Illumination – Light source and modifier – Ionized gas or vapor light source
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-08
2001-10-16
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Ionized gas or vapor light source
C362S265000, C439S488000, C439S491000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302564
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to luminaires for outdoor lighting and more particularly relates to a roadway luminaire which is easy to mount to a mast arm and easy to maintain due to a mounting arm assembly, a twist-lock feature, a fool-proof power plug and a plug-in replacement luminaire.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Poles for supporting luminaires for the illumination of roadways, parking lots and the like differ not only in that they have either a vertical end with a mast arm or an inclined end, but also in that the diameters of the poles vary. For example, some poles have approximately a horizontal end, the end often being at an angle of 5° to about 15° to the horizontal. This variety of pole construction results in that luminaires are commonly manufactured and warehoused in a corresponding variety of constructions. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a universal mounting device for mounting a luminaire to a pole or mast arm.
Additionally, current maintenance costs associated with roadway luminaires is extremely high. Particularly, maintenance is usually performed by licensed electricians to replace capacitors, ballasts, photoelectric controls, starters and complete luminaires. The average cost to replace/install a luminaire is approximately three times the cost of the luminaire itself e.g. the cost of three men, two trucks and a trailer. There have been efforts in the past to overcome some of the maintenance problems associated with roadway illumination. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,718 discloses a roadway luminaire having the electrical components employed in the lamp ballasting circuitry mounted to a door member by means of a universal mounting bracket having a deformable planer construction. In this way, a variety of different sized components can be mounted using the disclosed bracket. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,217 discloses a flood light luminaire having all the electrical components mounted on a removable door casting to allow for servicing and maintenance. U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,539 discloses a luminaire having quick-disconnect components which are mounted on an electrical plate detachably secured to a support plate of the luminaire. The plate includes a quick disconnect for detaching the electrical plate from the support plate. However, maintenance of the luminaire is still costly and replacement of components of the ballasting circuitry is difficult and time consuming.
Another disadvantage of known roadway luminaires includes the possibility of replacing a luminaire with one of a different voltage. Currently, roadway lighting may be operated at voltages of 120, 208, 220, 230, 240, 277, 347 and 480 volts throughout the world. Accordingly, it is quite possible when replacing or repairing luminaires to use replacement parts rated for a different voltage. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a luminaire which includes a means for keying the luminaire so that it can only be replaced by a luminaire which operates at the same voltage.
Yet another disadvantage of known roadway luminaires is the “hot wiring” of the luminaire, thus making replacement difficult and dangerous. In most cases, rather than shutting off the power to the roadway lighting, the lighting is repaired with power being supplied to the luminaire. Accordingly, only licensed electricians with proper protective gear generally perform replacements of luminaires. Thus it would be advantageous to have a luminaire which can be safely and easily replaced even with power being supplied to the luminaire.
In view of the present disadvantages of currently available roadway lighting devices, it is desirable to redesign the luminaire to be easy to install and maintain, provide a fool-proof replacement system which permits only luminaires of same voltage to replace a damaged luminaire and to make installation and maintenance more cost effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to allow safe and easy installation and maintenance of roadway luminaires.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved mounting system for a luminaire to a mast arm.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a keyed power plug receptacle for connecting the luminaire to the power supply.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a luminaire which can be mounted to a mast arm assembly utilizing a simple twist-lock feature.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a luminaire having a plug-in starter module located externally on the luminaire housing for ease of replacement.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a luminaire including an internal leveling device for proper positioning of the luminaire.
In accordance with the present invention, a luminaire for mounting on a pole, and more specifically, a roadway luminaire includes a mast mount docking station having a clamp for attaching to the pole at one end of the docking station and a keyed coupling means provided at an opposite end of the docking station and the luminaire having a connecting plate provided with keyways such that the luminaire is removably coupled to the mast mount docking station by a twist-lock mating between the keys and keyways of the coupling means and connector plate. The mast mount docking station further includes an electrical plug connector located at the coupling end of the docking station add, the luminaire includes a mating electrical plug connector for electrically connecting the mast mount docking station to the luminaire. Specifically, the supply voltage is coupled to the electrical plug connector in the mast mount docking station and the mating electrical plug connector in the luminaire provides the supply voltage to the balls circuitry and ultimately the lamp.
For ease of attachment of the mast mount docking station to the pole, the docking station includes a plurality of knock-outs for adapting to mast diameters of varying sizes. In this way, the mast mount docking station can be specifically adapted such that little space is left between the mast and the docking station to prevent animals and the like from entering the docking station. The docking station more specifically includes an upper mast assembly and a lower mast assembly. The upper mast assembly includes the clamp for attaching the docking station to the pole. The upper and lower mast assemblies are secured together by bolts such that the electrical plug connector mentioned above is secured therebetween. Additionally, the docking station may include a series of inclined steps located in the upper mast assembly to permit angles of tilt for leveling the luminaire.
With respect to the twist-lock feature, the luminaire may be coupled to the mast mount docking station by a 15° to about 30° rotational movement of the luminaire with respect to the docking station. This rotational movement provides both electrical and mechanical connection. More specifically, upon rotation, the power plugs of the mast mount docking station and luminaire, respectively, are electrically connected and the keys of the docking station are mechanically connected to the connector plate of the luminaire in the same motion. The luminaire also preferably includes a molded photoelectric control receptacle extending above a top portion of the luminaire and a molded capacitor compartment which extends below a bottom portion of the luminaire to provide hand holds for performing the twist-lock mounting of the luminaire to the docking station.
With respect to the electrical connectors, each of the connectors is provided with a series of crenulations, each crenulation being identified with a specific voltage rating to cover the spectrum of all available international voltages. The twist-lock feature for mating the connectors is provided with keyways which ensure that only corresponding voltage rated connectors are operatively coupled together.
The roadway luminaire of the present invention also includes a lower housing in which the ballast circ
Bilson Edward B.
Cathey Timothy D.
DeCandia John
Kauffman (Rick) R. W.
Marik Greg
Hoffman & Baron LLP
Sember Thomas M.
Thomas & Betts International Inc.
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