EP1606782B1

EP1606782B1 - Device for determining flows of gaseous media

Info

Publication number: EP1606782B1
Application number: EP04721409A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Torbjörn FREDRIKZON
Original assignee: Bjornax AB
Current assignee: Bjornax AB
Priority date: 2003-03-24
Filing date: 2004-03-17
Publication date: 2008-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-17
Also published as: ATE385493T1; DE602004011658D1; WO2004086329A1; EP1606782A1; DE602004011658T2; SE0300779D0; SE527396C2; SE0300779L

Abstract

Using a smoke generator, it is possible to determine flows in gaseous media. Smoke generators of a pyrotechnic composition are presently available. It is desirable that it should be possible to turn off the smoke generator when it has fulfilled the purpose for which it is being used. With pyrotechnic smoke generators, this requires water. This is a disadvantage. The present invention overcomes this by using a relatively thick thread that can be ignited at one end. On ignition, a flame is formed. When the flame is blown out, smoke is generated. Where said thread functions in conjunction with a sleeve (labelled "7" in the accompanying figures), smoke generation can be terminated by fully withdrawing the smoke generating end into the sleeve. This results in total extinction of said end.

Description

The purpose of the present invention is to determine the direction of flows of gaseous media and, additionally, leakages involving flows of gaseous media. Pyrotechnic devices have previously been used for this purpose. When ignited, such devices generate smoke that is then acted upon by the gaseous flows being investigated. The disadvantage with these known devices is that, once they have been ignited, they cannot be readily turned off when the gaseous flows have been determine. Instead, they must be extinguished with water, this being another disadvantage. Yet a further disadvantage is that a pyrotechnic device cannot be used several times. A pyrotechnic device can also include additives that, for example, produce olfactory effects. Similarly, a different type of additive can be used to produce a flame that gives off lights of differing colours.
US 6 198 399 B1 and US 5 361 623 A1 disclose smoke detector test devices while US 5 914 119 A1 discloses an animal lure producing smoke. The present invention provides a test device as defined by claim 1.
The present invention solves the above problems by replacing the smoke-generating pyrotechnic composition with a long body (preferably having the character of a rope or of a thread), which, when lit, can generate smoke. If a rope, thread or other body is used, different cross sections of differing relative dimensions are possible, for example, round, square, rectangular or elliptical. The present device comprises a core around which there are a number of peripheral layers that have different properties. The core can have one or more such layers. Thus, one layer can be smoke generating, another can be aroma generating and another can give off a light or smoke of a chosen colour. Cotton wool is a suitable material for the core. The percentage of cotton wool used in the core can vary. The cotton wool in the core may suitably be woven or spun. The core can also be made of a compacted powder, for example, carbon powder or other suitable material. First and foremost, the body shall have a layer that, on combustion, generates smoke. The most suitable substances for this are stearin and paraffin. Of course, other substances having the same properties as these two can also be used. Said layer of stearin or paraffin shall be selected so that the long body is either rigid or flexible. Said long body, which is to generate smoke, has two ends and it is advantageous that the long body is combined with a sleeve that can be displaced along the body. If the sleeve is located at one end of the long body, its position in relation to said body can be adjusted so that the required length of the long body protrudes from one end of the sleeve. Using a match or similar, the protruding end can then be ignited to give a flame that burns continuously as long as the sleeve is displaced to leave a part of the long body protruding therefrom. The gaseous flows that are to be determined have an effect on the flame and the direction of the flows is thus determined. Said flame can be blown out and the protruding end will then glow and generate smoke. This can also be used in the determination of gaseous flows. When determination has finished, it is desirable that smoke generation ceases. This is done by locating said sleeve over the smoking end so that the long body is totally extinguished. The long body can then be re-used by once again causing it to protrude from one end of the sleeve and igniting the protruding end. Thus, with the sleeve threaded onto the long body, it is possible to generate smoke, stop said generation and then re-ignite the long body on a later occasion. The sleeve itself can have a hole/opening through which the long body is visible. Through this opening, the long body can be manually acted upon to alter its position in relation to the sleeve.
Depending on what is required of the long body's surface layers, such a unit can be used for determining gaseous flows. It can also be used for determining whether fire alarms and the suchlike are working. Yet a further possibility is to have a long body and sleeve unit that generates lights or aroma alone.
Other characteristics of the present invention are contained in the patent claims below.
A possible design of the present invention is given in the following description and the accompanying two drawings where:

Figure 1: shows a long cylindrical body comprising an inner core and two outer layers,
Figure 2: shows said long cylindrical body generating smoke,
Figure 3: shows said long cylindrical body working in conjunction with a sleeve; one end of the body protrudes from the sleeve and has been ignited by, for example, a match,
Figure 4: shows the device as per figure 3, but the flame has here been extinguished to give way to smoke, and
Figure 5: shows the long body withdrawn into the sleeve so that the free end of the long body is totally extinguished.

Figure 1 shows a long cylindrical body (1) that has a cylindrical core (2), which is to have the characteristic of being able to bum with a minimal supply of oxygen. Around the cylindrical core (2), there are two layers (3 and 4). These can be produced by, for example, immersion in various substances in a liquid form. These substances can have the character of being smoke generating on combustion. In this case, paraffin, stearin or other substance with similar properties (i.e. smoke generating on combustion) is suitable. The layers can be applied in such a way that the cylindrical core (2) will be either flexible or rigid. The degree of flexibility can vary. One layer can even be made of materials that, on combustion, generate lights of varying colours. Similarly, layers can be such that they generate various aromas. When a long body (1) having different layers is ignited at one end, a flame is produced. This flame can be used to show the direction of gaseous flows. Furthermore, if so desired, the flame can give off an aroma or a light of a particular colour. When said flame is blown out, the end will glow and generate smoke (6). The glowing end of the long body (1) can be totally extinguished by putting a cap over it or by withdrawing the body into a sleeve. This latter causes said body to extinguish of its own accord.
In figures 3 - 5, the long cylindrical body is shown working in conjunction with a sleeve (7) made of an incombustible material. The sleeve has an opening (8), through which the long cylindrical body (1) is revealed. Through this opening, a finger can be used to adjust the position of the cylindrical body (1) in relation to the sleeve (7). In figure 3, the long cylindrical body (1) has a protruding end that has been ignited to give a flame (5). A match, or other suitable device, can be used for ignition. If the flame is not required, it can be blown out and the long cylindrical unit then generates smoke. Using a finger, the free end of the long cylindrical body can, as shown in figure 5, be totally extinguished by withdrawing it completely into the sleeve.
In this manner, the combined functioning of a sleeve (7) and a long cylindrical body (1) has created a device that can be ignited, can generate smoke and, on completion of a task, can be immediately extinguished by withdrawing the free, protruding end of the long cylindrical body (1) into the sleeve (7).
The present invention is thus a device that is easy to handle and simple to position/carry. The device can be easily carried in a breast pocket. It can thus be readily used to determine gaseous flows and test fire alarms and similar units.
The device can also be used to create a pleasant atmosphere by, for example, producing lights of different colours and giving off various aromas. The accompanying sleeve ought to be made of a rigid, incombustible material. Metals and organic compounds are both possible here.
The previously mentioned sleeve can, of course, be replaced by any unit whatsoever capable of bringing about displacement between the long cylindrical body (1) and the surrounding unit.
Presumably, it should be obvious that when the core is immersed in a liquid substance, the substance could permeate the core itself. Consequently, as the liquid substance can be a mixture of substances, each accounting for an individual property of the various layers, one quick immersion could be enough.
The long body and its surrounding layers are so arranged that neither the flame nor the smoke is turbulent.
The major advantages of the present invention are that it is simple to manufacture and the waste products are, in themselves, environment-friendly.

Claims

A test device for determining gaseous media streams comprising an elongated body (1) including a core (2) of a predetermined length, the core being covered by one or several layers (3, 4), whereby the core and the layers are inflammable, so that, when the test device is ignited, a flame is produced, wherein at least one layer has the character of a smoke generator, whereby the elongated body is surrounded by a sleeve (7) whose position in relation to the elongated body is adjustable and when said body is pushed into the sleeve the body is totally extinguished so that smoke generation is stopped.
Device as per patent claim 1 characterized
by the test device being reusable as long as there is a core left.
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized
by the core being, preferably, 100% cotton wool.
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized
by the core having the characteristics of a thread of a suitable diameter.
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized
by the thread being made of a woven or spun cord.
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized
by a layer located around the core being composed of stearin, paraffin or other substance with similar properties.
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized
by the layer being able to vary in character from rigid to flexible.
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized
by one layer creating smell.
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized
by one layer creating a candel flame.
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized
by the sleeve having an opening in its surface, the opening being of such a nature that it reveals the core and allows for the manual adjustment of the extent to which the core protrudes from one end of the sleeve.
Device according to any of the preceding claims, where the core functions in conjunction with a sleeve characterized
by the smoke generation of the protruding end of the core being terminated by totally withdrawing said end within the sleeve, the cessation of smoke generation signalling that total extinction of the core has occurred.