Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63J—DEVICES FOR THEATRES, CIRCUSES, OR THE LIKE; CONJURING APPLIANCES OR THE LIKE
  • A63J5/00—Auxiliaries for producing special effects on stages, or in circuses or arenas
  • A63J5/02—Arrangements for making stage effects; Auxiliary stage appliances
  • A63J5/025—Devices for making mist or smoke effects, e.g. with liquid air
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
  • C06D—MEANS FOR GENERATING SMOKE OR MIST; GAS-ATTACK COMPOSITIONS; GENERATION OF GAS FOR BLASTING OR PROPULSION (CHEMICAL PART)
  • C06D3/00—Generation of smoke or mist (chemical part)
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
  • F41H9/00—Equipment for attack or defence by spreading flame, gas or smoke or leurres; Chemical warfare equipment
  • F41H9/06—Apparatus for generating artificial fog or smoke screens
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B15/00—Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
  • G08B15/02—Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B29/00—Checking or monitoring of signalling or alarm systems; Prevention or correction of operating errors, e.g. preventing unauthorised operation
  • G08B29/12—Checking intermittently signalling or alarm systems
  • G08B29/14—Checking intermittently signalling or alarm systems checking the detection circuits
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B29/00—Checking or monitoring of signalling or alarm systems; Prevention or correction of operating errors, e.g. preventing unauthorised operation
  • G08B29/12—Checking intermittently signalling or alarm systems
  • G08B29/14—Checking intermittently signalling or alarm systems checking the detection circuits
  • G08B29/145—Checking intermittently signalling or alarm systems checking the detection circuits of fire detection circuits

Definitions

• This invention comprises an apparatus that has a wide area of use wherever it is sought to generate smoke and smoke-like effects.
• Smoke can be used to check the functionality of various units where the movement of air is involved. Making air flows visible, checking the functionality of smoke detectors and detecting leaks from containers are a few examples.
• There is also a need to use smoke for example: to create effects in emergency situations; for "cultural" events such as films and plays; and, in various hobby activities.
• Air flows can be made visible by observing how the smoke behaves.
• the smoke generator described herein generates visible smoke in a simple, unique and environment-friendly way. It can be used to observe air flows, an essential step not only in the optimum siting of smoke and gas detectors, but also in the optimisation of air flows for heating, ventilation, etc. For both large and small volumes of smoke, it can be advantageously used to create smoke effects for films and plays.
• the smoke generator is just as simple as it is unique - the smoke it generates consists of a powder of small particles with an average size of less than 1 micron. This powder is blown out via a special air nozzle that sets up turbulence in order to create the smoke cloud. When the smoke leaves the nozzle, there is no thermal effect and can thus be manually directed wherever it is required. This is a big advantage.
• the design of the smoke generator can vary widely depending on the quantity of smoke that each application requires.
• a rubber pump such as is used when, for example, measuring blood pressure by generating pressure in the cuff of a sphygmomanometer.
• a further disadvantage is that the simulated smoke generated by pressurised aerosols is short lived. This means that pressurised aerosols cannot be used to test the function of smoke detectors of the so-called sampling type.
• These sampling systems comprise a main unit that houses the smoke sensor. Attached to the main unit are one or more tubular transport hoses that, via negative pressure, can lead fumes a long way to the main unit. Testing the function of a sampling system requires a smoke particle with a very long life and good light reflection.
• the weight and the designs of the applications are further disadvantages of testing the function of smoke detectors by using simulated smoke from pressurised aerosols in purpose-oriented containers.
• simulated smoke from pressurised aerosols in purpose-oriented containers For it to be possible to activate said aerosol containers above a smoke detector, an unnecessarily complicated design is required This drastically increases the weight, which is yet a further disadvantage when one of the purpose-oriented containers is mounted on a long extension shaft for testing high up in a roof.
• aerosol packagings are mostly mixtures of an oil with one or more types of alcohols. From an environmental point of view, production of the packaging requires a lot of energy and most of the raw materials are finite resources. On top of this, being pressurised containers, aerosol packagings are surrounded by transport restrictions.
• a further method for generating smoke is to use titanium tetrachloride, which is a hydrochloric acid smoke. This smoke has great disadvantages in that it is both poisonous and corrosive. Available on the market, an apparatus from Germany uses this method. This apparatus is advanced and contains, amongst other things, control electronics. It is relatively expensive. The unit defined in this application generates smoke completely without any of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
• Swedish patent application 0700589-5 describes a smoke unit of a pyrotechnic nature which, when it burns, generates both smoke and carbon monoxide.
• a disadvantage of the smoke generated in this unit is that, as it is generated thermally, there is diffusion through thermal turbulence. The smoke is thus difficult to place/direct (e.g. along a table top or a floor).
• the invention described in this document makes it possible to "deploy" the desired quantity and type of smoke exactly where it is required.
• the present invention aims to eliminate all the disadvantages of the above-cited technical solutions for creating smoke.
• One basic purpose is to eliminate the negative environmental impact that is one of the disadvantages of the oil or acid drops in the above-detailed methods.
• a further purpose is to simplify and to decrease the cost of currently used equipment.
• Yet a further purpose is that deployed smoke should not be disturbed by thermal effects or by any compressed air/gas used to spread the smoke. Besides being free of these vices, the meagre weight of the powder in the present invention gives the smoke a weightless character in comparison to the heavier particles of today's smokes. Thus, said purposes are fulfilled in a particularly pleasing manner.
• the invention also enables the quantity of smoke leaving the nozzle at any point of time to be selected with great precision. This quantity can vary from a thin strip to a large cloud. In films and plays, large quantities of smoke are used - the present method is excellent for this.
• the low weight and volume of the present apparatus means that, using a shaft or telescopic arm, it is easy to deploy smoke for tests at heights.
• the invention can be remotely controlled using known technologies (no particular need to be specified).
• the smoke which is small particles, can be supplemented with other powder-like substances that have special properties (e.g. colour, scent and taste). If the powder is supplemented by a "whitener", the ability to observe smoke using, for example, lighting is increased. Where a powder is supplemented with ingredients that have radar-reflective properties, observation can be carried out using a suitable instrument. This can be of importance in emergency situations, etc.
• FIGURE 1 shows one design of the apparatus.
• Figure 2 shows another design in aerosol packaging.
• Figure 3 shows yet another design.
• Figure 4 shows a unit on an extension shaft.
• a container (1) as in figure 1 , is designed to have a powder line (3) that runs into a nozzle (2) where the air from a pump (5) that is connected via a hose (4) whirls up the powder (6) into a cloud (8).
• a non-return valve (7) can advantageously be used.
• the design of the nozzle (2) ensures that the air becomes turbulent and is thus mixed with the powder (6) in the container (1) and the air blown in as a flow from the rubber bulb. This is a simple design, but the invention is not limited by said design.
• various forms of motor-powered pumps/compressors can, of course, be used.
• the turbulence of the air that mixes the powder extends outside the nozzle.
• Said property means that the smoke can be easily applied anywhere and, if so desired, near physical surfaces.
• the mixing ratio between "smoke-generating powder” and “free-flow powder” is not critical and can be varied within wide limits. However, this does affect the smoke's characteristics to a certain extent.
• FIG. 3 A further example design is shown in figure 3 where a pressurised container (31) holds, preferably, compressed air and, via the injector mechanism/effect in the injector (33), the powder (34) is sucked up to the nozzle (32).
• a pressurised container (31) holds, preferably, compressed air and, via the injector mechanism/effect in the injector (33), the powder (34) is sucked up to the nozzle (32).
• Figure 4 shows how the smoke generator has been mounted on a shaft (41) to provide simple testing of smoke sensors placed high on a ceiling
• the puff of air necessary to form the smoke can be created by: a rubber pump; a small motor; an electrically powered oscillating membrane; or, an apparatus (42) with an equivalent function.
• the control panel (43) can conveniently be on the shaft (41) and communication can be via cables or wireless.
• the unit can be equipped with lighting, this also preferably operated from the control panel. For the sake of ready clarity, these details have been omitted from the figure. Nevertheless, the function is easy to understand.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Botany (AREA)
• Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
• Plant Pathology (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
• Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=41162090

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 2008
  • 2008-04-11 SE SE0800820A patent/SE0800820L/xx unknown
• 2009
  • 2009-04-09 WO PCT/SE2009/000186 patent/WO2009126089A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2009-04-09 DE DE112009000889T patent/DE112009000889T5/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-04-09 GB GB1018556A patent/GB2472343A/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

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