Fire detector

Abstract

To make it possible to identify a type of a fire sensor without damaging appearance thereof.SOLUTION: According to a fire sensor comprising an operation pilot lamp lighting or flickering during fire detection, shape patterns each for identifying a type of the fire sensor is arranged on a surface of a transparent member that becomes a display part of the operation pilot lamp, and the shape patterns are made to be formed in the same system color as that of appearance of the fire sensor. Further, the detection part is provided at a central part of a housing of the fire sensor, and the shape patterns are made to be formed at positions facing each other so as to sandwich the detection part of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire detector that detects abnormalities such as heat and smoke during a fire, and particularly relates to a technology that is effective when it is desired to identify the types of heat detectors and smoke detectors.

Background Art

[0002] Various types of fire detectors are provided, such as heat detectors using heat sensing elements such as thermistors, smoke detectors equipped with photoelectric elements that detect smoke generated by a fire, and infrared detectors equipped with infrared sensors that detect infrared rays emitted from a flame. Furthermore, even among fire detectors of the same type with the same basic structure, there are those with different sensitivities and those with different types such as waterproof and non-waterproof types. Therefore, when installing a fire detector in a building, it is necessary to confirm the type of the fire detector before installation. Therefore, conventionally, a type identification seal is attached to the surface of the housing of the fire detector, or the color of the insect screen is changed to enable identification as in the invention described in Patent Document 1. In addition, many fire detectors have a white-based housing (case) so as not to be conspicuous in the non-alarm state.

[0003] On the other hand, a fire detector is provided with an operation indicator light that lights up or blinks during operation confirmation at the time of fire detection or inspection, etc. The operation indicator light is required to have good visibility, for example, when installed on the ceiling surface. In addition, a fire detector using a thermistor generally has a thermistor as a heat sensing element disposed at the center of a dome-shaped housing, and the housing is attached to the ceiling surface of a building so that the thermistor faces downward to detect the occurrence of a fire. A window portion is provided in a part of the fire detector body (housing), and the light emission display of the operation indicator light can be visually recognized through the window (for example, Patent Document 2). There is also a configuration in which the head of a bullet-shaped LED (light emitting diode) is directly exposed on the surface of the fire detector body (for example, FIG. 9 of Patent Document 3).

Prior Art Documents

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 02-123690 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-175860 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-180273 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] As described above, if type identification stickers that do not take the color of the casing into consideration are attached to the casing of a fire detector, or if the color of the insect screen is changed, these will stand out when installed on a ceiling or other surface because their colors are different from the surface of the casing, thus spoiling the appearance (disrupting the harmony of the appearance). Furthermore, since the ceiling surface where fire detectors are installed is often white or off-white, installing fire detectors with a white base color can make them less conspicuous. However, many conventional fire detectors use black thermistors, and these thermistors are positioned facing downwards in the center of the housing. A protector is provided to shield them, and the protector has radial fins around the thermistor to better capture hot airflow. As a result, even if the fire detector body itself is inconspicuous, the black thermistor stands out, creating a problem where the fire detector does not blend in with the surrounding colors.

[0006] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to enable the identification of fire detector types without compromising their appearance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the present invention A fire detector equipped with an operation indicator light that lights up or flashes when a fire is detected, Type identification of the aforementioned fire detector Shape patterns for , the light-transmitting member of the operation indicator light Formed on the surface with irregularities That is what happened.

[0008] According to the fire detector configured as described above, A shape pattern for type identification is formed on the operation indicator light, In fire detectors equipped with an operation indicator light, it is no longer necessary to provide a type identification unit on the surface of the detector housing, making it possible to identify the type of fire detector without compromising its appearance.

[0009] Ideally, The device is equipped with an outer cover, and the outer cover has multiple windows into which the protrusions of the shape pattern formed by the uneven surface of the light-transmitting member can be fitted. I will try to do so. Furthermore, preferably, The outer cover is provided with an opening through which at least a portion of the operation indicator light is exposed, and the plurality of windows are formed near the opening in the outer cover. I will try to do so.

[0010] Furthermore, the aforementioned shape pattern may be formed in the same color scheme as the exterior of the fire detector. This makes it possible to display the type of fire detector on the device without causing any environmental disruption. Furthermore, a detection unit is provided in the center of the housing of the fire detector. The aforementioned shape patterns may be configured to be formed at positions on either side of the detection unit of the housing. This configuration allows for the provision of multiple shape patterns for identifying the type of fire detector, making it easier to check the shape pattern and resulting in a well-balanced design.

[0011] Alternatively, the detection unit is provided in the center of the housing of the fire detector. The housing is provided with a protector section having a plurality of legs erected on the surface of the housing and covering the detection section. The aforementioned shape pattern is arranged between the multiple leg portions.

[0012] Furthermore, a detection unit is provided in the center of the housing of the fire detector. The shape pattern may be arranged on the surface of the light-transmitting member provided on the outside of the detection unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the housing is provided with a protector section having legs erected on the surface of the housing and covering the detection section. The shape pattern is disposed on the surface of the light-transmissive member provided outside the detection unit including on the extension of the leg portion.

[0014] Also, preferably, the size of the light-transmissive member is made larger than the size of the shape pattern.

Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the fire detector according to the present invention , outside There is an effect that the type of the fire detector can be identified without impairing the appearance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] An embodiment when the present invention is applied to a heat detector is shown, (A) is a front cross-sectional view, and (B) is a perspective view. [Figure 2] A configuration example of the inner cover constituting the heat detector of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is shown, (A) is a front cross-sectional view, and (B) is a bottom view. [Figure 3] (A) is a view showing a region covered when the outer cover is placed on the inner cover in the inner cover of FIG. 2, and (B) is a view showing an example of a shape pattern for type identification provided in the light emitting portion. [Figure 4] It is a front cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the heat detector of the embodiment of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] Another configuration example of the inner cover constituting the heat detector of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is shown, (A) is a front cross-sectional view, and (B) is a bottom view. [Figure 6] It is a front cross-sectional view showing still another configuration example of the inner cover constituting the heat detector of the embodiment of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] Another configuration example of the inner cover and the protector portion is shown, (A) is a front cross-sectional view, and (B) is a bottom view. [Figure 8] An embodiment when the present invention is applied to a smoke detector is shown, (A) is a front view, and (B) is a perspective view. [Figure 9]These are examples of modifications of the present invention, where (A) is a bottom view showing a modified example applied to a heat detector, and (B) is a perspective view showing a modified example applied to a smoke detector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the heat detector according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1(A) shows a front cross-sectional view of the heat detector according to the embodiment, and Figure 1(B) shows a perspective view of the heat detector according to the embodiment. The heat detector 10 of this embodiment is a detector that can detect a fire by using a thermistor as a heat sensing element and detecting the change in electrical resistance that occurs when air heated by the heat generated in a fire comes into contact with the thermistor, and is configured to be installed and used on the ceiling surface of a building or the like.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, the heat detector 10 of this embodiment comprises a bottomed cylindrical main body case 11 that has a housing recess 11A for housing a heat-sensing component and can be coupled to a base member attached to the ceiling surface of a building, an outer cover 12 that has a protector portion in the center that covers the tip of the thermistor and covers the entire opening side of the main body case 11, and a decorative cover 13 that covers the peripheral edge of the outer cover 12 while concealing mounting screws and wiring on the ceiling surface, and the main body case 11 and the outer cover 12 form a housing with a housing space inside.

[0019] Furthermore, the heat detector 10 of this embodiment includes a circuit board 14 housed in a housing recess 11A of the main body case 11, a thermistor 15 mounted on the circuit board 14, and an inner cover 16 having a cylindrical portion 16a having an insertion hole through which the thermistor 15 can be inserted and whose upper end is in contact with the surface of the circuit board 14, a mortar-shaped portion 16b that widens downward from the cylindrical portion 16a, and a flange portion 16c provided at the lower end of the mortar-shaped portion 16b.

[0020] The circuit board 14 described above is made up of a printed wiring board on which electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, and ICs (semiconductor integrated circuits) that constitute an electronic circuit for fire detection are mounted on the top and bottom surfaces. The tips of the lead terminals of the thermistor 15 penetrate the circuit board 14 and protrude from the opposite side, approximately in the center of the circuit board 14, and are connected by flow soldering or the like. Furthermore, in the heat detector of this embodiment, the outer cover 12 and decorative cover 13 are made of white resin, and the thermistor 15 is made of a white epoxy resin or the like paint applied to its surface. When the color of the housing and the color of the thermistor coating are the same, the color should be one that easily reflects the light emitted by the indicator lamp.

[0021] On the other hand, the outer cover 12 has a circular opening 12A in its center, which at least one part of which abuts (overlaps and abuts) the flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16, and a ring-shaped head portion 12B is provided below the inner cover 16, and the thermistor 15 is arranged so that the head of the thermistor 15 reaches near the head portion 12B. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1(B), multiple (for example, six) partition walls 12C are formed radially between the ring-shaped head portion 12B and the lower wall of the outer cover 12, and openings are provided between these partition walls 12C that function as inlets, allowing outside air to flow into the case. The head portion 12B and the partition walls 12C constitute the protector portion. Here, the partition walls 12C may also be plate-shaped.

[0022] Furthermore, in the heat detector of this embodiment, the inner cover 16 having a mortar-shaped portion 16b is made of a light-transmitting material such as polycarbonate resin, and an LED (light-emitting diode) 17 for indicating the operating status is mounted at a position corresponding to the flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16. This LED 17 emits light of a different color (for example, red) than the housing. A light-guiding portion 16e, which is a recess, is provided on the back surface of the flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16, in the portion facing the LED 17.

[0023] Furthermore, the flange portion 16c is provided with a light reflecting portion 16f on the side opposite to the light guide portion 16e (the bottom surface in the diagram). The light reflecting portion 16f is composed of a recess (groove) whose cross-section forms a V shape when viewed from the side. The light from the LED 17 that enters from the light guide portion 16e is reflected by the light reflecting portion 16f and guided from the flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16 to the entire inner cover 16, and the light is emitted from the inner cover 16, indicating that the sensor is operating. The light emitted from the inner cover 16 is emitted outward from between the radially arranged partition walls 12C, so it can be seen from all directions in 360 degrees, resulting in good visibility of the operation indicator light. Note that the LED 17 is not limited to one, and there may be two or more.

[0024] Furthermore, in the heat detector of this embodiment, the light emitted from the mortar-shaped portion 16b and flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16 strikes the surface of the central white thermistor 15 and is reflected, so that the thermistor 15 can also function as a display unit, thereby increasing the area of ​​the apparent light display and widening the direction in which it can be seen. Specifically, if the thermistor 15 is a common black color, the thermistor 15 will obscure a portion of the mortar-shaped portion 16b of the inner cover 16, and the light from the indicator lamp that hits the thermistor 15 will be absorbed, reducing the amount of light. However, if the surface of the thermistor 15 is made of a color that easily reflects the light emitted from the indicator lamp, such as white, the light emitted from the mortar-shaped portion 16b (for example, red) will hit the surface of the thermistor 15 and be reflected, thus avoiding a reduction in the amount of light and making the illuminated state easier to see. It is preferable that the surface of the thermistor 15 have a matte finish (a finish that causes diffuse reflection) rather than a glossy finish. This will cause the light from the mortar-shaped portion 16b and the flange portion 16c to be diffusely reflected by the surface of the thermistor 15, making the illuminated state even easier to see.

[0025] Furthermore, the heat detector of this embodiment employs a structure in which resin 19 is filled inside the cylindrical portion 16a of the inner cover 16. This allows high-pressure air to enter the housing (the circuit board storage space inside the main body case 11) through holes formed in the ceiling surface for passing wiring, etc., and this high-pressure air flows out from the gap between the cylindrical portion 16a of the inner cover 16 and the thermistor 15, creating a cylindrical airflow layer around the thermistor 15. This airflow prevents the inflow of hot air into the thermistor 15 from being obstructed, prevents water from adhering to the thermistor 15, and prevents dust from accumulating, which can degrade the heat sensing function. In addition, by using a white resin 19 for filling, the color of the inside of the cylindrical portion 16a (for example, the color of the circuit board surface) is covered by the resin 19 when it is visible from the outside. Note that the resin 19 does not necessarily have to be white, and a white coating may be formed on the surface of the resin after filling.

[0026] Next, the details of the inner cover 16 constituting the heat detector of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 will be described using Figures 2 and 3. In Figure 2, (A) is a cross-sectional view of the inner cover 16, (B) is a bottom view of the inner cover 16, Figure 3(A) is a bottom view showing the area covered when the outer cover 12 is placed over the inner cover 16, and Figure 3(B) is a diagram showing an example of a shape pattern for type identification provided on the light emission part. The inner cover 16 is made of a light-transmitting material, and a concave light guide portion 16e is formed on the back surface of the flange portion 16c. An LED 17 is mounted on the circuit board 14 so as to face this light guide portion 16e. In addition, a light reflecting portion 16f, which is a V-groove, is provided on the surface of the flange portion 16c opposite the light guide portion 16e. Light emitted from the LED 17 is incident on the light guide portion 16e, reflected by the light reflecting portion 16f, and guided to the entire flange portion 16c.

[0027] Furthermore, a white coating 18 is formed on the surface (bottom surface in Figure 2) of the mortar-shaped portion 16b of the inner cover 16 by applying white paint, allowing light to be emitted from the flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16 to indicate that the sensor is in operation. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3(A), which represents the area covered when the outer cover 12 is placed over the inner cover 16, the annular circular area 16c-1 on the outside of the flange portion 16c is the area covered by the outer cover 12, and in the assembled state, this is the area from which no light is emitted outside the housing. On the other hand, the annular circular area 16c-2 on the inside of the flange portion 16c is the area not covered by the outer cover, and in the assembled state, this is the actual light-emitting area. This inner area 16c-2 is the area that indicates the type, which will be described later. In Figure 3(A), six partition walls 12C are arranged radially from the center of the circle at approximately 60-degree intervals, crossing the flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16. The spaces between each partition wall 12C are designated as shape pattern formation regions #1 to #6. Figure 3(A) shows an example with six partitions, but this is not the only example; regions indicating different types can be defined with a number of partitions other than six.

[0028] In each of the above areas #1 to #6, the type of heat detector can be identified by applying paint of the same color as the paint applied to the mortar-shaped part, using different shape patterns for each type of heat detector. Examples of types are as follows: (a) Differential type or fixed temperature type? (b) Type 1, Type 2, or Special Type, (c) Waterproof or not waterproof? To create distinct shape patterns for each category, an example of a definition is shown below. (definition) Differential: 1 line / Constant temperature: 2 lines * (Number of lines) Type 1: 1 area, / Type 2: 2 consecutive areas, / Special Type: 3 consecutive areas * (How to use consecutive areas) Waterproof: Single, Non-waterproof: Double (twice the diagonal) * (Whether to use one side of the area or both sides)

[0029] Figure 3(A) shows, as an example, the method of notating the type for areas #1 to #6 when the sensor is [constant temperature / waterproof / special type]. In this case, since the type is constant temperature, it will be "two lines", since it is a special type it will be "three continuous areas", and since the function is waterproof it will be "single", and in this example the form in which two lines of white paint will be applied to each of the areas #1 to #3. Examples of coating shape patterns are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. Of these, Table 1 shows the relationship between the type of fixed-temperature sensor and the shape pattern, and Table 2 shows the relationship between the type of differential-type sensor and the shape pattern.

[0030] [Table 1] [Table 2]

[0031] In addition to the types shown above, there are also shape patterns such as "R-type compatible / P-type compatible" and "with / without automatic testing function." However, if the number of shape patterns representing the type on the sensor increases, it is possible to distinguish between the types by, for example, increasing the number of lines painted in each area to three, four, etc. Furthermore, while we explained an example of applying paint to cut the ring along a radial line as a way to increase the number of shape patterns that can be displayed on the sensor, it is also possible to distinguish between types by making the rings double or triple in number, like tree rings. Combining ring division and ring doubling can further increase the number of distinguishable types.

[0032] Furthermore, the area of ​​the white paint applied to each region #1 to #6 of the light-emitting section 20 is set to a size that does not reduce the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting section 20 too much, and that allows the shape pattern to be visually distinguished. As for the shape pattern applied to the light-emitting section 20, the shape patterns shown in Figure 3(B) are possible. The upper row shows the shape pattern of lines crossing the ring used in the above embodiment, with one line, two lines, three lines, and four lines from left to right. The lower row shows an example of a shape pattern suitable when the annular light-emitting section is made into a double ring like tree rings, and shows the shape pattern obtained by dividing the example shown in the upper row into upper and lower sections. Furthermore, this invention makes it easy to identify the type of detector by processing a shape pattern onto a ring-shaped structure (region) and by making the color of the detector body and the ring-shaped structure (ring indicator light) different. Therefore, the number of partitions (fins) on the protector and the way the regions are divided can be applied as appropriate.

[0033] Furthermore, Figure 9(A) shows a plan view of a modified heat sensor of the above embodiment. In this modified example, the method for forming the shape pattern is explained when the circular region 16c-2 inside the flange portion 16c on the inside of the outer cover 12 is divided by a partition wall 12C into regions #1 to #6. In Figure 9(A) and Figure 3(A), the notation of each region is reversed left to right, but Figure 3(A) is viewed from the bottom, while Figure 9(A) is viewed from the top, and the positions of the same regions are reversed left to right. In this modified example, the method for forming the shape pattern in the circular region 16c-2 inside the flange portion 16c is to integrally mold a projection corresponding to the formation pattern with the outer cover 12 at a position (edge) in contact with the circular region 16c-2 inside the flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16 of the outer cover 12, so as to project inward from the edge side of the outer cover 12. By stacking the outer cover 12 on top of the inner cover 16 and assembling them, a shape pattern is created that covers (divides) a part of the circular region 16c-2 inside the flange portion 16c.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(A), the inner cover 16 of this embodiment is provided with three locking pieces 16d that protrude vertically upward from the mortar-shaped portion 16b (Figure 2 shows one of the three locking pieces 16d). A claw portion is formed at the tip of each locking piece 16d, and the inner cover 16 is connected to the circuit board 14 by engaging this claw portion with an engagement hole 14a formed in the circuit board 14. In this example, three locking pieces have been described, but there is no particular problem in using two locking pieces arranged diagonally to engage with the engagement hole.

[0035] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the inner cover 16 may have a shape in which the cylindrical portion 16a is elongated, the mortar-shaped portion 16b is eliminated, and the flange portion 16c is directly connected to the cylindrical portion 16a. Additionally, a white resist or insulating paint may be applied to the surface (bottom surface in Figure 4) of the circuit board 14, or silk-screen printing may be applied. Similarly, the surface of the mounted components 20 may be painted white. If the transparency of the light-transmitting material of the inner cover 16 is high, the circuit board 14 and mounted components 21 may be visible through the inner cover 16, causing the color of the circuit board surface to show through the opening in the outer cover 12, or the opening to appear dark. However, by coloring the surfaces of the circuit board 14 and mounted components 21 white, the opening in the outer cover 12 can be made brighter, making the entire sensor appear to be uniformly white.

[0036] Next, other configuration examples of the inner cover 16 will be described using Figures 5 to 7. In this example, the inner cover 16 in Figure 5 has a coating 18 formed by applying white paint to the surface of the mortar-shaped portion 16b excluding the outer periphery and the flange portion 16c. A ring-shaped light-emitting portion 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the surface of the mortar-shaped portion 16b, and this light-emitting portion 20 is used as a type identification region. The method for forming the shape pattern for type determination in the type identification region of this light-emitting portion 20 may be the same as in the above embodiment. In this embodiment, the light from the LED incident from the cylindrical light guide portion 16e is reflected by the light reflecting portion 16f and spreads horizontally along the flange portion 16c, and is emitted from the annular portion of the outer edge of the surface of the mortar-shaped portion 16b where the coating 18 is not present. The light reflecting portion 16f is formed as a groove with a V-shaped cross-section when viewed from the direction of arrow C in Figure 5(B).

[0037] In the sensor to which this embodiment is applied, the light emitted from the annular portion on the outer edge of the surface of the mortar-shaped portion 16b, where the coating 18 is not present, spreads outward through the gaps in the pillars of the protector portion, and some of it is reflected off the surface of the white thermistor 15. This makes it easier to see the illumination status of the operation indicator light. The white coating 18 may be formed on the back surface of the mortar-shaped portion 16b instead of the front surface, or a white film may be attached instead of applying paint. Alternatively, the white coating 18 may be formed on both the front and back surfaces of the mortar-shaped portion 16b. In this case, the area (range) from which light is emitted from the inner cover 16 is narrowed, and sufficient light intensity can be obtained for use as an indicator light. Furthermore, if a highly transparent material is used for the inner cover, the back surface of the light-emitting element may be micro-machined with numerous fine linear grooves.

[0038] In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the inner cover 16 does not have a coating on the entire surface of the flange portion 16c, but a coating 18 is formed by applying white paint to the entire surface of the mortar-shaped portion 16b, and a local stepped portion 16g is provided on the inner peripheral edge of the flange portion 16c, and paint is applied to the surface of this stepped portion 16g, thereby forming different shape patterns on the light emitting portion 20 for each type of heat detector. The light reflecting portion 16f is formed to form a V shape when viewed from the side so as to reflect light from the light guiding portion 16e along the flange portion 16c. Therefore, the bottom view of the inner cover 16 shown in Figure 6 is the same as that in Figure 2(B). By providing the stepped portion 16g in this way, it is possible to avoid the mistake of accidentally applying paint outside the designated area when applying paint to the light-emitting portion 20 to form different shape patterns for each type of heat detector.

[0039] Figures 7(A) and 7(B) show modified versions of the heat detector of the above embodiment. Of these, Figure 7(A) is a cross-sectional diagram of the inner cover 16, and Figure 7(B) is a view from below of the central protector portion of the outer cover 12. Incidentally, Figure 7(A) shows a cross-section along line AA in Figure 7(B).

[0040] As shown in Figure 7(A), the heat sensor in this modified form has a flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16 that protrudes outward, and nearly rectangular trapezoidal convex portions 16h are formed on the surface (bottom surface in the figure) of the flange portion 16c at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7(B), the outer cover 12 has a plurality of windows 12f arranged circumferentially, which can be fitted into the convex portion 16h. The back surface of the convex portion 16h may be micro-machined with a number of thin linear grooves. Note that the shape of the convex portion 16h is not limited to a trapezoid (pseudo-rectangle), and any shape such as a rhombus, circle, or ellipse can be adopted. Furthermore, in this modified heat detector, the type of detector can be identified by changing the formation pattern of the convex portion 16h according to the type of detector. For the formation pattern, you can use the example shape pattern shown in Figure 2, but you can also use a shape pattern defined elsewhere.

[0041] Although the present invention has been described above based on embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiments, the light emission section 20 is used as a type identification area and is coated with white paint, but paint of a color other than white may be applied. A preferred example is to apply a coating to the sensor surface using a paint of a similar color that easily reflects the light of the indicator light (red, blue, green, yellow, etc.). Furthermore, although the above embodiment described the surface of the thermistor 15 as being white, the present invention may also be applied to heat detectors using thermistors whose surfaces are not white.

[0042] Furthermore, although the above embodiment shows an example of the shape of the inner cover 16 when a bullet-shaped LED is used as the light-emitting element of the operation indicator light, it is also possible to use a surface-mountable thin LED chip instead of a bullet-shaped LED. In that case, as shown in Figure 7(A), a cylindrical light guide portion 16e may be provided on the flange portion 16c of the inner cover 16, with its end face facing the LED chip. Furthermore, although the above embodiment described an application to a heat detector having a protector section to protect the thermistor 15, the present invention can also be applied to all types of detectors that do not have a protector section.

[0043] Next, an example of a smoke detector will be described with reference to Figures 8(A), (B) and 9(B). Of these, Figure 8(A) is a plan view of the smoke detector, (B) is a perspective view of the smoke detector, and Figure 9(B) is a perspective view of a modified smoke detector. As shown in Figure 8(A), the smoke detector is installed with its mounting surface facing upwards and its smoke inlet facing downwards (towards the open space). In this embodiment, an annular indicator light is installed surrounding the smoke inlet.

[0044] As shown in Figure 8(B), the smoke inlet of the smoke detector is located between the canopy 12B covering the dark box and the four support pillars 12C supporting the canopy 12B, and an annular operating indicator light (16c-2) is positioned outside of this, on the base side of the support pillars 12C (opposite the canopy). In the figure, support pillars 1 (12C-1) and 2 (12C-2) are visible, and support pillars 3 and 4 are hidden on the back side, but we will explain by assuming they are arranged in order clockwise from support pillar 1, support pillar 2, support pillar 3, and support pillar 4. We will explain using the example where the area to the right of support pillar 4 and the left of support pillar 1 is designated as region 1 (#1), the area to the right of support pillar 1 and the left of support pillar 2 is designated as region 2 (#2), the area to the right of support pillar 2 and the left of support pillar 3 is designated as region 3 (#3), and the area to the right of support pillar 3 and the left of support pillar 4 is designated as region 4 (#4).

[0045] Table 3 shows an example of the definition used when the ring-shaped indicator light area adjacent to each area #1-#4 is used for determining the type of smoke detector. [Table 3]

[0046] As shown in Table 3, the types of smoke detectors are defined corresponding to each region, and according to these definitions, shape patterns for type identification are formed in the corresponding regions (#1-#4) of the annular indicator light. For example, if there are three types of smoke detectors (Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3), Type 1 is represented by one line, Type 2 by two lines, and Type 3 by three lines, and the four regions corresponding to one of the types are described below as "shape patterns". This configuration (formation) makes it possible to identify the type. Figure 8(B) shows the case of Type 3 smoke detectors, and shows an example in which a three-line shape pattern is formed in regions 1 (#1) and 3 (#3). In this example, shape patterns are applied to two opposing regions considering ease of confirmation and balance of the shape patterns. Furthermore, while Table 3 shows two types of smoke detectors without a shape pattern, the efficiency of assigning shape patterns can be improved by omitting the shape pattern for the types that are used in larger quantities.

[0047] Furthermore, to represent yet another type, it is possible to represent a different type by attaching a shape pattern to the position corresponding to the support (fin) of the area 16c-2 which serves as the operation indicator light. A specific example is shown in Table 4 below. [Table 4]

[0048] Table 4 shows that there are three other types of smoke detectors: Type P without test function, Type P with test function, and Type R (with test function). If there is no automatic test function, no shape pattern is formed at the support column (fin) position. If there is a test function in Type P, a shape pattern is formed at the support column (fin) position of the annular operation indicator light corresponding to support column 1 and support column 3. In the case of Type R, a shape pattern is formed at the support column (fin) position of the annular operation indicator light corresponding to all support columns (Figure 8(B)). As described in another embodiment, the shape pattern is formed in a color that is the same as or similar to the color of the sensor's exterior, and this can be achieved by applying paint, attaching a sticker, etc. Even when the ring-shaped indicator light is positioned inside the support column, it is possible to form a shape pattern according to the definitions shown in Tables 3 and 4, and type determination can be made in the same way as described above.

[0049] The modified example shown in Figure 9(B) is similar to that in Figure 8(B), representing three types of smoke detectors with automatic testing functions, and shows an example of shape pattern formation when a cover member (decorative member) is attached to the outside after the installation of the annular indicator light. By integrally molding a projection that partially covers the annular indicator light on the outside of the cover member, and covering the annular indicator light cover with the formed projection, a shape pattern can be formed on the annular indicator light according to the standards described in the above embodiment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 10 Fire detector 11 Main unit case 12 Outer cover 13 Makeup cover 14 Circuit boards 15. Thermistor (heat sensing element) 16 Inner cover 16a Cylindrical section 16b Mortar-shaped section 16c Tsubabe 16d Locking piece 16e Light guiding part 16f Reflector 17 LEDs (light-emitting elements) 18 Coating 19 Filling resin 20 Light-emitting section

Claims

1. A fire detector equipped with an operation indicator light that lights up or flashes when a fire is detected, A fire detector characterized in that a shape pattern for identifying the type of fire detector is formed by irregularities on the surface of the translucent member of the operation indicator light.

2. The fire detector according to Claim 1, further comprising an outer cover, wherein the outer cover has a plurality of windows into which the protrusions of the shape pattern formed by irregularities on the surface of the light-transmitting member can be fitted.

3. The outer cover is provided with an opening through which at least a portion of the operation indicator light is exposed. The fire detector according to claim 2, characterized in that the plurality of windows are formed near the opening of the outer cover.

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