Electricity: conductors and insulators – Overhead – Towers – poles or posts
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-10-16
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Overhead
Towers, poles or posts
C052S749100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06303857
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to mast mounted outdoor lighting systems for illuminating roadways, sidewalks, parking lots or the like, and specifically to an improved mast mounted lighting system wherein a watertight casing containing power distribution components is stored within the mast foundation and is accessible by the user through the base of the mast.
2. The Prior Art
Outdoor mast lighting systems are well known in the prior art. Such systems commonly are supported above the surface to be lighted by a long pole or mast. Masts are typically hollow, and may be round, square or of any selected cross-sectional shape which provides adequate stability. The mast may include a breakaway base at its lower end having an opening (or “handhole”) therein, through which the interior of the mast may be accessed by maintenance or installation personnel. The mast is mounted on a foundation of concrete or other suitable material set permanently into the ground and may be affixed to the foundation by a plurality of anchor bolts set into the foundation, which engage corresponding holes in the breakaway base.
Suspended at the top of the mast is an electrical component, commonly an electric light. In some applications, a cantilevered secondary mast supports the light over a street or sidewalk. In other applications, a ring of high-intensity lamps may be supported radially around the distal end of the mast. The electrical component is electrically connected to a power source, generally in series with a plurality of other commonly powered mast units in a given area.
Power delivery to each mast unit in a commonly powered system has been accomplished in a variety of ways in the prior art. In one such system, the output of a master circuit breaker may be connected to an electric power cable which runs to the base of the mast unit. The power cable connects to a fuse and surge arrestor assembly disposed within the hollow mast, which prevent current surges caused by lightning, voltage spikes or other anomalies from damaging the light fixture or the master circuit breaker. Access to the fuse and surge arrestor assembly is commonly provided by locating that assembly adjacent a handhole in the mast.
The performance of such a system is impaired by several shortcomings. Wire and cable attachments are generally made by splices, which are vulnerable to failure when tensile forces are applied to the connections. Because of the vertical orientation of the cable sections, gravitational forces are exerted at all times on the spliced connections which may tend to come apart. In catastrophic failure, such as that caused by a collision by an automobile or truck, the spliced connections are likely to disconnect, causing an interruption in service throughout the grid, and exposing dangerously “hot” wires.
In another prior art system, the fuse and surge arrestor assembly is located in a remote underground manhole. Such a system requires significantly greater expense and space to install, as a remote hole must be dug and maintained for each lighting unit within the grid, and additional cable is required to accommodate the remotely located electrical components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which, in one aspect, is an improved mast lighting system. The improved lighting system includes at least one mast having a proximate end and an opposite distal end. The distal end is capable of supporting an electrical component, such as a street lamp, and the proximate end is mounted to a foundation, at least a portion of which extends into the ground. Within the foundation is a chamber of sufficient dimensions to receive within a distribution component assembly which may include fuses and a surge arrestor. An electrical cable within the mast connects the electrical component to the distribution component assembly through an electrical connector. In turn, the distribution component assembly is electrically connected to a power source which provides power to the mast lighting system. In the proximate end of the mast, an opening in communication with the chamber provides the user access to the distribution component assembly.
In another aspect, the invention includes an improved mast lighting system, wherein the electrical connector is a breakaway connector set having a first connection and a second connection. A casing is provided, which encloses the distribution component assembly and is disposed within the chamber. A selected one of the first or second connection is disposed on the casing and electrically connected to the distribution component assembly.
In another aspect, the invention includes a casing having an aperture therethrough, and a closure member capable of selectively engaging the aperture in a sealing watertight manner. The casing has a plurality of ports therethrough capable of sealingly engaging an insulated wire passing therethrough.
In another aspect, the invention includes a casing having a space therein capable of receiving the distribution component assembly and including at least one fuse port. The fuse port is located on the casing and receives a fuse therein which is electrically connected to the distribution component assembly. A fuse cap for the fuse port is provided, as well as means for sealingly engaging the fuse cap to the fuse port.
In another aspect, the method of the invention includes an improved method of constructing a mast lighting system, including disposing the distribution component assembly within the chamber, electrically connecting the power source to the distribution component assembly, and electrically connecting the distribution component assembly to the electrical cable.
These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.
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D.O.T. Connectors, Inc.
Needle & Rosenberg P.C.
Nino Adolfo
Reichard Dean A.
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