AND SAFETY DEVICES DESCRIPTION

The present patent concerns the lighting sector and in particular it concerns a new lighting system with inflatable load bearing structure suited to support the light source and provided with safety devices.

Emergency lights or lighting systems are known that are provided with a column-shaped load bearing structure consisting of a column or a chamber in the shape of a cylinder or a similar shape, held in shape thanks to the action of a pressure force created inside it. Said structure made in this way is capable of lifting a light source to the desired height with no need to use rigid metallic structures like telescopic tubes, poles or net structures. The advantage of this system lies in its very limited weight and overall dimensions and in the possibility to place the light source at considerable heights by adjusting the pressure and correctly sizing the shape of the load bearing structure, so as to light a wide area.

The known inflatable lighting systems comprise a column-shaped inflatable load bearing structure, cylindrical or conical in shape, a supporting base for said structure, acting as a ballast and/or as a container for the electromechanical components that serve to operate the lighting system and to inflate/deflate the load bearing structure, and one or more light sources supported by said load bearing structure and generally placed inside or outside the structure.

The inflation of the load bearing structure causes it to be extended upwards, thus bringing the light source, if it is positioned at the top, to such a height as to allow the lighting action to be optimised.

The introduction of air takes place by means of fans and/or compressors placed inside the base, with air check valves or mechanisms positioned on the air inlet mouth.

Emergency lighting systems are known, where said load bearing structure is constituted by an inner air chamber made of a heat-welded plastic material, watertight and airtight, and by an outer protection and stiffening cover made of fabric.

The operating mechanism of the known emergency lighting systems includes as first thing the inflation of the load bearing structure by means of the inflation devices.

In order to switch off a lighting system of known type, shown in Figures la and lb, it is necessary to interrupt the air flow generated by the fans and deflate the chamber. At the moment when the air flow is interrupted, the pressure inside the chamber drops suddenly and a structural weak point is immediately created at the base of the column- shaped structure. The weight of the light source located on top of the column, together with the weight of the column, causes the quick and uncontrolled collapse of the column, which folds at the base, as schematically shown in Figure lb.

The heavier is the load on top of the column, the more rapidly it falls down, and during the impact problems regarding the soundness of the light source may arise, or persons in the trajectory of the falling column may even be hit.

Compared to the traditional lighting systems, generally consisting of lamps placed on poles, net structures or temporary supporting surfaces, the system with load bearing structures that are inflated with air that is constantly blown in poses the drawback of the noise generated by the inflation devices, like fans or compressors.

In many cases, on the other hand, it is necessary to have a silent system that does not disturb people or the surrounding environment, for example in closed places like restaurants or even in outdoor environments like camping sites, parties or celebrations in the open air.

Another drawback of the known systems lies in that the possible introduction of dust and particles in the base may damage the electromechanical devices and in particular the motor.

A further drawback of the known systems is represented by the risk of breakage of the light sources or the load bearing structure during the inflation/deflation of the structure. In fact, to operate the known lighting systems it is first necessary to inflate the load bearing structure and lift the light source, then to switch on the light source, using one or more switches provided for this purpose.

On the contrary, to deactivate the lighting system completely, it is first necessary to switch off the light source and then to provide for deflating the load bearing structure, and consequently to bring it down.

However, the fact that the two actions are independent of each other may cause some problems. During activation, the operator may inadvertently or deliberately switch on the light sources before the inflation has been completed. Vice versa, during deactivation, the deflation procedure may be started with the light sources still on.

A third problem arises in the case where the air flow is interrupted due to a fan blackout. In this case the load bearing structure falls down with the light sources still on and this may cause serious problems due to the contact of the hot light sources with the fabric or other components of the lighting system.

A further drawback of the known systems lies in that, due to vibrations, movements and considerable temperature changes due to the repeated switching on and off of the light sources, they may progressively unscrew from the support and consequently go out or even fall down.

Furthermore, the light sources or lamps used are large and reach 30/50 cm in length, while their threaded part is rather small, 4/5 cm, like the length of the lamp holder.

During the inflation or collapse stage, the lamp is in non vertical positions, for example in horizontal positions. This causes bending moments in the critical point of contact between the bulb and the screwing support on the lamp holder, with risk of breakages. In order to overcome all the drawbacks mentioned above, a new type of lighting system has been designed and carried out, provided with an inflatable load bearing structure for supporting the light source and with safety devices.

The main object of the present invention is to increase the safety of the lighting system both during use and during the load bearing structure inflation and deflation stages, through the adoption of special and effective solutions.

It is another object of the present invention to control and slow down the deflation and collapse of the lighting system's load bearing structure, thus reducing the risk of violent impact on the ground of the upper part of the bearing structure, which may have serious consequences for the light sources, and thus allowing the intervention of operators, if necessary.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce noise.

It is another object of the present invention to protect the electromechanical components from the risk of clogging caused by dust and particles and from the infiltration of water.

These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new lighting system with inflatable load bearing and supporting structure for the light source, provided with safety devices.

The characteristics of the new lighting system will be highlighted in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the drawings attached as non-limiting examples. Figure la schematically shows the technical problem of deflation in the emergency lighting systems of known type that, during the deflation or collapse stage, feature their weak point (Figure lb) in proximity to the base, as previously explained.

Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, instead, schematically show the new lighting system, indicated by (1), with safety device or elastic means (9) suited to control the collapse of the supporting structure (2).

The new lighting system (1) comprises a load bearing structure (2) that can be inflated in the shape of a column, one or more light sources (7) supported by said load bearing structure (2), and a supporting base (3) of said load bearing structure (2), and wherein inside said base (3) there are the components for the operation of the lighting system (1), for the inflation (4) and deflation of the load bearing structure (2) and for filtering the air (5, 6), schematically shown in Figure 3. The new lighting system (1) aims to overcome the problem represented by the rapidity with which the load bearing structure (2) falls down during the deflation and collapse stage.

In order to counteract said rapidity fall of the load bearing structure (2) during deflation and collapse, it is necessary to create a double condition.

1. the pressure inside the load bearing structure (2) must decrease slowly, so that the collapse takes place at a reduced speed;

2. the first structural collapse point must not be located at the base (3) of the load bearing structure (2) but in a higher position, so that the upper part (2a) of the load bearing structure (2) falls down first and the lower part (2b) falls down successively.

As schematically shown in Figures 2a-2d, in order to satisfy both said conditions, the new lighting system (1) comprises at least one elastic means (9), for example an elastic slice, anchored with its upper end (91) at the level of or in proximity to the top (21) of the load bearing structure (2) and with its lower end (92) in an intermediate point (22) of the height of said load bearing structure (2), where the folding (23) of the load bearing structure (2) during collapse should be obtained.

Said elastic means (9) is anchored to the external surface or to the internal surface of the load bearing structure (2).

Said elastic means (9) is fixed so that in normal operating conditions of the lighting system (1), that is, with the load bearing structure (2) completely inflated and constant internal pressure, said elastic means (9) is in a tightened condition adjusted in such a way as to avoid affecting the verticality of the load bearing structure (2), as shown in Figure 2a.

During deflation of the bearing structure (2), schematically shown in Figures 2b-d, said elastic means (9) tends to fold the load bearing structure (2).

The tightening action of said elastic means, in fact, reduces the volume and temporarily compensates for the pressure loss due to the interruption of the air flow generated by the fans, furthermore creating structural weak points (23) in proximity to the lower anchorage point (22) of the lower end (92) of the elastic means (9), thus retarding the formation of the weak point (24) at the level of the base (3) of the load bearing structure (2)·

The collapse of the load bearing structure (2) thus takes place slowly, in two steps: initial slow collapse of the upper part (2a) of the load bearing structure, which initially folds at the level of said lower end (92) of the elastic means (9), as shown in Figure 2c;

completion of the collapse of the lower part (2b) with successive folding (24) at the level of the base (3) of the load bearing structure (2), as shown in Figure 2d.

This solution offers numerous advantages.

First of all, the load bearing structure (2), by rotating in at least two points (23, 24), one at an intermediate height and one at the base, performs a reduced overall rotation, with less risks of breaking and occupying the surrounding space, impacting objects or people. In addition to the above, the collapse takes place more slowly and progressively, thus in a way that is easier to control for the operators.

Therefore, the risk of violent impact with the ground of the upper part of the load bearing structure and therefore of the light sources is reduced.

Figure 3 schematically shows the base (3) of the new lighting system (1), housing the inflation devices, such as at least one fan (4) and/or compressors or other devices, noise dampening devices (41, 42, 44, 45) and filtration devices or filters (5, 6).

In order to reduce the noise generated by the fans (4) and the inflation devices housed in said base (3), the new lighting system (1) preferably comprises at least one air delivery pipe (41) housing said fan (4), said pipe being preferably insulated with material suited to limit the diffusion of noise.

In particular, according to the invention, said pipe (41) is substantially cylindrical in shape, preferably in the shape of a U with a first branch (42) with air intake (43) and a second branch (44) suited to be connected to said load bearing structure (2) for inflation purposes.

Said pipe (41) is preferably covered (45) with a noise-proof insulating material.

The new lighting system (1) furthermore comprises one or more special filters (5, 6), in order to prevent dust particles from being drawn by the inflation devices of the load bearing structure and damaging the electric motor.

In particular, according to the invention, one or more filters (5) for coarse particles can be positioned on the air intakes (31) provided on the walls (32) or the cover (33) of said base (3).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 3, said cover (33) of the base (3) furthermore preferably comprises a folded edge (34) suited to envelope the upper part of the walls (32) of said base (3), where the openings of said air intakes (31) are provided, to protect the air intakes (31) and said filters (5) from water infiltrations. In particular, said filters (5) are conveniently arranged between said walls (32), at the level of said air intakes (31), and said edge (34) of the cover (33).

Furthermore, according to the invention, at least one further filter (6) for finer powders can be positioned on the intake mouth (43) of said air delivery pipe (41) to the fan (4). The new lighting system also comprises at least one pressure switch positioned inside the chamber of said load bearing structure, suited to take the value of the pressure, so as to enable the switching on of the light source only when the pressure reaches the set safety value. In this way, the light source can be switched on only when the load bearing structure has been properly inflated and is in a perfectly vertical position, meaning that the light source cannot be switched on if the load bearing structure is in horizontal position or inclined or folded.

Said pressure switch also serves to detect whether the pressure inside the load bearing structure drops below a given safety value, such as to affect the stability of the tower, and in this case the light source is automatically switched off, with no need for the operator to intervene.

In practice, if the fans stop working, the light source goes out and can be switched on only when the load bearing structure has been completely extended. On the other hand, the pressure switch automatically disables the switching on of the light source as soon as the pressure drops below the safety threshold.

This solution offers a double advantage:

• it prevents the operator from making the mistake of switching on the light source in advance, before the load bearing structure has been completely extended;

• it guarantees that, in case of interruption of the air flow and consequent collapse of the load bearing structure, power supply to the light source is interrupted and the light source goes out immediately and automatically.

The pressure switch, by controlling pressure inside the load bearing structure, also guarantees its stability and resistance to the wind.

The internal pressure of the load bearing structure is determined by the operation of the inflation devices and in particular it is proportional to the number of revolutions of the fan.

It is not always necessary to supply the maximum pressure power that causes high wear of the electric motors. In many cases, therefore, it may be convenient to reduce the internal pressure, by simply varying the number of revolutions of the fan.

The new lighting system thus comprises at least one rheostat by means of which, reducing the electric motor power supply voltage, it is possible to reduce the revolutions of the fan and thus the pressure, for example in normal operating conditions.

On the contrary, in case of wind or adverse weather conditions, the operator can make the structure more stable and resistant by increasing the internal pressure, which simply means increasing the number of revolutions of the fan.

As shown above, the new lighting system (1) comprises one or more light sources (7) supported by said load bearing structure (2). Said sources (7) can be placed inside the load bearing structure (2) or outside it, on its top (21) or in proximity to the base (3) or at intermediate heights and distributed on said load bearing structure (2).

In particular, the light source (7) should be preferably positioned in a high position, on the top (21) of the load bearing structure (2).

The light source (7) for example comprises one or more incandescent, or high- or low- voltage discharge lamps, or LED lamps (71).

Figure 4 schematically shows a lamp (71) with anti- loosening O ring (73), while Figure 5 schematically shows the technical problem represented by the risk of breaking the lamp (71) in proximity to its coupling (71a) to the lamp holder (72).

Figures 6a, 6b and 6c schematically show the cage (8) that supports a lamp (71).

In order to avoid the undesired and accidental unscrewing of the lamps (71) from the corresponding lamp holders (72), for each lamp (7) at least one O ring (73) or a ring in silicone or another material is used, resistant to the heat generated by the lamp (71) and applied between said lamp holder (72) and said lamp (71), suited to oppose the unscrewing movement and thus make them substantially integral with each other (see Figure 4).

Said anti-loosening O ring (73), in fact, is in contact with the surface of the lamp and with that of the lamp holder, operating as an elastic element that joins the first element to the second and makes them integral with each other, thus making it impossible for the lamp to be accidentally or undesiredly unscrewed from the lamp holder.

The present invention also aims to avoid the risk of breaking the bulb (74) of the lamp (71) when this is positioned horizontally or inclined, and to eliminate the bending moment on the screwing point, as schematically shown in Figure 5.

For this purpose, the invention comprises at least one containment cage (8) suited to support each lamp (71), schematically shown in Figures 6a, 6b and 6c, where said cage (8) comprises several anchorage points (81) to the cover (21) of the load bearing structure (2), where the lamp holder (72) is positioned, and supports the lamp (71) preferably in proximity to the free end (75) of the bulb (74), preferably through the interposition of at least one further protection O ring (76) in a silicone-based material resistant to heat.

Said cage (8), furthermore, is shaped so as to prevent the accidental contact of the lamp (71) with the load bearing structure (2), which may be damaged by the heat.

Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.