JPH08757A - Piping condition checking method for fire extinguishing sprinkler and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a piping condition checking method and device for easily detecting such an abnormal condition of a fire extinguishing sprinkler such that water is not filled in a hanging pipe because of the imperfect condition of the connection between a branch pipe and the hanging pipe or the hanging pipe is not connected to a sprinkler head. CONSTITUTION:A checking device is brought into contact with a sprinkler head from the underside to send ultrasonic waves to the sprinkler head, and the piping condition is checked by analyzing the condition of echoes. The piping condition checking device comprises an adapter 10 to be brought into contact with a sprinkler head 6a, a supersonic wave sending and receiving element 11 for sending supersonic waves, and a sending and receiving device 13 for visually or audibly indicating the echoes received by the supersonic wave sending and receiving element 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for inspecting a pipe for abnormality in a sprinkler fire extinguishing facility which automatically sprays water when a fire occurs.

In sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment, the pipe is the water source,
It is composed of a main pipe connected to a pump, a running water detection device, and the like, and a branch pipe connected to the main pipe and laid inside the ceiling of each room. Then, a large number of sprinkler heads are attached to the branch pipes via falling pipes.

By the way, in the sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment,
According to the Fire Service Act, the number of sprinkler heads installed per fixed area is determined so that a specific building can be extinguished efficiently and completely. However, even if the sprinkler head seems to be installed on the ceiling as specified when viewed from below, the fall pipe with the sprinkler head attached is not properly connected to the branch pipe, or the sprinkler head is not attached to the fall pipe. It was rare that it was not installed.

That is, when there is a tough partition between the ceiling board and the floor board on the upper floor, it is necessary to make a hole in this partition to allow the branch pipe to pass through. Since it takes time, the drilling work may be postponed. On the other hand, the ceiling plate has a hole for attaching the sprinkler head before the ceiling plate is stretched, and after attaching the ceiling plate, the worker attaches the sprinkler head to the falling pipe through the hole. When the sprinkler head is attached to the falling pipe in this manner, a hole is formed in the partition, and then the branch pipe is connected to the falling pipe through the branch pipe.

However, in the piping of the sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment, there was a case where the piping became abnormal due to a communication error of the operator. For example, there is a falling pipe with a sprinkler head attached to the end of the partition, and if the falling pipe has not been communicated to another worker after making a hole in the partition, another I thought that all of the falling pipes had been connected before this, and I sometimes did not connect to the falling pipes on the other side of the partition.

Further, as a piping abnormality, there is a case where only the sprinkler head is attached to the ceiling plate. This is because the sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment was inserted into the hole of the ceiling board first, it was fastened with a nut from the back of the ceiling, and I tried to connect it to the falling pipe later, but forget it when laying the piping in the ceiling. Is to end up.

Even if the falling pipe is not connected to the branch pipe or the sprinkler head is not connected to the falling pipe in this manner, when the sprinkler head on the ceiling is viewed from below, there is no abnormality in the piping. I have no idea.

When a fire occurs below the sprinkler head with abnormal piping, the sprinkler head attached to it only operates, and since the falling pipe and the sprinkler head are not properly connected, naturally no water will flow. It will not spread and it will make the fire bigger.

Conventionally, many means for detecting such a piping abnormality have been proposed. For example, the branch pipe or sprinkler head is provided with a branch opening, and water is drained from here to check the water outflow state, or a device that changes with water pressure is installed on the fall pipe or sprinkler head. It was (Reference: JP-A-52-10079)
No. 7, No. 52-138400, No. 53-9099,
No. 53-49898, No. 62-6854.

[0010]

Since the conventional detecting means is to install a detecting device on the falling pipe or the sprinkler head, or to apply special processing to the falling pipe or the sprinkler head, these are to be used. It takes a lot of time and effort to manufacture and becomes expensive. Moreover, since the aesthetics of the room where the sprinkler head is installed have been emphasized in recent years, the sprinkler head has also been designed in consideration of the interior design, and an extra item such as a detection device is attached to the sprinkler head. It is not preferable to change the shape of the sprinkler head.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus capable of surely inspecting whether sprinkler heads or falling pipes are not filled with water, without apparently attaching them, or checking pipes for water. .

[0012]

The present inventor has completed the present invention by paying attention to the fact that a medium for propagating vibration has a characteristic acoustic impedance and an ultrasonic wave has a property of reflecting when hitting an object. . In other words, the vibration energy propagated from the piping material is greater in water when the inside of the pipe is air and in the case of water, so the vibration energy that propagates in the pipe is more attenuated when water is inside. If the distance from the transmission part to the abutment is short, many reflected waves will appear.

The present invention is a method for inspecting the piping condition of a sprinkler fire extinguishing facility, in which ultrasonic waves are transmitted to a sprinkler head, echoes of the ultrasonic waves are received by the same sprinkler head, and the echo is analyzed to analyze the piping. This is a method for inspecting the piping condition of sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment, which is characterized by detecting abnormal conditions, and an adapter that can contact the sprinkler head without contacting the heat sensitive body of the sprinkler head or the heat collecting plate; An ultrasonic wave generating element that is installed as possible; and a transceiver that is electrically connected to the ultrasonic wave generating element and that visually or audibly displays the echo received by the ultrasonic wave generating element. It is a characteristic pipe condition inspection device for sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment.

[0014]

[Operation] When ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the sprinkler head of the sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment, when air is present inside the pipe, the intensity of the reflected echo is high, and moreover, the frequency between the vibration generation point and the reflection point is increased. Since it also makes a round trip, many echoes appear. Therefore, by observing the state of the echo, it is possible to determine at a glance whether water is present or air is present inside the pipe.

When ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the sprinkler head that is not connected to the falling pipe, the echoes reciprocate within the narrow sprinkler head, so that the echoes appear in a state where the intervals are narrow.

The inspection apparatus of the present invention is suitable for a transceiver capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves and receiving echoes reflected by the ultrasonic waves. Further, as the inspection device of the present invention, there are a CRT capable of visually judging echoes, an alarm device which sounds a buzzer when the number of echoes is abnormally high or abnormally high, and a device which uses both a CRT and an alarm. Is suitable.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a method for inspecting a pipe condition in a sprinkler fire extinguishing facility according to the present invention.

In the sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment, the main pipe 1 is connected to a running water detection device, a water source, a water supply pump, etc., which are not shown, and the main pipe 1 on the secondary side of the running water detection device is connected to a branch pipe 2. . The branch pipe 2 is laid in the ceiling between the ceiling plate 3 of the building and the floor plate 4 of the upper floor. The ceiling plate 3 has holes 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d at regular intervals according to the Fire Service Act.
And the sprinkler heads 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d are inserted into these holes.

The sprinkler head has a falling tube 7
It is attached to a, 7b, and 7c. Falling tube 7
a is connected to the branch pipe 2 by a cheese 8a, the falling pipe 7b is connected to the branch pipe 2 by a branch saddle 8b, and the falling pipe 7c is connected to the branch pipe 2 by an elbow 8c.

By the way, there is a tough partition 9 between the ceiling board 3 and the floor board 4 on the upper floor, and the branch pipe 2 is to be made a hole in the partition, and the branch pipe is passed through this hole before being connected to the falling pipe. Met. However, since the operator who installed the falling pipe 7c did not inform another operator that the partition 9 was to be bored, the other operator did not make a hole in the partition and the operator in front of the partition Falling tube 7c
I thought it was the last one, and ended the work by connecting the falling pipe 7c to the branch pipe 2 with an elbow 8c. Therefore, the sprinkler head 6d on the other side of the partition 9 is an abnormal pipe that is not connected to the branch pipe.

Next, a pipe condition inspection device for sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment, which is another invention, will be described.

The adapter 10 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom,
Its depth is greater than the height of the sprinkler head and its inner diameter is approximately the same as the body of the sprinkler head. The bottomed cylindrical shape is used in order to prevent damage to the heat-sensitive decomposition portion and the heat collecting plate which are important parts of the sprinkler head when the adapter is brought into contact with the sprinkler head. Adapter 10
Is to be brought into contact with the frame of the sprinkler head, and it is advisable to prepare a shape suitable for various sprinkler heads. The adapter 10 is detachably installed on the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element 11.

The ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element 11 is preferably a piezoelectric ceramic which is mechanically distorted when an electric field is applied between the polarized electrodes, or a magnetostrictive element which is mechanically distorted when a magnetic field is applied. The ultrasonic transmission / reception element 11 is installed on a telescopic-type long rod 12 which is expandable / contractible, and is electrically connected to a transmission / reception device 13.

The transmitter / receiver 13 is provided with a CRT capable of visually displaying the received wave, and is further provided with a buzzer for issuing an alarm when an echo strong against the received wave or a large number of echoes is detected.

Here, the pipe condition inspection method of the sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment of the present invention will be described.

The long bar 12 is extended and the adapter 1 is attached to the frame of the sprinkler head mounted on the ceiling plate.
Contact 0. Then, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element 11. The ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element 11 is transmitted to the sprinkler head via the adapter 10. At this time, the sprinkler head and the falling pipe are made of metal, propagate ultrasonic waves, and are reflected at the time of hitting to return as an echo. This echo is received by the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving element 11 via the adapter, and its waveform is visually or acoustically displayed by the transceiver 13 for analysis.

In this inspection, the falling pipes 7a, 7
In the case where the pipes are normally piped and are completely filled with water as in c, when ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the sprinkler heads attached to these falling pipes, as shown in FIG. Large echoes appear, followed by small echoes at wide intervals. This is because the ultrasonic waves transmitted to the sprinkler head propagates through the falling pipe and the water filled inside, and what is reflected by the cheese 8a and elbow 8c of the joint returns as an echo, but the falling pipe Since the inside is filled with water, the echo is absorbed by the water and decays quickly.

When the sprinkler head 6b of the falling pipe 7b connected by the branch saddle 8b is inspected in a state where the branch pipe is not completely drilled, a large size as shown in FIG. Echoes are going on forever. This is because the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the sprinkler head 6b propagates through the falling pipe 7b, is reflected by the branch pipe without holes, and returns before the energy is attenuated. The returned echo is reflected by the sprinkler head 6b again to reach the branch pipe, and is reflected and returned here. Since this repetition continues indefinitely, the waveform becomes as shown in FIG.

At this time, the echo intensity after the second time is K
If the number is above the point, the transmitter / receiver 13 determines that this is abnormal, and if the buzzer is sounded, it is possible to auditorily determine the abnormal piping.

When ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the sprinkler head 6d that is not connected to the falling pipe, the ultrasonic waves are repeatedly reciprocated in the short sprinkler head, so that a waveform with a short interval as shown in FIG. Become.

When the adapter is brought into contact with the sprinkler head attached to the ceiling plate in this manner and ultrasonic waves are transmitted and echoes are observed, it is confirmed that the falling pipe is completely filled with water or the sprinkler. It can be easily determined whether the head is connected to the falling pipe.

[0032]

As described above, the pipe inspection method and apparatus of the sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment of the present invention has a person under inspection and the adapter attached to the long tip is brought into contact with the sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment. An ultrasonic wave can be detected from the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving element and the echo can be visually or auditorily judged by the transmitter / receiver to detect a piping abnormality. It is an inspection method that has an outstanding feature that has never been seen.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a pipe inspection method of the present invention.

[FIG. 2] (a) is a waveform of an echo in normal piping,
(B) is the waveform of the echo when the falling pipe is not filled with water, and (C) is the waveform when the sprinkler head is not connected to the falling pipe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main pipe 2 Branch pipes 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d Sprinkler head 7a, 7b, 7c Falling pipe 8a Cheese 8b Branch saddle 8c Elbow 10 Adapter 11 Ultrasonic transceiver element 13 Transceiver

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for inspecting a pipe condition of a sprinkler fire extinguishing system, which comprises transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a sprinkler head, receiving an echo of the ultrasonic wave at the same sprinkler head, and analyzing the echo to check the pipe condition. A method for inspecting the piping condition of a sprinkler fire extinguisher, which is characterized by detecting an abnormality. 2. The method for inspecting piping of sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wave is transmitted and the echo is received by the same inspection device. 3. An adapter having a shape capable of contacting the sprinkler head without contacting a heat sensitive body or a heat collecting plate of the sprinkler head; an ultrasonic wave generating element having the adapter detachably installed; and an ultrasonic wave generating element electrically. It is connected and the echo received by the ultrasonic wave generation element is visually
Alternatively, a pipe condition inspection device for a sprinkler fire extinguishing facility, characterized in that the device is configured by a transmitter / receiver for displaying aurally. 4. The pipe condition inspection apparatus for sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment according to claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic wave generating element is installed on a long rod which can be expanded and contracted. 5. The pipe condition inspection apparatus for sprinkler fire extinguishing equipment according to claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic wave generating element is a piezoelectric ceramic or a magnetostrictive element.