DE9111003U1 - Rail for low-voltage lighting fixtures - Google Patents

Description

Patent attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg -, . . _c . _; . Page 1

Description

6 Rail for low-voltage lighting fixtures

8 The invention relates to a guide rail for low-voltage lighting fixtures with

&bgr; the features mentioned in the preamble of claim 1. The mentioned

10 Guide rails are generally used for ceiling mounting of low-voltage

11 lighting fixtures, especially low-voltage ceiling spotlights. The inventive

12 The guide rails serve both as a supporting element for the loading

13 lighting fixtures and as a holder for the line element for the power

14 Supply of the lighting fixture.

ie Basically, the mains voltage, for example 230 V, 220 V or 110V

&igr;? to the significantly lower low-voltage nominal voltage of the lighting fixtures

is transformed. There are basically two different ways to do this.

19 knows:

21 The mains current with the mains voltage is fed directly into the busbar.

22. For the transformation to the low voltage, a

23 lighting fixtures a separate transformer is available. Advantage of this solution

24 is that the noise caused by the installation of the individual lighting fixtures

25 the voltage drop is very low. However, this is offset by the disadvantage

26, that each lighting fixture is elaborately equipped with a separate

27 transformer, which complicates the lighting fixture construction.

28 complicated and the unit costs for each radiator increased considerably.

30 It is also known to connect a transformer in front of the rail so that

31 the low-voltage current with the low-voltage voltage is fed directly into the rail

32. Although some lighting fixtures can be sufficiently supplied with

33 power supply, but due to the high voltage drop per additional

34 additionally coupled lighting fixtures set limits here. In order to achieve larger

35 rail lines, for example to illuminate large rooms or halls, it is necessary to divide the rail line into several parts—

37 rails, with each partial rail being driven by a separate

38 Partial rail transformer is supplied with the low voltage current.

4 September 1981

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg ,. _; , .- * $

&igr; However, this use of multiple partial rail transformers means that

&zgr; each partial rail transformer also has a separate primary connection on the

3 power grid. The installation effort for this is very high and

4 mostly unacceptable for cost reasons.

e Another solution for rails with upstream transformer is

7 is to reduce the cross-section of the rail that acts as a low-voltage line.

8 larger. This means, on the one hand, an increased material expenditure of the

&bgr; processing material, preferably copper and on the other hand a considerable

io increase in rail dimensions. In the age of resource conservation

&ugr; the use of large quantities of piping material is anachronistic.

12 stic. In addition, the large amount of required cable material increases the cost of

13 The final price of the rails is considerable. The increase in the rail dimensions &eegr; also means that a larger installation space is required for the rails

is and on the other hand, from a certain size onwards, it disturbs the aesthetic sense

16 that of the viewer.

18 Based on these disadvantages, the invention is based on the object

A guide rail for supplying low-voltage lighting fixtures is to be

20 design that with relatively low material and installation costs possible

21 You can find many lighting fixtures on a track, which is connected by a

22 power source. This task is carried out by the

23 feature combination of claim 1 is solved.

25 The inventive guide rail takes the directly connected to the power grid

26 connected primary power line. Furthermore, the guide rail has

27 a low-voltage secondary line to supply the lighting fixtures

28 with the low-voltage current. The secondary line is connected to the

29 Transformer fixed to the guide rail connected to the primary line

30 In order to minimize the amount of material required for the secondary line,

To keep the voltage low, several transformers are connected to the

32 guard rails can be coupled to cover a certain area of the guard rail

33 with low-voltage current and thus compensate for the energy generated by the

34 to compensate for the voltage drop resulting from the use of many lighting fixtures.

36 It is advantageous that the installation effort for the inventive control system—

37 rail is extremely low and only a single primary connection to the network

38 must be present. Another advantage is the low material required

4 September 1991

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg <-, ?..-■* ■■ ■- Page 3

&igr; quantity for both the primary and secondary lines.

2 teren can be compared to the state of the art described at the beginning with any

3 because a separate transformer per lighting fixture allows the number of

4 transformers can be advantageously reduced. In addition, the energy required for the

5 Raw materials required for transformer construction are not wasted unnecessarily. Ultimately,

6 derives from the technical features of the invention a significant cost

7 savings for both the production and the installation of the guide rails a with the low-voltage lighting fixtures fixed to them.

&iacgr;&ogr; Claim 2 relates to a preferred development of the guide rail itself.

11 due to the insulating material of the guide rail and the embedding of the

12 märleitung in the hollow chamber inserted in the guide rail is the primary

13 cable is completely shielded from the environment. This increases the safety

14 the lighting system consisting of guide rail, transformers and lighting fixtures both during assembly and in operation. This also completely excludes any accidental contact with the primary line by the fitter or the operator.

19 In addition, the measures proposed in claim 2 prevent

20 contact of the secondary line with the primary line and thus destruction

21 of the entire lighting system due to short circuit. The use of copper

22 ferleisten as secondary line results in low material consumption and

23 thus contributes to reducing production costs. In addition, the copper

24 ensure the assembly and user-friendliness of the

25 lighting fixtures. In particular, the strip-shaped design of the

26 Secondary line the longitudinal displacement of the lighting fixtures along

27 of the mounting rail.

2« The junction boxes contained in claim 3 additionally increase the

% safety and user-friendliness of the lighting system. The

31 Junction boxes can be installed during the manufacture of the guard rail

32, which further increases the degree of pre-assembly of the guide rails.

33. Furthermore, the flexible cable between branch

34 socket and the branched, associated transformer to the desired

35 target length. This prevents a too tight

36 taut cable breaks during use and prevents 3? on the other hand, accidents or other

This can cause damage. Furthermore, it is possible to

4 September 1M1

Patent attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg , > . * -, < - String 4

&igr; long guide rail to initially provide "dead" junction boxes to which

2 No transformer is connected initially. If the number of connected

3 lighting fixtures, however, brought about by the associated voltage

4 voltage drop may require the connection of an additional transformer,

5 this is done by connecting a cable to the initially "dead" outlet.

6 branch box is easily possible. Plugs with Ba-

7 interlocking between the cable and the junction box. Furthermore, it is

8 For example, it is advantageous for service purposes to replace a defective cable

&bgr; easily. It is also possible to replace one or more

10 transformers that have become defective through use can be easily replaced,

11 without having to dismantle the guide rail first.

13 The design of the receptacle for the se-

u secondary line ensures a particularly firm and secure fit of the secondary

15 cable on the guide rail. In addition, the recesses for the coupling

16 strips also serve as a molded part for a positive connection of the lighting fixtures to be attached to the guide rail &igr;?

Claim 5 relates to the design of the contact elements on the lighting

20 cable bodies to form a permanent and secure cable connection

21 between each lighting fixture contact and the secondary line

22 forming copper strips. The design of the

23 contact elements as well as the lighting elements for the trans-

24 formators applicable.

26 The design of the rail according to claim 6 enables the use of the

27 Rail for operation with several separate circuits.

28 Different lighting groups can be switched on and off separately.

29 off or dim it up and down. This is particularly advantageous when µ use the guide rail according to the invention for illuminating large

31 room offices. By operating with several separate circuits, it is

32 It is generally possible to selectively use individual areas of the open-plan office.

33 lights.

35 Claim 7 and claim 8 relate to the static load-bearing function of the guide

36 rail. The longitudinal movement of the lighting fixtures and the transformer

37 mators in the final assembly position is secured by a force-locking connection.

4 September 1S81

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg - _f * ' - ->Sei* ⁶ 5, ,

&igr; liftable. In the final assembly state, the rail is to be used exclusively as a guide and

2 Supporting element for the transformers and lighting fixtures.

4 Based on the embodiments shown in the drawings, the

5 Invention with further inventive features described. Shown are:

7 Fig. 1 the embodiment of a guide rail with an adaptable

8 ated lighting element and a transformer adapted to it.

10 Fig. 2 the overall perspective view of a low-voltage lighting

11 tungskörper.

12 Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the guide rail according to arrow III-III in Fig. 1.

13 Fig. 4 the embodiment of a guide rail with several cavities.

14 Fig. 5 shows the sectional view of the guide rail according to arrow V-V in Fig. 4.

17 The guide rail 1 shown in Fig. 1 runs in the longitudinal direction 2 and carries the

18 Transformer 3, the junction box 4 and as low-voltage lighting

The body of the ceiling spotlight 5. The transformer 3 is connected via the cable 6

20 is connected to the junction box 4. In the longitudinal direction 2 also runs the

21 the side wall of the guide rail, effective as a secondary line

22 Copper strip 7.

24 The ceiling spotlight 5 (Fig. 2) has the spotlight housing 8 with the

25 cooling fins 9 protruding from the housing side walls. The front of the

26 ceiling spotlight 5 is penetrated by the light exit opening 10. The

27 The rear wall 11 of the spotlight is arranged facing away from the light exit opening 10,

28 from which the radiator line 12 exits and to the mounting slide 13 of the

29 ceiling spotlight 5. The mounting slide 13 has the beam

30 spring contacts 14 connected to the cable 12 and the locking groove 15. The

31 Locking groove 15 has a U-shaped cross-section in the longitudinal direction 2, whereby the

32 spring contacts 14 are inserted into spring contact retaining shoes 16. The spring

33 of the contact holding shoes 16 are on the inside of the carriage side

34 walls 17 forming U-legs of the U-shaped carriage.

35 The release button 18 is also mounted transversely on the mounting slide 13.

36 is slidably mounted, with the transverse direction 19 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction

37. To enable the ceiling spotlight 5 to be moved longitudinally

38 direction 2 along the guide rail 1, the release button 18 must be in transverse

4 September 1981

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg r > ·-- - _**, _&Lgr; Page 6, ,.

&igr; direction 19 must be held in its pressed position. As soon as the release

2 button 18 is no longer pressed, the longitudinal displacement of the

3 Ceiling spotlight 5 along the guide rail 1 in longitudinal direction 2.

4 The force closure which cancels the longitudinal displacement is caused by a

5 coupled in terms of movement with the release button 18, in the drawings

6 not shown locking lug, which is pressurized on at least one

7 area of the side wall of the guide rail 1.

9 The release button 18 can also be doubled in number on both sides of the

10 mounting slides 13 are arranged (Fig. 3). The ceiling spotlight 5 is connected to the mounting slide 13 via the retaining plate 20. The

12 Ceiling spotlight 5 can be swivelled via the joint 21 on the mounting plate 20

13. The pivoting bearing on the joint 21 allows the inclination

14 position of the spotlight 5 and thus of the light exit opening 10.

ie The mounting slide 13 encloses the guide rail 1 on three sides with

&igr;? its locking groove 15, wherein the locking groove 15 the rail bottom 22 and the

is encloses both strip side walls 23. In the strip side walls 23 are

the receiving recesses 24 for receiving the copper strips 7 are formed. The

μm copper strips 7 extend in the longitudinal direction 2 and in the

21 longitudinal direction 2 and vertical to the transverse direction 19

22 tung 25. The copper strips 7 lie in the receiving recesses 24 and are

23 their edges pointing in the vertical direction 25 from the hook-like projections

24 jumps 26 in the transverse direction 19. The projections 26 form the

25 End of the strip side walls 23 in transverse direction 19 and are in height

26 direction 25 facing each other like fingers from the strip side walls 23 &zgr;?. The projections 26 are in the height direction 25 so spaced

28 arranged to each other so that in the transverse direction 19 the effective range of the copper conductor

2&bgr; sten 7 remains uncovered, whereby the effective range of the copper strips 7 of their effective

3o width 27 (Fig. 1).

32 The guard rail core of the guard rail 1 is connected to the longitudinal

33 running hollow channel 28. The hollow channel 28 has a rectangular

34 shaped cross-section, with the hollow channel side walls 29 in the height direction

35 tung 25 and the hollow channel ceiling 30 and the hollow channel floor 31 in

The primary conductor 32, which also runs in the longitudinal direction 2 and is two-core in the exemplary embodiment, is introduced into the hollow channel 28.

4 September 1001

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg =■ * _; - ' , . Page 7

2 The operation of the control unit consisting of the guide rail 1, the junction box 4, the

3 Transformer 3 and ceiling spotlight 5 existing lighting system

4 is as follows:

5 The &bgr; 230V primary current is fed into the line rail 1 via the primary line 32 connected to the consumption network. The branch

7 socket 4 contains a terminal not shown in the drawings

β or connection switch, which directs the primary current from the primary line 32 into the

β line cable 6 and via the line cable 6 to the transformer

io. Transformer 3 transforms the 230V mains voltage into

ti a 12V low voltage. The transformer 3 is also equipped with a

12 mounting slide 13, which has the same structure as the above

13 described, shown in Fig. 3 fastening slides 13 of the ceiling

H lamp 5. The transformer 3 has a not shown in the drawings

is shown supply line to the spring contacts 14 of its mounting slot

16 tens 13. The 12V low voltage is transmitted via the spring contacts 14 of the

&eegr; mounting slide 13 of the transformer 3 into the copper strips 7.

18. The copper strips 7 acting as secondary lines are therefore under

the 12V low voltage and direct the 12V low voltage along the conductor

20 rail 1. To supply the ceiling spotlight 5 with the low-voltage current

21 from the copper strips 7 are the spring contacts 14 of the ceiling spotlight

22 also to the copper strips 7. The

23 spring contacts 14 take the necessary supply from the copper strips 7.

24 supply current for the ceiling spotlight 5 and pass this supply current via

25 the spotlight cable 12 into the lighting device installed in the spotlight housing 8.

26 When the primary and secondary network are switched on, the ceiling

27 radiates 5 its light into the environment through its light exit opening 10.

29 In Fig. 4, the modified multi-channel guide rail in Fig. 1 is shown.

30 guide rail 40. The multi-channel guide rail 40 is also connected to a

31 transformer 3 and a ceiling spotlight 5 are connected. The

32 Multi-channel guide rail 40 from the primary line 32 the mains current in the

33 branch box 4 and via the cable 6 into the transformer

34 mator 3 is introduced. The above-described mode of operation of the primary conductor

35 tung 32, the junction box 4, the line cable 6, the transformer 3, se the fastening slides 13, the copper strips 7 and the ceiling spotlight 5 is 37 for the multi-channel guide rail 40 is the same.

4 September 1991

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg ^ >; ■-· - - _&Lgr; -'_&Lgr; .. Page 8

&igr; In contrast to the one with an essentially square cross-section,

2 pointing guide rail 1, the multi-channel guide rail 40 points in the direction of the

3 The plane spanned by the transverse direction 19 and the vertical direction 25 forms a T-shaped

4 cross-section. The multi-channel guide rail 40 has several

5 Two hollow channels running in the longitudinal direction are inserted, which in cross-section are square

6 dramatic hollow channels 45 and the hollow channels 46 with a rectangular cross section.

7 In the multi-channel guide rail 40 shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, only

8 the square hollow channels 45, which are arranged in the T-crossbeam 49,

9 primary lines 32. Nevertheless, the right-

10 square hollow channels 46, which are approximately analogous to the hollow channel 28 on the single-channel

11 guide rail 1 are designed to accommodate primary lines 32. On

12 In this way, several separately switchable primary current

13 circuits and thus also several separately switchable ceiling spotlights

14 ler 5 can be attached to a multi-channel guide rail 40. The multi-channel guide rail 40 is particularly suitable for assembly production. The

The multi-channel guide rail 40 can be used for one or more primary

17 circuits are used. This reduces production costs

18 sten advantageous for the guide rail 1.40.

20 Therefore, only one guard rail type 40 must be kept in stock to

21 finally with the desired number of primary lines.

23 With the inventive guide rails 1.40 it is possible to not only straight

24 rail lines, but also L-, T-, U- and ring connections

25 orders. Furthermore, other low-voltage power consumers

26 rather than lighting fixtures to the inventive guide rails 1.40

27 lockable.

4 September 1991

Patent attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg

List of reference symbols

1 Guardrail 40 Multi-channel guide rail 2 Longitudinal direction 45 square hollow channel 3 transformer 46 rectangular hollow channel 4 Junction box 49 T-crossbeams 5 Ceiling spotlights 6 Cable 7 Copper strip 8th Spotlight housing 9 Cooling fins 10 Light exit opening 11 Spotlight back panel 12 Radiator cable 13 Mounting slide 14 Spring contact 15 Locking groove 16 Spring contact holding shoe 17 Sled side wall 18 Release button 19 Transverse direction 20 Retaining plate 21 joint 22 Rail bottom 23 Rail side wall 24 Receiving trough 25 Altitude direction 26 head Start 27 Effective width 28 Hollow channel 29 Hollow channel side wall 30 Hollow duct ceiling 31 Hollow channel floor 32 Primary line

4 September 19S1

Claims (1)

Patent attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg ! - &iacgr; SöifiB 1; 91621-5/13 4 September 1991 Expectations &bgr; 1. Guide rail (1.40) for supplying detachably fixed low-voltage lighting soldering bodies (5) with low voltage current, &pgr; characterized by the following features: 12 a) a primary line (32) for the mains current, 13 b) a secondary line (7) for the low-voltage current, 14 c) a connecting line (32) between the primary line and the secondary line (7) 15 switched, effective as a connecting transformer (3) and ie d) lighting fixtures (5) which can be directly connected to the secondary line (7). is 2. Rail according to claim 1, 19 characterized by 20 - that the rail (1,40) is designed as a hollow channel (28,45,46) 21 rod profile is formed, 22 - that the rod profile is made of insulating material, 23 - that the primary line (32) is arranged in the hollow channel (28,45,46) and 24 - that the rail (1,40) acts on its outside (23) as a secondary line 25 same copper strips (7). 27 3. Rail according to claim 2, 28 characterized by 2β that junction boxes (4) can be connected to the primary line (32) with so flexible cables (6) for connection to the rail (1.40) si longitudinally movable fixed transformers (3). 33 4. Rail according to claim 3, 34 characterized by 35 receiving recesses (24) for receiving the copper strips (7), whereby hook- 36 projections (26) on the edges of the trough claw-like the copper strips (7) 37 on the edges. 4 September 1991 (U:\AN\81621 JXT) Patent attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg ='^; ,. &iacgr; S^ife 2&Xgr; r- .■■ ' ^i I; :■ ■ -■"■ ¹ ^ * ^v - c '■;■ ■ - ■'^'"' ^r &igr; 5. Rail according to claim 4, 2 characterized by 3 that the transformers (3) and the lighting elements (5) have spring-like 4 contact elements (14) for connecting to the copper line 5 sten (7). 7 6. Rail according to one or more of the preceding claims, &bgr; characterized by β several hollow channels (28,45,46) each for accommodating one primary line io (32), each primary line (32) being assigned to a separate circuit 11 ISt. 13 7. Rail according to one or more of the preceding claims, &eegr; characterized by is the longitudinal displacement of the lighting fixtures (5), whereby the longitudinal 16 Sliding by a frictional connection between rail (1.40) and 17 lighting element (5) can be lifted. 19 8. Rail according to one or more of the preceding claims, 20 characterized by 21 that the rail (1,40) serves as a support element for the transformers (3) and the 22 lighting fixtures (5) are effective. 4 September 1SS1