Combined method of determining fires

• US 5,260,687 A
• Filed: 01/02/1992
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hochiki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Hochiki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ohtani, Shigeru, Yamauchi, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/816,172
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 340/522, 340/521, 340/510, 340/511, 340/506, 340/588, 340/589
• US Class Current: 340/522
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/183 Single detectors using dual technologies G08B13/1672, G08B13/2448, G08B13/2494 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system

Abstract

First sensors measure physical quantities correlated with the heat release value of a fire source, and second sensors measure physical quantities correlated with the amount of the product of burning. At least a pair of one first sensor and one second sensor are arranged in a zone to be monitored. A first threshold of high sensitivity and a second threshold of low sensitivity are set at the first sensors. A third threshold is set at the second sensors. A pre-alarm is given only when the level of signals from the second sensors exceeds the third threshold. A fire alarm is given when the level of the signals from the second sensors exceeds the third threshold and when the level of signals from the first sensors exceeds the first threshold. The outputs from a plurality of such sensors detecting different objects, such as heat and smoke, are processed in the manner in which these outputs are combined together to reliably detect fires and to give a fire alarm. It is possible to improve the accuracy of detecting fires, and to reduce the incidence of false alarms.

Claims

1. A combined method for determining presence of fires from a fire source with a heat release value and producing an amount of product due to burning, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of fire sensors for detecting different objects;

transmitting output signals from said fire sensors to a signal processor at a predetermined central monitoring room location;

processing signals from said signal processor by means for determining outbreak of fires and emitting thereupon an alarm;

arranging at least a pair of a first one of said fire sensors and a second one of said fire sensors in a zone to be monitored;

measuring with said first sensor physical quantities correlated with said heat release value of said fire source;

measuring with said second sensor physical quantities correlated with said amount of product due to burning;

setting said first sensor with a first threshold of high sensitivity and a second threshold of low sensitivity;

setting said second sensor with a third threshold;

emitting a pre-alarm only when a signal level from said second sensor exceeds said third threshold and changing the threshold of said first sensor to said first threshold of high sensitivity;

emitting a fire alarm and keeping the threshold of said first sensor high when a signal level from said second sensor exceeds said first threshold; and

emitting a fire alarm when a signal level from said first sensor exceeds said second threshold of low sensitivity even if a signal level from said second sensor is less than said third threshold.

2. A combined method according to claim 1, wherein the fire alarm is emitted when there is a hysteresis with the signal level form the second sensor having once exceeded the third threshold and when the signal level from the first sensor exceeds the first threshold.

3. A combined method according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor is a heat characteristic sensor and said second sensor is a smoke sensor.

4. A combined method according to claim 3, wherein said heat characteristic sensor is a fixed temperature heat detector.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said heat characteristic sensor is a rate of rise heat detector.

6. A combined method according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor has an infrared detector for detecting the radiant intensity of the fire source, a detector for detecting oxygen concentration and a detector for detecting carbon dioxide, said second sensor having a detector for detecting steam density, a detector for detecting the concentration of a hydrocarbon compound, a detector for detecting the concentration of hydrogen sulfide and a detector for detecting hydrogen cyanide.

7. A combined method according to claim 1, wherein when the signal level from the second sensor continuously exceeds the third threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time, smoke controlling equipment with a smoke vent and a fire door, is started controllably.

8. A combined method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-alarm is emitted so that an instruction for confirming that a fire has occurred is transmitted to monitoring personnel for a building and so that a broadcast for attracting attention of people is made in the building, and the first alarm is transmitted to people in the building by sounding bells so that the fire alarm is automatically reported to a fire station.

9. A combined method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means, said means for determining outbreak of fires, and a transmission interface are provided for each pair of said first sensor and said second sensor in a zone to be monitored, and transferring the results of said means for determining outbreak of fires, to said signal processor.

10. A combined method according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor, said second sensor, said receiving means, and said means for determining outbreak of fires are built into one sensor, and transferring the results of determination performed by said means for determining outbreak of fires to said signal processor through a transmission interface provided in a base for mounting the sensor.

11. A combined method for determining presence of fires from a fire source with a heat release value and producing an amount of product due to burning, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of fire sensors for detecting different objects;

transmitting output signals from said fire sensors to a signal processor at a predetermined central monitoring room location;

processing signals from said signal processor by means for determining outbreak of fires and emitting thereupon an alarm;

arranging at least a pair of a first one of said fire sensors and a second one of said fire sensors in a zone to be monitored;

measuring with said first sensor physical quantities correlated with said heat release value of said fire source;

measuring with said second sensor physical quantities correlated with said amount of product due to burning;

setting said first sensor with a first threshold of high sensitivity and a second threshold of low sensitivity;

setting said second sensor with a third threshold;

emitting a pre-alarm only when a signal level from said second sensor exceeds said third threshold and changing the threshold of said first sensor to said first threshold of high sensitivity;

emitting a fire alarm and keeping the threshold of said first sensor high when a signal level from said second sensor exceeds said first threshold; and

emitting a fire alarm when a signal level from said first sensor exceeds said second threshold of low sensitivity even if a signal level from said second sensor is less than said third threshold;

said fire alarm being emitted when there is a hysteresis with the signal level from the second sensor having once exceeded the third threshold and when the signal level from the first sensor exceeds the first threshold;

said pre-alarm being emitted so that an instruction for confirming that a fire has occurred is transmitted to monitoring personnel for a building and so that a broadcast for attracting attention of people is made in the building, and the fire alarm being transmitted to people in the building by sounding bells so that the fire alarm is automatically reported to a fire station.