WO1998038454A1

WO1998038454A1 - Chemiluminescent emergency escape route lighting and area lighting system

Info

Publication number: WO1998038454A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/003973
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven A. Becnel
Original assignee: Stratus System, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-02-28
Filing date: 1998-03-02
Publication date: 1998-09-03
Also published as: JP2001513938A; AU7998998A

Abstract

An emergency escape illumination system which marks and identifies escape routes and passageways during an emergency situation is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes a plurality of chemiluminescent flares (30) which can be activated from a remote location to provide escape path and area lighting in emergency situations. The flares (30) can be connected in series along a wall, ceiling or floor to mark an emergency egress route or to supply emergency non-electric lighting. In another embodiment of the invention, each chemiluminescent flare can be activated individually to provide localized illumination of an area.

Description

CHEMILUMINESCENT EMERGENCY ESCAPE ROUTE LIGHΗNG AND AREA LIGHΗNG SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE IHVEWTTnq

The present invention generally relates to the field of emergency lighting systems, and more particularly, is directed to a system which illuminates an escape path or route during an emergency condition.

In many situations, there is a need to provide immediate and fail-safe emergency illumination of a selected area during periods of darkness. One example of such a need is in a large building which has lost its electrical power. Whether as a result of a temporary power outage or a major disturbance, such as an earth quake, the need to safely and quickly exit the building is often necessary. Moreover, an effective marking system for indicating the path to the exit is especially essential in places where the building occupants are not familiar with the surroundings.

While fire safety codes require the posting of exit signs in buildings, these signs are often not adequate during an emergency situation. A major disadvantage is that such signs are usually posted many feet from the actual escape point. Thus, the signs may be of no real use to someone trying to escape the building. The emergency escape systems provided in trains, buses and air and water craft also is often inadequate. Such systems, to the extent they exist at all, are most often limited to signage and an occasional light which illuminates only a portion of the area needed for a rapid but orderly egress from the area.

Thus, the prior art has not offered a satisfactory solution to this problem. Accordingly, there is a great need for an effective emergency lighting system which marks and identifies escape routes and passageways during an emergency condition. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present invention to provide an emergency escape illumination system which obviates the above-noted shortcomings and disadvantages of emergency escape routes and marking systems known in the prior art.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide such a system which can be automatically operated without user intervention.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an emergency escape illumination system which clearly defines the boundaries of the escape route.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an emergency escape route illumination system which is visible in low 1ight conditions . It is a further object of the present invention to provide an emergency escape route illumination system which is self-contained and is not reliant on outside systems for its operation.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an emergency escape route illumination system which can be activated remotely in the event of an emergency condition.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an emergency escape route illumination system which is low in cost to manufacture and which can be readily installed.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a novel emergency escape illumination system which marks and identifies escape routes and passageways during an emergency situation. The system of Applicant's invention provides for a safer and quicker escape from a dangerous area than the prior art has heretofore provided.

In accordance with the present invention, chemiluminecent flares are activated from a remote location to provide escape path and area lighting in emergency situations. The flares can be connected in series along a wall, ceiling or floor to mark an emergency egress route or to supply emergency non-electric lighting. The fares can be designed to utilize different colored flares to color code the escape route so that the evacuating personnel will travel the least distance to the nearest exit door, escape chute, stairwell, survival capsule or escape hatch.

The system is neither powered from or activated by an electrical source. This feature makes it useful in explosive or flammable environments where an electrical system of this type would be a source of dangerous ignition.

Also, since the flares are individual self contained light sources they can be used for training purposes after which the spent flares can be replaced and the system is made ready for reuse at a nominal expense. The design of the holder for the flares is such that the flares may be inspected in-place and are protected from the environment and from physical harm and destruction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the present invention are set out with particularity in the appended claims, but the invention will be understood more fully and clearly from the following detailed description of the invention as set forth in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram view of the emergency escape illumination system in accordance with one embodiment of Applicant' s invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the flare holder for the illumination system of Applicant' s invention; Figures 3A, 3B and 3C are top and cross-sectional views of ^"the base plate which forms a part of the flare holder for the illumination system of Applicant' s invention;

Figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are top and cross-sectional views of the cover which forms a part of the flare holder for the illumination system of Applicant' s invention;

Figures 5A and 5B are top and cross-sectional views of the diaphragm base which forms a part of the flare holder for the illumination system of Applicant' s invention;

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C are top and cross-sectional views of the diaphragm cap which forms a part of the flare holder for the illumination system of Applicant' s invention;

Figures 7A and 7B are top and cross-sectional views of the piston which which forms a part of the flare holder for the illumination system of Applicant' s invention; and

Figure 8 is an alternative embodiment of Applicant' s invention in which each flare may be activated individually. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the emergency illumination system of present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

The system is formed of a plurality of flare holders 1 as illustrated in Figure 1. Each flare holder contains a chemiluminecent flare. The number of flare holders will depend on the size of the area to be illuminated. In the embodiment of ^"the system illustrated in Figure 1, flare holders 1 are all connected together by a pneumatic or fluid pressure line 2.

The present invention will operate equally well when driven pneumatically or by fluid pressure. The invention will be described herein in the context of a pressure system. However, the invention is not limited thereto.

With reference again to Figure 1, fluid pressure line 1 is connected to each of flare holders 1 by appropriate pressure fittings as is known in the prior art. Pressure line 2 may be formed of any structure suitable for carrying fluid in a leak-proof manner at sufficient pressure to operate flares holders 1 as described below. The type of structure used to form pressure line 2 will depend in large part on the particular installation. In many cases, a reinforced light weight tube will ideally serve the purpose while at the same time not being unnecessarily noticeable. Line 2 is terminated at one end by a plug 3 as is also known in the art. The other end of line 2 is connected to gas pressure source 4 through a control valve 5. Valve 5 is controlled by a valve control signal 6.

The constituent parts of flare holders 1 will now be described with reference to Figure 2 - 7.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of flare holders 1. The holder is formed of a main plate 31, a hinged cover 2, a diaphragm base 3, a diaphragm cap 4 and a piston 5. These elements cooperate to form a housing for a chemiluminecent flare 30 which can be activated by movement of piston 5 in response to pressure in line 2 illustrated in Figure 1.

Flare holder 1 is illustrated in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C. The flare holder is fabricated from a stainless steel plate stamping and includes folded hinge ears 6 & 7 which are used to attached hinged cover 2 to the flare holder with hinge pin 8 (See Figure 2) . Hinge pin 8 in turn retains cover opening lever spring 9 (not shown) . Cover opening spring 9 applies opening force to cover 2 when the system is activated. Flare holder 1 also includes formed metal bands 10 & 11 which are resistance welded to the main plate 31. Bands 10 & 11 form the holder which secures the flare to the main plate 31. Hole 12 in plate 31 forms an attachment device for the female portion of cover lock 13 (See Figure 2) . Holes 14 form an attachment device for diaphragm base 3 and diaphragm cap 4 by way of four flat head screws (not shown) . Bore 15 acts as a retainer and guide for piston 5.

The hinged cover 2 is illustrated in Figure 4A, 4B,4C and 4D. The cover may be fabricated from injection molded plastic or a drawn metal stamping. The cover includes formed hinged tube 16 which is attached to flare holder 1 by way of hinge pin 8. Domed cover area 17 and hole 18 which acts as an attachment point for male cover lock 19 (See Figure 2) . Cover lip flange 20 also forms an attachment area for sealing gasket 21 (See Figure 2) . Gasket 21 seals the dome area from environmental contamination and protects the chemiluminesent flare 30 from ambient light.

Diaphragm base 3 is illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B. The diaphragm base may be fabricated of plastic and is either injection molded or machined. The base includes holes 22 which correspond to holes 14 in the flare holder plate 31 (See Figure 3) . Bore 23 serves as a guide for piston 5 along with hole 24 which also guides and retains piston 5 when the system is activated.

The diaphragm cap 4 is illustrated in Figures 6A, 6B and 6C. The cape is fabricated of plastic and is either injection molded or machined. The cap consists of holes 25 which correspond to holes 14 in flare holder plate 1 and holes 22 in diaphragm base 3. Inlet ports 26 and 27 are drilled and taped 1/4" NPT into cap 4 along with connecting bore 28, intersecting bore 29 and recessed piston bore 30.

Piston 5 is fabricated of plastic and is either injection molded or machined. Piston 5 includes diaphragm attachment flange 31 which forms a base for attaching diaphragm 3 to the piston. Reduced shaft 33 is aligned with and is guided by hole 23 in the diaphragm base 3 and bore 15 in flare holder plate 31 (See Figure 2) .

In operation the system is typically configured as depicted in figure 1 as discussed above. Typically, any number of flares may be connected in series along the desired escape route. When^" an activation signal 6 is detected at control valve 5, the valve opens allowing pressure to enter pressure line 2. As the pressure increases in pressure line 2, a force is transmitted to the base of piston 5 illustrated in Figure 2. As piston 5 moves to it full stroke, .it imparts a bending force to chemiluminecent flare 30. The bending force fractures the glass inner tube of the flare, activating the flare to thereby produce light. As piston 5 continues to travel to its full stroke, it applies a force to the inverted domed cover area 17. The force applied to domed area 17 is transmitted to cover locking mechanism 19 causing it to disengage and allowing the cover to open. Cover opening spring 9 opens cover thereby exposing activated flare.

As illustrated in Figure 8, each flare may also be made to activate individually by removing diaphragm cap 4 shown in Figure 1 and attaching an automatic gas release mechanism 34. When activated, gas release mechanism 34 releases compressed gas from container 35. The release mechanism can be activated by internal circuitry designed to detect immersion in water, shock, strain, heat, darkness, tilt, smoke, etc.

It should be obvious from the above-discussed apparatus embodiment that numerous other variations and modifications of the apparatus of this invention are possible, and such will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is not to be limited to the embodiment disclosed, but^" is to include any such embodiments as may be encompassed within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

I Claim:

1. A system for illumination of a selected area upon demand, said system comprising: a plurality of chemiluminecent flares; a holder for each respective said chemiluminecent flare, each of said holders having an activation device for activating its respective said chemiluminecent flare; a conduit coupled to each of said holders for coupling said holders together, said conduit carrying a fluid for triggering said holders to activate said chemiluminencent flares; and a fluid supply connected to said conduit for supplying said fluid.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a control device for controlling the flow of said fluid through said conduct.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said fluid is compressed gas.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said control device is responsive to a control signal which causes said control device to prevent the flow of said fluid through said conduit when said system is in a static mode and allows the flow of said fluid through said conduit when said system is in an activated mode.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of said holders includes an activation device for activating said chemiluminecent flare in response to the flow of said fluid when said system is^" in said activated mode.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said activation device comprises a displacement piston, the movement of said displacement piston being in response to the flow of said fluid through said conduit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the movement of said displacement piston activates an associated chemiluminecent flare.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said holder include a retaining device for retaining said chemiluminecent flare within said holder.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said holder further includes a protective enclosure for protecting said chemiluminecent flare from exposure to the atmosphere.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said enclosure includes a releaseable cover which is in a closed position when said system is in said static mode and is in an open position when said system is in said activated mode.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said enclosure includes a spring device for maintaining said cover in said open position when said system is in said activated mode.

12. A chemiluminecent flare device for illumination of a selected area upon demand, said device comprising: a chemiluminecent flare; a holder for said chemiluminecent flare, said holder having an activation device for activating said chemiluminecent flare; a control device for controlling the activation of said chemiluminecent flare in response to a control signal; and a fluid supply connected to said conduit for supplying a fluid to operate said control device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said fluid is compressed gas.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said holder includes an activation device for activating said chemiluminecent flare in response to the flow of said fluid when said system is in an activated mode.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said activation device comprises a displacement piston, the movement of said displacement piston being in response to the flow of said fluid.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the movement of said displacement piston activates said chemiluminecent flare.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein said holder include a retaining device for retaining said chemiluminecent flare within said holder.

8. The device of claim 17, wherein said holder further includes a protective enclosure for protecting said chemiluminecent flare from exposure to the atmosphere.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said enclosure includes a releaseable cover which is in a closed position when said system is in a static mode and is in an open position when said system is in said activated mode.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said enclosure includes a spring device for maintaining said cover in said open position when said system is in said activated mode.