System and method of electrically interconnecting multiple lighting fixtures
First Claim
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1. An electrical interconnect system for multiple lighting fixtures comprising:
- a source of three phase alternating current electrical power;
a plurality of lighting fixtures;
a first switching cable assembly between said power source and successive lighting fixtures;
a plurality of power cables, each cable having a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth lead, one of said power cables extending from said power source to said first switching cable assembly;
said first switching cable assembly having internal circuit connections for connecting a first series of lighting fixtures to at least said first, second, and fourth leads with said fixtures of said first series of fixtures being energized by at least a first phase of said three phase electrical power;
a first switch connected to said first switching cable assembly for selectively energizing and de-energizing said first series of lighting fixtures;
a second switching cable assembly electrically connected to said first switching cable assembly via others of said power cables;
means between said first and second switching cable assemblies for cross-connecting the leads of said power cables from said first switching cable assembly to said cross-connecting means with other leads in said power cables from said cross-connecting means to said second switching cable assembly such that said first lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes the third lead to said second switching cable assembly, said third lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes said fifth lead to said second switching cable assembly, and said fifth lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes said first lead to said second switching cable assembly;
said second switching cable assembly having internal circuit connections for connecting a second series of lighting fixtures to said third, second and fourth leads relative to said first switching cable assembly with the lighting fixtures of said second series of lighting fixtures being energized by a second phase of said three phase electrical power; and
a second switch connected to said second switching cable assembly with said first switch being operable to control energization and de-energization of said first series of fixtures without interference with the operation of said second series of lighting fixtures and with said second switch being operable to control energization and de-energization of said second series of lighting fixtures without interference with the operation of said first series of lighting fixtures.
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Abstract
A system and method of electrically interconnecting a multiplicity of electrical lighting fixtures is disclosed in which up to three phase AC power and up to five conductors (i.e., one conductor for each phase, a ground conductor, and a neutral conductor) is used in such manner that selected groups or branches of the lighting fixtures may be independently, selectively controlled, and such that wiring to the fixtures and control switches may be readily plugged into place.
248 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electrical interconnect system for multiple lighting fixtures comprising:
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a source of three phase alternating current electrical power; a plurality of lighting fixtures; a first switching cable assembly between said power source and successive lighting fixtures; a plurality of power cables, each cable having a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth lead, one of said power cables extending from said power source to said first switching cable assembly; said first switching cable assembly having internal circuit connections for connecting a first series of lighting fixtures to at least said first, second, and fourth leads with said fixtures of said first series of fixtures being energized by at least a first phase of said three phase electrical power; a first switch connected to said first switching cable assembly for selectively energizing and de-energizing said first series of lighting fixtures; a second switching cable assembly electrically connected to said first switching cable assembly via others of said power cables; means between said first and second switching cable assemblies for cross-connecting the leads of said power cables from said first switching cable assembly to said cross-connecting means with other leads in said power cables from said cross-connecting means to said second switching cable assembly such that said first lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes the third lead to said second switching cable assembly, said third lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes said fifth lead to said second switching cable assembly, and said fifth lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes said first lead to said second switching cable assembly; said second switching cable assembly having internal circuit connections for connecting a second series of lighting fixtures to said third, second and fourth leads relative to said first switching cable assembly with the lighting fixtures of said second series of lighting fixtures being energized by a second phase of said three phase electrical power; and a second switch connected to said second switching cable assembly with said first switch being operable to control energization and de-energization of said first series of fixtures without interference with the operation of said second series of lighting fixtures and with said second switch being operable to control energization and de-energization of said second series of lighting fixtures without interference with the operation of said first series of lighting fixtures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Method of interconnecting a plurality of lighting fixtures into one or more series of successive fixtures with the fixtures being energized by means of three phase alternating current electrical power utilizing five lead power cables with each of the series of fixtures being selectively energizable and de-energizable with respect to and independently relative to one another, said method comprising the steps of:
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extending a first power cable having a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth lead therein from a source of three phase alternating current electrical power; connecting said first power lead to a first switching cable assembly; branching a first circuit from said first switching cable assembly for energizing said first series of lighting fixtures at least with said first series of lighting fixtures being energized by a first phase of power using said first, second, and fourth leads; connecting a remotely operable first switch to said first switching cable assembly for selectively controlling energization and de-energization of said first series of lighting fixtures; continuing said three phase power from said first switching cable assembly to a second switching cable assembly with the leads exiting the first switching cable assembly being in the same order as the leads entering said first switching cable assembly; cross connecting said leads between said first and second switching cable assemblies such that said first lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes the fifth lead to said second switching cable assembly, said third lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes the first lead to said second switching cable assembly, and so that said fifth lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes the third lead to said second switching cable assembly; branching a second circuit from said second switching cable assembly for energizing a second series of fixtures by a second phase of said three phase electrical power using said third, second, and fourth leads relative to said first switching cable assembly; and connecting a remotely operable second switch to said second switching cable assembly for selectively controlling energization and de-energization of said second series of fixtures. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An electrical interconnect system for multiple lighting fixtures energized by a source of three phase alternating current electrical power, said system comprising:
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a plurality of lighting fixtures; a first switching cable assembly between said power source and successive lighting fixtures; a power cable having at least a first phase lead, a second phase lead, a third phase lead, and a neutral lead, one of said power cables extending from said power source to said first switching cable assembly; said first switching cable assembly having internal circuit connections for connecting a first series of lighting fixtures to at least said first phase lead and to said neutral lead with said fixtures of said first series of fixtures being energized by said first phase of said three phase electrical power; a first switch connected to said first switching cable assembly for selectively energizing and de-energizing said first series of lighting fixtures; a second switching cable assembly electrically connected to said first switching cable assembly via others of said power cables; means between said first and second switching cable assemblies for cross-connecting the leads of said power cables from said first switching cable assembly to said cross-connecting means with the leads in said power cables from said cross-connecting means to said second switching cable assembly such that said one of the other phase leads from said first switching cable assembly becomes the first phase lead to said second switching cable assembly, and the remaining phase lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes the second phase lead to said second switching cable assembly; and said second switching cable assembly having internal circuit connections for connecting a second series of lighting fixtures to said first phase lead of said second switching cable assembly with the lighting fixtures of said second series of lighting fixtures being energized by another phase of said three phase electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Method of interconnecting a plurality of lighting fixtures into one or more series of successive fixtures with the fixtures being energized by means of three phase alternating current electrical power utilizing five lead power cables with each of the series of fixtures being selectively energizable and de-energizable with respect to and independently relative to one another, said method comprising the steps of:
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extending a first power cable having a first phase lead, a second phase lead, a third phase lead, and a neutral lead therein from a source of three phase alternating current electrical power; connecting a first power cable to a first switching cable assembly; branching a first circuit from said first switching cable assembly for energizing said first series of lighting fixtures at least with said first series of lighting fixtures being energized by a first phase of power using at least said first phase lead and said neutral lead; connecting a remotely operable first switch to said first switching cable assembly for selectively controlling energization and de-energization of said first series of lighting fixtures; continuing at least two phase power from said first switching cable assembly to a second switching cable assembly; cross connecting said leads between said first and second switching cable assemblies such that said second phase lead from said first switching cable assembly becomes the first phase lead to said second switching cable assembly; branching a second circuit from said second switching cable assembly for energizing a second series of fixtures by a second phase of said three phase electrical power using said second phase lead and said neutral lead from said first switching cable assembly; and connecting a remotely operable second switch to said second switching cable assembly for selectively controlling energization and de-energization of said second series of fixtures. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification