Disaster prevention monitoring apparatus

• US 5,475,363 A
• Filed: 03/15/1994
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hochiki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hochiki Corporation
• Inventors: Shimokawa, Takashi, Koyama, Kiyoaki, Suzuki, Munemasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/212,854
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505-511, 340/514, 340/538, 340/825.06-825.13, 340/825.54, 340/310.01, 340/425.1
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/001 with individual interrogation of substations connected in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/06 Monitoring of the line circuits, e.g. signalling of line faults

Abstract

A disaster prevention monitor is disclosed in which the power consumption during a line monitoring process is reduced, and a disconnection or a short circuit of control lines can be detected by using a single switching means. A central station has a monitor command transmitter for transmitting a monitor command signal to initiate monitoring of power and control lines. A terminal or repeater station has circuitry for controlling the connection of control lines between a line monitor and power lines. During normal conditions, the control lines are not connected to the power lines, but become so connected only in response to a command from the central station. A line monitoring command causes generation of a negative voltage which is applied to line monitoring circuitry to actuate such circuitry for monitoring the status of the power and control lines.

Claims

1. A disaster prevention system and monitor comprising:

a central station for transmitting command signals along signal lines;

at least one repeater station connected to said signal lines for receiving said command signals and for transmitting status information signals onto said signal lines;

control loads, control lines connected said control loads at said least one repeater station, and power lines adapted for supplying power to said control loads when connected to said control lines, said control lines normally being disconnected from said power lines;

means at said at least one repeater station, responsive to a command signal including an address field designating said at least one repeater station and a command field designating that power is to be applied to said control loads, for connecting said control lines to said power lines;

monitor means at said at least one repeater station for monitoring, when actuated, the state of said power lines and control lines when said power lines are not connected to said control lines; and

means at said at least one repeater station, responsive to a command signal including an address field designating said at least one repeater station and a command field designating that said monitoring means should be activated, for actuating said monitoring means.

2. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for actuating said monitor means comprises a negative voltage generating means for supplying a negative voltage to said monitor means.

3. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said control lines to said power lines comprises a switch for switching said control lines between said power lines and said monitor means, with said switch normally connecting said control lines to said monitor means.

4. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one repeater station further comprises means responsive to a command signal including an address field designating said at least one repeater station and a command field designating that said control lines should be disconnected from said power lines for causing said switch to disconnect said control lines from said power lines.

5. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said monitor means comprises a power line monitor for sensing the status of said power line and transmitting a power line normal signal when said power line is in a normal power-up state.

6. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 5, wherein said monitor means further comprises a control line monitor for sensing an abnormal condition of said control line and transmitting a control line abnormal signal when said control line has an abnormal condition.

7. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said abnormal conditions sensed by said control line monitor include disconnection of said control line and short circuit of said control line.

8. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said command signal has a format of an address field and a command field and said central station selectively transmits in said command field the commands to power said control lines, to remove power from said control lines, and to monitor the power and control lines.

9. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 8, wherein said command to monitor the power and control lines is transmitted repetitively at an interval of a predetermined time.

10. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means for connecting said control lines to said power lines further comprises:

a latching relay having set and reset coils, said coils affecting the switching of said switch;

a command field decoder; and

a relay driver circuit responsive to said command field decoder for controlling the energization of said set and reset coils to thereby control the connection of said control lines to said power lines.

11. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for actuating said monitor means comprises a negative voltage generating means for supplying a negative voltage to said monitor means.

12. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for connecting said control lines to said power lines comprises a switch for switching said control lines between said power lines and said monitor means, with said switch normally connecting said control lines to said monitor means.

13. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said switch comprises a moveable contact connected to said control lines and a first fixed contact connected in said monitor means and a second fixed contact on said power lines, whereby said moveable contact is moveable between said two fixed contacts to selectively connect said control lines to said power lines and to said monitor means.

14. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 11, wherein said negative voltage generating means comprises:

a resistor connected to said power lines;

a capacitor which is charged by the voltage carried by said power lines through said resistor;

a reverse-current blocking diode connected to a negative terminal side of said capacitor and to said first fixed contact; and

a diode connected between said negative terminal side and a reference potential.

15. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 14, wherein said central station further comprises manually operable means for initiating a command to control said switch.

16. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an impedance element disposed parallel with said control loads.

17. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

18. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

19. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

20. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

21. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

22. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

23. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

24. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

25. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

26. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

27. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

28. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

29. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

30. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 14, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

31. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 15, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.

32. A disaster prevention system and monitor as claimed in claim 16, wherein said at least one repeater station is a plurality of repeater stations having respective control loads and control lines connected thereto.