SUPPORT RAILS FOR LUMINAIRES OR ELECTRCIAL UNITS

Abstract

A support rail for luminaires or electrical units (60) has a support rail profile (50), which encloses an elongated receiving space, along with at least one busbar (55), arranged in the receiving space, with contactable conductors (58), wherein the support rail (50) further has, on its outside, display means (10) for visually representing the function of the conductors (58).

Claims

1. A support rail for luminaires or electrical units (60), having: a support rail profile (50), which encloses an elongated receiving space, at least one busbar (55) with contactable conductors (58), arranged in the receiving space, characterized in that the support rail (50) has display means (10) on its outside for visually representing the function of the conductors (58).

2. The support rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the display means (10) are modifiable for at least a portion of the conductors (58).

3. The support rail according to claim 2, characterized in that the display means (10) comprise fields (15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5) for attaching labels (17.sub.1 to 17.sub.N) explaining the function of an associated conductor (58).

4. The support rail according to claim 3, characterized in that the fields (15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5) are designed to receive self-adhesive, self-bonding or magnetically attachable labels (17.sub.1 to 17.sub.N).

5. The support rail according to claim 3, characterized in that the fields (15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5) have receptacles for the replaceable reception of display elements, in particular for the reception of cards.

6. The support rail according to claim 3, characterized in that the display means (10) is a schematic representation of the arrangement of the conductors (58), wherein, for at least a portion of the conductors (58), a field (15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5) is assigned in each case to each conductor (58) or to each conductor pair.

7. The support rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the display means (10) are designed to electronically represent the function of the conductors (58).

8. The support rail according to claim 7, characterized in that the display means (10) comprise a display (20).

9. The support rail according to claim 7, characterized in that that it comprises means for automatically detecting the function of the conductors (58), said means controlling the display means (10).

10. The support rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the display means (10) are arranged on an end-face part (40) terminating the support rail profile (50).

11. The support rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the display means (10) are arranged on the outside of a side wall (51) of the support rail profile (50).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail in the following using the accompanying drawings. The following are shown:

[0024] FIG. 1 schematically, a representation of a support rail with busbars arranged therein, to whose conductors different functions may be assigned, at least in part;

[0025] FIG. 2 an exemplary embodiment of a support rail according to the invention, the end-face part of which has display means according to the invention for showing the function of the conductors of the supporting rail;

[0026] FIG. 3 a set of replaceable labels with whose aid the representation by the display means can be flexibly adapted;

[0027] FIG. 4 a schematic representation of the electronic display means according to the invention; and;

[0028] FIGS. 5-8 views of a support rail system known from the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] As already mentioned, the present invention represents, for example, a development of the known “TECTON” system. Before the solution according to the invention is to be described in more detail, the basic design of such a support rail system will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 5-8. FIGS. 5 and 6 thereby show views of the support rail in which the busbars are arranged. FIGS. 7 and 8 in turn show the embodiment of a luminaire connected to or to be connected to this support rail system with a contacting element provided for this purpose.

[0030] It is here initially apparent that, given the known support rail system 100, an elongated support profile rail 101 that is U-shaped in cross-section and downwardly open is used, which delimits an elongated receiving space with its two side walls 102 and the upper connecting wall 103, said receiving space being accessible from the underside via an elongated coupling opening. In the case shown, a so-called busbar 110 or 120 is then in each case arranged on the inner sides of both side walls 102 (these are not visible in FIG. 6, which only shows the support profile rail 101), which busbar in each case has a plurality of wires or conductors 111, 121 running in the longitudinal direction, said wires or conductors being arranged in longitudinal channels or grooves 113, 123 of a conductor receiving structure 112, 122 consisting of an insulating material. The channels 113, 123 thereby ensure a safe mounting of the conductors 111, 121 such that they cannot be touched inadvertently. At the same time, however, the channels 113, 123 are in each case designed to be open towards the interior of the support profile rail 101, so that a contacting of the conductors 111, 121 is enabled.

[0031] A luminaire 130 to be connected to this support rail system 100 then has at least one rotatably mounted contacting or tapping element 135, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 7 and 8. To connect the luminaire 130, it is attached from the underside to the elongated support profile rail 101, wherein the contacting element 135 is thereby inserted into the support profile rail 101 via the elongated coupling opening and is then rotated by approximately 45°. Contacts 136 arranged on the contacting element 135 are thereby designed in such a way that they are pivoted out to the side by the rotation and thereby—as can be seen in particular in FIG. 8—engage in the receiving channels 113, 123 of the two busbars 110, 120, in order to contact the corresponding conductors 111, 121.

[0032] In the case shown, contacts 136 are arranged on both sides of the contacting element 135 to enable contacting of the busbars 110, 120 positioned on the two side walls 102 of the support profile rail 101. In that the contacts 136, with their associated contact holder part 137 and the cable (not visible) connected thereto, can be displaced vertically with respect to a contact holder body 138 of the tapping element 135, they can be arranged corresponding to the position of a desired conductor 111, 121, in order to then contact this corresponding conductor as desired. The possibility thereby exists, on the one hand, of a phase selection along with a selection of the neutral conductor for the power supply. Depending on the number of conductors made available by the busbars 110, 120, said conductors can then also be used for other purposes such as, for example, for communication. The possibility thereby exists of combining the lighting units connected to the support profile rail 101 to form a larger light strip system, and of controlling the lamps centrally from a central control unit.

[0033] Moreover, in addition to the lighting units shown in the figures, other electrical units may also be connected to the support rail system. In particular, sensors such as e.g. presence or brightness sensors that support an automated operation of the illumination system would hereby be conceivable. Units that enable a communication or transmission of data for other purposes,

[0034] independently of the lighting controller, would also be conceivable as useful units to be connected to the support rail system. Finally, the most varied luminaire types are also conceivable that may be connected together to the support profile rail and thereby fulfill different tasks of the lighting technology.

[0035] In the illustrated system known from the prior art, some of the connection contacts are positioned at a predetermined height, since they are in principle intended to contact a specific conductor of the busbars 110, 120, for example the conductor provided for grounding. However, at least one contact can be positioned so as to be height-adjustable at the contacting element 135, since a phase selection for the power supply is to be performed via this contact. Depending on the height at which the corresponding connection contact is located, a different conductor and thus a corresponding phase of the power supply network is contacted, which thus opens up the possibility of assigning luminaires, for example, to different groups that are respectively connected to a specific phase of the supply voltage.

[0036] Developments of the support rail system illustrated increasingly have more and more conductors, since these systems are also intended to fulfill additional tasks, in addition to illumination alone, and/or the control of the connected luminaires is to be designed more flexibly and more conveniently. For example, it would be conceivable to use two conductors of the busbars for general data transmission, for example by means of a PLC, in order to realize a communication network that extends across the field of the entire busbar system. At certain positions, electrical loads in the form of routers or so-called access points could thus be connected, which then, on the one hand, communicate with a central communication device via the conductors of the busbars, and on the other hand provide an interface for a wireless communication with terminal devices. Another possibility in turn is to use two conductors of the busbars for digital transmission of audio and/or video information. In particular, so-called ELA loudspeakers or other playback devices that reproduce the corresponding acoustic information or visual information could then be connected to the corresponding conductors at desired positions. Finally, it would also be conceivable to use conductors to realize emergency power supply circuits. Individual luminaires of the system could then be connected to these conductors, in order to ensure a certain minimum lighting, based on the emergency power supply, in the event of an emergency.

[0037] FIG. 1 now shows a possibility for realizing a system with expanded functions, designed in the manner described above. A support rail profile 50 with a plurality of conductors 58 running therein in the longitudinal direction is thereby shown in cross-section, said conductors being arranged—just as in the prior art—in grooves or channels 57 of suitably designed, insulating conductor-receiving structures 56 of two busbars 55, said grooves or channels running in the longitudinal direction. The contacting of these conductors 58 should, in fundamental terms, thus take place with the aid of contacting elements in the same way as is also explained using FIGS. 5-8, which contacting elements are, for example, inserted—at least partially—from the underside into the support rail 50 and are then rotated in such a way that the associated connection contacts pivot outward and contact the corresponding conductors 58.

[0038] In the example shown in FIG. 1, it is provided that the conductors 58 of the two busbars 55 may be assigned to two basic categories. The conductors 58 below the schematically illustrated plane E thereby serve primarily to supply power to loads that are to be connected, in particular luminaires to be connected, whereas, by contrast, the conductors 58 above the plane E provide additional functions.

[0039] In the present case, it is provided in particular that the three lower left-hand conductors L1, L2, L3 form the three phases of a power supply network, whereas in contrast the two lower right-hand conductors Ground and N enable a grounding of connected units and, on the other hand, represent the neutral conductor of the power supply network. Situated above these five conductors are then conductors EL1, EN1—in respectively opposing pairs—of a first emergency power supply circuit “EMERGENCY F” and conductors EL2, EN2 of a second emergency power supply circuit “EMERGENCY 2”.

[0040] In addition to lighting and emergency lighting, the additional functions of the system are provided by two respectively opposing conductors 58 above the plane E, wherein in the shown example a first conductor pair S1+, S1− forms a DALI bus via which a communication corresponding to the DALI standard, in particular for lighting control, can take place by means of digital signals. In contrast, the conductor pair S2+, S2− located above this forms an ELA 100V circuit, which may be used in particular for transmitting acoustic information and for connecting corresponding loudspeakers. Finally, a further conductor pair S3+, S3− is available, to which 230 V is applied and which however may now be used for a communication by means of power line carrier, independently of the lighting control.

[0041] Of course, the assignments shown in FIG. 1 merely represents an example for using the various conductors 58. It is quite conceivable that a user would want to use other functions, for example an additional DALI circuit or a second circuit for connecting ELA speakers or other playback devices. Since it is obviously not reasonable to provide separate conductor pairs in the busbars 55 for every conceivable additional function, it is provided that at least a portion of the conductors 58 be used in different ways depending on the intentions of the user. Since the conductors 58 themselves are normally all of identical design, they can in principle be used for any desired function, in other words both for a power supply and for a transmission of signals. Depending on which functions the consumer desires for the system, a specific conductor pair can then thus be coupled, within the scope of the external connection of the support rail, to a corresponding unit (a power supply unit, a central control unit for transmitting DALI signals, a unit for transmitting acoustic signals for ELA loudspeakers, and so on).

[0042] In other words, depending on how the conductors 58 of the system are coupled to external supply units or to other units, different functions may be assigned to these conductors 58.

[0043] In this case, however, the problem then arises that the units to be connected must be configured in terms of their connection contacts such that they then actually correctly contact the conductors 58 assigned to a particular function. In the event that all conductors 58 have a fixed function, this is not a serious problem, since the units—luminaires or other units—to be connected can already be so designed as such. With the now existing flexibility with regard to the use of the conductors 58 of the system, however, it is in principle necessary to configure the units to be connected in a suitable manner with respect to the arrangement of their connection contacts, in order to avoid defective contacting and damage, possibly resulting therefrom, to the system or the load. However, the problem then arises here that the function of the different conductors 58 of the system until now has not been readily apparent.

[0044] FIGS. 2 and 3 therefore show a solution according to the invention by means of which the aforementioned problem is avoided, but at least markedly reduced. The end region of a support rail 50, which is terminated by an end-face part 40, is thereby illustrated schematically. Typically, the so-called incoming supply takes place in this end region of the system, meaning that the conductors 58 of the busbars 50, said conductors running within the support rail 50, are connected via corresponding connection elements 45 and contact terminals 46 to external cables that then lead to power supply units or other units for communication or data transfer. Depending on the manner in which the internally running conductors 58 are connected to the external connection lines, the function of the conductors 58 of the busbars 50 is then fixed and a connection element of a unit to be connected must be configured as regards its connection contacts, such that in each case the desired conductors 58 can be contacted. In particular, this requires that, for example in the connection element 65 (shown in FIG. 2) of a unit 60 to be connected, which is comparable to the known rotatable connection element of FIGS. 7 and 8, the connection contacts 66 be arranged correctly at a corresponding height.

[0045] In order to facilitate this process of configuring the units 60 that are to be connected, it is provided that the system provides display means 10 via which it is immediately apparent which function the various conductors 58 of the system have.

[0046] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, these display means 10 are located on the end-face part 40, ideally in the area of the incoming supply of the support rail 50, and can thus be recognized at any time by an electrician or the user who wants to connect units to the system.

[0047] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the display means 10 initially comprise a schematic representation of the available conductors 58, wherein the positioning of the display means 10 on the end-face part 40 is in this case advantageous insofar as the selected representation corresponds to a cross-sectional presentation of the support rail 50, and thus the arrangement and position of the different conductors 58 are intuitively apparent to a user. Analogous to the arrangement of the conductors 58 within the support rail 50, the eight conductors of the left-hand busbar 50 are thus shown with the aid of the display means 10 on the left-hand side; the conductors of the right-hand busbar 50 are shown on the right-hand side, wherein the representation of the grounding conductor may—as shown—possibly also be omitted.

[0048] The conductors used for the power supply (including phase selection and neutral conductor) and for grounding are fixedly assigned in the exemplary embodiment shown, and their position should normally not be changeable. In this case, the function of these corresponding conductors is directly represented with the aid of the display means 10 and also cannot be changed.

[0049] In contrast, the conductors of the conductor pairs situated above them may be flexibly assigned in terms of their function by the user in accordance with the idea stated above, wherein, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the display means 10 are now designed in such a way that they are variable or adaptable in order to indicate the actual selected function of the conductors. In the exemplary embodiment shown, for this purpose it is provided that a field 15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5 be provided in each case between two opposing conductor pairs, which field may be used for the flexible representation of the respective used function of the corresponding conductor pair.

[0050] A conceivable exemplary embodiment is to thereby provide, corresponding to the illustration in FIG. 3, a set of card-like or plate-like display elements or labels 17.sub.1 to 17.sub.N on which the fields 15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5 may be arranged. Thereby, the cards 17.sub.1 to 17.sub.N have for the most part predetermined labels, and may then optionally be arranged in the different fields 15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5. For special functions, blank cards may also be used, which are then inscribed or printed accordingly within the scope of the installation of the system and may be analogously arranged in the associated field 15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5.

[0051] In the solution shown, the fields 15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5 and the affixable labels 17.sub.1 to 17.sub.N may be designed such that the labels 17.sub.1 to 17.sub.N are, for example, self-adhesive, self-bonding, or can be magnetically fastened to the fields 15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5. As an alternative to this, it would also be conceivable to design the fields 15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5 in the form of pockets or receptacles into which corresponding card-like or plate-like labels 17.sub.1 to 17.sub.N may be inserted. It is essential that the user has the possibility to visually display the actual use of the conductors 58 of the system in order to prevent errors as much as possible during subsequent connection of loads.

[0052] Furthermore, it thereby does not necessarily need to be provided that the display means 10 be designed to be variable. It would also be conceivable, as a simple alternative, to provide a plurality of differently designed, for example differently printed, end-face parts that in each case represent a different assignment of the conductors. Upon installation of the system, that end-face part whose representation corresponds to the actual assignment of the conductors can then be selected by the user and arranged on the support rail.

[0053] In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is provided that a field 15.sub.1 to 15.sub.5 is in each case assigned to a pair of two opposite conductors. This usually makes sense, since primarily conductor pairs are required for the use of the different functions. In principle, however, within the scope of the present invention, it would also be conceivable, of course, to display the function of the conductors in each case individually with the aid of the display means 10. In addition, it is of course also not necessary, as described above, for the conductors used for the power supply to be fixedly assigned in terms of their arrangement, and here for the representation of the display means 10 to be unchangeable. However, it is altogether advantageous if these conductors, which are indispensable to the basic function of the overall system, cannot be changed with respect to their arrangement, which then will preferably also apply to the corresponding representation with the aid of the display means according to the invention.

[0054] In addition, it is to be noted that the arrangement of the busbars 50 with their conductors 58 can also be realized in another way within the support rail 50. In this case as well, an optimally intuitive representation of the function of the conductors 58 with the aid of the display means 10 can, of course, then be effected in the manner according to the invention.

[0055] A further possibility for realizing the idea according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4. Here, for the visual representation of the function of the conductors, an electronic variant that comprises a display 20 that is arranged on the outside of a side wall 51 of the support rail 50 is selected. Analogous to the illustration according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, here as well a schematic representation of the arrangement of the conductors is preferably provided, wherein then the additional display of the function of the different conductors is now performed electronically.

[0056] The display 20 may be designed in a wide variety of ways, and is preferably designed such that there is a minimum power consumption. In particular, the use of displays as known from e-readers or comparable devices whose presentation is based on a so-called electronic ink would be conceivable. Of course, a corresponding display 20 could also be arranged on the end-face part 40 of the system and, in an analogous manner, the display means 10 explained with reference to FIG. 2 could also be provided on a side wall 51 of the support rail 50. In principle, however, it is advantageous if the display means 10 are arranged in the end region of a support rail 50, in particular in the vicinity of the region in which power is fed into the system also, since here the corresponding adaptation of the display means 10 according to the invention can also take place directly as part of connecting the support rail 50 to the external lines.

[0057] Usually, the corresponding adaptation of the display means 10 is performed manually by a user, wherein this also applies to the digital variant according to FIG. 4. In principle, however, it would also be conceivable to design the display means 10 in such a way that, by correspondingly tapping the voltage signals applied to the conductors 58, they automatically recognize how the conductors are used, and then automatically adapt the presentation of the display means 10 accordingly. Of course, this applies primarily to the variant explained using FIG. 4, in which the display of the function is effected electronically.

[0058] The solution according to the invention thus contributes to further increasing the flexibility of support rail systems, but thereby to preventing the risk of an incorrect contacting of the available conductors of the system.