JP2010067244A - Portable carbon monoxide detection warning device, and system for supplying air to diver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure safety of a diver by developing an extremely lightweight and compact portable CO (carbon monoxide) detection warning device, detecting the concentration of carbon monoxide using the warning device, and issuing a warning when the concentration exceeds a certain value. <P>SOLUTION: An air chamber is provided inside a sealed casing, and air suction and exhaust ports leading to the air chamber are provided outside the casing. Furthermore, at the outside of the casing, a pressure regulating valve is provided which automatically regulates pressure of a pressure chamber into approximately atmospheric pressure by exhausting air to the outside when pressure in the air chamber becomes equal to or higher than a certain level. Moreover, a CO detector is installed facing the air chamber in the casing, and a control circuit is provided which receives a warning signal output from the CO detector and outputs the warning signal to a buzzer or a rotary lamp, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention has developed an extremely light and small portable CO detection alarm device, and when supplying air to a diver performing work in water, the concentration of carbon monoxide is detected using the alarm device, The present invention relates to a technology that issues a warning when the concentration exceeds a certain value and ensures safety for divers.

Normally, when working underwater, compressed air is supplied to a suction device such as a diver's regulator from a compressor installed on land or a trolley or other vessel so that the diver can breathe. Yes. In this case, the air supplied from the compressor is exhausted from the exhaust gas of the compressor engine and other heavy machinery engines by connecting a hose to the intake port of the compressor and arranging the suction port of the hose on the windward side. Care is taken not to inhale exhaust gas. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which hydraulic pressure and air are supplied to a crawler traveling type backhoe working machine, and air is supplied to a diver with a separate hose. Fresh air is only pumped.
JP-A-8-060662

  However, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1 or the like, fresh air supplied to the diver is only sucked by a compressor and pumped through a hose. Therefore, when the direction of the wind changes and the hose suction port side of the compressor placed at the windward side becomes leeward, the exhaust gas of a number of surrounding heavy machinery flows toward the hose suction port and the hose Exhaust gas may be sucked from the suction port, or the engine exhaust of the compressor itself may be sucked. These exhaust gases contain harmful carbon monoxide (CO). In addition, carbon monoxide has a higher specific gravity than air, so it is stored in a low space, and there is a risk that an unexpected accident will occur in which the stored carbon monoxide flows at once and is sucked from the hose. there were.

  Carbon monoxide CO is tasteless, odorless and colorless at room temperature and pressure. Therefore, even if CO contained in the exhaust gas of many nearby heavy machinery and compressor engines is sucked from the compressor hose and supplied to the diver, the diver must contain carbon monoxide CO. There was also a risk that a major accident would occur in which aspiration was continued without knowing and eventually became poisoned with monoxide. Monoxide poisoning, when mild, presents symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, and tinnitus, but if it becomes severe, it can cause brain damage or death from dyspnea, which is extremely dangerous.

  The present invention is an improvement and removal in view of the above-described problems, and has developed an extremely light and small portable CO detection alarm device, detects the concentration of carbon monoxide using the alarm device, It is intended to ensure the safety of divers by issuing an alarm when a certain value is exceeded.

Thus, the means of claim 1 employed by the present invention in order to solve the above-described problem is that an air chamber is provided in a sealed casing, and an air inlet port communicating with the air chamber is provided outside the casing. and provided with an outlet, wherein the pressure in the air chamber is above a certain pressure to discharge air in the air chamber to the outside, it provided the pressure regulating valve for automatically adjusting the pressure of the air chamber to approximately atmospheric pressure, housing A pipe connecting the air inlet and outlet in the body is provided, an air amount adjusting valve communicating with the air chamber is provided in the middle of the pipe , and a CO detector is installed facing the air chamber in the housing. A portable CO detection alarm device is provided with a control circuit that inputs an alarm signal output from a CO detector and outputs an alarm signal to a buzzer, a rotating lamp, or the like.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the CO detector generates an alarm signal when the set CO concentration is detected, and the CO detector is set for each CO detection concentration set to a different value. The portable CO detection alarm device according to claim 1, which can be replaced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an air chamber is provided in a hermetically sealed casing, an air intake port and an exhaust port communicating with the air chamber are provided outside the casing, and the air chamber is provided. When the air pressure exceeds a certain level, a pressure adjustment valve is provided to automatically discharge the air in the air chamber to the outside and automatically adjust the air chamber pressure to approximately atmospheric pressure, and connect the air inlet and outlet in the housing. An air amount adjusting valve that communicates with the air chamber is provided in the middle of the conduit , a CO detector is installed facing the air chamber in the housing, and the CO concentration output from the CO detector is adjusted . A portable type comprising: an alarm level setting circuit for inputting a measurement value signal; and a control circuit for outputting an alarm signal to a buzzer, a rotating lamp or the like when the measurement value signal exceeds an alarm level setting value This is a CO detection alarm device.

  The means of claim 4 employed by the present invention is the portable CO according to claim 3, wherein the alarm level setting circuit can arbitrarily set a measured value signal value of CO concentration for outputting an alarm. It is a detection alarm device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a compressed air supply port of a compressor installed on land, a trolley or other ships is provided at the suction port of the portable CO detection alarm device according to the first to fourth aspects. An air supply system to a diver characterized by connecting to the air discharge port of the portable CO detection alarm device and a pipe communicating with an air suction device used by the diver.

The means of claim 6 adopted by the present invention is that of a compressed air supply port of a compressor installed on land, a trolley or other ships, etc. at the suction port of the portable CO detection alarm device according to claims 1 to 4 . A branch port is connected, the air discharge port of the portable CO detection alarm device is closed, and a pipe line communicating with the air suction device used by the diver is connected to the other branch port of the compressed air supply port of the compressor. An air supply system for a diver characterized by being connected.

In the invention of claim 1, a CO detector is disposed in a portable casing (for example, a small travel trunk) that can be carried, and air is introduced from the inlet into the air chamber in the casing. Yes. The concentration of CO contained in the introduced air is detected by the CO detector, and an alarm signal is issued when a certain set value is exceeded. From this alarm signal, it can be known that the supplied air contains CO that exceeds a certain set value.
A commercially available CO detector is not guaranteed to operate normally unless the measurement environment is atmospheric pressure. Therefore, in the present invention, a pressure adjustment valve is provided in the casing so that the air chamber communicates with the outside through the pressure adjustment valve, and if the pressure of the air chamber in the casing exceeds the atmospheric pressure, Therefore, the air in the air chamber is discharged to the outside through the pressure regulating valve so that the atmospheric pressure is always maintained. This makes it possible to accurately detect the CO concentration even when a commercially available inexpensive CO detector is used.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the air suction port and the discharge port are connected by a pipe line in the casing, and an air amount adjusting valve is provided in the middle of the pipe line to communicate with the air chamber. The amount of air flowing into the chamber is adjusted. For this, the amount of air supplied into the housing is only required to detect the CO concentration, and an extremely small amount is sufficient. When the amount of air supplied to the air chamber in the housing increases, excess air exceeding the amount necessary for the CO concentration inspection flows out to the outside through the pressure regulating valve provided in the housing itself, and the air discharge port This is a means for preventing this because the amount of air sent to the downstream air supply destination is reduced.

  In the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, the CO concentration (alarm level set value) for outputting the alarm signal of the CO detector is fixedly set by the CO detector. Can be dealt with. In such a case, an alarm level to be detected is set according to the purpose of use and usage conditions, and a CO detector that outputs an alarm signal at the set alarm level is selected and prepared, and replaced as appropriate. do it.

  In the invention of claim 3, the CO detector outputs a measurement value signal. In this case, an alarm level setting circuit for setting the detected CO concentration is provided between the CO detector and the control circuit. Thus, the alarm level can be arbitrarily set (see the invention described in claim 4), and there is no need to replace the CO detector according to the alarm level.

In the invention of claim 5 , the suction port of the CO detection alarm device is connected to the compressed air supply port of a compressor installed on land or a craft or other ship, and the submersion is connected to the discharge port of the CO detection alarm device. It is connected to the air suction device used by the technician. Therefore, in the case of the present invention, it is possible to automatically detect the CO concentration of the air sucked by the diver, and an alarm is issued when the CO concentration of the air sucked by the diver exceeds a set level. . Since CO is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, a diver does not know at all even if air whose CO concentration exceeds a set level is supplied for a long time, and may exhibit symptoms such as monoxide poisoning. By using this device, operators such as onshore and trolleys can easily know this, stop the work in water, lift the diver to the shore or trolley, and avoid inhaling CO. It is possible to treat.

In the invention of claim 6, as in the invention of claim 5 , the CO detection alarm device is applied as an alarm system for detecting the CO concentration when air is supplied to a diver. . The air inlet of the CO detection alarm device is connected to the air supply branch port of the compressor, which is an air supply source, and the air discharge port of the CO detection alarm device is closed. A supply path is provided. Air is supplied to the diver from another air supply branch of the compressor.
In this invention, the supply path of the air sucked by the diver and the air supply pipe for supplying to the CO detection alarm device are separate systems, but the same air is supplied from the compressor. Can detect the CO concentration of the air sucked, and can issue an alarm if it exceeds a certain level. In this case, it is possible to supply air to a plurality of divers from the supply branch port of the compressor.

  The configuration of the present invention will be described below based on the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a CO detection alarm device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the device 1, and FIG. 3 is the air to a diver using the device 1 FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the whole of the supply system 2, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the whole of another air supply system using the apparatus 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the CO detection alarm device 1 has an external shape like a small travel trunk case, and a casing 3 including a front lid 3A and a main body 3B is a front lid 3A. It is possible to open and close freely in the front-rear direction of FIG. A CO detector 4, a control circuit 5, and a pressure adjustment valve 6 are attached in the housing 3. Further, it has a buzzer 7 as an alarm device, a detachable rotating lamp 8 as an alarm device, a power supply battery 9 for the rotating lamp 8, and a control circuit 5 and a power supply battery 10 for the buzzer 7.

  In the state where the front lid 3A is closed, the air chamber 11 formed in the housing 3 is cut off from the outside and preferably sealed. An air suction port 12 and a discharge port 13 are provided on opposite sides of the housing 3 facing the air chamber 11, and these are directly connected to each other in the air chamber 11 by a conduit 14. . An air flow rate adjustment valve (throttle valve) 15 for variably adjusting the flow rate of the air discharged into the air chamber 11 is provided in the middle of the conduit 14.

  By the way, a commercially available CO detector 4 can be used, for example, an electrochemical type that decomposes CO gas at a specific potential and detects the electrolytic potential generated at that time to measure the gas concentration. Some are equipped with sensors. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes a CO concentration sensor. The CO detector 4 outputs an alarm signal a to the control circuit 5 when a certain CO concentration is detected. Reference numeral 17 denotes a monitor that digitally displays the measured gas concentration. The monitor 17 is formed with a monitor window in the front lid 3A so that it can be confirmed from the front of the housing 3, and the periphery is sealed so as not to cause gas leakage by rubber packing or the like. In addition, on the front side of the front lid 3A, switches connected to the electric circuit section of the CO detector 4 are provided. Reference numeral 18 denotes a power switch, reference numeral 19 denotes an air adjustment switch (zero point adjustment switch), and reference numeral 20 denotes a gas integration display switch.

  When the alarm signal a is output from the CO detector 4, the control circuit 5 performs a switching operation so that the power of the battery 9 is supplied to the rotating lamp, and the power is supplied to the buzzer 7. Manipulate. The CO detector 4 is configured to use a 1.5 V dry battery as a power source when a commercially available one is used, and the drive power of the control circuit 5 itself is set to 6 V supplied from the battery 10. Yes. The pressure regulating valve 6 blocks the inflow of external air and wind and rain. When the air chamber 11 becomes atmospheric pressure or higher, the air in the air chamber 11 automatically flows out to the outside through the pressure regulating valve 11. It functions to keep the chamber 11 at approximately atmospheric pressure. This is because the CO detector 4 is designed to function normally under an atmospheric pressure environment.

  Next, an air supply system 2 for a diver incorporated in a facility for supplying fresh air to the diver 21 using the CO detection alarm device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. A compressor 22 and an engine 23 for driving the compressor 22 are mounted and installed on land, a ship or other ship. The air supply port of the compressor 22 is connected by piping to the air intake port 12 of the CO detection alarm device 1, and a gas-liquid separation filter 24 is installed in the middle. The gas-liquid separation filter 24 separates and removes moisture from the air supplied from the compressor 22, thereby preventing the air containing much moisture from being supplied to the diver 21. On the other hand, the air discharge port 13 of the CO detection alarm device 1 is connected to the suction device of the diver 21 via a flexible hose 25.

In the air supply system 2 to the diver configured as described above, a part of the fresh air pumped from the compressor 22 is discharged to the air chamber 11 in the housing 3 through the air flow rate adjustment valve 15. At this time, by adjusting the air flow rate control valve 15, it is possible to prevent excess air from being discharged into the air chamber 11 and to supply a sufficient amount of air to the diver 21 side. . When the power switch 18 is pushed down, the CO detector 4 starts operating. If necessary, the switch 19 may be pushed down to calibrate the zero point of the detector 4.
The CO detector 4 measures the CO concentration of fresh air discharged into the air chamber 11 by the CO concentration detection sensor 16 and outputs it as a voltage value. The CO concentration corresponding to this voltage value is digitally displayed on the monitor 17 as a numerical value (for example, 23 ppm). The operator can know the CO concentration of the fresh air sucked by the diver 21 by looking at the monitor 17. The CO detector 4 outputs an alarm signal a to the control circuit 5 when the voltage value output from the sensor 16 corresponds to a predetermined CO concentration.

  When the alarm signal a from the CO detector 4 is output, the control circuit 5 performs a switching operation so as to supply the power of the battery 9 to the rotating lamp, and issues an alarm to the operator with a light emission signal from the rotating lamp. At the same time, the control circuit 5 performs a switching operation so that the power of the battery 10 is supplied to the buzzer 7, and issues a sound alarm from the buzzer 7 to the operator. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, it becomes possible to automatically detect the CO concentration contained in the fresh air sucked by the diver 21, and the work in the water is stopped so that the diver 21 is landed or pontooned. It is possible to take a measure not to suck CO.

  While the diver 21 is working underwater, the operator can press the switch 20 to confirm the integrated value of the CO gas pumped to the diver 21 by displaying it on the monitor. Even if the alarm signal a is not issued, if the integrated value is large and the amount of CO gas sucked in while the diver 21 is performing underwater work is large, the diver 21 is placed on land or on a trolley. It is also possible to pull up.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the CO concentration (alarm level setting value) for outputting the alarm signal a of the CO detector 4 can cope with the CO concentration that is fixedly set by the CO detector 4. It is. In such a case, in order to set an alarm level to be detected in accordance with the purpose of use and usage conditions, and to output an alarm signal at the set alarm level, an alarm signal with a different CO concentration is used. A plurality of CO detectors 4 emitting a may be prepared and replaced as appropriate.

On the other hand, when the CO detector 4 is used so that the CO concentration (alarm level setting value) for outputting the alarm signal a can be set, any one CO detector 4 can be used for any CO. It is possible to deal with the concentration.
Further, when the CO detector 4 outputs the measurement value signal b, a CO concentration to be detected is set between the CO detector 4 and the control circuit 5 as shown by a chain line in FIG. An alarm level setting circuit 26 may be provided. As a result, the alarm level can be set arbitrarily, and there is no need to replace the CO detector according to the alarm level.

  FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which CO detection and supply of fresh air to a diver are performed in separate systems. In this case, the discharge port 13 of the CO detection alarm device 2 shown in FIG. 3 is closed, and fresh air is supplied to the diver 21 from another branch port 27 of the compressor 22. The fresh air supplied from the compressor 22 is the same air that is supplied to the CO detection alarm device 1 side and that supplied to the diver 21 side. In this case, the number of divers 21 can be two or more.

By the way, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A suitable change is possible. The case where the air flow rate adjustment valve 15 is manually set has been described, but the flow rate may be automatically adjusted. For example, the air pressure in the air chamber 11 may be sensed and automatically adjusted to 1 atmosphere.
Further, according to the present invention, the CO detection alarm device 1 is housed in a housing 3 such as a small trunk case, and the size of the housing 3 to which all components are mounted is about 150 mm high × 200 mm wide × 80 mm deep. Yes, it weighs several kilograms and is extremely light and compact. Therefore, it is extremely easy to carry, and it is possible to complete the installation and configuration of the air supply system to the diver just by bringing the operator or diver into the field, carrying it in, and connecting it to the pipe in the same way as a handbag. And, it has an advantage that it is excellent in workability.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the CO detection alarm apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the CO detection alarm apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the whole air supply system to the diver using the CO detection alarm device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the whole air supply system to another diver using the CO detection alarm apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CO detection alarm device, 2 ... Air supply system to divers, 3 ... Housing, 3A ... Front lid, 3B ... Main body, 4 ... CO detector, 5 ... Control circuit, 6 ... Pressure regulating valve, 7 ... Buzzer, 8 ... rotating light, 11 ... air chamber, 12 ... suction port, 13 ... discharge port, 14 ... piping, 15 ... air amount adjustment valve, 16 ... CO concentration sensor, 17 ... monitor, 26 ... alarm level setting circuit, a ... alarm signal, b ... measured value signal

Claims (7)

  An air chamber is provided in a sealed casing, an air inlet and an outlet that communicate with the air chamber are provided on the outside of the casing, and when the pressure in the air chamber reaches a certain level or more, the air chamber A pressure adjustment valve that automatically adjusts the pressure in the pressure chamber to approximately atmospheric pressure is provided, and a CO detector is installed facing the air chamber in the housing, and an alarm is output from the CO detector. A portable CO detection alarm device comprising a control circuit for inputting a signal and outputting an alarm signal to a buzzer, a rotating lamp or the like.   The CO detector emits an alarm signal when a set CO concentration is detected, and the CO detector can be exchanged for each CO detection concentration set to a different value. The portable CO detection alarm device described.   An air chamber is provided in a sealed casing, an air inlet and an outlet that communicate with the air chamber are provided on the outside of the casing, and when the pressure in the air chamber reaches a certain level or more, the air chamber Is provided with a pressure adjustment valve that automatically adjusts the pressure in the pressure chamber to approximately atmospheric pressure, a CO detector is installed facing the air chamber in the housing, and the CO output from the CO detector An alarm level setting circuit for inputting a concentration measurement value signal and a control circuit for outputting an alarm signal to a buzzer, a rotating lamp, etc. when the measurement value signal exceeds the alarm level setting value are provided. Portable CO detection alarm device.   4. The portable CO detection alarm device according to claim 3, wherein the alarm level setting circuit can arbitrarily set a measurement value signal value of CO concentration for outputting an alarm.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pipe line that connects the air inlet and the outlet in the housing is provided, and an air amount adjustment valve that communicates with the air chamber is provided in the middle of the pipe line. Portable CO detection alarm device.   A compressed air supply port of a compressor installed on land, a ship or other ships is connected to the suction port of the portable CO detection alarm device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and the portable CO detection alarm device of the portable CO detection alarm device An air supply system to a diver characterized by connecting a pipe line communicating with an air suction device used by the diver to an air discharge port.   A portable CO detection alarm device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is connected to a branch port of a compressed air supply port of a compressor installed on land, a ship or other vessel, and the portable CO detection alarm device. Air to the diver characterized by closing the air discharge port of the alarm device and connecting a pipeline communicating with the air suction device used by the diver to the other branch port of the compressed air supply port of the compressor. Supply system.

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