Self-contained apparatus for emergency lighting incorporating alarm systems for fire, gas and the like

A self-contained apparatus for emergency lighting has a light, a detector for gas or the like, which can produce an electric input, and a processor which can receive the electric input and produce an optic and/or acoustic alarm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
My present invention relates to a self-contained apparatus for emergency 
lighting comprising at least one sensor/detector sending an electric input 
to a processor, and a detection and alarm system controlled by the 
processor. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is known that, in case of electric current cutoff and/or gas escape or 
fire, a timely alarm signal is required to allow prompt aid, intervention 
and/or danger neutralization. 
In the state of the art, several systems for the detection of such events 
are known, however, they possess some significant limitations. For 
example, they need to be constantly connected to the supply mains. As to 
portable lamps, it is usually impossible to incorporate gas detectors or 
the like therein. 
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained lighting 
apparatus suitable for the detection and alarm signalling of dangerous 
events such as gas escapes, fires and the like, which can arise in the 
vicinity of a lighting apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the present invention a self-contained apparatus for emergency lighting 
comprises lighting means, detection means for gas, smoke, heat and the 
like, which send the electrical input, and alarm means which can be 
activated by the processing means, so that dangerous events can be 
detected and signalled in real time and without any need of supply means. 
More particularly, the portable emergency lighting and alarm apparatus of 
the invention comprises: 
a portable housing; 
a rechargeable battery in the housing provided with means connectable to an 
electrical supply source for recharging the battery from the source, the 
apparatus being disconnected from the source for portable use; 
a lamp in the housing connectable with the battery and provided with 
circuit means for illuminating the lamp upon failure of the supply and 
disconnection of the apparatus therefrom; 
at least one sensor on the housing responsive to an emergency situation in 
a vicinity of the housing and producing an output; 
processing means for responding to the output; and 
alarm means connected to the processing means for generating an alert 
signal in response to the output. 
The sensor can be a gas detector, a smoke detector, a heat detector or a 
flame detector and the alarm means can include an acoustic and/or optical 
output. The housing can be provided with a plurality of such detectors and 
a corresponding number of processors connected to the detectors. 
The processor can be connected by wires with the alarm means or with an 
electromagnetic wave transmitter and an encoder while the alarm means can 
be provided with an electromagnetic receiver and a decoder. The alarm 
means can include means for illuminating the lamp, e.g. by causing the 
lamp to blink, so that the emergency lighting source also forms the alarm 
means. Where a switch is provided for turning the lamp on or off, the 
alarm means activates the lamp independently of a position of the switch 
means.

DESCRIPTION 
In body 1, provided with a handle 1a, a transparent screen 2 is inserted in 
the forepart. A lighting element 3, supported by its caps 3a, is 
positioned under the screen. On the handle, switch 4, controlling the 
control processing unit 10, which can be a programmed microprocessor or 
so-called microcomputer, can be changed over with three positions. With 
plug 9 connected to the supply mains and power available in the supply 
mains, in position II, only gas detector 5, communicating with the 
surrounding space through the louvers 6 and 6', is turned on through its 
processor 11. In position I also the emergency lamp 3, in case of current 
cutoff, is turned on by the CPU 10 through the electronic relay 12. 
When plug 9 is disconnected from the supply, (making the unit a 
self-contained portable lamp), with the switch on "O" position, the system 
is completely off. In the "I" position, both gas detector and emergency 
lamp are on. In the "II" position only the gas detector is activated. 
Therefore, if the device is disconnected from the supply while the switch 
is in position "I," the lamp will be automatically actuated. In the 
absence of external power, the storage battery 13, normally charged 
through the rectifier 14 supplies the power. In a dangerous situation due 
to gas emission, the alarm consists of LED 7 blinking under the control of 
a flasher 15 and in the intermittent operation of an acoustic signal by 
the sound generator 16 and its driver 17, the sound signal emerging from 
louvers 8-8'. 
After a predetermined time, lamp 3 flashes as well, controlled by the 
flasher 18, while the acoustic signal continues. 
In practice, the present invention can have various features, especially 
with respect to the details of the circuit and as to the detector and 
processor configurations. Particularly, the detector 5 utilized in the 
apparatus of the present invention can be sensitive to the gas resulting 
from the combustion of either organic or inorganic substances (for 
instance an oxygen detector set at the oxygen concentration value 
indicating a progressing combustion or a smoke detector. Alternatively, it 
can be replaced by or used in combination with a temperature sensor 19 and 
an appropriate processor 20 therefor (for instance, an infrared ray 
absorption detector). Again it can be replaced by or used together with a 
threshold photoelectric cell (P.E.C.) 21 and a processor 22, detecting the 
sudden bright light resulting from a fire or flame. 
A first mode of the apparatus of the present invention is provided with a 
detector 5, 19 or 21 of the above-mentioned type, incorporated in the 
emergency lamp and connected to the processor 11, 20 or 22 which processes 
the signals sent from the detector so that a first input to the CPU 10 
signals fire absence and a second input to CPU 10 signals fire presence. 
The CPU 10 sends a first output to the alarm system disabling it to 
function when the processor receives the first input, and a second output 
to the alarm system enabling it to function, when the processor receives 
the second input. Each processor can be connected only to one sensor. 
This apparatus is provided with the same number of processors and sensors, 
with one processor connected to each sensor. 
Generally, the connection with the alarm system is obtained through 
electric wires. 
However, in another mode, the connection is made by means of 
electromagnetic waves (e.g. radiowaves as shown as 23), so that the 
processors are provided with a transmitter and encoder 24, and the alarm 
system 26 is provided with a receiver and decoder 25. The remote alarm 
system 26 is here shown to use a CPU 27 controlling a flasher 28 and an 
LED 29, as described above with reference to the flasher 15 and the LED 7, 
and an acoustic alarm 30, 31. 
Of course, the apparatus can be provided with two or more detectors at the 
same time, all incorporated in the same emergency lamp. 
In the system, dangerous events can be detector and signalled in real time 
and without any need of an external electric supply. The optic alarm 
system, blinking and fixed, is obtained in part by using the main light 
source of the emergency lamp (fluorescent or incandescent lamp). 
The incorporated processor activates a fixed acoustic and optic alarm 
system, preventing the fixed optic alarm system (lamp) from being switched 
on or off, independently from switch control. The emergency lamp, gas 
detector, optic and acoustic alarm system are all operated by an 
incorporated rechargeable battery autonomously from the electric supply. 
The detector can be externally connected to the lamp body, in a fixed or 
permanent way, by means of electric wires as desired.