Illumination – Light modifier – Refractor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-04
2004-02-24
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light modifier
Refractor
C362S216000, C362S241000, C362S296040, C362S800000, C340S981000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06695462
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to a lighting installation, in particular as a danger light, obstruction light or daytime and night-time marker, having at least one luminaire, at least one lighting means being arranged in a housing of the luminaire. The lighting installations in this case are preferably for aviation obstructions, offshore installations or landing strips, for example wind rotors, multi-story buildings, viaducts, towers, drilling platforms or helipads.
Such lighting installations are intended to be visible from as far away as possible. At the same time, it is also possible for certain regions to remain blanked out. It is thus the case, for example, that luminaires on aviation obstructions only have to be visible to aircraft, but not for individuals beneath the aircraft obstructions. These individuals would be dazzled by the light emitted. It is intended, however, for the light to be emitted, as far as possible, in all the cardinal-point directions.
The object of the present invention is to provide a lighting installation which emits powerful light all the way round. For this purpose, the lighting installation according to the invention is defined by the following features:
a) the lighting means is in the form of a ring or part of a ring and defines a ring axis,
b) the lighting means is assigned at least a first, wholly or partially encircling reflector surface, which defines an axis of rotation,
c) the ring axis and axis of rotation run essentially parallel to one another or even coaxially with one another.
The abovementioned axes are preferably arranged vertically. Correspondingly, the light is emitted mainly at an angle to the abovementioned axes, in particular perpendicularly thereto. The reflector surface preferably penetrates at least partially into the annular lighting means.
The lighting installation is preferably designed as a flashing-light installation, with the luminaire in the form of a flashing luminaire and the lighting means in the form of a flashing lighting means. It is also then usually the case that an external or internal electronic circuit is provided for activating the flashing lighting means.
The reflector surface may be of concave form in relation to the lighting means. A parabolic cross section—even partly parabolic—in respect of a radial section of the reflector surface is particularly advantageous. This makes it possible to achieve good concentration of the light.
The reflector surface is advantageously curved such that the light beams emanating from the reflector surface and located in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation also run essentially parallel to one another. This makes it possible for the intensity of the light to be increased specifically in a certain region, while other regions have little or no light. In particular, the reflector surface is curved such that the light is reflected parallel to a plane. In this case, the plane is located preferably perpendicularly to the ring axis and/or axis of rotation. Correspondingly, this gives a high light intensity all the way round in the horizontal direction and little or no light beneath or above.
Two reflector surfaces arranged in a mirror-inverted manner in relation to one another are advantageously provided. These two reflector surfaces may merge into one another or be connected to one another. With the reflector surfaces in the form of part-parabolas or half-parabolas, combinations of two reflector surfaces give a whole parabola (in radial section). The lighting means is preferably arranged at the focal point of the parabola or at least in the vicinity of the focal point. A configuration with just a half-parabola is also possible. In this case too, the lighting means is preferably located in the vicinity of, or at, the focal point.
A further embodiment of the invention provides means by which encircling light emission is produced such that—starting from a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or ring axis—there is no light emission in a bottom region beneath the plane, there is pronounced light emission in a central region, which impinges on the plane, and there is a light intensity in a top region which decreases in relation to the central region. The central region is the main region and is preferably bounded in the downward direction by the plane and extends upward as far as an angle of approximately 3-5° above the plane. The bottom region should remain as dark as possible in order to avoid dazzling individuals who are in this region. The top region should likewise remain as dark as possible or else have a light intensity which decreases as the angle increases or have considerably poorer illumination overall than the central region.
If the abovementioned features are realized by a concentration of the light, this achieves considerable intensification for the central region. The light is visible from a relatively large distance. If the light is merely blocked out in the top and bottom regions, this at least avoids dazzling in these regions. It is also then possible to tell the location of the viewer relative to the luminaire. It is also expedient to combine measures for concentrating the light and for blocking out border regions. The transitions between the regions are thus more pronounced.
In order to achieve a screening action, a reflector surface—in particular the bottom of two reflector surfaces—may be curved upward in the outward direction approximately as far as a plane which is formed by the lighting means and is perpendicular to the ring axis. A region beneath the plane is specifically shielded or blocked out as a result.
The luminaire or lighting installation advantageously has a translucent covering in the manner of a tube. The cover may be highly transparent and is advantageously subdivided into three regions, namely a top region, a central region and a bottom region. In radial section, the central region is formed without curvature and is relatively narrow parallel to the ring axis. The ring axis preferably runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the covering. The bottom and top regions of the covering are configured as a Fresnel lens with a smooth inner surface and profiled outer surface. The top and bottom regions are wide enough for the light which is emitted directly from the lighting means and is not reflected or shielded by the reflector surface to be refracted and passed on. The aim is all-round emission of the light within a small angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the covering. This ideally runs coaxially with the ring axis and/or axis of rotation.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides two luminaires one above the other. It is possible for one luminaire to be swiveled in relation to the other or to be removed in some other way. The aim is to double the light intensity. In another application, one of the two luminaires emits red light as night-time light and the other luminaire emits white light as daytime light. It is also possible to combine the two luminaires—in a configuration as flashing luminaires—with briefly staggered activation in order to achieve visibly longer flashing times.
It is advantageously possible to adjust the reflector surface vertically in the housing. If two reflector surfaces are provided, both may be adjusted vertically, for example relative to the translucent covering.
The reflector surface—or both reflector surfaces—may be displaceable on a rod parallel to, or coaxial with, the axis of rotation. One possibility is a threaded rod on which a reflector body with a reflector surface is retained between adjustable nuts.
It is possible for the lighting means to be adjustable parallel to the axis of rotation or ring axis and relative to the reflector surface. In the case of two reflector surfaces, the adjustment preferably takes place relative to both.
The lighting means is preferably retained in the reflector surface. It is thus possible to provide in the reflector surface openings into which electrical contacts of the lighting means can pass. In the case of two re
Rohlfing Ralph
Serfass Wolfgang
aqua signal Aktiengesellschaft Spezialleuchtenfabrik
Husar Stephen
Technoprop Colton LLC
LandOfFree
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