Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Plural load device systems – Electric switch in the supply circuit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2002-02-26
Philogene, Haissa (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Plural load device systems
Electric switch in the supply circuit
C315S309000, C361S089000, C361S106000, C219S508000, C219S485000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06351083
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A circuit is known for selectively providing electric supply voltage from an input feed line with a neutral conductor and a phase conductor to individual or parallel-connected groups of connected terminals each comprising a phase core and a neutral core, to which electrical units using electricity, for instance light fittings, are or can be connected. A known circuit comprises a neutral connection between the neutral conductor and each neutral core and a phase connection between the phase conductor and each phase core. It is further known to include in each phase core a switch, using which the relevant electrical unit or group of electrical units can be switched on and off. An end group of a switching and distribution device having electrical units connected thereto is herein protected by an overcurrent protection element which is accommodated in a switching and distribution device, wherein the cross-sectional surface of the phase cores and the neutral cores to the electrical units is adapted to the associated overcurrent protection element. This means in practice that, in the case where a plurality of electrical units are connected to an end group, the cross-sectional surface o the phase cores to the electrical units are therefore considerably overdimensioned.
An example; a number of lamps with a power of 100 W at 230 V_is connected to an end group of a switching and distribution device, wherein the cross-sectional surface of the phase cores and the neutral cores of the installation of the relevant end group is adapted to the overcurrent protection element of the end group in the switching and distribution device, wherein the maximum permissible current amounts for instance to 16 A. By way of comparison it is noted chat the current of each of said 100 W lamps amounts to less than 0.5 A.
In respect of the above described circuit system there are switching systems which are microprocessor- controlled and which find application in various types of building.
The first group of known systems are designed in accordance with decentralization principles and comprise a collection of decentralized control, feed and switching modules which are arranged above lowered ceilings and to which electrical units, for instance light fittings, can be individually connected. These modules are mutually coupled by means of a collection of data-bus lines which are in turn connected to a centrally deployed central control unit or CPU (Central Processor Unit). Operation of the lighting herein takes place either locally by means of signal media or centrally by means of control panels or a personal computer on the basis of a computer program.
A second group of known systems is likewise designed in accordance with decentralization principles wherein control and feed modules are placed above lowered ceilings and the switching device is incorporated in an electrical unit, for instance a light fitting. Coupling and operation take place in accordance with the description as given above for the first group of known systems.
A third group of known systems is designed in accordance with decentralization principles wherein the control modules are incorporated in the switching units and the feed and switching modules are arranged above lowered ceilings. Coupling and operation take place as stated in the description for the first group of known systems.
The described systems have for their object to simplify the installation of the systems by saving on the amount of cabling.
A fourth and final group of systems is designed in accordance with centralized principles. These systems are little used however, since heretofore the design of the distribution structure has not been sufficiently tested. Systems according to such a principle, in as far as they already exist, are therefore still much too expensive at the moment.
The first three stated, known decentralized systems have the Following drawbacks:
(1) An architect is a person who designs a building and therein makes use in many cases of lowered ceilings. These ceilings can be removable or non-removable. The architect is in practice always the one who makes the decisions in respect of the type of lowered ceiling which must be placed in a building. The technical aspect plays a subordinate role here. Two types of lowered ceiling are used, i.e. so-called removable and non-removable ceilings. In the case of removable ceilings the problem occurs that, if a problem arises with the decentralized equipment above the ceiling, these ceilings must officially be removed by a building contractor, since this falls within his responsibility. In the case of non-removable ceilings (for instance plastered ceilings), the problem arises that, when a problem occurs with the decentralized equipment above such a ceiling, this means demolishing thereof, which may be disproportionally costly. For the solving of a problem with the electrical installation the user of these installations is thus wholly dependent in these cases on the building contractor, which is an extremely unusual and very undesirable situation. In the best case it could be said that the service access to the installation merits special interest.
(2) Integration of control switching modules into components such as light fittings and switching units has the drawback of dependence on the manufacture. If a choice is made for a particular switching system, the use of fittings and switching units from the same manufacturer is also obligatory. This conflicts with the aspiration to have the greatest possible freedom in respect of choice of manufacturer of the components for installing, irrespective of the manufacturer of the switching system to be chosen.
(3) Decentralized installations become unfathomable after a period of time because over the years feed and switching components may gradually be added fairly randomly, and in practice this is never kept up to date in diagrams and modification data.
There is the further drawback that the operation of such systems or the manner in which the various parts are coupled and interconnected is not clear to the user of the installation. This has its origin inter alia in the typical knowledge level of the user in respect of such often “intelligent” components. The problem of serviceability also arises here once again.
(4) Decentralized control, feed and switching modules can often only be connected with much effort, for instance bus cable in, bus cable out, feeder cable in, switched lines out, control lines of signal media in. Such modules are also placed above ceilings in large quantities, wherein said operations must take place for each module individually. A large number of junctions thus result, the laborious nature of the connection thereof usually being underestimated.
(5) PLC (Programmable Logic Control) or microprocessor-controlled, intelligent control components are susceptible to obsolescence, similarly to computers, while installations are written off over a longer period, for instance in the order of 15 years. This means that a user of an installation must have the option of adapting the control engineering every few years to new technologies while maintaining the basic installation. With locally placed, intelligent components the complete installation must be modified, and this is expensive.
The conclusion which must be drawn from the above stated five drawbacks is that control, feed and switching equipment must at all times be placed at a location where it is easily and freely accessible to enable service provision in simple manner, for instance in one or more technical areas and certainly not above lowered ceilings, let alone in fixed ceilings. Switching devices and control device must also be made disconnectable to enable easy replacement of the control devices at a desired moment, wherein a simple centralized feed, switching and control wiring circuit must be developed to make the installation design easily controllable. The design of the entire installation must necessarily be recorded herein for the management thereof.
It is an object of the i
Philogene Haissa
Ten Holter Consultancy
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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