ES2347024T3 - LIGHTING DEVICE FOR INSTALLATION IN A SUSPENDED ELECTRICAL CONDUCT. - Google Patents

Abstract

Lighting apparatus for installation on a suspended electrical duct (13), comprising an elongated electrical unit (1) provided with means (9, 10) for engagement with the duct, a pair of brackets (20,21) also provided with means (24,25) for engagement with the duct, for installation thereof next to the ends of the electrical unit, a pair of outer covering panels (22,23) engaged with the brackets (20,21) and a louver reflector (3) provided with a pair of end pieces (31,32) which magnetically engage with the brackets (20,21).

Description

Lighting apparatus for installation in a electrical conduit suspended.

The present invention relates to an apparatus of lighting for installation in or, more precisely below, a suspended electrical conduit and, in particular, to an apparatus of lighting with a modular structure that can be assembled as required, which has an ergonomic structure that allows Easy installation of it in embarrassing conditions for which it is designed and at the same time guarantees the safe  Simple installation and maintenance operations.

It is known that electrical conduits Suspended are widely used, for example, in offices, warehouses  and shopping centers for energy distribution electric

At any point of its length it is possible connect, as required, male bypass plugs, lighting apparatus, fans and the like, using the duct as a suspension element.

Examples of these ducts are described in the European patent EP 0015356, in the German patent application DE 10241941 and, more recently, in the European patent application No. 06425836.1, filed on December 14, 2006.

These ducts consist essentially of a metal housing that forms a channel that is open from below and that accommodates inside driving bars and that can accommodate Also electrical components.

Along the bottom opening, two edges opposite parallels of the housing that face each other act as a support for the devices that are connected to the conduit.

Lighting devices are also known that they comprise, in particular, straight fluorescent lamps, which connect these ducts.

An example is described precisely in the already cited document DE 10241941, in which a lighting body it is provided with means, in particular a rotating head, which perform the coupling and connection function at the same time electrical to the duct.

During installation it is required to support the total weight of the lighting body, which is not negligible, and, In addition to the problems this causes, there is no guarantee adequate safety from an electrical point of view, unless that the power supply to the duct be disconnected.

In addition, generally speaking, these devices of lighting have a unique piece structure in the sense of that the various constructive parts are connected together not separable during the manufacturing process, with the only exception of a port reflector, which must be removable to allow the replacement of fluorescent tubes.

This results in significant problems with regarding the management of the finished products, since, depending  of the length of the fluorescent tubes, they must be produced and Manage different types of lighting devices.

Another apparatus is disclosed in EP document 0 302 029, which is provided with magnetic retention means for mounting lampholders on a base linear.

The present invention solves these problems with a modular lighting apparatus that can be assembled on site and that can be installed easily, safely and reliably, without the need for tools, by means of simple manual operations.

The advantages and aspects of this invention, as characterized by the claims, is they will emerge more clearly from the following description of a preferred embodiment, provided with reference to the drawings which are accompanied, in which:

- Figure 1 is a global, schematic view, in perspective and exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a lighting apparatus in accordance with this invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view, in exploded view of a component of the apparatus according to the Figure 1, more specifically a support bracket for a unit optics and associated cover panels;

- Figure 3 is a front view of the bracket according to figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a sectional view transverse, taken along line A-A of the Figure 3, of the bracket according to Figures 2 and 3;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view, in exploded view, of another component of the apparatus according to the Figure 1, more specifically a unit end piece optics;

- Figure 6 is a sectional view cross section of the end piece according to the figure 5.

In the various figures, the parts that are structurally and functionally equivalent are identified with The same reference numbers.

Referring to figure 1, the apparatus of lighting comprises an electric unit 1, a unit of cover 2 and an optical drive 3.

The electrical unit consists of a plate of elongated base 4 made of sheet metal and with a length that It depends on the length of the lamps to be installed (for example, nominal length of 1.2 and 1.5 m).

The base plate is folded in the form of a C, with two lateral reinforcement ribs.

One or more power pins 5, 6, 7, 8, known per se, to connect fluorescent tubes (not shown), are mounted at their ends by means of screws

The base plate has, mounted above it by means of screws, a couple of coupling devices 9, 10 of known type, comprising a rotating cam, or preferably of the type of twin slides, with teeth that they engage with the lower edges 11, 12 of the housing 13 of a electrical conduit suspended.

This type of coupling device is fully described in European patent application No. 08425053.9, filed on January 31, 2008, to which refer to the constructive details (also given in which follows a short description).

Plate 4 also has, mounted above it, the electrical components, known per se, necessary for the operation of fluorescent tubes, such as a power supply device 14, whose connection and disconnection can be programmed or controlled remotely (or a unit consisting of a reactor, a possible capacitor of phase reset and a primer or starter) and a rotating head 15 (also known per se) that establishes electrical contact with the conduction bars housed inside the conduit.

All these components are contained within of the duct housing 13.

Appropriate openings formed in plate 4 allow manual operation, from below, of the device coupling (openings 16, 19) and rotating contact head (opening 18), as well as programming (opening 17) of the electronic power supply device (or replacement of the primer, when provided).

The installation of the electrical unit below of the duct is completely separated from the other components of the lighting apparatus and is easily performed due to the little Unit weight, comprising only the electrical parts essential.

In addition, due to mechanical arrangement separate from the coupling devices 9, 10 and the head contact 15, the installation can be carried out under conditions of maximum safety from the electrical point of view.

It is also possible to consider a device mutual interlocking that prevents the activation of the devices coupling if the rotating contact head is in a position of active electrical contact.

First, the installation is performed assembling the coupling devices 9, 10 (among other things, This ensures the electrical grounding of the unit electrical) and only then is contact head 15 operated with in order to provide connection to the busbars of the conduit.

Deck unit 2 consists of four separate parts, more specifically a pair of brackets 20, 21 and a pair of cover panels 22, 23.

The brackets 20, 21, which are shaped as saddle and are preferably obtained by molding plastic injection, each have a device coupling 24, 25 preferably of the type of twin slides, as described in more detail in the following.

An aspect of this type of device, which is essential in relation to the description that follows, is that device slides are made of ferromagnetic material (steel) and each of them has a flat surface to which you can access from below through a couple of openings of the bracket.

These openings are used simultaneously to operate the coupling device and, as will be seen, also to magnetically couple the optical drive with the pair of brackets

For this purpose, in the case where coupling devices are of the conventional type of cam rotating and can be made of plastic, it is enough provide, in the brackets 20, 21, as inserts, two ferromagnetic metal plates, which can be accessed from the bottom of the bracket (or also a single plate properly shaped).

The side panels 22, 23 of cover, which They are made of plastic or extruded aluminum and are several variable types and shapes in order to meet a wide range of requirements, are provided with a pair of nerves 26, 27 that are coupled at their ends into corresponding grooves 28, 29 formed on the sides of the brackets.

The brackets, which are subject directly to the edges 11, 12 of the duct, close to the plate 4 of the unit electrical, therefore act as a support for the panels lateral 22, 23 of cover.

It can also be seen in Figure 1 that, in a central position of it, the brackets 20, 21 have a nerve embossed 30 (preferably with a thickness that is the same as the of the cover side panels) and have a structure symmetric with respect to this central nerve.

Therefore, the same bracket acts as a support for cover panels, such as 22, 23, arranged on both sides of the central nerve 30.

It is thus possible to arrange next ones to others in succession several lighting fixtures and form practically continuous lighting systems, with a reduction considerable of the number of components.

Actually, if N is the number of devices lighting arranged next to each other, it is enough to use N + 1 brackets in order to form the lighting system.

It is clear that the installation of the brackets in the duct can be performed separately from each other, by a single operator, which is sometimes particularly advantageous in the case where the lighting apparatus is extended in a Length of more than 1 meter.

The installation of the side panels 22, 23 It is particularly simple, since it is possible to attach first place, in an unforced way, the upper nerve 26 of the panels within the corresponding groove 28 of the brackets and then snap the lower nerve 27 separately with any one of the end brackets.

The optical drive 3 consists of three parts: a pair of end pieces 31, 32, made of plastic, and a reflector 33, with a known structure, which has a pair of semi-parabolas made of a thin metal sheet (or also plastic coated metal) and connected jointly by means of a plurality of ports 36 anti-glare

The end pieces 31, 32, which are shaped of a shell with an outer profile that is conjugated to the profile inside the brackets 20, 21, have internally 37 tabs between which the ends of the semi-parables 34, 35.

At the bottom, the end pieces 31, 32 are appropriately shaped so that they form a type of grip that facilitates the handling of the optical drive and that allows a force of thrust to be exerted on them up as a pulling force down.

Another important aspect of the end pieces 31, 32 consists in the fact that they are mounted on its side upper exterior a pair of permanent magnets 38, 39.

In order to join the optical drive to the corbel, it is enough to raise it and arrange the end pieces inside the brackets, which are properly narrowed progressively to act as a guide during insertion.

When the insertion is complete, the pieces end fit magnetically with the slides Ferromagnetic connection device (or with plates ferromagnetic inserts in the brackets), keeping from that Suspend mode the optical drive.

It is interesting to note that the coupling magnetic of the end pieces, when this is formed in the sliding, intrinsically ensures that those are fixed in the coupled position and prevents any accidental displacement of the same towards the decoupled position.

For clarity, figures 2, 3 and 4, respectively, they show an exploded perspective view ordered, a front view and a cross-sectional view, at along line A-A in figure 3, of the structure of the bracket 20 and the coupling device associated 24.

In addition to what has already been indicated, it is not will repeat here, it is pointed out that the bracket 20 has two nerves 40, 41 which, once the bracket has been installed, are arranged near the edges 11, 12 (figure 1) of the duct, located in the bottom of the latter.

These nerves define the depth of insertion of the coupling device 24 into the conduit electric.

The two nerves have formed between them a rectangular frame 42 that houses two metal slides 43, 44 that They are made of ferromagnetic steel and are folded in the form of double L and whose opposite ends 45, 46 protrude from the enclosure due to the action of a compression spring 47 that tends to move the slides out of each other.

The ends 45, 46 form two teeth of coupling that, during installation, are arranged in the part upper edge 11, 12 of the duct.

The slides 43, 44 are provided with a pair of wings 50, 51 (one for each slide) that form a wedge type intended to be inserted into the duct.

This wedge performs the function of a guide insert e, interfering with the edges 11, 12 of the duct, causes the retraction of teeth 45, 46 and allows their coupling by elastic jump with edges 11, 12.

In order to facilitate this operation, a pair of openings 48, 49 formed in the lower part of the enclosure they allow an operator to operate the slides 43, 44, moving them towards each other in order to perform both the operation of coupling as the opposite decoupling operation.

The seat formed by enclosure 42 is closed by a metal cover 52 which is fixed by means of screws 53, 54 to bracket 20 and is conveniently shaped to allow the insertion and movement of the wings 50, 51 during the docking and decoupling operations.

Other construction details, which are not essential for the purpose of the present invention, are described and illustrate in European patent application No. 08425053.9 already mentioned.

Here it is simply punctuated, with reference to the cross section of figure 4, which the top of the corbel, outside the enclosure 42, has two formed in it openings 55, 56 for insertion of the coupling teeth by elastic jump of an auxiliary suspension part of the parts end of the optical drive, as described in more detail in What follows.

With reference to Figure 2, it can also be seen that a pair of teeth 88, 89 are formed on the sides of the central rib 30, on both sides of the bracket, said teeth engaging within appropriate notches 90, 91, 92, 93 (Figure 1) formed on the upper edge of the cover panels 22, 23
ta.

This connection ensures positioning correct, relative and longitudinal of the brackets and panels of cover and prevents the brackets from being displaced from their position and move one out of the other.

Also for reasons of clarity, the Figures 5 and 6 show, respectively, a perspective view, in exploded view, and a centrally sectioned view of the structure of the end pieces 31, 32 of the optical unit.

In figure 5 you can see that they are formed a pair of seats 58, 59 at the top of the piece end, being properly shaped to allow elastic jump coupling in them, through an opening side, of a pair of permanent magnets 60, 61 that have preferably a cylindrical shape with a thickened head 62 to ensure the axial fixation of the magnets inside the respective seats.

The wedge-shaped configuration of the seats acts as a guide for insertion and centering longitudinal and transverse within openings 48, 49 (figure 2) of the bracket 20.

The end piece has two formed on it groups of three tabs 63, 64, 65 and 66, 67, 68, among which the end edges of the reflectors 33, 34 are placed (figure one).

In each group of three, the middle tongue is that is, 64 and 67, it has an extreme tooth that engages by jump elastic within an opening 69, 70 (figure 1) formed in the reflectors

One more element for coupling and joining joint end pieces and reflectors consist of two teeth 75, 76 formed at the bottom of the sides of the end piece.

These teeth fit inside the edge lower folding 35 (figure 1) of the two reflector panels 33, 3. 4.

The end pieces also have equally inside two pairs of tabs 71, 72 and 73, 74 that define a central housing for a safety cable, whose function is will explain in more detail in the following.

The tabs 73, 74 from the bottom, which are arranged with their ends close to a port anti-glare 36 (figure 1) of the unit optics, form a receiving cavity for the cable security.

It is clear that the upper lashes can also be formed as a piece with the lower lashes.

Since the optical drive is of the type of louvres, with transverse louvres of anti-glare, the replacement of lamps requires the removal of the optical drive that is attached magnetically with the brackets.

In order to avoid having to endure or place anywhere the optical drive during the course of the operation, the optical drive is provided with a pair of cables suspension so that, once decoupled from the brackets, remains suspended below the duct at a distance sufficient, adequate to perform the necessary operations of maintenance.

However, there is the problem of clamping in a simple and automatic way the suspension cable at brackets already installed, the first time the unit is installed optics, considering that the latter, once installed, prevents access to the brackets and the electrical unit.

To this end, the top of the piece of end has an opening 77 to insert and fix the end of a cable 78.

In the vicinity of the opening 77, the piece of end has a recess 79 into which a member of coupling 80.

This member consists essentially of a two-pointed elastic clamp with end teeth 81, 82 which they are coupled by elastic jump into the opening 56 (figure 4) of the bracket and a pair of pins 83, 84 resting on the part top of the end piece while the bottom of the clamp is inserted into the end piece through the recess 79.

At the bottom, the two points of the clamp are connected by a middle body or soul provided  of an opening 85 to insert and fix the other end of the cable 78, which is housed within the cavity formed between the tabs 73, 74.

When the end piece is coupled by First time with the bracket, the clamp engages by jump elastic inside opening 56 and coupling member 80 joins the bracket.

The subsequent release of the piece of end does not cause decoupling of the clamp 80, so  that the optical drive is kept suspended.

In order to completely remove the unit optics, if necessary, it is sufficient to apply force to the clamp to make it disengage from it.

Figure 6 shows a cross section central through the end piece 31, essentially with the in order to show your configuration more clearly in the part lower.

The end piece is shaped so which forms a recess 86 that ends at the bottom in a grip lip 87 that is used to manipulate the optical drive in order to raise it and attach the end piece with the bracket or, if necessary, undock it.

Claims (5)

1. Lighting apparatus for installation in a suspended electrical conduit (13), comprising:

-

a elongated electrical unit (1) provided with means (9, 10) for coupling with the duct,

-

a pair of cover panels (22, 23),

-

a reflector (3) of louvres,

characterized because

-

saying lighting apparatus further comprises a pair of brackets (20, 21) provided with means (24, 25) for coupling with the duct, for the installation of said brackets at the ends of said electric unit (1),

-

saying pair of outer cover panels (22, 23) are coupled with those brackets (20, 21) and

-

saying port reflector (3) is provided with a couple of pieces of end (31, 32) that are magnetically coupled with those mentioned brackets (20, 21).

2. Lighting apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein said means (24, 25) for coupling  of the said brackets with said conduit comprise each of them a pair of ferromagnetic slides (43, 44) that are pushed into a coupling position by a spring of compression (47) and can be operated manually towards the position released. 3. Lighting apparatus according to the claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said brackets (20, 21) has a nerve (30) in the central position, along the sides of which it is possible to attach with the bracket, on each side of said nerve (30), two pairs of cover panels (22, 23), the relative positioning of the bracket and the panels, in the longitudinal direction of the lighting apparatus, by a pair of teeth (88, 89) that are formed in the aforementioned corbel, on both sides of the central nerve, and that fit inside of notches (90, 91, 92, 93) formed in the upper lip of the cover panels. 4. Lighting apparatus according to a any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said end pieces (31, 32) has a pair of seats (58, 59) that house a pair of permanent magnets (60, 61). 5. Lighting apparatus according to a any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the aforementioned end pieces (31, 32) supports so separable a coupling member (80) provided with teeth (81, 82) for coupling with one of the aforementioned brackets, the end of a suspension cable (78) attached to said member of coupling (80), the other end being fixed to said piece extreme