JP3609280B2 - Home security system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a security system capable of detecting a gas leak early and reliably in a general household and issuing an alarm to ensure safety.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, city gas and propane gas have become widespread, and it has become possible to supply various heat sources in homes not only in cities but also in rural areas, making the living environment more comfortable. Danger of causing gas explosion or fire due to gas staying in the house when the hose is disconnected from the equipment, the fire extinguishes due to poor combustion or wind, or gas leaks due to aging of the equipment There is.
Such dangers are becoming increasingly a concern as these gas appliances are developed not only for cooking but also for various uses such as heating, bathing and water heaters and become popular nationwide. ing. For this reason, recently, a security system for safety in such an emergency has come to be desired even in a general household, and a gas leak alarm device or smoke which detects a gas leak and issues an alarm. Fire alarms, etc., that operate according to temperature and temperature, are becoming popular in ordinary households.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when installing these facilities, it is only necessary that these facilities can be installed in advance at appropriate places such as the ceiling, floor or wall of the house. However, if these facilities are installed in an existing house, these structures of the house It will be remodeled with a modification, and requires considerable expenses.
For this reason, recently, it has been devised that a sensor and an alarm device are integrated and connected to a power source in the home so that they can be installed relatively easily and used immediately. However, these off-the-shelf homes typically have limited power facilities. Since these alarm devices must always be connected to the power supply, when these alarm devices are installed, a limited number of power supplies will be insufficient. There are often situations where it is temporarily removed when using other and increasing electric devices such as mixers. Further, in these usage environments, the connection is likely to be disconnected due to some contact, which is not preferable as an installation environment for these devices that need to operate reliably at all times.
[0004]
Further, when detecting these gas leaks, the sensitivity varies greatly depending on the installation position in the house, and there is a possibility that an appropriate detection operation may not be performed if the installation location is incorrect. The gas leaked inside the house naturally has the highest concentration in the vicinity of the leaked part, but tends to stay in a certain pattern as it diffuses indoors. That is, propane gas has a specific gravity of 1.56 (atmospheric ratio) and high specific gravity, and tends to stay near the floor of a house. On the other hand, natural gas, which is the main component of city gas, depends on the composition, but methane, which is the main component, is generally light and has a specific gravity of 0.5547 (atmospheric ratio), so it spreads throughout the house and stays in the upper layer near the ceiling. Cheap. Therefore, if the installation position of the detector deviates from these areas, the appropriate sensitivity cannot be exhibited, so that safety such as an early warning cannot be achieved, and the concentration in these areas where the gas stays increases, and the explosion limit is quickly increased. Therefore, it is extremely dangerous.
[0005]
In addition, various types of electrical equipment are used in recent homes, such as those installed on the floor of electric refrigerators, etc., where the installation location is on the top of the wall, such as ventilation fans and air conditioning equipment for heating and cooling. In addition, since a weak spark is emitted as the switch is turned on and off and the motor is rotated, there is a possibility that these gases will ignite in an area where these gases are concentrated, resulting in an explosion and fire. In fact, it is often reported that many of the causes of these gas explosions are due to these.
[0006]
In addition, accidents caused by detecting gas leaks and switching on a ventilator or other fan are also unending. In other words, these electrical appliances themselves contribute to accidents caused by gas leaks.
The object of the invention of the present application is to secure a reliable power source of such a system that detects such gas leaks and issues an alarm in these households, particularly ordinary households, and the types and residence patterns of these gases. It is to ensure further safety by detecting gas leaks reliably and early with high sensitivity in response to the above, and further preventing these electrical devices themselves from becoming ignition sources.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For electrical equipment installed in a state where it is always connected to a power source, such as a refrigerator, ventilation fan, air conditioner, television or facsimile, the power source branched from the connection with the external power source is connected to a gas leak detector and the detector It is a security system in which a power supply is shared by directly connecting a control unit that outputs a control signal according to a detection signal,
More safety can be achieved by activating a display device that warns by an alarm sound or warning light by the output of the control unit, and by shutting off the power supply of the electrical equipment that shares the power source by the output of the control unit. Is a security system
Further, the detector is an LPG gas leak detector for detecting an LPG gas leak, the electric device is installed on the floor, and the detector for detecting a gas leak of city gas. Is a gas leak detector for city gas, wherein the electric device is installed on a wall of a ventilation fan or an air conditioning unit for air conditioning.
[0008]
Many of these electric appliances that have recently spread in many homes are used in a state in which they are always connected to a power supply while being installed in a certain place because of their functions. For example, a refrigerator that is operated by electricity or gas is always connected to a power source because it needs to maintain food freshness, and is not disconnected from a power source such as an outlet. The same applies to ventilation fans, televisions, etc., and they are always connected to a power outlet even when not in use. Recently, disaster information is broadcasted by automatically inputting a television switch upon reception of broadcast radio waves in an emergency, paying attention to these use environment conditions. In addition, a facsimile that has recently been used at home is generally set in a standby state for reception.
[0009]
Therefore, by branching from a circuit connected to an external power source of these electric devices to be a power source, a reliable and stable power source can be secured without providing a power source facility such as a new outlet.
And by utilizing the installation environment of such electrical equipment, it is possible to detect gas leaks with high sensitivity and early detection as a security system combined therewith, and to prevent explosions and fires caused by gas leaks. It can be done reliably. Furthermore, by using such a signal detected at an early stage with high sensitivity, it is possible to prevent ignition from these electric devices and to further enhance safety. In addition, the gas leak detector, the control unit, the alarm generation display device, and the like can be integrated into these electric devices from the above configuration to construct a compact and effective security system as a whole. .
[0010]
In other words, in order to prevent accidents due to gas leaks, it is desirable that the gas is in the environment of use because of the sensitivity of detection of the gas leak state, and the pattern in which the gas diffuses and stays indoors is as described above. Depending on the type, household appliances that are always connected as described above are inevitably close to gas sources, such as kitchens with a heat source for cooking and living rooms where heating facilities are concentrated. In general, in addition to those installed on the floor, such as refrigerators and televisions, they are located on the top of the wall, such as ventilation fans and air conditioning equipment, and each has a high concentration of leakage gas.
Of course, the environment where people are always present even in the room, such as the kitchen and living room, is close to the gas generation source because it uses a stove, heating equipment, etc., and is an area that should be given the highest priority for family safety.
[0011]
Therefore, by branching out from the circuit from the external power source to these electrical devices and directly connecting the power source, the above-mentioned problems relating to the power source can be solved. Safety can be improved by improving sensitivity and enabling early gas leak detection.
[0012]
Moreover, as described above, an accident caused by a gas leak is generally caused by the fact that the leaked gas stays anywhere in the room and reaches the explosion limit without being aware of the gas leak, and is ignited for some reason. The primary cause is the sparks associated with the operation of these electrical devices. Humans who have noticed gas leaks are still ignited by turning on the ventilation fan, but these electric devices are always driven by motors, switch on / off operation, or television. There is no shortage of causes such as static electricity.
That is, it can be said that there is a danger that these electric devices themselves are always a source of ignition.
On the other hand, even more positively, these power sources are quickly shut down by the output from the control unit based on the detection signal with respect to the electrical equipment itself serving as the ignition source, and the possibility of ignition is stopped. It can be avoided.
[0013]
【Example】
FIG. 1 shows the interior of a kitchen as an example of an indoor structure, where 1 is a wall, 2 is a floor, and 5 is a gas table with a pan 6 on it. In such a gas use environment, if the gas leakage may be caused by a poor ignition of the gas table 6 or the fire being blown off by the wind or the like, the gas will diffuse into the room as it is. In addition, leakage from these aging and deteriorated equipment and hoses also causes gas leakage. Further, a hose is pulled from the tap 8 piped from the floor or wall to the gas stove 9 and used. However, if the hose is loosened or detached due to some spring, it causes gas leakage. In the case of propane gas having a high specific gravity, these leaked gases flow downward and spread while diffusing along the floor 2, so if they are not disturbed by outside air or the like, they stay near the floor 2 as shown in the figure. Thus, a region A having a high concentration is formed.
[0014]
Further, when the leaked gas has a low specific gravity like city gas, it diffuses upward, so that a high-concentration region B is formed near the upper layer of the room and the ceiling.
The security system 30 of the present invention is disposed in an electrical device that is permanently installed indoors according to the type of these gases.
[0015]
For propane gas, use an electrical device permanently installed on the kitchen floor 2 as in the refrigerator 10 in the figure, and use a power source that is directly connected by branching from the circuit from the external power source. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure a power source that is always connected reliably without providing a new power source such as an outlet. In addition, since the refrigerator is usually installed in a gas use environment such as a kitchen / dining kitchen, it is close to the gas leakage source, and as shown in the figure, it is in the gas retention area A. Since the gas detector can be arranged at a position where the concentration is high, it is possible to improve the detection sensitivity of the leaked gas, and it is possible to ensure safety such as promptly issuing an alarm via the control unit.
[0016]
In particular, as shown in the figure, it is more effective to provide a security system 30 provided with a gas leak detector on the bottom surface close to the floor 2 at the bottom of the electrical equipment.
When the gas used is city gas, the position of the ventilation fan 20 is in the upper layer of the room where the gas stays in the figure, and by providing the security system 3 in the ventilation fan, the leakage gas is similarly detected with high sensitivity, and the gas concentration is Safety can be achieved early before it rises.
[0017]
If these leaked gases exceed a certain concentration, they may be ignited by an on / off operation of these electrical devices or by a spark from a motor, etc., which may cause an explosion or fire. At the same time, the gas must be diffused by opening the windows and doors and replacing the air in the room, but the gas detection sensitivity is low or the gas leak is detected when installed in a low concentration range. When the high-concentration areas A and B are formed as described above, it is not known when these electric devices will ignite even at the time when these treatments are performed, which is extremely dangerous. The sensitivity of gas leak detection can be improved by utilizing the use environment and arrangement of the electrical equipment as described above of the present invention, and these dangers are greatly increased by detecting before the concentration becomes high. It will be resolved.
[0018]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the gas leakage can be detected at high sensitivity and early as described above, and the leakage gas can be detected by checking the diffusion pattern and detection sensitivity of the indoor leakage gas in advance and setting its operating conditions. Prior to reaching the explosion limit, the power supply of these electric devices can be turned off to further enhance safety. Even if a gas leak is detected, immediately take measures such as closing the gas main plug or opening the room in case of a sudden situation such as a large amount of leakage or disconnection of the hose. However, it is difficult to increase the gas concentration in the meantime, but it is possible to cut off the ignition source by automatically shutting off the power supply before the gas concentration increases as described above. In particular, it is possible to prevent in advance a mistake such as switching on the ventilation fan in the event of a sudden situation as described above.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the security system of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes a security system body, which includes a gas leak detector 30, a control unit 31 that outputs a control signal when a level of the signal is judged by a detection signal of the detector and a predetermined condition is exceeded, and an alarm sound. It is provided on a front panel or the like of an alarm device or an electric device that generates light, and is configured by a display device 32 that includes a liquid crystal panel that displays a situation. The power supply of the entire system is branched from a circuit that is drawn from the external power supply 52 of the electric device 50 and reaches the power switch 51. The power supply is shared but can be electrically operated independently.
[0020]
In addition, a circuit that shuts off the internal power supply circuit is provided in the power switch circuit of these electrical devices, and the circuit current to the external power supply of the electrical device is cut off by the control signal output from the control unit. It is possible to stop the operation of these electric devices at an early stage of gas leakage, and to achieve further safety.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows the state of use of electrical equipment and the diffusion and retention of leaked gas with indoor gas equipment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the security system of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Wall 2: Floor 3: Security system body 5: Gas table 6: Pan 7: Hose 8: Gas tap provided on the floor 9: Gas stove 10: Refrigerator 20: Ventilation fan 30: Gas leak detector 31: Control Unit 32: Display device 33: Power-off control signal 50: Electric equipment 51: Power switch (power-off circuit) of electric equipment 52: External power supply 55: Internal power supply circuit

Claims (5)

For electrical equipment installed in a state where it is always connected to a power source such as a refrigerator, ventilation fan, air conditioner, television or facsimile, to a power source branched in the circuit from the external power source to the internal power circuit of the electrical device,
A gas leak detector is provided, and a control unit that outputs a control signal according to the detection signal of the detector is directly connected to a common power source, thereby enabling detection of gas leaks in these electric devices and the above-mentioned constantly A security system that is connected to a power source . 2. The security system according to claim 1, wherein a display device for alarming by an alarm sound or a warning light is operated by an output of the control unit. Oite the circuit leading to the internal power supply circuit of the electrical device from the external power supply, provided with a power supply cut-off circuit for the circuit that branches to the internal power supply circuit side,
3. The security system according to claim 1, wherein a power supply of an electric device that shares the power supply is cut off by an output of the control unit. 4. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the electric device is installed on a floor, and the gas leak detector is an LPG gas leak detector. The security system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrical device is a ventilation fan or an air conditioning unit installed on a wall, and the gas leak detector is a gas leak detector for city gas.

Images