CA1080184A - Luminaire lens insert - Google Patents
Luminaire lens insertInfo
- Publication number
- CA1080184A CA1080184A CA270,643A CA270643A CA1080184A CA 1080184 A CA1080184 A CA 1080184A CA 270643 A CA270643 A CA 270643A CA 1080184 A CA1080184 A CA 1080184A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lens
- light
- luminaire
- prisms
- vertical plane
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
LUMINAIRE LENS INSERT
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A luminaire lens is provided with a prism arrangement which emits light in two beams. A fluorescent tube fixture is utilized with the lens and approximately the same amount of light comes from the 0° to 30° zone of candlepower distribution and the 30° to 60° zone of candlepower distribution, with very little light emitted from the 60° to 90° zone of candlepower distribu-tion. A second lens insert element is provided within the primary luminaire lens to mask the image of the fluorescent tube.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A luminaire lens is provided with a prism arrangement which emits light in two beams. A fluorescent tube fixture is utilized with the lens and approximately the same amount of light comes from the 0° to 30° zone of candlepower distribution and the 30° to 60° zone of candlepower distribution, with very little light emitted from the 60° to 90° zone of candlepower distribu-tion. A second lens insert element is provided within the primary luminaire lens to mask the image of the fluorescent tube.
Description
10801~4 PIELD OF 'l'~ INVENTION
The invention is directed to illumination and, more particularly, to a combination lens structure for distributing light from a light fixture in a certain predetermined pattern.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
U.S. Patent No. 3,647,148 is directed to a patent for a luminaire lens that distributes light in a very definite two-beam pattern arrangement as seen in Figure 7 of that patent.
U.S. Patent No. 2,394,992 is directed to another lumi-naire lens in which light is directed in a very definite two-beam pattern arrangement (see Figure 3). In the prior art, there are many different ways of distributing light from a light fixture.
The above-mentioned U.S. patents distribute light in a very def-inite two-beam pattern arrangement with very little light distri-buted in the 0 to 30 zone of candlepower distribution and the 60 to 90 zone of candlepower distribution.
- U.S. Patent No. 3,725,697 is directed to a luminaire structure involving a secondary lens insert for diffusing and distributing light from a high intensity light source into the luminaire primary lens.
U.S. Patent No. 3,291,979 is directed to a luminaire wherein a secondary lens is used behind the primary lens of the luminaire.
Finally, U.S. Patent No. 3,234,376 is directed to a luminaire wherein plural lens structures are utilized for the lens assembly of the luminaire.
SU~ RY OF THE INVENTION
A luminaire lens is used with a twin-beam type of can-dlepower distribution to provide greater effective illumination.
3Q The lens has a large amount of light emitting from angles other than nadir. r~Ost of the light rays are emitted at angles ranging from 20 from nadir to 45 from nadir. Due to the prism shape -1- ~
..
- `` 1080184 , and arrangement in the bottom of the luminaire lens and the two sides of the lu~inaire lens, the candlepower distribution is such that the amount of light coming from the 0 to 30 zone of candlepower distribution is about equal to the light coming from the 30 to 60 zone and there is very little light emitted from the 60 to 90 zone. The luminaire lens is used with a single or plural lamp (fluorescent tube) fixture and provides increased effective illumination with a reduction in illumination in the nadir direction and in generally horizontal angles from the light fixutre.
Thus, in accordance with the present teachings, there is provided an elongated luminaire for illuminating an area therebelow which comprises a linear light source, an elongated primary prism which has a bottom section and two side sections on either side of the bottom section with the sections having prisms formed on the sides thereof facing the light source with the prisms constituting light incident and light emergent surfaces for redirecting and emitting light rays from the light source generally away from a vertical plane through and parallel to the axis of the linear light source and into annular ranges on either side thereof. A secondary lens insert is located between the light source and the primary lens with the secondary lens being generally a V shape and extending from the center region of the elongated prism to the top sides of the elongated prism and having prismatic prisms positioned on the surface thereof facing away from the light source.
The distribution of light from both lenses is such that sub-stantially half of the light distribution will emit in an area of 0 to 30 from the vertical plane and substantially the other half of the light is distributed in an area from 30 to 60 from the vertical plane and the light actually is dis-tributed in two zones either side of the vertical plane.
The invention is directed to illumination and, more particularly, to a combination lens structure for distributing light from a light fixture in a certain predetermined pattern.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
U.S. Patent No. 3,647,148 is directed to a patent for a luminaire lens that distributes light in a very definite two-beam pattern arrangement as seen in Figure 7 of that patent.
U.S. Patent No. 2,394,992 is directed to another lumi-naire lens in which light is directed in a very definite two-beam pattern arrangement (see Figure 3). In the prior art, there are many different ways of distributing light from a light fixture.
The above-mentioned U.S. patents distribute light in a very def-inite two-beam pattern arrangement with very little light distri-buted in the 0 to 30 zone of candlepower distribution and the 60 to 90 zone of candlepower distribution.
- U.S. Patent No. 3,725,697 is directed to a luminaire structure involving a secondary lens insert for diffusing and distributing light from a high intensity light source into the luminaire primary lens.
U.S. Patent No. 3,291,979 is directed to a luminaire wherein a secondary lens is used behind the primary lens of the luminaire.
Finally, U.S. Patent No. 3,234,376 is directed to a luminaire wherein plural lens structures are utilized for the lens assembly of the luminaire.
SU~ RY OF THE INVENTION
A luminaire lens is used with a twin-beam type of can-dlepower distribution to provide greater effective illumination.
3Q The lens has a large amount of light emitting from angles other than nadir. r~Ost of the light rays are emitted at angles ranging from 20 from nadir to 45 from nadir. Due to the prism shape -1- ~
..
- `` 1080184 , and arrangement in the bottom of the luminaire lens and the two sides of the lu~inaire lens, the candlepower distribution is such that the amount of light coming from the 0 to 30 zone of candlepower distribution is about equal to the light coming from the 30 to 60 zone and there is very little light emitted from the 60 to 90 zone. The luminaire lens is used with a single or plural lamp (fluorescent tube) fixture and provides increased effective illumination with a reduction in illumination in the nadir direction and in generally horizontal angles from the light fixutre.
Thus, in accordance with the present teachings, there is provided an elongated luminaire for illuminating an area therebelow which comprises a linear light source, an elongated primary prism which has a bottom section and two side sections on either side of the bottom section with the sections having prisms formed on the sides thereof facing the light source with the prisms constituting light incident and light emergent surfaces for redirecting and emitting light rays from the light source generally away from a vertical plane through and parallel to the axis of the linear light source and into annular ranges on either side thereof. A secondary lens insert is located between the light source and the primary lens with the secondary lens being generally a V shape and extending from the center region of the elongated prism to the top sides of the elongated prism and having prismatic prisms positioned on the surface thereof facing away from the light source.
The distribution of light from both lenses is such that sub-stantially half of the light distribution will emit in an area of 0 to 30 from the vertical plane and substantially the other half of the light is distributed in an area from 30 to 60 from the vertical plane and the light actually is dis-tributed in two zones either side of the vertical plane.
2 -, 108(~1~34 A lens insert is placed behind the primary luminaire lens and in front of the lamp or lamps of the fixture to elimin-ate the objectionable image of the lamp or lamps when the lumi-naire is viewed from certain angles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a cross section of a luminaire having the preferred tube and lens arrangement;
Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a por-tion of the lens structure; and ..
Figure 3 is a light distribution diagram illustrating the transverse distribution of light from the luminaire shown in Figure 2.
DE~CRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The structure of the luminaire having the inventivelens herein is shown in Figure 1. A normal luminaire will cast light straight down and in such a manner that the greatest can-dlepower is distributed over the surface below the luminaire.
This, of course, means that inasmuch as the shortest distance from the luminaire to the work is along the nadir, the vertical line from the center of the luminaire, the largest amount of light is concentrated directly below the light and spreads as widely as possible from the nadir to cover the maximum area most sufficient-,~
,. - 2a -ly. Recently, luminaires have been developed, such as tha in U.S. Patent Mo. 3,647,148, wherein virtually no light is distri-buted in the direction of the nadir and the concentration of light is emitted at lateral angles on either side of the nadir. That patent substantially eliminates light rays from the 0 to 30 an-gular range from the nadir and directs substantially all the light within the angular range of 30 to approximately 60 on either side of the nadir.
The lens of Figure 1 differs from both prior art dis-tributions by providing a candlepower distribution such as thatshown in Figure 3, to be discussed below. The light fixture or ; luminaire 2 is composed of a housing 4 which contains two fluo-rescent tubes or lamps 6. It is possible to use a luminaire 2 which contains only one fluorescent tube 6. A thxee-sided pri-mary lens 8 is placed over the fluorescent tube(s) of the light fixture. The inside of the lens has a prism arrangement which will refract light to form the candlepower distribution curve of --Figure 3. Within the-lens 8 there is placed a secondary lens 9 which is generally V-shaped. This lens 9 is used to break up the tube image of the light source and to improve the angles at which the light rays strike the prisms of the main lens 8. The lenses may be made of conventional glass or plastic material such as are normally used in the art.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown the prism arrangement on the bottom and sides of the lens 8 and the insert lens 9 which yield the desired candlepower distribution curve of Figure 3. Line 10 represents the center line of the lens, or the nadir line. The prisms of the main lens 8 are made approximately 1/8 inch wide and the alpha angle of the first prism 12 is a 30 included angle. The next adjacent prism 14 has a width or base of approximately l/8 inch and its alpha prime angle is 32. The prisms, as they extend across the lens bottom 18 from the center
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a cross section of a luminaire having the preferred tube and lens arrangement;
Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a por-tion of the lens structure; and ..
Figure 3 is a light distribution diagram illustrating the transverse distribution of light from the luminaire shown in Figure 2.
DE~CRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The structure of the luminaire having the inventivelens herein is shown in Figure 1. A normal luminaire will cast light straight down and in such a manner that the greatest can-dlepower is distributed over the surface below the luminaire.
This, of course, means that inasmuch as the shortest distance from the luminaire to the work is along the nadir, the vertical line from the center of the luminaire, the largest amount of light is concentrated directly below the light and spreads as widely as possible from the nadir to cover the maximum area most sufficient-,~
,. - 2a -ly. Recently, luminaires have been developed, such as tha in U.S. Patent Mo. 3,647,148, wherein virtually no light is distri-buted in the direction of the nadir and the concentration of light is emitted at lateral angles on either side of the nadir. That patent substantially eliminates light rays from the 0 to 30 an-gular range from the nadir and directs substantially all the light within the angular range of 30 to approximately 60 on either side of the nadir.
The lens of Figure 1 differs from both prior art dis-tributions by providing a candlepower distribution such as thatshown in Figure 3, to be discussed below. The light fixture or ; luminaire 2 is composed of a housing 4 which contains two fluo-rescent tubes or lamps 6. It is possible to use a luminaire 2 which contains only one fluorescent tube 6. A thxee-sided pri-mary lens 8 is placed over the fluorescent tube(s) of the light fixture. The inside of the lens has a prism arrangement which will refract light to form the candlepower distribution curve of --Figure 3. Within the-lens 8 there is placed a secondary lens 9 which is generally V-shaped. This lens 9 is used to break up the tube image of the light source and to improve the angles at which the light rays strike the prisms of the main lens 8. The lenses may be made of conventional glass or plastic material such as are normally used in the art.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown the prism arrangement on the bottom and sides of the lens 8 and the insert lens 9 which yield the desired candlepower distribution curve of Figure 3. Line 10 represents the center line of the lens, or the nadir line. The prisms of the main lens 8 are made approximately 1/8 inch wide and the alpha angle of the first prism 12 is a 30 included angle. The next adjacent prism 14 has a width or base of approximately l/8 inch and its alpha prime angle is 32. The prisms, as they extend across the lens bottom 18 from the center
-3-1~)80~84 to the edge thereof, increase their alpha angles by two degrees with each prism until the last prism 16 is reached. At this time, the alpha double prime angle is 7~. This showing in Figure 2 represents one-half of the bottom 18 of the lens. The same type of distribution is provided on the opposite side of the lens with the alpha angles of the prisms therein all facing towards the ;-center of the lens and all increasing from 30 to 74 by two-degree increments. The primary lens 8 also has two sides 20 which are inclined at an angle from a line perpendicular to the plane of the bottom 18 of the lens to provide an included angle of 100 between the bottom and side. Along the sides 20 there is arranged - a series of prisms. The prisms have a width of 1/8 inch. The first prism 22 has a beta angle of 35. The next prism 24 has a beta prime angle of 36. The prisms, as they extend along the side of the lens from the bottom of the lens to the top of the lens, have the beta angles increased by one degree until the last prism 26 is reached, wherein the beta double prime angle is 57.
The prisms are all made with an omega angle of 78. The omega angle is the included angle at the peak of the prisms and the prisms are all linear prisms.
The main lens 3 is then suppIemented with an insert lens 9 which is placed within the main lens 8 between the main lens 8 and the light tube or tubes 6. The lens insert 9 is gen-erally V-shaped with a 95 included an~le, as shown in Figure 1.
The point of the V rests upon the center of the bottom of the main lens 8 and the two sides of the V extend upwardly to the upper end of each side of the main lens 8. As shown in Figure 2, the lens insert 9 extends from prism 12 on the bottom 18 of lens 8 to prism 26 on the side of lens 8. The lens insert is provided with a prismatic pattern which is placed on the side of the insert facing away from the tubes 6. The prisms of the insert are pris-matic and are approximately .188 inches square at their base, .060 inches high, and are made with base~angles of 33 and a prism peak angle of 114 . This construction for the lens 8 and the insert 9 will provide the candlepower distribution curve of Figure 3. c~
The curve of Figure 3 is a polar diagram illustrating the candlepower distribution, taken in a transverse direction, of a longitudinal luminaire provided with the lens and lens insert of the present invention. It will be seen that there is some -' distribution of light in the nadir direction which is directly perpendicular from the face of the lower plane of the luminaire.
It will be seen that maximum light distribution is to either side of the nadir in the region of an angle from 20 to 45 from the nadir. As was indicated above, the lens insert system could be ; used in a li~ht fixture having one lamp or two lamps.
If a one lamp fixture is utilized, approximately 48%
of the illumination on one side of the nadir appears in the area from 0 to 30 from the nadir. Another 44% of the illumination appears in the area from 30 to 60 from the nadir. Only appro-ximately 8~ of the illumination appears in the area from 60 to 90 from the nadir. If a two lamp fixture is utilized, then approximately 50% of the illumination on one side of the nadir appears in the area from 0 to 30 from the nadir. Another 41%
of the illumination appears in the area from 30 to 60 from the nadir. Only approximately 9% of the illumination appears in the area from 60 to 90 from the nadir.
.
~5~
The prisms are all made with an omega angle of 78. The omega angle is the included angle at the peak of the prisms and the prisms are all linear prisms.
The main lens 3 is then suppIemented with an insert lens 9 which is placed within the main lens 8 between the main lens 8 and the light tube or tubes 6. The lens insert 9 is gen-erally V-shaped with a 95 included an~le, as shown in Figure 1.
The point of the V rests upon the center of the bottom of the main lens 8 and the two sides of the V extend upwardly to the upper end of each side of the main lens 8. As shown in Figure 2, the lens insert 9 extends from prism 12 on the bottom 18 of lens 8 to prism 26 on the side of lens 8. The lens insert is provided with a prismatic pattern which is placed on the side of the insert facing away from the tubes 6. The prisms of the insert are pris-matic and are approximately .188 inches square at their base, .060 inches high, and are made with base~angles of 33 and a prism peak angle of 114 . This construction for the lens 8 and the insert 9 will provide the candlepower distribution curve of Figure 3. c~
The curve of Figure 3 is a polar diagram illustrating the candlepower distribution, taken in a transverse direction, of a longitudinal luminaire provided with the lens and lens insert of the present invention. It will be seen that there is some -' distribution of light in the nadir direction which is directly perpendicular from the face of the lower plane of the luminaire.
It will be seen that maximum light distribution is to either side of the nadir in the region of an angle from 20 to 45 from the nadir. As was indicated above, the lens insert system could be ; used in a li~ht fixture having one lamp or two lamps.
If a one lamp fixture is utilized, approximately 48%
of the illumination on one side of the nadir appears in the area from 0 to 30 from the nadir. Another 44% of the illumination appears in the area from 30 to 60 from the nadir. Only appro-ximately 8~ of the illumination appears in the area from 60 to 90 from the nadir. If a two lamp fixture is utilized, then approximately 50% of the illumination on one side of the nadir appears in the area from 0 to 30 from the nadir. Another 41%
of the illumination appears in the area from 30 to 60 from the nadir. Only approximately 9% of the illumination appears in the area from 60 to 90 from the nadir.
.
~5~
Claims (4)
1. An elongated luminaire for illuminating an area therebelow comprising a linear light source, an elongated primary prism having a bottom section and two side sections on either side of the bottom section, said sections having prisms formed on the sides thereof facing the light source, said prisms consti-tuting light incident and light emergent surfaces for redirecting and emitting light rays from the light source generally away from a vertical plane through and parallel to the axis of the linear light source and into annular ranges on either side thereof, and a secondary lens insert between the light source and the primary lens, said secondary lens being generally a V shape and extending from the center region of the elongated prism to the top of the sides of the elongated prism and having prismatic prisms positioned in the surface thereof facing away from the light source, the distribution of light from both lenses being such that substantially half of the light distribution will emit in an area of 0° to 30° from the vertical plane and substan-tially the other half of the light is distributed in an area from 30° to 60° from the vertical plane, and the light actually is distributed in two zones either side of the vertical plane.
2. The elongated luminaire of claim 1 wherein light rays are distributed in two areas either side of the vertical plane with substantially all of the light distributed in the two areas either side of the vertical plane and being in an area about 20° to 45° from the vertical plane.
3. The elongated luminaire of claim 2 wherein the bottom section of the luminaire is formed with a series of paral-el prisms extending from the center of the bottom section of the luminaire to the edge of the luminaire, with one of the included angles of the prisms being fixed in size and another included angle of the prisms increasing as one progresses from the center-most prism to the edgemost prism of the bottom section.
4. The elongated luminaire of claim 3 wherein the sides of the luminaire have a plurality of parallel prisms which extend from adjacent the bottom section of the lens to adjacent the top of the lens side and said prisms have a fixed size inclu-ded angle and an included angle which increases in size as one moves from adjacent the bottom section of the lens to adjacent the top of the lens side.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA270,643A CA1080184A (en) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-01-28 | Luminaire lens insert |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA270,643A CA1080184A (en) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-01-28 | Luminaire lens insert |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1080184A true CA1080184A (en) | 1980-06-24 |
Family
ID=4107831
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA270,643A Expired CA1080184A (en) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-01-28 | Luminaire lens insert |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1080184A (en) |
-
1977
- 1977-01-28 CA CA270,643A patent/CA1080184A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |