarm receiver, CL Detector wire, E Termination equipment, PL Power line, DL Information wiring, 1 Mechanical contact type heat detector, 11 Housing, 12 Heat receiving plate support, 13 Heat receiving plate, 14 Heat sensing unit, 141 Mechanical contact, 15 Indicator light, 16 Temperature control element, 17 Temperature sensor, 18 Automatic test unit, 181 Control unit, 182 Memory, 183 Temperature control unit, 184 Temperature measurement unit, 185 Transmitter / receiver unit, 186 Voltage detection unit, 187 Connection unit, 188 Bus wiring, 191 Sensing internal line, 192 Power supply internal line, 193 Information internal line, 2 Mechanical contact type heat detector, 21 Housing, 22 Heat receiving plate support, 23 Heat receiving plate, 24 Heat sensing part, 241 Mechanical contact, 241a Dynamic contact, 241b Fixed contact, 242 Heat conduction cover, 243 Bimetallic disc, 244 Transmission pin, 245 Contact spring, 25 Indicator light, 26 Temperature control element, 27 Temperature sensor, 3 Mechanical contact heat sensor, 31 Housing, 32 Heat receiving plate support, 33 Heat receiving plate, 34 Heat sensing part, 35 Confirmation light, 36 Temperature control element, 37 Temperature sensor, 38 Heat conductor, 381 Disc heat conductor, 382 Heat conductor column, 39 Heat storage body, 4 Mechanical contact type heat detector, 41 Housing, 42 Heat sensing unit, 421 Heat sensing cover, 422 Diaphragm, 423 Diaphragm surrounding plate, 424 Leak hole, 425 Air chamber, 426 Contact spring, 426a Dynamic contact, 426b Protrusion, 427 Contact conductor, 427a Fixed contact, 428 Mechanical contact, 43 Indicator light, 44 Temperature control element, 45 Temperature sensor, 46 Heat storage unit, 47 Automatic test unit, 471 Control unit, 472 Memory, 473 Temperature control unit, 474 Temperature measurement unit, 475 Transmitter / receiver unit, 476 Voltage detection unit, 477 Connection unit, 478 Bus wiring, 481 Sensing internal line, 482 Power supply internal line, 483 Information internal line, 5 Mechanical contact type heat detector, 51 Housing, 52 Heat sensing part, 521 Heat sensing cover, 522 Diaphragm, 523 Diaphragm surrounding plate, 524 Leak hole, 525 Air chamber, 526 Contact spring, 526a Dynamic contact, 526b Protrusion, 527 Contact conductor, 527a Fixed contact, 528 Mechanical contact, 53 Indicator light, 54 Temperature control element, 55 Temperature sensor, 56 Heat conductor, 561 Disc heat conductor, 562 Cylindrical heat conductor, 563 Annular heat conductor, 6 Mechanical contact type heat detector, 61 Housing, 62 Heat sensing part, 621 Heat sensing cover, 622 Diaphragm, 623 Diaphragm surrounding plate, 624 Leak hole, 625 Air chamber, 626 Contact spring, 626a Dynamic contact, 626b Protrusion, 627 Contact conductor, 627a Fixed contact, 628 Mechanical contact, 63 Indicator light, 64 Temperature control element, 65 Temperature sensor, 66 Heat conductor, 661 Disc heat conductor, 662 External heat conductor

Claims

1. A mechanical contact type heat detector having a heat-sensing part and a mechanical contact that changes state mechanically due to a change in the shape of the heat-sensing part, It comprises a temperature control element and a temperature sensor, A mechanical contact type heat detector characterized by heating the heat sensing part with the temperature control element, obtaining temperature information from the temperature sensor when the mechanical contact closes, and performing an automatic test.

2. The mechanical contact type heat detector according to claim 1, characterized in that it is heated to a reference temperature using the temperature control element and then automatically performs the test.

3. A mechanical contact type heat detector according to claim 2, characterized in that the heat sensing part is cooled by the temperature control element after the mechanical contact is closed.

4. It is a fixed-temperature type, and is equipped with a heat receiving plate around the heat sensing part. A mechanical contact type heat detector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the temperature control element is provided on the back surface of the heat receiving plate.

5. It is a differential type and is equipped with a diaphragm. A mechanical contact type heat detector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the temperature control element is provided on the side opposite to the diaphragm when viewed from the mechanical contact.

6. A mechanical contact type heat detector as described in claim 1, The fire alarm receiver is connected to the aforementioned mechanical contact type heat detector, An automatic heat detector testing system characterized in that the fire alarm receiver automatically tests the mechanical contact type heat detector based on temperature information transmitted from the mechanical contact type heat detector.

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