Track lighting system current limiting device

• US 7,911,351 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/147,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20080252234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 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 circuit comprising:

at least one current limiting device configured to limit electrical power to said track lighting circuit under a predefined condition, said current limiting device configured to receive a voltage and output said voltage substantially unaltered to said track lighting circuit when not limiting electrical power to said track lighting circuit;

wherein said predefined condition is an over current condition;

at least one lighting track connector electrically coupled to said at least one current limiting device; and

wherein said lighting track connector is securable to said track lighting circuit with a tamper resistant mechanism.

2. A current limiting system for limiting the electrical current supplied by a source of electrical power to a track lighting circuit as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a plurality of current limiting devices; and

a plurality of lighting track connectors.

3. A current limiting system for limiting the electrical current supplied by a source of electrical power to a track lighting circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lighting track connector is capable of being secured to a current-carrying lighting track.

4. 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.

5. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said visual load indicator is a digital display.

6. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said visual load indicator is an analog display.

7. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said visual load indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes indicative of predetermined amounts of power supplied to said circuit.

8. 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.

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

10. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said circuit breaker further comprises a switch for connecting and disconnecting electrical power from said at least one track lighting circuit.

11. A current limiting system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said switch of said circuit breaker includes a visual indication of power to said breaker.

12. 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.

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

a power limiting device;

a track lighting connector capable of being electrically coupled to said power limiting device for limiting the electrical current in said track lighting; and

wherein said power limiting device has a power rating below that of said track lighting and is inseparably coupleable to said track lighting.

14. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 13 comprising:

at least one tamper resistant mechanism capable of securing said track lighting connector to said track lighting.

15. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 13 comprising:

a tamper-resistant fastener capable of securing said track lighting connector to said track lighting.

16. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 13 comprising:

a one way screw capable of securing said track lighting connector to said track lighting.

17. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 13 comprising:

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

18. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 13 comprising:

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

19. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 13 comprising:

an access panel to permit access to a fuse.

20. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 15 wherein said load readout comprises a meter.

21. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 15 wherein said load readout comprises a plurality of LEDs.

22. The integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 19 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.

23. An integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 13 comprising:

a canopy having a plurality of apertures therein for retaining said power limiting device.

24. An integral device for limiting electrical power supplied to track lighting as claimed in claim 23 wherein said canopy further comprises a plurality of lighting track connectors and wherein said power limiting device is electrically connected to said plurality of lighting track connectors to supply electrical power thereto.

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

at least one current limiting device;

at least one lighting track connector electrically coupled to said at least one current limiting device;

at least one tamper resistant fastener insertable through said at least one lighting track connector and attachable to said lighting track;

whereby when said fastener is inserted through said lighting track connector and attached to said lighting track, said fastener is configured to prevent removal of said current limiting system from said lighting track without damaging at least one of said fastener, said lighting track connector, and said lighting track.