Track lighting system current limiting device

• US 7,397,384 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: MacKenzie, Kenneth IV, O'Boyle, Michael S., Kuchar, James Edward, Mier-Langner, Alejandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/056,309
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 340/638, 340/635, 340/636.12, 340/636.17, 340/639, 340/664, 324/509, 361/643, 361/673, 315/209.R, 307/125
• US Class Current: 340/638
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/0264 Mountings or coverplates for complete assembled circuit breakers, e.g. snap mounting in panel

Abstract

A current limiting system in accordance with the present invention comprises an accessory or canopy mount device that is permanently installed between a source of electrical power 1 and a track lighting system 2. The system may be installed integrally with a track lighting system to supply power to a plurality of lighting tracks from a plurality of power sources or circuits, as desired by a user or lighting designer. The system may also be configured to be compatible with a wide variety of track lighting system power tracks and is difficult to remove once properly installed, thereby making it tamper-proof.

Claims

1. A current limiting system for limiting the electrical current supplied by a source of electrical power to a track lighting system comprising:

a lighting track having an integral circuit;

at least one current limiting device electrically coupled between said electrical power source and said circuit for supplying power thereto, said current limiting device having a current rating below that of said lighting track circuit; and

wherein said lighting track is permanently secured to said current limiting device for limiting the electrical current in said track.

2. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one current limiting device comprises a circuit breaker.

3. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said circuit breaker further comprises a switch for connecting and disconnecting electrical power from said circuit.

4. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the switch of said circuit breaker includes a visual indication of power to said breaker.

5. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a canopy having a plurality of apertures therein for retaining said at least one current limiting device.

6. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said canopy further comprises a plurality of lighting track connectors and wherein said at least one current limiting device is electrically connected to said lighting track connectors to supply electrical power thereto.

7. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said canopy further comprises a removable knockout for routing power wiring therethough to said at least one current limiting device.

8. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a plurality of removable knockouts in said canopy.

9. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said canopy is sized to cover a junction box.

10. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:

a removable cover secured to said canopy to protect said system.

11. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said at least one current limiting device comprises a circuit breaker having a switch for connecting and disconnecting electrical power from said circuit, and wherein said removable cover provides access to the switch.

12. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said plurality of lighting track connectors are permanently secured to said lighting track to prevent the removal of said lighting track from said system once installed.

13. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said plurality of lighting track connectors are permanently secured to said lighting track with a one-way fastener to prevent the removal of said lighting track from said system once installed.

14. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said plurality of lighting track connectors are permanently secured to said lighting track with a fastener covered by a safety seal to inhibit the removal of said canopy from said system once installed.

15. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said current limiting device is sized to limit electrical current to a predetermined maximum based upon the length of track secured thereto.

18. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said current limiting device comprises a visual load indicator for monitoring the electrical power supplied to said circuit.

19. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said visual load indicator is a digital display.

20. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said visual load indicator is an analog display.

21. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said visual load indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes indicative of predetermined amounts of power supplied to said circuit.

22. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said current limiting device comprises a visual load indicator for monitoring the electrical power supplied to said circuit.

23. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said visual load indicator is a digital display.

24. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said visual load indicator is an analog display.

25. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said visual load indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes indicative of predetermined amounts of power supplied to said circuit.

16. A current limiting system for limiting the electrical current supplied by a source of electrical power to a track lighting circuit comprising:

at least one current limiting device having an input connected to an electrical power source and an output for supplying power, said current limiting device being inseparable from at least one lighting track and having a current rating below that of said lighting track;

a plurality of lighting track connectors wherein the output of said at least one current limiting device is electrically connected to said plurality of lighting track connectors to supply electrical power thereto; and

wherein said current limiting system is permanently secured to said track lighting circuit for limiting the electrical current in said track.

17. A current limiting system for limiting the electrical current supplied by a source of electrical power to a plurality of track lighting circuits comprising:

a plurality of current limiting devices having respective inputs connected to an electrical power source and respective outputs for supplying power, said plurality of current limiting devices each being inseparable from at least one lighting track and having current ratings below that of said track lighting circuits;

a plurality of lighting track connectors wherein the outputs said plurality of current limiting devices are electrically connected to said plurality of lighting track connectors to supply electrical power thereto; and

wherein said current limiting system is permanently secured to said track lighting circuits for limiting the electrical current in said track circuits.

26. An integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting comprising:

a power limiting device coupled to a source of electrical power;

a track lighting system electrically coupled to said power limiting device for limiting the electrical current in said track lighting system; and

wherein said power limiting device is integral to said track lighting system to prevent removal thereof and wherein said power limiting device has a power rating below that of said lighting track system.

27. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 26 comprising:

at least one tamper proof mechanism to prevent access to said power limiting device.

28. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 26 comprising:

a load readout coupled to said power limiting device to monitor the electrical power supplied from said source.

29. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 26 comprising:

a circuit breaker having a reset switch integral to said power limiting device.

30. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 26 comprising:

an access panel to permit access to a fuse.

31. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 28 wherein said load readout comprises a meter.

32. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 28 wherein said load readout comprises a plurality of LEDs.

33. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 28 wherein said load readout comprises an analog gauge.

34. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 32 comprising:

a first LED indicative of operation within a rated load of said track lighting;

a second LED indicative of operation near a maximum rated load of said track lighting; and

a third LED indicative of an overload condition of said track lighting.