VEDVIK TERJE (NO)
| US5599090A | 1997-02-04 | |||
| US4021660A | 1977-05-03 | |||
| US4069415A | 1978-01-17 |
Claims
1. Lighting fixture with an outer tube (11) which is transparent over at least a part of its surface, and which has end pieces (13, 14) closing each of the ends of the outer tube (11), and which are carrying holders for at least one tubular light source (29, 30) extending in the lengthwise to the outer tube, at least one of the end pieces (13, 14) being provided for opening to give access to mounting and replacement of one or more light sources, one end piece (14) having an inlet (32) for electric power supply, and one end piece (13) having an annular sealing ring (18) which is mounted to be pressed sealing against the inner wall of the outer tube (11), characterized in
- that at least one of the end pieces (13) comprises a sealing ring (18) arranged between two annular clamping faces (20, 21) arranged on two clamping members (16, 17) which are pressed together with screw means (19), and
- that the light source or sources (29, 30) are carried by at least one carrying socket (22, 23) being releasably connected to the outer tube (11).
2. Lighting fixture according to claim 1, characterized in
- that the light source or sources (29, 30) are arranged between two mounting sockets (22, 23), which are connected with a connection member (24) to a self contained assembly (12), and
- that one of the mounting sockets (23) carries a connecting plug (31) for being disconnectably connected to an inlet (32) for electric power.
3. Lighting fixture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing ring (18) is ribbon shaped, to provide an annular sealing zone at each side of the ring.
4. Lighting fixture according to one to one of the claims 1 - 3, characterized in that at least the upper end of the fixture is covered with a generally bell shape cover (15), preferably being arranged with a waterproof inlet for an electric cable.
5. Lighting fixture according to one of the claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the mounting sockets (22, 23) are connected with a centrally arranged tube (24) accommodating a removable mounting bolt (25) extending through the tube.
6. Lighting fixture according to claim 5, particularly for emergency lighting in tunnels, corridors and similar places, characterized in that the lighting fixture assembly (12) comprises a reflector (36, 41) providing scattering of light in two generally opposite directions.
7. Lighting fixture according to claim 6, characterized in that the reflector (36) comprises two halves (37, 38) forming an angle of 50 - 80°, preferably 60° from a front edge.
8. Lighting fixture according to claim 6, characterized in that the reflector (41) has two curved wings (42, 43) extending from a bent edge (44).
9. Lighting fixture according to one of the claims 1 - 8, characterized in that the cover (15) has at least two bicoloured lights (49, 50), which may be lighted with two different colours and which are arranged in the same height and with a mutual distance, to indicate a selected direction.
10. Lighting fixture according to claim 9, characterized in that the lights (49, 50) are changeable between red and green colour. |
Lighting fixture
The invention relates to a lighting fixture as stated in the introductory part of claim 1, particularly for use in tunnels.
Background
It is known lighting fixtures for fluorescent tubes based on a tubular cover with end parts carrying the fluorescent tube and the auxiliary equipment.
From Norwegian patent specification 157750 (Hafstad 1986), a lighting fixture with such a tubular cover is known, wherein end sleeves with outer threads for engaging a lid are provided. This design is not satisfactory in regard of manufacturing and replacement of light sources. Additionally, threaded connections turn leaky after some use.
From German patent specification 100 10 518 (NORKA 2001), a lighting fixture with a tubular cover is known, wherein an end closure is used, with a ring gasket which is compressed axially with a clamp acting as a lever arm and compressing a pair of compression rings over the gasket ring. This design has an unsafe pressure impact and sealing and can additionally be opened unintentionally.
Object
The main object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture combining improvements in manufacturing with easy maintenance and replacement of light sources and other elements of consumption.
Further it is an object to provide a lighting fixture being particularly suited as guidance illumination and emergency light in tunnels. This will demand illumination in two opposite direction in an acute angel from a position at the tunnel wall. It is also desirable to have a waterproof lighting fixture being submersible, e.g. for use on boats.
The Invention
The invention is stated in claim 1. Claims 2 - 10 are stating favourable features of this invention.
A lighting fixture according to the invention has advantages to prior art. This particularly relates to maintenance and illuminative function. The novel design allows a rapid replacement, replacing the light source in situ or by replacing the fixture as a whole.
Example
The invention will be described in more detail in the following, with reference to the drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows an axially sectioned perspective view of an embodiment according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a partly sectioned side view of an end piece with a gasket ring for the embodiment of Figure 1,
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a section through the embodiment of figure 1,
Figure 4 shows a side view of a fixture interior assembly for the embodiment of Figure 1, Figures 5 and 6 show examples of two reflector profiles for lighting fixtures according to the invention, while
Figure 7 shows a side view of a lid with direction indicating bright spots.
The lighting fixture of Figure 1 is provided by four main parts: a transparent tube 11, a lighting fixture assembly 12, a lower end piece 13 and an upper end piece 14. Additionally, a lid 15 is mounted over the upper end piece 13. The notion "lower" and "upper" is connected to the shown position, which is preferred when used in tunnels. Lighting fixtures can however be used for other purposes and in other positions. Additionally to the elements shown, mounting elements belonging to prior art are required.
The end pieces 13 and 14, which are shown in Figure 2, comprises an outer lid 16, an inner clamping ring 17 and a gasket ring 18 of an elastic material between the lid and the clamping ring. The lid and the clamping ring are connected with a number of mounting screws 19 which, when tightened, presses said two parts together, expanding the gasket ring 18 against the inner wall of the tube 11. For this purpose, the lid 16 as well as the clamping ring 17 have a conical face of contact 20, 21 for the gasket ring 18.
The lighting fixture assembly 12, which is shown in Figures 3 and 4, comprises a lower mounting socket 22 and an upper mounting socket 23, a reflector 24 between said mounting sockets, and between the mounting sockets 22, 23 also a connection tube 25 incorporating a coupling bolt 26 to attach the lighting fixture assembly 12 to the upper end piece 14. The reflector 24 of this embodiment has two symmetrical parts 27, 28 for mounting of two light units 29, 30, e.g. light tubes. Examples of suitable reflectors are further described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.
The lighting assembly further comprises a connecting plug 31 attached to the upper mounting socket 23 to be plugged into a mating contact 32 in the upper end piece (Figure 1). Thus a disconnectable connection for supply of electric energy to the lighting fixture can be established. The mounting sockets 22 and 23 and the reflector 24 serve as a carrier for additional equipment connected to the light sources 29, 30, such as holders 33, starters 34 and ballast coils 35.
In Figure 5, a reflector 36 suitable for mounting of multiple tubular light sources or planar light sources, e.g. TCL-lamps and T5- and T8-light tubes, is shown. The reflector 36 has a V-form with an external active surface on the legs 37, 38 enclosing an angle of between 50° and 80°. A preferred angle is 60°. When used in tunnels, this provides a favourable distribution of light lengthwise, as the light is directed with an acute angel of about 30° to the tunnel wall.
At the free edge of each leg 37, 36, a short flange 39, 40 is bent in right angle to reinforce the reflector.
In Figure 6, a reflector 41 with curved wings 42, 43 is shown, the wings protruding in an acute angle from an edge 44. This embodiment is adapted for use with a lighting tube 45, 46 for each wing. Such a lighting tube is arranged close to the centre of curvature for the curved part. At the edge of the wings 42, 43, the reflector material is folded or otherwise formed with a 180° backward flange, merging into a L-shaped, outward leg 47, 48.
For certain purposes, e.g. for indicating the escape route when using the lighting fixture as an emergency light, the cover 15 of the lighting fixtures may have one or more differently
coloured light spots, e.g. LEDs 49, 50, as shown in figure 7. The LEDs 49, 50 may be remote controlled wireless or through the electric supply line. Thus one LED may be lighted in one colour and the other in another colour, to indicate a direction. When using green and red as known signal colours, the escape direction can be indicated in a simple and easily understandable way.
A lighting fixture according to the invention can be made double insulated and explosion proof.