CA2226822C - Emergency lighting system - Google Patents
Emergency lighting system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2226822C CA2226822C CA 2226822 CA2226822A CA2226822C CA 2226822 C CA2226822 C CA 2226822C CA 2226822 CA2226822 CA 2226822 CA 2226822 A CA2226822 A CA 2226822A CA 2226822 C CA2226822 C CA 2226822C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- load
- power
- accordance
- pair
- emergency lighting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J9/00—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting
- H02J9/04—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source
- H02J9/06—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source with automatic change-over, e.g. UPS systems
Abstract
An emergency lighting system has emergency light units operable by DC power and connected to a source of AC and DC power by the same conduit system. Power to the conduit system may be switched from AC to DC in the event of a power failure and a load relay module in the conduit system adjacent the light units senses the change to DC current and switches from an Ac load output to a DC load output to supply DC
power to the emergengy light units. The system will generally include both exit signs operable by both AC and DC power and emergency light units operable only by DC
power.
power to the emergengy light units. The system will generally include both exit signs operable by both AC and DC power and emergency light units operable only by DC
power.
Description
P.MP.~f'TP.~l~Y T.~ ;Y.~
R~K~lRoTTNr~ ~~P T~P r~vF~ )N
Th~ present invention relates to e..,~ cy li~htin~ S~St~llS, and, more particularly, to such s~st~.,-s p~ g the use of e-i~tin~ wiring within the building to provide DIC power to the units in such systems.
Iille~g~ncy lighting ~t~--s are widely employed to ill~....;n~le buil~iin~.~ and to identify e~;its during h t~plions of power supply. In many buil~lingQ (par~icularly of high rise construction), there is a central DC power supply c~n~;Qting of a 120V DC
an,d battery ban~. A nu~bcr of ilu~ c4--l lighting heads are located ll~u~gl~out the building to provide an emergency lighting system to ill~ le pall,w~
for exit pU~ s when there is a power failure.
Some exit signs contain b-q-tteries to operate the lamp in the event of failure of the AC poweI which is pOW~lit g the lamp. The AC power supply is cl ~il g the battery to keep it up to ~ n lh, but, over a period of time, the battery may det~P-rinr~qte and render the unit inPrr~1;~e in, the event of failure. M~cù~r~ decaying bqtteriPs will occasionally leak so as to cause detPriorq-tinn of the entire sign unit. Thus, there _as been a trend to power the e~it signs from a cent~al DC power source in the event of power failure or conffm~ously.
In many large in~tqllqtionc~ there are two ~ le pairs of wires feeding lighffng units in, the e~ ing lighting system. AC power is n-~rmqlly supplied to the lamps of the exit sipns lllluugh one pair of wires. DC power can be supplied to the DC lamps of the exit signs through the second set of wires from a battery bank and the e",~.gel~cy lighting heads are also supplied power thereby.
So long as there is AC power, a pair of cont~~tC are normqlly closed in the AC
circuit to provide power to the AC pair, and, in the event of a power failure, the e CQn~-v'-l~ open and a pair of c~nt~~tc in the DC circuit are closed to supply DC power through t~R DC line. Normally, the AC power source is also cl a,~ g the battery bank.
Such a system is ;11~ ;1I~ in Figure 1.
~ lthou~h such a pair of two wire circuits may be readily inotqll~ in new construction, it is far more difficult to do so in ~ictin~ buil~lingc without incul ~ ;~U great cost. This type of inct~ ~tinn ~eases the cost of a system because of the need to have a second set of wires to carry the different power ~,.p~Les. This r~uirc~ l increases the cost of new construction but p.~, ts a far more ~ig,~ifi.~-qnt problem in e~i~ti~
buil~ing~ ~, cQr.lluiL~ must be run throughout the b~ ling Such c4n~1 -;L~ Iyl ~~lly can be inct~ d only with ~,,.lens;~G drilling thlough conc~t~ floors and walls with _ttPn~nt high cost. In ~ lition, t: l os~d cQndu;l~ are r~psth~pt~ y ~i~pl~Aci~ and often .J~ pt~1-1e A second problem is t~hat many exit signs utilize nu~ t lamps which will not oI~erate with an e,~"E,el cy DC power supply, and ~ rer~l~, require inct~ll_tinn of a set of e~it signs that can operate under AC and DC power. Accold~ly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel e.,.e~ cy lightin~ system that enables the use of a single pair of wires to provide both AC and DC power to the light units and thereby reduce the cost and r~~thf~ti.~-. impact of providing a se~-~e DC power system.
It is also an object to provide such a system which will acco..~ ..~i~tç both fluo.~s~nt and in.~-~.~de~sc-~Pnt lamp loads.
Another object is to provide such a system which will operate the heads of emergency light units only in the event of power failure.
A ,further object is to provide a novel relay for use in such system to switch b~lweell A~C and DC.
SIJ~MARY OF ~ TION
The term "elnelgen~ light units" as used herein inn des both e~it signs which are ope~vql~le c4n~;n-,Qusly on AC and DC power and co~lvenl;~n-q-l c~c~g~n~ light units which ha~e light heads operable only by DC power.
It has now been found that the rol~going and related objects may be readily fd in an e"l~ ~ lighh~ system which has a ml~ltirliC,ity of em~,lt~l~ light units having lamps operable by DC power, an elech icql con~it system c4nn~ to the light units and to sources of AC and DC power, and means for s~ lg the power supply of the c4n~it system from AC to DC power in the event of failure of the AC
power source. Load relay modules are provided in the cQn~uit system q~ nt the light units, and they have te ~..inql~ conn~led to the colld~lit system, a pair of DC load 1~ ,..h-~lc and a pair of AC load t~l,ninals. It sense a change from AC to DC power to the input ~,, ...;~1~ and s~ilcl es the power supply from the AC load t ~ in~lC to the DC
load l~. n.in~l~ to supply DC power to the DC light units.
The light units may include e~cit signs with lamps which are ~ d by AC and DC, or units con~h~h~e both a DC pO~ ~ lamp and an AC po~ed fluo~ lamp.
The system will genP,r~lly include e.l~elgency liehtine units powel~d by DC current CQI-I-~t~d to the DC load ~....h~ of the load relay modlllP~
The load relay modulP includP~s a circuit board with a pair of input t~-~ ...;..~ls, a pair of DC output l ~ ...in~l~, and a pair of AC output tr-~...in~l~. A sensor CG~ nt on the circuit board diffe~ ~t;~b~s bct~n AC and DC current across the input t~ ...inqls~
and a s. i~hing colllpol ~ t under control of the sensor ~wilcl ~s the current from the AC
output ~ in~ls to the DC output ~e-~..il-~l~.
The sensor compri~p~s a c~p~itor, and the ~witchil g coll.~onel t is a load relay.
The load relay modulP genPrally inC1udps a housi~ and the circuit board is within the houdng and has the s~ilcl~ing and sensor Colnpol e,.~l~ mount~Pd thereon.
RRTF.F nF.~('.R~PIlON ()F l H I~. nR~
Figure 1 is a s 1.~ ;c tii~ram of an e.nc,g~l cy li~htine system with s~ s . ~teAC and DC circuils;
Figure 2 is a s~h~ t;c ~i~ram of an e.,l~rg~ncy li~htin~ system embodying the present invention;
Figure 3 is a sc~ ;c illllctrqtion of a c,ombined inctqllqtion of an em~
lighting unit and an exit sign;
Figure 4 is a pf sl~ect;ve view of a load relay mo~llle employed in the present invention;
Pigure S is an end elevational view of the output end of the lo.,d relay modulP.;
Figure 6 is an elevational view of the input end of the load relay mod-llP,;
Figure 7 is an s I IOde(I view of the colll~onents of the load relay tn~Ule; andFigure 8 is a s~h~mqtic ~li~ram of the cil-;uill ~ of the load relay modlllp nFTA~ .F.n r~F~ R~rIoN l F TH H PRF.FFRRF.n F.lUROnlMF.~T
Turning first to Figure 2, therein sche~ ;rqlly ill.~ ~ is a building inct-qllqtion having a multiplicity of light units 10 at strqho.g;c locql;- nc, a DC power supply 12 such as a battery bank, an AC power supply 14, a tr.qn~fPr c4~ tor 16 for s~ilcl~i~g bclwecn the DC and AC power supplies 12,14, and a conduit system 18 bclw~n the output t~ .linql~ of the conl~-;tor 16 and the relay load m~lllPs 20 coupled to the light units 10. Each of the exit signs 10 has a DC powclcd light load and an AC
po~ d light load (not shown) which may be a single in~q-ndescent lamp operable by both AC and DC power. In the event of a failure of the AC power supply, a relay (not shown) Op~lat~S the c~t-q~tor 16 to provide DC power to the cQn-l.~;l 18. The relay load module 20 senses the change in power and switches its output to the DC powclcd load in the light unit 10, thus ll.q;~ ining illll.ll.nql;nn of the light unit in the event of an AC power failure.
Turning next to Figure 3, therein ~iagr.qmmqticqlly illllch~tP~ is an in~tqllqtinn of a DC p(jwelcd emergency light unit 22 and an exit sign 10, both of which are supplied with power through the relay 20. The e~ ~ency light unit 22 is ~ ,cd only when the relay load module 20 ~ilches to a DC power output since its load is conl-e~t~ to the DC output while the exit sign 10 has conn~;l;nn~ from its AC p~clcd load to the AC outpul~ inqlc and from its DC powt;l~d load to the DC output ll . Ill;nqlc Tuming next to Figure 4, therein ill.l~h~t~d is a 120V AC/DC relay load module 20 embodying the present invention. It has a housing gPnPr.qlly decignqtPd by the nvmPrql 24 which is comrri~ of the base mounling cl~nnel 26, the power supply side end cap 28, the load side end cap 30, and the top cap 32. r~le~ g the supply end of the housing 24 is a pair of AC/DC supply wire leads 34a,34b and exiting the load end are the two pairs of AC and DC load wire leads 36,38, l~i./ely.
Turning next in detail to Figures 5-7, it is seen that the base mounting cllqnnel 26 is readily formed as an elongrqtPd extrusion with a base wall 40 and side walls 42 with a pair of vertically spaced ribs 43 eYtPn-ling longitudinqlly on the inner surface of the side walls 42, and the printed circuit board generally de~igllqt~Pd by the m~mPrql 44 is snugly seated 1~l~ the ribs 43. The end caps 28,30 each have a ,~live end wall 46,48 . nd side walls 50,52 which snugly fit over the ends of the b. se chqnn~l 26. Simil-q-rly, the top cap 32 has a top wall 54 and d~P.pPn~i~ walls 56 which snugly fit over the side walls 42, thus providing a simple but rugged q~mbly.
The side walls 50,52 of the end caps 28,30 are of lesser height than the end walls 46,48 to allow the sidewalls 56 of the cap 32 to nest th~ lcwilh on the side walls 42 of the base chqnnpl 20. The end walls 48,50 are also of lesser height than the base chq-nn 26 to allow the AC/DC input leads 34 and the AC and DC load 36,38, r~;lively, toenter the housing 24 thereover and thereunder.
As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the load end cap 30 has a rectangular tie pad 58 thereon to which the load leads 36,38 are secured by a tie wrap 60. As seen in Figure 5, a tie wrap 62 around the AC/DC leads 36,38 inside the housing 24 provides a strain relief to protect their c4n~ ;nn~ to the circuit board q~semhly 44. The end caps 28, 30 and the top are adhesively bonded to the side walls 42 of the base ~.ounling ch~nnt~l 26.
Mounted on the circuit board 64 of the circuit board q~mbly 44 are a load relay 68 and the electronic co~ ?onents 68,70. The leads 34, 36, 38 are soldered to t~.ll~ih~als on the board 64 which has a printed circuit thereon co.lllll.l~ qting hel~" the several C~ onto,nt~, As seen in Figure 8, the colll~on~ntC in the relay module include the c~qrq~itor 72 in the positive lead 34a, the bridge rectifier 74, the diode 76, a relay 78 which has a coil 80 and two pairs of conhrtC 82,84. With the input le. ds 34 carrying AC voltage, the c~ -;~r 72 passes AC current l~ gh it and the bridge rectifier 74 coll~lls the AC
voltage to DC voltage, thus energizing the coil 80 of the relay 78 and con~ ;ng the AC
load to the input leads 34 ~ ougll its normqlly open oontq~t~ 82. When the input leads 34 to the AC/DC load relay module carry DC voltage due to an AC failure in the central system and oper.qtion of the transfer collt-i-elor 16 as shown in Figure 1, the r~r-q-~-it~r 72 due to its nature blocks the DC voltage and thus deenergizes the coil 80 of the relay 78.
In this c. se, the DC load is supplied by the input DC voltage through the normql1y closed cQntqct~ 84 of the relay 78. The diode 76 is a free-wheeling diode through which the ma~nPtic energy stored in the coil 80 of the relay 78 is di~ipq~t~, thus elilllin- l;"g any voltage spike which otherwise might have been ~nP..~trd when the relay 78 is bein deenergized.
The housing is readily fabricated from synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, poly~l,onate, ABS and the like. Although the several coll,pollents may be molde~, lengths of the desired configuration may be extruded and cut to provide the desired no~ n~ for in~ . r~ the caps.
As will be appLeri~, the relay module may be f~hrir~t~l in a ...ini~ e size so that it may be ~n~l~d into the houci~ of an exit sign or it may be mounted on the wall or ceiling ~ nt the exit sign and e~ ~ency light units. It is easily ~OUI led within an exit sign housing by double-faced adhesive tape. It can be mountçd on the wall or ceiling by a bracket which will slidably seat the base of the houcing.
By use of the present invention, e~ictir~ buil~ingc may be readily fitted with e",~el~cy lighting units which are ~ .~ only by a remote DC power source using the p~ ;c~l wiring system already in place. Mo~c~, the b~ - ;P-S in exit signs which are norm~lly charged by the AC current supply can be removed and the DC power supplied dilc-;lly to the DC load in the unit. Removal of the battery and charging ci~uil,~ provides ample space for inco~ ing the relay load mo~lllP
Thus, it can be seen from the fol~gohlg ~lePil~ ~ifil~?tifm and ~tt~
dl~ings that the elll~ y lighting system of the present invention is one which is ~eadily in~t~ll~ in eYi~ting buil~ingc and in new construction to provide AC/DC power over the same wiring to exit signs and DC power to e-..- ~ E,e~cy lights. The relay load module is simple to fabricate, is ~lalivcly low cost and can be easily inct~lled
R~K~lRoTTNr~ ~~P T~P r~vF~ )N
Th~ present invention relates to e..,~ cy li~htin~ S~St~llS, and, more particularly, to such s~st~.,-s p~ g the use of e-i~tin~ wiring within the building to provide DIC power to the units in such systems.
Iille~g~ncy lighting ~t~--s are widely employed to ill~....;n~le buil~iin~.~ and to identify e~;its during h t~plions of power supply. In many buil~lingQ (par~icularly of high rise construction), there is a central DC power supply c~n~;Qting of a 120V DC
an,d battery ban~. A nu~bcr of ilu~ c4--l lighting heads are located ll~u~gl~out the building to provide an emergency lighting system to ill~ le pall,w~
for exit pU~ s when there is a power failure.
Some exit signs contain b-q-tteries to operate the lamp in the event of failure of the AC poweI which is pOW~lit g the lamp. The AC power supply is cl ~il g the battery to keep it up to ~ n lh, but, over a period of time, the battery may det~P-rinr~qte and render the unit inPrr~1;~e in, the event of failure. M~cù~r~ decaying bqtteriPs will occasionally leak so as to cause detPriorq-tinn of the entire sign unit. Thus, there _as been a trend to power the e~it signs from a cent~al DC power source in the event of power failure or conffm~ously.
In many large in~tqllqtionc~ there are two ~ le pairs of wires feeding lighffng units in, the e~ ing lighting system. AC power is n-~rmqlly supplied to the lamps of the exit sipns lllluugh one pair of wires. DC power can be supplied to the DC lamps of the exit signs through the second set of wires from a battery bank and the e",~.gel~cy lighting heads are also supplied power thereby.
So long as there is AC power, a pair of cont~~tC are normqlly closed in the AC
circuit to provide power to the AC pair, and, in the event of a power failure, the e CQn~-v'-l~ open and a pair of c~nt~~tc in the DC circuit are closed to supply DC power through t~R DC line. Normally, the AC power source is also cl a,~ g the battery bank.
Such a system is ;11~ ;1I~ in Figure 1.
~ lthou~h such a pair of two wire circuits may be readily inotqll~ in new construction, it is far more difficult to do so in ~ictin~ buil~lingc without incul ~ ;~U great cost. This type of inct~ ~tinn ~eases the cost of a system because of the need to have a second set of wires to carry the different power ~,.p~Les. This r~uirc~ l increases the cost of new construction but p.~, ts a far more ~ig,~ifi.~-qnt problem in e~i~ti~
buil~ing~ ~, cQr.lluiL~ must be run throughout the b~ ling Such c4n~1 -;L~ Iyl ~~lly can be inct~ d only with ~,,.lens;~G drilling thlough conc~t~ floors and walls with _ttPn~nt high cost. In ~ lition, t: l os~d cQndu;l~ are r~psth~pt~ y ~i~pl~Aci~ and often .J~ pt~1-1e A second problem is t~hat many exit signs utilize nu~ t lamps which will not oI~erate with an e,~"E,el cy DC power supply, and ~ rer~l~, require inct~ll_tinn of a set of e~it signs that can operate under AC and DC power. Accold~ly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel e.,.e~ cy lightin~ system that enables the use of a single pair of wires to provide both AC and DC power to the light units and thereby reduce the cost and r~~thf~ti.~-. impact of providing a se~-~e DC power system.
It is also an object to provide such a system which will acco..~ ..~i~tç both fluo.~s~nt and in.~-~.~de~sc-~Pnt lamp loads.
Another object is to provide such a system which will operate the heads of emergency light units only in the event of power failure.
A ,further object is to provide a novel relay for use in such system to switch b~lweell A~C and DC.
SIJ~MARY OF ~ TION
The term "elnelgen~ light units" as used herein inn des both e~it signs which are ope~vql~le c4n~;n-,Qusly on AC and DC power and co~lvenl;~n-q-l c~c~g~n~ light units which ha~e light heads operable only by DC power.
It has now been found that the rol~going and related objects may be readily fd in an e"l~ ~ lighh~ system which has a ml~ltirliC,ity of em~,lt~l~ light units having lamps operable by DC power, an elech icql con~it system c4nn~ to the light units and to sources of AC and DC power, and means for s~ lg the power supply of the c4n~it system from AC to DC power in the event of failure of the AC
power source. Load relay modules are provided in the cQn~uit system q~ nt the light units, and they have te ~..inql~ conn~led to the colld~lit system, a pair of DC load 1~ ,..h-~lc and a pair of AC load t~l,ninals. It sense a change from AC to DC power to the input ~,, ...;~1~ and s~ilcl es the power supply from the AC load t ~ in~lC to the DC
load l~. n.in~l~ to supply DC power to the DC light units.
The light units may include e~cit signs with lamps which are ~ d by AC and DC, or units con~h~h~e both a DC pO~ ~ lamp and an AC po~ed fluo~ lamp.
The system will genP,r~lly include e.l~elgency liehtine units powel~d by DC current CQI-I-~t~d to the DC load ~....h~ of the load relay modlllP~
The load relay modulP includP~s a circuit board with a pair of input t~-~ ...;..~ls, a pair of DC output l ~ ...in~l~, and a pair of AC output tr-~...in~l~. A sensor CG~ nt on the circuit board diffe~ ~t;~b~s bct~n AC and DC current across the input t~ ...inqls~
and a s. i~hing colllpol ~ t under control of the sensor ~wilcl ~s the current from the AC
output ~ in~ls to the DC output ~e-~..il-~l~.
The sensor compri~p~s a c~p~itor, and the ~witchil g coll.~onel t is a load relay.
The load relay modulP genPrally inC1udps a housi~ and the circuit board is within the houdng and has the s~ilcl~ing and sensor Colnpol e,.~l~ mount~Pd thereon.
RRTF.F nF.~('.R~PIlON ()F l H I~. nR~
Figure 1 is a s 1.~ ;c tii~ram of an e.nc,g~l cy li~htine system with s~ s . ~teAC and DC circuils;
Figure 2 is a s~h~ t;c ~i~ram of an e.,l~rg~ncy li~htin~ system embodying the present invention;
Figure 3 is a sc~ ;c illllctrqtion of a c,ombined inctqllqtion of an em~
lighting unit and an exit sign;
Figure 4 is a pf sl~ect;ve view of a load relay mo~llle employed in the present invention;
Pigure S is an end elevational view of the output end of the lo.,d relay modulP.;
Figure 6 is an elevational view of the input end of the load relay mod-llP,;
Figure 7 is an s I IOde(I view of the colll~onents of the load relay tn~Ule; andFigure 8 is a s~h~mqtic ~li~ram of the cil-;uill ~ of the load relay modlllp nFTA~ .F.n r~F~ R~rIoN l F TH H PRF.FFRRF.n F.lUROnlMF.~T
Turning first to Figure 2, therein sche~ ;rqlly ill.~ ~ is a building inct-qllqtion having a multiplicity of light units 10 at strqho.g;c locql;- nc, a DC power supply 12 such as a battery bank, an AC power supply 14, a tr.qn~fPr c4~ tor 16 for s~ilcl~i~g bclwecn the DC and AC power supplies 12,14, and a conduit system 18 bclw~n the output t~ .linql~ of the conl~-;tor 16 and the relay load m~lllPs 20 coupled to the light units 10. Each of the exit signs 10 has a DC powclcd light load and an AC
po~ d light load (not shown) which may be a single in~q-ndescent lamp operable by both AC and DC power. In the event of a failure of the AC power supply, a relay (not shown) Op~lat~S the c~t-q~tor 16 to provide DC power to the cQn-l.~;l 18. The relay load module 20 senses the change in power and switches its output to the DC powclcd load in the light unit 10, thus ll.q;~ ining illll.ll.nql;nn of the light unit in the event of an AC power failure.
Turning next to Figure 3, therein ~iagr.qmmqticqlly illllch~tP~ is an in~tqllqtinn of a DC p(jwelcd emergency light unit 22 and an exit sign 10, both of which are supplied with power through the relay 20. The e~ ~ency light unit 22 is ~ ,cd only when the relay load module 20 ~ilches to a DC power output since its load is conl-e~t~ to the DC output while the exit sign 10 has conn~;l;nn~ from its AC p~clcd load to the AC outpul~ inqlc and from its DC powt;l~d load to the DC output ll . Ill;nqlc Tuming next to Figure 4, therein ill.l~h~t~d is a 120V AC/DC relay load module 20 embodying the present invention. It has a housing gPnPr.qlly decignqtPd by the nvmPrql 24 which is comrri~ of the base mounling cl~nnel 26, the power supply side end cap 28, the load side end cap 30, and the top cap 32. r~le~ g the supply end of the housing 24 is a pair of AC/DC supply wire leads 34a,34b and exiting the load end are the two pairs of AC and DC load wire leads 36,38, l~i./ely.
Turning next in detail to Figures 5-7, it is seen that the base mounting cllqnnel 26 is readily formed as an elongrqtPd extrusion with a base wall 40 and side walls 42 with a pair of vertically spaced ribs 43 eYtPn-ling longitudinqlly on the inner surface of the side walls 42, and the printed circuit board generally de~igllqt~Pd by the m~mPrql 44 is snugly seated 1~l~ the ribs 43. The end caps 28,30 each have a ,~live end wall 46,48 . nd side walls 50,52 which snugly fit over the ends of the b. se chqnn~l 26. Simil-q-rly, the top cap 32 has a top wall 54 and d~P.pPn~i~ walls 56 which snugly fit over the side walls 42, thus providing a simple but rugged q~mbly.
The side walls 50,52 of the end caps 28,30 are of lesser height than the end walls 46,48 to allow the sidewalls 56 of the cap 32 to nest th~ lcwilh on the side walls 42 of the base chqnnpl 20. The end walls 48,50 are also of lesser height than the base chq-nn 26 to allow the AC/DC input leads 34 and the AC and DC load 36,38, r~;lively, toenter the housing 24 thereover and thereunder.
As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the load end cap 30 has a rectangular tie pad 58 thereon to which the load leads 36,38 are secured by a tie wrap 60. As seen in Figure 5, a tie wrap 62 around the AC/DC leads 36,38 inside the housing 24 provides a strain relief to protect their c4n~ ;nn~ to the circuit board q~semhly 44. The end caps 28, 30 and the top are adhesively bonded to the side walls 42 of the base ~.ounling ch~nnt~l 26.
Mounted on the circuit board 64 of the circuit board q~mbly 44 are a load relay 68 and the electronic co~ ?onents 68,70. The leads 34, 36, 38 are soldered to t~.ll~ih~als on the board 64 which has a printed circuit thereon co.lllll.l~ qting hel~" the several C~ onto,nt~, As seen in Figure 8, the colll~on~ntC in the relay module include the c~qrq~itor 72 in the positive lead 34a, the bridge rectifier 74, the diode 76, a relay 78 which has a coil 80 and two pairs of conhrtC 82,84. With the input le. ds 34 carrying AC voltage, the c~ -;~r 72 passes AC current l~ gh it and the bridge rectifier 74 coll~lls the AC
voltage to DC voltage, thus energizing the coil 80 of the relay 78 and con~ ;ng the AC
load to the input leads 34 ~ ougll its normqlly open oontq~t~ 82. When the input leads 34 to the AC/DC load relay module carry DC voltage due to an AC failure in the central system and oper.qtion of the transfer collt-i-elor 16 as shown in Figure 1, the r~r-q-~-it~r 72 due to its nature blocks the DC voltage and thus deenergizes the coil 80 of the relay 78.
In this c. se, the DC load is supplied by the input DC voltage through the normql1y closed cQntqct~ 84 of the relay 78. The diode 76 is a free-wheeling diode through which the ma~nPtic energy stored in the coil 80 of the relay 78 is di~ipq~t~, thus elilllin- l;"g any voltage spike which otherwise might have been ~nP..~trd when the relay 78 is bein deenergized.
The housing is readily fabricated from synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, poly~l,onate, ABS and the like. Although the several coll,pollents may be molde~, lengths of the desired configuration may be extruded and cut to provide the desired no~ n~ for in~ . r~ the caps.
As will be appLeri~, the relay module may be f~hrir~t~l in a ...ini~ e size so that it may be ~n~l~d into the houci~ of an exit sign or it may be mounted on the wall or ceiling ~ nt the exit sign and e~ ~ency light units. It is easily ~OUI led within an exit sign housing by double-faced adhesive tape. It can be mountçd on the wall or ceiling by a bracket which will slidably seat the base of the houcing.
By use of the present invention, e~ictir~ buil~ingc may be readily fitted with e",~el~cy lighting units which are ~ .~ only by a remote DC power source using the p~ ;c~l wiring system already in place. Mo~c~, the b~ - ;P-S in exit signs which are norm~lly charged by the AC current supply can be removed and the DC power supplied dilc-;lly to the DC load in the unit. Removal of the battery and charging ci~uil,~ provides ample space for inco~ ing the relay load mo~lllP
Thus, it can be seen from the fol~gohlg ~lePil~ ~ifil~?tifm and ~tt~
dl~ings that the elll~ y lighting system of the present invention is one which is ~eadily in~t~ll~ in eYi~ting buil~ingc and in new construction to provide AC/DC power over the same wiring to exit signs and DC power to e-..- ~ E,e~cy lights. The relay load module is simple to fabricate, is ~lalivcly low cost and can be easily inct~lled
Claims (14)
1. In an emergency lighting system, the combination comprising:
(a) a multiplicity of emergency light units having lamps operable by DC power;
(b) an electrical conduit system connected to said light units and to sources of AC and DC power;
(c) means for switching the power supply to said conduit system from AC to DC power in the event of failure of said AC power source; and (d) a load relay module in said conduit system adjacent said light units and having a pair of input terminals connected to said conduit system, a pair ofDC load terminals and a pair o AC load terminals, said load relay module sensing a change from AC to DC power to said input terminals and switching the power supply from said AC load terminals to said DC load terminals and to supply DC power to said DC light units.
(a) a multiplicity of emergency light units having lamps operable by DC power;
(b) an electrical conduit system connected to said light units and to sources of AC and DC power;
(c) means for switching the power supply to said conduit system from AC to DC power in the event of failure of said AC power source; and (d) a load relay module in said conduit system adjacent said light units and having a pair of input terminals connected to said conduit system, a pair ofDC load terminals and a pair o AC load terminals, said load relay module sensing a change from AC to DC power to said input terminals and switching the power supply from said AC load terminals to said DC load terminals and to supply DC power to said DC light units.
2. The emergency lighting system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said light units include exit signs with lamps which are powered by AC and DC.
3. The emergency lighting system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said exit signs include a DC powered lamp and an AC powered fluorescent lamp.
4. The emergency lighting system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said system includes emergency lighting units powered by DC current connected to the DC
load terminals of said load relay module.
load terminals of said load relay module.
5. The emergency lighting system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said load relay module includes:
(a) a circuit board with a pair of input terminals, a pair of DC output terminals, and a pair of AC output terminals;
(b) a sensor component on said circuit board for differentiating between AC and DC current across said input terminals; and (c) a switching component under control of said sensor for switching the current from said AC output terminals to said DC output terminals.
(a) a circuit board with a pair of input terminals, a pair of DC output terminals, and a pair of AC output terminals;
(b) a sensor component on said circuit board for differentiating between AC and DC current across said input terminals; and (c) a switching component under control of said sensor for switching the current from said AC output terminals to said DC output terminals.
6. The emergency lighting system in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said sensor comprises a capacitor.
7. The emergency lighting system in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said switching component is a load relay.
8. The emergency lighting system in accordance with Claim 7 wherein said relay has a coil powered by voltage passing through a rectifier.
9. The emergency lighting system in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said load relay module includes a housing and said circuit board is within said housing and has said switching and sensor components mounted thereon.
10. A load relay module for installation in a power line to an emergency light unit, said module comprising:
(a) a circuit board with a pair of input terminals, a pair of DC output terminals, and a pair of AC output terminals;
(b) a sensor component on said circuit board for differentiating between AC and DC current across said input terminals; and (c) a switching component under control of said sensor for switching the current from said AC output terminal to said DC output terminals,
(a) a circuit board with a pair of input terminals, a pair of DC output terminals, and a pair of AC output terminals;
(b) a sensor component on said circuit board for differentiating between AC and DC current across said input terminals; and (c) a switching component under control of said sensor for switching the current from said AC output terminal to said DC output terminals,
11. A load relay module in accordance with Claim 10 wherein said sensor comprises a capacitor.
12. The load relay module in accordance with Claim 10 wherein said switching component is a load relay.
13. The load relay module in accordance with Claim 12 wherein said relay has a coil powered by voltage passing through a rectifier.
14. The load relay module in accordance with Claim 9 wherein said load relay module includes a housing and said circuit board is within said housing and has said switching and sensor components mounted thereon.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/784,016 US5859499A (en) | 1997-01-15 | 1997-01-15 | Emergency lighting system with a DC sensing load relay |
| US08/784,016 | 1997-01-15 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2226822A1 CA2226822A1 (en) | 1998-07-15 |
| CA2226822C true CA2226822C (en) | 2000-03-28 |
Family
ID=25131094
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2226822 Expired - Lifetime CA2226822C (en) | 1997-01-15 | 1998-01-13 | Emergency lighting system |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5859499A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2226822C (en) |
Families Citing this family (22)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE19832550B4 (en) * | 1998-07-21 | 2004-06-03 | Jens Wich | Luminaire for emergency lighting system and method for programming the lamp |
| US6177778B1 (en) * | 1999-03-30 | 2001-01-23 | Alexander Manufacturing Corp. | Battery adapter capable of receiving power from at least two power sources and of being in a docking station, and a battery arrangement including a battery charger and a docking station |
| TW428836U (en) * | 1999-06-17 | 2001-04-01 | Liou Shu Jen | Fully-automatic uninterrupted power control device |
| US6628083B2 (en) | 2000-04-28 | 2003-09-30 | Pickering Associates, Inc. | Central battery emergency lighting system |
| US6788000B2 (en) * | 2000-05-12 | 2004-09-07 | E-Lite Technologies, Inc. | Distributed emergency lighting system having self-testing and diagnostic capabilities |
| US20040061381A1 (en) * | 2002-09-27 | 2004-04-01 | Chen Yi Ting | Switch device |
| FI114194B (en) * | 2002-10-08 | 2004-08-31 | Teknoware Oy | Group control of luminaire |
| US6933678B2 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-08-23 | Chao-Tung Kuo | Emergency lighting function illumination appliance |
| TWM255614U (en) * | 2004-03-15 | 2005-01-11 | Jau-Dung Guo | Illumination device with emergency lighting function |
| ITMI20061059A1 (en) * | 2006-05-31 | 2007-12-01 | Claber Spa | CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE PILOTING OF ALTERNATE CURRENT SOLENOIDS AND CURRENT BISTABLE SOLENOIDS CONTINUESLY CONTINUES FOR IRRIGATION PLANT SOLENOID VALVES |
| US7638948B2 (en) | 2006-11-21 | 2009-12-29 | Thomas & Betts International, Inc. | Apparatus and method for detecting failure in an emergency lighting lamphead |
| DE102007053793A1 (en) * | 2007-11-12 | 2009-05-14 | Tridonicatco Gmbh & Co. Kg | Emergency usable operating device i.e. electronic power supply unit, for emergency lighting system, has interface activated for supply of LED operated via direct current voltage supplied to supply input or by inputting command via data line |
| US7928598B2 (en) * | 2009-04-03 | 2011-04-19 | General Electric Company | Apparatus, method, and system for conveying electrical energy |
| US8752972B2 (en) | 2011-10-07 | 2014-06-17 | Patno Enterprise, Llc | Lighting system |
| CN103634983A (en) * | 2012-08-27 | 2014-03-12 | 西门子公司 | Circuit arrangement and compensation circuit |
| DE102012217269A1 (en) * | 2012-08-27 | 2014-02-27 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Circuit arrangement and compensation circuit |
| US9295137B1 (en) | 2013-03-13 | 2016-03-22 | Cooper Technologies Company | Integrated lighting load and skylight control |
| ITFI20130172A1 (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-20 | Ged S A S Di Gianni Paolo & C | EMERGENCY LAMP, CONTROL CIRCUIT AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM |
| WO2015045226A1 (en) * | 2013-09-30 | 2015-04-02 | パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 | Power source switching device and storage battery system |
| US9583974B1 (en) * | 2013-11-25 | 2017-02-28 | Asif Ahsanullah | Uninterruptible power supply for an electric apparatus |
| WO2017044122A1 (en) * | 2015-09-11 | 2017-03-16 | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development Lp | Power distribution with batteries |
| US11923720B1 (en) * | 2023-05-11 | 2024-03-05 | Guangzhou Jiguang Lighting Co., Ltd. | Emergency light |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2777074A (en) * | 1953-01-08 | 1957-01-08 | Charles W Stockwell | Automatic emergency furnace control |
| US4349863A (en) * | 1980-04-21 | 1982-09-14 | Tork, Inc. | Emergency lighting system |
| DE3319913A1 (en) * | 1983-06-01 | 1984-12-06 | Dr. Ing. Willing GmbH, 1000 Berlin | Circuit arrangement for emergency lights |
| US5631504A (en) * | 1993-11-04 | 1997-05-20 | Adahan; Carmeli | AC/DC power supply |
-
1997
- 1997-01-15 US US08/784,016 patent/US5859499A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1998
- 1998-01-13 CA CA 2226822 patent/CA2226822C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5859499A (en) | 1999-01-12 |
| CA2226822A1 (en) | 1998-07-15 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
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Effective date: 20180115 |