STRIP LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR TUNNELS

Abstract

 A strip lighting system for tunnels (1), which comprises a base guide (2) that is adapted to be coupled to the wall/vault of a tunnel, and at least one optical/electronic unit (10) that is adapted to be coupled to the base guide (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a strip lighting system for tunnels. More specifically, the invention relates to a strip lighting system for tunnels with great ease and speed of mounting.

[0002] As is known, a road tunnel is an infrastructure used for vehicle transit and traffic. It is completely covered or confined, and continuously closed on four sides. The major national and European regulations and directives on lighting and road safety require the use of lighting systems that are adapted to ensure the safety of users.

[0003] Analysis of the dynamics of accidents that have occurred in recent years in road tunnels has shown that good lighting could certainly have lowered the risk of accidents and therefore could have saved human lives.

[0004] Tunnels have substantially three types of lighting:

• Ordinary lighting, constituted by permanent lighting and additional lighting, dimensioned based on the current regulations;
• Emergency lighting, adapted to ensure an orderly egress of vehicles in the absence of regular ordinary lighting;
• Safety lighting, in order to enable the safety of users.

Under the UNI EN 11095, permanent lighting means "nighttime lighting or lighting of the inside region for daytime lighting".

[0005] The circuits for permanent lighting, not including additional circuits, comprise all the lighting appliances installed along the tunnel.

[0006] The backup (emergency) lighting system is constituted by a part of the permanent lighting circuit, adapted to ensure the successful evacuation of vehicles from the tunnel.

[0007] The circuits that power the backup (emergency) lighting system are separate from the other, primary lighting circuits.

[0008] In order to ensure functional continuity, the backup lighting systems can be powered by an uninterruptible power supply, such as to ensure operation until the emergency system comes online (for example electric power generating sets or other alternative forms of electric power supply).

[0009] Currently the circuits for powering the components of essential lighting services are subdivided into:

• horizontal main distribution, located in a downward region, from substation electrical distribution switchboards to niche switchboards, also located in a downward region in a central position with respect to the lighting system modules;
• local distribution, which, from the niche switchboard, where there are power and management apparatuses, rises vertically to power the local distribution boxes located in an upward region, for example at a height of five meters;
• terminal distribution, from the local distribution boxes to the components of the strip lighting system.

[0010] The drawback of the lighting systems currently present on the market is constituted by the fact that they do not offer uniform lighting in the tunnel, they are difficult to adapt to the different geometries of the vaults/walls of tunnels, and they require mounting times that are not optimal.

[0011] The aim of the present invention is to provide a strip lighting system for tunnels that can be easily installed and which offers excellent uniformity of lighting.

[0012] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a strip lighting system for tunnels that can be adapted to the different geometries of the vaults/walls of tunnels.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a strip lighting system for tunnels, which makes it possible to achieve an energy saving with respect to conventional systems.

[0014] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a strip lighting system for tunnels that is highly reliable, easily and practically implemented and low cost.

[0015] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a strip lighting system for tunnels, characterized in that it comprises a base guide that is adapted to be coupled to the wall/vault of a tunnel, and at least one optical/electronic unit that is adapted to be coupled to said base guide.

[0016] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the lighting system according to the present invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the lighting system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the optical/electronic unit used in the lighting system according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lighting system according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows an example of application of the lighting system according to the invention to a tunnel.

[0017] With reference to the figures, the lighting system according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a base guide 2 that is adapted to be provided in aluminum or in steel, for example, and which ensures the support of LED light sources 4.

[0018] Conveniently, the guide 2 is adapted to be anchored to the vault of a tunnel by way of affixing plates 3 which make it possible to adapt to the curves of the structures to which the guide is affixed.

[0019] Furthermore, the fixing plates 3 comprise an element (a bracket) for anchoring to the vault/wall 5, this element being substantially shaped like an inverted U with an adjustment system 6 that can be tilted so as to allow a variation of the inclination, for example from 0° to 30°, of the base guide 2 as a function of the lighting requirements in a given tunnel.

[0020] The base guide 2, which is C-shaped, makes it possible to accommodate internally the passages of any wires and/or fibers for powering and/or managing the lighting appliances.

[0021] The LED modules 4 are accommodated in an optical/electronic unit 10, which comprises a heat sink body 11 to which the LED modules 4 are applied by way of interposition of two plate-like elements 12 and 13.

[0022] The optical/electronic unit 10 is sealed by a pair of lateral covers 14 and 15, which are coupled to the heat sink element 11 and block the plate-like element 13 with flat elements 16 and 17.

[0023] The front covers are fitted with special systems for redirecting air which, using a small part of the fluid flow that is always present in a tunnel, owing to a natural stack effect or mechanically forced (with fans), considerably boosts the operation of the heat sink body 11.

[0024] The optical/electronic unit 10 is coupled to the base guide 2 with quick coupling/uncoupling, which therefore enables their easy installation and even simpler removal in the event of necessity without using special tools.

[0025] The optical/electronic unit 10 can be positioned at any point along the base guide 2 as a function of the design requirements, and at any time in the progression of work and in the life of the lighting system.

[0026] The covering of the empty spaces on the base guide 2 is ensured by covers 20 and 21, also made of aluminum or steel and fitted with a quick coupling/uncoupling system that facilitates their opening if needed.

[0027] The covers 20 and 21 can also be hinged to the base guide 21.

[0028] Furthermore, the covers 20 and 21 are provided with adapted air intakes 30 in order to facilitate the cooling of the optical/electronic unit 10.

[0029] The lighting system is constructed by connecting, in succession, the modular elements, constituted by a plurality of base guides 2, with associated optical/electronic units 10, using IP65 connectors, which are designated by the reference numeral 25.

[0030] Each modular element, constituted by a portion of base guide 2, is therefore connected by a shunt to a single backbone that powers, shunted from a nearby switchboard, all the devices with 230 V, thus making it possible to keep cable cross-sections small.

[0031] The system automatically adjusts its intensity and so the luminance is a function of the environmental conditions.

[0032] Each optical/electronic unit internally accommodates the electronic components for supplying power and managing the LED modules 4.

[0033] The lighting system according to the invention therefore offers great ease and speed of mounting.

[0034] The system is furthermore capable of achieving an extremely high degree of uniformity of lighting in a tunnel, thus improving the driving conditions. It is furthermore capable of being adapted to the different geometries of the vaults/walls of tunnels, since it is also possible to modify the inclination of the light sources.

[0035] The lighting system according to the invention is also positioned laterally with respect to the traffic lanes and using latest-generation LEDs, and, as well as an increase in the light flow, it ensures a considerable energy saving over the apparatuses currently in use.

[0036] The active adjustment system makes it possible to adjust the light flow under all environmental and traffic conditions, and it can be provided with a diagnostic and control system managed through intelligent systems (for example Power Line Communication, wireless LAN etc.).

[0037] Furthermore, the cooling of the lighting system according to the invention is facilitated by the continuous flow of air inside the tunnel in which the system is installed, owing to the flow of traffic that passes through the tunnel.

[0038] In practice it has been found that the lighting system according to the present invention fully achieves the set aim and objects.

[0039] The lighting system, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0040] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0041] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and to the state of the art.

[0042] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102016000113313 (UA2016A008103) from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0043] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A strip lighting system for tunnels (1), characterized in that it comprises a base guide (2) that is adapted to be coupled to the wall/vault of a tunnel, and at least one optical/electronic unit (10) that is adapted to be coupled to said base guide (2).

2. The lighting system according to claim 1, characterized in that said optical/electronic unit (10) accommodates LED modules (4) internally.

3. The lighting system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said optical/electronic unit (10) comprises a heat sink element (11), to which LED modules (4) are applied by interposition of two plate-like elements (12, 13), a pair of lateral covers (14, 15) being furthermore provided.

4. The lighting system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises covers (20, 21) that are adapted to close off the free space on said base guide (2) laterally to said at least one optical/electronic unit (10).

5. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base guide (2) is adapted to be applied to a wall/vault of a tunnel by way of affixing brackets (5).

6. The lighting system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said affixing brackets (5) comprise an element that is substantially shaped like an inverted U with portions (6) that are tilted so as to allow the inclination of said base guide to be adjusted.

7. The lighting system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one optical/electronic unit (10) is provided with a quick coupling/uncoupling system for quick coupling/uncoupling with respect to/from said base guide (2).

8. The lighting system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said covers (20, 21) are provided with air intakes (30).

9. The lighting system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of base guides (2) which are connected in succession by way of connectors (25).

Drawing