Emergency lighting system

• US 4,056,757 A
• Filed: 03/02/1972
• Issued: 11/01/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John C. Bogue
• Original Assignee: John C. Bogue
• Inventors: Sarbacher, Robert I., Mauch, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rosenberger, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US05/231,220
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 315/86, 315/87, 315/160, 315/171, 315/174, 315/175, 307/64, 307/66, 307/23, 336/155, 336/160, 336/165, 313/147
• US Class Current: 315/86
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes

Abstract

A system which will provide emergency lighting as desired when the normal power supply such as the utility power is interrupted or otherwise not available. The system provides the emergency power by means of the same wiring that is used to provide the utility power to the lights. In addition, the "on-off" switch or switches used to control the turning on and off of the lights when the utility power is available also provides control of the lights when the emergency supply is being utilized.

Claims

1. In combination with a lighting system comprising an alternating current utility power source, an "on-off" switch and a plurality of fluorescent lights coupled to said utility power source through said "on-off" switch, each one of said plurality of fluorescent lights being provided with a ballast, an emergency system comprising:

an emergency power supply having a frequency higher than the frequency of said utility power source;

a transfer switch having a first contact directly connected to said utility power source, a second contact connected to said emergency power supply and a switch arm connected to said "on-off" switch, said transfer switch being so arranged that said switch arm is closed on said first contact when power is available from said utility power source and is automatically transferred from said first contact to said second contact when power is not available from said utility power source whereby power for illuminating said plurality of fluorescent lights is provided by said emergency power supply through said "on-off" switch when power is not available from said utility power source; and

means for illuminating one or more but not all of said plurality of fluorescent lights when power for illuminating said plurality of fluorescent lights is provided by said emergency power supply, said ballast provided with each one of said plurality of fluorescent lights presenting such a high impedance to said higher frequency power from said emergency power supply that each one of said plurality of fluorescent lights cannot be effectively illuminated from said higher frequency emergency power supply through its respective said ballast.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to illuminate one or more but not all of said plurality of fluorescent lights includes a plurality of high frequency responsive ballasts equal in number to the number of said plurality of fluorescent lights that are to be illuminated by said emergency power supply, a different one of said plurality of high frequency ballasts being connected across said ballast of each one of said plurality of fluorescent lights that is to be illuminated by said emergency power supply.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein a separate high frequency disconnect circuit is connected between said ballast of each one of said plurality of fluorescent lights that is not to be illuminated by said emergency power supply and said "on-off" switch, each one of said separate high frequency disconnect circuits ensuring that its respective one of said plurality of fluorescent lights is not illuminated by said emergency power supply.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said emergency power supply comprises at least one battery and an inverter connected between said at least one battery and said second contact of said transfer switch.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein a plurality of incandescent lights are also coupled to said switch arm through said "on-off" switch.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein means are provided to hold a selected number of said incandescent lights off when said switch arm is closed on said second contact whereby only a selected number of said incandescent lights will be illuminated by said emergency power supply.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said means to hold off a selected number of said incandescent lights comprises separate high frequency disconnect circuits, said high frequency disconnect circuits being connected such that a different one of said high frequency disconnect circuits is connected between said "on-off" switch and each one of said incandescent lights that are to be held off.

8. In combination with a lighting system comprising an alternating current utility power source, an "on-off" switch and a plurality of incandescent lights coupled to a utility power source through said "on-off" switch, an emergency system comprising:

an emergency power supply having a frequency higher than the frequency of said utility power source;

a transfer switch having a first contact directly coupled to said utility power source, a second contact connected to said emergency power supply and a switch arm connected to said "on-off" switch, said transfer switch being so arranged that said switch arm is closed on said first contact when power is available from said utility power source and is automatically transferred from said contact to said second contact when power is not available from said utility power source whereby power for illuminating said plurality incandescent lights is provided by said emergency power supply through said "on-off" switch when power is not available from said utility power source; and

means for holding off a selected number of said plurality of incandescent lights when said switch arm is closed on said second contact of said transfer switch whereby one or more but not all of said plurality of incandescent lights are illuminated when power is not available from said utility power source.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for holding off a selected number of said incandescent lights comprises a high frequency disconnect circuit connected between each said incandescent light that is to be held off and said "on-off" switch, one said high frequency disconnect circuit being provided for each said incandescent light that is to be held off whereby the number of said high frequency disconnect circuits provided is equal to the number of said incandescent lights that are to be held off.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said power supply comprises at least one battery and an inverter connected between said battery and said second contact.