Fire alarm system
The integration of a gas detection unit within the fire detector of a fire alarm facility addresses the challenge of detecting carbon dioxide and other gases, enhancing ventilation warnings and indoor air quality without requiring additional detectors or significant changes to existing systems.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2021160855
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-09-30
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-09-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing fire alarm systems do not effectively address the increased risk of infection and gas concentration issues, particularly in winter when room temperature and humidity decrease, and in environments where ventilation is crucial for maintaining indoor air quality.
A fire alarm facility equipped with a fire detector that includes a gas detection unit for detecting gases like carbon dioxide, a radio transmitter for wireless transmission of gas detection information, and a radio repeater for wireless reception, allowing for gas detection without the need for additional gas detectors or significant changes to the existing wiring.
Enables the detection of gases like carbon dioxide within the fire detector, eliminating the need for separate gas detectors and allowing for effective ventilation warnings without disrupting the normal operation of the fire alarm system, thereby improving indoor air quality and infection control.
Smart Images

Figure 0007674214000001 
Figure 0007674214000002 
Figure 0007674214000003
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a fire alarm system that detects and alerts a fire. [Background technology]
[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, fire alarm systems have been used that detect fire phenomena such as smoke and infrared rays using fire detectors such as smoke detectors and flame detectors, and alert the user of a fire receiver. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-265148 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] Meanwhile, in order to respond to the spread of infectious diseases, school classrooms, restaurants, etc. have been taking measures such as keeping windows open at all times to circulate air. This method is not necessarily effective in winter, as the drop in room temperature and humidity may lead to an increased risk of infection. Some restaurants therefore measure the concentration of carbon dioxide generated by breathing and circulate the air when it exceeds a certain value. However, they had to install devices to measure the concentration of carbon dioxide. Ventilation when the concentration of carbon dioxide is rising is effective in maintaining the health of people in the room, even when there is no epidemic of infectious diseases. Ventilation when the concentration of other harmful gases is rising is also beneficial. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] The fire alarm system of the present invention is a fire alarm system equipped with a fire detector that detects a fire and a fire receiver that receives a fire signal or fire information from the fire detector via a sensing line and issues a fire alarm, in which the fire detector is provided with a gas detection unit that detects gas and a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the gas detection information from the gas detection unit, and a wireless repeater is provided that wirelessly receives the gas detection information from the wireless transmission unit. Effect of the Invention
[0006] In the present invention, since gases such as carbon dioxide are detected inside the fire detector, there is no need to provide a space for installing a detector for gases such as carbon dioxide inside the room. In addition, gases such as carbon dioxide can be detected without basically changing the normal wiring and fire receiver in the fire alarm system. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a fire alarm system etc. according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a smoke detector according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram regarding carbon dioxide detection in the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS EXAMPLES
[0008] The fire alarm system according to Example 1 shown in Fig. 1 has a normal connection structure in which an end of a sensing wire 2 to which multiple smoke detectors 1 are connected by a daisy chain is connected to a fire receiver 3 that issues a fire alarm. In Fig. 1, the sensing wire 2 is shown as one wire, but it is actually two conductor wires. Also shown in Fig. 1 are a wireless repeater 4 that receives radio waves from the smoke detector 1, the Internet 5 to which the wireless repeater 4 is connected, a server 6 and a communication carrier 7 that are connected to the Internet 5, and a smartphone 8 that is wirelessly connected to the communication carrier 7. The smoke detector 1 is one embodiment of a fire detector.
[0009] The smoke detector 1 according to the first embodiment has a configuration shown in FIG. 2. The smoke detector 1 includes a control unit 11, a smoke detector 12, a gas detector 13, a memory unit 14, a sensor line transmitter / receiver 15 for transmitting and receiving via the sensor line 2, a wireless transmitter / receiver 16 for transmitting and receiving wirelessly, a secondary battery 17, and a resistor 18. The wireless transmitter / receiver 16 also functions as a wireless transmitter. As an embodiment of the present invention, the gas detector 13 detects the carbon dioxide concentration. The secondary battery 17 is formed by a capacitor. Each unit of the smoke detector 1 is operated by receiving power from the sensor line 2. The smoke detector 12, the gas detector 13, the memory unit 14, the sensor line transmitter / receiver 15, and the wireless transmitter / receiver 16 are connected to the control unit 11. The control unit 11, the smoke detector 12, the memory unit 14, the sensor line transmitter / receiver 15, and the secondary battery 17 are supplied with power directly from the sensor line 2. The gas detector 13 and the wireless transmitter / receiver 16 are supplied with battery power from the secondary battery 17. The control unit 11 and the storage unit 14 are also supplied with battery power from a secondary battery 17.
[0010] The multiple smoke detectors 1 connected to the sensing line 2 perform smoke detection operations by illuminating an LED at regular intervals in the smoke detection section 12 using power supplied from the sensing line 2. A secondary battery 17 formed by a capacitor provided in the smoke detector 1 is connected to the sensing line 2 via a resistor 18 and is charged. The resistor 18 has a large resistance value that causes almost no voltage drop on the sensing line 2, even when all the smoke detectors 1 connected to the sensing line 2 are charging the secondary battery 17.
[0011] Smoke is detected as follows. In the smoke detector 12, an LED emits light intermittently. When there is smoke, the light from the LED is scattered by the smoke, generating scattered light, which is then captured. When the scattered light is captured, a fire signal is sent from the controller 11 and the sensor line transmitter / receiver 15 via the sensor line 2 to the fire receiver 3. In this way, smoke is detected in the same manner as in the conventional method.
[0012] On the other hand, carbon dioxide detection is performed as follows. A flow diagram relating to gas detection is shown in Fig. 3. The gas detection operation is performed periodically at intervals longer than the time interval required for the secondary battery 17 to go from an empty state to being fully charged via the resistor 18. When the control unit 11 determines that it is time to detect gas (step S1), the carbon dioxide concentration is detected by gas detection by the gas detection unit 13 (step S2), and wireless transmission is performed from the wireless transceiver unit 16. By performing the gas detection operation using the battery power of the secondary battery 17, the voltage of the sensing line 2 does not drop during the smoke detection operation and the transmission of detection information via the sensing line 2, including other smoke detectors 1, and thus there is no effect on smoke detection, etc.
[0013] The carbon dioxide concentration detected by the gas detection unit 13 is transmitted from the wireless transmission / reception unit 16 by the control unit 11 (step S3). The gas detection information, which is a wireless signal to be transmitted, includes an ID code unique to the smoke detector 1 that transmits the information together with the carbon dioxide gas concentration information. The wireless gas detection information transmitted from the smoke detector 1 in the room A in FIG. 1 is received by the wireless transmission / reception unit 16 of the smoke detector 1 in the room B and transferred to the smoke detector 1 in the room C. The gas detection information wirelessly transferred by the wireless transmission / reception unit 16 of the smoke detector 1 in the room C is received by the wireless repeater 4 (step S4). In this way, the gas detection information of the smoke detector 1 is wirelessly transferred by the other smoke detectors 1 and is reliably transmitted to the wireless repeater 4 even by low-power short-distance wireless. The gas detection information received by the wireless repeater 4 is sent to the server 6 via the Internet 5 (step S5).
[0014] The server 6 judges whether or not to issue a ventilation warning based on the transition of the gas concentration information in the gas detection information (step S6). If it is judged that a ventilation warning should be issued, the ventilation warning information is sent to the smartphone 8. The server 6 stores the room name corresponding to the ID code unique to the smoke detector 1. The ventilation warning information includes the room name (room A) for which a ventilation warning is issued. The ventilation warning information is sent to the communication carrier 7 via the Internet 5 (step S7). Then, it is sent wirelessly to the smartphone 8 (step S8). The smartphone 8 issues a ventilation warning for room A by voice and display (step S9). The smartphone 8 can issue the ventilation warning because the server 6 stores the identification information of the smartphone 8 that issues the ventilation warning. When the gas concentration information is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is possible to issue a ventilation warning on multiple smartphones 8.
[0015] The increase in the carbon dioxide concentration in the room can be confirmed on the smartphone 8 in this way, but there are two ways to confirm the carbon dioxide concentration, either of which is acceptable. The first method is for a person in the room to operate the smartphone 8 to access the server 6 and confirm the carbon dioxide concentration, and the second method is for the server 6 to notify the registered smartphone 8 of the increase in carbon dioxide when the carbon dioxide concentration on the server 6 side reaches or exceeds a certain value.
[0016] In the first embodiment, information on fire detection by the smoke detector 12 is sent to the fire receiver 3 via the detector line 2. Gas concentration information from the gas detector 13 is transferred wirelessly and then sent from the wireless repeater 4 to the server 6 via the Internet 5, and the server 6 determines whether to issue a ventilation warning. If a ventilation warning is to be issued, ventilation warning information is sent from the Internet 5 to the smartphone 8 via the communication carrier 7, and the ventilation warning is issued on the smartphone 8.
[0017] The advantage of providing a gas detection unit in a fire detector such as a smoke detector as in this embodiment will be mentioned. Generally, fire detectors are often installed in the center of a room. Therefore, providing a gas detection unit in a fire detector located in a position where the entire room can be monitored is preferable in terms of monitoring gas in the room compared to a case where a separate gas detection unit 13 is provided. In addition, the room in which the smoke detector is installed can be monitored for manned and unmanned based on the carbon dioxide information of the gas detection unit 13, and can be used for crime prevention services. In addition, when there is manned, that is, when the carbon dioxide information is high, the fire threshold may be changed to a higher value to make the sensitivity low when the fire receiver judges a fire. In this case, the gas detection concentration information of the server 6 may be transmitted to the fire receiver 3, or the fire receiver 3 may be configured to access the server 6 when receiving a fire signal and refer to the gas detection information in the room from which the fire signal was sent.
[0018] Furthermore, as in the embodiment, fire information is communicated via wired communication, and only gas information is transmitted wirelessly, and the fire receiver 3 does not process carbon dioxide detection information, so it is possible to retrofit a gas detection function to an existing fire alarm system without affecting the fire alarm system in any way. EXAMPLES
[0019] On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the output of the fire receiver 3 is also sent to the server 6. Then, based on the transition of the carbon dioxide gas concentration information, the server 6 determines whether or not there is a high possibility of a false alarm, and generates information related to the fire. The determination result, which is information related to the fire, can be sent to the smartphone 8 via the Internet 5 and the communication carrier 7, and can be notified as information related to the fire. Other points are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0020] In addition, in a fire alarm system installed in a small facility, the wireless repeater 4 may directly transmit the information wirelessly or wired to the smartphone 8 or an alarm device (not shown) to issue a ventilation warning or the like. In this case, the smartphone 8 or alarm device that has received the gas detection information may determine whether or not to issue a ventilation warning. Also, the smoke detector 1 may be configured to issue gas detection information when the carbon dioxide concentration reaches or exceeds the warning concentration, and the smartphone 8 or alarm device may issue a ventilation warning. EXAMPLES
[0021] In the first embodiment, the sensing line 2 is connected to a secondary battery 17 via a large resistor 18, and battery power supplied from the secondary battery 17 is used for gas detection, etc., to prevent voltage drops on the sensing line 2. In the third embodiment, the secondary battery 17 and resistor 18 are not used. In the third embodiment, a sensing line measurement unit (not shown) provided in each smoke detector 1 measures the voltage of the sensing line 2 and transmits it to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 then captures the timing of periodic voltage drops due to power usage by the multiple smoke detectors 1 connected to the sensing line 2, and executes the timing when the voltage does not drop as the timing for gas detection and wireless transmission. Other points are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0022] <Other embodiments> In each of the above embodiments, gas detection and wireless transmission are performed using power from the sensing line 2. However, a power supply line for gas detection and wireless transmission may be provided. Also, each smoke detector may be provided with a battery for gas detection and wireless transmission. In each of the above embodiments, the smoke detector 1, which is a fire detector, transmits a fire signal to the fire receiver 3 via the sensing line 2. However, like an R-type fire detector, it may be used in a fire alarm system that transmits data on values such as smoke concentration and detected heat as fire information to the fire receiver via the sensing line, and the fire receiver judges whether or not there is a fire. In each of the above embodiments, carbon dioxide is detected by the gas detection unit 13, but other gases such as carbon monoxide may be detected. Also, the gas concentration may be detected and transmitted to determine whether to issue a warning, but the gas detection unit may detect that the gas concentration is equal to or higher than a certain value, transmit the result, and issue a warning. In each of the above embodiments, the fire receiver 3 determines whether a fire has occurred in the room based on fire information from the smoke detector, but the fire determination may also be made taking into account carbon dioxide information from the gas detection unit 13.
[0023] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined by utilizing each other's technologies as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in the purpose, configuration, etc. [Explanation of symbols]
[0024] 1 smoke detector, 11 Control section, 12 smoke detector, 13 Gas detection unit, 14 storage section, 15 sensing line transceiver unit, 16 Radio transmitter / receiver unit, 17 Secondary battery, 18 Resistance, 2 sensing wires, 3 Fire alarm receiver, 4 radio repeaters, 5. Internet, 6 servers, 7 Telecommunications carriers, 8. Smartphones
Claims
1. In a fire alarm system equipped with a fire detector that detects a fire and a fire receiver that receives a fire signal or fire information from the fire detector via a sensing line and issues a fire alarm, The fire detector is provided with a gas detection unit that detects gas and a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits gas detection information by the gas detection unit, a wireless repeater for wirelessly receiving the gas detection information from the wireless transmitter.
2. The fire alarm system according to claim 1, characterized in that information regarding a fire is generated from the fire signal or the fire information transmitted via the sensing line and the gas detection information transmitted via the wireless repeater.
3. 3. The fire alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the gas is carbon dioxide.
4. 4. The fire alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission unit transmits an ID code unique to the fire detector.
5. 5. The fire alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the gas detection information is gas concentration information indicating a concentration of the gas.
6. Supplying power to the fire detector through the sensing line; A fire alarm system as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the gas detection unit detects the gas and the wireless transmission unit wirelessly transmits the gas detection information using battery power from a secondary battery charged from the power source.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Disaster prevention monitoring equipment and composite type alarm
JP2002279547A
Fire alarm system
JP2004265148A
Alarm
JP2010027071A
Warning system
JP2017078922A
Fire alarm system
JP2019179351A