CA1254182A - Fully enclosed armature assembly for fluorescent tubes - Google Patents

Abstract

FULLY ENCLOSED ARMATURE ASSEMBLY
FOR FLUORESCENT TUBES

Abstract Fully enclosed armature assembly for fluorescent tubes which is designed for outdoor use and has a transparent, cylindrically tubular cover member (18) which supports at the one end a permanent coupling housing (23) and at the opposite end supports an easily detachable end cover (22). A fluorescent tube-carrying support arrangement (24) is axially displace-ably received in the cover member (18) between the coupling housing (23) and the end cover (22). The inner end of the support arrangement (24) is provided with guide members (42, 43) of a first type which cooperate with guide members (47-49) of an equivalent second type of the coupling member. The support arrangement and the coupling member are provided with their respective contact members which form a current connection between the support arrangement and the coupling member and which are relatively moveable inwardly into and outwardly from engagement with each other guided by the guide members (42, 43;
47-49).

Description

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FU~LY ENCLOSED ARMATURE ASSEMB~Y
FOR FLUORESCENT TUBES

This invention relates to a fully enclosed armature assembly for fluorescent tubes and designed for outdoor use.
In armatures for fluorescent tubes, designed for outdoor use, there is a need to be able to replace the fluorescent tubes in a ready manner and also, if necessary, during relatively unfavourable weather conditions without thereby allowing moisture to gain access to a substantial degree to the electrical coupling means. In many instances, fluorescent tubes have to be exchanged in the dark and i~ need be while working on a ladder or under similarly awkward working conditions.
There is also a need to produce a double-insulated armature which is convenient to manufacture and, in addition, simple to use, that is to say which has a simple construction and, at the same time, is sufficiently tight and reliable on use. Furthermore, such an armature should be readily accessible for replacement of fluorescent tubes and remaining parts, without there being a danger of coming into contact with current-conducting leads.
Accordingly, the present invention resides in a wholly enclosed armature for fluorescent tubes, designed for out-door use, where a transparent or translucent, cylindrically tubular cover member supports at the one end a permanent coupling housing and at the opposite end ~upport~ an easily detachable end aover and where a ~luorescent tube-carrying support arrangement is axially displaceably received in the cover member between the coupling housing and the cover, said support arrangement and said coupling housing being provided with respective electrical contact members which Eorm a current connection between the coupling housing and the support arrangement, characterised in that the inner r~;

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end of the support arrangement is equipped with one or more eccentrically arranged, axially extending ~irst type guide members which cooperate with one or more equivalent eccentrically arranged axially extending second type guide members on the coupling housing, and which are different ~rom said contact members, and that said contact members at the support arrangement are relatively movable into and outwards from engagement with the contact member at the coupling housing over an axial distance of movement which is defined within the guide engagement-forming region of movement of the guide members of the support arrangement and of the coupling housing.
The invention can also be defined as a fluorescent tube armature comprising a tubular cover member; a coupling housing secured to one end of said cover member for connection to an electrical lead; an end cover detachably connected to an opposite end of said cover member; a support arrangement for at least one fluorescent tube slidably mounted in said cover member; eccentrically disposed guide membes between said coupling housing and said support arrangement for aligning and guiding said support arrangement reltive to said coupling housing over a predetermined axial distance; and electrical contact members different from said guide members arranged between said coupling housing and said support arrangement for forming an electrical connection therebetween, said contact members being movable relative to each other over said axial distance.
With the armature assembly of the present invention, the possibility exists of being able to draw out from the cover member the support means with associated fluorescent tubes and other :Eittings, as a coherent unit and aEter replacing the fluorescent tubes or other fittings to place the support means baclc in pos.ition in a ready manner by a .., 12~4~8;~

- 2a -simple axial displacement of the support means relative to the cover member. By means of the guide members of the support means and the coupling housing, it is possible to ensure a correct angular adjustment of the support means relative to the cover member before the electrical contact members are pushed axially together during simultaneous axial pushing in of the support means into the cover member. By this, one ensures that the contact members are brought, without the danger of being damaged, into precise engagement with each other and are guided in a controlled manner relative to each other during the displacement of the contact members. Furthermore, one is able to ensure ~2S4~8'~

that the contact members are first brought into engage-ment with each other after the guide members have con-solidated an accurate guiding engagement with each other. In this way, it will also be possible to break the supply of current and establish the current con-nection between the support means and the coupling housing within the region of movement of the guide members where they have a cooperating guiding engage-ment and thereby be able to ignite (or extinguish) the fluorescent tubes immediately the contact members come into engagement with each other (or are brought out of engagement with each other). By this, the coupling (or uncoupling) can take place in a shielded manner and with an effective simultaneous control that the fluorescent tube functions as intended.
In order that the invention can be more clearly understood, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an armature assembly fixed to a base and as seen from above, Fig. 2 is a cut-off sectional representation of one end of the armature assembly with certain parts drawn out of engagement with each other, Fig. 3 is a cut-off sectional representation of the other end of the armature a5sembly with the current connect:ion dLsconnect:ed betweell the ~ar~ks, and I`ig. 4 is an end view of one end compon~nt of the support means.
Referring to Fig. 1, a fluorescent tube armature 10 is fixed at two opposite ends, via ring-forming support means 11, 12 and associated fastening boltc 13, 14, to fastening ears 15, 16 on a base 17. The suspension arrangement can be effected in arbitrary ways ~snown per se and not shown herein for different 12S~

types of fastening members or different types of bases.
The fluorescent tube armature 10 comprises a transparent or translucent, cylindrically tubular cover member 18 of a synthetic plastics material, glass or other suitable material and can be manu-factured in arbitrary lengths. At opposite ends of the cover member, there are pushed in and secured socket members 19 and 20 which are provided with an inner fastening portion l9a, 20a (see Fig. 2 and 3) and an outer, externally threaded portion l9b, 20b together with a central collar portion l9c, 20c projecting radially outwards. The collar portion l9c, 20c can form end stops for an adjacent ring-forming support element 11 and l2 at each end of the armature. The ring-forming support element (11) is adapted to be clamped, via fastening means 12a, 12b (lla, llb), on the outer side of the cover member radially outside fastening portion 20a of the socXet member, fastening portion 20a being able to support and brace the cover member 18 in the region where the support element 12 (11) is most loaded, that is to say where it is adapted to be clamped to the cover member 18. To threaded portions l9b, 20b of the socket members 19 and 20, there can be secured, in a ready manner, an end cover 21 and 22 respectively so that there can be provided optional access to one end of the armature which is equipped with a coupling hous;Lrlg 23 sccured for this purposc, i.lncl to the ~th~r ~nd ,~r lh~ a~ma~u~
which reccives a s~pport mearls 2~ (L~ . 2 and 3) axia:Lly moveable relative to the coup:L:in~ housing 23 and the cover member 18. The support rrleans 24 carries a pair oE fl~rescent t:ube.s 25, 26 and a palr of dis-char~e i~niters fixed to two opposite end components 31, 32 and an impedanc~ coil and the like fixed to a light reflector shield 30 which, in turn, is fixed to the two opposi-te end components 31/ 32.
The end components 31, 32 are permanently l;~S4~

secured, via support pins 32, to the light reflector shield 30 to form a support means rigid to bending.
To the end components 31, 32, there are fastened contact-forming holding means 34, 35,for the fluore-scent tubes 25, 26 together with a contact-forming holding means 36 for the respective discharge igniters.
At the periphery of the end components 31, 32, there are arranged support lugs 38 which are adapted to form support and guide members for the end component against the cover member on axially displacing the support means relative to the cover member.
The coupling housing 23 is combined with the one socket member 19 and comprises an essentially square housing member l9d which is inserted between the externally threaded portion l9b and the collar portion l9c. To the coupling housing 23, there is connected a transverse base member l9e which is arranged just by the collar portion 19c.
To the housing member l9d, there is fixed an insertion nipple 39 for an electrical lead 39a which is coupled to one or more contact means 40 (Fig.3) fastened to a holder 41 on the base member l9e. The contact means 40 has a series of contact points separately located on the side of the base member l9e which ~aces inwardly into the hollow space of the cover member 18. On the same side of the base member l9e, there project axially inwards into the hollow spac~ oE the cover me~mb~r, khr~c~ c!ccell~riGally arrang~d ~uide pins Gf which only ~wo gul~e pins 42, 43 are shown in Fig. 3.
On one, inwardly facing end component 31 of the support means, there is fastened a contact means 45 with a series oE contact pins 46 projecting end-ways outwards which are adapted to be threaded into engagement with their respective contact point on the contact means 40 on pushing in the support means 24 into the cover member 18. In order to ensure a correct, 12~418;~

accurate joining of the contact pins 46 into contact points of the contact means 40 r provision is made for guiding the end component axially along the guide pins 42 and 43, the guide pins, engaging wi-th three equivalent socket members 47, 48, 49 (Fig. 4) in the end component 31. Provision is made that the guide members 42 and 43, and 47, 48, 49 in the region for establishing electrical contact by way of the contact means 40 and 45, via the contact pins 46 and associated contact points, ensure a precise parallel displacement of the support means 24 relative to the cover, while the guide members axially outside this region can ensure a centering of the support means relative to the cover member. In this connection, the guide pins 42, 43 are provided at the outer end with somewhat pointed pin ends 42a and 43a so that the guide pins 42-43 can be readily threaded into place in the guide sockets 47-49 while front edges of the guide sockets 47-49 are arranged flush with the front side of the end component 31.
There is thus achieved a double-insulated armature assembly where the assembly and disassembly of the support means 24 with associated fluorescent tubes 25 and 26, can ta~e place in an adequate manner without the danger of coming into contact with current-conductin~ leads, thanks to the cooperating guide members 42, 43 and 47, 48, 49. Furthermort,~, there is obtalnc~d i.lll ~speci,al'Ly s.imp.la constrllc~.ion by ~irstly a1low.ing tha SuE~pc)rt mearls or support beam to consist of a coherently rigid un:it oE the end components 31, 32 and the reflector shie:ld 30, the reflector shield 30 as a consequence of its profile form giving great rigidity and strength at the same time as it shields the fluorescent tubes 25, 26 in -the associated hollow space on the one side, and impedance coil, lead connections and the like in an associated hollow space on the opposite side of the l~S4~8'~

reflector shield 30. The end components 31, 32 for their part support in an easily accessible way all necessary fastenings for fluorescent tubes, contact means and the like. Secondly the rem~ining, outer construction of the armature assembly can have a simple design due to the tubular cover member at the ends forming supports for the socket members 19, 20 and, at the same time, fastenings for the ring-forming support means 11, 12 and due to the one socket member 19 belng combined with the coupling housing 23. By utilising an end cover 21 and 22 respectively on each of the socket members 19, 20, access can be easily provided, as required, to the vital parts of the coupling housing 23 and to the support means 24 and its vital parts. Between the socket member 19 (20) and the end cover 21 (22), there is inserted a sealing ring 50 and between the outer end component 32 of the support means and the adjacent end cover 22, there is inserted a com-pression spring 51 which rests in a spring holder52 in the end component 32and rests in a cavity 53 in the end cover 22. By means of the spring 51, one can ensure that the support means 24 is axially in place in an a~utment against the inner end of the cover member independently of the sea].
between the socket member 20 and the end cover 22.
Th~ d.i.fererlk di.mensiorns o~ .E.Luorescent tubes of current l.ntc~re.~t can be adapt.ed :i.n a ready manner according to the lnvention by quite simply adapting correspGndingly the lengths of the reElector shield 30 and the cover member 18.
The armature assemblies of the present invention can also find application with one or more light sources of U-shaped or similar construction.
It should be noted that one of the important advantages of these armature assemblies is that the lZS~

direction of light can be adjusted by stepless rotation through 360. Moreover, the armature assemblies of the present invention have, in con-trast to those of conventional construction, a coupling housing as an integral part thereof and are especially useful in regions containing dangerous gases.

Claims (9)

Claims:

1. A wholly enclosed armature for fluorescent tubes, designed for outdoor use, where a transparent or translucent, cylindrically tubular cover member supports at the one end a permanent coupling housing and at the opposite end supports an easily detachable end cover and where a fluorescent tube-carrying support arrangement is axially displaceably received in the cover member between the coupling housing and the cover, said support arrange-ment and said coupling housing being provided with respective electrical contact members which form a current connection between the coupling housing and the support arrangement, characterised in that the inner end of the support arrangement is equipped with one or more eccentrically arranged, axially extending first type guide members which cooperate with one or more equivalent eccentrically arranged axially extending second type guide members on the coupling housing, and which are different from said contact members, and that said contact members at the support arrangement are relatively movable into and outwards from engagement with the contact member at the coupling housing over an axial distance of movement which is defined within the guide engagement-forming region of movement of the guide members of the support arrangement and of the coupling housing.

2. Arrangement in accordance with claim 1, character-ised in that the support arrangement consists of two end components which extend transversely of and are separately rigidly fastened to an intermediate, support member braced by means of a profile shape designed as a reflector shield, said end components forming a fitting and coupling for the fluorescent tubes, while the reflector shield forms a fitting for transformers and the like, and that the one, inner end component forms a support for contact members and guide members which cooperate with the contact members and the guide members in the coupling housing of the cover member.

3. Arrangement in accordance with claim 2, character-ised in that the coupling housing is formed by a housing component fixed to the end of the cover member with at the one end and associated fastening portion for an easily detachable end cover and at the opposite end with a base member which forms a support for contact members and guide members of the coupling housing.

4. A fluorescent tube armature comprising a tubular cover member;
a coupling housing secured to one end of said cover member for connection to an electrical lead;
an end cover detachably connected to an opposite end of said cover member;
a support arrangement for at least one fluorescent tube slidably mounted in said cover member;
eccentrically disposed guide member between said coupling housing and said support arrangement for aligning and guiding said support arrangement relative to said coupling housing over a predetermined axial distance; and electrical contact members different from said guide members arranged between said coupling housing and said support arrangement for forming an electrical connection therebetween, said contact members being movable relative to each other over said axial distance.

5. A fluorescent tube armature as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support arrangement includes a pair of end components, a support member fastened to and between said end components, and a profiled reflector shield fastened to and between said end components.

6. A fluorescent tube armature as set forth in claim 5 wherein said guide members includes elongated pins on one of said coupling housing and a respective end component and sockets on the other of said coupling housing and said respective end component.

7. A fluorescent tube armature as set forth in claim 5 wherein said contact members include contact pins on one of said end components and contact means on said coupling housing to electrically contact said pins.

8. A fluorescent tube armature as set forth in claim 5 wherein said coupling housing includes a socket member receiving said cover member thereon and including a transverse base member having said guide members and said contact members thereon.

9. A fluorescent tube armature as set forth in claim 5 which further comprises a detachable cover on said coupling housing.