JP2012185705A - Smoking tester - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a smoking tester which is used for a performance test of a smoke detector by using a smoke generator with a small global warning coefficient and applying high voltage to the smoke generator for electrostatic atomization.SOLUTION: In a smoking tester for atomizing a smoke generator 33 stored in a tank part 32, and discharging the fog-like smoke generator 33 to a smoke detector SD to execute a performance test, the smoke generator 33 composed of water or an admixture with a small global warming coefficient, including at least water is used for the smoke generator 33, high voltage is applied to a metal pipe 34 with which the smoke generator 33 is supplied to electrostatically atomize the smoke generator 33, and the smoke generator 33 subjected to electrostatic atomization is heated by a heater 35 to be fog-like smoke S.

Description

  The present invention relates to a smoke tester for performing an operation test by electrostatically atomizing a smoke generating material with a high voltage and releasing it as a pseudo smoke to a smoke detector.

  Some conventional smoke testers atomize the smoke generating material using Freon gas (HFC-134a) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-79090 (2nd page)

  However, the fluorocarbon gas described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is not good for the environment because of its large global warming potential.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. The operation of the smoke detector is performed by electrostatic atomization by applying a high voltage to a fuming material having charging properties without using chlorofluorocarbon. The purpose is to provide a smoke tester for use in the test.

  The smoke tester according to the present invention atomizes the smoke generating material accommodated in the tank portion, and discharges the fog generated smoke material to the smoke detector to perform an operation test. The first electrode is provided with electrostatic atomizing means for applying a high voltage to atomize the smoke generating material.

  In the present invention, pseudo smoke is generated by applying a high voltage to the smoke generating material having charging properties to electrostatically atomize the smoke generating material. Since the smoke is sent into the smoke detector and retained, the operation test is performed, so that the smoke generating material can be atomized without using chlorofluorocarbon. Therefore, the operation test of the smoke detector can be performed without deteriorating the global environment.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a smoke tester according to Embodiment 1. FIG.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a smoke tester according to an embodiment.
In FIG. 1, the appearance of the smoke tester in the embodiment is, for example, a cylindrical first casing 1 having a partition plate 11 on the lower side, and a bottomed cylindrical shape attached to the lower portion of the first casing 1. The second casing 2 and a silicon cover 4 that is detachably attached to the upper portion of the first casing 1 and that can expand and contract in the axial direction. Two shafts (not shown) facing each other are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the first casing 1. Although not shown, the two shafts are rotatably attached to a U-shaped support that is fixed to the tip of the support bar. Thereby, the smoke tester itself can be freely tilted with respect to the support rod.
The above-mentioned support rod has a predetermined length, a smoke tester is provided at one end via a support, the worker holds the other end, and a smoke test is performed up to the smoke detector SD attached to the ceiling. I will bring a vessel. Thereafter, the operator presses the smoke tester against the ceiling, turns on an operation switch 37 described later, and holds it until the smoke generating material is atomized and the smoke detector SD is activated.

  On the upper surface of the partition plate 11 of the first casing 1, a tank portion 32 having a hole in the upper center and an electrostatic atomizing portion casing 3 that covers the tank portion 32 are provided. Further, the partition plate 11 of the first casing 1 is provided with a plurality of air inlets 31 between the electrostatic atomizer casing 3 and the tank 32 and in a concentric circumferential direction. Further, the partition plate 11 of the first casing 1 is provided with a plurality of vent holes 31 a between the first casing 1 and the electrostatic atomizer casing 3 and in a concentric circumferential direction outside the air inlet 3. ing. A ring-shaped smoke circulation path 5 (circulation means) is formed between the first casing 1 and the electrostatic atomizer casing 3 when viewed from above. On the lower surface of the partition plate 11 of the first casing 1, for example, a blower fan 6 that is a blower unit using a DC motor as a drive source is attached.

  Above the electrostatic atomizer casing 3, a nozzle 36 for emitting smoke S toward the smoke detector SD and an operation switch 37 such as a micro switch connected to the circuit board 22 are provided. Yes. In the tank part 32, a smoke generating material 33 having charging properties is accommodated. The smoke generating material 33 is charged when a high voltage is applied by the electrostatic atomizing means, and the smoke generating materials 33 repel each other when charged. The smoke generating material 33 is atomized into fine particles by the repulsive force. The smoke generating material 33 is made of water or a mixture containing at least water and having a small global warming potential. The smoke generating material 33 has a smaller global warming potential than that containing Freon gas, which is often used in conventional smoke testers. Note that the smoke generating material 33 is used by being stored in the tank portion 32 while being infiltrated into the absorbent cotton stored in the tank portion 32 or in a liquid state.

The tank portion 32 is provided with a metal tube 34 as a supply means that passes through a hole provided in the center of the upper portion and is inserted into the smoke generating material 33 and supplies the smoke generating material 33. The metal tube 34 may be tubular, but may be a porous metal column having conductivity. The tip of the metal tube 34 is exposed through a hole provided in the upper center of the tank portion 32, and the smoke generating material 33 is pulled up by the surface tension and supplied to the tip of the metal tube 34.
A heater 35 as a heating means is disposed on the distal end side of the metal tube 34. The metal pipe 34 and the heater 35 are connected to a control means described later, and a negative high voltage is applied to the metal pipe 34 and a positive high voltage is applied to the heater 35 by the control means. The metal tube 34 becomes a first electrode when a negative high voltage is applied, and the heater 35 becomes a second electrode having a potential different from that of the first electrode when a positive high voltage is applied. .

  In the second casing 2, for example, a rechargeable battery 21, a circuit for applying a voltage to the heater 35 and the blower fan 6 using the battery 21 as a power source, a negative high voltage to the metal tube 34, and a positive high voltage to the heater 35 And a circuit board 22 of a control means on which a high voltage generation circuit (both not shown) of the electrostatic atomization means for applying each of them is mounted. The high voltage generation circuit is composed of, for example, a Cockcroft-Walton circuit. When the operation switch 37 is turned on, the circuit board 22 energizes the heater 35 and the blower fan 6, and then applies a positive high voltage of, for example, 1 kV to 20 kV to the negative heater 35 to the metal tube 34. Note that the voltage to be applied is appropriately selected depending on the distance between the electrodes.

Next, the operation of the smoke tester when performing the operation test of the smoke detector SD will be described.
When the smoke inflow part SD1 of the smoke detector SD attached to the ceiling is covered by the silicon cover 4 of the smoke tester and the smoke tester itself is pushed up by the support rod, the silicon cover 4 is axially moved. The operating switch 37 is turned on when it contacts the smoke detector SD. At that time, a battery voltage is applied to the heater 35 and the blower fan 6 by the circuit board 22, and a high voltage is applied to the metal tube 34 and the heater 35. At this time, the smoke generating material 33 at the tip of the metal tube 34 is supplied to the tip by a capillary phenomenon due to surface tension, and is slightly raised. When a negative high voltage is applied to the metal tube 34, the smoke generating material 33 having charging properties is negatively charged. Since repulsive force is generated between the negatively charged smoke generating material 33, the smoke generating material 33 is in the form of fine particles (electrostatic atomization) and discharged from the tip of the metal tube 34. Further, since a positive high voltage is applied to the annular heater 35 provided on the tip side of the metal tube 34, the smoke generating material 33 charged negatively is attracted to the heater 35. Since the heater 35 is connected to a power source and is sufficiently heated, the smoke generating material 33 in the form of fine particles is further heated to form finer mist-like smoke S.

  At that time, the smoke S is pushed up by the wind from the blower fan 6 flowing in from the air inlet 31 and discharged from the nozzle 36 into the silicon cover 4. The smoke S discharged into the silicon cover 4 enters from one side of the smoke inflow part SD1 of the smoke detector SD and stays in the labyrinth of the smoke detector SD. On the other hand, part of the smoke S that has not entered the smoke detector SD passes through the smoke circulation path 5 serving as a circulation means and is discharged from the vent 31a by the suction force of the blower fan 6. Then, it again flows into the electrostatic atomizer casing 3 from the air inlet 31 by the suction force of the blower fan 6 and circulates.

  The smoke S that has flowed into the electrostatic atomizer casing 3 is discharged again into the silicon cover 4 from the nozzle 36 together with the mist-like smoke S heated by the heater 35. By repeating this state, smoke S having a high concentration is obtained. On the other hand, the smoke detector SD reports when the smoke S staying in the labyrinth has a concentration higher than a specified value. At this time, if the smoke detector SD does not report, it means that the smoke detector SD has failed.

  As described above, in the embodiment, as the smoke generating material 33 having charging properties, a mixture of glycerin and propylene glycol containing water, or water is used. Then, a high voltage is applied to the electrified smoke generating material 33 that has flowed into the metal tube 34 due to the surface tension to cause electrostatic atomization and discharge. Then, the discharged particulate smoke generating material 33 is drawn and heated by the heater 35 to which a high voltage different from that of the metal tube 34 is applied, and is further formed into a mist-like smoke S. It emits to the smoke detector SD. Thereby, since pseudo smoke can be generated without using chlorofluorocarbon gas, the operation test of the smoke detector SD can be performed without deteriorating the global environment.

  Further, since the smoke S composed of the mist-like smoke generating material 33 discharged to the smoke detector SD is circulated in the first casing 1, the concentration as the smoke S is increased. That is, since the concentration of the smoke S supplied to the smoke inflow portion SD1 becomes high, the operation test of the smoke detector SD can be performed accurately in a short time.

  Moreover, since the smoke generating material 33 is infiltrated into the absorbent cotton accommodated in the tank portion 32, the smoke generating material 33 is not spilled or leaked.

  In addition, since the smoke inflow part SD1 of the smoke detector SD is covered with the elastic silicon cover 4, the sealing property with the smoke detector SD can be maintained without applying excessive force, and workability is improved. A good smoking tester can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, a negative high voltage is applied to the metal tube 34 that is a supply means for the smoke generating material 33 to form a first electrode, and a heater that is a heating means provided at a position away from the first electrode. A positive high voltage was applied to 35 to form a second electrode. And although the smoke generating material 33 was made into particulate form using the electric potential difference by the 1st and 2nd electrode, you may reverse the applied high voltage, for example. Furthermore, a potential difference may be generated by applying a high voltage to one and grounding the other.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st casing, 2nd casing 3, 3 electrostatic atomization part casing, 4 silicon cover, 5 smoke circulation path, 6 ventilation fan, 11 partition plate, 21 battery, 22 circuit board, 31 air inlet, 31a air vent, 32 tank part, 33 smoke generating material, 34 metal tube, 35 heater, 36 nozzle, 37 operation switch, SD smoke detector, SD1 smoke inflow part, S smoke.

Claims (7)

In the smoking tester that performs the operation test by atomizing the smoke generating material accommodated in the tank part and releasing the fogged smoke generating material to the smoke detector,
The smoke generating material according to claim 1, further comprising electrostatic atomizing means for atomizing the smoke generating material by applying a high voltage to the smoke generating material.   The electrostatic atomizing means includes supply means for supplying the smoke generating material, and control means for applying a high voltage to the supply means as the first electrode, and the control means is provided via the supply means. 2. The smoke tester according to claim 1, wherein a high voltage is applied to the smoke generating material.   The smoke tester according to claim 2, wherein a second electrode having a potential different from that of the first electrode is provided on the smoke detector side of the first electrode.   4. The smoke tester according to claim 3, wherein the second electrode includes a heating unit that heats the mist-like smoke generating material emitted from the first electrode by the electrostatic atomizing unit. 5. .   5. The smoke addition test according to claim 1, further comprising a blowing unit that sends the mist-like smoke generating material atomized by the electrostatic atomizing unit toward the smoke detector. vessel.   The smoke supplying test device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the supply means is made of a metal tube or a porous metal column.   The smoke tester according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the smoke generating material is impregnated in a penetrating material provided in a tank portion.

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