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

Abstract: Self-contained apparatus for the emergency lighting comprising lighting means, detecting means for gas and the like, which can send an electric input, processing means which can receive upsaid electric input, optic and/or acustic alarm means.

Description: The 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 upsaid processor. It is known that, in case of 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 art, several other systems for the detection of such events are known; however, they show some determinant limitations: among them, the need to be constantly connected to a supply mains and, in case of portable lamps, the impossibility to incorporate gas detectors or the like. It is known from earlier WO-A-8809025 that in a handy portable box, a smoke detector connected with an impulse transmitter is provided, wherein said impulse transmitter and biasing circuit associated to the smoke detector are dedicated to switching-on the warning lamp, which is powered by batteries. This kind of warning lamp has the disadvantage of a restricted field of operation when the batteries are unloaded. There is no connection to an electrical supply source for recharging said batteries. Therefore, the technical problem is to produce a self-contained lighting apparatus with rechargeable battery suitable for the detection and alarm signalling of other casual dangerous events such as gas escapes, fires and the like, which can arise in the border area of the lighting apparatus position. These aims are all achieved by the self-contained apparatus for emergency lighting object of the present invention, which comprises lighting means, detection means for gas, smokes, heat and the like, which send the electric input, processing means which receive upsaid electric input, and alarm means which can be activated by upsaid processing means, so that dangerous events can be detected and signalled in real time and without any need of supply mains. 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. Further characteristics of the present invention will be better disclosed from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, with reference to the drawings, where the following items are: in fig. 1, an apparatus according to the present invention, showing a lateral view of a portable lamp; in fig. 2, the front view of the portable lamp shown in fig. 1. From the abovementioned figures it can be noticed that in body 1, provided with a handle, transparent screen 2 is inserted in the forepart; lighting element 3, supported by its caps, is positioned under the screen. On the handle, switch 4 can be changed over in three positions: with plug 9 connected to the supply mains; on position II, only gas detector 5, corresponding to iouvers 6 and 6', is on; on position I also the emergency lamp, in case of current cutoff, gets on. When plug 9 is disconnected from the supply (self-contained portable lamp), with the switch on "O" position, the system is completely off; on "I" position, both gas detector and emergency lamp are on; on "II" position only the gas detector is activated. In a danger situation due to gas emission, the alarm consists in LED 7 blinking and in the intermittent acustic signal from louvers 8-8′. After a predetermined time, lamp 3 flashes as well, while the acustic signal continues. In practice, many constructive modifications of the present invention can be introduced, especially as for the details of the circuit, already known in itself and then not further described, and as for the detector and processor configuration. Particularly, the detector utilized in the apparatus object 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 else, it can be a temperature sensor (for instance, an infrared ray absorption detector); again, it can be a threshold P.E.C., detecting the sudden bright light resulting from a fire. A first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is provided with a detector of the abovementioned type, incorporated in an emergency lamp and connected to a processor which processes the signals sent from upsaid detector, where a first input detects fire absence and a second one detects fire presence; upsaid processor sends a first output to the alarm system disabling it to function, when the processor receives upsaid first input, and a second output enabling it to function, when the processor receives upsaid second input. In another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is provided with a sensor of the abovementioned type, incorporated in an emergency lamp and connected to a processor for the processing of the signals coming from upsaid sensor; the processor operates as already described hereabove; it is connected only to one sensor; this apparatus is provided with the same number of processors and sensors, being these processors connected to upsaid sensors. In another embodiment, upsaid connection is obtained through electric wires. In another embodiment, upsaid connection is made by means of electromagnetic waves, so that upsaid processors are provided with a sender and encoder, and the abovementioned alarm system is provided with a receiver and decoder. Finally, of course, the apparatus can be provided with two or more of the abovementioned detectors at the same time, all incorporated in the same emergency lamp.

Claims: SELF-CONTAINED APPARATUS FOR EMERGENCY LIGHTING, comprising a portable housing (1); a rechargeable battery in said housing provided with means (9) connectable to an electrical supply source for recharging said battery from said source, said apparatus being disconnected from said source for portable use; a lamp (3) in said housing connectable with said battery and provided with circuit means for illuminating said lamp upon failure of said supply and upon disconnection of said apparatus therefrom for said portable use; at least one sensor on said housing through the louvers (6, 6') responsive to an emergency situation in a vicinity of said housing and producing an output; processing means for responding to said output; and alarm means connected to said processing means for generating an alert acoustic signal from the louvers (8, 8') and/or an optical signal (7) in response to said output. APPARATUS according to Claim 1, wherein said sensor emitsa first signal evidencing a normal function status and a second signal evidencing a malfunction status, such signals being simultaneously and/or separately processed by said processing means. APPARATUS according to Claim 1, wherein said apparatus is provided with a same number of processors and detectors, the processors being connected to the detectors. APPARATUS according to Claim 1, wherein said processing means is connected by electric wires with said alarm means. APPARATUS according to Claim 1, wherein said processing means is provided with an electromagnetic-wave transmitter and an encoder and said alarm means is provided with an electromagnetic wave receiver and a decoder, said processing means beingconnected to said alarm means by electromagnetic waves propagated between said transmitter and said receiver. APPARATUS according to Claim 1, wherein the optic alarm means, blinking and fixed, is obtained by using the main light source of the emergency lamp (fluorescent or incandescent lamp). APPARATUS according to Claim 1, wherein the incorporated processor activates a fixed acoustic and optic alarm means, preventing the fixed optic alarm means (lamp) to be switched on or off, independently from switch control. APPARATUS according to Claim 1, wherein said detector scan be outside connected to the lamp body, in a fixed or permanent way, by means of electric wires.

Inventors: BEGHELLI GIAN PIETRO, BEGHELLI, GIAN PIETRO
Applicants: BEGHELLI G P B SRL, G.P.B. BEGHELLI S.R.L.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G08B17
IPC codes: G08B21, F21S9, F21L4, G08B5, F21V33, G08B17, G08B7