GB2532429A

GB2532429A - Component for emergency lighting system

Info

Publication number: GB2532429A
Application number: GB1420464.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Warner Peter; Stone Angus
Original assignee: P4 Ltd
Current assignee: P4 Ltd
Priority date: 2014-11-18
Filing date: 2014-11-18
Publication date: 2016-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-18
Also published as: GB2532429B; GB201420464D0

Abstract

A component for use in an emergency lighting system for a building comprises a housing, said housing accommodating: means for accepting at least a first mains power supply L, N supplied to the component; a first monitoring means 6 for detecting a fault in the mains power supply; a first actuating means for actuating an emergency lighting circuit 8, 10 in response to detection of a fault in the mains power supply; a first battery 4, which provides electrical power to the emergency lighting circuit when the latter is actuated; a second monitoring means 20 for detecting a fault in the emergency lighting circuit; an auxiliary lighting circuit 22, 24; a second actuating means for actuating the auxiliary lighting circuit in response to the detection of a fault in the emergency lighting circuit; and a second battery 25, which provides electrical power to the auxiliary lighting circuit when the latter is actuated.

Description

Title: Component for Emergency Lighting System

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novel component for an emergency lighting system and to a lighting system comprising the component.

Background of the Invention

o Emergency lighting is required in, for example, public buildings and places of employment to ensure that the building remains safe in the event of power failure, possibly coupled with another emergency such as fire.

Emergency lighting is generally one of two types.

(a) Self-contained, in which a light source, normal and emergency power supply equipment is contained in each light fitting. The light source may be operated from the normal supply under mains healthy conditions and the emergency supply, usually a rechargeable battery, is kept in a fully charged condition. If the mains power supply fails then the light source is operated from the battery for the required duration, normally until the battery is fully discharged.

(b) Centrally Supplied in which the emergency light fitting is powered from a remote power supply mounted somewhere in (or adjacent to) the building.

The remote power supply provides the emergency power supply and, when the mains is healthy, the emergency battery is charged and the power supply delivers the rated voltage. If the normal supply fails then the remote power supply continues to power the light fittings from the emergency supply until the battery is discharged. With central systems the cables between the power supply and the light fittings are critical to the correct operation of the system and it is usual to use fire-resistant cables for this purpose. If the light fitting is more than lm from the power supply it is usual to use fire-resistant cable.

A third type of system is sometimes used where a group of light fittings are powered from a local power supply. This is a hybrid of (a) and (b) above. It has the advantage of reducing the amount of fire-resistant cable that is required and the emergency supply can cover a bigger area due to the multiple light fittings operated from the one power supply.

In Europe there is a legal requirement to keep safety equipment in good working order, so regular testing of the emergency lighting is required to ensure that it is fully operational.

Increasingly emergency lighting is equipped with self-testing or monitoring facilities to identify potential reliability issues. This helps to reduce or eliminate the need for manual testing.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the invention provides a component for use in an emergency lighting system for a building, the component comprising a housing, said housing accommodating: (a) means for accepting at least a first mains power supply supplied to the component; (b) a first monitoring means for detecting a fault in the mains power supply; (c) a first actuating means for actuating an emergency lighting circuit in response to detection of a fault in the mains power supply; (d) a first battery, which provides electrical power to the emergency lighting circuit when the latter is actuated; (e) a second monitoring means for detecting a fault in the emergency lighting circuit; (t) an auxiliary lighting circuit; (g) a second actuating means, for actuating the auxiliary lighting circuit n response to the detection of a fault in the emergency lighting circuit; and (h) a second battery, which provides electrical power to the auxiliary lighting circuit when the latter is actuated.

The housing is typically wholly or substantially formed from a synthetic plastics material, preferably a moulded plastics material. The component is conveniently adapted and configured to be mounted on a wall or ceiling in the building. It may be wholly or partially recessed within the wall or ceiling, or may be surface mounted.

The component will typically be attached to the wall or ceiling by screws or similar fixings, and suitably dimensioned and positioned apertures may be provided in the housing to facilitate this. One or more peripheral flange portions may be formed on the housing to accommodate the apertures for the screws or other fixings.

o The means for accepting at least a first mains power supply will typically include a cable entry aperture in the housing and may additionally include terminals of conventional design.

The monitoring means for detecting a fault in the mains power supply may also be of generally conventional manufacture. Such components are widely available commercially and are well-known to those skilled in the art of emergency lighting systems. Such fault-detection apparatus typically detects a fault in the current and/or voltage of the mains supply. Suitable monitoring means include those available from ABB Limited (Warrington) or Omron Corporation.

Equally, the actuating means for actuating an emergency lighting circuit, may be of largely conventional design. Again, such components are widely available commercially and well-known to those skilled in the art. Specific examples include those available from e.g. Eaton Cooper Safety Ltd. (Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire), Tridonic GmbH (Dornbirn, Austria) or Mackwell Electronics (Walsall, West Midlands).

It will be apparent from the examples below, and is hereby expressly stated for the avoidance of doubt, that two or more of the functions of the first monitoring means, the first actuating means, the second monitoring means and the second actuating means may be performed, at least in part, by a single module within the component of the first aspect of the invention. For example, a single control module (typically comprising a programmable digital microprocessor) might perform both a monitoring function and an actuating function.

It will also be apparent that references to LED emergency light sources and LED auxiliary light source are intended to refer to LEDs adapted and configured to provide illumination to an area of a room, or other part of a building, rather than to refer to various indicator LEDs which might also be present in the component to indicator certain status information. The indicator LEDs will be significantly less powerful than the LED emergency or auxiliary light sources.

The emergency lighting circuit may be largely or entirely housed within the component housing. The emergency lighting circuit will comprise at least one emergency light source. This may, for example, be an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent light tube, or an LED. An LED is a preferred emergency light source, and in a preferred embodiment the emergency lighting circuit will comprise a plurality of LEDs Preferably a white LED is used but other colours could be employed. Typically the emergency lighting circuit comprises from 3 to 6 LEDs, with 4 LEDs a preferred number.

The emergency lighting light sources may be contained within the housing and form an integral part of the component. Alternatively, one or more (e.g. all) of the emergency light sources may be external to, and remote from the component, in which case the external light sources (preferably LEDs) are conveniently connected to the component by fire protected or fire-resistant cables (e.g. complying at least with British standard BS5266-1). An advantage of positioning the emergency lighting light sources external to the component is that the light sources may be positioned so as to illuminate an area more fully or more evenly than is possible with light sources integral to the component. For example, a single component may be placed at approximately the mid-point of a corridor or passage way, and the emergency lighting light sources may be positioned at intervals along the corridor or passage way so as to provide substantially uniform lighting along its entire length. To do this using components with integral emergency lighting sources would require the installation of a plurality of components along the corridor.

In some embodiments it may be desired that the light sources in the emergency lighting circuit can also be operated using the normal mains electrical power supply when such supply is available. To facilitate this it may be advantageous for the component of the invention to have a second mains power supply (and corresponding means for accepting it), which power supply is used to run the light sources present in the emergency lighting circuit prior to any fault or failure of the mains supply (i.e. as routine normal lighting).

o The mains power supply to the component is typically also used to keep the first battery in a substantially fully-charged state, so that it is at or near full capacity if required to provide power to the emergency lighting circuit. The first battery is thus conveniently a rechargeable battery with a capacity, when fully charged, of about 1.52.0 amp hours. Suitable rechargeable batteries are readily available commercially.

In the component of the invention, when the monitoring means detects a fault in the mains power supply (which may be a prolonged under-voltage, or a total loss of power, such as might occur in the event of a fire, for example), the actuating means actuates the emergency lighting circuit and the first battery is used to provide electrical power to the emergency lighting circuit.

The component of the invention is able to monitor operation of the emergency lighting circuit such that, in the event of a fault being detected in the emergency lighting circuit, the auxiliary lighting circuit is actuated. The extent of the fault in the emergency lighting circuit necessary to trigger actuation of the auxiliary lighting circuit is conveniently adjustable, pre-programmable and optionally re-programmable. For example, in one embodiment the auxiliary lighting circuit might only be triggered if all of the light sources in the emergency lighting circuit fail, or if there is a failure in the power supply from the first battery (e g. the first battery is exhausted). In other embodiments, the auxiliary lighting circuit might be actuated if two or more of the light sources in the emergency lighting circuit fail, and in other embodiments the failure of even a single emergency lighting circuit light source might be sufficient to actuate the auxiliary lighting circuit.

The auxiliary lighting circuit is powered by a second battery or batteries (separate from the first battery) contained within the component housing. The battery which powers the auxiliary lighting circuit is preferably a non-rechargeable ("primary") battery. Typically the battery has a capacity of about 1.0-1.5 amp hours. Suitable examples are readily available and include, for instance, lithium batteries such as those sold under the trade marks "Ultralife" ® or "Energizer® lithium".

The auxiliary lighting circuit comprises one or more light sources. These may be any o suitable light source, as with those in the emergency lighting circuit, but one or more LEDs are preferred since these are more efficient than other types of light source, and thus will give more light than other types of light source for the limited power available from the battery.

The component of the invention may conveniently include other features and functionalities. In particular the component conveniently includes at least one microprocessor which is used to perform or facilitate one or more of the monitoring and/or actuating functions of the component. The component preferably includes a communications module, or interface which communicates either wirelessly (e.g. by radio frequency, Bluetooth or the like) or by wired communication, with a remote monitor and/or control unit which can monitor the status of the component (e.g. whether there is a fault in the component, and/or if the emergency lighting circuit has been actuated, and/or if the auxiliary lighting circuit has been actuated). Apparatus suitable to perform these remote monitor/control functions is commercially available and includes that available from P4 Fastel Limited under the trade name "M-web".

In a second aspect, the invention provides an emergency lighting system, comprising a component in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and an emergency lighting circuit operably connected to the component. The emergency lighting system will preferably also comprise a remote monitor and/or control unit which monitors and/or controls the component. Preferably the remote monitor and/or control until interfaces with the internet to enable a supervisor to conduct remote testing and/or maintenance of the component via the internet. Typically the emergency lighting system will comprise a plurality of components in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and a single remote monitor and/or control unit monitors and/or controls the plurality of components.

In a third aspect the invention provides a method of installing an emergency lighting system in a building, the method comprising the step of installing a component in accordance with the first aspect of the invention in a building, and operably connecting the component with an emergency lighting circuit.

to The invention will now be further described by way of illustrative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a component in accordance with the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of parts of a component in accordance with the invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a component in accordance with the invention connected to four remote emergency light sources.

Examples

Example 1

This example relates to one embodiment of a component for use in an emergency lighting system for a building in accordance with the invention. The embodiment is illustrated schematically in Figure I. Referring to Figure 1, the component indicated generally by reference numeral 2, comprises a housing 4 formed from a moulded synthetic plastics material. The housing comprises a plurality of apertures to permit the passage of screws or other fixings, by which the housing may be secured to the ceiling or wall of a building.

The housing accommodates means for accepting a first mains power supply (L, N), which power supply feeds a transformer 2. The transformer keeps fully charged a rechargeable first battery 4. A controller 6 partly performs the function of a first monitoring means for detecting a fault in the mains power supply. In the illustrated embodiment, controller 6 monitors charging of the battery 4, this being indicated by arrow 5. Controller 6 and LED driver 8 jointly perform the function of a first actuating means for actuating an emergency lighting circuit. The emergency lighting circuit, in this embodiment, comprises emergency light sources in the form of one or more LEDs (typically four white LEDs) 10, which are external to the housing and o connected to the component by fire-resistant cables. This arrangement is generally preferred, but in other embodiments it may be preferred for the emergency light sources to be an integral part of the component and provided within the housing.

The controller 6 is connected to a charge indicator 12 and a fault indicator 14. The controller is also connected to optocoupler 16, which senses the status of mains supply L' N. The controller 6 is also operably connected to a comms interface 18, typically by means of one or more further optocouplers (not shown).

Also accommodated within the housing of the component are a second monitoring means, for detecting a fault in the emergency lighting circuit, an auxiliary lighting circuit, and a second actuating means, for actuating the auxiliary lighting circuit in response to the detection of a fault in the emergency lighting circuit. The second monitoring means and second actuating means comprise an auxiliary controller/comms interface 20 and an auxiliary LED driver 22. The auxiliary lighting circuit comprises auxiliary light source LED 24, under the control of the auxiliary LED driver 22. The auxiliary lighting circuit is powered by a second battery, 25, which is a primary (non-rechargeable) battery.

The auxiliary controller/comms interface 20 monitors (denoted by the arrow marked with reference numeral 21) the emergency lighting LEDs 10 and, when operated, the auxiliary LED 24. When the LED 24 is operated, the auxiliary controller 20 activates an appropriate indicator LED 26.

Both the comms interface 18 and the auxiliary controller/comms interface 20 communicate, via a bus, with a remote monitor/controller 28 which interfaces with the internet, allowing remote web-based monitoring/operation of the component. Typically the remote monitor/controller 28 is also in communication with other emergency lighting components in accordance with the invention, many such components being required in an emergency lighting system for a large building. The auxiliary controller/comms interface 20 can trigger a comms isolator 30, which cuts out communication between the remote monitor/controller 28 and the comms interface 18. Reference numeral 32 denotes a reset switch.

The operation of the various parts of the device illustrated in Figure 1 will now be described in further detail where necessary to aid understanding of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, power from the transformer 2 is used to maintain, the rechargeable battery 4 in a substantially fully-charged state whilst the mains power supply is operational, and to provide power to the rest of the circuit. The controller 6 monitors (denoted by arrow 5) the charging of the battery 4, and if the charging stops the controller operates (arrow 7) the LED driver 8 to turn on the emergency lighting LEDs 10. The controller also indicates the charge status of the battery 4 by means of charge indicator LED 12, and indicates a fault in the power supply by fault indicator LED 14.

The emergency lighting LEDs 10 may also be illuminated in response to other signals. For example, the status of the mains supply L' N is sensed via optocoupler 16, which is monitored by controller 6. The LEDs 10 may be switched on even if the battery 4 is still being charged. In some embodiments, L' may be used to act as an additional power supply.

A preferred remote monitor/controller unit 28 is that available from P4 Fastel under the brand name "M-web'. The comms interface 18 is powered, in the illustrated embodiment, by the M-web bus, and connected to controller 6 via optocouplers. There is two-way communication (denoted by the double-headed arrow marked with reference numeral 19) between the controller 6 and the comms interface 18. This allows the controller 6 to report status to the M-web, and to respond to commands from the M-web (e.g. "operate test", "disable" etc). The auxiliary controller/comms interface 20 is also powered from the M-web bus, and monitors communications from the M-web and the controller 6. The auxiliary controller monitors both the emergency LEDs 10 and the auxiliary LED 24 (the latter monitoring function being designated by the arrow marked with reference numeral 23).

If the emergency LEDs 10 are operated, but don't work, then the auxiliary controller reports a "lamp fault" to the M-web. The fault is latching and is reported until the o LEDs are operated and work correctly. If the auxiliary LED 24 is operated, the auxiliary controller reports a battery fault to the M-web and also lights the "auxiliary LED operated" indicator 26. These continue till the reset control (switch 32) is operated.

Once the auxiliary battery is replaced the reset is operated and the "auxiliary LED operated" indicator and "battery fault" are cleared.

When the auxiliary controller 20 reports a fault to the M-web 28 it isolates the normal comms interface 18 by activating comms isolator 30 and replies to the M-web in place of the comms interface 18. Under "no fault" conditions the auxiliary controller only monitors the comms and allows the normal comms interface to operate.

If the auxiliary controller is reporting a fault, but sees a message from the NI-web 28 other than a status request, it suppresses its communications for sixteen status request polls and allows the normal controller to communicate with the M-web.

In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 6 and auxiliary controller 20 are shown as separate modules, but they could be combined into one unit, which would mean that the auxiliary comms interface would not be needed and the normal controller would carry out the full functionality.

Example 2

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the PCB used for the LED monitoring and comms interface functions performed by the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1.

The NI-web comms bus is connected to terminus Conn2 and this supplies the power and communications to the circuit. The over-voltage protection circuit ensures that inadvertent connection of the mains to Conn2 does not damage the unit and the bridge rectifier ensures that the circuit works irrespective of the polarity of the comms bus.

T1 and U3 and associated components act as a constant voltage power supply which o provides the 5v necessary for the processor U1 to operate. The component of the invention is connected to the communication bus via Conn3. Communication pulses from the NI-web are sent to the microprocessor via R6 and reply pulses from the component are sent to the microprocessor via Q6.

The microprocessor is able to switch off the connection to the component by turning off Q5 and Q4 when the microprocessor sends reply pulses to the NI-web via Q2.

The remotely mounted LEDs (reference numeral 10 in Figure 1) are connected to the output of the component via terminals Connl and Conn5. The positive LED drive and LED connections are connected to Conn I and the negative via Conn5.

When the component operates the remote emergency lighting LEDs a signal passes via R24, optocoupler U4 to terminal RBO on the microprocessor. If one of the LEDs is not working this is detected via comparator U2, which sends a signal via R23 and U4 to terminal RBI on the microprocessor, which can thus determine if one of the LEDs is disconnected.

LED2 is used to indicate if the auxiliary battery needs to be changed and S2 is used to cancel that indication.

The Auxiliary LED Operated terminals on both circuits are connected and then the Auxiliary LED monitor if informed that the Auxiliary LED is operated and it can report a battery fault.

Example 3

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the circuit used to operate the auxiliary LED.

Referring to Figure 3, the LED is connected to terminals C6 shown on the right hand side of the diagram and it is powered by a battery connected to terminals C6. The battery voltage is switched on and off by Ql, which is controlled by Q2 and the LED current is regulated by Ul and associated components. This is a constant current device which keeps the LED current constant over the whole duration. As the battery o voltage drops the current will increase from the battery to ensure that the power stays the same.

When the battery is first connected C4 causes Q2 and hence Q1 to turn on. The LED operates and the resistor chain R3 and R5 keeps Q2 on. The person connecting the battery will see the LED on, knows it is working and presses switch S1 to turn off the

LED

Terminals C7 are connected to the fault LED on the component. If a fault is indicated the voltage across the fault LED turns on Q2 and this turns on the Auxiliary LED.

123 and R5 keep Q2 ON until the battery voltage drops such that discharge must be stopped and Q2 will begin to turn off, which will cause Q1 to turn off and so the voltage across R3 & R5 drops and the LED remains off

Example 4

With reference to Figure 4, a component in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, indicated generally by reference numeral 100, comprises a circular section housing 102 formed of moulded synthetic plastics material.

The housing accommodates the essential elements of the invention (e.g. first battery; second, auxiliary battery etc.) and, in particular, an auxiliary lighting circuit comprising an auxiliary light source LED 104.

The component is connected, via fire-resistant cables 106, to four identical emergency light sources 108 which, in this instance are LEDs. The LEDs are powered by a battery and LED driver provided in the component 102, and their operation monitored by monitoring means also provided in the component 102. In the event that a fault is detected in the operation of the light sources 108 (e.g. failure of all the light sources 108; or failure of at least two of the light sources 108), the component actuates the auxiliary light source LED 104.

Claims

Claims 1. A component for use in an emergency lighting system for a building, the component comprising a housing, said housing accommodating: (a) means for accepting at least a first mains power supply supplied to the component; (b) a first monitoring means for detecting a fault in the mains power supply; (c) a first actuating means for actuating an emergency lighting circuit in response to detection of a fault in the mains power supply; to (d) a first battery, which provides electrical power to the emergency lighting circuit when the latter is actuated; (e) a second monitoring means for detecting a fault in the emergency lighting circuit; an auxiliary lighting circuit; (g) a second actuating means, for actuating the auxiliary lighting circuit in response to the detection of a fault in the emergency lighting circuit; and (h) a second battery, which provides electrical power to the auxiliary lighting circuit when the latter is actuated.
2. A component according to claim 1, wherein the component further comprises the emergency lighting circuit.
3. A component according to claim 2, wherein the emergency lighting circuit comprises a plurality of emergency light sources.
4. A component according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the emergency lighting circuit comprises an LED.
5. A component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary lighting circuit comprises an LED auxiliary light source.
6. A component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first battery is rechargeable.
7. A component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second battery is a primary, non-rechargeable battery.
8. A component according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one programmable digital microprocessor.
9. A component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two or more of the functions of the first monitoring means, first actuating means, second to monitoring means and second actuating means are performed, at least in part, by a single module.
10. A component according to claim 9, wherein the single module comprises a programmable digital microprocessor.
11 A component according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a communications interface to provide communication means with a remote monitor and/or control unit.
12. A component according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more optocouplers.
13. An emergency lighting system for providing emergency lighting in a building, the system comprising at least one component in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, and an emergency lighting circuit operably connected to the component.
14. An emergency lighting system according to claim 13, wherein the emergency lighting circuit comprises a plurality of emergency light sources which are LEDs.
15. An emergency lighting system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the emergency lighting circuit comprises a plurality of emergency light sources which are external to the component.
16. An emergency lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the emergency light sources are connected to the component by fire-resistant cable.
17. An emergency lighting system according to any one of claims 13-16, comprising a plurality of components in accordance with any one of claims 1-12, each component being operably connected to a respective emergency lighting circuit.
18. An emergency lighting system according to any one of claims 13-17, further io comprising a remote monitor and/or control unit in communication with the or each component.
19. An emergency lighting system according to claim 18, wherein the remote monitor and/or control unit interfaces with the internet, so as to allow a remotely located supervisor to monitor and/or control the emergency lighting system via the internet.
20. A method of installing an emergency lighting system in a building, the method comprising the steps of installing a component in accordance with any one of claims 1-12, and operably connecting the component to an emergency lighting system.
21. A component substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in accompanying drawing figures 1-3.
22. An emergency lighting system substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in accompanying drawing figure 4.