AU2013202994B2 - Light apparatus and portable lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a light apparatus (20) comprising a frame (24) having a mounting portion (22) for connection to a trailer-mounted mast (18). A light diffuser (32) is fixedly connected relative to the frame (24) and encloses a volume (26). A lamp holder (28) is fixedly connected relative to the frame (24) and located within the volume (26) for receiving a lamp (30). The light diffuser (32) is formed from an opaque polymeric material so as to diffuse light emitted from the lamp (30) and illuminate a 360 degree region around the light apparatus (20). 24b, 38 38 a 38a 24a 36 36(a 1678q954_1.do

Description

1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 NEPEAN ENGINEERING & INNOVATION PTY LTD COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Title: Light apparatus and portable lighting system The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 Cross-Reference to Related Applications [0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2012901698 filed on 30 April 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field [0002] The present disclosure relates to a light apparatus and to a portable lighting system including such a light apparatus. The light apparatus and portable lighting system have developed primarily for use on construction sites, mine sites, industrial sites, in military and emergency applications, for road works, outdoor concerts, and other applications where a portable lighting source is required. Background [0003] Several portable light apparatus are known, such as the present applicant's "NightOwl" trailer-mounted light apparatus, which comprise either an array or 4 or 6 flood lights, or a so-called "balloon light", mounted on a boom. [0004] A disadvantage of the array of flood lights is the amount of glare that they produce. Also, it is difficult to provide an even 360 degree distribution of light with flood lights. [0005] A disadvantage of balloon lights is that the fabric balloon surrounding the light source must be inflated when the light is in use and deflated when the light is collapsed for storage or transport. This inflation and deflation undesirably increases the time required to set up and increases the time required to reconfigure the light for transport or storage. Also, it is relatively easy to damage the fabric balloon, which limits the environments in which the light can be used and requires that care be taken to avoid the balloon being damaged during use, transport or maintenance/cleaning. [0006] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

3 Summary [0007] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. [0008] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a light apparatus comprising: a frame having a mounting portion for connection to a trailer-mounted mast; a light diffuser fixedly connected relative to the frame and enclosing a volume; and a lamp holder fixedly connected relative to the frame and located within the volume for receiving a lamp, wherein the light diffuser is formed from an opaque polymeric material so as to diffuse light emitted from the lamp and illuminate a 360 degree region around the light apparatus. [0009] The diffuser may be tubular and have a first end and a second end spaced apart along a longitudinal axis. The frame may have a first end associated with the first end of the diffuser and a second end associated with the second end of the diffuser. The mounting portion may be provided at the first end of the frame. A first closure may be provided at the first end of the frame for closing the first end of the diffuser and a second closure may be provided at the second end of the frame for closing the second end of the diffuser. The first closure may have at least one opening therein to facilitate air flowing in and out of the volume enclosed by the diffuser. An air filter may be provided to filter air passing through the opening in the first closure. The second closure may have at least one opening therein to facilitate air flowing in and out of the volume enclosed by the diffuser. An air filter may be provided to filter air passing through the opening in the second closure. The frame may comprise at least one longitudinally extending member connecting the first closure to the second closure. [0010] A fan may be mounted relative to the frame and located inside the diffuser to cool the lamp. [0011] The diffuser may be relatively rigid so as to be able to protect the lamp and withstand wind-loading and impact loading. The diffuser may be formed from polycarbonate. The diffuser may be annular in transverse cross-section.

4 [0012] Four of the lamp holders may be provided. [0013] The lamp may be an arc lamp and, more particularly, may be a metal halide, mercury vapour, high pressure sodium or LED lamp. Each lamp may have a wattage of between 400W and 2000W. In some embodiments, each lamp may have a wattage of around 1000W. [0014] In a second aspect, there is provided a portable lighting system, comprising: a trailer for housing an electricity generator; a mast having one end fixedly connected to the trailer and having an opposite free end; and a light apparatus as defined in the first aspect above, the mounting portion of the light apparatus being connected to the free end of the mast. [0015] The mast may be reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration for transportation or storage and an extended configuration for use of the light apparatus. In some embodiments, the mast may be telescopic and in other embodiments the mast may be articulated to facilitate reconfiguration of the mast between the collapsed and extended configurations. Brief Description of Drawings [0016] An embodiment of the presently disclosed light apparatus and portable lighting system will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable lighting system according to the present disclosure with its mast extended, the lighting system including an embodiment of a light apparatus according to the present disclosure; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the portable lighting system of Figure 1 with its mast collapsed for transport or storage; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the light apparatus of Figure 1, shown with the lamps and fans removed; and Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3, but with the diffuser removed but with the lamps and fans installed. Description of Embodiments 5 [0017] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a portable lighting system 10 comprising a trailer 12 having a housing 14 enclosing an electricity generator 16. A 10m hydraulic four-stage mast 18 extends from the trailer 12 and has one end 18a fixedly connected to the trailer 12 and an opposite free end 18b. A light apparatus 20 is connected to the free end 18b of the mast via a mounting portion 22. The mast 18 is articulated to facilitate its reconfiguration between a collapsed configuration, as shown in Figure 2, for transportation or storage and an extended configuration, as shown in Figure 1, for use of the light apparatus 20. In other embodiments (not shown), the mast 18 may be telescopic to facilitate its reconfiguration between the collapsed and extended configurations. [0018] The light apparatus 20 comprises a frame 24. A light diffuser 32 is fixedly connected relative to the frame 24 and defines an enclosed volume 26. Four lamp holders 28 are fixedly connected relative to the frame 24 and located within the volume 26 for receiving four 1000W arc lamps 30. The lamps 30 may be metal halide, mercury vapour, high pressure sodium or LED lamps. The light diffuser 32 is annular in transverse cross-section and is formed from an opaque polymeric material, ideally polycarbonate, so as to diffuse light emitted from the lamps 30 and illuminate a 360 degree region around the light apparatus 20. Being formed from polycarbonate, the diffuser 32 is relatively rigid so as to be able to protect the lamps 30 and withstand wind loading and impact loading. The diffuser 32 is approximately 2 mm thick. [0019] Referring to Figure 3, the diffuser 32 is tubular and has a first end 32a and a second end 32b spaced apart along a longitudinal axis 34. The frame 24 has a first end 24a associated with the first end 32a of the diffuser 32 and a second end 24b associated with the second end 32b of the diffuser 32. The mounting portion 22 is located at the first end 24a of the frame 24. [0020] A first closure, in the form of a metal base plate 36, is provided at the first end 24a of the frame for closing the first end 32a of the diffuser and a second closure, in the form of a metal top plate 38, is provided at the second end 24b of the frame for closing the second end 32b of the diffuser. The top and bottom plates 36, 38 each have two openings 36a, 38a therein to facilitate air flowing in and out of the volume 26 enclosed by the diffuser 32 and the base and top plates 36, 38. An air filter 40 is provided to filter air passing through the openings 36a in the base plate. As best seen in Figure 4, a cap 39 covers the top plate 38 to prevent rain from entering the light apparatus 20 through the top openings 38a. The cap 39 is spaced from the top plate 38 so as to allow air to exhaust from the top openings 38a and a peripheral skirt portion of the cap directs the exhaust air down along the exterior surface of the diffuser 32. The frame comprises 6 longitudinally extending aluminium light deflector members 42 connecting the base plate 36 to the top plate 38. A centre light deflector 44 is also provided centrally of the lamps 30 to deflect light emitted from the lamps radially outwardly. The light deflector 44 also inhibits the lamps 30 from radiating heat toward each other. [0021] Two fans 50 are fixedly connected relative to the frame 12 and located adjacent the first end 32a of the diffuser 32 to draw external air into the diffuser 32 through the openings 36a and past the lamps 30 to cool the lamps 30 prior to being exhausted through the openings 38a. [0022] Returning to Figures 1 and 2, the housing 14 of the trailer 12 is fully bunded to contain fluid spills. Manually adjusted out-riggers 52 may be provided for the trailer 12. The trailer 12 has a retractable draw bar 54 for side loading on a truck. The generator 16 includes an alternator connected to a diesel engine, including shut down protection for high temperature, low oil pressure and low fuel, as well as manual shut down, via a "shut-down" button 56, for emergency stopping of the generator 16. The generator 16 also has a 140L fuel tank, which provides for approximately 80 hours of operation. The voltage provided from the generator 16 to the lamps 30 is single phase with individual earth leakage on each lamp 30. The trailer 12 has dual voltage LED tail lights. The trailer 12 has two wheels mounted on a single axle. [0023] It will be appreciated that the illustrated lighting system 10 and light apparatus 20 are well adapted for use in many applications, such as on construction sites, mine sites, industrial sites, in military and emergency applications, for road works, outdoor concerts, and other applications where a portable lighting source is required. The diffuser 32 provides a uniform diffraction of light emitted from the lamps 30 to provide a low glare light source with 360 degree illumination. The diffuser 32 is also quite strong, and protects the lamps 30 from environmental factors, such as rain, wind, dust and insects, and renders the lighting system 10 and light apparatus 20 suitable for use in more extreme environments that prior art balloon light apparatus. The use of the diffuser 32 also negates the requirement to provide protective transport covers, as are required with prior art balloon light devices. The diffuser 32, along with the fabricated allow top plate 38, also help protect the lighting system 10 and light apparatus 20 from damage by hard falling objects, such as hail. [0024] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the 7 broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (22)

1. A light apparatus including: a frame having a mounting portion for connection to a trailer-mounted mast; a tubular light diffuser fixedly connected relative to the frame and enclosing a volume; and a lamp holder fixedly connected relative to the frame and located within the volume for receiving a lamp, wherein the light diffuser is formed from a rigid opaque polymeric material so as to diffuse light emitted from the lamp and illuminate a 360 degree region around the light apparatus.

2. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser has a first end and a second end spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the frame has a first end associated with the first end of the diffuser and a second end associated with the second end of the diffuser.

3. A light apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mounting portion is provided at the first end of the frame.

4. A light apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, including a first closure at the first end of the frame for closing the first end of the diffuser.

5. A light apparatus according to claim 4, including at least one opening in the first closure to facilitate air flowing in and out of the volume enclosed by the diffuser.

6. A light apparatus according to claim 5, including an air filter associated with the opening in the first closure to filter air passing through the opening.

7. A light apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, including a second closure at the second end of the frame for closing the second end of the diffuser.

8. A light apparatus according to claim 7, including at least one opening in the second closure to facilitate air flowing in and out of the volume enclosed by the diffuser. 9

9. A light apparatus according to claim 8, including an air filter associated with the opening in the second closure to filter air passing through the opening.

10. A light apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9 when dependent upon any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the frame includes at least one longitudinally extending member connecting the first closure to the second closure.

11. A light apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including at least one fan mounted relative to the frame to direct air inside the diffuser for cooling.

12. A light apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diffuser is sufficiently rigid to be able to protect the lamp and withstand wind-loading and impact loading.

13. A light apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diffuser is formed from polycarbonate.

14. A light apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diffuser is annular in transverse cross-section.

15. A light apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including the lamp, wherein the lamp is an arc lamp.

16. A light apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lamp is a metal halide, mercury vapour, high pressure sodium or LED lamp.

17. A light apparatus according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein each lamp has a wattage of between 400W and 2000W.

18. A light apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including four said lamp holders.

19. A portable lighting system, including: a trailer for housing an electricity generator; 10 a mast having one end fixedly connected to the trailer and having an opposite free end; and a light apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims, the mounting portion of the light apparatus being connected to the free end of the mast.

20. A portable lighting system according to claim 19, wherein the mast is reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration for transportation or storage and an extended configuration for use of the light apparatus.

21. A light apparatus, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A portable lighting system, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.