JP2011238166A - Smoke producing composition for operation test of smoke sensor and device for operation test of smoke sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a smoke producing composition for a operation test of a smoke sensor and a device for the operation test of the smoke sensor, which do not use injection gas such as flon, have a high safety and being readily handleable, and allows the operation work to be completed in a short time.SOLUTION: A smoke producing composition is solid and comrises paraffin wax having a melting point of 40-113°C and is used in a operation tester of a smoke sensor. The operation tester of the smoke sensor utilizes the smoke producing composition.

Description

  The present invention relates to a smoke detector for smoke detector operation test that can be accurately tested in a very short time without using a special test device, and used in the operation test of the smoke detector, and the smoke composition The present invention relates to a smoke detector operation test instrument for a smoke detector using the above.

  Smoke detectors such as ion smoke detectors and photoelectric smoke detectors that detect smoke generated in the event of a fire early and report the occurrence of a fire by operating an emergency bell, etc. It is necessary to conduct an operation test to confirm the operation periodically.

Therefore, many test means used for the test have been proposed.
As a typical smoke detector operation tester, one incorporating a gas cylinder filled with a test gas was used (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 4).

  This test gas has been filled with a test gas in which 0.01 to 10% by weight of liquid paraffin is mixed with Freon 12 (dichlorodifluorocarbon), which is a specific flon gas in the past. Is converted to chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons (hereinafter referred to as HFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (hereinafter referred to as HCFCs), which are a type of chlorofluorocarbons, and 0.01 to 10% by weight liquid paraffin or glycol. A mixed gas (see Patent Document 5) is disclosed.

  In addition, as a smoke detector operation tester that does not use gas, a liquid smoke tester using oil (see Patent Document 6), a solid operation tester using solid industrial incense as a heat generating and smoke generating agent ( For example, Patent Documents 7, 8, and 9) have been developed.

JP-A-1-303298 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-97791 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-179594 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-65491 JP-A-8-77472 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-309577 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-75594 JP 56-47897 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-183669

  However, the HCFC used in the smoke detector operation tester using a gas cylinder is designated as an ozone depleting substance because it has chlorine atoms in the molecule, and will be abolished in the near future. Because of its high global warming potential, alternatives are being sought through countermeasures against global warming.

  Furthermore, when testing using the gas disclosed in Patent Document 5, the compatibility of HFC and HCFC with the liquid paraffin additive is poor, so the test results cannot be obtained several times with a single injection. Although the smoke detectors may be activated for the first time, and accurate test results can be obtained, testing a large number of smoke detectors at one time requires considerable labor and time for the test operation.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and without using an injection gas species such as HFC or HCFC chlorofluorocarbon, is highly safe, easy to handle, and in a short time. The present invention provides a smoke detector operational test fuming composition and a smoke detector operational test instrument capable of completing a test operation.

  A first aspect of the present invention is a solid smoke generating agent used in a smoke detector operation tester, and is a smoke generation composition for an operation tester made of paraffin wax, particularly paraffin wax having a melting point of 40 to 113 ° C. It is characterized by being.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensor cover that has an opening and covers the smoke sensor from the opening side, and is disposed on the opposite side of the opening of the sensor cover. It is a smoke detector operation tester having a smoke generating section for holding a solid smoke generating agent made of paraffin wax that emits smoke in a cover, and a heating section for heating the solid smoke generating agent to generate smoke.

According to the present invention, by using solid paraffin wax as the smoke generating agent used in the smoke detector operation tester, the operation of the smoke detector without using a gas such as an alternative chlorofluorocarbon gas that affects environmental warming. It is possible to provide an operation tester that can be tested and does not cause environmental damage.
In addition, solid paraffin wax used as a smoke generating agent has a lower smoke generation temperature (initial accumulation point) and a higher flash point than liquid paraffin, which has been used as a conventional smoke generating agent. Since it is difficult to handle and is solid, it is easy to handle, safe for the human body, and has an excellent effect of not destroying the environment.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the smoke detector operation tester of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the other smoke detector operation tester of this invention.

  In the operation tester of the smoke detector, it is necessary to generate smoke or pseudo smoke (for example, atomized particles, mist, etc.) in order to test whether the smoke detector operates. As the smoke generating agent for that purpose, solid smoke generating agents such as industrial incense sticks and oils and fats, liquid paraffin and the like are used as liquid smoke generating agents. On the other hand, liquid paraffin is often used in the spray gas type that generates mist-like particles and mist that do not require heating.

In the operation tester that emits smoke by this heating, it is necessary to have the property that it easily emits smoke (that is, emits smoke from a low temperature) but does not easily generate a flame. Furthermore, it is also necessary that smoke generation can be controlled.
In order to emit smoke easily, it is desirable that the solid smoke agent has a low smoke temperature (initial accumulation point). On the other hand, it is desirable that the flash point of the smoke agent is high for the property of not generating a flame. The smoke generation temperature (initial accumulation point) is the temperature at which the liquid becomes a gas for the first time at atmospheric pressure (1013.25 hPa), and is considered to affect the start temperature of smoke generation. The flash point is a temperature of the liquid when the gas generated from the liquid is mixed with air and the gas is ignited in the presence of a fire type.

Under such circumstances, the present invention is a smoke detector operation tester using a solid paraffin wax as a smoke generator and having a structure suitable for smoke generation by the smoke generator.
Hereinafter, the smoke generating agent of the present invention and the smoke sensing operation tester will be described in detail.

[Smoke maker]
In the present invention, solid paraffin wax (also referred to as solid paraffin) is used as the smoke generating agent.
The paraffin wax in the present invention has a molecular weight of 300 to 500 and a melting point of 40 to 113 ° C. among paraffins (linear hydrocarbons; normal paraffins) represented by the molecular formula C _n H _{2n + 2} (n = 20 to 35). That is, it is a paraffin that is solid at room temperature. Therefore, since it is solid in a room temperature environment such as when it is stored, handled, or attached to a smoke sensing operation tester, it has an advantage that it can be easily stored and handled.
The fuming agent of the present invention is preferably a paraffin wax having a melting point of 40 to 113 ° C., preferably a melting point of 40 to 61 ° C., and more preferably a paraffin wax having a melting point of 40 to 50 ° C. In the case of paraffin wax having a melting point exceeding 66 ° C., the flash point becomes higher, but the smoke generation temperature becomes higher and approaches the flash point. It can be used as a smoke generator by selecting.

Table 1 shows a comparison of the characteristics of the paraffin wax, which is the smoke generating agent in the present invention, and liquid paraffin that is liquid at room temperature while having the same components.
Although paraffin waxes 1 to 5 have a higher average molecular weight than liquid paraffins 1 and 2, the fuming temperature is low and the flash point is high, indicating that the temperature range is wide. In the case of paraffin waxes 6 to 8 having a melting point of 66 ° C. or higher, the smoke generation temperature is higher than 160 ° C. and the temperature range to the flash point is narrowed. Be careful. On the other hand, liquid paraffin 1 and 2 have a high initial accumulation point and a low flash point.

  Therefore, the test of paraffin wax can be quickly started because smoke generation starts at a lower temperature than liquid paraffin. In addition, since the flash point is high, it is difficult to ignite easily, the smoke generation state can be continued for a long time, and the safety is also high. Further, since the temperature range from the smoke generation temperature to the flash point is wide, it has a feature that it is easy to control the temperature at the time of smoke generation, and the cost for the control can be suppressed.

Table 2 shows a comparison of characteristics of fuming when using paraffin wax, which is a fuming agent in the present invention, other solid fuming agents, and conventional propellant gas.
The fuming substance of paraffin wax is mostly white smoke consisting of H ₂ O (water vapor), does not contain soot (carbon: C) and carbon monoxide (CO) that accompanies combustion, and is clear from the components A harmful composition containing sulfur (S) and chlorine (Cl) is not generated, and the safety is high. In addition, it is an inexpensive smoke generating agent that can operate even at low temperatures without odor and very little residue.

  With other solid fuming agents, odor is a problem with rosin, and odor and cost are problems with azodicarbonamide. Moreover, although wood wax is satisfactory in nature, it cannot be used as a smoke generating agent because it is expensive. In addition, solid acetone, mainly calcium acetate, generates harmful acetone as a gas, and does not provide enough smoke to operate the smoke detector. Caustic soda (NaOH) is a powerful drug and easy to handle. In addition, since the melting point is high, it can be seen that it is not suitable for a smoke generating agent in that it requires a lot of heating to generate smoke.

[Operation tester]
1 and 2 are schematic views showing an example of the configuration of an operation tester for performing an operation test of a smoke detector according to the present invention.
1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a fire alarm smoke detector installed on a ceiling 2 of a room. Reference numerals 3a and 3b denote operational testers which cover the smoke detector 1 and emit smoke to make the atmosphere around the smoke detector 1 composed of smoke. The operation testers 3a and 3b are composed of a main body part 4 having a bottom part which constitutes the container, a pressing part 5 which is connected to the upper opening part of the main body part 4 and has elasticity, and a bottom outer center of the main body part 4 It consists of a handle bar 6 made of a long bar-like body connected to the position. The pressing portion 5 is formed of a bellows-like rubber or metal bellows, and eliminates a gap with the ceiling 2 with elasticity during pressing.

Inside the operation testers 3a and 3b, there are provided a smoke generating section 7 in which a smoke generating agent 10 that emits smoke is installed, and a heating section 8 that heats the smoke generating agent 10 and promotes smoke generation. Since the smoke generating agent 10 is solid, it is easy to handle and is supplied in a shape that is set in the smoke generating unit 7 (FIG. 2) or in a state of being filled in a cup-shaped storage container 10a. The container is handled and set in the smoke generating unit 7 for use (FIG. 1).
The heating unit 8 uses a resistance heater 9 for electric heating (a sheathed heater in which a metal heating element is coated with a resin), and is provided around the smoke generating unit 7 to heat the smoke generating agent 10 to generate smoke. Alternatively, a resistance heater may be provided immediately above the smoke generating agent 10 to heat the surface of the smoke generating agent and generate smoke. The electric heating switch, power source, and the like are provided inside the main body 4 or the handle bar 6.
Further, in FIG. 2, the fan 20 can be installed so as to efficiently guide the smoke generated to the smoke detector 1. The fan 20 has a structure that rotates in conjunction with a switch operation for electric heating.

  For example, when the operation tester 3a is pressed to a predetermined position of the smoke detector 1 as in the lever 11 shown in FIG. The switch 12 is provided on the proximal side of the handle bar 6 (on the side opposite to the end connected to the main body 4), as in the operation tester 3b of FIG. The temperature control device (not shown) is incorporated in and out of the gripping rod, and the temperature control of the resistance heater 9 is controlled in order to control smoke generation. It is also possible to perform.

Next, the test operation will be described using the apparatus shown in FIGS.
The tester holds the handle 6, places the opening of the pressing unit 5 on the ceiling 2 around the smoke detector 1, and presses the entire operation tester using the elasticity of the pressing unit 5. At this time, in the operation tester 3a of FIG. 1, the front end of the lever 11 is shorter than the natural height of the pressing part 5 by a predetermined length before pressing, so that the inner upper half of the operating tester 3a is sealed by this pressing. In this state, the lever 11 is contracted and a switch built in the lever 11 is turned on, and the resistance heater 9 is heated to heat the smoke generating agent 10 to generate smoke, so that the smoke is generated around the smoke detector 1. It will drift. Further, in the operation tester 3b of FIG. 2, heating of the resistance heater 9 is started by turning on the switch 12 provided on the hand side of the handle bar 6.

Since this smoke acts as a smoke at the time of fire for the function of the smoke detector 1, when the smoke detector 1 is normal, an output (for example, a notification) to that effect is sent. It can be seen that the sensor 1 is normal. On the contrary, since the output is not transmitted when the smoke detector 1 is not normal, it can be determined that the smoke detector 1 is faulty or inconvenient. When the test of one smoke detector is completed, the lever 11 returns to the original position in the operation tester 3a when the entire operation tester 3a, 3b is removed from the pressed state by lowering the handle bar 6. This switch is also released, and the heating of the resistance heater is stopped, so that it is possible to shift to the preparation state or the next test operation. In the operation tester 3b, the heating can be stopped by turning off the switch 12, and the state can be changed to the next state.
In addition, if the whole pressing part 5 is formed with an elastic body such as a transparent plastic, it is convenient because the tester can visually confirm whether or not smoke is emitted from the smoke generating part 7.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described using examples.

  The paraffin wax 1 of Table 1 is placed as the smoke generating agent 10 in the smoke generating part 7 of the operation tester 3a in FIG. The smoke generating agent 10 was heated. After 10 seconds, the smoke detector 1 was activated and the alarm was confirmed.

  The operation test was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the smoke generating agent 10 was the paraffin wax 2 shown in Table 1. After 7 seconds, the smoke detector 1 ("NE668" manufactured by Noah Co., Ltd.) was activated and the alarm was confirmed.

  The operation test was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the smoke generating agent 10 was the paraffin wax 3 shown in Table 1. After 10 seconds, the smoke detector 1 (“Mamoru-kun” manufactured by Nomi Disaster Prevention Co., Ltd.) was activated and the alarm was confirmed.

  The operation test was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the smoke generating agent 10 was the paraffin wax 4 shown in Table 1. After 8 seconds, the smoke detector 1 ("NE668" manufactured by Noah Co., Ltd.) was activated and the alarm was confirmed.

  An operation test was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the smoke generating agent 10 was the paraffin wax 5 shown in Table 1. After 8 seconds, the smoke detector 1 (“Mamoru-kun” manufactured by Nomi Disaster Prevention Co., Ltd.) was activated and the alarm was confirmed.

  The paraffin wax 6 of Table 1 is placed as the smoke generating agent 10 in the smoke generating section 7 of the operation tester 3b of FIG. 2 having the temperature control device of the resistance heater 9. The pressing portion 5 of the operation test device 3b was placed on the resistance heating heater 9 so as not to exceed the flash point of the smoke generating agent 10 and heated. When the temperature exceeded 160 ° C., smoke began to be generated, but due to high heat, the operation test was stopped in consideration of damage to the smoke detector 1.

  The paraffin wax 7 of Table 1 is placed as the smoke generating agent 10 in the smoke generating section 7 of the operation tester 3b of FIG. The pressing portion 5 of the operation test device 3b was placed on the resistance heating heater 9 so as not to exceed the flash point of the smoke generating agent 10 and heated. When the temperature exceeded 160 ° C., smoke began to be generated, but due to high heat, the operation test was stopped in consideration of damage to the smoke detector 1.

  The paraffin wax 8 of Table 1 is placed as the smoke generator 10 in the smoke generation section 7 of the operation tester 3b of FIG. 2 having the temperature control device of the resistance heater 9, and the resistance heater is set so as not to exceed the flash point of the smoke generator 10. 9 was heated under temperature control. When it exceeded 160 ° C., smoke began to be generated, and its function as a smoke generator was confirmed. It should be noted that the operation test was not performed in consideration of damage to the smoke detector 1 because of the high heat generated during this smoke generation.

(Comparative Example 1)
The operation test was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the liquid paraffin 1 shown in Table 1 was used as the smoke generating agent 10. Smoke was observed after a few seconds, but the test was stopped immediately because a flame immediately developed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Smoke detector 2 Ceiling 3a, 3b Operation test device 4 Main-body part 4a Bottom part 5 Pushing part 6 Handle part 7 Smoke part 8 Heating part 9 Resistance heater 10 Smoke agent 10a Smoke agent storage container 11 Lever 12 Switch 20 Fan

Claims (3)

  A smoke generating composition for an operation tester, which is a solid smoke generating agent used for an operation tester of a smoke sensor, and comprising a paraffin wax.   The fuming composition for an operation tester according to claim 1, wherein the solid fuming agent is a paraffin wax having a melting point of 40 to 113 ° C. A sensor cover having an opening and covering the smoke sensor from the opening side;
A smoke generating part disposed on the opposite side of the opening of the sensor cover and holding a solid smoke generating agent made of paraffin wax that emits smoke in the sensor cover;
An operation tester for a smoke detector, comprising a heating section for heating the solid smoke generating agent to emit smoke.

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