JP7684071B2 - How to install a fire detector and the fire detector unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for installing a fire detector and a fire detector body, and particularly to a method for installing a fire detector and a fire detector body that is useful in facilities with high ceilings.

Fire detectors, such as smoke detectors and flame detectors, are installed on ceilings etc. to detect smoke and flames, and thus fire. Such fire detectors are installed by attaching the fire detector body to a detector base installed on the ceiling etc. Then, when inspecting or replacing, the fire detector body can be removed from the detector base and reattached.

In the invention of Patent Document 1, a pair of mating terminals is provided on the detector base, and a pair of fittings is provided on the detector body. The detector body is then fitted into the detector base and rotated so that the fittings fit into the mating terminals, thereby mechanically and electrically fixing the detector body to the detector base. The detector body can also be removed from the detector base by rotating it in the opposite direction. The fire detector body attached to the detector base can be removed by rotating it by hand, which disengages the mating terminals from the fittings, thereby releasing the electrical connection. The fire detector body can also be attached to the detector base by holding the fire detector body in its hand, pressing it against the detector base, and rotating it in the opposite direction to when it was removed, which engages the mating terminals with the fittings.

JP 2009-147774 A

In the invention of Patent Document 1, a worker needs to approach the detector base when installing or removing the fire detector body. Therefore, when installing a fire detector in a place with a high ceiling such as a lobby or entrance, it is necessary to set up scaffolding to install or remove the fire detector body.

The present invention is characterized in that it comprises a fire detector body and a detector base, the fire detector body having a fixing piece, and the fire detector body is temporarily fixed to the detector base by a magnet, and the fixing piece is activated to fix the fire detector body to the detector base.

With this invention, in a fire detector installed at a high place, the fire detector body can be removed from the detector base or attached to the detector base using a flying robot such as a multicopter.

1A is a side view of a fire detector when mounted on a ceiling, and FIG. 1B is a bottom view of the fire detector when mounted on a ceiling. 2A shows the fire detector body fixed to a detector base 1, and FIG. 2B shows the fire detector body before and after it has been attached to and detached from the detector base. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a sensor base fixed to a ceiling panel in an embodiment. 1 is a fire detector main body mounted on a multicopter according to an embodiment. 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the connection tube of the fire detector main body in the embodiment, and FIG. 5B shows a state before the fire detector main body 2 is attached to the detector base 1 or after the fire detector main body 2 is removed from the detector base 1. FIG. 4 is a top view of the vicinity of the connection tube of the fire detector main body in the embodiment.

In this embodiment, a smoke detector is shown as an example of a fire detector, but other detectors may be used. As described below, the detector base 1 is screwed to the ceiling board 6. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the fire detector main body 2 is fixed to the detector base 1. The fire detector main body 2 has a smoke inlet window 21 on the lower side when installed on the ceiling, and has a top board 22 below that. And a switch 23 is provided at the lower center of the top board 22. The switch 23 is equipped with an LED, which also serves as a confirmation light that lights up when the smoke detector is activated and when installed as described below.

As shown in Figure 2, a cylindrical connecting tube 24 is provided in the upper center of the fire detector main body 2. Two fixed pieces 25 are provided on the connecting tube 24. The fixed pieces 25 are rectangular iron plates, and an axis 251 is fixed to their base. They are biased by a spring (not shown) so as to lean outward. In Figure 2(a) where the fixed pieces 25 are fixed to the detector base 1, the fixed pieces 25 are leaning outward. In Figure 2(b) where the fixed pieces 25 are before being attached to the detector base 1 or after being removed, the fixed pieces 25 extend upward. A ring-shaped permanent magnet 26 is provided below the outer periphery of the connecting tube 24.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detector base 1 is fixed from below to the ceiling board 6 of the ceiling on which it is to be installed with screws (not shown). A hole 61 for wiring is opened in the ceiling board 6. A hole 13 is also provided in the center of the detector base 1. The hole 61 for wiring is opened larger than the hole 13 to allow space when the fixing piece 25 falls down as shown in FIG. 2(a). In FIG. 3, an iron ring 12 is provided around the hole 13. When the fire detector main body 2 is fixed to the detector base 1, the connection tube 24 of the fire detector main body 2 is located inside the iron ring 12 on the detector base 1.

When removing the fire detector main body 2 from the detector base 1 located at a high place or attaching the fire detector main body 2 to the detector base 1, the fire detector main body 2 is mounted on a multicopter 3 for transportation. As shown in FIG. 4, in order to mount the fire detector main body 2 on the multicopter 3, a holding adapter 4 is attached to the top of the multicopter 3. The fire detector main body 2 is then mounted on the holding adapter 4. A removable release piece 41 is provided in the center of the holding adapter 4. Also, a camera 5 is fixed to the side of the holding adapter 4 at the top of the multicopter 3, facing approximately upwards. The image from the camera 5 is wirelessly transmitted to the controller (not shown) of the multicopter 3 and displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the controller.

When removing the fire detector body 2 from the detector base 1 located at a high place, the release piece 41 is attached to the holding adapter 4. Then, while watching the image from the camera 5, the worker remotely operates the multicopter 3 with the controller to abut the holding adapter 4 against the bottom of the fire detector body 2. This causes the release piece 41 to press the switch 23 of the fire detector body 2, causing the fixing piece 25 to rise and release the fire detector body from its fixed state as shown in FIG. 2(b). As the rising fixing piece 25 is positioned inside the iron ring 12, the fire detector body 2 is removed from the holding adapter 4 and is mounted on the holding adapter 4. The multicopter 3 is then remotely operated from the controller to be lowered, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 4, and the fire detector body 2 can be transported from the detector base 1 located at a high place.

When mounting the fire detector body 2 on the detector base 1 at a high place, the release piece 41 is removed from the holding adapter 4, and then the fire detector body 2 is mounted on the holding adapter 4 in the mounting position. Then, while watching the image from the camera 5, the worker remotely operates the multicopter 3 with the controller so that the connection tube 24 of the fire detector body 2 shown in FIG. 2 enters the hole 13 of the detector base 1 shown in FIG. 3. At this time, the fire detector body 2 is temporarily fixed by magnetically attracting the permanent magnet 26, which is the attraction part of the fire detector body 2, to the iron ring 12, which is the attachment part of the detector base 1. In this temporarily fixed state, the detector base 1 and the fire detector body 2 are electrically connected by terminals (not shown). Then, the fixing piece 25 is tilted outward by the spring, and the fire detector body 2 is fixed to the detector base 1. After the fire detector body 2 is fixed, the worker retrieves the multicopter 3 by operating the controller. The holding adapter 4 has a structure (not shown) into which the head of the fire detector body 2 is press-fitted or fitted, and can hold the fire detector body 2 more firmly than if it were temporarily fixed using a permanent magnet 26, which will be described later.

Figure 5 shows the connection tube 24 and permanent magnet 26 in cross section. An actuator 27, which is a self-holding solenoid, is provided on each of the inner opposing surfaces of the connection tube 24. The actuator 27 is provided at a position where the fixed piece 25 can be pushed up by the shaft 271. A ring-shaped permanent magnet 26 is provided on the lower outer surface of the connection tube 24. Figure 5(a) shows the state in which the fire detector main body 2 is fixed to the detector base 1, and Figure 5(b) shows the temporary fixed state. In the fixed or temporary fixed state, the iron ring 12 of the detector base 1 is located outside the connection tube 24. As shown in Figure 5, the height of the connection tube 24 is formed to be approximately equal to the combined height of the permanent magnet 26 and the iron ring 12.

The fire detector body 2 is temporarily fixed to the detector base 1 side by the permanent magnet 26, which is the attraction part, attaching to the iron ring 12, which is the attachment part. In this embodiment, the iron ring 12 is a magnet, and the iron ring 12 attaches to the iron fixing piece 25. This allows the fire detector body 2 to be fixed more firmly. Also, the temporary fixation by the permanent magnet 26 is a weak fixation, and when the fire detector body 2 is removed, the temporary fixation is released due to the weight of the fire detector body 2, etc.

As shown in FIG. 6, the shaft 251 of the fixed piece 25 is rotatably attached to the top plate 241 at the top end of the connection tube 24. A spring (not shown) biases the shaft 251 so that the fixed piece 25 falls outward. In FIG. 6, the actuator 27 is hidden under the fixed piece 25.

The following method is used to remove the fire detector body 2 from the detector base 1. First, the multicopter 3 with the empty holding adapter 4 is flown to the fire detector on the ceiling. At this time, the release piece 41 is attached to the holding adapter 4. In the fire detector, the fixed piece 25 is tilted outward as shown in FIG. 5(a), and the fire detector body 2 is fixed to the detector base 1. Then, when the multicopter 3 approaches the fire detector body 2 and the release piece 41 of the holding adapter 4 presses the switch 23 provided under the top plate 22 of the fire detector body 2, the shaft 271 protrudes upward from the actuator 27. At this time, the actuator 27 is operated by the power supplied to the fire detector body 2 from the detector base 1 via a terminal (not shown). The protruding shaft 271 pushes up the abutment protrusion 252 of the fixed piece 25 against the force of the spring. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the fixing piece 25 rotates and faces upward, and the fixation between the detector base 1 and the fire detector main body 2 is released. The head of the fire detector main body 2 is pressed or fitted into the holding adapter 4. Then, when the multicopter 3 moves downward, the temporary fixation between the permanent magnet 26 and the iron ring 12 is released due to the weight of the fire detector main body 2 and the fact that the head of the fire detector main body 2 is pressed or fitted. The actuator 27 is a self-holding solenoid, and the shaft 271 remains protruding even if the fire detector main body 2 is separated from the detector base 1 and power is no longer supplied to the fire detector main body 2. After the temporary fixation is released, the operator can remotely operate the multicopter 3 with a controller to transport and recover the fire detector main body 2.

On the other hand, when attaching the fire detector body 2 to the detector base 1, the following method is used. First, the release piece 41 is removed from the holding adapter 4. Then, the fire detector body 2 is mounted on the holding adapter 4, and the multicopter 3 is transported to the vicinity of the detector base 1 on the ceiling. When the multicopter 3 is raised so that the connection tube 24 is inserted into the hole 13 of the detector base 1, the permanent magnet 26, which is the attraction part of the fire detector body 2, is attracted to the iron ring 12, which is the attachment part, and is temporarily fixed by magnetic attraction. As a result, the terminals (not shown) of the fire detector body 2 are connected to the detector line ring (not shown) provided in a ring shape on the detector base 1 and the common line ring (not shown) provided on the outside of the detector line ring, and power is supplied from the detector base 1 to the fire detector body 2. Then, the self-holding solenoid is activated by the power supplied to the fire detector body 2 due to the terminals being temporarily connected, and the shaft 271 of the actuator 27 is lowered. When the shaft 271 is lowered, the axis 251 of the fixed piece 25 is biased by a spring, so that the fixed piece 25 falls outward as shown in Figures 5(a) and 6, and the fire detector body 2 is fixed to the detector base 1. As shown in Figure 3, the ceiling board 6 has a sufficiently wide hole 61 for wiring, and the fixed piece 25 falls outward and reaches above the iron ring 12 of the detector base 1 as shown in Figure 5(a). Furthermore, the iron fixed piece 25 is attracted to the iron ring 12 magnetized by the permanent magnet 26, and the fire detector body 2 is firmly fixed to the detector base 1.

The method of attaching the fire detector main body 2 to the detector base 1 is not limited to the above method. An attachment method using the release piece 41 of the holding adapter 4 is also possible. In this case, the fire detector main body 2 is temporarily fixed using the permanent magnet 26 in the above procedure. At this stage, the electrode terminal of the fire detector main body 2 and the electrode consisting of the annular ring of the detector base 1 come into contact, and power is supplied to the fire detector main body 2. The shaft 271 of the actuator 27 may be configured to be lowered by pressing the switch 23.

When the fixing piece 25 comes into contact with the iron ring 12 or the switch 23 is pressed, the confirmation light of the switch 23 lights up for a while. This allows the worker to confirm that the fire detector body 2 is securely fixed. In addition, the switch 23, which also serves as the confirmation light, is attached to the center of the bottom end of the fire detector body 2, so it can be seen from any direction. The confirmation light needs to be visible from the direction of the door, but the fire detector body 2 has no directionality when it is installed. When the switch 23 is pressed, a signal is sent from the transmission circuit of the fire detector body 2 (not shown) to a fire receiver (not shown), so that the fire receiver can also recognize the installation and removal of the fire detector body 2.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined by reusing each other's technologies, as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in the purpose and configuration, etc.

For example, the fixed piece 25 does not have to be magnetically attached to the iron ring 12 when fixed, in which case the fixed piece 25 may be a non-magnetic material. Also, as long as the temporary connection is performed by a magnet, the iron ring 12 may be provided on the fire detector body 2 and the permanent magnet 26 on the detector base 1. The iron ring 12 may be made of a magnetic material other than iron that can be attached to a magnet, and it does not have to be annular. As long as at least one of the permanent magnet and the magnetic material is annular, there will be no directionality when attaching the fire detector body 2, making installation easier. In the embodiment of the present invention, the height of the fire detector body 2 is large in order to provide the connecting tube 24, but in order to reduce this height, a thin magnet such as a magnetic sheet may be used as the magnet for temporary attachment.

In the embodiment, the actuator 27 is a self-holding solenoid that holds the shaft 271 in a protruding state even when power is not supplied. However, if the fire detector body 2 is immediately pulled out with the shaft 271 protruding when the fire detector body 2 is removed from the detector base 1, the actuator does not need to be a self-holding solenoid. In addition, the tip of the shaft 271 may be connected to the fixed piece 25 by a wire, taking advantage of the fact that the actuator is a self-holding solenoid. In this way, the fixed piece 25 can be pulled down by the shaft 271, and the spring that biases the fixed piece 25 can be omitted. In the embodiment, the actuator 27 is described as being attached by the fixed piece 25 after power is supplied to the fire detector body 2, but the fixed piece 25 may be operated by a mechanical method. In this case, the switch 23 provided below the fire detector main body 2 is connected to the fixed piece 25 via a link mechanism, and by pressing the switch 23 once, a stopper (not shown) is released and the fixed piece 25 is spread horizontally by a spring, and by pressing the switch again, the fixed piece 25 that has spread horizontally can be returned to the vertical direction by a mechanical mechanism that does not require a power source.

In the embodiment, when the multicopter 3 moves downward, the temporary fixation between the permanent magnet 26 and the iron ring 12 is released due to the weight of the fire detector main body 2 and the head of the fire detector main body 2 being pressed in or fitted. However, the temporary fixation may be weak enough that the temporary fixation is released by its own weight alone without being pressed in or fitted in. Also, to improve the ease of removing the fire detector main body 2 from the detector base 1, a separate mechanism may be provided that temporarily separates the permanent magnet 26 from the iron ring 12 when the switch 23 below the fire detector main body 2 is pressed.

As explained in the prior art, the fire detector main body 2 and the detector base 1 are attached by rotational engagement. On the other hand, while it is easy to apply force in the vertical direction to a drone, which is a multicopter 3, it is difficult to apply rotational force to it, and it has been considered difficult to remove a fire detector main body 2 attached by rotational engagement with a drone. However, in this embodiment, the fire detector main body 2 is attached to the detector base 1 without rotating it, making it easy to attach and remove the fire detector main body 2 using a drone. In particular, the fire detector main body 2 and the detector base 1 are electrically connected using electrodes formed in a ring shape, so there is no need to rotate the fire detector main body 2 at all when attaching it.

1 Sensor base, 12 Iron ring, 13 Hole,
2 Fire detector body, 21 Smoke inlet window, 22 Top plate, 23 Switch, 24 Connection tube, 241 Top plate, 25 Fixing piece, 251 Shaft, 252 Contact protrusion, 26 Permanent magnet, 27 Actuator, 271 Shaft,
3 Multicopter, 4 Holding adapter, 41 Release piece, 5 Camera, 6 Ceiling plate, 61 Hole

Claims (5)

A fire detector body,
A detector base,
The fire detector body has a fixing piece,
A fire detector characterized in that the fire detector main body is temporarily fixed to the detector base by a magnet, and then fixed to the detector base by activating the fixing piece. The fire detector described in claim 1, characterized in that the fixed piece is released from the fixed state by pressing a switch. The fire detector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing piece is activated by power supplied from the detector base to the fire detector body when the fire detector body is temporarily fixed to the detector base. The fire detector body has a confirmation light,
4. The fire detector according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation light is turned on when the fire detector body is fixed by the fixing piece. A method for mounting a fire detector body on a ceiling of an installation target, comprising:
The fire detector body is mounted in an installation position on the top of the multicopter,
The multicopter is remotely operated to transport the fire detector body to a detector base fixed to a ceiling;
The fire detector body is temporarily fixed by magnetically adsorbing an adsorption portion of the fire detector body to an attachment portion of the detector base.
A method for installing a fire detector body, comprising the steps of: subsequently activating a fixing piece provided on the fire detector body to fix the fire detector body to the detector base.

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