JPH0481235B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The present invention relates to a connection device for an alarm provided for detecting changes in surrounding conditions. Note that such a connecting device is not known in the past.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Equipment serving to monitor changes in surrounding conditions is generally connected to a central signal station in large numbers or small numbers individually or in groups. It consists of alarms that are spatially divided. Such alarm equipment must be tested for functionality at regular intervals if a reliable response in the event of an alarm is to be guaranteed.

In modern alarm systems, where up to 100 alarms are connected to one central signal station, different types of alarms are also installed, for example in fire alarm systems. Optical smoke alarms, ionization smoke alarms, fire alarms, heat alarms and/or gas alarms are commonly connected to one central signal station. In that case, in addition, the alarms in the potentially explosive rooms are installed in explosion protection equipment and connected to the same central signal station. Additionally, smoke alarms and intrusion alarms may be connected together to a central signal station within the alarm system.

Known smoke alarms typically include a mounting member or
It consists of an annunciator socket which is mounted within the area to be monitored and into which the annunciator assembly is inserted. In smoke alarm installations with standard type alarms, the entire alarm connection is of the same type. In modern installations with mixed types of alarms, especially those that include explosion-proof types of alarms in addition to normal alarms, however, special types of alarms may also be used. It is necessary to ensure that they can be installed at the locations considered for them. The annunciator sockets are therefore each constructed in such a way that only a certain type of annunciator can be inserted into the socket provided for that purpose. Once the correct annunciator socket was installed, it was ensured that no erroneous annunciator device could be inserted.

In order to avoid having to provide too many types of alarm sockets, standard type alarm sockets are constructed so that these sockets are compatible with the type of alarm for which they are installed. It is designed to be changeable so that it is special to others. For this purpose, coupling mechanisms have been developed which respectively ensure that only the correct alarm device can be plugged into the socket to which it belongs, i.e. only into this socket. ing.

From DE 2916412 A1, the socket plate is provided with additional means, which
The annunciator head to be connected to a certain defined socket plate is determined, in which case the plug-in device for each type of detector head is associated with each one.
a coupling mechanism which is engageable with a defined plug device by means of an auxiliary means, so that in each case only a defined affixed detector head can be connected to the socket plate; has become publicly known. In this case, the socket plate is the same for all types of annunciators, in which case the coding of the sockets for the individual annunciators can be carried out on site during the respective installation of the equipment.

However, other characteristics of modern notification equipment are:
Not only are different types of alarms, such as those mentioned above, assembled in one alarm system, but also alarms of the same type can be combined in one row under different ambient conditions. The same type of compatible alarm shall be used. For example, it is desirable to use ionization smoke alarms with increased electrical protection within defined areas, e.g. in installations in nuclear factories or in case of significant lightning hazards. or may be required. Furthermore, it may be necessary to install external alarm indicators on the annunciator or to address each individual annunciator device separately. In the latter case, on the one hand, addressing all annunciators or simply
It is desired to address only the individual so-called "main annunciator" M1, and to install a related so-called "sub annunciator" S1 near this "main annunciator". This "auxiliary annunciator" then has the same addressing as the "main annunciator" to which it is attached.

For each purpose, the requirements, which are still very different, must be met taking into account the location of installation and the type of special use desired in order to have a suitable type of alarm. Therefore, it becomes necessary to make a large number of different types of alarms and make them available for free use. An additional difficulty would then be that there would have to be a correspondingly large number of annunciator sockets or sockets with different codings, and therefore for each installation location and type of use. , a corresponding socket will exist.

Other difficulties arise when reinstalling, in case of maintenance and management work that is required within a defined time interval, often in which the alarm is transported to the factory for renewal, ensuring that the correct alarm is always It must be confirmed that the socket is inserted into the socket to which it belongs. This places a significant workload on service personnel when a large number of annunciators have to be replaced.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of previously known smoke alarm equipment and also includes different types of alarms.
A connection that allows individual alarms or groups of alarms to be manufactured in a simple manner, in particular smoke alarm equipment, adapted to different ambient conditions or to a defined purpose of use. It is based on the problem of obtaining equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connection device which makes it possible to simplify the service work in notification installations of the above-mentioned type.

Means for solving the problem A device for detecting defined changes in the surroundings, located in the annunciator socket between the annunciator device and the central signal station, and connected to the central signal station. According to the invention, the present invention is provided for groups of alarms, which are provided in The connecting device is
The alarm socket is provided with a connector member in which is installed an electrical circuit for adapting the alarm to the ambient conditions or intended use and for mechanical connection with the alarm socket. To make an electrical or optical connection or an electrical and optical connection between the central signal station and an opposing member that makes an electrical and/or optical connection via an electrical conductor or an optical conductor. A specific arrangement or shape for electrically and mechanically connecting a first contact device (hereinafter referred to as "first coded contact device") with a specific arrangement or shape to an alarm device; The invention is characterized in that it has a shaped second contact device (hereinafter referred to as "second coded contact device").

Embodiments Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings showing embodiments thereof.

In FIG. 1, an alarm socket 1 of a smoke alarm according to an embodiment of the explosion-proof type is shown in a perspective view. This annunciator socket 1 is fixed in the area to be monitored, preferably on its ceiling. This socket 1 is closed by a cover (not shown), into which an alarm device (not shown) is inserted and led to the alarm device via electrical contacts 2. .

In the annunciator socket 1 there is a first coded contact device 7, which in this embodiment is designed as a contact vane 7. This contact vane 7 has a U shape, in this case U
One leg of the shape, each (cast in resin)
A connection is made with an electrical circuit 8, while the other leg engages in a slit 6 in a counter member 4, which is also not shown, via an electrical conductor, not shown. Make electrical connections with the central signal station.

Fixedly connected to the annunciator socket 1 is a counter member 4 which, on the side facing the connector member 9, has a contact vane 7.
It has a slit 6 for receiving the
On the opposite side it has an opening 3 for receiving a conductor leading to a central signal station, not shown. The fastening of the wires takes place by means of spring clamp contacts 5, which are known per se. In the illustrated embodiment, electrical contacts 2 are likewise located on the counterpiece 4, making an electrical connection with an alarm device, which is not illustrated. This ensures a good mechanical connection with the annunciator device. The counter member 4 has an electrical connection such that it is ensured that an electrical connection to the central signal station takes place, in this case via an electrical circuit 8 arranged in the connector member 9. There is. However, the electrical contacts 2 can also be mounted on the connector member 9 or on its cover 91 or even on a cover (not shown) of the alarm socket 1, in which case:
A corresponding contact vane engages the counter member 4 .

The electrical circuit 8 in the connector member 9 serves to adapt the alarm to different ambient conditions and/or intended use. In the illustrated embodiment, it is assumed that the alarm is to be installed, for example, in an explosive environment. All potentially explosive circuit elements in the electrical circuit 8 are therefore mounted in the connector member 9 and encapsulated in such a way that flammable gases and the like cannot enter. In the case of this embodiment, these circuit elements are cast in resin. The first contact device 7 is coded in such a way that the alarm socket 1, which is installed in an explosive environment, can only be inserted into a connector part 9 which is made in an explosion-proof type configuration. has been done. This means that, for example, the contact blade 7
This is done by arranging them in a certain number and at certain intervals. Slit 6 in the opposing member 4
have the same arrangement and the same spacing as the contact vanes 7. This can be done in a simple manner by closing off the unnecessary slits 6 with blind plugs. Some electrical connections in the counter member 4 lead to the contacts 2 to the annunciator device, other electrical connections lead to the opening 3
It is familiar to In this case, only the openings 3 required for the electrical connection with the central signal station are routed with electrical wires.

In FIG. 2, the same annunciator socket 1 is shown on a slightly smaller scale. The connector member 9 is closed by a cover 91. Two coded pins 92 and 93 are placed on the cover 91 and these pins 92 and 93 protrude through the cover, which is not shown in detail, of the annunciator socket 1. , to ensure that only annunciators having openings corresponding to these coded pins 92 and 93 can be inserted into the annunciator socket 1.
It is located. That is, in the present case the smoke alarm of the protected type is arranged to ensure that it can only be inserted into the alarm socket 1.

The double coding of the connecting device according to the invention cannot be changed in the field and therefore changes can be made easily, accidentally or without authorization during assembly or maintenance. It is guaranteed that this will not happen.

However, at a later point it may be possible to install other types of alarms in a defined area, for example because flammable gases are to be used in that area, or to install individual alarms, Alternatively, it may occur that it is necessary or desired to adapt a group of annunciators to changed environmental conditions. In this case, it is necessary to change the alarm to an explosion-proof construction. The annunciator socket according to the invention ensures that in this case the electrical circuit 8 is also replaced. This is because it is not possible to change the coding of both contact devices.
All connector members 9 must be replaced. The coding of the alarm device is likewise fixedly housed, so that at any given time only a suitable alarm device can be installed in the alarm socket 1 provided with the correct connector element 9. to be able to be plugged into.

On the other hand, it is unnecessary to also replace the annunciator socket. This is because it is necessary to adapt the coding of the counterpiece 4 to the coding of the new connector part 9, for example by removing the blind plug from the slot 6 and inserting it again according to the new coding. Because it just is.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a connector member 9 according to the invention which has not only electrical contacts 7 but also an optical coupling in the form of an optical conductor 71. FIG. This connection device connects individual alarms and
The signal connection to and from the central signal station is useful for signaling installations which are carried out by means of optical conductors. The top view of the connector member 9 shown in FIG. 3 shows that the optical conductors 71 can be coded similarly to the electrical contacts 7, i.e. separated from each other by different spacings It shows that you can do it. Other encoding possibilities are explained further below.

Inside the connector member 9 are an electrical circuit 8 and a third
Not shown in the figure. An electro-optic converter is arranged to exchange electrical signals into optical signals or to deliver such optical signals from the annunciator device. Such converters are generally known and
It is also not a subject of the present invention and therefore will not be described in more detail. In this case, the opposing member 4 not only has electrical contacts, but also
At the location of the slit 6 it also has an optical conductor which corresponds exactly to the arrangement of the optical conductor 71 in the connector element 9. The transmission of the signals to the central signal station likewise takes place by means of optical conductors.

Connector member 9 may also consist of a different combination of electrical contacts 7 and optical conductors 71 than that shown in FIG. It is also possible for the signal transmission from the alarm device to the electrical circuit 8 to take place via optical conductors as well.

FIG. 4 shows an optical conductor 71 and, respectively,
A cross section of a portion of the connector member 9 and the counter member 4 is shown along line A--A in FIG. For example, an optical conductor 71, which may be surrounded by an opaque synthetic resin layer 72, is fixedly disposed within the connector member 9 and is led to an electro-optic converter 10, which The device 10 may, for example, be a transmitter or a receiver and makes a functional connection to the electrical circuit 8. The other end of the optical conductor 71 is inserted into the counter member 4 of the annunciator socket 1 and makes an optical connection with a correspondingly arranged optical conductor 74 in the counter member 4; This optical conductor 74 leads to the central signal station.

The connecting device according to the invention has been described in the above embodiments in such a way that the male member is attached to the connector member 9 and the female member to the counter member 4.
However, the connecting device can also be formed in such a way that the male part is provided on the counter member 4 and the female part on the connector member 9. The electrical contacts 7 and the optical conductors 71 can also have other cross-sections, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. They can also have, for example, a square, oval or trapezoidal cross section. With these different cross sections, a coding of the first contact device can likewise be achieved. This type of encoding can also be used in combination with the encoding described with respect to Figures 1-4, or
The former ones can also be replaced by the latter ones.

For example, it may be desired to make the annunciators addressable so that at a central signal station it is known which annunciators have responded. Here, all the alarms can be addressed, or simply each "main alarm" can be addressed, and "secondary alarms" that cannot be addressed can be installed near it. Another possibility arises. For installation within a defined area,
It may be necessary to provide an alarm with increased reliability against electrical disturbances or to make it safe against lightning. In the case of other alarms, it may be necessary or desirable to mount the alarm indicator at or near the alarm. The connection device according to the invention provides in all these cases a substantial simplification of the type of electrical circuit 8 necessary for adaptation.
can be accommodated in the connector member 9, thereby making it possible. It is then only necessary to have a correspondingly large number of coupling devices. The connecting device according to the invention ensures, inter alia, increased safety against errors during assembly and maintenance of the alarm.

Effects of the Invention Since the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, it simplifies the installation, maintenance, and management of alarms in equipment where many different types of alarms are installed, and It is not necessary to register the type or installation location, and the coding means for a certain alarm type can be selectively changed, thereby making it possible to respond to changes in overall and surrounding phenomena in the unlikely event of a change. The advantage is that a flexible and adaptable installation is produced from a single, standardized component. That is, according to the present invention, if all the alarms in such alarm equipment are equipped with circuit components adapted to the surrounding environment, a problem arises in that a large number of alarms must be prepared to match the surrounding environment. By providing two coded contact devices, and by providing the circuit part of the alarm that is prepared according to the surrounding environment as a connector member in the alarm socket, the number of types of alarms can be reduced. Furthermore, with this configuration, it is possible to connect the alarm and the alarm socket and between the alarm socket and the connector member without error. This is a secondary effect that can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view of an alarm socket with a connecting device in which the electric circuit is cast in synthetic resin; FIG. A perspective view of an alarm socket with a closed connection device, FIG. 3 a top view of a connection device with a contact device for an alarm socket with electrical contacts and optical conductors; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line A--A of FIG. 3 of the connecting device with optical conductors. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Alarm socket, 2... Electrical contact, 3... Opening, 4... Opposing member, 6... Slit, 7, 71... Contact or conductor, 8... Electric circuit, 9... Connector member, 10... Optical receiver and ( or) transmitter, 4
2,43...coded pin, 91...cover, 92,
93... Encoding means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An alarm connection device disposed in an alarm socket between an alarm equipment and a central signal station for a group of alarms connected to a central signal station, which The group of devices includes connection devices for alarms, which are intended for the detection of defined changes in the surrounding environment and include different types of alarms, as well as different environmental conditions or defined purposes of use. , a connector member 9 is provided in the alarm socket 1, and an electrical circuit 8 is provided in the connector member 9 for adapting the alarm to the ambient conditions or the intended use; a counter member 4 for mechanical connection with the device socket 1 and for making an electrical or optical or electrical and optical connection with the central signal station via electrical or optical conductors or electrical and optical conductors; a first coded contact device 7, 71 for electrical or optical or electrical and optical connection with and a second coded contact device for electrical and mechanical connection with the alarm installation. A connection device for an alarm, characterized in that it has contact devices 2, 92, 93. 2. The first coded contact device 7, 71 of the connector part 9 is designed as a plug 7;
2. A connecting device for an alarm according to claim 1, wherein the plug 7 can be freely inserted into the corresponding opening 6 of the facing member 4, thereby creating an electrical connection. 3. The first coded contact devices 7, 71 of the code member 9 contain optical conductors 71, 72, the free ends of which are insertable into the corresponding openings 6 of the counter member 4. 2. A connecting device for an alarm as claimed in claim 1, in which an optical conductor 74 is arranged in the opposing member 4 for transmitting a signal to a central signal station. 4. The first coded contact device 7, 71 and the counter member 4 contain optical conductors 71, which contact each other without foreign media for the transmission of the signal. An alarm connection device according to claim 1. 5 The first coded contact device 7, 71 is
It includes an optical conductor 71 and also includes an optical receiver 10 or an optical transmitter 1 within the connector member 9.
0 or optical receiver 10 and optical transmitter 1
The alarm connection device according to claim 1, wherein 0 is arranged. 6 The first coded contact device 7, 71 is
5. Connecting device for an alarm according to claim 1, comprising slits with different spacings, holes with different shapes or pins with different cross sections. 7 Second coded contact device 2,92,9
3 consisting of coded pins 92, 93 arranged on the side of the connector member 9 opposite the electrical contacts 2 and the alarm device. The connection device for the alarm described in . 8. An electrical circuit 8 is provided in the connector member 9, which electrical circuit 6 contains circuit elements that all have an explosion risk, and which electrical circuit 8 is provided in such a way that it is protected against explosion. An alarm connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which a synthetic resin is cast. 9. An electric circuit 8 is provided in the connector member 9, and the alarm can be addressed from a central signal station via the electric circuit 8. The alarm connection device according to item 1.