Pathway lighting system for tunnels

• US 10,386,027 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clear-Vu Lighting LLC (Autronic Plastics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lax, Daniel A., Libohova, Agjah I., Keuning, Timothy J., Jacob, Roy, Lax, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bannan, Julie A
• Application Number:
  US14/486,899
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 248322, 24822021, 24822022, 248304, 248339, 248306, 248305, 248690, 248692
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 13/10 Tunnel systems pneumatic tubes conveyors B65G ; B61C15/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/036 by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/08 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/02 Wall, ceiling, or floor bases; Fixing pendants or arms to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence; bases for movable standing lamps F21V21/06
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/40 Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/101 of tunnels or the like, e.g. under bridges
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light unit used in train tunnels is readily mountable and removable from a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket allows the battery backup system and light engine to be gravity mounted in manner that allows for quick and easy mounting and removal while also resisting vibrations and wind. A quick disconnect fitting can be used with the power cord to allow the units to be removed and replaced as needed. The light unit integrates the light engine with a battery backup system so that the entire light and battery unit is removed and replaced when necessary.

Claims

1. An LED light fixture for providing pathway light for a train tunnel;

the LED light fixture mountable to a surface to provide downwardly-directed light for the train track of a train tunnel;

the LED light fixture comprising;

an LED light engine;

a battery backup system that includes a backup battery;

an LED power supply outputting a low voltage direct current for powering the LED light engine;

a self-test system that periodically tests the backup battery system;

the self-test system including a wireless communication module that reports self-test data;

a light unit housing that carries the LED light engine, the LED power supply, and the battery backup system;

the light unit housing having a bottom and carrying the LED light engine within the light unit housing in a position to shine light down from the bottom of the light unit housing when the LED light fixture is mounted to the surface to provide track bed lighting; and

further comprising a bracket for mounting the light unit housing to the surface; and

a spacer disposed between the light unit housing and the bracket to prevent direct contact between the housing and the bracket to limit galvanic corrosion.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the bracket is stainless steel, the light unit housing is aluminum, and the spacer is one of a nonmetal material and a coated metal material.

3. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the light unit housing is gravity mounted on the bracket.

4. The light fixture of claim 3, wherein the light unit housing includes a hook that slides into engagement with a hook defined by the bracket to support the light unit housing from the bracket.

5. The light fixture of claim 3, wherein the bracket defines a shelf and the light unit housing defines a ledge that rests on the shelf when the light unit housing is connected to the bracket.

6. An LED light fixture for providing pathway light for a train tunnel;

the LED light fixture mountable to a surface to provide downwardly-directed light for the train track of a train tunnel;

the LED light fixture comprising;

an LED light engine;

a battery backup system that includes a backup battery;

an LED power supply outputting a low voltage direct current for powering the LED light engine;

a self-test system that periodically tests the backup battery system;

the self-test system including a wireless communication module that reports self-test data;

a light unit housing that carries the LED light engine, the LED power supply, the self-test system, the wireless communication module, and the battery backup system;

the light unit housing having a bottom and carrying the LED light engine within the light unit housing in a position to shine light down from the bottom of the light unit housing when the LED light fixture is mounted to the surface to provide track bed lighting; and

further comprising a bracket for mounting the light unit housing to the surface; and

a spacer disposed between the light unit housing and the bracket to prevent direct contact between the light unit housing and the bracket to limit galvanic corrosion.

7. The light fixture of claim 6, wherein the bracket is stainless steel, the light unit housing is aluminum, and the spacer is one of a nonmetal material and a coated metal material.

8. The light fixture of claim 6, wherein the light unit housing is gravity mounted on the bracket.

9. The light fixture of claim 6, wherein the combined light unit housing, LED light engine, and battery backup system all fit within a perimeter having a height of 11.5 inches and a width of 4.5 inches.

10. The light fixture of claim 9, wherein the perimeter has a length of 12 inches.

11. The light fixture of claim 6, further comprising a quick connect power connector that allows the light fixture to be readily replaced.