EP2948710B1 - Elongated lighting system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lighting system according to the preamble of claim 1, which has an elongated support arrangement for mounting lamp units and lines for the power supply and / or signal transmission.

Lightpipe systems of this type are characterized by their high flexibility with respect to the arrangement and design of the ultimately obtained lighting system. In comparison to systems with permanently installed luminaires, continuous-row lighting systems offer the possibility of relatively flexibly positioning luminaire units in desired positions and in the desired manner and, moreover, even after installation of the system at a later point in time to make changes. Usually, the replacement of a lighting unit is relatively easy to perform in a lighting system, so that the lighting can be adjusted to the current wishes at any time. Due to the fact that different lighting units are available with different light sources and optics, thereby lighting scenarios of various kinds can be realized.

Various light band systems are known from the prior art, which differ in particular with regard to the storage of the lines for the power supply and signal transmission and the question of flexibility in the positioning of the lamp units. Usually, inside the elongated carrier arrangement, insulated cable strands are connected to which contacting modules are connected at certain predetermined positions. The corresponding lighting units can then be connected to these contacting modules, so that the arrangement of the contacting modules also provides the possibilities for positioning the lighting units. Usually, the contacting modules are then arranged at regular intervals, so that a continuous arrangement of in the longitudinal direction of the lighting system successively arranged lighting units is made possible.

Another possibility is to arrange the lines for the power supply and / or signal transmission within the carrier assembly such that a completely free positioning of the lamp units is made possible. Such a solution is provided, for example, in the lighting system "TECTON" of the applicant. The now non-insulated cables run in special profile bodies, which are arranged within the carrier assembly and configured such that the cables are freely accessible at any point, so can be contacted. As a result, the greatest possible flexibility is created because the positioning of the lamp modules is not limited to a few predetermined positions. Since it must be ensured on the other hand for safety reasons that the - usually a voltage in the range of 220V having - power supply cable are not accidentally touched, the profile body must be made very expensive in the known lighting system, which is associated with a lot of effort.

From the DE 10 2010 043 140 A1 , of the US 5,664,957 and the DE 10 2011 017702 A1 Similar or similar to those described above, light band systems or lighting devices forth.

The present invention has for its object to provide a novel solution for the realization of a lighting system available, which can be easily installed and the end user the possibility opened, even after installation of the system easily perform repair or maintenance and possibly within the Carrier arrangement to be able to lay additional lines.

The object is achieved by a lighting system with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The lighting strip system according to the invention has many innovations over previously known solutions. Overall, the system according to the invention has a modular character, which allows a very simple assembly. At the same time, a wide variety of lighting units or optics for use on the lighting system are available to the end user and maintenance or repair work can be carried out easily.

A first special feature of the light band system according to the invention consists in the configuration of the carrier arrangement. While hitherto, the support rails used in lighting systems usually have a downwardly open U-shape, it is provided that in the inventive system, the support assembly in cross section has an I-shaped profile, whereby two longitudinally extending, formed by a partition receiving areas become. One of the receiving areas is used here for the arrangement of the lines for the power supply and / or signal transmission, while in contrast the operating devices of the lighting units are arranged in the other receiving area.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a light strip system with an elongated carrier arrangement for holding luminaire units and lines for the power supply and / or signal transmission is accordingly proposed, wherein according to the invention the carrier arrangement has an I-shaped profile in cross-section with two extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier element, by a - preferably vertically aligned - partition wall separate receiving areas, wherein in one of the receiving areas, the lines for the power supply and / or signal transmission are arranged and in the other receiving area operating devices of the lamp units are arranged. It is provided that the receiving areas of the support assembly are each closed by the partition opposite side walls, which are releasably fastened to the support assembly

According to the invention, therefore, the lines, in particular the current-carrying lines are arranged separately from the operating devices of the lighting units in the present case. In addition to greater safety, which precludes accidental contact with the cables when working on the lamp unit or on the operating device, due to the separation of the through-wiring and the internal wiring and any problems in terms of so-called. EMC compatibility are excluded. These problems have been recurrent in overhead line systems where through-wiring and operating equipment have been located within the same space or area, so special measures had to be taken to avoid these problems. With the inventive design of the carrier assembly such problems are avoided in a very simple and elegant way from the outset. In addition, the I-shaped configuration of the carrier assembly is also characterized by a high stability in the longitudinal direction, which leads to further advantages.

The carrier arrangement itself is preferably formed by a plurality of I-shaped profile bodies arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction. At the front ends of the profile body then electrical connection elements for the lines for the power supply and / or signal transmission are then provided. That is, the individual profile body can be delivered with the already installed wiring, the end user then only join the profile body together and make the electrical connection. The assembly effort is thereby extremely reduced, in spite of everything in the sense of a lighting system, a continuous wiring is created.

Preferably, the I-shape of the profile body is obtained in that each profile body is formed by two C-shaped profile parts, which are each arranged back to back. The cost of producing C-shaped profile parts is significantly lower, which is why in this way in a very simple but efficient manner, the advantageous I-shaped configuration of the carrier assembly can be obtained. Within the partition then openings are preferably formed, in each of which a Kontaktierungsbuchse for contacting the lines of the through-wiring is arranged by the operating devices.

In general, the lighting system according to the invention will be arranged or fixed to a ceiling, such that the partition - as already mentioned - is vertically aligned. The two receiving areas of the carrier assembly thus run side by side and are separated by the partition, which in turn means that they are initially open to the outside. By releasably secured to the support assembly side walls these are then completed. That is, an access to the operating device of a lamp unit, which is arranged in a receiving area, can be obtained in a simple manner, that the side wall is removed from the carrier assembly. In the same way, the opposite receiving area for the lines can be opened by removing the side wall, which ultimately opens up the possibility to arrange additional cable in this receiving area without much effort, which can then be used for other purposes. For example, this could be integrated into the system in a very simple manner lines eg for speakers, video surveillance or the like. Also repair or maintenance work, for example. The replacement of a control gear can be performed in a very simple manner, without a complete disassembly of the corresponding lighting unit would be required.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the use of the removable side walls is further that these - seen in the light emitting direction - have protruding extensions, are formed by which optical means for influencing the light output of the lamp units. In particular, these protruding extensions can form reflectors, which can then be configured differently in terms of their shape, so that the end user can use different optics on the lighting system. As an alternative or in addition, a separate arrangement of optical elements would of course be conceivable.

Overall, a novel light band system is accordingly provided by the present invention, which is easy to assemble, but at the same time offers the end user still flexible options for the arrangement of lighting units. In addition, repair or maintenance is facilitated and allows the laying of additional lines for other purposes.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Abschnitts eines erfindungsgemäßen Lichtbandsystems;
• Figur 2 eine Schnittdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Lichtbandsystems;
• Figur 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Endbereichs eines Einzelmoduls des Lichtbandsystems und
• Figur 4 wiederum die Ansicht eines Endbereichs eines Moduls des erfindungsgemäßen Lichtbandsystems, wobei hier LEDs als Lichtquellen zum Einsatz kommen.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• FIG. 1 a perspective view of a portion of a lighting system according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 a sectional view of the lighting strip system according to the invention;
• FIG. 3 a perspective view of an end portion of a single module of the lighting system and
• FIG. 4 in turn, the view of an end portion of a module of the lighting strip system according to the invention, in which case LEDs are used as light sources.

FIG. 1 initially shows generally a portion of a lighting system 1, wherein the system 1 can be designed in a known manner in any length. The central component is an elongated support assembly 5, which serves as a carrier of the entire system 1 and can be attached in different ways to an external support, for example the ceiling of a room or the like. Shown in the present case, a wire suspension, in which at certain intervals at the top of the support assembly 5 retaining clips 6 are arranged, which via corresponding ropes. 7 connected to the external carrier. An immediate mounting of the support assembly 5 on the ceiling of a room would be conceivable.

The carrier assembly 5 is used as in the light band systems 1 usually the holder of the lamp units and the storage of the cables for the power supply and / or signal transmission, the so-called. Through wiring. This through-wiring extends over the entire length of the carrier assembly 5 and allows in the present case at certain positions, the arrangement of operating devices of the lamp units, which then contact the wires of the through-wiring. The through-wiring therefore provides, on the one hand, for the power supply of the lighting units and, on the other hand, on the other hand, also serves for the signal transmission in order to be able to control the lights from a central control device. Furthermore, optical elements for influencing the light output are also arranged directly or indirectly on the carrier device 5.

In the present case, the light strip system 1 according to the invention is modular, wherein the individual modules each represent by a combination consisting of carrier device 5, lamp unit and optics. These modules must then be connected to each other only at the end faces to form the lighting system 1 as a whole, it being ensured by making an electrical connection that the through-wiring extends over the entire length in contrast to a serial arrangement of individual lights. Due to the modular design, a particularly simple installation of the lighting system 1 is made possible, at the same time, however, the system is designed such that the end user can still carry out repair or maintenance work in a simple manner. For example. a subsequent phase selection for the lighting units or a replacement of the ballast in case of failure can be performed at any time. This is ensured by the special configuration, in particular of the carrier assembly 5, which will be explained in more detail below.

According to the perspective view of FIG. 1 the support assembly 5 is seen in the scope designed approximately square or rectangular, as is the case with classic U-shaped mounting rails. In contrast to the previously known lighting strip systems with U-shaped mounting rails, however, in the present case, the support assembly 5 is formed by I-shaped profile body 10, which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction and form the individual modules of the lighting system 1.

The I-shape of the profile body 10 can the representations of Figures 2 and 3 be removed. This I-shape has the consequence that a vertical center web 11 is formed, at its upper end and lower end horizontally extending end walls 12 and 13 are formed. Both end walls 12 and 13 are not plan but profiled profiled according to the representation, in which they are bent in particular at their lateral end portions and thereby form locking elements 14 - as will be described in more detail below - are used in particular for attaching removable side walls. The profiled shape of the upper end wall 12 can also be used to fasten the already mentioned clamps 6 for fastening a cable suspension to the profile bodies 10. Here, too, engage the clips 6, which are preferably clicked or snapped on the profile body 10 from the top, corresponding projections 15th

At the bottom of the I-shaped profile body 10, the sockets 30 of the lighting units of the lighting system 1 are arranged. These sockets 30 are used to hold the light sources 31, which in the illustrated case are fluorescent lamps. In a variant described in more detail below, LED light sources can alternatively be used. The lamp sockets 30 are connected to the in the receiving area of the support means 5 correspondingly arranged operating device, which is responsible for the power supply and the operation of the lamps 31. Furthermore, additional optical elements could be attached to the underside 13 of the body 11 in order to influence the light output. For example, for this purpose, the projections 16 can be used to snap corresponding elements.

In contrast to known light band systems, in the present case, therefore, the light sources or the sockets for the light sources are arranged directly on the profile body 10 of the carrier arrangement 5, so that the profile body and the lighting unit form one unit. This "all-in-one embodiment" represents a further special feature of the system according to the invention, through which the final assembly for the consumer is further simplified.

The I-shaped configuration of the profile body 10 also has the consequence that on both sides of the partition wall 11 extending in the longitudinal direction of the lighting system 1 free spaces or receiving areas A and B are formed. These areas A, B are separated from each other by the partition wall 11 and serve to accommodate different components of the lighting strip system 1. In particular, it is provided that one of the two areas, in the present case, the left receiving area A, the arrangement and storage of the through-wiring 23 is used, whereas in the other or right-hand area B, the operating devices 22 of the lighting units are arranged. For this purpose, it is provided, in particular, that the through-wiring 23 is formed by insulated cable strands which run in the longitudinal direction of the light band system. At the respective front ends of a single module of the light band system 1, electrical connection elements are provided for connection to the adjacent module, which during assembly of the light band system simply have to be coupled together to realize the through-wiring.

At the same time when connecting two adjacent modules and a mechanical connection must be ensured, which is done in particular by - not shown - C-shaped connecting parts, which are inserted into the I-shaped profile body. These connecting parts bridge the connection area between two adjacent modules and ensure sufficient fixation. It can be provided that the connecting parts are each firmly connected to one of the modules, which can be done, for example, by clinching. After pushing the adjacent module, this is then fixed to the connecting part by means of special locking springs or the like, so that the modules can not inadvertently separate from each other.

At certain positions of a single profile body, a contacting of the through-wiring 23 is made possible, as already mentioned. For this purpose, special Kontaktierungsbuchsen 20 are provided, which penetrate the insulation of the through wiring at these positions and contact the corresponding lines. The Kontaktierungsbuchsen 20 then pass through corresponding openings in the partition wall 11 and are thus accessible or contactable from the opposite receiving area B from forth. At the corresponding positions then connecting elements 21 can be attached for coupling with the Kontaktierungsbuchsen 20, via which then a connection of the corresponding - schematically indicated - operating device 22 of the lamp unit takes place. Preferably, the Kontaktierungsbuchsen 20 are snapped into the openings, whereby at the same time a holder of the through-wiring 23 in the receiving area B takes place.

That is, only at the intended positions for contacting an opening in the partition wall 11 is provided, in which case a corresponding connection of a control gear 22 of the lamp unit is then possible. The right receiving area B can accordingly without further disturbing elements for the arrangement of Operating devices 22 are used. At the same time, the separation of the receiving areas A and B, ie the areas for the through-wiring 23 and the operating devices, ensures that there are no problems in terms of EMC compatibility. While the cables for the through-wiring and the operating devices have been arranged in the same space in previously known continuous row lighting systems and this could lead to corresponding problems, such difficulties are excluded in the present system from the outset.

The I-shaped configuration of the profile body 10 also has the consequence that the receiving areas A and B are initially open laterally. Since, of course, the system should have a total of a closed impression, it is provided that the receiving areas A and B are closed by side walls 25 which are designed to be removable, so can be easily snapped onto the profile body 10 and removed again. In particular, the side walls 26 on their top and bottom corresponding projections 26 and 27, which cooperate with the end portions 14 of the upper and lower end wall 12, 13 such that the side walls 25 are hooked in a simple manner first at the top and then can be snapped onto the profile body 10 on its underside. In the reverse manner, a loosening of the side walls 25, so that the receiving areas A and B can be very easily opened and closed again.

The easy way to get access to the receiving areas A and B, brings in particular the advantage that very simple repair or maintenance can be performed or the possibility exists to lay additional lines. Obviously, by removing the right side wall access to the operating devices can be obtained, so that they can be easily replaced in case of failure. Furthermore, additional cables or lines can be laid in the receiving area A if necessary without any problems, which can then be used for other purposes. It would be conceivable, e.g. the laying of cables for loudspeakers or for video surveillance.

This concept of removable side walls leads to special advantages and could be used accordingly also in otherwise designed profile bodies, especially in U-shaped profile bodies. Again, the advantage is obtained that in a simple way access to the receiving area, for example, is obtained for the operating devices, so that they can be changed without a decrease or removal of the entire lamp unit is required. Furthermore, in the present case of the I-shaped profile body, there is also no risk that the removable side walls affect the stability of the system, since the I-shape is already sufficiently rigid on its own, so that a stable system is obtained over longer lengths.

Another special feature of the concept of removable side walls is further that these - in the light emission direction - protruding projections 28 may have. Through these extensions 28, which are wing-like in the present case, then optical elements for influencing the light output can be formed. This can be realized in a simple manner in that the wings are formed reflecting at least on its inner side and thereby form in the longitudinal direction extending reflector wings. Obviously, these extensions 28 can be arbitrarily shaped or designed to influence the light output in different ways. Depending on the manner in which the side wall 25 is configured with the extension 28 arranged therein, then the lighting units can then have different optics. Of course, however, optics can be attached directly to the profile body, which, for example, then would offer, if it is optics of a translucent material, which completely surround the light sources 31 and should influence the light output by refraction and / or scattering.

With regard to the I-shaped profile body is also to be noted that these are preferably not integrally formed for manufacturing reasons, since this would be associated with a high cost and therefore high costs. Instead, it is preferably provided that a profile body is formed from two C-shaped profile parts, which are arranged in each case back to back, in order ultimately to give the illustrated I-shape. In this case, therefore, the partition wall 11 is double-walled, which leads to an additional increased stability. Both profile parts 10a and 10b are then preferably inseparably connected to each other, which, for example, can be done by Verclinchen again.

FIG. 4 Finally shows a variant of the light band system according to the invention, in which instead of the fluorescent lamps previously shown now LEDs are used as light sources. For this purpose, a corresponding unit 40 is snapped onto the I-shaped profile body 10 from the underside. The unit has a board 41 with LEDs 42 arranged thereon. At the same time, it forms a primary optic, in that the middle region 45 is designed like a lens. The unit 40 is preferably placed on the profile body 10 in total, ie with the LED board already arranged thereon. Alternatively, initially only the LED board attached to the underside of the profile body 10 and then the existing of a transparent material primary optics 45 are placed as shown.

With regard to its further design, the variant of FIG. 4 identical to the variant described above. Here, too, the through cabling or the operating devices of the lamp units are thus arranged separately in the two receiving areas A and B, wherein at certain positions openings in the partition wall 11 are provided to allow contacting of the wiring. Again, removable side walls can be placed, which may possibly form additional optics. In FIG. 4 is also good again the two-part design of the I-shaped profile body, so the arrangement of two C-shaped profile parts back to back recognizable.

Overall, therefore, a light band system is created by the present invention, which is very easy to assemble, despite all, however, consumers diverse possibilities in terms of the design of the lighting units opened. In addition, maintenance of the system is much easier due to the removable side walls.

Claims (9)

1. Trunking system (1) with an elongated support assembly (5) for mounting luminaire units as well as lines for power supply and/or signal transmission, wherein the support assembly (5) comprises a profile that is I-shaped in cross-section with two receiving regions (A, B) extending in the longitudinal direction of the support assembly (5) and separated by a - preferably vertically oriented - partition (11), wherein the lines for the power supply and/or signal transmission (23) are arranged in one of the receiving regions (A, B), while the control gear (22) of the luminaire units is arranged in the other receiving region,
   characterized in that
   the receiving regions (A, B) of the support assembly (5) are each enclosed by the side walls (25) opposite the partition (11), and that are releasably fastened to the support assembly (5).
2. Trunking system according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the support assembly (5) is formed by a plurality of I-shaped profile bodies (10) arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction.
3. Trunking system according to claim 2,
   characterized in that
   electrical connection elements are provided at the ends of the profile body (10) for the lines for the power supply and/or signal transmission.
4. Trunking system according to claim 2 or 3,
   characterized in that
   the profile bodies (10) are each formed by two C-shaped profile parts (10a, 10b) which are arranged back to back.
5. Trunking system according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a contact box (20) is arranged in each opening formed in the partition wall (11) to enable the operating gear (22) to contact the lines.
6. Trunking system according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the side walls (25) have protruding extensions (28) which form optical means for influencing the light output of the luminaire units.
7. Trunking system according to claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the protruding extensions (28) form reflectors.
8. Trunking system according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the elements of the support assembly (5) and the lighting units respectively form one unit.
9. Trunking system according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the light sources or the sockets (30) for holding the light sources (31), are arranged directly on the support assembly (5).

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