JP5616828B2 - Smoke tester - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a smoke tester used for a smoke sensor smoke test.

The smoke detector smoking test is to supply smoke or pseudo smoke to the smoke detector and perform an operation test thereof. As an example of a smoke tester used for such a smoke test, Patent Document 1 discloses a pseudo smoke produced by atomizing liquid paraffin in a liquid tank with an ultrasonic vibrator installed at the bottom of the liquid tank. A “smoke detector test device” has been proposed that generates and supplies the smoke detector to the smoke detector.
The smoke detector testing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured such that liquid paraffin as a smoke generating material is supplied from a supply tank to a liquid tank in which an ultrasonic transducer is installed.

JP 59-186093 A

In patent document 1, it is not explained in particular how liquid paraffin in the replenishing tank is supplied to the liquid tank side.
However, assuming that the drainage port of the replenishment tank is at the bottom of the tank and the drainage port and the liquid tank communicate with each other via the communication path, the liquid paraffin in the liquid tank is consumed by atomization, When the water level on the liquid tank decreases, a small amount of air enters the replenishment tank through the communication passage, whereby liquid paraffin in the replenishment tank is supplied to the liquid tank side according to the small amount of air. Conceivable.

However, since the test apparatus is carried, the water surface on the liquid tank side moves up and down, and air flows into the liquid tank even though liquid paraffin is not consumed by the vertical movement of the water surface. As a result, the amount of liquid paraffin supplied from the replenishing tank to the liquid tank becomes excessive, and the water depth in the liquid tank increases more than necessary.
When the water depth in the liquid tank increases more than necessary, there is a problem that the distance from the surface of the ultrasonic transducer to the water surface is increased, and the atomization cannot be efficiently performed.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and aims to obtain a smoke tester that can efficiently atomize by stabilizing the distance from the surface of the ultrasonic transducer to the liquid surface. Yes.

(1) In the smoke tester according to the present invention, the smoke generating material is atomized by an ultrasonic vibrator in a storage tank in which the smoke generating material is stored to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol is blown to the storage tank. A smoke tester for discharging smoke to the outside and testing the smoke detector,
A replenishment tank that replenishes the smoke generating material for replenishment and replenishes the smoke generating material to the storage tank, and a supply path that connects the replenishment tank and the storage tank to supply the smoke generating material to the storage tank. a supply valve for controlling the lower limit sensor provided on the wall surface of the storage tank to detect the lower limit of the liquid level of the reservoir, another provided in the wall surface opposed or orthogonal position in which a lower limit sensor A lower limit sensor, and a supply valve control device that controls the supply valve based on detection signals of the lower limit sensor and the other lower limit sensor , and the supply valve control device includes the lower limit sensor and the other lower limit sensor. In any of the lower limit sensors, the supply valve is opened only when it is detected that the liquid level has fallen below the lower limit value .
(2) Further, in the above-described (1), the supply valve control device is configured such that the lower limit sensor transmits the signal indicating that the water level has fallen below the lower limit value continuously for a predetermined time. Is opened.

( 3 ) Further, in the above (1) or (2) , an upper limit sensor for detecting an upper limit of the liquid level of the storage tank is provided, and the supply valve control device is based on a detection signal of the upper limit sensor. The supply valve is controlled.

( 4 ) Moreover, the thing as described in said (1) -(3) WHEREIN: The introduction path which introduces ventilation to the said storage tank, The discharge path which discharges the aerosol which generate | occur | produced in the said storage tank, and the said introduction path And a check valve that is provided in each of the discharge passages and prevents the smoke generating material in the storage tank from flowing out from the introduction passages and the discharge passages.

( 5 ) In the above (1) to (3) , the storage tank has a cylindrical outer cylinder having a ceiling surface provided with an opening, and an upper end abutting the ceiling surface. An inner cylinder having a lower end opened, and an inlet provided at an upper portion of the outer cylinder for introducing the air flow, and the air introduced through the inlet is formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. The aerosol is guided below the storage tank through the gap, and the aerosol generated in the storage tank passes through the inner cylinder and is conveyed to the outside.

In the present invention, a supply valve that is provided in a supply path that connects the replenishment tank and the storage tank and controls the supply of the smoke generating material to the storage tank, and a liquid level that detects the upper and lower limits of the liquid level of the storage tank A sensor and a supply valve control device for controlling the supply valve based on a detection signal of the liquid level sensor.
Thereby, since the liquid level of the storage tank can be held in a predetermined range, the distance from the surface of the ultrasonic vibrator installed in the storage tank to the liquid level is held in a predetermined range, and therefore A stable water column can always be generated, and efficient atomization can be realized.

It is explanatory drawing of the smoke tester which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the principal part of the smoke tester which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the effect of the smoke tester of FIG.

[Embodiment 1]
The main configuration of the smoke tester 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the storage tank 3 in which the smoke generating material 2 is stored and the smoke generating material 2 for replenishment are stored and stored. A replenishment tank 5 for replenishing the smoke generating material 2 to the tank 3, a supply valve 9 provided to connect the replenishment tank 5 and the storage tank 3 to open and close the supply path 7, and a storage tank 3. An ultrasonic transducer 11, a liquid level sensor 13 that detects the upper and lower limits of the liquid level of the storage tank 3, and a supply valve control device 15 that controls the opening and closing of the supply valve 9 based on a detection signal of the liquid level sensor 13; A blower fan 17 for blowing air to the storage tank 3 and a blower chamber 19 provided with the blower fan 17 are provided.

<Reservoir>
The storage tank 3 is a bottomed container that is provided in the housing 21 of the smoke tester 1 and in which the smoke generating material 2 is stored. The smoke generating material 2 stored in the storage tank 3 is atomized by the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer 11 to generate an aerosol 22.
The smoke generating material 2 is a solution for generating the aerosol 22 and may be, for example, liquid paraffin listed in the conventional example, but generally water (such as tap water) or earth such as glycerin or propylene glycol. It is preferable to use a product in which water is mixed with a drug having a small warming potential.

The storage tank 3 is provided with an introduction path 23 for introducing the wind of the blower fan 17 and a discharge path 25 for discharging the generated aerosol 22.
The introduction path 23 has an opening at the lower end, and is configured by a cylindrical body that faces the lower side of the storage tank 3. The introduction path 23 communicates with the blower chamber 19 in which the blower fan 17 is provided.
The introduction path 23 is provided with a first check valve 27 that prevents the smoke generating material 2 in the storage tank 3 from flowing back into the introduction path 23. The first check valve 27 includes a valve body 29 made of a sphere that can move in the introduction path 23, a valve body holding member 31 made of a net that prevents the valve body 29 from falling into the storage tank 3, The body 29 is in contact with the valve seat 33 to prevent the smoke generating material 2 from flowing out.

The discharge path 25 is configured by a cylindrical body having one end opened toward the lower side of the storage tank 3 and the other end communicating with the outside. Similarly to the introduction path 23, the discharge path 25 is provided with a second check valve 35 that prevents the smoke generating material 2 in the storage tank 3 from flowing back into the discharge path 25. The structure of the second check valve 35 is the same as that of the first check valve 27. In FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are given to the same components. On the outlet side of the discharge path 25, for example, a tube member 37 that can be expanded and contracted in a plurality of stages is connected so that the aerosol 22 can be guided to the smoke detector 38 side.
The tube member 37 has, for example, a tapered shape that expands and contracts in about four steps, and the operator holds the proximal end side of the tube member 37 and operates by bringing the tip close to the smoke inlet of the smoke detector 38. The test can be done.
Further, the tube member 37 may be flexible, and in that case, a holding means for holding the distal end portion by a smoke detector 38 attached to the ceiling surface may be provided separately.
Further, if the tube member 37 is connected to the casing 21 or the outlet side of the discharge passage 25 with a flexible connecting portion, the operability can be achieved even if the tube member 37 itself does not have flexibility. Will improve.

An empty cooking prevention sensor 39 is provided at the bottom of the storage tank 3 to detect that the smoke generating material 2 is less than a predetermined amount and prevent the ultrasonic vibrator 11 from operating in the absence of liquid. ing. Note that the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is stopped when it is detected by the empty cooking prevention sensor 39 that the smoke generating material 2 is less than a predetermined amount.
Further, at the bottom of the storage tank 3, a discharge means 40 having a drain valve (not shown) for discharging the smoke generating material in the storage tank is provided. The discharging means 40 is opened when the smoke tester is not used for a long time, or when the smoke generating material 2 has been supplied to the storage tank 3 more than necessary due to a malfunction of the upper limit sensor 13a. 2 can be discharged to the outside.

<Supply tank>
The replenishment tank 5 is a container for storing the smoke generating material 2 for replenishment. A discharge port 41 through which the smoke generating material 2 is discharged is provided at the lower portion of the replenishing tank 5, and the discharge port 41 communicates with the storage tank 3 side via a supply path 7 that supplies the smoke generating material 2 to the storage tank 3. ing. The supply path 7 includes a vertical tube 7a extending in the vertical direction from the discharge port 41 and a horizontal tube 7b extending in the horizontal direction continuously to the vertical tube 7a. The vertical pipe 7a is provided with a water level sensor 43 so that it can be detected that the smoke generating material 2 in the replenishing tank 5 has been exhausted.

When the water level sensor 43 detects that the smoke generating material 2 in the replenishing tank 5 has run out, the light emitting means (not shown) may emit light so as to prompt the worker to replace the replenishing tank 5. Even if the worker does not replace the replenishment tank 5, if the smoke generating material 2 in the storage tank 3 becomes less than a predetermined amount, the empty cooking prevention sensor 39 is activated and the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is stopped. There is no possibility of failure of the tester 1.
More specifically, a water level sensor 43 that detects the remainder of the smoke generating material 2 in the replenishment tank 5 that is a replenishment means for the smoke generating material 2 and an empty cooking that is provided at the bottom of the storage tank 3 and detects that the smoke generating material 2 is lost. When the AND signal of the prevention sensor 39 is detected, the power may be automatically turned off by a control means (not shown). Thereby, even when the smoke generating material 2 in the smoke tester 1 is completely removed, the blower fan 17 does not have to be kept moving, so that the test can be performed efficiently without using a power source more than necessary.
Further, the horizontal pipe 7b is provided with a supply valve 9. The supply valve 9 is connected to a supply valve control device 15 through a signal line, and the supply valve control device 15 controls opening and closing.

<Blower fan>
The blower fan 17 is provided in a blower chamber 19 provided adjacent to the storage tank 3, and is connected to a control device (not shown) via a signal line. The installation location of the blower fan 17 in the blower chamber 19 is close to the bottom of the storage tank 3, and the storage tank 3 is cooled by blowing air by communicating between the installation space of the blower chamber 19 and the ultrasonic transducer 11. It is possible to cool the ultrasonic transducer 11 provided at the bottom of the. The blower chamber 19 is provided with an ultrasonic oscillation circuit 45, a supply valve control device 15, and a power supply 47. By providing these in the blower chamber 19, the air is cooled by the wind of the blower fan 17.

  The wind generated by the blower fan 17 is sent from the blower chamber 19 to the introduction path 23 and introduced into the storage tank 3. The wind introduced into the storage tank 3 is discharged from the discharge path 25 together with the aerosol 22 generated in the storage tank 3.

<Liquid level sensor>
The liquid level sensor 13 includes an upper limit sensor 13a that detects that the liquid level has reached the upper limit and a lower limit sensor 13b that detects that the liquid level has reached the lower limit. In the present embodiment, the distance between the upper limit sensor 13a and the lower limit sensor 13b is set to 10 mm. Note that this distance can be changed as appropriate.

<Supply valve control device>
When the lower limit sensor 13b detects that the water level has fallen below the lower limit value, the supply valve control device 15 opens the supply valve 9 and supplies the smoke generating material 2 in the replenishment tank 5 to the storage tank 3. When the water level rises and the upper limit sensor 13a detects that the liquid level has reached the upper limit, the supply valve 9 is closed.
In addition, when an operator carries the smoke tester 1 with the power turned on, the water surface moves up and down greatly, and there is a risk of malfunction if the water level falls below the lower limit value. Therefore, the supply valve 9 may be opened only when the lower limit sensor 13b continuously transmits a signal that the water level has fallen below the lower limit value for a predetermined time.
By performing such control, the liquid level is maintained between the lower limit sensor 13b and the upper limit sensor 13a.

The operation of the smoke tester 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
By turning on the operation switch 49, the ultrasonic vibrator 11 and the blower fan 17 are driven. When the ultrasonic transducer 11 is driven, the smoke generating material 2 in the storage tank 3 is atomized to generate an aerosol 22. The generated aerosol 22 is discharged to the outside through the discharge path 25 by the wind generated by the blower fan 17. The discharged aerosol 22 is guided to the smoke detector 38 through the tube member 37.

  When the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is driven to generate the aerosol 22, the smoke generating material 2 in the storage tank 3 is consumed, and when the liquid level falls below the detection unit of the lower limit sensor 13 b, the supply valve control device 15 supplies the supply valve 9. And the smoke generating material 2 in the replenishing tank 5 is supplied to the storage tank 3. When the smoke generating material 2 in the replenishing tank 5 is supplied to the storage tank 3 and the liquid level of the storage tank 3 rises and reaches the detection part of the upper limit sensor 13a, the supply valve control device 15 closes the supply valve 9. . Thus, since the liquid level is always kept between the lower limit sensor 13b and the upper limit sensor 13a while the ultrasonic transducer 11 is being driven, suitable atomization by the ultrasonic transducer 11 can be performed.

  Since the smoke tester 1 is carried around, the storage tank 3 may tilt in the process, but in that case, it is provided in the first check valve 27 and the discharge path 25 provided in the introduction path 23. Due to the action of the second check valve 35, the smoke generating material 2 in the storage tank 3 is prevented from flowing out from the introduction path 23 and the discharge path 25.

As described above, according to the smoke tester 1 of the present embodiment, the liquid level of the storage tank 3 can be maintained within a predetermined range, and thereby, from the surface of the ultrasonic transducer 11 to the liquid level. The distance is kept within a predetermined range, and therefore stable atomization is always possible.
Moreover, since the 1st check valve 27 and the 2nd check valve 35 are provided, even when the storage tank 3 inclines, the smoke generating material 2 in the storage tank 3 does not flow out.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the liquid level sensor 13 including the pair of water level sensors of the upper limit sensor 13a and the lower limit sensor 13b is provided. However, for example, the inner surface of the storage tank 3 and the liquid level sensor 13 is provided. Another liquid level sensor may be provided at a position facing or perpendicular to the wall surface. In the case of only the liquid level sensor 13, if the smoke tester 1 is tilted, the smoke generating material 2 is biased in the storage tank 3, so the liquid level sensor 13 cannot detect the smoke generating material 2 and opens the supply valve 9, It is also conceivable to supply the smoke generating material 2 more than necessary. On the other hand, as described above, if another liquid level sensor is provided at a position facing or orthogonal to the wall surface on which the liquid level sensor 13 is provided, even if the smoke tester is tilted, There is no possibility of detecting the smoke generating material 2 and opening the supply valve 9. In this way, a plurality of liquid level sensors including upper and lower limit sensors are provided, and the supply valve 9 is opened by the supply valve control device 15 only when it is detected that the liquid level has fallen below the lower limit value in any of the liquid level sensors. By doing so, the liquid level of the storage tank 3 can be more reliably held within a predetermined range.

[Embodiment 2]
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a main part of the second embodiment, and shows only the storage tank 3 and a part associated therewith. In the first embodiment, the first check valve 27 and the second check valve 35 are provided in order to prevent the smoke generating material 2 from leaking from the introduction path 23 and the discharge path 25.
In the present embodiment, the smoke generating material 2 in the storage tank 3 is prevented from flowing out without providing a check valve.

  The storage tank 51 of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical outer cylinder 57 having a ceiling surface 55 provided with an opening 53, an inner cylinder 59 whose upper end is in contact with the ceiling surface 55 and whose lower end is open, It has an inlet 61 provided at the upper part of the cylinder 57 for introducing the air, and the air introduced through the inlet 61 passes through the gap between the outer cylinder 57 and the inner cylinder 59 and is stored in the storage tank 51. The aerosol 22 generated in the storage tank 51 is conveyed to the outside via the inner cylinder 59.

  In the smoke tester provided with the storage tank 51 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, when the ultrasonic vibrator 11 and the blower fan 17 are driven, the wind of the blower fan 17 is introduced into the inlet 61. From the outer cylinder 57 and the inner cylinder 59 to the lower part of the storage tank 51. Since the wind outlet is only the inner cylinder 59, the introduced wind is discharged to the outside through the inner cylinder 59 with the generated aerosol 22.

  When carrying the smoke tester, as shown in FIG. 3, even if the storage tank 51 is tilted, the smoke generating material 2 flows between the outer cylinder 57 and the inner cylinder 59 and does not flow outside. .

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably prevent the storage tank 51 from flowing out of the smoke generating material 2 with a simple structure without providing a check valve as described above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Smoke tester 2 Smoke generation material 3 Storage tank 5 Replenishment tank 7 Supply path 7a Vertical pipe 7b Horizontal pipe 9 Supply valve 11 Ultrasonic vibrator 13 Liquid level sensor 13a Upper limit sensor 13b Lower limit sensor 15 Supply valve control apparatus 17 Blower fan 19 Ventilation chamber 21 Housing 22 Aerosol 23 Introduction path 25 Discharge path 27 First check valve 29 Valve body 31 Valve body holding member 33 Valve seat 35 Second check valve 37 Tube member 38 Smoke detector 39 Empty cooking prevention sensor 40 Discharge means 41 Discharge port 43 Water level sensor 45 Ultrasonic oscillation circuit 47 Power supply 49 Operation switch 51 Reservoir 53 Opening portion 55 Ceiling surface 57 Outer tube 59 Inner tube 61 Inlet port

Claims (2)

In the storage tank in which the smoke generating material is stored, the smoke generating material is atomized by an ultrasonic vibrator to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol is discharged from the storage tank by blowing to test the smoke detector. A smoke tester,
A replenishment tank that replenishes the smoke generating material for replenishment and replenishes the smoke generating material to the storage tank, and a supply path that connects the replenishment tank and the storage tank to supply the smoke generating material to the storage tank. a supply valve for controlling the lower limit sensor provided on the wall surface of the storage tank to detect the lower limit of the liquid level of the reservoir, another provided in the wall surface opposed or orthogonal position in which a lower limit sensor A lower limit sensor, and a supply valve control device that controls the supply valve based on detection signals of the lower limit sensor and the other lower limit sensor , and the supply valve control device includes the lower limit sensor and the other lower limit sensor. In any of the lower limit sensors, the supply valve is opened only when it is detected that the liquid level has fallen below the lower limit value . The smoke supplying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply valve control device opens the supply valve only when the lower limit sensor continuously transmits a signal that the water level has fallen below the lower limit value for a predetermined time. Tester.

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