Inventors:
Richard L. Sieron - Fairfield CT
Edward P. Kozek - Southbury CT
William P. Shine - Monroe CT
Assignee:
Dual-Lite, Inc. - Newtown CT
International Classification:
H02J 906
H05B 4129
Abstract:
A high frequency self-contained emergency lighting fluorescent pack is exteriorally mountable to a fluorescent fixture either in line with a fluorescent lamp having a length shorter than that normally installed in the fluorescent fixture or in a side-by-side relationship near the fluorescent lamp. In either configuration, the emergency lighting fluorescent pack de-energizes all electrical connections when the interconnected fluorescent lamp is not properly in place, and only energizes the electrical connections when the fluorescent lamp is properly installed. The emergency lighting fluorescent pack incorporates a battery pack, a battery charger for maintaining the batteries in the battery pack at full charge, a high frequency emergency power generating inverter module for igniting and maintaining the fluorescent lamp in the illuminated state by energy supplied by the battery pack, and transfer circuitry for causing the energization of the emergency power module by the battery pack when utility AC power fails. Low voltage solid state electronic circuitry in conjunction with a unique application of a high frequency ferro-resonant transformer allows for the use of relatively low voltage batteries to drive the emergency lighting fluorescent pack while also providing for the ignition and maintenance of the fluorescent lamp in the illuminated state without the need for heating the filament windows of the fluorescent lamps.