AU2010100435A4

AU2010100435A4 - Portable lighting apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2010100435A4
Application number: AU2010100435A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shannon Lee Carswell; Frank Michael Tate
Original assignee: I ECO Pty Ltd
Current assignee: I ECO Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-04-27
Filing date: 2010-05-06
Publication date: 2010-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-06

Description

P/00/0 11 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Portable lighting apparatus The following statement is a full description of this invention, Including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 PORTABLE LIGHTING APPARATUS Field of the invention The present invention relates to a portable lighting apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to a portable lighting apparatus with an extra-low voltage lighting array powered, 5 at least in part by solar derived energy. The lighting apparatus may have particular application to worksites such as construction sites and roadwork locations. Other applications include temporary lighting of sport fields, night-time outdoor entertainment, open-cut mining operations and any other applications where sufficient lighting and a mains power source are not readily available. D Background of the invention There is an increasing trend for working at night at worksites. This is particularly prevalent in road works whereby working at night avoids disruption to daytime peak traffic. As such, portable lighting apparatus which can be moved from worksite to worksite is used increasingly. 5 However, existing lighting apparatus are not energy efficient, relying on a mains power source or diesel generators. Another problem with existing lighting apparatus is they generally employ light fittings and lamps which operate at 240 V or 415 V. Any maintenance or repair required for such apparatus therefore needs to be undertaken by a skilled electrician. This may be ?0 inconvenient if the location of the lighting apparatus is remote or if the maintenance is required at in inconvenient hour when most skilled tradesmen will be asleep. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lighting apparatus which overcomes or at least ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages. An alternative object is to provide a useful alternative to known lighting apparatus. ?5 Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could 3 reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided lighting 5 apparatus comprising: a wheeled vehicle; a solar electricity generating device mounted to the wheel vehicle; electrical storage means connected to the solar electricity generating device for storage of electricity generated thereby; 0 an alternative electricity source; and an extra-low voltage lighting array powered from the electrical storage means, the solar electricity generating device or the alternative electricity source. In electricity supply, using extra-low voltage (ELV) is one of several means to protect against electrical shock. The International Electrotechnical Commission and its member 5 organizations define an ELV circuit as one in which the electrical potential of any conductor against earth (ground) is not more than either 50 volts RMS (70 volts peak) for alternating current, or ripple-free 120 volts for direct current. In most Australian states (but not all) there are no formal constraints as to who can work on ELV systems. AS 4509.1 Stand-alone Power Systems: Safety requires that work be 20 performed by a "competent person" that is "a person who has acquired through training, qualifications, experience, or a combination of these, knowledge and skill enabling that person to correctly perform the task required". Thus, while some training is required, it is generally not compulsory to have a licensed electrician to service the apparatus. Therefore, necessary repairs and maintenance can usually be carried out by skilled 25 tradesmen available at worksites.

4 The extra-low voltage lighting array typically employs a number of light fittings, generally of 12 V or 24 V type. The lamps employed in the fittings may include halogen, xenon or LED lamps or combinations thereof. LED lamps are the most preferred. The wheeled vehicle may comprise a self-powered vehicle such as a truck with its own 5 drive and steering. Alternatively, the wheeled vehicle may comprise a non-powered vehicle such as a trailer for towing behind a powered vehicle. This renders the whole system portable from worksite to worksite, as required. The wheeled vehicle may include stabiliser legs or stays to stabilise or level the vehicle on-site. The wheeled vehicle suitably provides a mounting platform for all of the essential 0 components of the lighting apparatus. Some of the components may be movably mounted to the wheeled vehicle. This means that the movably mounted components are secured to the wheeled vehicle during transit and are then deployable at the worksite, either adjacent the wheeled vehicle or at a nearby location. This may particularly apply to the lighting array, enabling the array to be moved as required during 5 work. Furthermore, any solar cells employed in the apparatus may be movable eg to adjust the angle, to optimise the incident light. In another form of the invention, the movably mounted components may be detachable from the wheeled vehicle. The solar electricity generating device suitably comprises one or more photovoltaic cells. 20 The electrical storage means is used to store the energy harvested by the solar electricity generating device. The electrical energy storage device may comprise one or more batteries of any known type. The electrical storage means is suitably permanently mounted on the wheeled vehicle. An electrical transformer may also be included if the voltage generated by the solar 25 electricity generating device or the alternative electricity generating device is other than extra-low voltage. The alternative electricity source preferably includes a local generating means. However, the alternative source could also comprise mains power where this is available. The alternative electricity source preferably serves as a stand-by device in the 5 event that there is insufficient charge in the electrical storage device. This might occur when the number of sunlight hours has been insufficient to fully charge the electrical storage device. Alternatively if the lighting array is used at night for an extended period then the electrical storage device may charge down, requiring use of an alternative 5 electricity generating source when the charge is below a predetermined level. Preferably, the alternative electricity generating means comprises a combustion engine such as a diesel engine plus an alternator. A control system may be included to switch over from battery power to the alternative electricity source automatically under certain conditions eg low battery charge. D It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise the term 'comprise' and 5 variations of the term, such as 'comprising', 'comprises' and 'comprised', are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. Brief description of the drawings In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the figures in which: ?0 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable lighting apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable lighting apparatus being shown in the stowed configuration; Figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1, except that the lighting apparatus is shown in the deployed configuration; and 5 Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram for the electrical components of the apparatus.

6 Detailed description of the embodiments Figure 1 illustrates the portable lighting apparatus 10 which includes a wheeled vehicle 12 having a main body 14, opposite wheels 16 and a draw bar 18. The draw bar 18 enables the lighting apparatus 10 to be towed behind another vehicle so that it can be 5 moved from location to location wherever suitable lighting is required. The wheeled vehicle 12 also includes hydraulic stabilizer legs 13 at each corner. The stabilizer legs 13 are movable from a stowed position shown in Figure 1 to a deployed position (not shown) when the boom 34 is deployed as shown in Figure 2. The body 14 of the wheeled vehicle 12 provides a mounting or storage for a number of ) the main components of the lighting apparatus 10. Access doors 15, 17 provide access to the interior of body 14. A solar electricity generating device in the form of a pair of photovoltaic cells 20 are arranged side by side on the top of the body 14. Underneath the photovoltaic cells 20, the electrical storage means (not shown in Figure 1) is stored by the body 14. The electrical storage means may be in the form of a number of 24 volt 5 deep cycle solar batteries coupled together. However, any of the known types of electrical storage means may be utilised in this invention. The batteries 21 are depicted in Figure 3. The angle of the photovoltaic cells 20, relative to the body 14 may be adjusted to optimise the incident light from the sun. An appropriate bracket (not shown) may be .0 provided to enable the operator to effect manual adjustment. Further, they may be returned flat to a stowed position and locked in that position as shown in figure 1. The lighting apparatus 10 also includes an alternative electricity source (not shown) in the form of a diesel generator. The diesel generator is preferably housed in the body 14 with an exhaust grill (not shown) to exhaust combustion fumes. The diesel generator is !5 preferably a single cylinder, silent pack diesel engine 22 coupled to a 24V alternator 23 (see Figure 3). These are housed within the body 14 of the wheeled vehicle 12. The interior of the body 14 also houses an auto engine start mechanism 25 (see Figure 3) and the fuel tank for the diesel engine 22. Sound suppression material (not shown) is also provided on the interior of the body 14.

7 The figures also illustrate a lighting array 26 which operates on extra-low voltage. Accordingly, the batteries 21 preferably provide electricity to the lighting array at a predetermined extra-low voltage. However, if the batteries provide electricity at a different potential then a suitable transformer or conversion device may be provided to 5 power the lighting array. As shown in Figure 1, the lighting array 26 includes four banks of light fittings 28. Each bank may include a number of LED lamps of the 24 voltage type. Each bank 28 is mounted on a U-shaped bracket 30. The angle of the bank 28 may be adjusted relative to the U-shaped bracket about an axis extending between the ends of the U-shaped bracket. Each U-shaped bracket may be pivotally mounted on a D cross beam 32. Each bank 28 is adjustable about two axes of rotation relative to the cross beam 32. The cross beam 32 is mounted at the end of an articulated boom 34 which is pivotable about elbows 36 and 38. The lower end of the boom 34 is fixed relative to the wheeled vehicle 12. The boom 34 is movable from the stowed position illustrated in figure 1 where the lighting banks 28 face downwardly towards the body 14 5 to a fully deployed and extended position illustrated in figure 2. A pneumatic or hydraulic drive may be provided to move the boom to the extended position. The pneumatic or hydraulic drive may be driven by the electrical storage means or by the alternative electricity source. The hydraulic controls are suitably housed within the body 14 of the wheeled vehicle 12. 0 In operation, the batteries 21 are charged from electricity generated by the photovoltaic cells 20. As indicated in Figure 3, a power tracker is provided to gain maximum efficiency from the photovoltaic cells. At night time, when the lights are required, the lighting array 26 is moved to the deployed position illustrated in figure 2. The lighting array 26 then operates from electricity drawn from the batteries, for the length of time 25 required. If however the batteries charge down below a predetermined level, as determined by the battery SOC monitor 27 shown in Figure 3, then the diesel engine 22 is operated to provide an alternative electricity source. Preferably, this changeover occurs automatically and a control system may be employed for this purpose. It is estimated that this system will use approximately 2 litres of fuel per day if poor 30 conditions are present eg minimal input from the sun. The advantages of the present invention are as follows: 8 1. reduced use of fossil fuels; 2. quiet operation; 3. automatic operation minimises operator involvement. The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and 5 modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus including: a wheeled vehicle; a solar electricity generating device mounted to the wheeled vehicle; 5 electrical storage means connected to the solar electricity generating device for storage of electricity generated thereby; an alternative electricity source; and an extra-low voltage lighting array powered from the electrical storage means, the solar electricity generating device or the alternative electricity source. 0

2. The lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wheeled vehicle comprises a trailer.

3. The lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the alternative electricity source comprises a local electricity generating means.

4. The lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the alternative electricity 15 generating source comprises a combustion engine and an alternator.

5 The lighting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including a control system to switch between to the electrical storage means for operating the lighting array and the alternative electricity source for operating the lighting array.