EP1378708A2

EP1378708A2 - Emergency luminaire easily recessed

Info

Publication number: EP1378708A2
Application number: EP03380155A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jose Antonio Fernandez De Arroyabe
Original assignee: Daisalux SA
Current assignee: Daisalux SA
Priority date: 2002-07-01
Filing date: 2003-06-25
Publication date: 2004-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-25
Also published as: EP1378708B1; EP1378708A3; ATE403833T1; DE60322631D1; PT1378708E; ES2311682T3; ES2228216B1; ES2228216A1

Abstract

The luminaire has the particularity of including a number of independent cases (3-3'-3"), in which are mounted different components (5), (6) and (7) of the electrical gear, being thereby separate from the heat source which is constituted by the lamp or lamps (2) of the luminaire (1) with respect to the possible electric power supply battery or batteries (5), as well as with respect to the remaining components, avoiding the heating of said batteries (5) and thereby achieving a longer useful life span thereof.

The cases (3-3'-3") are hinged to each other by means of hinges (4) which allow the change of angular position of some with respect to others, which facilitates a better and simpler emplacement and adaptability in a recess cavity.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an emergency luminaire, which has characteristics such that the heat-generating source or sources, such as the lamp itself and other components, are separate both from the electric power supply batteries and from the remaining components corresponding to the electrical gear, this and the batteries being mounted in independent cases hinged to each other, obtaining a longer useful life span of those batteries and a higher functional reliability.
The object of the invention is to provide a luminaire with the characteristics and features referred to, which also has the particularity of being possible to recess and adapt easily in the corresponding cavity or housing foreseen for this purpose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Emergency luminaires are incorporated generally by a case and a frame on which is mounted the diffuser or lampshade, the electrical gear being established inside the case, whilst the lamps are mounted inside the frame, separated from that former by covers or partitions, it being possible to cite among the components, as well as the lamps, the corresponding of possible electric power supply batteries, a battery charger, and other electrical and electronic elements which the emergency luminaires require for their operation.
It is well known that emergency luminaires are constantly activated through a direct connection to the electricity mains. However, when a power cut occurs a switching action takes place in the luminaire, resulting in the lamp beginning to work fed from the battery supply, the theoretical useful life of these being several years.
In any event, since all the elements and components are enclosed in the same case, the heat which the lamp produces and other elements which also generate heat, such as the actual transformer which has to accompany the battery charger connected to the mains, causes heating to take place in the batteries which results in a noticeable reduction in the useful life thereof, independently of faults arising in their operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The luminaire object of the invention has been conceived to resolve the aforementioned problem, for which it has been foreseen that the respective lamp or lamps are mounted separately with respect to the electrical gear, as well as with respect to the possible electric power supply batteries, with the particularity that the different components which form said electrical gear and the batteries themselves are mounted in independent cases, hinged to each other to allow angular movement between them and facilitate thereby a better manipulation in their mounting and/or recessing in the corresponding housing foreseen for this purpose.
Thus, the heat source constituted by the actual lamps of the luminaire, including other heat-generating components also, during the operation of the former, will be separate and independent of the rest of the electrical gear and especially of the power supply batteries, which results in a longer duration and better functionality of these and, in the end, of the luminaire unit.
Also, based on the characteristics of the luminaire, only the soffit of the lamp or lamps will be visible, whilst the remaining components are housed and hidden in their respective cases.
The union or articulation of the cases holding the different components and/or equipment which form the electrical gear, and that of the batteries, is materialized in some hinges which besides allowing the change of angular position of a case with respect to those adjoining, permit a simple and reliable passage of the electric wiring necessary for the different components of the electrical gear mentioned.
As for the hinges which articulate the cases, the same are constituted on the basis of an upper cover, under which is arranged an intermediate piece able to turn with respect to the former and both come with appropriate means, able to engage in each other, which limit the tilting or turning of one with respect to the other in order to prevent that the hinge can be disassembled accidentally. Also, said two pieces have an upper channel in which is lodged the rim corresponding to the adjoining cases in question.
The hinges also include two lower pieces each having holders in which is fitted a common pin with respect to which both one and the other piece can rotate, to determine the angular tilting or turning of one case with respect to the other, since the cases as well as having a rim fitting in the channels of the upper cover and of the intermediate piece, have another rim which fits in the channels established for this purpose in said two lower pieces.
The upper cover and the intermediate piece have some nipples on their lower face, which are introduced in respective recesses foreseen for this purpose in the upper face of the two lower pieces.
Moreover, it has been foreseen that between the upper cover, intermediate piece and the two lower pieces a channel is established which allows the passage of the intermediate cables for communication between the different cases.
The benefits resulting from the described luminaire, can be summarized in the following:

The heat which the lamps release will not affect the batteries, increasing the useful life thereof.
By mounting the electrical gear in an independent manner, greater freedom is allowed in the design of the corresponding diffuser, the latter not being conditioned by having to house all the electrical and electronic equipment in the same case, as occurs conventionally.
As the cases are independent and articulated to each other, it is easier to insert these in recesses with poor accessibility and also to adapt them to the form and size of the recess foreseen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description that is being made and with the object of assisting in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, attached to the present descriptive specification, as an integral part thereof, is a set of drawings wherein by way of illustration and not restrictively, the following has been represented:
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation according to a side elevation of three cases joined to each other through respective hinges, one of which cases houses the electric power supply battery, and the other two different components of the electrical gear, the corresponding wiring emerging from the case opposite to that of the battery, which will be connected to the lighting lamps of the luminaire.
Figure 2 shows a side and external view of the cases and the lighting lamp, housed in the general body of the luminaire, this being represented in section.
Figure 3 shows a representation in side elevation like that of figure 1, but in this case with an angular position between the cases, permitted through the hinging between them.
Figure 4 shows a representation according to an exploded perspective of the means which constitute the hinge articulating two adjoining cases.
Figure 5 shows, finally, an enlarged detail of the main parts of the hinge represented in the previous figure.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the figures referred to, the luminaire (1) represented by a longitudinal section in figure 2, incorporates its lamp or lamps (2) separate from the electrical gear, the latter being housed in cases (3), (3') and (3"), so that in the case (3) can be housed, for example, the corresponding possible electric power supply battery or batteries, whilst in the case (3') can be housed, for example, the charger of said battery or batteries, whilst in the case (3") can be housed other components or electrical and/or electronic equipment which facilitate the operation of the luminaire unit.
The cases (3-3'-3") are joined to each other through corresponding hinges (4) which facilitate the angular positioning of some cases with respect to others, as is represented clearly in figure 3, in which can be seen the case (3) holding the battery (5), the case (3') holding the charger (6) and other components, and the case (3") holding, for example, a converter (7) for starting the lamp (2), which is fed through the electric mains wiring (8).
Thus, the electrical gear which is formed by the elements or components (6) and (7), including the electric battery or batteries (5), are in their corresponding cases, each independent, although joined through the hinges (4), and also separate with respect to the lighting lamp or lamps (2) of the actual luminaire (1), which will avoid the excessive heating of said battery or batteries (5) and therefore a longer duration of the useful life thereof, with the additional particularity that the hinges (4) allow the angular position of the cases (3-3'-3") to be altered, as is represented in figure 3 and thereby the possibility of adapting and positioning the luminaire unit correctly in the recess or housing established for this purpose.
As for the hinges (4), these comprise an upper cover (9), elongated and having in correspondence with one of its side, at the top, a channel (10), being coupled below said upper cover (9) an intermediate piece (11) having on one of its sides another groove (10) identical to that previously referred to, so that the positioning of those pieces (9) and (11) as is represented in figure 5, establishes two channels (10) on the side and at the top, for housing the rim corresponding to one of the cases (3) or (3') or (3").
The hinge (4) also includes a pair of lower and identical pieces (12), each one of which has a holder (13), which in the positioning of such lower pieces (12) are arranged facing each other axially and, between them, a pin (14) is inserted which serves as an axle about which each of those holders (13) can rotate, and therefore, each of the pieces (12), it having been foreseen that in these two lower pieces (12) a lower channel (15) is also implemented for housing the rim corresponding to the lower part of the case (3) or (3') or (3") itself. Clearly, in the channels (10-15) of one of the sides of the aforementioned pieces the rim of one of the cases (3) or (3') or (3") is lodged, whilst in the channels (10-15) of the other side the rim will be lodged corresponding to the adjoining case, as is represented clearly in figures 1 and 2.
The upper cover (9) and intermediate piece (11) have some nipples (16) foreseen in the lower part thereof, which are housed in respective cavities (17) foreseen for this purpose in the upper part of the lower pieces (12).
The passage of the cables (19) between the different cases (3), (3') and (3") is carried out through the hinges (4) themselves and, specifically, through a channel (18) which is established between the upper (10) and intermediate (11) pieces and the two lower pieces (12), as one observes perfectly in figures 1, 3 and 5.
Moreover, the intermediate piece (11) has some protuberances (20), forming a kind of toothing, the purpose of which is to limit the rotation of said intermediate piece (11) with respect to the upper cover (9), preventing that the hinge can be disassembled accidentally.
The ends of the hinges (4) are finished with some sealing caps (21), which run through holes (22) in the sides of the upper cover (9) and are housed in cavities foreseen for this purpose in the ends of the lower pieces (12).
Clearly, the number of cases (3-3'-3") can be different, provided that they house at least the corresponding power supply battery and that this is separate from the lamp or lamps (2), and independent of the gear which can be housed in another or other cases, it being advantageous that the aforementioned battery or case (3) which houses it, be in the sector farthest away from the aforementioned lamp.

Claims

Emergency luminaire easily recessed, which including one or more lamps, as well as the different components of the electrical gear, by means of which the functionality of the same is possible, also having the respective possible electric power supply batteries, is characterised in that the components of electrical gear, including the batteries, are mounted separately with respect to the lamp (2) or other heat-generating sources, it having been foreseen that said separation is defined by respective cases (3-3'-3"), independent and hinged to each other, allowing a change of angular position between such cases (3-3'-3"), to facilitate the adaptability and positioning thereof in a recess cavity; with the particularity that the connecting cables (19) between the components (5), (6) and (7), located in the different cases (3), (3') and (3"), run through the articulation means between the cases themselves.
Emergency luminaire easily recessed, according to claim 1, characterised in that the means of articulation of the different cases (3-3'-3") are materialized in hinges (4), which are constituted by means of the linking of an upper cover (9), an intermediate piece (11) and two lower pieces (12), the last being articulated on a common axle (14); it having been foreseen that the upper cover (9) has on one of its sides a channel (10) into which fits the rim of a case (3) or (3') or (3"), whilst the intermediate piece (11) engages in an overlapping manner under the former and has on the opposite side another channel (10) into which fits the rim of a case (3) or (3') or (3") adjoining the previous one, such upper covers (9) and intermediate piece (11) having some lower nipples (16) which are lodged in recesses (17) established for this purpose in the upper part of the two lower pieces (12), the latter having channels (15) on their external side identical to those of the upper cover (9) and intermediate piece (11), into which fits the rim of the adjoining cases (3) or (3') or (3").
Emergency luminaire easily recessed, according to previous claims, characterised in that the two lower pieces (12) have a holder (13), one being axially opposite with respect to the other, a common pin (14) being housed between two in axis and serving as an axle with respect to which, both pieces (12), can rotate independently to allow the change of angular position of the adjoining cases (3) or (3') or (3"), joined by means of the hinge (4) of which said lower pieces (12) form part.
Emergency luminaire easily recessed, according to previous claims, characterised in that between the upper piece (9), intermediate piece (11) and the two lower pieces (12) of the hinge (4), a channel (18) is established through which run the electric cables which connect the corresponding cases (3), (3'), (3").
Emergency luminaire easily recessed, according to previous claims, characterised in that the intermediate piece (11) has projections or protuberances (20) defining toothing which limits the rotation of such piece (11) with respect to the upper cover (9), in order to avoid the accidental disassembly of the hinge unit (4).