EP2148129B1 - System for lighting a tunnel or an underpass - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has an illumination device (2), which is arranged in the area of the side walls (3) of the tunnel or the subway. A lighting unit (11) is formed to emit light below a relative surface at horizontal angle touching the base surface of the tunnel or the subway. Another lighting unit (12) is formed to direct light touching on the side wall of the tunnel or subway.

Description

The invention relates to a system for illuminating a tunnel or underpass.

To illuminate a tunnel, it is known to provide lights on the ceiling of the tunnel. The lights can be located in a middle ceiling area or at the transition to a subsequent side wall. For very wide tunnels, it is also known to provide luminaires at both of these locations. For underpasses applies accordingly.

A drawback in the prior art is that the use of diesel-powered vehicles emits soot particles in tunnels which, due to the elevated temperature of the gases carrying these particles, may move upwardly and thus lead to soiling of the luminaires by deposition , In this way, the lighting may be impaired. This effect is particularly pronounced with poor ventilation of the tunnel and high vehicle density.

In the case of a tunnel fire, smoke is generated. Also, this smoke typically rises due to temperature, so that it can significantly reduce the effect of the lights.

It can also happen in the known lighting, that in the case of a comparatively low traffic density, so for example at night, the lighting is more intense than required.

From the EP 0 645 580 A1 For example, a system for illuminating a tunnel is known in which lighting means are arranged on a side wall of the tunnel, which emit light both on the floor surface and down on the side wall.

From the EP 0 543 783 A2 is known a system for lighting a tunnel, in which on the one hand lights are arranged on the side walls and on the other lights on the ceiling, the latter serve to illuminate the side walls.

The invention is based on the object to provide a system for illuminating a tunnel or underpass, with which the above-mentioned disadvantages can be avoided. In particular, the system is intended to ensure reliable illumination.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the object mentioned in the independent claim. Particular embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, there is provided a system for illuminating a tunnel or underpass comprising lighting means located in the region of the side walls of the tunnel or subway; the illumination device comprises first illumination means adapted to emit light at a relatively flat horizontal angle grazing the bottom surface of the tunnel or underpass, and second illumination means adapted to light stripe the side wall of the tunnel or the To direct underpass at which the lighting device is arranged. In this case, the second illumination means are designed to generate a light cone which is directed upward.

By means of the first illumination means, effective illumination ("flat beam illumination") of a lane arranged in the tunnel or in the underpass can be achieved, wherein due to the flat angle the illumination device can be arranged clearly below the level of the ceiling, so that contamination due to rising soot particles can be largely excluded. The fact that a comparatively low arrangement is possible, it can also be achieved that occurring in the case of a fire smoke, the lighting effect by far not as much affected as in a lighting according to the prior art. In addition, due to the flat illumination angle on the roadway, an excellent luminance can be achieved in relation to the intensity of the corresponding light source. Furthermore, said lighting makes it possible to detect obstacles which may possibly be on the road surface particularly easily. The risk of glare is significantly reduced.

By means of the second illumination means it is achieved that the walls of the tunnel or the underpass can be better perceived so that overall a particularly suitable visual impression of the tunnel is effected. Furthermore, it can be achieved by the two mentioned lighting means that a central area, which is located between the areas which are illuminated by the two illumination means, significantly less or not illuminated, so that for users of the road, so for example vehicle drivers of cars or trucks the risk of glare is particularly low.

Because two illumination means are provided, the roadway illumination and the side wall illumination can be controlled in a particularly simple manner independently of each other. Thus, the tunnel or underpass lighting, for example, particularly variable to the lighting conditions outside the tunnel or the underpass and / or the traffic density, etc. can be adjusted.

With the two lighting means can be particularly targeted those areas of the tunnel illuminate, their visual recognition is particularly important for vehicle drivers, so the road and the side walls. Other areas do not need to be lit. Therefore, the lighting can be designed energetically particularly effective.

It should also be noted that the system according to the invention is suitable both for being used independently of traditional lighting and for being used in addition to a conventional lighting arrangement. Even by a combined application in this sense, the luminous flux distribution can be made particularly variable. This also brings potential savings, because, for example, in low traffic can offer the opportunity to turn off the conventional lighting or reduce.

The lighting device is arranged in the region of the side walls; For example, it can be provided that the illumination means are arranged laterally on the roadway edge. This makes it possible that a cleaning of the lighting means or a change of bulbs is much easier than previously possible. In comparable conventional lighting systems this usually takes place overhead work in the middle of the roadway.

Another advantage of the lateral arrangement is that no high luminance in the field of vision of vehicle drivers occur. This leads to less stray light in the field of vision; since scattered light reduces perception, a "perceptual increase" is possible, so to speak.

Preferably, the lighting system according to the invention is uniformly structured, so that potentially confusing information, as may be caused by scattered and unclear, arranged over the entire tunnel wall lights or signs may be less perceived.

Preferably, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and / or fluorescent lamps are provided as illumination means for the illumination means; This makes it possible to make the lighting dimmable,

Advantageously, at least the first illumination means, which emit light to the bottom surface of the tunnel or underpass, are arranged at a height of approximately 1.0 m. For example, a height in the range of 0.5 m to 1.5 m, preferably be provided about 1.25 m. The floor surface may in particular be a road surface. A height of about 1.0 m is advantageous because this height is lower than the height at which the eyes of vehicle drivers are usually small or low-built vehicles. If the first illumination means are adapted to emit light at least primarily in a cone of light which is arranged below a horizontal plane passing through the upper edge of the first illumination means, dazzling of the vehicle driver can practically be precluded. Such a comparatively low arrangement of the illumination means is also particularly advantageous with regard to the above-mentioned cleaning or maintenance work due to the facilitated accessibility.

Advantageously, the first and second illumination means are arranged separately from each other. This has the advantage that the two lighting means can be controlled and replaced in a simple manner independently of each other; This also contributes to increased safety. A separate design and arrangement of the two lighting carriage means is also advantageous insofar as necessary, a vertical distance between the two lighting means can be made variable in a simple manner. The same applies to a horizontal distance.

Advantageously, the first and second illumination means are arranged in a common housing.

Advantageously, the first and second illumination means have a common light source.

Advantageously, the optics for forming a light cone are assigned to each of the first and second illumination means.

In this case, the light cones of the first and / or second illumination means continue to extend in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel or the underpass more advantageously than in the transverse direction.

Advantageously, the illumination device is also designed to emit a small amount of light to form boundary or guide markings. As a result, a particularly effective leadership function can be achieved. This is also advantageous insofar as the roadway boundary strips which are usually used for guidance and located on the roadway edge tend to become dirty, so that there is the danger that their visibility will be reduced. The function the roadway stabilization strip can then be ensured by the illumination device with the said lower light content,

The light sources of the first and / or the second illumination means are furthermore advantageously used for forming the boundary or guide markings.

Advantageously, the system has a plurality of lighting devices which are arranged on both side walls of the tunnel or underpass.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Skizze eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems zur Beleuchtung eines Tunnels,

Fig. 2

eine Skizze zur Lichtabgabe einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung des Systems,

Fig. 3

eine exemplarische Ansicht eines Tunnels, das mit einem erfindungsgemäßen System beleuchtet ist,

Fig. 4

eine exemplarische Ansicht einer Fahrbahnoberfläche, die mit einem erfindungsgemäßen System beleuchtet ist,

Fig. 5

einen Querschnitt eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung des Systems,

Figuren 6a und 6b

Skizzen zur Form eines Lichtkegels, der von der Beleuchtungseinrichtung erzeugt wird,

Figuren 7a und 7b

zwei weitere erläuternde Skizzen zur Form des Lichtkegels,

Fig. 8

eine Querschnitt-Skizze zu einem weiteren Beispiel einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung, und

Fig. 9

eine Querschnitt-Skizze zu einem noch weiteren Beispiel einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

1 a schematic sketch of an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention for illuminating a tunnel,

Fig. 2

a sketch of the light output of a lighting device of the system,

Fig. 3

an exemplary view of a tunnel illuminated with a system according to the invention,

Fig. 4

an exemplary view of a road surface, which is illuminated by a system according to the invention,

Fig. 5

a cross section of an embodiment of a lighting device of the system,

Figures 6a and 6b

Sketches of the shape of a cone of light generated by the illumination device,

FIGS. 7a and 7b

two further explanatory sketches for the shape of the light cone,

Fig. 8

a cross-sectional sketch of another example of a lighting device, and

Fig. 9

a cross-sectional sketch of yet another example of a lighting device.

In Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional sketch of an embodiment of a system according to the invention for illuminating a tunnel shown. The example can be directly transferred to the application in the case of an underpass. Only for the sake of readability, therefore, reference is made below to a tunnel only. Also, the system can generally be used to illuminate a roadway with correspondingly high side walls, for example in the form of noise or privacy walls. So it is basically used regardless of whether a blanket is present or not

The lane to be illuminated may have several lanes. The flatbeam portion is not only designed to illuminate a track, it can also illuminate several, for example, two to three tracks. The purpose of flatbeam lighting is to achieve higher luminance levels with less energy input under low beam angles.

The tunnel has a lane 1 for motor vehicles such as cars 5 or trucks 6, two side walls 3 and a ceiling 4. In the example shown, the lane 1 has a total of two lanes.

On the two side walls 3 each have a lighting device 2 is arranged, which is part of the system according to the invention. The lighting devices 2 can, however, in principle also be otherwise mounted, for example by means of a ground-based holder (not shown in the figures). The two illumination devices 2 are formed symmetrically to each other, so that in the following only one illumination device 2 will be described.

In Fig. 2 is the referring to Fig. 1 right BIIuchtungseinrichtung 2 shown a little closer. The illumination device 2 has first illumination means 11, which are designed to emit light at a relatively flat horizontal angle to the bottom surface of the tunnel, that is to say onto the surface of the roadway 1 ("flatbeam illumination" or "platbeam component"). ). In this way, with the first illumination means 11, a first light cone 21 can be generated, which is designed such that it can serve to illuminate the surface of the roadway 1. The light output of the first illumination means 11 may in particular be such that the first light cone 21 does not penetrate into a central region of the tunnel, in which heads 7, 8 of the handlebars of the motor vehicles 5, 6 are usually located. For example, it may be provided that the first light cone 21 in the area in which the motor vehicles 5, 6 are provided, has no upward component

Preferably, the first illumination means 11 are arranged at a height h above the level of the bottom surface of the tunnel or the surface of the roadway 1, which is about 1.0 m, for example 1.25 m. This height is lower than that of the eyes of drivers of particularly low built vehicles. In this way, it can be practically ruled out that the vehicle drivers are blinded by the first illumination means 11. This generally has a particularly advantageous effect on the visibility conditions. In particular, this is generally favorable in terms of sharpness.

With the first illumination means 11, so to speak, a flat-beam illumination can be generated. Such illumination of the roadway 1 is advantageous in terms of the luminance of the roadway 1 in comparison to the light intensity used for this purpose. In addition, the flatbeam lighting makes any obstacles on the road easier to recognize, and the structure of the road surface can be recognized particularly well, as in Fig. 4 is shown as an example. In addition, the "flatbeam concept" also makes it possible, if appropriate, to illuminate white strips of the outer road boundary. As a result, currently used LED guide lights can be dispensable at the tunnel edge.

Furthermore, the illumination device 2 has second illumination means 12, which are designed to direct light grazing on the side wall 3 of the tunnel on which the illumination device 2 is arranged. Thus, with the second illumination means 12, a second light cone 22 can be generated, which basically directed upward, wherein the second cone of light 22 in turn, in particular, does not penetrate into the central region of the tunnel, in which usually the heads 7, 8 of the vehicle driver are, so that even so far a glare is excluded. In particular, therefore, the illumination device 2 is designed or arranged such that it does not directly irradiate the central region in which the heads 7, 8 of the vehicle driver are usually located. As in Fig. 1 sketched out, so a corresponding "cut-off area" is provided.

The grazing illumination of the corresponding side wall 2 generated by the second illumination means 12 makes it possible for the vehicle driver to obtain a particularly favorable visual impression of the tunnel. As it were, the tunnel volume can be perceived very well.

Fig. 3 shows an example of a possible appearance of the tunnel, which is illuminated with a system according to the invention. In this example, a number of lighting devices 2 are arranged on each side of the tunnel. It can be seen that the relief or the surface structure of the roadway 1 can be recognized particularly well; The same applies to any obstacles on the roadway. In the example shown, the lane 1 has two lanes, each about 3.5 m wide.

In Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a first possible embodiment of the illumination device 2 outlined. It can be seen in a lower region, the first illumination means 11 and immediately thereafter in an upper region, the second illumination means 12th

In this example, each of the two illumination means 11, 12 each have their own light source, which may be, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED) 31. But it can also be provided that a common light source for both illumination means 11, 12 is provided. Instead of or in addition to the LED 31 or to the LEDs 31, a fluorescent tube or two or more fluorescent tubes can be provided as a light source with respect to the plane of the Fig. 5 can be arranged vertically.

If each of the two illumination means 11, 12 has its own light source, a separate control and intensity control can be provided in a simple manner, so that the light distribution generated by the illumination device 2 is adjusted in a particularly variable manner as a function of the traffic density, the light conditions outside the tunnel, etc. can be.

The example shown in the example of the light source of the first illumination means 11 in the form of the LED 31 may be thermally and mechanically connected to a plate 32 which serves to supply and cool the LED 31. The same applies in the example shown for the second illumination means 12.

Furthermore, the optics for forming the respective light cone 21, 22 is assigned to each of the two illumination means 11, 12. The optics may each comprise a reflector 30 and a cover 34.

In the example shown, although the first illumination means 11 and the second illumination means 12 are directly adjacent, they are formed separately from one another. It may be a housing 33 in the form of a common housing be provided or in each case a housing for the two lighting means 11, 12. As a housing 33, for example, an extrusion or can serve two or more extruded parts. With separate formation of the illumination means 11, 12, an optionally required replacement of one of the two illumination means 11, 12 is facilitated. In addition, if desired, a vertical distance between the two illumination means 11, 12 can be set variably by appropriate mounting in this case.

As with viewing the Fig. 5 is still clear, for each of the two lighting means 11, 12 each have a housing - for example in the form of said extruded part - be provided, wherein the two housings are formed identically and are twisted only twice by 90 ° to each other. This is manufacturing technology particularly advantageous. In the example shown, the plates 32 and the reflectors 30 are formed identically, so that in this way a corresponding further advantage is formed.

How out Fig. 3 recognizable, it can be provided that the system comprises a plurality of series-arranged lighting devices 2, which are arranged on a side wall 3 of the tunnel. It can be provided that the lighting devices 2, which form the series, are identical or identical and extend in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel in each case by a length dimension L, wherein a distance between two adjacent in the row lighting means 2 in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel is greater as the length dimension L, preferably larger than five times the length dimension L.

How to continue Fig. 3 recognizable, it can be provided that on each of the two side walls 3 each a corresponding pure of lighting devices 2 is arranged. It should be noted at this point again that the lighting devices are formed on opposite side walls of mirror symmetry.

In such an embodiment of the illumination system as a "broken light band" functions such as emergency or Guidancefimktionen can be easily integrated into the light band.

The second light cone 22 may be formed to extend further in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel than in the transverse direction. This is in the Figures 6a and 6b shown in more detail. In Fig. 6a By way of example, light beams of the second light cone 22 are shown in the plane which corresponds to the plane of the drawing Fig. 2 corresponds, ie in Transverse direction of the tunnel. In Fig. 6b is a partial view of the second light cone 22, as it results in view of the corresponding side wall 3 of the tunnel, so that the extension of the second light cone 22 in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel can be seen. The extent of the second light cone 22 in the transverse direction is defined by a first opening angle α, in the longitudinal direction by a second opening angle β, which is significantly greater than the first opening angle α.

The conditions are also in the FIGS. 7a and 7b outlined in which the corresponding side wall 3 is shown in cross-section or in view of the roadway 1 from.

The same applies to the first light cone 21.

As with viewing the Fig. 6a combined with Fig. 5 is further clear, it can be provided that the optics of the second illumination means 12 is formed such that a small amount of light, for example between 0.5% and 30% of the corresponding light source, so for example with the LED 31, the second illumination means 12th , generated light is not over a corresponding reflector, so for example the reflector 30 is guided; For example, it can be provided that this small proportion of light is directed directly from the light source to a corresponding cover, so for example the cover 34.

The same applies to the first illumination means 11. As a result, a bright light strip or two bright light stripes can be formed on the outer surface of the illumination device 2. In Fig. 3 this can be seen in the form of light streaks in the lower halves of the lighting devices 2.

The low proportion of light is chosen such that any resulting dazzling of the driver is excluded.

Due to the low proportion of light, a boundary or guide mark can be formed, so that a guidance function for the traffic or for the vehicle driver is ensured, which is comparable to that which is usually formed by road boundary strips; however, the leadership function is much more effective in this case. In addition, conventional road boundary strips are much more prone to contamination.

In the case of the second illumination means 12 may also be provided that a portion of the light rays is passed directly to the ceiling of the tunnel, so that a kind "Light garland" is formed. This also makes it possible to form a management function.

In Fig. 8 a cross-sectional sketch of another example of a lighting device 2 is shown. The reference numerals are used according to the above. In this example, a common light source in the form of a fluorescent tube 31 'is provided for both illumination means 11, 12. For operating the fluorescent tube 31 ', a resource, for example in the form of an electronic ballast (ECG) 35 may be provided.

The two optics are formed by two reflectors 30, 30 ', wherein the reflector 30 and the reflector 30' can each be provided as a component. The cover plates 34 may be formed as clear glass.

Further, it can be seen that the first cone of light 21 may include a first angular range of 5 ° to 85 ° with respect to the perpendicular in the transverse direction of the tunnel and the second beam of light 22 a second angular range of 125 ° to 205 °. The "cut-off area" can thus include an angular range of 40 ° in the transverse direction. A preferred range for this angular range is between 30 ° and 60 ° and is generally dependent on the particular given geometric conditions, for example, whether the side walls 3 are perpendicular (see. Fig. 2 ) or inclined inwards (cf. Fig. 1 ).

In Fig. 9 is one too Fig. 8 corresponding sketch shown to yet another example. This is different from the one in Fig. 8 example shown in particular in that the two illumination means 11, 12 each have their own optics. As the light source, an LED 31 is provided in each case.

In each case, a plurality of LEDs 31 arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction may also be provided as light sources. This makes it possible in a particularly simple manner to produce colored light. Also, this can cause an appearance of the light cone, which is not negative stencil-like.

Claims (10)

1. System for illuminating a tunnel or an underpass, comprising an illumination device (2), which is arranged in the region of the side walls (3) of the tunnel or underpass, and which has

   • first illumination means (11), which are designed to emit light glancingly, at a relatively shallow horizontal angle, onto the floor surface of the tunnel or underpass, as well as

   • second illumination means (12), which are designed to direct light glancingly onto the side wall (3) of the tunnel or underpass on which the illumination device (2) is arranged,

   characterized in that
   the second illumination means (12) is designed to produce a light cone which is directed upwards.
2. System according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   at least the first illumination means (11), which emit light onto the floor surface of the tunnel or underpass, are arranged at a height of approximately 1.0 m.
3. System according to either of Claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the first and second illumination means (11, 12) are arranged so that they are separate from each other.
4. System according to either of Claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the first and second illumination means (11, 12) are arranged in a common housing (33).
5. System according to Claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the first and second illumination means (11, 12) have a common light source (31').
6. System according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   an optical system for realizing a light cone (21, 22) is assigned respectively to the first and second illumination means (11, 12).
7. System according to Claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the light cones (21, 22) of the first and/or second illumination means (11, 12) extend further in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel or underpass than in the transverse direction.
8. System according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the illumination device (2) is further designed to radiate a small portion of light for the purpose of constituting delimiting or guide markings.
9. System according to Claim 8,
   characterized in that
   the light sources (31, 31') of the first and/or the second illumination means (11, 12) are used to constitute the delimiting or guide markings.
10. System according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    this system has a plurality of illumination devices (2), which are arranged on both side walls (3) of the tunnel or underpass.

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