EP2700866A1

EP2700866A1 - Emergency lighting device for tunnels

Info

Publication number: EP2700866A1
Application number: EP12724148.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miguel Ángel BARRENA MARTÍNEZ
Original assignee: Dinamicas de Seguridad SL
Current assignee: Dinamicas de Seguridad SL
Priority date: 2011-04-19
Filing date: 2012-03-30
Publication date: 2014-02-26
Also published as: ES2401385B1; WO2012143586A4; WO2012143586A1; ES2401385A1

Abstract

It has a low power consumption and constitutes a simplification of emergency installations in tunnels. It comprises a hollow bar (1) adapted to be attached to a sidewall (2) of a tunnel, at an ergonomically appropriate height for its use as a support by the users of the tunnel, the bar (1) additionally comprising a plurality of LEDs (5) to illuminate the inside of the tunnel, said LEDs being insulated from moisture and dirt by being contained inside longitudinal cavities (7, 8) of the bar (1).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be included in the field of lighting, specifically that of lighting transportation tunnels, specifically railway tunnels.
The object of the invention relates to a device for emergency lighting of tunnels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tunnels are conceived and designed with evacuation passageways distributed throughout said tunnels to ensure the safety of people.
Tunnels incorporate means for signalling the path towards these evacuation passageways. In addition, these paths and the evacuation passageways themselves are provided with railings on which the users can lean to increase safety during the escape in case of emergency.
To comply with the lighting requirements for evacuation passageways and the paths leading to said evacuation passageways, there are different lighting devices that comprise fluorescent or incandescent luminaires.
The need has been detected for an emergency lighting device in tunnels with a lower power consumption compared to known devices, constituting a simplification of the emergency facilities provided in tunnels without reducing their performance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the technical issue described above by an emergency lighting device for tunnels that comprises a bar meant to be attached to the sidewall of the tunnel, all the way to an evacuation passageway and along said evacuation passageway, at an ergonomically appropriate height to provide support to users in case of malfunction or accident.
The bar additionally comprises a plurality of LEDs to illuminate the evacuation passageway as well as the sidewalls of the tunnel indicating the path to the evacuation passageways. The tunnel sidewalls are usually provided with photoluminescent signals that are charged with the light received from the LEDs and subsequently emit this light.
The bar comprises two cavities open towards the outside, as well as corresponding lids to provide a watertight seal for a plurality of LEDs. Preferably, the lids are made of self-extinguishing polycarbonate (the structure of which stops flame from spreading in case of fire), adapted to provide the LEDs with an IP65 sealing level.
Preferably, the bar is composed of segments joined consecutively in a longitudinal direction, each segment comprising two profiles joined to each other by clipping means.
Preferably, the bar is attached to the sidewall by a support that allows regulating the distance between the bar and the sidewall. The support can also be used to join segments to each other.
The use of LEDs provides considerably lower power consumption compared to incandescent or fluorescent devices.
In addition, placing the bar at a height that allows its use as a handrail to assist tunnel users in case of malfunction or accident allows solving two problems: illuminating the path to the evacuation passageway and providing support to tunnel users.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description being made, and in order to aid a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to an example of a preferred embodiment thereof, a set of drawings are provided that form an integral part of this description where, for purposes of illustration and in a non-limiting sense, the following is shown:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a lid.
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the object of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of a support.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the device of the invention, including a second preferred embodiment of a support.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with the help of the accompanying figures 1 to 4.
As shown in figures 2 and 4, the emergency lighting device for tunnels according to the invention comprises a bar (1) adapted to be attached to a sidewall (2) of a tunnel (not shown) as far as an evacuation passage (not shown) and along said evacuation passage, at an ergonomically appropriate height to provide support to tunnel users, wherein said bar (1) comprises a plurality of LEDs (5) for ligting both the evacuation passageway and the tunnel sidewalls (2) that indicate the path to the evacuation passageways. The sidewalls (2) of the tunnels are normally provided with photoluminescent signals (not shown) that are charged with the light received from the LEDs (5) and emit said light subsequently.
The bar (1) comprises a first longitudinal cavity (7) and a second longitudinal cavity (8) open to the outside and adapted to house and attach the corresponding lids (9) (as shown in figure 1) in which the LEDs (5) are enclosed. In this way, the LEDs (5) are not subjected to weather conditions, and are protected from dirt and moisture, as the lids (9) are made of self/extinguishing polycarbonate adapted to provide IP65 level watertightness.
The bar (1) is hollow to allow housing inside it the wiring (not shown) needed for the power supply and control of the LEDs (5). This allows reducing the infrastructure needed for the electrical installation of tunnels. The lids (9), as shown in figure 1, have an outer wall (12), preferably made of polycarbonate, to allow the light from the LEDs (5) to illuminate the tunnel. An inner wall (13) made in the lids (9) is provided with some first orifices (14) or grooves to allow connecting the LEDs (5) to the internal wiring, in correspondence with second orifices (15) or grooves provided in the bar (1).
The outer wall (12) of the lids (9) is curved and has rounded ends (16) to prevent the presence of sharp edges in the outline the bar (1).
The lids (9) are provided with longitudinal protrusions (17) in correspondence with recesses (18) made in the bar (1), in order to attach each lid (9) to the bar (1) by form fitting, either by frontally pressing each lid (9) against the bar (1) or by longitudinally sliding each lid (9) with respect to the bar (1).
The first cavity (7) is oriented such that the LEDs (5) in said first cavity (7) can illuminate the floor of the tunnel and/or the evacuation tunnel, while the second cavity (8) is oriented such that it allows the LEDs (5) in said second cavity (8) to illuminate a sidewall (2). If applicable, the LEDs (5) in the second cavity (8) can be facing some luminescent signals that are normally provided in the sidewalls (2) and are adapted to capture energy from light and, by means of a chemical reaction, to emit light.
The bar (1) is provided with a luminescent strip (19) (photoluminescent or electroluminescent) to guiding users in finding the bar (1). The luminiscent strip (19) is adapted to resist an IK 07 hardness. Preferably, said luminiscent strip (19) is disposed in a third cavity (not shown), preferably about 10 mm in height by 1 mm in depth.
The bar (1) is conceived to preferably have an uninterrupted configuration with an undefined length according to the dimensions of the tunnel. For this reason, the bar (1) is composed of a plurality of segments (not shown) consecutively joined.
In order to aid transporting the segments and mainly laying out the wiring, the segments can consist of two or more (preferably two) profiles (21) provided with joining means based on clipping elements (22).
As stated above, the bar (1) is adapted to be attached to a sidewall (2) of a tunnel. This can be done using conventional supports, although the invention preferably incorporates some supports (23, 24) that comprise the following elements, as shown in figures 3 and 4:

A flat union piece (25) adapted to be attached to the tunnel sidewall (2), such as by screwing;
A substantially cylindrical clamp (26) with an internal diameter slightly greater than the external dimensions of the bar (1), to hold the bar (1) in a substantially horizontal position; and
An arm (27) that communicates the union piece (25) with the clamp (26).

The support (23, 24) can additionally comprise a gasket (29) of a deformable material, such as self-extinguishing rubber, to adjust the bar (1) inside the clamp (26).
The arm (27) of the bar (1) allows adjusting the distance between the clamp (26) and the union piece (25). To do so, the arm (27) comprises a first body (30) connected to a union piece (25), a second body (31) connected to the clamp (26), and an intermediate piece (32, 33) connected to the first body (30) and the second body (31), adapted to adjust the distance between the first body (30) and the second body (31).
According to a first example shown in figure 3, the intermediate piece (32) is a stem (32) that is threaded on both ends, adapted to be connected by screwing to the first body (30) and the second body (31), and provided with an actuation element (34) that protrudes from the stem (32), so that actuating said actuation element (34) allows turning the stem (32) with respect to the first body (30) and the second body (31) and separating or approximating said first body (30) and second body (31) to adjust the distance between the clamp (26) and the union piece (25).
According to a second example shown in figure 4, the intermediate part (33) is a third body (33) provided with a plurality of first orifices (35) corresponding to second orifices (36) placed on the ends of the first body (30) and the second body (31) to join them with pins (not shown) or the like.
In order to control the lighting system, each evacuation tunnel is provided with a master control cabinet (not shown) that controls a plurality of (generally six) remote cabinets (not shown) disposed on the sidewalls (2) at appropriate distances (for example, one hundred meters). Said cabinets are connected to the bar (1) by connections (40) that that run from connections boxes (39) disposed on the bottom part of the bar (1) to avoid hindering users.
The supports (23, 24) can be used to join the segments with the clamps (26).

Claims

Emergency lighting device for tunnels, characterised in that it comprises a hollow bar (1) adapted to be attached to a sidewall (2) of a tunnel at an ergonomically appropriate height to provide support to users of the tunnel, wherein the bar (1) additionally comprises a first longitudinal cavity (7) and a second longitudinal cavity (8) that are open to the outside and adapted to house and attach corresponding lids (9), wherein in said lids (9) are enclosed some LEDs (5) for illuminating the interior of the tunnel and prevent contact of the LEDs (5) with dirt and moisture.
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 1, characterised in that the lids (9) are made of self-extinguishing polycarbonate to prevent flames from propagating in case of fire.
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the lids (9) are provided with an external wall (12), to allow the light from the LEDs (5) to reach the tunnel, said external wall (12) has a curved shape with rounded ends (16) to avoid the presence of sharp edges in outline of the bar (1).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the lids (9) additionally comprise an inner wall (13) provided with some first orifices (14) to facilitate the connection between the LEDs (5) and the internal wiring, in correspondence with some second orifices (15) provided in the bar (1).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the lids (9) are provided with longitudinal protrusions (17) in correspondence with recesses (18) defined in the bar (1) to attach said lids (9) to the bar (1) by form fitting.
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the first cavity (7) is oriented such that it allows the LEDs (5) in said first cavity (7) to illuminate the tunnel floor, while the second cavity (8) is oriented such that it allows the LEDs (5) in said second cavity (8) to illuminate a sidewall (2) of the tunnel.
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 1, characterised in that the bar (1) is provided with a luminescent strip (19) oriented towards the inside of the tunnel in order to guide the users and allow finding the bar (1).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 7, characterised in that the strip (19) is located in a third cavity made in the bar (1).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 1, characterised in that the bar (1) is composed of a plurality of consecutively joined segments.
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to any one of claims 1 or 9, characterised in that the bar is composed of two profiles (21) provided with clipping union means (22).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 1, characterised in that it additionally comprises a support (23) to attach the bar (1) to the sidewall (22), said support (23) comprising:
- a flat union piece (25) adapted to be attached to the tunnel sidewall (2);

- a substantially cylindrical clamp (26) with an internal diameter slightly greater than the external dimensions of the bar (1), to hold the bar (1) in a substantially horizontal position; and

- an arm (27) for connecting the union piece (25) to the clamp (26).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 11, characterised in that the support (23) additionally comprises a gasket (29) to adjust the bar (1) inside the clamp (26).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 11, characterised in that the arm (27) is adapted to adjust the distance between the clamp (26) and the union piece (25).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 13, characterised in that the arm (27) comprises:
- a first body (30) connected to the union piece (25);

- a second body (31) connected to the clamp (26); and

- an intermediate piece (32, 33) connected to the first body (30) and the second body (31), adapted to adjust the distance between said first body (30) and said second body (31).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 14, characterised in that the intermediate piece (32) is a stem (32) that is threaded on both ends, adapted to be connected by screwing to the first body (30) and to the second body (31), and provided with an actuation element (34), so that by actuating said actuation element (34) the stem (32) can be turned with respect to the first body (30) and the second body (31), thereby separating or approximating said first body (30) and second body (31) to adjust the distance between the clamp (26) and the union piece (25).
Emergency lighting device for tunnels, according to claim 14, characterised in that the intermediate part (33) is a third body (33) provided with a plurality of first orifices (35) corresponding to second orifices (36) located on the ends of the first body (30) and the second body (31) to join them with pins.