AU2023100075B4 - Light emitting diode (led) luminaires for roadway lighting - Google Patents

Abstract

A luminaire for roadway lighting, comprising: a body having integrally-formed heat sink fins; an LED assembly housed within the body; an LED driver coupled to the LED assembly, and spaced from the LED assembly; a diffuser mounted to the body via a diffuser frame to encase the LED assembly within the body; an adjustable spigot adaptor for mounting the luminaire to a support post, wherein a diameter of an opening within the spigot adaptor can be adjusted to receive support post spigots of differing diameters; wherein the luminaire is configured to replace an existing conventional non-LED luminaire for Category V or Category P lighting by retrofitting to an existing support post. AlI I A-a:- ,nd 4 n O-70 407-7 ,4 AAlt" U D"I"LI

Description

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) LUMINAIRES FOR ROADWAY LIGHTING

Field

[0001] The present invention relates to LED luminaires for roadway lighting.

Background

[0002] Lighting standards for public spaces and roadways in Australia and New Zealand include two main lighting categories, V and P. Category V lighting is defined for high traffic volume roadways and cater mainly for motorists. The roadways may include freeways, state highways, major intersections, roundabouts, arterial and sub arterial and main roads, speed zoning, on and off ramps, interacting carriageways and bridges. These areas may be accompanied by high pedestrian volume, so Category V lighting may also assist pedestrians along the roadways. Conventional Category V roadway lighting in Australia and New Zealand typically comprise high pressure sodium (HPS) luminaires.

[0003] Category P lighting is defined in Australia and New Zealand for low volume traffic roadways and other outdoor public spaces, and cater mainly for pedestrians. The roadways may include pedestrian pathways, suburban roads, parks, driveways, cycleways, external car parks, outdoor shopping precincts, malls, town squares, transport interchanges, subways, footbridges, ramps and stairways. These areas may also allow vehicle access, so Category P lighting may assist drivers along the roadways. Conventional Category P roadway lighting include HPS, mercury vapour, compact fluorescent and linear fluorescent lamps.

[0004] In response to the widespread demand to reduce energy consumption, solid state lighting (SSL) typically comprising LEDs are becoming an increasingly popular lighting option. Additionally, LED lighting generally last much longer compared to conventional HPS luminaires, which have a relatively short lifetime of around 26,000 hours.

[0005] In this context, there is a need for improved roadway lighting comprising LED luminaires.

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Summary

[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a luminaire for roadway lighting, comprising: a body having integrally-formed heat sink fins; an LED assembly housed within the body; an LED driver coupled to the LED assembly; a light diffuser mounted to the body via a diffuser frame to encase the LED assembly within the body; an adjustable spigot adaptor for mounting the luminaire to a support post; wherein the luminaire is configured to replace an existing conventional non-LED luminaire for Category V or Category P lighting by retrofitting to an existing support post.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a luminaire for roadway lighting, comprising: a body having integrally-formed heat sink fins; an LED assembly housed within the body, and spaced from the LED assembly; an LED driver coupled to the LED assembly; a diffuser mounted to the body via a diffuser frame to encase the LED assembly within the body; an adjustable spigot adaptor for mounting the luminaire to a support post, wherein a diameter of an opening within the spigot adaptor can be adjusted to receive support post spigots of differing diameters; wherein the luminaire is configured to replace an existing conventional non-LED luminaire for Category V or Category P lighting by retrofitting to an existing support post.

[0008] The LED driver positioned spaced from the LED assembly helps to prevent or reduce heat generated from the driving circuitry from being transferred to the LEDs.

[0009] The adjustable spigot adaptor enables the luminaire to receive support post spigots of differing diameters. The luminaire may therefore be adapted to retrofit a range of existing lighting infrastructure.

[0010] The luminaire may be configured to satisfy parameters comprising luminous intensity, photometric performance, ingress protection rating, colour temperature, luminaire height, post spacing, and combinations thereof.

[0011] The luminaire may be configured to satisfy the requirements of AS/NZS 1158.1 and/or AS/NZS 1158.6.

[0012] The luminaire may further comprise a cover mountable over the heat sink fins.

[0013] The luminaire may be configured for Category V lighting, and may be configured to operate at under 200 watts. The luminaire may comprise 162 LEDs within the LED assembly. The spigot adaptor may be adjustable to receive support post spigots of between 32 and 40 mm nominal bore size. The luminaire may be an ultra-thin luminaire having a maximum thickness of about 170 mm.

[0014] The luminaire may be configured for Category P lighting, and may be configured to operate at under 30 watts. The luminaire may comprise 24 LEDs within the LED assembly. The spigot adaptor may be adjustable to receive support post spigots of between 20 and 25 mm nominal bore size. The luminaire may be an ultra-thin luminaire having a maximum thickness of about 150 mm.

[0015] The luminaire may have an expected life span of about 100,000 hours.

[0016] The body may be constructed of high pressure die-cast aluminium.

[0017] A top portion of the spigot adaptor may be adjustably mountable to the body via one or more fasteners.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a roadway light comprising a luminaire as described.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0019] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is an exploded perspective view of an LED luminaire according to an embodiment suitable for category V lighting; Figure lb is a bottom perspective view of the spigot adaptor portion of the luminaire of Figure 1a; Figure 1c is a bottom perspective view of the luminaire of Figure 1a; Figure 2a is an exploded perspective view of an LED luminaire according to an embodiment suitable for category P lighting; Figure 2b is a bottom perspective view of the spigot adaptor portion of the

AlI I A-: n 4. a n 4070407-7 ,4 AAlt" UD"I"LI luminaire of Figure 2a; Figure 2c is a bottom perspective view of the luminaire of Figure 2a; and Figure 3 is a photometric diagram of the luminaire of Figure 1.

Description of Embodiments

[0020] Referring to the drawings, a luminaire 100 for roadway lighting according to one embodiment comprises a body 10 having integrally-formed heat sinks 17, preferably configured as outwardly extending fins or ridges. An LED assembly 11 is housed within the body 10. LED driver 14 is coupled to the LED assembly 11 and configured to regulate power transmission to the LED assembly. Encasing the LED assembly 11 within the body 10 is a diffuser 2, which is mounted to the body via a diffuser frame 1. The diffuser 2 is configured to diffuse the "hot spots" of focused light generated by the LEDs, to produce a more even and diffuse lighting effect without significantly affecting light transmission. Adjustable spigot adaptor 8 is configured for mounting the luminaire 100 to a support post or other conventional mounting structure on a roadway light.

[0021] Importantly, the luminaires 100 of the present invention are specifically designed to replace existing conventional Category V or Category P non-LED luminaires and to comply with requirements of the relevant lighting category as specified by Australian and New Zealand standards. For example, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate LED luminaires suitable for Category V and Category P lighting respectively, which may be retrofitted to existing roadway lighting infrastructure. It will be appreciated that the LED luminaires 100 of the present invention may also be installed on new roadway lighting infrastructure.

[0022] For example, the luminaire 100 is configured to satisfy parameters of the relevant lighting category including luminous intensity, photometric performance, ingress protection rating, colour temperature, luminaire height, post spacing, and combinations thereof. These requirements may be as specified in public lighting standards such as AS/NZS 1158.1 and AS/NZS 1158.6. The brightness and other photometric parameters of the luminaire 100 are specially designed to enable the luminaire to provide a one-to one replacement of conventional non-LED luminaires, without modification to the existing lighting support posts. That is, the luminaire 100 is configured to comply with the photometric requirements while retaining the existing mounting height, spacing between light posts, etc. Figure 3 shows the photometric diagram of the luminaire of Figure 1.

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[0023] The luminaire 100 may further comprise a cover 9 that is mountable to the portion of body 10 opposite the diffuser 2. The cover 9 may be positioned over the heat sink fins 17 so that in use, the cover is at the top of the roadway light, and provides an aesthetic finish and/or protective guard for the luminaire 100. The cover 9 may be perforated, formed with slits 20, or otherwise configured to efficiently transfer dissipated heat from the heat sinks 17 to the surrounds.

[0024] Body 10 is preferably constructed of a durable and heat conductive material, such as high pressure die-cast aluminium. At least a base portion 18 of the spigot adaptor 8 is preferably integrally formed with the body 10. A top portion 15 of the spigot adaptor 8 may be mounted to the base portion 18 or body 10 via fasteners 16. The top portion 15 may also be constructed of a suitable material such as aluminium. By adjusting the fasteners 16 to vary the position of the top portion 15 relative to base portion 18, the diameter of the opening within spigot adaptor 8 may be adjusted to fit a range of spigot diameters. In preferred embodiments, the spigot adaptor 8 of a Category V luminaire as illustrated in Figure 1 is preferably adjustable to receive support post spigots of between 32 and 40 mm nominal bore size. In preferred embodiments, the spigot adaptor 8 of a Category P luminaire as illustrated in Figure 2 is preferably adjustable to receive support post spigots of between 20 and 25 mm nominal bore size. The luminaire 100 may therefore be adapted to retrofit a range of existing lighting infrastructure.

[0025] One edge of cover 9 and adaptor cover 6 may each be hingedly connected to the body 10 and spigot adaptor 8 respectively, and the other edge may be snap fit or friction fit to the body 10 and spigot adaptor 8 respectively. Other equivalent and alternative connection mechanisms may be provided. In preferred embodiments, the covers 6, 9 are constructed of a durable plastics material. In some embodiments, the covers 6, 9 may be integrally formed with each other. A cable guide 12 may be provided on or adjacent the spigot adaptor 8 to facilitate installation.

[0026] The diffuser frame 1, driver cover 3 and/or cover plates 5 may be constructed of aluminium or other suitable metal, and may be integrally formed with each other or provided as separate elements. The diffuser frame 1 may be mounted to the body 10 via fasteners 19, sandwiching edge portions of the diffuser 2 therebetween.

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[0027] In some embodiments as shown in Figure 2a, a curved diffuser 2 may be formed with planar edge flanges configured to be inserted between the diffuser frame 1 and the body 10. In other embodiments, in particular for Category V luminaires with higher luminance, the diffuser 2 may be substantially planar to reduce glare, as illustrated in Figure 1a. The diffuser 2 is preferably constructed of a durable polymer with good optical properties, such as acrylic or polycarbonates.

[0028] In the Category V embodiment as illustrated in Figure 1, the LED assembly 11 comprises 162 LEDs, and the luminaire is configured to operate at under 200 watts. In contrast, conventional HPS Category V luminaires are typically rated at 250 watts or higher. The specifications of the Category V luminaire according to one preferred embodiment is as follows:

Number of LEDMs 162 Current Drive 383 nA DC. Correlated Coour Temperature 4200k. Colour Rendering Index: >70 Input Current 220v / 305v AC. SystemsPWatts 198 Total Run Current 830rnA. Lamp & Driver Life Span 100 00 Hour s. Power Factor Correction .98 PFC Weight 14kg

[0029] In the Category P embodiment as illustrated in Figure 2, the LED assembly 11 comprises 24 LEDs, and the luminaire is configured to operate at under 30 watts. In contrast, conventional HPS Category P luminaires are typically rated at 40 watts or higher. The specifications of the Category P luminaire according to one preferred embodiment is as follows:

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Number of LEDS 24 Current Drive 360mA Correlated Colour Temperature 4,500k Colour Rendering >70 InputVoltage 220v-305vAc Systems Watts 29.1w Total Run Current 0.1245 amps Power factor Correction .97 Lamp and Driver Life Span 100,000 Hours Ingress Protection IP56 Impact Rating IKOS Weight 71kg

[0030] The LED driver 14 is positioned spaced from the LED assembly 11 to prevent or reduce heat generated from the driving circuitry from being transferred to the LEDs. This ensures optimal luminance and colour temperature output from all LEDs and improves longevity of the LED assembly. The preferred form factor of the electrical components (including the optional photoelectric (PE) cell 4 and terminal block 7) positioned horizontally adjacent but spaced from the LED assembly also allows for the ultra-thin configuration of luminaire 100. For example, the preferred embodiment of the Category V luminaire as shown in Figure 1 is about 170 mm at its thickest point. The preferred embodiment of the Category P luminaire as shown in Figure 2 is about 150 mm at its thickest point.

[0031] Luminaires 100 are configured to have an expected life span of about 100,000 hours. In contrast, the lifetime of conventional HPS luminaires is typically around 26,000 hours. The specific configuration of the heat sinks 17 and positioning of the driving circuitry away from the LED junctions prevents heating issues from affecting the lifetime of the LEDs. Additionally, in preferred embodiments, the LEDs are driven by constant current, to prevent excessive heat generation due to non-optimal driving current. The driving circuitry may further be provided with thermal cut-out and surge protection mechanisms.

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[0032] The maintenance requirements of luminaires 100 are further minimised due to the ingress protection rating of IP65 or IP66. For example, gasket 13 of spigot adaptor 8 provides weatherproof protection when adaptor cover 6 is closed.

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention provide improved roadway lighting comprising LED luminaires that are useful for one-to-one replacement of existing non LED luminaires. Embodiments of the present invention provide for energy savings and reduced maintenance costs compared to conventional non-LED roadway lighting.

[0034] For the purpose of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning.

[0035] It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments may be used and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms "top", "bottom", "front", back", "rear", "side", "vertical", "lateral" and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience; eg based on the example orientations shown in the figures. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention.

[0036] The above embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims that follow.

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Claims (5)

Claims

1. A luminaire for roadway lighting, comprising: a body having integrally-formed heat sink fins; an LED assembly housed within the body; an LED driver coupled to the LED assembly, and spaced from the LED assembly; a light diffuser mounted to the body via a diffuser frame to encase the LED assembly within the body; an adjustable spigot adaptor for mounting the luminaire to a support post, wherein a diameter of an opening within the spigot adaptor can be adjusted to receive support post spigots of differing diameters; wherein the luminaire is configured to replace an existing conventional non-LED luminaire for Category V or Category P lighting by retrofitting to an existing support post.

2. The luminaire of any claim 1, wherein the LED driver is horizontally adjacent but spaced from the LED assembly.

3. The luminaire of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a top portion of the spigot adaptor is adjustably mountable to the body via one or more fasteners.

4. The luminaire of claim 3, wherein a base portion of the spigot adaptor is integrally formed with the body, and the top portion of the spigot adaptor is adjustably mountable to the body to form the opening to receive support post spigots between the top portion and the base portion.

5. The luminaire of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is constructed of high pressure die-cast aluminium, and is configured:

to satisfy the requirements of AS/NZS 1158.1 and/or AS/NZS 1158.6;

for Category V lighting; and

to operate at under 200 watts.

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