Fire Safety Circuit Testing Without Triggering Protection Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire safety systems face challenges in commissioning, maintenance, or regulatory inspection without activating or actuating fire protection devices, which disrupts normal activities and requires manual reengagement of devices like fire doors.
Innovation Solution
A testing system and method for fire safety system activation electrical circuits that allows testing the correct change of state of bi-state ECAs without activating connected fire protection devices, using a driver circuit to maintain voltage differences within specific ranges to keep devices deactivated during testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the AEC is tested by activating the bi-state ECA to supply voltage to the FPD, then the correct functioning of the AEC can be verified, but the FPD is activated which disrupts normal activities and requires manual reengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a testing device as an intermediary component that couples between the AEC and the FPD. This testing device includes a driver circuit that can supply test voltage to the bi-state ECA under test while simultaneously controlling the voltage supplied to the FPD to remain within a range that prevents activation. The intermediary testing device thus enables verification of AEC functioning without causing FPD activation and subsequent disruption of normal activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by maintaining the FPD supply voltage within a specific range that prevents activation while still allowing the bi-state ECA to be tested. The driver circuit dynamically adjusts voltage parameters to keep the FPD in a non-activated state during testing, thereby verifying AEC functionality without triggering FPD activation and the need for manual reengagement.
2Measurement precision
If the bi-state ECA is activated during testing to verify its correct change of state, then the AEC functionality is confirmed, but the voltage supplied to the FPD may exceed activation threshold causing device activation
Solution Approach 1:
The testing device serves as an intermediary that decouples the testing of the bi-state ECA from the FPD activation. The driver circuit within the testing device monitors and controls the FPD supply voltage to ensure it remains below the activation threshold even when the bi-state ECA is activated during testing. This intermediary control mechanism enables precise verification of state changes without causing harmful unintended FPD activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control through the driver circuit that continuously monitors the FPD supply voltage and adjusts it to maintain it within a safe range below the activation threshold. This feedback mechanism ensures that even when the bi-state ECA transitions to its activated state during testing, the FPD remains unaffected and does not activate, thereby preventing harmful effects while allowing precise measurement of state changes.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A~4C
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The present invention concerns a method and a testing system for automatically testing a bi-state electrical circuit arrangement hereafter "EGA" (210, 220) of an activation electrical circuit hereafter "AEG" (200) of a fire safety system - hereafter "FSS"- (100), the testing system comprising : - a driver circuit configured for being connected to the AEG (200) and comprising electrical components configured for maintaining, between supply voltage terminals (211, 221) of the AEG (200) and during a test of said bi-state EGA, a voltage difference within a range of values configured for keeping, during said test, an FPD (103) in its deactivated state; - a sensing unit (410) configured for measuring the voltage at least at the supply voltage terminal (211, 221) of the tested bi-state EGA (210, 220); and - a processing unit (420) configured for carrying out a testing procedure for testing said bi-state EGA (210, 220), said testing procedure comprising (i) putting the bi-state EGA (210, 220) in its activated state while controlling said one or several electrical components for maintaining, between the AEG supply voltage terminals (211, 221), said voltage difference within said range of values, and (ii) triggering, during said test, a voltage measurement, by the sensing unit (410), of the voltage delivered at least at the supply voltage terminal (211, 221) of the tested bi-state EGA, said processing unit (420) being further configured for receiving from the sensing unit (410) each voltage value measured during said voltage measurement, and for detecting from the received voltage value a failure of the tested bi-state EGA (210, 220).