EP0158817B1 - Interconnection part for a warning device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connecting device for detectors for the detection of changes in state in the environment according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Signaling systems which are provided for the detection of changes in state in the environment generally consist of a more or less large number of spatially distributed detectors connected individually or in groups to signal centers. Such alarm systems must be checked for their functionality at regular intervals if their reliable response in the event of an alarm is to be guaranteed.

In modern alarm systems in which up to a hundred detectors are connected to a signaling center, different types of detectors are used, for example, types of detectors such as optical smoke detectors, ionization smoke detectors, flame detectors, heat detectors and / or gas detectors are connected to a signaling center in fire detection systems. Detectors in explosion-proof design can also be used in potentially explosive areas and connected to the same signaling center. Fire alarms and intrusion detectors can also be connected to one signaling system in alarm systems.

The known fire detectors generally consist of a base part or a detector holder that is installed in the area to be monitored and in which the detector insert is used. In the case of fire detection systems with uniform detector types, all detector connections are of the same type. In modern systems with mixed detector types - especially systems that contain not only normal detectors but also explosion-proof ones - it is necessary to ensure that the special detector types are also installed in the places intended for them. The detector sockets were therefore designed in such a way that only one specific detector type could be used in the intended version. After installing the correct detector detection, it was ensured that no wrong detector inserts could be installed.

In order not to have to have a too large assortment of detector detectors available, uniform detector detectors have been constructed that could be changed at the place of installation so that they became specific for certain detector types. For this purpose, certain coupling mechanisms have been developed to ensure that the correct detector insert is inserted in the corresponding version - and can only be used in this version. From DE-A-29 16 412 a coupling mechanism is known, in which a mounting plate is provided with allocation means which defines a snap-in arrangement for a specific detector head to be coupled with the mount plate, the snap-in arrangement of each type of detector head having a special construction which is associated with the respectively assigned snap-in arrangement determined by the assignment means can be brought into engagement, so that in each case only the specific assigned detector head can be connected to the mounting plate. The mounting plates are identical for all detector types, the coding of the sockets for the individual detector types can be carried out when the system is installed in the field.

> Another peculiarity of modern alarm systems is, however, that not only different types of detectors, such as those listed above, are combined in one alarm system, but that detectors that are adapted to different environmental conditions are used within a series of detectors of the same type . For example, it may be desirable or necessary to use ionization fire detectors in certain areas that have increased electrical protection, e.g. B. when installed in nuclear power plants or with increased risk of lightning. It may also be necessary to install external alarm indicators on the detector or to address the individual detectors. In the latter case, it may be desirable on the one hand to address all detectors or to address only individual so-called "master detectors" (MI) and in the vicinity of these "master detectors" dependent on them, so-called "slave detectors" (SI ), to install. These "slave detectors" then have the same addressing as the associated "master detector".

In order to have the suitable detector type for every purpose, which would have to be adapted to very different requirements with regard to the place of use and with regard to the desired special uses, it would be necessary to create and keep a large number of different detector types available. An additional complication would be that a correspondingly large number of detector detections, or sockets with different coding, would have to be present so that the corresponding version would be available for each location and type of application.

Another difficulty is that with the maintenance and care work required at certain time intervals, in which the detectors are often sent to the company for revision, it must be ensured that the correct detector is always inserted in the appropriate version when it is reinstalled. This requires a heavy workload for the service personnel if a large number of detectors has to be replaced.

The invention is based on the object of overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known fire alarm systems and of creating a connecting device which makes it possible to easily create alarm systems, in particular fire alarm systems, which comprise different types of detectors and in which individual detectors or groups of detectors are adapted to different environmental conditions or specific uses. Another object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device which makes it possible to simplify the service work in alarm systems of the type mentioned above.

The connecting device according to the invention, which is arranged between a detector insert and a signaling center in a detector recording and is intended for a group of detectors connected to a signaling center, which are provided for the detection of certain changes in the state of the environment, which comprise different types of detectors and for different environmental conditions or Certain uses are provided, characterized in that a connector is provided in the detector, in which an electronic circuit for accommodating the detector to the ambient conditions or the intended use is housed and which has a first coded contact device for mechanical connection to the detector and for electrical and / or optical connection with a counterpart, which establishes the electrical and / or optical connection with the signal center via electrical or optical lines, and a z has wide coded contact device for electrical and mechanical connection to the detector insert.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Melderfassung mit einer Verbindungseinrichtung, bei welcher die elektronische Schaltung mit einem Harz vergossen ist,
• Figur 2 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Melderfassung mit einer Verbindungseinrichtung, die mit einem Deckel verschlossen ist, auf dem sich eine Kodiervorrichtung befindet,
• Figur 3 eine Draufsicht auf eine Verbindungseinrichtung mit einer Kontaktvorrichtung zur Verbindung mit einer Melderfassung, die elektrische und optische Kontakte aufweist und
• Figur 4 einen Querschnitt durch eine Verbindungseinrichtung entlang der Schnittlinie A - A der Figur 3, die Lichtleiter aufweist.

In the following, preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a detector recording with a connecting device in which the electronic circuit is potted with a resin,
• FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a detector recording with a connecting device which is closed with a cover on which a coding device is located,
• Figure 3 is a plan view of a connection device with a contact device for connection to a detector, which has electrical and optical contacts and
• Figure 4 shows a cross section through a connecting device along the section line A - A of Figure 3, which has light guides.

In Figure 1, a detector 1 of a fire detector in an explosion-proof version is shown in perspective. The detector 1 is fastened in the area to be monitored, preferably on the ceiling. It is closed by a cover, not shown, into which the detector insert, not shown, is inserted and through which the electrical contacts 2 are guided to the detector insert.

The connector 9 with the first coded contact device 7, which in this case is in the form of contact lugs 7, is located in the detector socket 1. These contact lugs 7 have a U-shape, the one leg of the U in each case establishing the connection to the electronic circuit 8 (encapsulated with resin), while the other leg engages in slots 6 of a counterpart 4, which connects the electrical connection to one that is not shown Manufactures signal center via electrical lines, also not shown.

The detector 4 is firmly connected to the counterpart 4, which has slots 6 on the side facing the connecting piece 9 for receiving the contact tabs 7 and on the opposite side openings 3 for receiving the lines (not shown) leading to the signaling center. The wires are fastened by spring-loaded contacts 5 known per se. In the embodiment shown, the electrical contacts 2, which establish an electrical connection with the detector insert (not shown), are also on the counterpart 4. This ensures a good mechanical connection with the detector insert. In this case, the counterpart 4 has such an electrical connection that it is ensured that the electrical connection to the signaling center runs via the electronic circuit 8 arranged in the connector 9. The electrical contacts 2 can, however, also be attached to the connecting piece 9 or to its cover 91 or to the cover of the detector socket 1, which is not shown, with corresponding contact lugs engaging in the counterpart 4.

The electronic circuit 8 in the connector 9 is used to adapt the detector to different environmental conditions and / or to certain purposes. In the illustrated embodiment, e.g. B. assumed that the detector should be used in a potentially explosive atmosphere. Therefore, all switching elements that pose a risk of explosion are accommodated in the electronic circuit 8 in the connector 9 and encapsulated in such a way that combustible gases etc. have no access to them. In the present case, they are potted with a resin. The first contact device 7 is coded in such a way that only one connecting piece 9, which is shown in FIG explosion-proof version is manufactured. This is done, for example, by arranging the contact tabs 7 in a certain number and at a certain distance from one another. The slots 6 in the counterpart 4 have the same arrangement and the same distance as the contact lugs 7. This can be achieved in a simple manner in that slots that are not required are closed by blind plugs. In the counterpart 4, some electrical connections lead to the contacts 2 for the detector insert, others to the openings 3, only the openings 3 being wired that are required for the electrical connection to the signaling center.

FIG. 2 shows the same detector recording on a somewhat smaller scale. The connector 9 is closed with a cover 91. On the cover 91 there are two coding pins 92, 93 which are arranged such that they protrude through the cover (not shown) of the detector socket 1 and have the effect that only detector inserts can be inserted into the detector socket 1 which have recesses corresponding to the coding pins 42, 43 , ie in the present case have the coding for explosion-proof detectors.

This double coding, namely the coding of the first contact device 7 for connecting the connector 9 to the counterpart 4 and the coding of the second contact device 2, 92, 93 for connecting the detector socket 1 to the detector insert, has the effect that when the signaling system is installed Installers can always use only one connector 9 with the correct electronic circuit 8 in the detector socket 1 and that only the correct detector insert can be inserted in the associated detector socket 1 when servicing the alarm system by service personnel. This prevents confusion between detector inserts; it is z. B. prevents installing a detector insert in a non-explosion-proof design in a potentially explosive area.

The double coding of the connecting device according to the invention cannot be changed in the field, this ensures that changes cannot be made lightly, accidentally or unauthorizedly during assembly or service.

At a later point in time, however, it may be necessary or desirable to mount a different type of detector in certain areas or to adapt individual detectors or groups of detectors to changing environmental conditions, for example because an area is to be used with flammable gases. In this case, it is necessary to use detectors with an explosion-proof design. The connection device according to the invention ensures that in this case the electronic circuit 8 is also replaced, since it is not possible to change the coding of the two contact devices. The entire connector 9 must be replaced. The coding of the detector insert is also permanently set, so that only the appropriate detector insert can be inserted into the detector socket 1 provided with the correct connector 9.

On the other hand, it is not necessary to replace the detector as well, since it is only necessary to adapt the coding of the counterpart 4 to the coding of the new connector 8, for example by removing the blind plugs from the slots 6 and reinserting them according to the new coding.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the connector 9 according to the invention, which not only has electrical contacts 7 but also optical connections in the form of light guides 71. This connection device is used for signaling systems in which the signal connection between the individual detectors and the signaling center takes place by means of optical fibers. The top view of a connecting piece 9 shown in FIG. 3 shows that the light guides 71 can be coded in the same way as the electrical contacts 7, namely by different distances from one another. Other coding options are described below.

An electronic circuit 8 and electro-optical converters (not shown in FIG. 3), which convert electrical signals into light signals or transmit such light signals from the detector insert, are arranged in the connecting piece 9. Such transducers are generally known, they are not the subject of the present invention and are therefore not described in detail. The counterpart 4 in this case has not only electrical contacts, but instead of the slots 6 light guides, which correspond exactly in their arrangement to the arrangement of the light guides 71 in the connecting piece 9. The signals are also forwarded to the signaling center by light guides.

The connecting piece 9 can also have a different combination of electrical contacts 7 and light guides 71 than is shown in FIG. 3. It is also possible that the signal transmission from the detector insert to the electronic circuit 8 also takes place via light guides.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through a light guide 71 and in each case a part of the connecting piece 9 and the counterpart 4 along the line A - A of FIG. 3. The light guide 71, z. B. can be surrounded with an opaque Kungstoffschicht 72, is fixed in the connector 9 and leads to an electro-optical converter 10, the z. B. a Can be transmitter or receiver and establishes the functional connection to the electronic circuit 8. The other end of the light guide 71 is inserted into the counterpart 4 of the detector 1 and establishes the optical connection with a correspondingly arranged light guide 74 in the counterpart 4, which leads to the signal center.

The connecting device according to the invention was described in the above examples in such a way that the male piece is attached to the connecting piece 9 and the female piece to the counterpart 4. However, the connecting device can also be designed such that the male piece is provided on the counterpart 4 and the female piece on the module 9.

The electrical contacts 7 and the light guides 71 can also have different cross sections than shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. For example, they can have a square, elliptical or trapezoidal cross section. With these different cross sections, coding of the first contact device can also be achieved. This type of coding can be used in combination with the coding described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4, or it can replace it.

In the preceding examples, the connection device according to the invention was described with the aid of a fire detector in an explosion-proof design. It goes without saying that the invention is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments. It can also be used, for example, in intrusion detection systems or in systems that serve to protect against intrusion and fire at the same time. The connection device according to the invention is of particular advantage in large alarm systems in which a large number of different detectors are combined. Examples of different types of detectors are: ionization smoke detectors, optical smoke detectors, thermal differential detectors, gas detectors or flame detectors. As intrusion detectors such. B. called: passive infrared detector or ultrasonic detector. The connecting device according to the invention for fire alarm systems is of particular importance if the different types of fire detectors are to be adapted to different environmental conditions or specific uses.

For example, it may be desirable to make the detectors addressable so that the signaling center can recognize which detector has responded. There is also the option of making all detectors addressable or only making individual "master detectors" addressable and installing non-addressable "slave detectors" in their vicinity. For installation in certain areas, it may be necessary to provide the detectors with increased security against electrical interference or to make them safe against slashing. For other detectors, it may be necessary or desirable to place an alarm indicator on or near the detector. The connecting device according to the invention enables a substantial simplification of the range in all these cases by accommodating the electronic circuit 8 required for the adaptation in the connecting piece 9. It is then only necessary to keep a correspondingly large number of connecting devices in stock. The connecting device according to the invention also ensures increased security against mix-ups during the installation and service of the detectors.

Claims (9)

1. Connector apparatus being arranged in an alarm divice socket (1) between an alarm device and a central signal station, the connector being provided for a plurality of alarm devices of different types which are provided for detecting predetermined changes of state in the environment under different environmental conditions or for predetermined applications, characterized in that in the alarm device socket (1) is provided a connector member (9), which comprises an electronic circuit (8) to adapt the alarm device to environmental conditions or to the predetermined application which further comprises a first coded contact device (7, 71) for mechanical connection to the alarm device socket (1) and for electrical and/or optical connection to a counter member (4) which set-up the electrical and/or optical connection to the signal station via electrical and/or optical conductors and which further comprises a second coded contact device (2, 92, 93) for electrical and/or optical connection to the alarm device.

2. Connector device according to patent claim 1, characterized in that said first contact device of said connector member (9) is constructed as a plug insert (7) which are engageable in corresponding apertures (6) of said counter member (4) for establishing electrical connection between said connector member (9) and said counter member (4).

3. Connector device according to patent claim 1, characterized in that said first contact device of said connector member (9) comprises optical conductors (71, 72) having free ends being insertable into corresponding apertures (6) of said counter member (4) wherein optical conductors (74) are arranged for transmitting optical signals to said central station.

4. Connector device according to patent claim 1, characterized in that said first contact device and said counter member (4) comprise optical conductors (71) being mutually abutted for signal transmission without any intervening foreign medium.

5. Connector device according to patent claim 1, characterized in that said first contact device comprises optical conductors (71) and that in said connector member (9) optical receivers (10) and/or optical transmitters (10) are arranged.

6. Connector device according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said first contact device consists of slots being disposed in mutually differing spatial relationship, of bores having mutually differing shapes, or of pins having mutually differing cross-sections.

7. Connector device according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said second coded contact device consists of electrical connectors (2) and coding pins (92, 93) being arranged on that side of said connector member (91 being opposite to said alarm device.

8. Connector device according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in said connector member (9) is provided an electronic circuit (8) comprising all of the circuit elements capable of inadvertently initiating an explosion and that said electronic circuit (8) is potted with plastic such that said electronic circuit (8) is rendered safe against inadvertently initiating an explosion.

9. Connector device according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in said connector member (9) is provided an electronic circuit (8) comprising electronic circuit means for recognizing and responding to predetermined address signals from said central signal station.

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