FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a lighting assembly for submerged use.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is conventional to provide submerged lighting in pools, particularly in swimming pools, but also in decorative pools. It is also conventional to circulate the water in a pool by withdrawing water from the pool, filtering or otherwise treating it and pumping it back to the pool. In some known structures the submerged lighting assembly is configured so that the water returning to the pool does so through passageways provided in the lighting assembly.

The present invention provides an improved lighting assembly and also provides an improved lighting assembly through which water flows on its return to the pool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a lighting assembly comprising a housing, a transparent or translucent lens fitted to the housing and a light source behind the lens, the lens comprising a front wall and a rim encircling the front wall on the rear side of the front wall, the light source being located in the space between said front wall of the lens and the rearward facing free edge of the rim. In the preferred form the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a printed circuit board which is located in said space.

There can be light directing optics in front of the light emitting diodes to obtain a desired light distribution pattern.

Said diodes can be mounted on a printed circuit board which is in thermal contact via intermediate elements with the pool water to promote dissipation to the pool water of the heat generated by the diodes.

Said intermediate elements can comprise a metal plate and a graphite disc between the metal plate and the board, the face of the metal plate remote from the graphite disc being exposed to the pool water. A compressed sealing ring can be provided for urging said board, said disc and said metal plate into close contact to promote heat transmission.

To provide an earth connection, said metal plate can have a tubular element of electrically conductive metal welded to the centre of said remote face thereof, there being a hole in said plate in register with said element and a power cable passing through the element and connected to said board, there being a sleeve forced into said tubular element with the earth wire of said cable gripped between the outer surface of said sleeve and the inner surface of the tubular element. A gland can be provided in said tubular element for sealing the zone where said cable enters the tubular element.

The space between said gland and the end of the tubular element from which the cable emerges for connection to the board can be filled with potting compound. A sealing ring can be provided for sealing between said board and said lens so that the light source is in a cavity from which water is excluded. A decorative flange in the form of a ring can be secured to the housing, the centre opening of the ring being of dimensions such that the lens can pass through it.

The assembly can include light emitting diodes in the range 440mm to 520 mm and a desaturating white LED between 5000 and 7000 Kelvin.

There can be a transparent refraction grating in said space between said front wall and the diodes.

There can also be a dimmer for the light emitting diodes and a wifi receiver for controlling the setting of the dimmers in dependence on signals received by said receiver.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a lighting assembly comprising a housing, a lens fitted to the housing, a light source behind the lens, an air/water mixing element within the housing, the mixing element including a channel which increases in cross-sectional area from its inlet end towards its outlet end, a water inlet to said housing which water inlet is connected to the inlet end of said channel, and an air inlet to said housing, the air inlet also being connected to said channel so that mixed air and water flows along said channel to the outlet end thereof.

Said air inlet can be connected to said channel intermediate its ends.

In the preferred form the channel has an inlet section of constant cross section and an outlet section which increases in cross-sectional area, said air inlet being connected to the inlet section between its inlet end and said outlet section.

Two channels can be provided, the channels being parallel to one another. The manufacturing process can include the step of welding said tubular element to one face of said plate, and then machining the other face of the plate to reduce the thickness of the plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a lighting assembly for a swimming pool or decorative water pool; Figure 2 is an axial section through the lighting assembly of Figure 1 with a lens module of the assembly separated from a housing of the assembly;

Figure 3 illustrates part of the lens module to an enlarged scale; Figure 4 is a detail of the lens module to a further enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is an "exploded" pictorial view of the lighting assembly;

Figure 6 is an "exploded" pictorial view of a further detail of the lighting assembly; Figure 7 is pictorial view of a lighting assembly which is adapted to permit aerated pool water to be pumped thought it; Figure 8 is an "exploded" view of the lighting assembly of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a pictorial view of the lighting assembly of Figures 7 and 8 with part of the housing cut away to show the structure within the housing; Figure 10 is a plan view of a water and air mixing element;

Figure 1 1 is a pictorial view of the element of Figure 10 and shows the air and water flow paths; Figure 12 is a section on the line XII - XII in Figure 10; Figure 13 is a pictorial view of a manifold; Figure 14 illustrates three different forms of plate;

Figure 15 diagrammatically illustrates a pool fitted with lighting assemblies in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 16 is an "exploded" pictorial view of a further form of lighting assembly;

Figure 17 is a pictorial view of a manifold of the assembly of Figure 16; and Figure 18 is an elevation of the manifold of Figure 17. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The lighting assembly 10 shown in Figures 1 to 6 comprises a housing 12 to the front end of which a lens module 14 is fitted.

The housing 12 is generally cylindrical and is closed at one end by a transverse wall 16 in which there is an entry point for the power cable 18. The other end of the housing is open, the open end being encircled by a flange 20. Plain sockets 22 are moulded into the housing 12 inwardly of the flange 20.

The assembly's transparent lens is designated 24 and can be produced by casting an acrylic synthetic plastics material. Screws 26 secure the lens 24 to a plate 28 which is in the form of a disc. The components between the lens 24 and the plate 28 will be described below. The lens module 14 further includes a decorative back plate 30 which is in the form of a ring with a central opening. Studs 32 (see particularly Figure 4) with spring washers under their heads pass through holes in diametrically opposed tabs 34 (Figure 5) which protrude from the annular part of the plate 30 into the central opening of the plate 30, through holes in diametrically opposed tabs of the plate 28 and into tapped bores of the lens 24 to secure the plate 28 to the lens 24 and to the plate 30. The plate 30 additionally has a plurality of arcuate slots 36 in it for a purpose to be described. Further screws 38 pass through holes 40 in the plate 30 and into the sockets 22 to secure the plate 30 to the flange 20.

The central opening in the plate 30 is sufficiently large to enable the lens 24 to pass through it so that the plate 30 can be detached after the studs 32 and screws 38 have been removed. It is desirable for the plate 28 to be as thin as possible.

A metal clad printed circuit board 42 is located behind the lens 24 and has a plurality of light emitting diodes 44 mounted on it. The diodes can all be white but diodes of two different colours can be used. Red, blue, white, cyan and green diodes can be used as a single colour or in any desired colour combination. To obtain a preferred "ocean" effect in the pool water, LEDs having wavelengths in the range 440mm to 520mm are used and are desaturated using a white LED of between 5000 and 7000 Kelvin.. An external constant current power source, with a dimming facility, is preferably used to power the diodes 44. Dimming can be controlled remotely using a wifi receiver such as a cellular phone module. However, it is also possible to use an internal power source located in the lens module 14.

The pattern of light distribution can be varied by placing optics between the lens 24 and the diodes 44. One optic is shown in Figure 5 and is designated 45. Each optic can comprise a sleeve and a light guiding transparent plastic element inside the sleeve. The element is shaped to direct the light in the requisite direction. It is also possible to use a transparent plastic refraction grating in front of the light sources which grating "stretches" the point light sources into elongate line configurations.

To further protect the circuit board against corrosion a moisture barrier can be applied to that face thereof from which the diodes project.

Behind the board 42 there is a thin graphite disc 46 which transfers heat from the board 42 to the plate 28. The rear face of the plate 28, as will be described, is in contact with the pool water.

As best seen in Figure 3, the lens 24 has a rim 48 in which there are sockets 50 which receive the screws 26. The rim has a circumferentially extending groove 52 in which there is an O-ring 54. The O-ring 54 seals between the rim 48 and the plate 28. The board 42 and diodes 44 are in the space encircled by the rim 48. They thus, in use, protrude beyond the pool wall surface into the body of water in the pool. An internal step of the rim 48 provides a seat for a further O-ring 56 which is compressed between the rim 48 and the plate 28. This ring provides a force which holds the board 42 against the disc 46 and the disc 46 against the plate 28 to promote heat transfer. The cable 18 enters the lens module 14 through a gland structure 58. For clarity some of the parts of the gland structure 58 are not shown in Figure 5 co-axial with the coiled cable 18 but to one side thereof.

The gland structure 58 is best seen in Figure 3 and comprises a tubular element 60 of stainless steel or other electrically conductive corrosion resistant material one end of which fits into a central hole 62 (Figure 5) of the plate 28 and is welded to the plate. A gland bolt 64 screws into the tapped opposite end of the element 60 and there is an internally tapered metal sleeve 66 inside the bolt 64. A resilient seal 68 of conical external shape fits inside the element 60 and against an internal step 70 of the element 60. The cable 18 passes through the bolt 64, sleeve 66 and seal 68 and enters a space designated 72.

The earth wire of the cable 18 is bared and trapped between the element 60 and a metal or plastics material sleeve 74 which is driven into the bore of the element 60. The power carrying wires of the cable 18 are connected to the board 42,

The space designated 72 is filled with potting compound for sealing against water ingress inside the outer sheath of the cable 18. The cable 18 enters housing 12 through an opening 76 in the end wall 16. A gland structure 78 is provided which replicates the gland structure 58.

To provide a further earth connection the gland structure 78 includes a metal ring 80 in a central opening of which the gland structure 78 is mounted.

Screws 82 pass through bores 84 moulded into the end wall 16 and into blind tapped sockets 86 in the ring 80. The exposed end of one of the screws has an earthing wire 88 attached to it.

There is a sealing ring 90 in a groove of the ring 80, the sealing ring 90 being between the ring 80 and the wall 16.

The cable 18 enters through a cable conduit 92 which fits into a socket 94 which encircles the opening 76.

The light emitting diodes 44 are within the rim 48. This arrangement permits light to emerge not only through the circular front part of the lens 24 but also through the rim 48 thus enhancing light distribution. The plate 30 is electro polished so that it acts as a reflector and reflects stray light into the pool water.

The plate 28 requires a minimum thickness to enable the clement 60 to be welded to it without distortion. After welding, the front face of the plate 28 is machined to thin it as far as is possible thereby to promote heat transfer to the pool water.

The lighting assembly 10.1 of Figures 7 to 13 has many parts in common with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6 and where applicable like parts have been designated with like reference numerals. In this form the second inlet to the housing 12.1 , designated 100, is used to permit air and water to be fed into the housing 12.1 via a manifold 102 which is fitted to the inlet 100. Water enters the manifold 102 via a pipe 104 and air enters via a tube 106. The manifold 102 is hollow and open at its lower end and the water pipe 104 leads directly into the hollow interior of the manifold as best seen in Figure 13. The tube 106 is connected to a vertical passage 108 (Figure 9) in the wall of the manifold 102.

An air and water mixing element designated 1 10 extends along the housing 12 from beneath the inlet 100 to the open end of the housing 12.1 . As will be seen from Figure 8, the element 1 10 decreases in thickness towards the left hand end. The housing has a flat internal upper surface against which the element 1 10 is pressed. More specifically, bolts 1 12 (Figure 8) passed through bores 1 14 in the wall 1 16 encircling the inlet 100, through bores 1 18 in the element 1 10 and into tapped bores 1 13 of the manifold 102 secure the mixing element 1 10 and the manifold 102 to the housing 1 13 with the element 1 10 inside the housing 12.1 and the manifold 102 outside.

The element 1 10 is formed with two parallel channels 120 which extend along the length of the element. Each channel includes a first section 122 of constant cross- sectional area and a second section 124 which is flared so that it increases in cross- sectional area from the end which joins the section 122 to its open end. The cross- sectional dimensions of the sections 124 increase not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction. The channel sections 122 communicate with two wells 126 which are upwardly open and form downward extensions of the hollow interior of the manifold 102.

The passage 108 in the wall of the manifold 102 is in register with two further channels 128 formed in the element 1 10. More specifically the channels 128 diverge from a common air inlet space 130 which is immediately below the passage 108. The channels 128 enter the channels 120 upstream of the zones where the sections 122, 124 merge. The wider, exit ends of the channels sections 124 lie immediately behind two openings 132 cut in the plate 30.1 as best seen in Figure 7.

An air pump (not shown) is connected to the tube 106 and the pool pump is connected to the pipe 104. Water consequently flows into the manifold 102 and into the wells 126. From the wells 126 it flows along the channels 120 and enters the pool though the openings 132. Air is sucked from the channels 128 into the water flowing in the channels 120.

As the water flows in the channel sections 124, the air and water are mixed and consequently water with air bubbles in it emerges from the lighting unit. Water streams flowing from the sections 124 do not intersect and are directed downwardly to improve water circulation at the bottom of the pool.

The air may be mixed with, or replaced by, a gas for treating the pool water. It is also possible to add aromas or diluted salts.

The slots 36 permit cooling water to enter the housing 12. The O-ring 54 prevents pool water entering the chamber within the lens 24 which contains the diodes 44. Three plates are illustrated in Figure 14. The left hand plate 30 is the plate used in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6. The right hand plate 30.1 is the form used in the embodiment of Figures 7 to 13. The centre plate 30.2 can be of a decorative material such as, for example, marble or glass and it will be noted that it is thicker than the plates 30 and 30.1 . The pool diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 15 has a plurality of light assemblies 10, 10.1 spaced at intervals along the pool's walls to obtain the requisite light and air / water mixture flow patterns and enhance circulation of the water in the pool.

The lighting assembly of Figures 16 to 18 has much in common with the lighting assembly of Figure 7 to 13 and only the differences between the two lighting assemblies will be described. The inlet 100 is removed and there is an opening 134 in the flat top surface of the housing 12.1 . The manifold 102 is replaced by a manifold 136 of a different configuration. The manifold 136 has a rim 138 which fits in the opening 134. Water enters the manifold 136 through the pipe 104 and a port 140 as can be seen in Figure 17. The water flows as described above into the sections 122 of the channels 120 of the element 1 10.

The airtube 106 is parallel to the pipe 104 and enters the manifold 136 through a port designated 142. Within the wall of the manifold 136 there is a channel which connects the port 142 to a vertical passage in the wall of the manifold. This passage is not shown but is the same as the passage 108 shown in Figure 9.