AU2009200880A1 - Peak/flat adjustment - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: SELECON NEW ZFALAND LIMITED Actual Inventor: DAVID HAYTHORNTHWAITE Address for service in A J PARK, Level 11, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT Australia: 2601, Australia Invention Title: PEAK/FLAT ADJUSTMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a peak/flat adjustment assembly for lighting apparatus, such as lurninaires, architectural lights and the like. 5 BACKGROUND Lighting apparatus, such as luminaires and architectural lighting, comprise a cylindrical type housing, which contains a reflector, a lens system and a lamp. A lamp is moveably displaced in the housing such that the illumination is reflected off the reflector and through the lens system to illuminate the desired area. 10 By adjusting the position of the lamp in the longitudinal direction of the housing, it is possible to adjust the peak/flat of the lighting apparatus. Peak/flat adjustments (which are understood by those skilled in the art) relate to the light distribution pattern of a lighting apparatus. 15 Traditionally, means for manipulating the position of the lamp within the housing to adjust peak/flat have been clumsy. SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved peak/flat adjustment. 20 In one aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a lighting apparatus comprising: a housing, a carriage coupled to the housing, the carriage adapted to retain a lamp within the housing, the carriage being moveable relative to the housing to manipulate the position of the lamp within 25 the housing, wherein the carriage is moveable along a first axis by way of a force applied along a second axis. Preferably: 30 the housing is elongated with a longitudinal direction and has a back plate with an aperture, the carriage is moveable relative to the back plate along the longitudinal direction to position a retained lamp in the housing through the aperture. Preferably the carriage is coupled to the housing via a guide, the carriage being moveable relative to 35 the back plate along the guide. -2- Preferably the carriage comprises a force diverter for transferring a force along the second axis into a force in the longitudinal direction to coerce the carriage in the longitudinal direction. Preferably the force diverter comprises a first angled surface that bears against a second angled 5 surface. Preferably the first angled surface is disposed on the carriage and the second angled surface is disposed on an insect that moves relative to the carriage. 10 Preferably the force is applied to the insert. Preferably the force is applied by way of rotating a member threaded into the insert. In another aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a peak/flat adjustment assembly 15 for a lighting apparatus comprising a carriage for coupling to the lighting apparatus, the carriage adapted to retain a lamp within the housing, the carriage being moveable relative to the housing to manipulate the position of the lamp within the housing, where the carriage is moveable along a first axis by way of a force applied along a second 20 axis. In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such 25 external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the cornmon general knowledge in the art. The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of'. Related 30 terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner. This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are 35 mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. -3- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, of which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lighting apparatus, 5 Figure 2 is an exploded isometric of the lighting apparatus, Figures 3-5 are perspective views of a carriage in further detail, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the carriage in isolation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 10 An embodiment of the peak/flat adjustment assembly for a lighting apparatus is described with reference to Figures 1-6. The peak/flat adjustment assembly forms part of an overall lighting apparatus. For example, the lighting apparatus could be a luminaire or architectural lighting, although the assembly could be used in any suitable lighting apparatus. The peak/flat adjustment assembly can be integrated into an existing lighting apparatus to provide a means by which to adjust 15 the position of the lamp within the housing to adjust peak/flat. An embodiment can be the assembly on its own, or a lighting apparatus comprising the assembly. Figure 1 shows a lighting apparatus 1, in this instance architectural lighting apparatus. The apparatus comprises a housing 30 being generally cylindrical in shape and having a longitudinal axis and more 20 generally a longitudinal direction L (the longitudinal direction can in fact be considered to extend in both directions along line L). The housing retains a peak/flat adjustment assembly, reflector, lamp, lens system and other components of a lighting apparatus. Figure 2 shows the internal components housed in such a lighting apparatus 30. The housing 30 is 25 formed as two half cylindrical components 10 a, 10b that can be coupled together to form the cylindrical assembly of the housing. The lamp reflector 6 and reflector holder 5 are retained within the housing. The lamp holder 6 has an aperture 23 through which a lamp 14 can be inserted when the lighting apparatus is assembled. A lens system (not shown) can also be retained in the housing. 30 A back plate or face (lamp baffle) 4 is coupled to cylindrical assembly. Among other things, the baffle 4 provides a mount for the reflector 6. The back face 4 has an aperture 22 through which the lamp 14 can be inserted. The baffle aperture 22 is aligned coincidentally with the reflector aperture 23. A rear lamp housing 2 encloses the peak/flat adjustment assembly and mechanism. 35 The baffle has a carriage guide/coupling 24, comprising two rails 24a, 24b, that extends longitudinally backwards from the back face of the baffic. The rails are joined by a webbing 24c. -4- A carriage 25 is provided that couples to the baffle 4. Figures 3-5 show the carriage assembled on the baffle 4. Figure 6 shows the carriage separately for clarity. The carriage comprises a lamp base 9 (which is for larnp retention) and two extensions 26a, 26b. A lamp is installed in the lamp base during assembly such that it protrudes through the baffle aperture 22 and reflector aperture 23 so it 5 is disposed within the reflector 6. At the distil end of each arm extension is disposed a half cylinder 2 7 a, 27b for slidably engaging in a respective rail 24a, 24b of the carriage guide 24- The half cylinders 27a, 27b form a coupling for coupling the carriage 25 to the baffle 4 via the carriage guide 24. The carriage 25 can move freely 10 backwards and forwards in the longitudinal direction L on the carriage guide 24. During operation, the carriage 25 can move away from and towards the baffle in a longitudinal direction to position the lamp 6 at the desired location within the reflector 6 and housing 30. Movement of the carriage can therefore adjust the peak/flat of the lighting apparatus by appropriate positioning of the lamp. 15 Referring back to Figure 2, the carriages 25 moved forward and backwards along the guide in a longitudinal direction by way of an adjustment force that is generated along a different axis to the longitudinal direction. The adjustment force is preferably provided by way of a cap screw 10. Rotation of the cap screw creates a force that is transferred by a force diverter into a force in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal force) to adjust the position of the carriage 25. 20 Preferably, the force diverter comprises at least two angled surfaces that slidably bear against each other whereby force applied in the first direction directly or indirectly to the first angled surface is transferred through the bearing surface to the second angled surface. This translates the force in the first direction to a force in the longitudinal direction L. In a preferred embodiment, to enable 25 movement of the carriage 25 in two directions, there are at least two pairs of angled surfaces. The first pair bear against each other to translate a force to act towards the front of the lighting apparatus in the longitudinal direction L, and a second pair that bear against each other to translate a force to act in an opposite direction (away from the front of the lighting apparatus) along the longitudinal direction L. 30 Preferably, the force diventer comprises: a) a lamp ramp 8 with at least one (and preferably 2 either side) elongated angled protrusions Sa with two bearing surfaces (e.g. 30a, 30b) facing in opposite directions, and b) on the internal face of each extension 26a, 26b two opposed angled protrusions 28a, 28b 35 that define a channel 29, as shown in Figure 6. - 5- The elongated protrusions 8a of the lamp ramp are inserted in and slidably retained within the respective channels 29 of each extension 26a, 26b. The lamp ramp 8 can slide freely relative (at an angle) to the carriage 25 under coercion on the bearing surfaces. The lamp ramp 8 is an insert for the carriage 25. 5 It will be appreciated that other types of force diverter means, also including other types or configurations of ramps could achieve the same purpose. The lamp ramp 8 comprises a threaded portion for rotatably receiving the cap screw Rotation of 10 the cap scrcw 10 in a first direction forces the lamp ramp 8 upwards relative to the carriage. As the lamp ramp 8 slides, its angled surface e.g. 30a bears against the corresponding surface 28a, 28b on the protrusions in the carriage. This transfers the force at right angles in a longitudinal direction and in turn coerces the carriage in a longitudinal direction away from the back of the baffle. Rotating the cap screw 10 in the opposite direction by the same mechanism coerces the carriage towards the 15 baffle. These movements adjust the relative position of the lamp in the reflector. The peak/flat adjustment assembly can comprise some or all of the baffle, rail system, lamp, carnage, force diverter, lamp ramp and/or cap screw. Preferably, the peak/flat adjustment assembly at least comprises the carriage for coupling to the baffle. 20 -6-

Claims (10)

1. A lighting apparatus comprising, a housing, 5 a carriage coupled to the housing, the carriage adapted to retain a lamp within the housing, the carriage being moveable relative to the housing to manipulate the position of the lamp within the housing, wherein the carriage is moveable along a first axis by way of a force applied along a second axis. 10

2. A lighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the housing is elongated with a longitudinal direction and has a back plate with an aperture, the carriage is moveable relative to the back plate along the longitudinal direction to position a retained lamp in the housing through the aperture. 15

3. A lighting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the carriage is coupled to the housing via a guide, the carriage being moveable relative to the back plate along the guide.

4. A lighting apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the carriage comprises a force 20 diverter for transferring a force along the second axis into a force in the longitudinal direction to coerce the carriage in the longitudinal direction.

5. A lighting apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the force diverter comprises a first angled surface that bears against a second angled surface. 25

6. A lighting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the first angled surface is disposed on the carriage and the second angled surface is disposed on an insert that moves relative to the carriage..

7. A lighting apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the force is applied to the insert. 30

8. A lighting apparatus wherein the force is applied by way of rotating a member threaded into the insert.

9. A lighting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the 35 accompanying drawings. -7.

10. A peak/flat adjustment assembly for a lighting apparatus comprising: a carriage for coupling to the lighting apparatus, the carriage adapted to retain a lamp within the housing, the carriage being moveable relative to the housing to manipulate the position of the lamp within the housing, 5 wherein the carriage is moveable along a first axis by way of a force applied along a second axis. - 8-