DE20014168U1 - Explosion-proof luminaire and plug connection - Google Patents

Abstract

An explosion-protected light fitting (1) has a light fitting housing (2) and a lighting means (4) which can be fixed to said housing and supplied with electricity by at least one mounting (3). Said mounting can be connected to a supply line (6) and said light fitting housing can be closed with a transparent cover (7) and can only be opened when disconnected from the supply. The aim of the invention is to improve a light fitting in such a way as to provide a simple, economical means of disconnecting the lighting means or the entire light fitting from the supply and at the same time, provide shock protection from parts of the light fitting that are live, taking into account the requirements for explosion-protected light fittings. To this end, a counter-element (8) of a plug-in connection is located externally on the light fitting housing. A corresponding plug-in element (9) of the plug-in connection on the supply line (6) can be connected to said counter-element, especially in an explosion-protected manner. The cover (7) can be locked in its closed position (10) until the plug-in connection is released.

Description

GRÜNECKER KINhJELPEY : & JCHWANHÄUSSER

LAWYER

LTS S* OZIET *Ä T

GKS & S MAXIMIUANSTRASSE 58 0-80538 MUNICH GERMANY

German Patent and Trademark Office

Zweibrückenstr. 12
80297 Munich

YOUR REF.

LAWYERS PATENT ATTORNEYS PATENT ATTORNEYS LAWYERS EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS MUNICH MUNICH COLOGNE DR. HELMUT EICHMANN DR. HERMANN KINKELDEY DR. MARTIN DROPMANN GERHARD BARTH PETER H. JAKOB DR. ULRICH BLUMENRÖDER. LL. M. WOLFHARD MEISTER CHEMNITZ CHRISTA NIKLAS-FALTER HANS HILGERS MANFRED SCHNEIDER DR. MAXIMILIAN KINKELDEY, LLM. DR. HENNING MEYER-PLATH SONJA SCHAEFFLER ANNE EHNOLD BERLIN DR. KARSTEN 3RANDT THOMAS SCHUSTER DIETER JANOER MICHAEL J. FRANKE, LLM. DR. KLARA GOLDBACH UTE STEPHANI MARTIN AUFENANGER DR. BERND ALLEKOTTE, LLM. GOTTFRIED KLITSCH DR. HEIKE VOGELSANG-WENKE OF COUNSEL REINHARO KNAUER PATENT ATTORNEYS DIETMAR KUHL DR. FRANZ-JOSEF ZIMMER AUGUST GRÜNEECKER BETTINA K. REICHELT DR. GUNTER BEZOLD DR. ANTON K. PFAU DR. WALTER LANGHOFF OR. UOO WElGELT RAINER BERTRAM JENS KOCH, M.S. (UoIPA) M.S. BERND ROTHAEMEL DR. WILFRIED STOCKMAIR DR, DANIELA KINKELDEY (■1996) OR. MARIA ROSARIO VEGA LASO EN / EUR REF. DATE B29/U 10. 08.2000

Applicant:

CEAG SECURITY TECHNOLOGY GmbH Senator-Schwartz-Ring 59494 SOEST

"Explosion-proof lamp and plug connection"

GRÜNECKER KINKELDEY J ;

STOCKMAIR & SCHWANHAUSSJiJ^ · MAXIMIUANSTR. 58
D-80538 MUNICH
GERMANY

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SaS (ei? 3) +&Aacgr;9 W. 22 02 57 : •fax ^# (GR4) Vft 89*21 86*92

http://www.grunecker.de e-mail: postmaster@grunecker.de .•deutsche bank Munich

JvJo. 17 51734 • &LZ7OO70O1O SWIFT: DEUT DE MM

Explosion-proof lamp and plug connection

The invention relates to an explosion-proof luminaire with a luminaire housing and a light source that can be attached to the housing by means of at least one socket and can be supplied with electricity, which socket can be connected to a supply line via at least one connection terminal and which luminaire housing can be closed by a translucent cover and can only be opened when the voltage is de-energized.

In such known explosion-proof lights, a switching device is usually arranged inside the light, which ensures that the light is de-energized when the cover is removed. Such a switching device is designed, for example, as a so-called positive disconnector. To supply the light, cable inlets or feedthroughs are usually designed in the light housing, through which a corresponding supply cable can be laid into the interior of the light housing. There, the supply cable is connected to the corresponding connection terminals. This is connected to a lamp socket.

With such a known light, it is intended to prevent live parts from being touched, for example when changing the light bulb. If the entire light is to be replaced or repaired, it is usually necessary to de-energize the supply line itself.

The invention is therefore based on the object of improving a luminaire of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the voltage can be switched off for the lamp or the luminaire as a whole in a simple and cost-effective manner and at the same time protection against contact with live parts of the luminaire is ensured, taking into account the requirements for explosion-proof luminaires.

This object is achieved in connection with the features of the preamble of claim 1 in that a plug element is arranged on the outside of the luminaire housing, with which a corresponding counter element of the supply line, in particular

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can be connected in a particularly explosion-proof manner, whereby the cover is locked in its closed position until the connection between the plug element and counter element, hereinafter abbreviated to plug and socket, is released.

By moving the supply cable connection to the outside of the light, corresponding complex cable entries and connection terminals are no longer necessary. At the same time, it is ensured that the cover can only be opened to replace a lamp or the entire light can only be replaced or repaired after the power has been switched off, i.e. after the plug connection between the plug element and counter element has been removed. The plug and socket are designed to be explosion-proof in particular in order to comply with the relevant safety regulations when plugging in or removing the plug. There are no further restrictions regarding the plug and socket, so that basically all plugs and sockets that can be used in explosion-proof areas can be used.

The cover can be locked in its closed position in a variety of ways. However, the lock is designed in such a way that it can only be released after the connection between the plug and socket has been released and the cover can only be opened or removed. An example of such a lock is an electrical or electromagnetic lock that is only switched on when voltage is applied to the lamp via the plug. As soon as the lamp is de-energized, the lock is released.

The socket can be designed in such a way that it has an opening for the plug to be inserted. It is also possible for the plug to have a sleeve that surrounds the corresponding plug contacts and can be pushed onto the socket from the outside. The plug and socket can be designed with different cross-sections. The cross-section can be used to code plugs and sockets so that, for example, only supply lines with the corresponding voltage or corresponding circuits can be connected to the corresponding light.

In order to prevent the connection between plug and socket from accidentally coming loose, the socket can have a locking device for the plugged-in plug. Such a locking device can be designed, for example, as a bayonet lock or the like.

In contrast to the prior art mentioned at the beginning, according to the invention it is no longer necessary to lead the supply line into the luminaire up to the corresponding connection terminals or sockets of the lamp. Instead, according to the invention the electrical connection from the socket to the operating device can already be made at the factory within the luminaire.

Since with the known lights it was necessary to first de-energize the entire light by opening the cover of the light source and by disconnecting the power supply line, the light could only be installed or removed when the power supply line was disconnected. This is no longer necessary thanks to the simple de-energization of the entire light according to the invention. The light housing can therefore be designed without any means of receiving connection terminals or the like, for example in the cover.

Fasteners can be molded directly onto the luminaire housing in one piece and can be, for example, locking recesses, locking projections, locking bars, insertion projections or the like. In this way, the luminaire can be releasably attached by locking the fasteners accordingly with counter-locking elements arranged on the ceiling, wall or mast. The plug is then attached to the socket and the cover is locked at the same time.

In order to make the locking simpler and more mechanical, the cover can have a locking device that engages with the inserted part of the plug connection, for example the plug. This means that the locking is created by joining the plug connection, whereby, for example, the plug actuates a corresponding locking element when it approaches or begins to be inserted into the socket, which locks the cover in its closed position.

• · • ·

In the case of a locking device that is easy to manufacture and easy to operate, it can have at least one insertion opening into which a corresponding locking element of the plug can be inserted. The locking element of the plug inserted into the insertion opening of the cover then prevents the cover from being movable relative to the plug and correspondingly detachable from the lamp housing. A reverse arrangement of plug and socket is also possible and the part of the plug connection to be attached to the lamp can also have an insertion opening and the lamp can have a corresponding locking element.

In order to ensure in this context that the locking is established before the power supply to the luminaire is established or released before the power is switched off, the insertion depth of the insertion opening can be greater than the corresponding insertion depth of the plug connection.

The invention also relates to the part of the plug connection (plug element, plug) which is arranged at the end of the supply line for connection to an explosion-proof lamp of the type described above. This part can be inserted into the counter element (socket) of the lamp, whereby the locking element is simultaneously or in advance inserted into the corresponding insertion opening in the cover. Of course, an inverted arrangement of locking element and insertion opening is also possible.

The locking element is designed to complement the insertion opening. In a simple embodiment, the locking element can be a locking pin.

In order to be able to easily assign the locking element to the insertion opening when inserting the plug, the locking element can be arranged at a distance from and parallel to the plug.

In the simplest case, the locking element can be attached to the plug element by a connecting web. This runs, for example, radially outwards relative to the plug element and the locking pin is arranged at its outer end.

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In order to be able to align the locking element if necessary, it can be rotated relative to the plug.

In order to ensure in a simple way that the cover is always locked before the electrical connection between the plug and socket is made, the locking element can protrude over a free end of the plug connection part arranged on the supply line. As a result, the locking element is already pushed into the insertion opening when the counter element arranged on the lamp is approached or when plugging in begins, thus ensuring that the cover is locked in its closed position.

In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the figures attached to the drawing.

It shows:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side view of a luminaire according to the invention with a plug connection.

Fig. 1 shows a partially sectioned side view of a lamp 1 according to the invention. This has a generally tub-shaped lamp housing 2, which can be attached, for example, to a ceiling, a wall, a mast or the like. A ballast 23 (if necessary), connection terminals 5 and electrical connection lines 12 are arranged inside the lamp housing 2. Furthermore, sockets 3 or the like usually protrude from the lamp housing 2, which serve to hold and electrically supply a lamp 4. Such a lamp can be, for example, a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, a high-pressure metal vapor lamp, a high-pressure mercury vapor lamp, a high-pressure sodium vapor lamp or the like.

The sockets are designed to suit the light source 4 used. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a plug connection part 8 is arranged on one side of the lamp housing 2, which passes through a wall of the lamp housing 2. This plug connection part 8 is inside the lamp housing 2

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via electrical connecting cables 12 directly to the ballast 23, which in turn is connected to the sockets 3 for the electrical supply of the lamp 4.

Fastening means 13 are formed on an outside of the luminaire housing 2. These can be designed, for example, as locking recesses, locking projections, insertion rails or the like. The fastening means serve for the detachable and positive fastening of the luminaire housing 2 and thus the luminaire 1 to the wall, ceiling or mast. A corresponding adapter for the fastening means 13 can be fastened to the wall, ceiling or mast beforehand.

An opening in the luminaire housing 2 is covered by a translucent cover 7, resulting in an explosion-proof luminaire. The cover can be attached to the luminaire housing using a corresponding locking mechanism, for example.

The light source 4 is shown in the cover 7, wherein the cover 7 is arranged in its closed position 10 in Fig. 1.

On one side of the lamp 1, a locking device 14 is provided in the cover 7, which has an insertion opening 15. Alternatively, a projection or the like can be formed on the cover, which together with a recess or the like on the plug connection part ensures the locking. If the insertion opening in the cover is designed as a blind hole or the like, a corresponding locking pin 20 can be inserted into it as a locking element 19. The locking element 19 is arranged on a plug 9, which is arranged at one end 18 of a supply line 6 and can be connected to the socket 8 for supplying power to the lamp 1. The locking pin 20 is arranged parallel and at a distance from the plug 9, and is fastened to an outside of the plug via a connecting web 21. The locking pin 20 with the connecting web 21 can be rotatably mounted on the plug 9. If the locking element and insertion opening are arranged in reverse order, the above applies analogously.

In order to ensure that the cover 7 is locked in its closed position 10 before an electrical connection is made between the fixed part 8 and the movable part 9 of the plug connection, the locking pin 20 protrudes beyond a free end 22 of the movable part (plug) 9 and the insertion opening 15 is designed with a greater insertion depth 16 than the insertion depth 17 of the fixed part (socket) 8. The electrical connection between the socket and the plug is only made when the locking pin 20 is almost completely inserted into the insertion opening 15.

According to the invention, this results in an electrical connection that is easy to make and quickly detachable and that meets all the requirements of explosion protection. At the same time as the plug and socket are connected, the cover is locked. According to the invention, the interior of the lamp can be constructed more simply, since no special covers are required for parts inside the lamp that are still powered. According to the invention, the entire lamp is always switched off in a simple manner, and not just the light source. Furthermore, the effort involved in electrically connecting the lamp and also in securing the lamp at the place of use is reduced. This makes the lamps cheaper and easier to handle.

The design of the plug (movable plug connection part) and the socket (fixed plug connection part) is selected in such a way that the plug and socket can be connected or disconnected in the potentially explosive area without a closing or opening spark that may arise in the process being able to ignite an explosive mixture surrounding the luminaire.

Claims (15)

1. Explosion-proof lamp ( 1 ) with a lamp housing ( 2 ) and a light source ( 4 ) that can be attached to the lamp housing by at least one socket ( 3 ) and can be supplied with electricity, which socket ( 3 ) can be connected to a supply line ( 6 ) and which lamp housing ( 2 ) can be closed by a translucent cover ( 7 ) and can only be opened when the power is off, characterized in that a counter element ( 8 ) of a plug connection is arranged on the outside of the lamp housing ( 2 ), with which a corresponding plug element ( 9 ) of the plug connection can be connected to the supply line ( 6 ), in particular in an explosion-proof manner, the cover ( 7 ) being locked in its closed position ( 10 ) until the plug connection is released. 2. Explosion-proof luminaire according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover ( 7 ) can be locked in its closed position by inserting the plug element ( 9 ). 3. Explosion-proof luminaire according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the counter element ( 8 ) has a locking device for the inserted plug element ( 9 ). 4. Explosion-proof luminaire according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that electrical connecting lines ( 12 ) are laid from the counter element ( 8 ) to the connecting terminals ( 5 ) to the socket ( 3 ) or a ballast ( 23 ). 5. Explosion-proof luminaire according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luminaire housing ( 2 ) has fastening means ( 13 ) for in particular form-fitting fastening to the ceiling, wall or mast. 6. Explosion-proof luminaire according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening means ( 13 ) are designed as a locking recess and/or locking projection and/or locking web and/or insertion projection or the like. 7. Explosion-proof luminaire according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover ( 7 ) has a locking device ( 14 ) which, in the closed position ( 10 ) of the cover, engages with the inserted plug element ( 9 ). 8. Explosion-proof luminaire according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device ( 14 ) has an insertion opening ( 15 ). 9. Explosion-proof luminaire according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an insertion depth ( 16 ) of the insertion opening ( 11 ) is greater than a corresponding insertion depth ( 17 ) of the counter element ( 8 ). 10. Plug connection with a plug element ( 9 ) at the end ( 18 ) of a supply line ( 6 ) for connection to an explosion-proof lamp ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug element ( 9 ) has a locking element ( 19 ) which can be inserted into an insertion opening ( 15 ) in the cover ( 7 ) of the lamp ( 1 ). 11. Plug connection according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking element ( 19 ) is a locking pin ( 20 ). 12. Plug connection according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the locking element ( 19 ) is spaced apart and arranged parallel to the plug element ( 9 ). 13. Plug connection according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the locking element ( 19 ) is fastened to the plug element ( 9 ) by a connecting web ( 21 ). 14. Plug connection according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the locking element ( 19 ) is rotatable relative to the plug element ( 9 ). 15. Plug connection according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the locking element ( 19 ) protrudes beyond a free end ( 22 ) of the plug element ( 9 ).