Escape route marking for vehicles, especially aircraft

Abstract

The invention relates to escape route markings (1), especially for public transport vehicles, such as commercial aircraft. The escape route marking (1) comprises a lighting element (3) which luminesces in the dark and whose emitted light exits at an outer face (2) of the escape route marking (1), wherein the lighting element (3) comprises a granular material immobilized by a carrier material (20) and composed of at least translucent particles (10), wherein the average size of the granular-material particles (10) is greater at least by a factor of 10 than the average grain size of the sustained-luminescence pigments (11) contained therein.

Description

04.11.2025 / BR Escape route markings for vehicles, especially aircraft

[0001] The invention relates to escape route markings, in particular for public transport vehicles, such as commercial aircraft.

[0002] Both public buildings and public transport vehicles are regularly required to have escape route markings that guide people to an exit or emergency exit in case of an emergency. In addition to electrically operated systems, photoluminescent systems are also used for this purpose. These systems consist of a luminescent element that glows in the dark. During normal operation, this element is charged by artificial or natural light and then emits the absorbed energy as visible light in darkness.

[0003] In commercial aircraft, the use of a floor-level emergency exit marking system is mandatory to guide passengers to the emergency exits in case of darkness and cabin lighting failure. Photoluminescent systems are now also widely used for such emergency exit markings.

[0004] When photoluminescent escape route marking elements reach the end of their service life, for example, due to damage caused by mechanical stress, moisture, or other factors, they are routinely disposed of. The same applies to production rejects or overstock. Disposal or scrapping typically involves incineration or landfilling, resulting in the loss of the raw materials used in production. This is particularly true for the long-lasting photoluminescent pigments responsible for the desired afterglow effect. The luminescence of the escape route marking elements ensures visibility. Even if an escape route marking has reached the end of its service life, these pigments are usually still fully functional.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to create an escape route marking with a luminous element that glows in the dark, in which the disadvantages known from the prior art no longer occur or only occur to a reduced extent.

[0006] This problem is solved by an escape route marking according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] Accordingly, the invention relates to an escape route marking, in particular for vehicles of public passenger transport, such as commercial aircraft, comprising a luminescent light element that glows in the dark, the emitted light of which emerges on an outer side of the escape route marking, wherein the luminescent element comprises a granulate of at least translucent particles immobilized by a carrier material, wherein the mean size of the granulate particles is at least 10 times larger than the mean grain size of the long-lasting luminescent pigments contained therein.

[0008] First, some terms used in connection with the invention will be explained.

[0009] Pigments are considered "long-lasting phosphorescent" if they meet the requirements of DIN 67510-1:2020, class C.

[0010] A granular particle is "at least translucent" if, apart from the long-lasting phosphor pigments, it emits the relevant radiation – in this case, the radiation used to charge the Long-lasting phosphorescent pigments, as well as the radiation emitted by the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments, exhibit a transmittance of over 60%, preferably over 80%, preferably over 90%. The radiation can be diffusely scattered by the granule particles. If diffuse scattering does not occur, the granule particles are no longer merely translucent, but "transparent".

[0011] The invention is based on the finding that, according to the prior art, long-lasting phosphorescent pigments cannot be extracted from escape route markings for reuse, or if they can, only with extreme difficulty. This is primarily because, in prior art escape route markings, the pigments in question are dispersed or embedded in a plastic or polymer matrix in powder form. This matrix, in addition to creating a luminescent element in the desired shape, serves in particular to protect the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments from mechanical and / or chemical stress.

[0012] The matrix's resistance to chemicals generally precludes chemical disruption of the matrix without simultaneously damaging the pigments within it. While mechanical disruption of the luminescent element may be theoretically possible, the small particle size of the pigments, along with their typically similar characteristics to the matrix material with respect to properties useful for material separation (such as particle size, density, magnetic or electrical properties), means that, at least with known material separation methods, pigments cannot be practically separated from the matrix material even after mechanical disruption. Consequently, long-afterglow pigments from escape route markings could not be reused under current technology.

[0013] The invention proposes that, for example, the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments are no longer directly embedded in a plastic matrix, but rather that a granulate of particles, which are significantly larger than the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments but contain them and are otherwise made of a fundamentally at least translucent material, be used for escape route marking. Because the granulate particles are at least translucent, it is ensured that both external radiation required for charging the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments can reach the pigments, and that radiation emitted by the pigments can be released into the surroundings of the granulate particles.

[0014] The granules can, in principle, be immobilized in a desired external shape by a carrier material, similar to the pigments in the prior art, to form a luminescent element for escape route marking. Because the remaining material of the granule particles protects the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments from chemical exposure, and because the granule particles have a significantly larger volume than individual pigments, they can, in principle, be chemically and / or mechanically detached from the carrier material and reused – thus allowing the pigments contained within the individual granule particles to be reused as well.

[0015] To improve reusability, larger granule particles can be advantageous. It is therefore preferred if the average size of the granule particles is at least 100 times, and preferably at least 1000 times, larger than the average particle size of the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments contained therein.

[0016] To enable and / or simplify subsequent separation from the carrier material, it is preferred that the granule particles have a Mohs hardness of at least 5, preferably at least 6, and more preferably at least 7. While the carrier material and its properties are naturally important factors, a corresponding hardness of the granule particles generally allows for mechanical separation of the granule particles from at least conventional carrier materials. Furthermore, at least with such hardness, the granule particles themselves may not require any special protection against mechanical stress.

[0017] With regard to the required translucency of the granule particles and / or the aforementioned requirement for the hardness of the granule particles, it is preferable if the granule particles are predominantly—and thus, in particular, more than 50% apart from the long-afterglow pigments—made of glass, ceramic, and / or aluminum oxynitride. These materials, or certain materials from the aforementioned material groups that are easily identifiable by a specialist, are sufficiently translucent and can also exhibit the required hardness, if necessary.

[0018] The granule particles can have at least partially irregular and / or at least partially regular shapes. While an irregular shape allows for cost-effective production of the granule particles, a regular shape enables a more precise arrangement of the granule particles within the light element. If the granule particles have at least a spherical shape, which includes not only spheres with tolerable shape deviations up to a predetermined limit but also polyhedra that approximate a sphere, the granule particles can be systematically attached to or embedded in the carrier material. The same applies For granular particles with a plate-like shape, where the granular particles have two essentially parallel surfaces whose distance from each other is less than the smallest dimension of the surfaces. With a plate-like shape, the granular particles can be arranged in a mosaic-like or tile-like manner in a plane.

[0019] To promote both the charging of the long-afterglow pigments and the emission of radiation from the pigments, it is preferred if the granule particles – at least apart from the long-afterglow pigments – are essentially transparent. This prevents any losses that may occur due to diffusion in the granule particles.

[0020] Regardless of whether the granule particles are transparent or at least translucent, they can be colored and / or have a colored translucent or transparent coating. By appropriately coloring the at least translucent material of the granule particles or by providing a colored coating, the color appearance of the granule particles under external lighting, e.g., daylight, and / or the color of the light emitted by the long-afterglow pigments in darkness can be adjusted.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to provide different granule particles with differently colored phosphorescent pigments, in particular such that at least some of the granule particles have a different phosphorescent color than others. The light emitted by long-lasting phosphorescent pigments in darkness can differ in wavelength and thus in perceived light color, depending on the pigment type.

[0022] If granular particles with at least two different colors or differently colored coatings are provided, or if they comprise differently luminescent pigments, it is possible, with a random arrangement of the granular particles, to adjust the overall color impression of the radiation emitted by the luminous element or the escape route marking in darkness by selecting the ratio of the differently colored granular particles. However, it is preferred to arrange the differently colored and / or differently luminescent granular particles in the luminous element according to a predetermined pattern. The escape route marking then illuminates the predetermined pattern in the dark. For example, pictograms indicating the direction of the escape route can be depicted in the escape route marking in this way.

[0023] It is preferred if the mean characteristic size of the granule particles is smaller by a factor of 0.1, preferably by a factor of 0.01, than a characteristic size of the luminescent element. The mean characteristic size of the granule particles is obtained regularly from the statistical averaging of the characteristic size of all granule particles, the characteristic size depending on the shape of the granule particles. For irregular granule particles, the characteristic size can be the cube root of the volume; for spherical granule particles, the diameter; for plate-like granule particles, the mean extent perpendicular to the distance between the two parallel surfaces, etc.The characteristic size of the luminous element is regularly an extent of the luminous element, whereby, in particular in the case of elongated escape route markings, such as those provided along the floor of commercial aircraft, regularly the width of the escape route marking or the area along it. The light element running along the escape route marking can be assumed to be a characteristic size.

[0024] Similar to escape route markings known from the prior art, the carrier material of the luminescent element of the escape route marking according to the invention can comprise a matrix, preferably a polymer matrix, in which, however, the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments are not directly embedded, but rather the granule particles are at least partially embedded. "Partially embedded" means that at least some of the granule particles are not completely enclosed by the matrix and may even protrude from it. However, it is also possible that the granule particles are completely embedded in the matrix.

[0025] If the carrier material is a matrix as described above, the luminous element of the escape route marking can be produced by calendering, extrusion, and / or injection molding of an initially uncured carrier material containing granular particles dispersed within it. After the carrier material has cured, a luminous element is formed with granular particles at least partially embedded within it.

[0026] As an alternative to using a matrix as a carrier material, the carrier material can also comprise a substrate to which the granule particles are attached with an adhesion promoter, in particular an adhesive or varnish. Suitable substrates include wax, shellac, wood, cork, metal, and / or plastic.

[0027] Regardless of the form of the carrier material, it is preferred if the granule particles have a higher strength than the matrix or substrate and / or the adhesive. sion mediators. If the granule particles exhibit a higher strength than the carrier material or relevant parts thereof, mechanical removal or detachment of the granule particles from the carrier material is regularly possible.

[0028] It is also preferred if the granule particles are resistant to at least one chemical composition that dissolves or degrades the matrix or the substrate and / or the adhesion promoter. In this case, it is possible to detach the granule particles from the carrier material using the chemical composition in question without attacking or damaging the granule particles.

[0029] Depending on the design of the granules and / or the carrier material, the luminaire element is inherently sufficiently resistant to mechanical and chemical stresses. In this case, no additional protection for the luminaire element is required. Alternatively, a suitable cover element can be placed between the luminaire element and the outer surface of the escape route marking, which provides (additional) protection for the luminaire element against mechanical and / or chemical stresses.

[0030] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to advantageous embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These show: Figures 1-5: schematic partial representations of various forms of escape route markings according to the invention.

[0031] Figure 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of an escape route marking 1. The escape route marking 1 is an elongated, strip-shaped element, comparable to known escape route markings. The markings are designed for placement on the floor of the cabin of a commercial aircraft. Only one of the end sections of escape route marking 1 is shown.

[0032] The escape route marking 1 includes a luminescent light element 3, which will be explained in more detail below, and whose emitted light emerges, among other places, from the top and thus an outer surface 2 of the escape route marking.

[0033] The luminous element 3, of which an exemplary section AA is also shown in Figure 1, comprises a largely translucent or even transparent polymer matrix 21 as a carrier material 20 in which granule particles 10 are completely embedded, i.e., the granule particles 10 are completely surrounded by and immobilized by the polymer matrix 21.

[0034] The granular particles 10 are primarily composed of aluminum oxynitride and are spherically shaped, in which long-afterglow pigments 11 are dispersed. The granular particles 10 are more than 100 times larger than the average size of the long-afterglow particles 11. Apart from the pigments 11, the granular particles 10 are completely transparent and exhibit a high Mohs hardness of well over 7. Alternatively, glass or transparent ceramic can be used as the main material for the granular particles 10 instead of aluminum oxynitride, resulting in a slightly lower Mohs hardness.

[0035] The mean diameter of the individual granule particles 10 is approximately in the illustrated example. 5.5% of the width of the light element 3. Thus, the characteristic size for the granule particles 10 (namely their mean diameter) is smaller by more than a factor of 0.1 than the characteristic size of the lighting element 3, namely its width.

[0036] Since both the carrier material 20 and the granule particles 10 are permeable or transparent, at least to radiation in the visible range, the radiation required for charging the long-afterglow pigments 11, such as daylight, can easily pass through the carrier material 20 and the granule particles 10, thus reaching the pigments 11. In darkness, the radiation emitted by the articles 11 can, in turn, pass through the granule particles 10 and the carrier material 20 and exit at the outer surface 2 of the escape route marking 1. The (afterglow) properties of the luminous element 3 are practically identical to those of a prior art embodiment in which the pigments 11 are directly dispersed in the carrier matrix 21.

[0037] The luminaire 3 shown in Figure 1 can, on its own, constitute an escape route marking 1. However, it is also possible to use the luminaire 3 in escape route markings 1 known from the prior art, which, for example, have a luminaire element enclosed in a housing (not shown). The luminaire 3 according to Figure 1 can even be manufactured in a manner comparable to luminaires known from the prior art, namely, among other things, by extruding an initially uncured carrier material 20 with granule particles 10 dispersed therein.

[0038] The escape route marking 1 or the luminous element 3 according to Figure 1 can therefore be used analogously to photoluminescent luminous elements known from the prior art as an escape route marking for passenger vehicles, in particular The advantage of the escape route marking 1 according to the invention, or its luminous element 3, lies in the reusability of the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments 11 contained therein. Thus, the individual granule particles 10 can be completely and without damage separated from the carrier material 20 by mechanical and / or chemical processes – with appropriate configuration of the process parameters – and reused together with the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments 11 contained therein. The mechanical separation methods can be used if the granule particles 10 have a higher strength than the carrier material 20. With chemical separation methods, care must be taken to use only chemicals that dissolve or break down the carrier material 20 but do not attack the granule particles 10.Given knowledge of the design of the granule particles 10 and the carrier material 20, the specialist can readily select suitable procedures and process parameters.

[0039] Even if the granule particles 10 in the embodiment according to Figure 1 have a regular shape and are arranged in a regular grid, it is also possible that the granule particles 10 have an irregular shape and / or are distributed in a random arrangement in the carrier material.

[0040] Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of an escape route marking 1 according to the invention schematically, although only a small section of the escape route marking 1 is shown here.

[0041] The escape route marking 1 comprises a light source 3, which, analogous to the design shown in Figure 1, consists of transparent granular particles 10 containing long-lasting phosphorescent particles. The pigments 11 are included. However, the granule particles 10 are not spherical in shape, but rather have a plate-like form, namely a cuboid shape. The granule particles 10 are arranged on one side of the carrier material 20 in a mosaic-like pattern, with the granule particles 10 only partially embedded in the carrier material 20 and protruding from it, particularly on the outer surface 2 of the escape route marking 1 intended for light emission. If the charging of the long-afterglow pigments 11 in the granule particles 10 also occurs via this outer surface 2, the carrier material 20 can also be opaque. For further explanation of the escape route marking 1 and the individual elements, please refer to the descriptions in Figure 1.

[0042] In the schematic embodiment of an escape route marking 1 shown in Figure 3, the granule particles 10 are designed similarly to those in Figure 1, but, analogous to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, are only partially embedded in the carrier material 20. To provide the escape route marking 1, or the lighting element 3, with any necessary stability, an additional substrate 25, e.g., made of metal, is arranged on the side of the carrier material 20 facing away from the granule particles 10 and is bonded to the carrier material 20. When using the escape route marking 1, the additional substrate 25 can first be detached from the carrier material 20 before the granule particles 10 can be separated from the carrier material 20, as described in connection with Figure 1.Alternatively, it is also possible to carry out the procedures for separating granule particles 10 and carrier material 20 while the substrate 25 is still connected to the carrier material 20.

[0043] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the granule particles 10 are arranged in a regular matrix. Some of the granule particles 10' are colored or have a colored transparent coating, so that when the pigments 11 in the granule particles 10, 10' glow, light of different colors is emitted, making colored symbols visible to an observer—in the illustrated embodiment, a stylized double arrow indicating the direction of escape. The coloring of the individual granule particles 10, 10' can also be visible under external illumination, thus conveying directional information to an observer even in, for example, daylight. Alternatively, it is also possible for the granule particles 10' to have different colors of afterglow than the granule particles 10.With a suitable arrangement of such granular particles according to a predetermined pattern, colored symbols can also become visible in darkness.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment of an escape route marking 1 shown schematically in part according to Figure 4, the granule particles 10 from the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 2 are again used. Here, however, they are not embedded in a matrix as a carrier material 20, but are attached to a substrate 25 made of wood by means of adhesive as an adhesion promoter 26.

[0045] To detach the granular particles 10 from the escape route marking 1 for reuse if required, mechanical and / or chemical processes can again be applied to separate the granular particles 10 from the substrate 25 or the adhesion promoter 26. The process parameters must be selected such that the granular particles 10 detach completely from the substrate 25 and the adhesion promoter 26 without being damaged. Damage or destruction of Substrate 25 and adhesion promoter 26 can usually be accepted without problems.

[0046] The escape route markings 1, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, comprise no elements other than the luminous element 3, which may also be possible with a suitable choice of, in particular, the carrier material 20 or the substrate 25, including the adhesion promoter 26. However, the escape route markings 1 shown can also be used as a luminous element 3 in escape route markings according to the prior art.

[0047] In particular, to ensure easy reuse of the granule particles 10 at a later date, the carrier material 20 and / or substrate 25 often lack sufficient load-bearing capacity to be used without further protection as an escape route marking 1, for example, along the floor of a commercial aircraft. The escape route marking 1 can therefore also include a protective element 4 arranged between the luminescent element 3 and the outer surface 2 of the escape route marking 1, where the light emitted by the luminescent pigments 11 in the granule particles 10 is primarily intended to exit, and which protects the luminescent element 3 from mechanical and / or chemical stress.

[0048] Figure 5 shows an exemplary escape route marking with a corresponding protective element 4, based on the embodiment shown in Figure 4. The protective element 4 is made of transparent, durable plastic and spans the lighting element 3. Such protective elements 4 are widely known from escape route markings in the prior art and require no further explanation here. Of course, the following can also be used: The example shown in Figures 1 to 3 is provided with a corresponding protective element 4.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Escape route marking (1) particularly for passenger vehicles, such as commercial aircraft, comprising a luminescent light element (3) whose emitted light emerges from an outer surface (2) of the escape route marking (1), characterized in that the luminescent element (3) comprises a granulate of at least translucent particles (10) immobilized by a carrier material (20), wherein the mean size of the granulate particles (10) is at least 10 times larger than the mean particle size of the long-lasting luminescent pigments (11) contained therein.

2. Escape route marking according to claim 1, characterized in that the mean size of the granule particles is at least by a factor of 100, preferably at least by a factor of 1000, larger than the mean grain size of the long-lasting phosphorescent pigments (11) contained therein.

3. Escape route marking according to claim 1, characterized in that the granule particles (10) have a Mohs hardness of at least 5, preferably at least 6, more preferably at least 7.

4. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granule particles (10) are at least predominantly made of glass, ceramic and / or aluminium oxynitride.

5. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granule particles (10) are transparent.

6. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granule particles (10) are colored and / or have a colored translucent or transparent coating.

7. Escape route marking according to claim 6, characterized in that at least a part of the granule particles (10') has a different coloring than another part of the granule particles (10), wherein the granule particles (10) are preferably arranged in the luminous element (3) according to a predetermined pattern.

8. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the granule particles (10') are phosphorescent in a different color than another part of the granule particles (10), wherein the granule particles (10, 10') are preferably arranged in the luminescent element (3) according to a predetermined pattern.

9. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the granule particles (10) have an irregular shape and / or at least a part of the granule- 19 Particles (10) have a regular shape, preferably a shape that is at least spherical or plate-like.

10. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mean characteristic size of the granule particles (10) is smaller by a factor of 0.1, preferably by a factor of 0.01, than a characteristic size of the luminous element (3) .

11. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier material (20) comprises a matrix (21), preferably a polymer matrix, in which the granule particles (10) are at least partially embedded.

12. Escape route marking according to claim 10, characterized in that the luminous element (3) of the escape route marking (1) is produced by calendering, extrusion and / or injection molding of initially uncured carrier material (20) with granule particles (10) dispersed therein.

13. Escape route marking according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the carrier material (20) comprises a substrate (25) to which the granule particles (10) are attached with an adhesion promoter (26).

14. Escape route marking according to claim 13, characterized in that 20 the substrate (25) comprises wax, shellac, wood, cork, metal and / or plastic.

15. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granule particles (10) have a higher strength than the matrix (21) or the substrate (25) and / or the adhesion promoter (26).

16. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granule particles (10) are resistant to at least one chemical composition which dissolves or degrades the matrix (21) or the substrate (25) and / or the adhesion promoter (26).

17. Escape route marking according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a protective element (4) is arranged between the luminous element (3) and the outer surface (2) of the escape route marking (1).

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