LIGHTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

A lighting system and method of use is disclosed for use with an underground passageway. The lighting system includes a base station having at least one power source, and a plurality of light modules extending from the base station in a serial arrangement and spaced at least partially along a length of a passageway. Each light module is capable of emitting light for ordinary operations within the passageway and at least one visual signal. The system further includes at least one cable extending from the base station and interconnecting the light modules with the base station and the power source and a controller operatively associated with the base station and in communication with at least one sensor configured to sense an environmental condition. The controller is configured to continuously monitor said sensor and activate the at least one visual signal when an abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected.

Claims

1. A lighting system for use along a length of an underground passageway, the system comprising: a base station comprising at least one power source; a plurality of light modules extending from the base station in a serial arrangement and spaced at least partially along the length, each light module configured to emit light for ordinary operations within the passageway and at least one visual signal; at least one cable extending from the base station and interconnecting the light modules with the base station and the power source; and a controller operatively associated with the base station, said controller being in communication with at least sensor configured to sense an environmental condition, said controller configured to continuously monitor said sensor and selectively activate the at least one visual signal of any one of the light modules when an abnormal or emergency said environmental condition is detected, wherein the light emitted for ordinary operations is white light and the at least one visual signal is selectable from a flashing non-white light and a constant non-white light, and wherein, when said at least one visual signal is a flashing non-white light, the light modules are configured to flash the at least one visual signal relative to one another in a sequential and coordinated pattern to direct a person away from the abnormal or emergency said environmental condition.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual signal can be selectively activated by the controller on receiving a manual command from an operator.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, where the light emitted for ordinary operations is white light and the at least one visual signal is flashing or constant non-white light.

4. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein the non-white light is a green light or a red light.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual signal is selectively activated to alert a person within the underground passageway that at least a portion of the underground passageway has been affected by the abnormal or emergency said environmental condition detected.

6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the at least one visual signal is a constant red light.

7. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual signal is selectively activated to alert a person within the underground passageway that at least a portion of the underground passageway has been unaffected by the abnormal or emergency said environmental condition detected.

8. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one visual signal is a constant green light.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual signal is selectively activated to direct the person within the underground passageway to move towards at least a portion of the underground passageway unaffected by the abnormal or emergency said environmental condition detected.

10. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the at least one visual signal of the light modules flash a green light in a sequential and coordinated pattern towards the at least a portion of the underground passageway unaffected by the abnormal or emergency said environmental condition detected.

11. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is selected from a fire, an explosion, a gas leak, a toxic or flammable fluid leak, a mud rush, ground subsidence and seismic activity.

12. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power source is a mains power supply.

13. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the base station further comprises an uninterruptible power source configured to be invoked when the at least one power source fails.

14. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein each light module comprises a redundant power source for powering at least the at least one visual signal of the light module in the event the at least one cable connecting the light module to the base station is damaged and/or severed.

15. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein each light module further comprises a redundant wireless communications module for enabling the light module to communicate with the controller in the event the at least one cable connecting the light module to the base station is damaged and/or severed.

16. A method of alerting a person in an underground passageway of an event, said method comprising: providing a base station having at least one power supply; providing a plurality of light modules extending from the base station and spaced at least partially along a length of the passageway, said light modules being interconnected with the base station and the power supply by at least one cable, each light module being capable of emitting light for ordinary operations and at least one visual signal for alerting the person of the event; and continuously monitoring data from at least one sensor configured to sense an environmental condition within or near the underground passageway and selectively activating the at least one visual signal of any one of the light modules when an emergency or abnormal said environmental condition is detected, wherein the light emitted for ordinary operations is white light and the at least one visual signal is selectable from a flashing non-white light and a constant non-white light, and wherein, when said at least one visual signal is a flashing non-white light, the light modules are configured to flash the at least one visual signal relative to one another in a sequential and coordinated pattern to direct a person away from the abnormal or emergency said environmental condition.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a controller operatively associated with the base station continuously monitors the at least one sensor and selectively activates the at least one visual signal of any one of the light modules when the emergency or abnormal said environmental condition is detected.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the controller is a remotely accessible server in wired or wireless communication with the base station.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein during normal operations the light modules each emit white light to assist the person and other personnel in undertaking their work.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein responsive to the emergency or abnormal said environmental condition being detected, the at least one visual signal is selectively activated to emit a green or red light depending on the location of the emergency or abnormal said environmental condition detected relative to the underground passageway.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0162] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0163] FIG. 1 is a schematic showing a lighting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0164] FIGS. 2A and 2B are photographs showing the lighting system of FIG. 1 installed within an underground passageway and respectively indicating when the underground passageway is safe and unsafe;

[0165] FIG. 3 is a photograph showing a base station of the lighting system shown in FIG. 1;

[0166] FIGS. 4A and 4B are photographs respectively showing a perspective view and exploded view of a light module of the lighting system as shown in FIG. 1;

[0167] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a screenshot of an application for controlling the system as shown in FIG. 1;

[0168] FIG. 6 is a schematic showing the lighting system according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0169] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a screenshot of the application for controlling the system as shown in FIG. 6; and

[0170] FIG. 8 is a schematic showing the lighting system according to anther embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0171] FIGS. 1 to 8 show embodiments of a lighting system (100) and parts thereof for lighting a length of an underground passageway (900) and for providing a visual signal when an abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected.

[0172] Referring to FIG. 1, the lighting system (100) includes a base station (110) configured to be located at or near an end of a length of an underground passageway; a plurality of light modules (210) extending from the base station (110) in a serial arrangement and spaced at least partially along the length of the underground passageway, each light module (210) configured to emit light for ordinary operations within a passageway and at least one visual signal; at least one cable (310) extending from the base station (110) and interconnecting the light modules (210) with the base station (110); and a controller (410) in the form of a remotely accessible server operatively associated with the base station (110). The controller (410) being in communication with the base station (110) and at least one sensor (810) configured to sense an environmental condition. The controller (410) being configured to continuously monitor the sensor (810) and selectively activate the at least one visual signal of any one of the light modules (210) when an abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected.

[0173] In this embodiment, the system (100) includes five light modules (210) for spanning at least partially along a length of an underground passageway. The light modules (210) are spaced at regular intervals of about 20 m from one another.

[0174] The at least one cable (310) interconnecting the light modules (210) with one another and the base station (110) is in the form of an electrical cable capable of supplying power from the base station (110) to each light module (210) and for relaying data between each light module (210) and the base station (110).

[0175] As shown, the at least one cable (310) includes multiple segments (312) of cable (310) for interconnecting the light modules (210) and the base station (110).

[0176] Each segment (312) includes a pair of opposed ends configured to connect or couple with a cable port (not shown) associated with a light module (210) and/or the base station (110).

[0177] Each end includes an electrical connector (314) configured to connect with an electrical connector associated with each cable port.

[0178] Each light module (210) includes a plurality of LEDs capable of emitting white light for ordinary operations and at least one visual signal in the form of a green or red light when an abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected. The visual signal can be a constant or flashing light depending on the type of abnormal or emergency environmental condition detected and the location of the condition detected.

[0179] For example, the visual signal can be a constant red light to indicate a hazardous zone or no-entry zone. Moreover, the visual signal can be a flashing red light to indicate that the zone should be immediately evacuated.

[0180] Conversely, the visual signal can be a constant green light to indicate a non-hazardous zone or safe zone.

[0181] In some scenarios, the light modules (210) of the system (100) can emit a coordinated sequential flashing light to indicate that the area should be evacuated in a particular direction towards a non-hazardous “green” zone. For example, the light modules (210) can emit a flashing red light in a sequential manner towards or away from the base station (110) to indicate that a person should evacuate the zone by either heading towards or away from the base station (110).

[0182] In yet other scenarios, the light modules (210) of the system (100) can emit a mixture of visual signals to alert a user when a portion or segment of an underground passageway should be vacated or evacuated but a remainder of the underground passageway is safe. For example, the light modules (210) in the affected portion or segment of the underground passageway can be selectively activated to emit a constant or flashing red light indicative that the area should be vacated and the light modules (210) in the unaffected portion or segment of the underground passageway can be selectively activated to emit a constant green light indicative that the area is safe.

[0183] Referring briefly to FIGS. 2A and 2B, these figures respectively show a plurality of the light modules (210) of the system (100) extending along a length of an underground passageway (900).

[0184] In FIG. 2A, the light modules (210) are shown emitting a visual signal in the form of a constant green light to indicate that the underground passageway (900) is a safe zone. In such a scenario, an abnormal or emergency environmental condition, such as, e.g., a gas leak, a mud rush, a fire, an explosion or seismic activity, has been detected a safe distance further along the same underground passageway (900) or within an adjacent underground passageway (900).

[0185] In contrast in FIG. 2B, the light modules (210) are shown emitting a visual signal in the form of a constant red light to indicate that the underground passageway (900) is a hazardous zone or no-entry zone. In such a scenario, the abnormal or emergency environmental condition has been detected in or near the underground passageway (900) and the area is deemed hazardous.

[0186] Referring to FIG. 3, the base station (110) is configured to be located at or near a first end of the length of an underground passageway so that the light modules (210; not shown) can extend from the base station (110) in a serial arrangement at least partially towards a second end of the length.

[0187] The base station (110) includes a body (112) sized and shaped for housing components and/or parts of the system (100).

[0188] The body (112) is adapted to be mounted to a sidewall of a passageway such that the base station (110) is at a height for convenient access by miners or operations personnel.

[0189] The body (112) includes an access door or panel for accessing internal contents of the base station (110).

[0190] The body (112) includes externally visible LEDs (114) for indicating an operational status of the system (100).

[0191] The body (112) includes four cable ports (not shown) each including an electrical connector for connecting the light modules (210; not shown) with the base station (110) via segments (312; not shown) of the cable (310; not shown).

[0192] The body (112) of the base station (110) is connected to a primary input power source, such as, e.g., a generator or a mains power supply. However, the body (112) also houses a second redundant power source in the form of an uninterruptible power source (UPS) system including one or more batteries for supplying power to the light modules (210; not shown) and other electrical components of the system (100) when the primary input power source fails.

[0193] The UPS system is a line-interactive system further including a charger for charging the one or more batteries during normal operation. When the primary input power source fails, backup power circuitry redirects power from the one or more batteries to supply power to a remainder of the system (100).

[0194] The UPS system provides a run time of at least 4 hours when the primary input power source fails.

[0195] The base station (110) includes a communications module for connecting the base station to the controller (410; not shown). The communications module is in the form of a modem enabling the base station to connect to the controller (410; not shown) via a wired or wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi (WLAN) communication, Satellite communication, RF communication, infrared communication, or Bluetooth™)

[0196] The body (112) of the base station (110) includes an Ethernet port for connecting to a wired network for communication with the controller (410; not shown).

[0197] The base station (110) further includes a microcomputer, including one or more processors and a memory. The processors include multiple inputs and outputs coupled to other electronic components of the system (100), including, but not limited to, the communications module and the light modules (210; not shown).

[0198] The base station (110) is addressable and reports an operational status to an external device when polled, e.g., by the controller (410; not shown).

[0199] FIGS. 4A and 4B respectively show an assembled and exploded view of a light module (210).

[0200] The light module (210) includes a body (212) configured to house a plurality of LEDs (214) capable of emitting white light for ordinary operations and at least one visual signal in the form of a green or red light, and other components of the light module (210). The body (212) is configured to be mounted to a wall or ceiling of an underground passageway via four rock anchors (216).

[0201] Generally, the body (212) is formed from material or materials capable of withstanding the rigorous conditions of an underground mine. Typically, the body (212) is formed from durable plastic material or materials that are substantially shock resistant, high and/or low temperature resistant, pressure resistant and waterproof.

[0202] Referring to FIG. 4B, the body (212) includes a rear portion (222) and an attachable opposed front cover (224).

[0203] The rear portion (222) includes a planar rear plate, a rim and at least one sidewall extending from an outer edge of the rear plate to the rim. The rear portion is detachably mounted to the wall or ceiling of the passageway via the four rock anchors (216).

[0204] The front cover (224) is substantially dome-shaped and is substantially transparent to enable light to pass through.

[0205] The at least one sidewall includes a pair of cable ports with associated electrical connectors (228) for interconnecting the light module (210) with the base station (110; not shown) and other light modules (210) via segments (312; not shown) of the cable (310; not shown). The cable ports with associated electrical connectors (228) are located on diametrically opposite sides of the body (212) to assist in connecting the light modules (210) in a serial arrangement.

[0206] The rear portion (222) and the front cover (224) are fastened together with threaded fasteners (226).

[0207] As shown, a gasket (232) extends along a rim of the front cover (224) to assist in forming a substantially water-tight seal between the front cover (224) and the rear portion (222).

[0208] The plurality of LEDs (214) are arranged in an array including a mixture of LEDs capable of emitting light in different colours. The plurality of LEDs (214) includes 18 LEDs arranged in an array, including two redundant banks of 9 LEDs each. Each bank of LEDs includes red LEDs, green LEDs and white LEDs.

[0209] Each light module (210) includes a dedicated microprocessor operatively associated with the plurality of LEDs (214) for controlling operation of LEDs (214) in response to receiving instructions from the controller (410; not shown) or the at least one sensor (810; not shown).

[0210] Each light module (210) is generally connected to the controller (410; not shown) via the base station (110; not shown) by an electrical circuit extending along the at least one cable (310; not shown).

[0211] Each light module (210), however, further include a wireless communications module (252), such as, e.g., a wireless network interface controller, such that the light module (210) can wirelessly connect to an external device, such as, e.g., the controller (410; not shown) via a wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi (WLAN) communication, Satellite communication, RF communication, infrared communication, or Bluetooth™). Advantageously, the wireless communications module provides a redundant wireless communications path in the event of cable damage connecting the light module (210) to the base station (110).

[0212] The light module (210) further includes a redundant power source for powering the plurality of LEDs (214) and other electrical components of the light module (210) in the event of cable damage connecting the light module (210) to the power source associated with the base station (110). The redundant power source includes an on-board power source in the form of a rechargeable battery (262).

[0213] Each light module (210) is addressable and will report an operational status to an external device when polled, e.g., by the controller (410; not shown).

[0214] Referring back to FIG. 1, the system (100) includes a controller (410) in the form of a remotely accessible server operatively associated with the base station (110). The controller (410) is in communication with at least one sensor (810) configured to sense an environmental condition and configured to continuously monitor the sensor (810) and selectively activate the at least one visual signal of any one of the light modules (210) when an abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected.

[0215] The remotely accessible server includes one or more processors and one or more memory units containing executable instructions/software to be executed by the one or more processors.

[0216] The controller (410) includes software configured to enable a user to interact with the system (100) and control various aspects of functionality of the system (100).

[0217] The software is interactive. The remotely accessibly server includes a web server providing a graphical user interface through which a user may interact with the system (100) and the remotely accessible server.

[0218] For example, a user can interact with the software to configure a desired light colour for a specific environmental condition or warning. Likewise, the user can interact with the software to input one or more evacuation pathways from the underground passageway so that the light modules (210) may be used to direct miners or operations personnel along the one or more evacuation pathways.

[0219] The software further enables a user to select which sensor (810) to communicate with and monitor. The sensor (810) includes a wireless communications module enabling the controller (410) to wirelessly connect with it. The sensor (810) can include a smoke sensor, a gas sensor, a seismic activity sensor, a subsidence monitoring device, a pore water pressure measuring device or any other type of sensor (810).

[0220] The controller (410) continuously collects data from the sensor (810) and monitors the data collected for any change indicative of an abnormal or emergency environmental condition.

[0221] The controller (410) also continuously collects data from the base station (110) and the plurality of light modules (210) and monitors the data collected for any changes indicative of an abnormal operating condition or failure. For example, the software can monitor a remainder of the system (100) for failures including an open circuit, a short circuit, a primary input power source failure, a UPS system failure (e.g., battery backup voltage), or an internal body temperature of the base station (110).

[0222] The software performs maintenance checks on the base station (110) and the light modules (210). For example, the software can temporarily isolate the base station (110) from the primary input power source to check the operating condition of the UPS system. Likewise, the software can temporarily isolate any one light module (210) from the base station (110) to check the operating condition of a light module's (210) redundant power source. The maintenance checks may be performed on command or be scheduled.

[0223] Referring to FIG. 5, this figure shows a screen-shot of the software of the controller (410; not shown).

[0224] Specifically, the figure shows that the visual signals for a portion (710A) of the light modules (210) spaced along the underground passageway have been selectively activated to emit a constant red light indicative that the segment of the passageway corresponding to the portion (710A) is unsafe or hazardous. The figure also shows that the visual signals for an adjacent portion (710B) of the other light modules (210) have been selectively activated to emit a constant green light indicating that the remainder of the respective passageways is safe.

[0225] Referring to FIG. 6, this figure shows another embodiment of the system (100) in which four lines or pluralities of light modules (210A, 210B, 210C, 210D) each extend from the base station (110). In such embodiments, the base station (110) is usually located at a junction of the passageways and each line or plurality of light modules (210A, 210B, 210C and 210D) can extend from the base station (110) and at least partially along a respective underground passageway.

[0226] Referring to FIG. 7, this figure shows a screen-shot of the software of the controller (410; not shown) for controlling operation of the system (100; not shown).

[0227] In this embodiment, the screen-shot is showing a graphical representation of the status of light modules (210) associated with a single base station (110).

[0228] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the lighting system (100) as shown in FIG. 1.

[0229] In this embodiment, the system (100) includes a base station (110) configured to be located at or near an end of a length of an underground passageway, a plurality of light modules (210) extending from the base station (110) in a serial arrangement and spaced at least partially along the length of the underground passageway, at least one cable (310) extending from the base station (110) and interconnecting the light modules (210) with the base station (110); and a controller (410) in the form of a remotely accessible server operatively associated with the base station (110). The controller (410) includes software (910) enabling a user to interact with the system (100).

[0230] As shown, the controller (410) is in communication with a first sensor (810A) being a seismic activity sensor, the base station (110) is in communication with a second sensor (810B) being a gas sensor, and two of the light modules (210A) are in wireless communication with a third and fourth environmental sensor (810C, 810D).

[0231] Advantageously, the wireless communications modules (252; not shown) of each light module (210) enable the light modules (210) to wirelessly connect to the wireless third and fourth environmental sensor (810C, 810D) as well as other wireless networks (920).

[0232] Additionally, each light module (210) in this embodiment further includes a RFID reader for interrogating RFID tags (930A, 930B) that pass through an interrogation zone associated with each light module (210). Advantageously, this enables the light modules (210) of the system (100) to identify the location of an RFID tag (930A, 930B) associated with a person, vehicle, or mining asset in the passageway.

[0233] A method of using the system (100) to alert a person in an underground passageway will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B.

[0234] Referring to FIG. 1, as an initial step, the system (100) is installed at least partially along a length of the underground passageway with the base station (110) being located at one end of the length and the plurality of light modules (210) extending from the base station (110) at least partially towards the other end. The light modules (210) are arranged serially one after another at regular intervals of 20 m from one another.

[0235] Once installed, the controller (410), which is operatively associated with the base station (110), continuously monitors the sensor (810) that is configured to sense an environmental condition near or within the underground passageway.

[0236] Referring to FIG. 2B, when an abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected, the controller (410) selectively activates the visual signal of the light modules (210) within a predefined radius of the location where the abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected to emit a constant red light to alert miners and other operations personnel within the vicinity that the zone is hazardous and unsafe.

[0237] Referring to FIG. 2A, the controller (410) further activates the visual signal of the light modules (210) outside the predefined radius of the location where the abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected to emit a constant green light to alert miners and other operations personnel that the zone is safe (i.e., a green zone).

[0238] In some instances, the light modules (210) within the predefined radius of the location where the abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected can emit a flashing or pulsing red light to also direct miners and other operations personnel within the vicinity away from the hazardous and unsafe zone towards a green zone.

[0239] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0240] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0241] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.