JP7544931B2 - Smoke Generator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a smoke generating device that generates smoke for use in testing smoke detectors.

Traditionally, fire alarm systems have been installed in buildings such as offices. In the event of a fire, smoke generated by the fire is detected by a smoke detector, which sends an alarm signal to a receiver to output a fire alarm, allowing firefighting, evacuation, and firefighting activities to be carried out.

Fire alarm systems are regularly inspected after being installed in a building. For smoke detectors, the smoke detectors installed on the ceiling are removed and a sensitivity test is carried out using sensitivity testing equipment brought in during the inspection to confirm that they will alert a fire at a specified smoke concentration. After the smoke detectors that have passed the sensitivity test are attached to the ceiling, an operational test is carried out using a portable smoke tester to confirm that they will alert a fire. In addition, when the fire alarm system is installed, an operational test is also carried out using a portable smoke tester to confirm that they will alert a fire.

Such conventional sensitivity test devices and smoke testers include one that generates test gas (imitation smoke) containing smoke-like fine particles by spraying (Patent Document 1), and one that generates oil smoke by heating a penetrating material that has been permeated with test oil using an electric heater, and then forcibly raising the oil smoke using a blower (Patent Document 2).

However, spray-based smoke testing equipment uses fluorocarbon gas, which places a heavy burden on the environment, and there are also issues with future difficulties in obtaining alternative fluorocarbons and rising prices. LPG can also be used as an alternative gas, but this has problems such as being flammable and not being able to be used at low temperatures.

To solve this problem, the inventors of the present application have proposed a smoke generating device that stores water-soluble smoke generating agent that is harmless to the human body in a container, and generates simulated smoke (hereinafter referred to as "smoke") by heating the smoke generating agent impregnated in a non-flammable core material with a heater. The container can hold a sufficient amount of smoke generating agent required for testing, and when the smoke generating agent decreases due to use, it can be easily replenished, improving work efficiency.

JP 2017-228019 A JP 2016-197442 A JP 2018-005901 A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 04-000599 JP 2012-198753 A JP 2013-167994 A JP 2012-091098 A JP 2018-005901 A

However, in a smoke generating device in which a non-flammable core material is impregnated with smoke generating agent stored in a container and a heater is used to heat the smoke generating agent to generate smoke, as the smoke generating agent stored in the container is consumed due to the generation of smoke, the liquid level drops, meaning the distance between the container for the smoke generating agent and the heater increases, and the amount of smoke generated by the core material is reduced due to capillary action, resulting in a gradual decrease in the amount of smoke generated by the heating of the heater wrapped around the core material.

The present invention aims to provide a smoke generating device that, when a smoke generating agent stored in a container is impregnated into a non-flammable core material and smoke is generated by heating with a heater, keeps the amount of smoke generating agent impregnated into the core material constant and stabilizes the amount of smoke generated.

(Smoke generating device of the second invention)
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smoke generating device for generating smoke for use in testing a smoke detector, comprising:
A cylindrical container having a smoke generating agent stored in a ring-shaped storage section surrounding a cylindrical hole;
a communication hole that communicates the storage portion of the cylindrical container with the cylindrical hole;
a porous cylindrical body that is accommodated in a cylindrical hole of the cylindrical container and is impregnated with a smoke generating agent supplied from the accommodation section through a communication hole;
a cylindrical non-flammable core material disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the porous cylindrical body and impregnated with a smoke generating agent through the porous cylindrical body;
a heater disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the non-flammable core material, for heating a smoke generating agent impregnated in the non-flammable core material to generate smoke;
The present invention is characterized by comprising:

(Smoke generating device of the third invention)
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smoke generating device for use in testing a smoke detector, comprising:
A cylindrical container having a smoke generating agent stored in a ring-shaped storage section surrounding a cylindrical hole;
a communication hole that communicates the storage portion of the cylindrical container with the cylindrical hole;
a porous cylindrical body to be impregnated, which is accommodated in a cylindrical hole of a cylindrical container and is supplied from a storage section through a communication hole;
a smoke generating cylinder disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the porous cylinder and impregnated with a smoke generating agent through the porous cylinder;
a heater disposed within the smoke generating cylinder for heating the smoke generating agent impregnated within the smoke generating cylinder to generate smoke;
The present invention is characterized by comprising:

(Incorporation into smoke detector test equipment or sensitivity test equipment)
The smoke generating device is incorporated into a smoke application tester, which performs testing by supplying smoke to a smoke detector installed on the ceiling surface, or into a sensitivity tester, which tests the sensitivity of the smoke detector by supplying smoke into a test space inside an enclosure in which the smoke detector to be tested is located.

(Basic effect of the first invention)
The present invention is a smoke generating device that generates smoke for use in testing smoke detectors, and is provided with a smoke generating section that uses a heater to heat a container of smoke generating agent impregnated in a non-flammable core material to generate smoke, and a liquid level maintaining mechanism that maintains the distance between the liquid level of the smoke generating agent stored in the container and the heater at a predetermined level.Even if the smoke generating agent in the container is consumed due to the generation of smoke caused by heating the smoke generating agent impregnated in the core material by the heater, the liquid level of the smoke generating agent is maintained at a predetermined level, so that the distance traveled by the smoke generating agent due to capillary action from the liquid level of the core material to the heating position of the heater does not change, and as a result, the amount of smoke generating agent absorbed by the core material remains constant, and the amount of smoke generated can be stabilized.

(Effect of Liquid Level Retention Mechanism 1)
In addition, the liquid level maintaining mechanism comprises a storage tank in which the smoke genie to be supplied to the container is stored in a sealed state, and a connecting passage which opens on the side of the container and supplies the smoke genie from the storage tank to the container.When the liquid level in the container falls below the opening position of the connecting passage, the smoke genie is supplied from the storage tank to the container to maintain the liquid level of the smoke genie at a first predetermined level.Therefore, when the liquid level falls below the opening position of the connecting passage, air inside the container is supplied to the storage tank, thereby supplying the smoke genie in the storage tank to the container, and with this simple structure, the liquid level of the smoke genie stored in the container can be maintained at a constant level.

(Effect of on-off valve)
In addition, since an opening/closing valve is provided in the communication passage connecting the storage tank and the container, the opening/closing valve can be closed when the smoke generating device is not in use, thereby preventing the smoke generating agent stored in the storage tank from being consumed due to evaporation.

(Effect of Liquid Level Retention Mechanism 2)
The liquid level maintaining mechanism comprises a storage tank in which the smoke generating agent to be supplied to the container is stored in a sealed state, a siphon tube having one end immersed in the smoke generating agent in the storage tank and the other end open to the space above the liquid level in the container, and a connecting tube having one end open to the space above the liquid level in the storage tank and the other end for supplying the smoke generating agent stored in the container from the storage tank to the container, and is adapted to supply the smoke generating agent from the storage tank to the container by siphon action to maintain the liquid level of the smoke generating agent at a first predetermined level, so that when the liquid level in the container drops, smoke generating agent is supplied from the storage tank to the container via the siphon tube, and when the connecting tube is closed due to a rise in the liquid level, the supply of smoke generating agent via the siphon tube stops, thereby enabling the liquid level of the smoke generating agent stored in the container to be maintained at a predetermined level.

(Effect of drain tank)
The liquid level maintaining mechanism further comprises a drain hole opening into the side of the container, and a drain tank for storing the smoke generating agent discharged from the drain hole. When the liquid level in the container rises above the opening position of the drain hole, the smoke generating agent is discharged from the container to maintain the liquid level of the smoke generating agent below a second predetermined level that is above a first predetermined level. Therefore, even if the liquid level fluctuates due to the shaking or tilting of the smoke generating container, the smoke generating agent flows from the drain hole to the drain tank, preventing leakage from the container, and the drain hole enables the liquid level to be maintained at a level not exceeding the predetermined level.

(Effects of the smoke generating device according to the second invention)
In another embodiment of the present invention, a smoke generating device for generating smoke for use in testing a smoke detector includes a cylindrical container having a smoke generating agent stored in an annular storage section surrounding a cylindrical hole, a porous cylinder stored in the cylindrical container and having a communicating hole opened in the peripheral surface of one end thereof from the cylindrical container to receive a supply of smoke generating agent and impregnate the other end thereof with the smoke generating agent, a non-flammable core material disposed at the other end of the porous cylinder and impregnated with the smoke generating agent via the porous cylinder, and a heater for heating the smoke generating agent impregnated in the non-flammable core material to generate smoke. Therefore, even if the attitude of the smoke generating device changes, the smoke generating agent stored in the cylindrical container is efficiently impregnated into the porous cylinder and heated by the heater to generate smoke, and the smoke generating agent can continue to be generated efficiently until the smoke generating agent in the cylindrical container runs out.

(Effects of the smoke generating device according to the third invention)
In another form of the present invention, a smoke generating device for generating smoke for use in testing a smoke detector includes a cylindrical container in which a smoke generating agent is stored in an annular storage section surrounding a cylindrical hole, a porous cylinder that is stored in the cylindrical container and has communication holes opened in its peripheral surface from the cylindrical container to receive and impregnate the smoke generating agent, and a porous smoke generating cylinder that is impregnated with the smoke generating agent by being placed in contact with the inside of the porous cylinder and generates smoke by heating the smoke generating agent with an embedded heater.As a result, smoke can be generated efficiently until the smoke generating agent in the cylindrical container runs out, and by using a heater such as a ceramic heater embedded in the porous smoke generating cylinder, there is no problem such as a decrease in the amount of smoke generated due to the impregnation of the smoke generating agent being damaged by the core material scorching, which occurs when a heater is wrapped around a non-flammable core material, and smoke can be generated stably.

(Effects of incorporating smoke detector test equipment or sensitivity test equipment)
In addition, the smoke generating device is incorporated into a smoke application tester that performs testing by supplying smoke to a smoke detector installed on the ceiling surface, or into a sensitivity test device that tests the sensitivity of the smoke detector by supplying smoke into a test space inside a housing in which the smoke detector to be tested is located, so that the storage tank can be kept containing a sufficient amount of smoke generating agent required for the operational test, and if the smoke generating agent decreases due to use, it can be easily replenished, making it possible to improve the work efficiency of alarm tests using a smoke application tester or sensitivity tests using a sensitivity test device.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a smoke generating device; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a smoke tester incorporating the smoke generating device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a sensitivity test apparatus incorporating the smoke generating device of FIG. An explanatory diagram showing the smoke generating device installed in the sensitivity test device in a cross-sectional side view. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the smoke generating device; FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of the smoke generating device. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the smoke generating device.

[First embodiment of the smoke generating device]
(Outline of the smoke generating device)
Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a smoke generating device. As shown in Fig. 1, a smoke generating device 10 of this embodiment has a cup-shaped transparent container 12 in which smoke generating agent 16 is stored, and the upper opening of the container 12 is closed by a lid member 14. The container 12 is preferably transparent so that the liquid level can be confirmed from the outside, but a suitable shape such as translucency may also be used.

A pair of leak-proof caps 15 are placed on the lid member 14, and both ends of a string-like core material 18 are passed through the leak-proof caps 15. The tip of the core material 18 is immersed in the smoke generating agent 16 stored in the container 12, and the smoke generating agent 16 is sucked up by capillary action, so that the core material 18 is impregnated with the smoke generating agent 16.

The core material 18 is made of non-flammable glass fiber, silica fiber, stainless steel twisted wire, etc. The smoke generating agent 16 is made of a water-soluble liquid that is harmless to the human body and contains at least one component that is hydrophilic and has high water retention, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, etc.

A heater 20 is wound around the horizontally exposed portion of the core material 18 located on the top surface of the lid member 14. The heater 20 is a metal wire such as a nichrome wire or a platinum wire. The heater 20 is connected to the control unit via lead wires and is heated and controlled.

When the control unit applies electricity to the heater 20, the core 18 impregnated with the smoke generating agent 16 is heated, and the contact portion of the heater 20 with the core 18 functions as an atomizer, vaporizing the smoke generating agent 16, which is a water-soluble liquid containing components such as glycerin and propylene glycol that is impregnated into the core 18, and releasing water vapor that mimics atomized smoke.

(Liquid surface maintenance mechanism)
A liquid level maintaining mechanism is provided for the container 12 containing the smoke generating agent 16, which maintains the liquid level 16a of the smoke generating agent 16 at a first predetermined level. The liquid level maintaining mechanism of this embodiment includes a storage tank 22 in which the smoke generating agent 16 to be supplied to the container 12 is stored in a sealed state, and the storage tank 22 is connected to the container 12 by a communication passage 24 to supply the smoke generating agent 16, and the communication passage 24 from the storage tank 22 opens at a liquid level position on the side surface that maintains the liquid level 16a of the container 16 at a predetermined level.

In this embodiment, the level of the liquid surface 16a stored in the container 12 is kept constant, and the height H from the liquid surface 16a to the lid member 14 is kept at approximately 9 millimeters, and the communication passage 24 is opened at this position.

A cap 22a is provided on the storage tank 22, and when the stored smoke generating agent 16 is running low, the cap 22a is removed and the smoke generating agent 16 is replenished. An on-off valve 26 is provided on the communication passage 24 from the storage tank 22, and the on-off valve 26 is open when the smoke generating device 10 is in use, but by closing the on-off valve 26 when the smoke generating device 10 is not in use, the smoke generating agent 16 stored in the storage tank 22 is prevented from being consumed due to evaporation. The on-off valve 26 is a valve with a simple and compact structure, such as a cock valve that has a through hole drilled in a rod-shaped valve body and can be opened and closed by rotating the rod-shaped valve body. The on-off valve 26 is provided as necessary, but is not necessarily required.

When the smoke generating agent 16 stored in the container 12 is consumed due to the generation of smoke by energizing the heater 20, the liquid level 16a gradually drops accordingly, and when the liquid level 16a falls below the opening position of the communication passage 24, air flows into the storage tank 22 through the communication passage 24, and as a result, the smoke generating agent 16 flows from the storage tank 22 through the communication passage 24 into the container 12, and the liquid level 16a in the container 12 rises.

When the liquid level 16a in the container 12 rises to a position that blocks the opening of the communication passage 24, the flow of smoke generating agent 16 from the storage tank 22 stops, and the liquid level 16a is restored to a predetermined level, so that the height H from the liquid level 16a to the lid member 14 can be maintained at, for example, 9 millimeters.

When the liquid level 16a of the smoke generating agent 16 stored in the container 12 is kept at a constant level in this way, the distance that the smoke generating agent 16 penetrates due to capillary action from the liquid level 16a of the core material 18 to the heating position by the heater 20 does not change, so the amount of smoke generating agent 16 absorbed by the core material 18 remains constant, and the amount of smoke produced can be stabilized.

In addition, it has been confirmed that the amount of smoke generated decreases when the liquid level 16a decreases and the height H increases from the liquid level 16a to the lid member 14, but conversely, the amount of smoke generated decreases when the liquid level 16a is increased and the height H is decreased. For this reason, in this embodiment, the height H at which the amount of smoke generated is maximum is H = 9 millimeters, and by keeping the liquid level 16a constant so as to maintain this height, it is possible to maintain the amount of smoke generated at a maximum.

The height H of the liquid surface 16a at which the amount of smoke generated is at its maximum varies depending on the size of the container 12, the thickness and material of the core material 18, etc., and must be determined through experimental confirmation.

(Drain tank)
In the smoke generating device 10 of this embodiment, a drain tank 28 is disposed below the container 12, and a drain pipe 30 is connected from the container 12 to the drain tank 28. The drain pipe 30 has a drain hole opened at a liquid level position that keeps the liquid level 16a on the side surface of the container 12 at a predetermined level that is greater than height H and less than height H'.

Therefore, even if the liquid level 16a fluctuates due to shaking or tilting of the container 12 of the smoke generating device 10, the smoke generating agent 16 flows from the drain pipe 30 to the drain tank 28, preventing leakage from the container 12, and the opening position of the drain pipe 30 in the container 12 keeps the liquid level 16a at a position not exceeding a predetermined level.

In addition, a cap 28a is provided at the bottom of the drain tank 28, and if necessary, the smoke generating agent can be removed from the drain tank 28 and, for example, returned to the storage tank 22 for reuse.

[Smoke tester]
Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a smoke tester incorporating the smoke generating device of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the smoke tester 100 has a body case 110 rotatably supported by a support member 106 at the tip of a support rod 104 equipped with a grip 102 and a pivot support 108.

The main body case 110 is a cylinder with an opening at the top, a rubber gasket 112 is attached to the opening, an exhaust port 120 is formed on one side of the opening, and a partition wall 118 with a portion cut out divides the inside into upper and lower sections.

The smoke generator 10, electric fan 114, and control unit 116 are installed inside the main body case 110 below the bulkhead 118, and are powered by a battery stored in the operation unit 105 provided on the clip 102 side and are operated by a switch. The smoke generator 10 shown in Figure 1 is installed above the electric fan 114 by a stand 122.

When testing the smoke detector 130 installed on the ceiling, the main case 110 is pressed against the bottom of the smoke detector 130 so as to encase it, and the rubber packing 112 is used to seal it. In this state, the electric fan 114 is operated by operating the operation unit 105, and electricity is applied to the heater 20 of the smoke generating device 10 shown in Figure 1 to generate smoke, which is then passed through the notch in the partition wall 118, through the smoke detector 130, and on to the exhaust port 120, causing the smoke detector 130 to trigger a test alarm and confirm its operation.

The test work of the smoke detector 130 using the smoke tester 100 involves sequentially testing a number of smoke detectors installed on the ceiling surface of the security zone. As shown in FIG. 1, the smoke generating device 10 built into the smoke tester 100 maintains the maximum amount of smoke by supplying smoke generating agent 16 from the storage tank 22 to keep the liquid level 16a of the container 12 at a predetermined level, so that a sufficient amount of smoke can be supplied to the smoke detector to test it in a short time. Also, since the smoke generating agent 16 is supplied from the storage tank 22, a sufficient amount of smoke generating agent 16 is prepared, so that a day's work can be completed, for example, without having to refill the smoke generating agent 16 in the middle of the work.

In addition, the smoke generating tester 100 supports the main body case 110 so that it can rotate freely using the pivot support 108, so that the main body case 110 is approximately horizontal, and the level of the smoke generating agent inside the smoke generating device 10 built into the main body case 110 is also kept approximately horizontal, allowing the smoke generating agent to be properly replenished.

[Sensitivity test equipment]
Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a sensitivity tester incorporating the smoke generator of Fig. 1, Fig. 3(A) is a front view, Fig. 3(B) is a plan view with the operation panel pulled out, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of the part of the sensitivity tester where the smoke generator is incorporated, as seen from the side.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the sensitivity test device 200 has a test space 201 inside the housing 202, and the mounting base 242 of the smoke detector 240 to be tested is placed on a mounting stand 238 located inside the housing 202 inside the opening and closing lid 204.

The smoke generating unit 210 is located in the lower right corner of the front of the sensitivity test device and can be pulled out by a handle. The smoke generating device 10 shown in Figure 1 is built into the smoke detector 210, which generates atomized smoke by vaporizing a water-soluble liquid that functions as a smoke generator.

A circulation fan 206 is placed near the smoke generating section 210, and the smoke sent from the smoke generating section 210 to the test space 201 is sent to the left by the circulation fan 206. The smoke sent by the circulation fan 206 is sent to the upper part of the test space 201 by a straightening plate 208, and a smoke detector 240 attached to a mounting base 242 is located in this upper space, and a concentration detector 212 that detects the smoke concentration in the test space 201 is also installed.

A pull-out operation panel 216 is housed on the lower front side of the sensitivity test device 200. As shown in FIG. 3B, the operation panel 216 is provided with a power switch 222. When the power switch 222 is turned on, the power light 230 lights up and a specified power supply voltage is supplied to the smoke detector 240 attached to the mounting base 242. This power supply voltage is displayed on the detector voltmeter 234.

The voltage supplied to the detector can be adjusted using the voltage adjustment knob 224. When smoke supplied to the test space 201 flows into the smoke detector 240 and reaches a predetermined smoke concentration, the smoke detector 240 issues a test alarm and the alarm indicator light 232 is turned on.

The smoke concentration detection signal from the concentration detector 212 is displayed on a concentration meter 236 that uses a microampere meter. Since the smoke detectors 240 that are the test subjects of the sensitivity test device 200 include photoelectric and ionization types, a concentration meter changeover switch 228 is switched depending on the type of smoke detector. The zero point of the concentration meter 236 is adjusted by a photoelectric zero point adjustment knob 226 in the case of a photoelectric smoke detector, and by an ionization zero point adjustment knob 227 in the case of an ionization smoke detector.

As shown in FIG. 4, the smoke generating unit 210 houses the smoke generating device 10 shown in FIG. 1 in a box-shaped case, and the smoke generating device 10 generates atomized smoke by heating and vaporizing the smoke generating agent 16 stored in the container 12 as shown in FIG. 1 using the heater 20. A control board 252 is also arranged in the case, and a control unit 250 is mounted on the control board 252. When the power switch 222 provided on the operation panel 216 in FIG. 3(B) is turned on, the control unit 250 controls the flow of electricity to the heater 20 to generate smoke.

The testing of smoke detectors 130 using the sensitivity testing device 200 involves sequentially removing and testing a number of smoke detectors installed on the ceiling surface of the security zone. As shown in FIG. 1, the smoke generating device 10 incorporated in the sensitivity testing device 200 maintains the maximum amount of smoke generated by keeping the liquid level of the smoke generating agent 16 in the container 12 at a predetermined level by supplying it from the storage tank 22, so that a sufficient amount of smoke can be supplied to the test space 201 to perform testing in a short time. Also, since the smoke generating agent 16 is supplied from the storage tank 22, a sufficient amount of smoke generating agent is prepared, so that a day's work can be completed, for example, without refilling the smoke generating agent 16 in the middle of the work.

[Second embodiment of the smoke generating device]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the smoke generating device, in which FIG. 5(A) shows the case where the liquid level is at a predetermined level, and FIG. 5(B) shows the case where the liquid level has dropped.

As shown in FIG. 5(A), the smoke generating device 10 of this embodiment has a cup-shaped transparent container 12 in which the smoke generating agent 16 is stored, the top opening of the container 12 is closed with a lid member 14, and the lid member 14 is connected to both ends of the core material 18 via a leak-proof cap 15, and the tip is immersed in the smoke generating agent 16 stored in the container 12, the smoke generating agent 16 is sucked up by capillary action, and the core material 18 is impregnated with the smoke generating agent 16. When electricity is applied to the heater 20, the core material 18 impregnated with the smoke generating agent 16 is overheated, and the smoke generating agent 16 is vaporized and released as smoke, which is the same as the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Also, like the embodiment of Figure 1, a drain tank 28 is disposed below the container 12 and connected by a drain pipe 30, and the drain pipe 30 has a drain hole opened at a liquid level position that keeps the liquid level 16a on the side of the container 12 at a predetermined level that is higher than height H' but lower than H'.

In contrast, the liquid level maintenance mechanism of this embodiment connects the storage tank 22, in which the smoke generating agent 16 is stored in a sealed state, to the container 12 via a communication pipe 32 and a siphon pipe 34. One end of the communication pipe 32 opens into the space above the liquid level 16b of the storage tank 22, and the other end opens at a position where the smoke generating agent 16 stored in the container 12 is maintained at a predetermined level, i.e., at a position where the height H from the liquid level 16a to the lid member 14 is, for example, H = 9 mm.

One end of the siphon tube 34 is located near the bottom of the storage tank 22 and immersed in the smoke generating agent 16, and the other end opens into the space above the liquid level 16a of the container 12, with a height difference h between the openings.

As shown in FIG. 5(A), when the liquid level 16a in the container 12 is at a predetermined level, the liquid level holding mechanism of this embodiment has one end of the communicating tube 32 located inside the container 12 immersed in the liquid level 16a and closed, the spaces above the liquid levels in the container 12 and the storage tank 22 are both at the same atmospheric pressure, and the supply of smoke generating agent 16 from the storage tank 22 to the container 12 via the siphon tube 34 is stopped.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 5(B), when the smoke generating agent 16 in the container 12 is consumed by smoke generation and the liquid level 16a drops, the left side of the communication pipe 32 opens as the liquid level 16a drops, and the smoke generating agent 16 is supplied from the storage tank 22 to the container 12 through the siphon pipe 34.

As a result, the liquid level 16a in the container 12 rises and reaches a position that blocks the left opening of the communicating tube 32, and the supply of air from the upper space of the container 12 to the upper space of the storage tank 22 is stopped, and the supply of smoke generating agent 16 through the siphon tube 34 is also stopped, thereby maintaining the liquid level 16a of the smoke generating agent 16 in the container 12 at a predetermined level, which is the height H = 9 mm from the lid member 14, determined by the position of the opening of the communicating tube 32.

The smoke generating device 10 shown in this embodiment is used by being incorporated into the smoke tester 100 shown in FIG. 2 and the sensitivity tester 200 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[Third embodiment of the smoke generating device]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of the smoke generating device, which does not have a mechanism for maintaining the liquid level of the smoke generating agent, but is characterized by having a structure that enables smoke to be generated efficiently until the smoke generating agent in the container runs out.

As shown in FIG. 6, the smoke generating device 10 of this embodiment has a cylindrical container 36 in which smoke generating agent 16 is stored in an annular storage section surrounding a cylindrical hole 36a, and a porous cylinder 38 that is impregnated with smoke generating agent 16 is stored coaxially in the cylindrical hole 36a of the cylindrical container 36, and the porous cylinder 38 is made of a sponge, metal mesh, cotton-like glass fiber, or the like.

A number of communication holes 44 are opened from the cylindrical container 36 to the peripheral surface of the cylindrical hole 36a on the lower side of the porous cylinder 38, and the smoke generating agent 16 is supplied from the periphery through the porous cylinder 38 to be impregnated. A cap 46 is provided on the cylindrical container 36, and the smoke generating agent 16 can be refilled by removing the cap 46.

A non-flammable core 40 is disposed radially above and away from the communication hole 44 opening in the porous cylinder 38, and the smoke generating agent 16 is impregnated into the core 40 through the porous cylinder 38 by capillary action. A heater 42 is wrapped around the non-flammable core 42, and when the control unit applies electricity to the heater 42, the core 40 impregnated with the smoke generating agent 16 is overheated, and the contact portion of the heater 42 with the core 40 functions as an atomizer, and the smoke generating agent 16, which is a water-soluble liquid containing components such as glycerin and propylene glycol impregnated in the core 40, is vaporized and released as smoke.

In the smoke generator 10 of this embodiment, even if the position of the smoke generator 10 changes, the smoke generating agent 16 stored in the cylindrical container 36 is efficiently impregnated into the core material 40 via the porous cylinder 38, and smoke is generated by heating with the heater 42, so that smoke can continue to be generated efficiently until the smoke generating agent 16 in the cylindrical container 36 runs out.

The smoke generating device 10 shown in this embodiment, like the embodiment in FIG. 1, is used by being incorporated into the smoke tester 100 shown in FIG. 2 and the sensitivity tester 200 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and is compact because it does not have a storage tank, which allows the installation space of the smoke tester 100 and the sensitivity tester 200 to be reduced.

[Fourth embodiment of the smoke generating device]
Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the smoke generating device. As shown in Fig. 7, the smoke generating device 10 of this embodiment has a cylindrical container 36 in which the smoke generating agent 16 is stored in a ring-shaped storage section surrounding a cylindrical hole 36a, a porous cylinder 38 for impregnating the smoke generating agent 16 is stored coaxially in the cylindrical hole 36a of the cylindrical container 36, a plurality of communication holes 44 are opened from the cylindrical container 36 to the peripheral surface of the cylindrical hole 36a in which the porous cylinder 38 is stored, and the smoke generating agent 16 is supplied from the periphery to the porous cylinder 38 to impregnate it, and a cap 46 is provided on the cylindrical container 36, and the smoke generating agent 16 can be replenished by removing the cap 46, which are the same as the embodiment of Fig. 6 in these respects.

A smoke-emitting cylinder 48 is housed in the cylindrical hole of the porous cylinder 38. The smoke-emitting cylinder 48 is a ceramic heater in which a heater 42 is embedded in a porous material such as ceramics.

The smoke generating agent 16 stored in the cylindrical container 36 is impregnated into the smoke generating cylinder 48 through the connecting hole 44 and the porous cylinder 38 by capillary action, and the impregnated smoke generating agent 16 is vaporized by heating the smoke generating cylinder 48 with the heater 42, generating smoke.

The smoke generating device 10 of this embodiment can continue to generate smoke efficiently until the smoke generating agent 16 in the cylindrical container 36 runs out, and by using a porous smoke generating cylinder 48 with an embedded heater 42, there is no problem with a non-flammable core material being wrapped around a heater, which can impair the impregnation of the smoke generating agent and reduce the amount of smoke generated, resulting in more stable smoke generation.

The smoke generating device 10 shown in this embodiment, like the embodiment in FIG. 1, is incorporated into the smoke tester 100 shown in FIG. 2 and the sensitivity tester 200 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 for use, and is compact because it does not have a storage tank, allowing the installation space of the smoke tester 100 and the sensitivity tester 200 to be reduced.

[Modifications of the present invention]
(Liquid surface maintenance mechanism)
The liquid level maintaining mechanism used in the smoke generating device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and any suitable mechanism or structure can be used as long as it can maintain the liquid level of the smoke generating agent stored in the container at a predetermined level. For example, a mechanism may be used in which a float (floating member) mechanically detects changes in the liquid level and opens and closes the flow path from the storage tank. In addition, although the above embodiment is provided with a drain tank, it is not necessarily required to provide a drain tank.

(Smoke generator)
The smoke generator may also be mixed with a thickening additive, which can further prevent the smoke generator from leaking from the container.

(others)
Furthermore, the present invention includes appropriate modifications that do not impair the objects and advantages of the present invention, and is not limited to the numerical values shown in the above embodiment.

10: Smoke generating device 12: Container 14: Lid member 15: Leak prevention cap 16: Smoke generating agent 16a, 16b: Liquid level 18, 40: Core material 20, 42: Heater 22: Storage tank 22a, 28a, 46: Cap 24: Communication passage 26: Opening and closing valve 28: Drain tank 30: Drain pipe 32: Communication pipe 34: Siphon pipe 36: Cylindrical container 38: Porous cylinder 44: Communication hole 48: Smoke generating cylinder 100: Smoke generation tester 104: Support rod 110: Main body case 112: Rubber packing 114: Electric fan 116, 250: Control unit 130, 240: Smoke detector 200: Sensitivity test device 201: Test space 202: Housing 204: Opening and closing lid 206: Circulation fan 210: Smoke generating unit 212: Concentration detector 216: Operation panel

Claims (3)

A smoke generating device for generating smoke used in testing smoke detectors, comprising:
A cylindrical container having a smoke generating agent stored in a ring-shaped storage section surrounding a cylindrical hole;
a communication hole that communicates the storage portion of the cylindrical container with the cylindrical hole;
a porous cylindrical body that is accommodated in the cylindrical hole of the cylindrical container and is impregnated with the smoke generating agent supplied from the accommodation portion through the communication hole;
a cylindrical non-flammable core material disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the porous cylinder and impregnated with the smoke generating agent through the porous cylinder;
a heater disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the non-flammable core material to heat the smoke generating agent impregnated in the non-flammable core material to generate smoke;
A smoke generating device comprising:
A smoke generating device for generating smoke used in testing smoke detectors, comprising:
A cylindrical container having a smoke generating agent stored in a ring-shaped storage section surrounding a cylindrical hole;
a communication hole that communicates the storage portion of the cylindrical container with the cylindrical hole;
a porous cylindrical body that is accommodated in the cylindrical hole of the cylindrical container and is impregnated with the smoke generating agent supplied from the accommodation portion through the communication hole;
a smoke generating cylinder disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the porous cylinder and impregnated with the smoke generating agent through the porous cylinder;
a heater disposed inside the smoke generating cylinder for heating the smoke generating agent impregnated in the smoke generating cylinder to generate smoke;
A smoke generating device comprising:
The smoke generating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the smoke generating device is installed in a smoke detector testing device that tests a smoke detector installed on a ceiling surface by supplying smoke to the smoke detector, or in a sensitivity testing device that tests the sensitivity of the smoke detector by supplying smoke to a test space in a housing in which a smoke detector to be tested is installed.

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