KR20080105496A - Receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric outlet is provided to sense that heat is generated in a power line when using a plurality of electric appliances in the outlet to cut off power, thereby preventing current leakage and fire. An outlet receives power from an external wire and supplies the power to a plug. An inner wire(110) is connected to an outer wire and the outlet. The inner wire includes a lower allowance current than the outer wire. A sensor unit(120) senses temperature of the inner wire. A power cutting off unit(130) cuts off power supplied to the outlet when the sensed temperature is higher than a predetermined power cutting off temperature.

Description

Outlet {receptacle}

1 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an outlet according to the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of an example implementation of the outlet of FIG.

3 is a block diagram of the control box of FIG.

4 is a diagram illustrating an installation example of a sensor detecting sensor of FIG. 2.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric appliance, and more particularly, to an electric outlet, which is a mechanism for connecting a wire and inserting a plug to connect a cord used indoors in an indoor wiring of electricity.

As technology advances, much of what has been impossible or only possible in the past is being done by various electronic products. Accordingly, a variety of electronic products of various kinds are widely used in homes and offices.

However, despite the convenience of such electronic products, accidents due to convenient electronic products are also increasing. A representative example is a fire caused by electricity, which is generally caused by an overload of the outlet using multiple electrical plugs in one outlet.

Earth leakage circuit breakers are often used to prevent electric fires. However, in the case of an earth leakage breaker, heat is generated due to congestion of electricity, and when an electric leakage occurs due to a short circuit of a wire after a fire occurs, the earth leakage breaker operates to cut off electricity. In this case, short circuit is performed after the fire occurs, so the electricity is blocked, but it is difficult to prevent the fire.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an outlet that can prevent a fire caused by overload of the outlet in advance by quickly shutting off the supply of electricity to the outlet.

In order to achieve the above object, an outlet according to the present invention is an outlet for supplying power to a plug that is connected to power received from an external wire, and includes an internal wire, a sensor unit, and a power cut-off unit. The inner wire connects the outer wire with the outlet and has a lower allowable current than the outer wire. The sensor unit senses the temperature of the internal wire, and the power cutoff unit cuts off the power supplied to the outlet when the detected temperature is higher than a predetermined power cutoff temperature.

By measuring the temperature change of the inner wire having a lower allowable current than the outer wire of the outlet and cutting off the electricity supply to the outlet, it is possible to prevent fire due to the overload of the outlet in advance.

The electronic device may further include an emergency signal output unit configured to output an emergency signal to the outside when the sensed temperature is higher than or equal to a predetermined emergency signal output temperature lower than the power cutoff temperature. With this configuration, the emergency signal can be output before the power is cut off to notify the user or the facility manager of the fire risk, so that fire prevention measures can be performed more quickly and reliably.

The sensor unit may detect a predetermined gas, and the power cutoff unit may cut off power supplied to the outlet when gas is detected by the sensor unit. This configuration enables fires to be extinguished by detecting fires caused by overheating of the outlet as well as fires caused by other causes.

The sensor unit detects illuminance around the outlet, and the power cutoff unit may cut off power supplied to the outlet when the detected illuminance is lower than a predetermined standard. According to this, even when dust is accumulated in the outlet due to poor outlet management or the outlet is covered with paper or cloth, it is possible to prevent a fire, and to save power by cutting off electricity at night or when the user goes out.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an outlet according to the present invention.

The outlet includes an internal wire 110, a sensor unit 120, a power cutoff unit 130, and an emergency signal output unit 140.

The inner wire 110 is located between the outer wire and the plug connection, and has a lower allowable current than the outer wire.

Allowable current refers to the limit of the current that can safely flow in response to the cross-sectional area of the wire. Current within this limit is called safety current.

If a current flows through a wire, it may generate heat due to electrical resistance and weaken the wire material, or the coating material of the wire may deteriorate and the insulation performance may deteriorate. Therefore, the allowable current according to the wire must be observed.

The sensor unit 120 senses the temperature of the internal wire 110, and the power cutoff unit 130 cuts off the power supplied to the outlet when the detected temperature is higher than or equal to a predetermined power cutoff temperature.

The predetermined power cutoff temperature is a temperature preset by an outlet manufacturer or the like, and the sensor unit includes a temperature sensing sensor for temperature sensing.

In this way, by measuring the temperature change of the inner wire 110 having a lower allowable current than the outer wire of the outlet to cut off the electricity supply to the outlet, it is possible to prevent the fire due to the overload of the outlet in advance.

The sensor unit 120 may detect a predetermined gas, and the power cutoff unit 130 may cut off the power supplied to the outlet when the gas is detected by the sensor unit 120.

The predetermined gas is a gas preset by the outlet manufacturer for smoke generated in a fire, and the sensor unit includes a gas detection sensor capable of sensing the preset gas.

This configuration enables fires to be quickly extinguished by detecting fires caused by overheating of the outlet as well as fires caused by other causes.

The sensor unit 120 detects illuminance around the outlet, and the power cutoff unit 130 may cut off the power supplied to the outlet when the detected illuminance is less than or equal to a predetermined criterion.

If the outlet is not properly maintained, dust may accumulate on the outlet, or the outlet may be covered with paper or cloth.However, if the brightness detected by the sensor is dark, the power may be cut off to prevent fire due to this cause. Will be.

In addition, in the case of home appliances that are not used at night or in the absence of the user, it is possible to save the power wasted by cutting off the electricity in the absence of the user.

The emergency signal output unit 140 outputs an emergency signal to the outside when the sensed temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined emergency signal output temperature lower than the power cutoff temperature.

The predetermined emergency signal is a signal preset by the user or the outlet manufacturer, and may be a buzzer sound output around the outlet, or a signal output to a monitor of an external manager such as a guard room.

With this configuration, emergency signals can be output before power off to notify the user or facility manager of the risk of fire, enabling faster and more reliable fire precautions, which can occur in electronic products due to sudden power off. Shock can be prevented.

2 is a block diagram of an example implementation of the outlet of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, when the temperature, smoke, and light are sensed and sent to the control box, the control box processes the signal to generate a first alarm to sound a buzzer and send a signal to the guard. If there is no response, switch to the second alarm in the control box and send a signal to the switch to cut off the power supply.

3 is a block diagram of the control box of FIG. 2.

3 shows a control box, the control box is a device that receives and processes all signals detected by the sensor, the control box requires a DC power source to make a DC power using the AC / DC converter.

The DC power supplies used at this time are 5V and 12V. It processes the signal received from the sensor and sends it to the buzzer when the first alarm is needed, and also sends a signal to the guard room to alert you of the danger. In the event of a secondary alarm, the control box sends a signal to the switch to turn the switch off to completely shut off incoming power.

4 is a diagram illustrating an installation example of a sensor detecting sensor of FIG. 2.

In general, the electrical wiring standard specified in the building code is rated at 220V / 30A for incoming wires, so it can be overwhelmed by overload, so the risk of overload can be overlooked.

In FIG. 4, the wires connected to the lead wires are separately defined inside, and the rating is 220V / 10A, and a temperature sensor is installed on the wire surface. The temperature-sensing sensor used is a thermistor, and the method of operation of the sensor changes the resistance value linearly with the change of temperature.

This resistance change is used as a sensor. When an overload is applied, the surface temperature of the wire rises and the temperature sensor detects it and sends it to the control box. The temperature sensor uses a thermistor, but the thermistor used at low temperature has a characteristic of low resistance when the temperature rises.

The present invention has a primary and secondary alarm system to prevent fire due to overload by using a plurality of electrical appliances in one outlet. In case of overload, the first alarm informs the alarm signal of the danger signal. If there is no further action, if the overload is continued, the power is cut off completely to control the operation of the electronic products. The reason for having the 1st and 2nd stage alarm system is not to impede the performance of the electronic products used.

Existing products that are currently available can shut down electricity completely and cause failure of electronic products. When the overload is detected, the power supply line generates heat when the overload is applied. When the temperature sensor detects the temperature and reaches the preset temperature, the alarm is sounded as a primary alarm, and no further action is taken. Shut off the power completely by the secondary alarm.

The present invention includes a gas sensor to prepare if smoke occurs before the heat that can be detected. In addition, in the case of the smoke generated by the fire in other places as well as the outlet, the existing smoke alarm is installed, but most of the ceiling is installed, there is an effect that can be detected in the case of late detection. Even in this configuration, when smoke is detected, the power is cut off, preventing electrical leakage to secondary and generating a warning sound.

In addition, in the use of home appliances, most electronic appliances use a remote control, so even if the power cord is turned off while the electronic appliance is turned off, electricity loss due to standby power is generated.

The present invention has a light sensor can detect the absence of light in the home or office at night and when there is no light can cut off the standby power of the electronic products by cutting off the power supply of the outlet.

In addition, it is possible to prevent the possibility of fire caused by dust and other foreign matter accumulated in the outlet.

According to the present invention, when using a plurality of electrical appliances in the outlet it is possible to prevent the short circuit and fire by detecting the heat generated in the power line with a sensor to cut off the power.

In addition, there is a gas detection sensor to respond to the fire by detecting the smoke not only fire due to electrical leakage due to electricity, but also caused by other causes.

In addition, there is a light sensor to detect when there is no person in the home or office at night and light is cut off to cut off the power supply of the outlet to cut off the standby power of the electronic products, by dust and other foreign matter This can prevent possible fires.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of some preferred embodiments, the scope of the present invention should not be limited thereby, but should be construed as modifications or improvements of the embodiments supported by the claims.

Claims (4)

As an outlet which receives power from an external electric wire and supplies it to the plug which is connected, An internal wire connecting the external wire to the outlet and having a lower allowable current than the external wire; A sensor unit detecting a temperature of the inner wire; And And a power cut-off unit which cuts off power supplied to the outlet when the sensed temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined power cut-off temperature. The method of claim 1, And an emergency signal output unit configured to output an emergency signal to the outside when the sensed temperature is higher than a predetermined emergency signal output temperature lower than the power cutoff temperature. The method of claim 1, The sensor unit detects a predetermined gas, And the power cut-off unit cuts off power supplied to the outlet when the gas is detected by the sensor unit. The method of claim 1, The sensor unit detects the illuminance around the outlet, And the power cut-off unit cuts off power supplied to the outlet when the detected illuminance is lower than a predetermined reference.

Images