JPH0517080Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Technical field) This invention requires inspection of fire extinguishers installed in general homes, buildings, construction, etc., including the inspection period and whether or not they have been used. This invention relates to a device that displays whether or not a fire extinguisher needs to be inspected so that it can be seen at a glance.

(Background of the idea) It is widely practiced to have a fire extinguisher installed in ordinary homes to provide initial extinguishing of fires. These types of fire extinguishers include pressure-accumulating fire extinguishers whose container is filled with pressure gas and extinguishing agent in advance, and when used, the valve body is opened with a lever and the extinguishing agent is spouted out. There are pressurized fire extinguishers that house a small pressurized gas pump and, when in use, break the seal of the gas pump by rotating a lever, introduce pressurized gas into the container, and squirt extinguishing agent.

All of these fire extinguishers must be inspected to see if they are still usable after a certain period of time has passed since they were installed, or they must be replaced with new ones. Furthermore, if a fire extinguisher has been used even once, it must be replaced with a new one or filled with starting gas or extinguishing agent, regardless of how long it has been since it was installed.

For this reason, traditionally, the year of manufacture was written on the nameplate of a fire extinguisher, and the inspection period was calculated from this year of manufacture, or when a fire extinguisher was used, a mark indicating that it had been used was placed on a part of the fire extinguisher. I was trying to make it come out.

However, as mentioned above, it is troublesome to know when to inspect a fire extinguisher based on the year of manufacture written on the nameplate.
Moreover, in the current situation where many of the consumers do not read the warnings and instructions, or even forget them even after reading them, it cannot be said that the role is being fulfilled sufficiently, and the inspection period is missed. Occasionally, a fire extinguisher may be useless and the initial extinguishment may not be possible.

In order to eliminate these inconveniences, we have developed a fire extinguisher that is equipped with a fire extinguisher inspection time display device that can easily alert users and also allow any person to easily and reliably know when it is time to inspect the fire extinguisher. Kosho 60-
As shown in Publication No. 10592, a small battery, a resistor, and mercury are sealed in a glass tube together with an electrolyte in a casing fitted in at least one of the activation lever and handle of a fire extinguisher, and electrolyzed by energization. A timing element that moves the position of the liquid is connected in series with each other, and a through hole is made in the starting lever or handle.
A fire extinguisher that allows the position of the electrolyte in the timing element to be visually observed has been considered.

However, the inspection timing display device built into this fire extinguisher can only visually read the elapsed time after the fire extinguisher was installed, and during that time, if the lever is squeezed or the lever is not used properly, some of the extinguishing agent or There was no way to know whether or not everything had been injected.

FIG. 1 shows the overall structure of a fire extinguisher equipped with such an inspection time display device, and FIG. 2 shows the upper part of this fire extinguisher.

One end of a U-shaped starting lever 5 whose cross section is open downward is pivotally attached to the upper part of the lid 3 which is attached to the upper opening of the fire extinguishing agent container 1 with a cap nut 2 . A U-shaped handle 6 with an upwardly open cross section is fixed below the activation lever 5.
When using a fire extinguisher, pull out the safety pin 7 upwards.
When the activation lever 5 is pushed down, the extinguishing agent in the container 1 is spouted from the nozzle 9 at the tip of the hose 8.

The activation lever 5 and handle 6 of the fire extinguisher configured in this manner are equipped with a small battery 12 inside the casing 10.
A timer 11 includes a battery (such as a lithium battery that can obtain a stable voltage over a long period of time), a resistor 13, and a timing element 14 connected in series with each other as shown in FIG. is embedded. As shown in FIG. 4, the timing element 14 constituting the timer 11 is constructed by interposing an electrolytic solution 17 between mercury 16, 16 injected into the glass tube 15 from both ends of the glass tube 15. , lids 18a and 18b are attached to both ends of the glass tube 15.
One end of the conductive wires 19a and 19b inserted into the glass tube 15 through a and 18b is mercury 1, respectively.
6 and 16 are electrically connected.

For this reason, the other end of each conductor 19a, 19b is connected to a resistor 1.
3 to a DC power source and a minute current is passed inside the glass tube 15, the mercury on the positive electrode side dissolves into the electrolytic solution from the end, and the mercury in the electrolytic solution flows into the mercury end on the negative electrode side. As a result, the electrolytic solution 17 in the glass tube 15 moves toward the positive electrode side.

This movement speed is extremely slow, and the amount of movement is proportional to the amount of current (the product of current and time), so
The number of years that have passed can be determined by the position of the electrolyte 17.

The timer 11 has such a timing element 14 built into the casing 10 together with a small battery 12 and a resistor 13. The timing element 14 is shown in FIG. 6B.
As shown in FIG. 2, elongated through holes 20a, 2 are provided on the upper surface of the activation lever 5 and the side surface of the handle 6, which are exposed outside the casing 10 and into which the casing 10 is fitted.
0 is provided to allow visual inspection of the timekeeping element 14.

Incidentally, FIG. 6A shows the timer 11 fitted to the starting lever 5, and the casing 10 has a shape that can be fitted to the lower surface of the starting lever 5 without rattling.
Although not shown, the time measurement element 14 is exposed on the top surface. In addition, the same figure B shows the timer 11 fitted to the handle 6.
The casing 10 has a shape that allows it to fit onto the top surface of the handle 6 without play, and the timekeeping element 1
4 is exposed on the side.

A device configured as described above that displays whether or not inspection of a fire extinguisher is necessary is provided on the surface of the glass tube 15 or through the through hole 20.
A scale is attached to the edges of a and 20b, or a display point and words such as "inspection required" and "replacement required" are attached to indicate that inspection is required if the electrolyte 17 moves to that point. By printing it out, you can know when to check your fire extinguisher.

By the way, if the timer 11 is configured as shown in FIG. 3, even if the fire extinguisher is used before the inspection time comes, the electrolyte 17 in the timing element 14 will move slowly as before use, so this timer 11 does not indicate that the fire extinguisher is used and requires immediate inspection and replacement. For this reason, if a fire extinguisher is left as it is after use, there is a risk that those who are unaware of the fact of its use may misunderstand that the fire extinguisher is still fully usable.

(Purpose of this invention) In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, this invention not only reliably indicates when to inspect a fire extinguisher, but also indicates the length of time from the time of installation to the time of use of a fire extinguisher. The electrolyte in the timer's timing element immediately moves rapidly, indicating that the fire extinguisher is already used and that the fire extinguisher needs to be inspected and replaced.
The purpose is to provide a device that displays whether or not a fire extinguisher needs to be inspected.

(Structure of the present invention) The device of the present invention that indicates whether or not inspection of a fire extinguisher is necessary connects a conductor that short-circuits the resistor in parallel with the resistor in the circuit that constitutes the timer, and also connects a conductor that short-circuits this resistor. A switch that can be held is provided, and this switch, which is open when the fire extinguisher is installed, is closed when the fire extinguisher is activated, and is kept closed thereafter.

(Operation of the present invention) In the device configured as described above that indicates whether or not a fire extinguisher inspection is necessary, the electrolyte in the timer's timing element slowly moves to extinguish the fire when the fire extinguisher is not in use. When the self-holding switch is closed when the fire extinguisher is used, and the resistor is short-circuited through this switch, a relatively large current flows through the timing element. As a result, after the fire extinguisher is used, the electrolyte will move rapidly and the timer will indicate that the fire extinguisher is in need of service.

(Embodiments of the present invention) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail while explaining the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows the circuit of the timer 11 of the device for indicating whether or not inspection of the fire extinguisher of the present invention is necessary. A timer 11 in which a small battery 12, a resistor 13, and a timing element 14 are connected in series is connected to a conductor 21 in parallel with the resistor 13, and a switch 22 is provided in the middle of the conductor 21. This switch 22 is normally in an open state, and is of a self-holding type that closes when the fire extinguisher is activated and maintains this state after being closed.

The switch 22 of the timer 11 configured in this way
The structure for closing the fire extinguisher when it starts is timer 1.
The pin 23 protruding from the casing 10 of
The switch 22 may be constructed so that the contact point of the switch 22 is closed by being pushed by the activation lever 5 or handle 6 when the fire extinguisher is activated.

That is, when the timer 11 is attached to the bottom surface of the starting lever 5, as shown in FIG.
A pin 23 is provided on the lower surface of the casing 10 of No. 1 so as to be freely removable and removable, and when the activation lever 5 is pushed down when starting the fire extinguisher, this pin 23 hits the upper surface of the handle 6 and is pushed into the casing 10, so that the switch 22 is closed. Make it.

In addition, when the timer 11 is attached to the top surface of the handle 6, as shown in FIG. It hits the bottom surface and is pushed into the casing 10 so that the switch 22 is closed.

In either case, unlike the case shown, the pin 23
Instead of providing it in the casing 10, it is planted and fixed on the lever 5 or the handle 6, and when the lever is pressed down, the pin is inserted into the casing 10 from the hole provided in the casing 10.
You may go inside and press the switch 22.
In this way, by fixing the pin 23 to the lever 5 or the handle 6 instead of the casing 10, it is possible to prevent the display from being pushed out of order by mistake or mischief.

Furthermore, the switch 22 can be configured to be closed by the movement of the lever 24 that falls in the direction of arrow a in FIG. You can also do it.

Since the device of the present invention that indicates whether or not inspection of a fire extinguisher is necessary is configured as described above, in normal times, a minute current is applied to the timing element 14 through the resistor 13 (for example, a high resistance of about 30 MΩ). The electrolyte 17 in the timing element 14 moves slowly to indicate the period since the fire extinguisher was installed and indicates the inspection period, but when the fire extinguisher is used, the switch 22 is closed and the resistor 13 is shorted. , a relatively large current is passed through the timing element 14 (having a resistance of about 1KΩ),
The reaction between the elution of mercury into the electrolytic solution 17 and the precipitation of mercury from the electrolytic solution 17 occurs rapidly, and the electrolytic solution 17 is moved to the end of the glass tube 15 in a short time, and the fire extinguisher is used up. This indicates that the device is in a state that requires maintenance or replacement.

It will be more effective if the scale plate arranged along the glass tube 15 is provided with a scale indicating the lifespan of the fire extinguisher, or if it is provided with letters or colors indicating that it is time for inspection or that replacement is required. be.

If the switch 22 is closed and a current is passed through the timing element 14 without providing any resistance, the current may be too strong and the electrolyte 17 may be decomposed. Low resistance, timing element 14
It may also be connected in series.

(Effects of the present invention) The device of the present invention for inspecting fire extinguishers and indicating whether or not they are necessary is configured and operates as described above. It is effective in preventing the danger of leaving an unusable fire extinguisher as it can call people's attention, and it is easy to know when to check the fire extinguisher even without prior knowledge. Additionally, after using the fire extinguisher, the display will immediately display until it is full, which eliminates the danger of leaving the fire extinguisher unattended after use.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a side view of a fire extinguisher equipped with an inspection timing display device, Fig. 2 is a top perspective view, Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of a timer, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a timing element, Fig. 5
The figure is a circuit diagram of the timer of the present invention, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing two examples of the casing of the timer. 1... Extinguishing agent container, 2... Bag nut, 3... Lid, 4... Shaft, 5... Starting lever, 6... Handle,
7...Safety pin, 8...Hose, 9...Nozzle,
10...Casing, 11...Timer, 12...
Small battery, 13... Resistor, 14... Timing element, 1
5... Glass tube, 16... Mercury, 17... Electrolyte, 18a, 18b... Lid, 19a, 19b...
Conductive wire, 20a, 20b...through hole, 21...conductor wire,
22...Switch, 23...Pin, 24...Range.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] At least one of a starting lever 5 for starting the fire extinguisher and a handle 6 provided below this starting lever 5 has a small battery 12 in a casing 10, a resistor 13, and an electrolyte sandwiched in a glass tube 15. A timer 11 containing mercury sealed in the mercury and a time measuring element 14 which can be energized from both ends of the glass tube and connected in series is inserted into the opening 20a of the activation lever 5, and a handle. Through hole 20b drilled in 6
Accordingly, the electrolyte 1 of the timing element 14 of the timer 11 is
In the fire extinguisher inspection timing display device which allows visual inspection of the timer 7, there is provided a self-holding switch 2 in the middle of the conducting wire 21 that short-circuits the resistor 13 of the timer 11.
A device for displaying whether or not inspection of a fire extinguisher is necessary, characterized in that the switch is closed by the activation operation of the fire extinguisher.