JPS63157039A - Smoke sensor and its inspecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control a photodetection signal level according to a light emission signal level by providing a pin member which moves freely to and away from the intersection of the optical axis of a light emitting element and the optical axis of a light receiving element. CONSTITUTION:A smoke sensor 1 is constituted by arranging a light-source side optical system 18 which has the light emitting element 7 at the bottom part of a 1st long hole 5 and a light-reception side optical system 19 which has the light receiving element 8 at the bottom part of a 2nd long hole 6 so that the optical axis of the light emitting element 7 and the optical axis of the light receiving element 8 cross each other outside the 1st and 2nd long holes 5 and 6. further, the pin member 20 is provided to a smoke sensor main body 2 so that it moves freely to and away from the intersection of both optical paths. The quantity of light emission is varied by diffraction or reflection by this pin member 20 to vary the quantity of light reception. Consequently, the light emission signal level of the light emitting element 7 is controlled to control the light reception level of the light receiving element 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a smoke detector and an inspection method thereof, and is particularly suitable for application to a photoelectric smoke detector.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides a smoke detector and an inspection method thereof, in which a pin member is provided in the sensor body so as to be movable back and forth so that the light reception signal level of the light receiving element changes according to the light emission signal level of the light emitting element. In addition, by appropriately selecting the amount of protrusion of the pin member and supplying a test-level light emission signal, it is determined whether or not the sensor is in a state where it can operate normally based on the level of the received light signal. This allows smoke detectors to be maintained in a state where they can be monitored at all times.

[Prior Art] A photoelectric smoke detector has a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element arranged with their optical axes shifted, and when smoke is generated, the light emitted from the light-emitting element is captured by the light-receiving element, and the light scattered by the smoke is captured by the light-receiving element. It is designed to detect the occurrence of smoke.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Depending on where the smoke detector is installed, water vapor, fat, etc. may adhere to the surface of the optical element, reducing detection sensitivity. Therefore, smoke detector sensitivity tests are often performed.

Traditionally, such inspections were performed by an inspector blowing smoke into a smoke detector.

However, this method requires an inspector to carry out the inspection and also requires the complicated operation of blowing in smoke, so it is still insufficient in terms of both man-hours and time. .

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a smoke detector and its testing method that can quickly and accurately test the sensitivity of a smoke detector.

[Means for solving the problem] In order to solve the problem, in the first invention, a light source side optical system 18 having a light emitting element 7 at the bottom of the first elongated hole 5 and a second elongated hole 5 are provided. A light-receiving optical system 19 having a light-receiving element 8 at the bottom of the hole 6 is arranged so that the optical axis of the light-emitting element 7 and the optical axis of the light-receiving element 8 intersect outside the first and second elongated holes 5.6. In the smoke detector 1 disposed in the smoke detector 1, a pin member 20 is provided on the smoke detector main body 2 so as to be movable forward and backward toward the intersection of both optical axes.

The second invention uses the smoke detector 1 according to the first invention, and determines the amount of protrusion of the pin member 20 from the light receiving element when a light emitting signal SL2 is given to the light emitting element 7 at a normal test level. When the light reception signal SR of 8 becomes larger than the threshold level and the light emission signal Sll of the monitoring level is given, the light reception signal SR is set in advance to become smaller than the threshold level, and when the test mode is selected, the test level is set. A light emitting signal S12 is given to the sensor, and based on the level of the light reception signal at that time, it is checked whether or not the sensor is in a state where the omnidirectional operation can be performed normally.

[Function] If the amount of light emitted changes due to the diffraction phenomenon and/or reflection phenomenon caused by the pin member 20, the amount of light received can also change. As a result, by controlling the level of the light emitting signal sent to the light emitting element 7, it has become possible to control the level of light received by the light receiving element 8.

When this smoke detector 1 is used, the light emitting signal level can be varied so that the light reception signal level does not exceed the threshold level during monitoring, and the light reception signal level exceeds the threshold level during inspection. If the light reception signal level does not exceed the threshold level even if the light emission signal S12 that causes the light emission signal S12 to exceed the threshold level is supplied, the light emitting element 7 and the light receiving element 8 have deteriorated, or the lenses 13 and 14 are dirty. There is some kind of abnormality, and even if smoke enters during monitoring operation, it cannot be detected immediately. Therefore, it is possible to test whether the smoke detector itself is normal or not depending on whether or not this threshold level is exceeded.

Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a partially cutaway view of one of the unit boards 3 and 4 constituting the case body 2 of the smoke detector 1. As shown in FIG.

Each unit board 3.4 has a substantially symmetrical V-shaped shape with respect to the center aXX, and has first recesses 5A, 5B on the light source side and second recesses 6A, 6B on the light receiving side, respectively. has. As shown in FIG. 1, panel members 3a and 3b are provided at the upper and lower ends of the unit board 3 so as to protrude integrally with the unit board 3 and parallel to each other. The upper and lower ends of the unit board 4 are panel members 3
A stepped portion (not shown) is formed that engages a and 3b. By engaging these panel members 3a and 3b with the stepped portions, bringing the end surfaces of both unit substrates 3.4 on the recessed portion side into contact, and integrating them with the clip members 16 and 17, a cylindrical optical path side elongated hole is formed. A light source side optical system 18 having a cylindrical long hole 6 and one light receiving side optical system having a cylindrical elongated hole 6 are formed.

A light emitting element 7 is housed in the deepest part of the long hole 5, and a light receiving element 8 is housed in the deepest part of the long hole 6.

The lead wire 7a of the light emitting element 7 is drawn out through a small through hole 9 provided at the bottom that closes the elongated hole 5.
Further, the lead wire 8a of the light receiving element 8 is also led out to the outside through a through hole 10 provided at the bottom that closes the elongated hole 6.

Grooves 11 and 12 are provided in the inner circumferential surfaces of the light source side elongated hole 5 and the light receiving side elongated hole 6, respectively, which are carved at a predetermined pitch in the axial direction. 13 is locked, and an objective lens 14 is locked in the groove 12 of the elongated hole 6 on the light receiving side. Note that the grooves 11 and 12 are not only provided to provide a degree of freedom for positioning the lenses 13 and 14 at optimal positions, but also to prevent rays other than parallel rays from being deflected as much as possible by the crests formed by Sections 11 and 12. Designed for cutting.

In addition to the above configuration, the smoke detector 1 in the device of this embodiment has a screw 20 as shown in FIG. Sensor 1
has a threaded hole 21 extending along the center line XX, and a screw 20 is screwed into this threaded hole 21.

The amount of protrusion of the screw 20 is such that, depending on the light emitting signal 311 of the first level (hereinafter referred to as sensing level) given to the light emitting element 7 during normal sensing operation, a light beam that does not cause the light receiving element 8 to perform a sensing operation is determined. 8, and a second level (hereinafter referred to as inspection level) greater than the second level (hereinafter referred to as inspection level) of the light emitting signal S12 is selected such that the light beam reaches the light receiving element 8 to the extent that the light receiving element 8 performs a sensing operation. .

In fact, if the screw 20 is not provided, even if the light emission signal level for the light emitting element 7 is changed, the light receiving element 8
There was almost no change in the amount of light that reached screw 2.
If 0 is made to protrude, when the level of the light emission signal S1 is changed due to a diffraction phenomenon, reflection at a threaded portion, etc., the amount of light received reaching the light receiving element 8 changes accordingly. Therefore, as described above, it is possible to provide the light emission signal S12 at a test level such that the light receiving element 8 performs a sensing operation and the light emission signal S11 at a sensing level at which the light receiving element 8 does not perform a sensing operation.

An inspection device 25 is configured including the sensor 1 having the screw 20 that can move forward and backward as described above. In FIG. 3, the control section 26 supplies a voltage signal to the light emitting element 7 and takes in a light reception signal from the light reception element 8.
During the monitoring operation, the monitoring operation is performed based on the light reception signal SR. An inspection switch 27 is connected to the control section 26, and when an inspection command signal CON is applied from the switch 27, an inspection program shown in FIG. 4 is started.

That is, the CPU 26a of the control unit 26 uses the memory 26b.
After starting the program stored in step S1, the program proceeds to the next step s2, where a second level light emission signal S12 of the inspection level is applied to the light emitting element 7.

Thereafter, in step S3, the light receiving signal SR is taken in from the light receiving element 8, and in the next step S4, it is determined whether the level of the light receiving signal SR exceeds a threshold level.

As a result, if a positive result is obtained, it is determined that the lenses 13, 14, etc. are not cloudy, the ability of the light emitting element 7 has not deteriorated, and that smoke can be detected when smoke is generated.
” is displayed on the display means 28 in step S5.
The program is displayed at step S6, and the program is ended at step S6.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained as a result of the judgment in step S4, the process proceeds to step S7, and the lens 13, 14 is clouded or the light is emitted because the received light signal level, which should originally exceed the threshold level, does not exceed the threshold level. Element 7
or the light receiving element 8 has deteriorated, that is, the detection ability is insufficient, a message indicating the trouble is displayed on the display means 28, and the program is terminated in step S6.

In the above configuration, during the monitoring operation, the control unit 2
6 gives the light emission signal Sll of the first level to the light emitting element 7, receives the light reception signal SR at that time from the light reception element 8, monitors whether the light reception signal level exceeds the threshold level, and when it exceeds the smoke means 28 for displaying the occurrence of
be displayed and notified.

On the other hand, during the test operation when the test switch 27 is pressed, the control section 26 sends out the second level light emission signal S12, captures the light reception signal level at that time, and the level of the light reception signal SR is lower than the threshold level. When it is small, it is displayed on the display means 28 that the monitoring operation cannot be performed normally.

Therefore, by pressing the inspection switch 27, the inspector can check whether the sensor is working properly or not. If it is not working, the inspector should replace the various parts 7 and 8, and remove any dirt that may have adhered to the lens surface. You can take appropriate measures such as removing the .

According to the above-described embodiment, the light emission level can be switched to the test level without the need for a complicated operation such as spraying smoke on the sensor to check whether the sensor 1 is operating normally. This can be easily done by

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, normal operation is determined by applying a second level light emitting signal to the light emitting element 7, but the light emitting signal level is continuously changed to check whether the light emitting element 7 operates normally or not. It may also be possible to determine whether normal operation is possible based on the level value. In this way, even more accurate judgment can be obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the inspection is performed only when the inspection switch 27 is pressed, but the present invention is not limited to this. Also good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the screw 20 was shown to be movable back and forth in order to adjust the level of the received light signal, but in addition to the screw, a pin or the like can also be used, and the method of moving it back and forth is also important. It is not limited to only along the axis XX.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 26 controls one sensor, but it may control a plurality of sensors.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the first invention, since the pin member is provided which can freely move forward and backward toward the intersection of the optical axis of the light-emitting element and the optical axis of the light-receiving element, the light emission signal level can be adjusted. A smoke detector that can control the level of the received light signal accordingly can be easily obtained.

In addition, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a light emitting signal having a light emitting level that can cause the received light level to exceed the threshold level if the sensor is normal is applied to the light emitting element. A state where the light-receiving element is no longer able to operate normally due to deterioration or the like can be easily detected by a simple handshake.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of a smoke detector according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a method for inspecting a smoke detector according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an inspection apparatus to which this is applied, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing its inspection processing procedure. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Smoke detector, 5... Light source side elongated hole, 6... Light receiving side elongated hole, 7... Light emitting element, 8... Light receiving element, 20.
...Pin member, 26...Control unit, 27...Inspection switch, 28...Display means.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A light source side optical system having a light emitting element at the bottom of the first elongated hole and a light receiving side optical system having a light receiving element at the bottom of the second elongated hole are connected between the optical axis of the light emitting element and the light receiving element. In the smoke detector arranged so that the optical axes intersect outside the first and second elongated holes, a pin member is provided on the main body of the smoke detector so as to be movable forward and backward toward the intersection of the two optical axes. A smoke detector characterized by: (2) A light source side optical system having a light emitting element at the bottom of the first long hole and a light receiving side optical system having a light receiving element at the bottom of the second long hole are arranged so that the optical axis of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are connected to each other. In the smoke detector arranged so that the optical axis intersects outside the first and second elongated holes, a pin member is provided on the smoke detector main body so as to be movable forward and backward toward the intersection of the two optical axes, The amount of protrusion of the pin member is determined such that when a light emission signal of the inspection level is given to the light emitting element under normal conditions, the light reception signal of the light receiving element becomes larger than the threshold level, and the light emission signal of the monitoring level is given. When the received light signal is set in advance to be smaller than a threshold level, and when an inspection mode is selected, the light emitting signal at the inspection level is applied, and the sensing operation can be performed normally based on the level of the received light signal at that time. A method of inspecting smoke detectors to check whether they are in good condition.