The present disclosure relates to light fixtures and, more particularly, to bi-level light fixtures used in public transportation facilities. Specifically, the disclosure relates to bi-level light fixtures used in train tunnels to provide normal use lower-lumen downlighting with selective higher-lumen task lighting which can be directed downward from the fixture, upward from the fixture, or in both directions.
Underground train systems are numerous in various public and private applications. Various architectural and safety codes dictate lighting requirements for the facilities including the lighting of the train tunnels themselves as well as the maintenance walkways within the tunnels. Despite the headlights on the trains themselves, the systems light the track tunnels with pathway light fixtures disposed along the sides of the tunnels. These light fixtures also light maintenance walkways disposed along the sides of the tunnels. The pathway light fixtures typically shine down to light the track and walkways at a low lumen level without shining upwardly or laterally to avoid distracting the train operators.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA®) 130, Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems, requires illumination at the level of at least 0.25 foot-candles for underground or enclosed trainway walkways and walking surfaces measured at the walking surface. At the same time, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA®) requires a 5.00 foot-candle illumination level in a tunnel while maintenance work is being conducted. When only low lumen track lighting is present, maintenance workers must bring in their own portable light fixtures to illuminate the work areas to the correct illumination level.
The different configurations of the light fixtures and systems described herein can be used in transportation systems and, in particular, within underground train tunnels. The light systems and light fixtures also may be used in architectural applications.
The disclosure provides a light fixture which provides normal mode downlighting for track and walkway lighting and a selective task lighting mode where higher-lumen lighting is provided in at least the same downlighting direction as the track and walkway lighting. The normal lighting illumination level provides at least 0.25 to 2.00 foot-candles at the illuminated surfaces. The normal mode downlighting eliminates a stroboscopic effect created when evenly spaced lights are viewed down a tunnel. The task lighting mode provides at least 5.00 foot-candles to the same illuminated surfaces. The task lighting mode is achieved with the same light source that provides the normal mode lighting or with additional light sources that are activated together with or instead of the normal lighting mode light sources. The light sources can be a plurality light emitting diode (LED) engines that include a plurality of LEDs.
The disclosure also provides a light fixture that includes a light source such as an LED light engine arranged to project light upwardly when the task lighting mode of the light fixture is activated. The uplighting illuminates ceilings to at least 5.00 foot-candles for task work performed above and in the proximity of the light fixtures.
The disclosure provides that the higher-lumen task lighting mode can be activated by a user via a switch on the fixture itself or a switch that activates the task lighting mode in a plurality of fixtures. The switches can be local to the fixture(s) or located remotely.
The disclosure also provides a configuration with a timer that keeps the light fixture or a group of light fixtures in the task lighting mode for a set amount of time after the task lighting mode is activated.
The disclosure provides mounting bracket configurations for the light fixture that allow the fixtures to be readily mounted and dismounted for repair or replacement. A quick disconnect fitting can be used with the power cord for the fixture.
The disclosure provides an exemplary light fixture configuration that includes a battery backup system activated during power failures.
The preceding non-limiting aspects of the disclosure, as well as others, are more particularly described below. A more complete understanding of the fixtures, systems, and methods can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the assemblies or components thereof. In those drawings and the description below, like numeric designations refer to components of like function. Specific terms used in that description are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure.
Similar reference numbers refer to similar elements in the drawings.
Exemplary configurations for bi-level light fixtures for a public transportation tunnel are indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 in the accompanying drawings. The exemplary configurations of the light fixture, the systems, and the methods described herein are with reference to a public transportation facility such as a train tunnel. Fixtures 10, the systems, and the methods also can be used in other applications where selective task lighting is desired. Fixtures 10, the systems, and the methods can be used in architectural applications. In general, light fixture 10 provides normal mode downlighting for track and walkway lighting and a selective task lighting mode where higher-lumen lighting is provided in at least the same downlighting direction as the track and walkway lighting. Fixtures 10 optionally include a lighting source that provides selective uplighting in the task lighting mode. Fixtures 10 can be mounted to the sidewalls that define the train tunnel where fixtures 10 provide light down onto the train tracks as well as onto the walkways along the sides of the tracks. The sidewalls can be vertical, angled, or curved.
Each configuration of fixture 10 can be mounted on a bracket 12 that supports a fixture housing 14. Each fixture housing is IP (Ingress Protection) 65 rated and IK10 impact resistant. Fixture 10 has an operating temperature range of −20 deg F to 130 deg F.
In
In one exemplary configuration shown in
A lower flange 130 projects down from lower rail 122 and defines a fastener channel 132 that receives fasteners 134 that secure fixture housing 14 to bracket 112. The rear surface of lower flange 130 is co-planar with the rear surface of main body 116 so that it will also engage a flat mounting structure such as a flat wall. The front surface of lower flange 130 is disposed behind the front surface of lower rail 122 to define a shoulder 136 that helps locate fixture housing 14 during installation. Fixture housing 14 can be mounted to and dismounted from bracket 112 by sliding it over the end of bracket 112 as shown in
Fixture housing 14 is extruded and defines an open interior sized to receive LED power supplies 148 that use electrical quick connects. Optional batteries can be carried within fixture housing 14. The front of fixture housing defines plurality of cooling fins 150. The ends of the extruded body are closed with end caps 152. End caps 152 are connected to the extruded main body with fasteners that are receives in fastener channels 154 formed integral with the main body. Downwardly projecting end shades 156 can be connected to limit light shining laterally from fixture 10 toward a train conductor.
The LED circuit boards are mounted to portions of the main body of fixture housing 14 which allows the main body to function as a heat sink. Protective lens are disposed over the LEDs.
The configurations of
Light fixtures 10 include at least a first light source 30 that provides downlighting. Light source 30 includes one or more LED light engines that are powered by one or more power supplies that are either carried by fixture housing 14 or located remote from housing 14. First light source 30 can be a 3500K CCT rated at greater than 50,000 hours; LM79/LM80 compliant. First light source 30 provides 4560 Lumens at up to 40 Watts. In the exemplary configuration of
Light fixtures 10 have a task lighting mode where light source 30 is changed to produce higher lumens. The task lighting mode provides at least 5.00 foot-candles to the same target surface. The task lighting mode can provide 5.00 to 50.00 foot-candles to the same target surface and the exemplary embodiment supplies light in a range of 5.00 fc to 25.00 fc. In the first configuration, the task lighting mode is achieved with the same light source 30 by powering the same LEDs with more power to increase their lumen output. This is achieved by increasing the current applied to the same group of LEDs during the task lighting mode. In the example depicted in
Light fixtures 10 can optionally include a second light source 40 in the form of an uplighting lighting source 40 arranged for uplighting during the task lighting mode. Second light source 40 provides 1000 Lumens at up to 12 Watts. In the example depicted in
Light fixtures 10 can be switched between the normal lighting mode and its task lighting mode with a switch, for example switch 50, carried by fixture 10 and manually operated by the user. Switch 50 can be a push button or a switch operated with a magnet that is brought into proximity to a location on fixture 10. Each activation of switch 50 changes the mode of operation for fixture 10. In one configuration, a timer is used to automatically switch the mode of fixture 10 back to the normal mode after a set amount of time such as ten minutes or four hours. Fixture 10 has a manual override with a switch (such as a magnetically-activated switch), so that someone walking down the track with magnetic wand can manually set light fixture 10 to a work mode to provide task lighting without going through a wireless network or remote computer. In this exemplary model, the manual override switch provides a four or eight hour default for work mode task lighting before an automatic revert to emergency/standard mode. Each light fixture 10 can be optionally turned on and off as well as being switched between modes through a remote signal delivered through a wired connection or a wireless communications protocol. Using a signal from a remote location allows an entire section of tunnel to be lit in for task lighting without the need to push a button on each fixture. Each light fixture or a plurality of fixtures can be controlled through a graphic user interface running a remote computer to supply the signals to the light fixtures 10. The graphic user interface allows one or a plurality of light fixtures 10 to be turned to task lighting mode for an hour or up to a period of weeks or months.
In work task lighting mode with task lighting being provided, light fixtures 10 include an option for an indicator light (which can be a yellow-colored light) either on the sides or front of fixture 10 to serve as a supplementary system to flagging to alert train conductors that work is occurring on the track for the conductor to drive slower.
Light fixtures 10 can be controlled by an authorized user, the manager of the facility, or by the authority having jurisdiction over the maintenance, from a remote computer. The signals can be delivered through an Ethernet cable, a Power Line Communication protocol, or a data wire directly from the remote computer or through the Internet. The signal also may be delivered through any of a variety of wireless communications protocols including a mesh network such as a 915 MHz mesh network, WIFI, ZigBee, or RuBee (IEEE standard 1902.1). In order to communicate the data, each fixture can include a communications device that provides for the desired communications. For example, each fixture can include a network repeater, a Wifi chip, a ZigBee chip, or a RuBee transceiver. The remote computer can be a computer located in the same facility as the light fixture providing the reporting or a computer located in a location remote from the facility.
Fixture housings 14 may be substantially hollow to contain a variety of components used with fixture 10. In one exemplary configuration, batteries and components of a self-testing battery backup system are carried within housing 14. One or more power supplies also may be carried within housing 14. In other configurations, the battery backup system and the power supply can be located in locations remote from housing 14. The remote location can be a few feet away or farther such as other locations within the building or facility.
Light fixtures 10 are configured to be supplied by one of three line power sources in addition to the backup battery power source. In public transportation facilities, electrical power is available from the main power line which is typically between 110V to 277V alternating current. A second source of between 110V to 277V alternating current is often provided from a secondary power source. A third high voltage source of electrical power greater than 277V is the high voltage “third rail” power source from which train engines drawn power. The third source can be between 450V-1000V direct current or commonly about 600V. The power supply or power supplies for the LED light engines includes power inputs for each of these three power sources such that any of the three sources can be connected or a combination of two or all of the sources can be connected to allow whichever source is available to supply the power. The power input connections can be provided with quick connect and quick disconnect power connectors to allow fixture 10 to be readily removed and replaced. A switch is used to allow the user to manually select a power supply or to cause the power supply to automatically switch over to an available power supply in the event of a failure of another. For example, if the light fixture is being powered by the 600 Volt power supply and there is a failure of that power source, the power supply recognizes the voltage drop and automatically switches to the first of the 110-277 Volt power sources. If the first is not available, the power supply looks for the second 110-277 Volt power source. If all three of these power sources are not available, the power supply switches over to battery backup power where available.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the above description and attached illustrations are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words “comprise” and “include” as well as variations of those words, such as “comprises,” “includes,” “comprising,” and “including” are not intended to exclude additives, components, integers, or steps.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/826,509 filed Mar. 29, 2019 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/985,268 filed Mar. 4, 2020; the disclosures of both applications are incorporated herein by reference.
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