EP1322819A1

EP1322819A1 - Lighting device

Info

Publication number: EP1322819A1
Application number: EP01971534A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michel Niezen; Marcella Van Swartenbrouck-Steegmans; Clement Daenen
Original assignee: Ledlite NV
Current assignee: Ledlite NV
Priority date: 2000-10-06
Filing date: 2001-09-27
Publication date: 2003-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-27
Also published as: AU2001291532A1; WO2002029161A1; ATE428027T1; BE1013744A3; EP1322819B1; DE60138292D1

Abstract

Lighting device amongst other things suitable as a curbstone or as a traffic controller comprising a lighting element, whereby the lighting element comprises a number of light-emitting diodes (LED's) cast in a light-conducting material, which LED's are mutually connected to be able to be coupled with an electronic supply circuit, and a construction element, which construction element is provided with a free space for the housing of the lighting element, characterized in that the lighting element is detachably placed in the free space of the construction element. The invention also relates to a method for applying an active lighting element in a lighting device.

Description

Lighting device

The present invention relates to a lighting device that is among other things suitable as a curbstone or as a traffic controller, comprising a lighting element and a construction element, which construction element is provided with a free space for the housing of the lighting element.

Secondly the present invention relates to a lighting element, and thirdly to a method for placing a similar lighting element in the lighting device.

Such lighting devices are known from EP-B-0 658 655 and PCT/NL99/00680. Such known lighting devices are provided with lighting elements which lay firmly locked in the material, in general concrete, of the construction element. The material of the construction element is in general cast around the lighting element. After curing the lighting element is anchored in the construction element. The object of these lighting devices is to provide clearly visible road marks at high-risk junctions whereby an active lighting increases the road safety and the liveableness in traffic.

In EP-B-0 658 655 lighting elements are disclosed, which comprise a number of light-emitting diodes, cast in a light-conducting massive material, which LED's are mutually joint so they can be coupled with an electronic supply circuit.

In general a number of these lighting elements are placed in series. When some of the lighting elements are no longer active, for whatever reason, this results in a considerable disruption of the road safety. Because in general the lighting elements have a shorter lifespan than the lifespan of the construction element the necessity for the ability to remove and replace the lighting elements exists. NL 7403905 relates to a curbstone light which is placed into the curbstone via screws, by which the lighting armature lays cast in the concrete. It goes without saying that the complete replacement of the lighting device or of the armature, meaning of the construction element in which the lighting element lays locked, is an expensive option. In general this is also impossible because mostly there are several lighting elements per lighting device and because mostly the lighting devices have a large surface, for example sliding concrete constructions. The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages at least partially and provides therefor a lighting device, amongst other things suitable as a curbstone or as a traffic controller, comprising a lighting element, whereby the lighting element comprises a number of in a light-conducting massive material cast light-emitting diodes (LED's), which LED's are mutually joint so they can be coupled with an electronic supply circuit, and a construction element, which construction element is provided with a free space for the housing of the lighting element, characterized in that the lighting element is detachably placed in the free space of the construction element.

In a preferred embodiment the space between the lighting element and the construction element is filled with a preferably elastic filling, for example a silicon material or a similar hardening joining material, whereby through simply squirting up or filling up the gap a detachable weak junction between the lighting element and the construction element is obtained. At the same time the penetration of fluid and water in the lighting element is hereby minimalized. Also by preference, as an alternative a clamping element is provided to the outline of the lighting element, which clamping element is for example formed out of laminated suspension springs. A similar clamping element sets the outline of the lighting element variably. Via a variable outline it is thus possible to simply fill the gap between the lighting element and the construction element. A simple manual manipulation of the clamping element results in an increase or decrease of the diameter of the lighting element. A similar filling is also advantageous for vandalism prevention purposes because no joining means are visible anymore, unlike the screws in NL 7403905.

Another preferred embodiment is to provide the lighting element with a separate housing. A separate housing which is placed independently of the lighting element, can be supplied fixed in the construction element whereby the lighting element then can be detachably provided in the housing. The housing can for example be supplied with a wedge- shaped junction part.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a lighting device, that is suitable as a safety rail or a partition wall along a road-way, comprising an along the roadway curved or straight stretching construction element made of on the spot cast concrete, whereby at the averted side of the road-way a lock is supplied for the at least partially housing of an electric cable.

It relates to a construction made of sliding concrete, whereby the groove serves as a cable gutter for supply and junction of the lighting elements. Other preferred embodiments of a similar lighting device are disclosed in claims 7-10. The advantages of the invention are elucidated in the description hereunder.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a lighting element that is suitable to be applied in a lighting device according to the invention comprising a number of light-emitting diodes (LED's) that are provided on a fixing plate, which is completely cast in a light- conducting massive material, whereby the fixing plate is light-reflecting. The use of such a fixing plate also supplies even when the lighting device is not electrically active, a light- reflecting effect.

In a preferred embodiment the LED's are cast in at least about 5 mm and preferably

10 mm deep in the massive material. This allows to endure a certain wastage and also works shock-absorbing. In a particular embodiment of the lighting element a screw element is partially cast in. Such a screw element enables to position the lighting element centrally in the free space via an analogous nut before the gap is filled.

Optionally, screw elements can be supplied at the back of the lighting element to make the attachment with a fixed assembled attachment element possible. For a horizontal or centric placing sideway screw elements can optionally be attached to the lighting element.

In a preferred embodiment the screw element lays in the diameter of the lighting element.

A third aspect according to the invention relates to a method for applying an active lighting-element in a lighting device comprising the steps of : - the drilling of a first free space in the to the road-way turned side with such a diameter for the detachable housing of a lighting element, the drilling of a second opening on the from the road-way averted side, which second opening has a diameter suitable for conducting the electronic cables of the lighting elements, whereby the passage of the second opening on one hand ends up at the groove and on the other hand at the passage of the first opening, and the detachable attaching of the lighting element in the lighting device.

The invention is elucidated hereunder by means of a number of figures in which the preferred embodiments of the present invention are clarified.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a roundabout in which the lighting devices according to the invention are shown;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the in Figure 1 shown lighting device;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lighting element according to the invention; Figure 4a en 4b are respectively a top view and a cross-sectional view of the in figure 3 shown lighting element;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view whereby the assembly of a lighting element in a lighting device is clarified;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the from the border of the street averted side of the in figure 5 shown construction element;

Figure 7 is a top view of another preferred embodiment of the lighting element; and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of yet another preferred embodiment of the lighting element according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a roundabout 1 by which the road-way 2 and the shrubbery 3 is bounded by means of a traffic controller 4. The traffic controller 4 comprises a number of construction elements 5 in which three lighting elements 6 are incorporated. The lighting elements 6 increase the road safety and this in an active way because the lighting elements 6 not only reflect light but also actively emit light. As shown in Figure 2 lighting element 6 is assimilated standing in the free space 7, in which a first opening via a passage 8 makes a junction with a second opening 9. Such a passage makes the parallel junction 11 (Figure 6) of the junction cables 10 of the lighting elements 6 possible. The construction element 5 has an enlarged basis and is in general manufactured out of reinforced construction material, for example concrete and preferably out of sliding concrete. In a gap 12 between the lighting element 6 and the construction element 5 a filling, for example made of polyurethane assembly foam is put in. The use of such a foam allows when the lighting element 6 is damaged and non-active, to separately and simply replace the lighting element without needing to replace the entire composition of the construction element and lighting element. Also the play between the junction cable 10 and the passage 8 is filled with such a filling 12. A suitable placing of the lighting element and a dust and water free closure is the result.

The filling of the gap between the lighting element 6 and the construction element 5 can also be obtained by a separate housing 13 (Figure 8) which is for example in cross- section partially wedge-shaped. Another embodiment is providing clamping elements 14 (Figure 7) whereby these clamping elements set the outline and the diameter of the lighting element 6 variably. It goes without saying that either the housing 13, or the lighting element 6 in the housing 13, or both mutually are installed removable.

The assembly is shown in cross-sectional view as an example in Figure 5. Via a central internal screw 15 a temporary junction via the support plate 16 and nut 17 is made with a clamping bracket 18 which centers the lighting element 6 in the free space 7. After centering, the filling material 12 is placed in the gap. In Figure 6 the from the road averted side of a construction element 5 made of sliding concrete which is provided with a groove 15 which can serve as a cable gutter for the cables 19 is rendered. Possibly the cable gutter can be screened with a screening lath to be installed separately (not shown).

A third aspect of the invention is the lighting element 6 which is at least passively light-reflecting by a light reflecting fixing plate and is provided with a central screw. As shown in Figures 3, 4A and 4B the LED's 21 are cast countersunk in a light-conducting massive material 22, for example made of a high-quality polyurethane resin possibly provided with massive particles such as pearls of glass. Via an electronic circuit 23 a junction is established with the junction cable 10. The applied light-conducting material is impenetrable for dust, fluid and water vapor and fully encloses the electronic circuit 23, the LED's 21 on the fixing plate and the screw 15. Preferably the LED's 21 lay more than 5 mm underneath the top layer and are preferably regularly divided over the lighting element 6. A black optional protecting layer of varnish covers and protects the back 25 of the lighting element 6 from which the junction wire 10 stretches out.

The application of the construction element 5 in sliding concrete is elucidated hereunder.

In a preferred embodiment by the construction of roundabouts, dividing and central traffic islands, narrowing of the road and parking lots the sliding concrete is cast as a straight or curbed concrete construction on the spot on the shipyard as a traffic controller 4. The sliding concrete meets the demands of the standard NBN B21-411 and the concrete is

BENOR tested.

After partial hardening (2 to 3 days) of the concrete, three holes with a diameter of 110 mm and a depth of +/- 65 mm, per running meter, are milled in the front of the construction elements 5 in which the lighting elements 6 are placed. Completely piercing the concrete is also possible, preferably with a suitable diameter of for example 70 mm.

In the sliding concrete per lighting element 6 a drilling 8 with diameter +/- 35 mm is supplied for the transit of the junction cable 10. The back (complete outline) of the sliding concrete is supplied with a slot 9 with a width of +/- 65 mm and a depth of +/- 65 mm. This groove 9 is placed by the casting of the sliding concrete. In this groove 9 the electric cables 19 of the different light elements are put in, after junction. Afterwards, the groove 9 is covered with a half round covering gutter. In case the concrete drilling pierces the concrete completely and no groove is provided in the back side of the concrete, a separate screening for the junction cables 19 that at the same time will screen the back of the concrete drill, will be applied.

The drilling 8 is joint in the front to the space 7 for the lighting element and in the back with the groove 9 for the junction cables. This light element 6 with LED's 21 is a reflecting system with electronic components and LED's. The light element 6 has the shape of a cylinder with preferably a diameter of 100 mm and a height of 45 mm. The lighting of the light element occurs by means of 28 LED's 21 equally divided over the complete upper surface of the light element.

The LED's 21 are located on a round plate 20 that consists of a yellow reflecting film, whereby the RONDO is well visible also when the supply is turned off. The light elements 6 are joint in parallel and are equipped such that they can be joint straight to 230 V - 50 Hz. An electronic circuit ensures the transformation of 230 Vac to a tension adjusted to the LED's.

The part of the light element 6 with the LED's 21 is cast in a translucent, high-quality polyurethane quality resin 22 with recycled transparent pearls of glass. The part of the light element 6 with the electronic circuit and the junction cable 10 per light element is cast in a non-translucent, reinforced high-quality polyurethane quality resin 25 mixed with grains of sand.

The entirety is massive without hollow space and is at the outline and the back covered with a black protecting layer of varnish. The used resin is of premium quality polyurethane and lets the light in sufficient measure through. At normal environmental temperature the resin is able to resist all the usual chemical products such as lightly concentrated acids, bases, salts, effluent, oils, fuels and solvents. The resin is impenetrable for dust, fluids and water vapor. The light element is in the front, in the center, provided with a nut M6 to be able to position it with respect to the sliding concrete. The LED's 21 are located on minimum 10 mm depth in the resin.

Claims

1. Lighting device amongst other things suitable as a curbstone or as a traffic controller comprising a lighting element, whereby the lighting element comprises a number of light-emitting diodes (LED's) cast in a light-conducting massive material, which LED's are mutually connected to be able to be coupled with an electronic supply circuit, and a construction element, which construction element is provided with a free space for the housing of the lighting element, characterized in that the lighting element is detachably placed in the free space of the construction element.

2. Lighting device according to claim 1 , characterized in that a filling is provided in the space between the lighting element and the construction element.

3. Lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a clamping element is provided at the outline of the lighting device for the variable setting of the outline of the lighting element.

4. Lighting device according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized in that a housing is provided in the free space of the construction element, which housing is equipped for the detachable housing of the lighting element.

5. Lighting device according to one of the proceeding claims 1 -4, suitable as a safety- rail or partition wall along the road comprising an along the road-way curved or straight stretching construction element made of on the spot cast concrete, characterized in that the side averted from the road is provided with a groove for the at least partial housing of an electric cable.

6. Lighting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the groove stretches over the entire length of the concrete construction.

7. Lighting device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at the side turned towards the road at a regular distance and mainly at the same height free spaces are provided for the detachable incorporation of lighting elements.

8. Lighting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the free spaces pierce as far as in the groove.

9. Lighting device according to claim 8, characterized in that the free spaces are provided with active lighting elements which are mutually parallel connected.

10. Lighting element suitable to be applied in a lighting device according to one of the proceeding claims 1-9, comprising a number of light-emitting diodes (LED's) which are supplied on a fixing plate, which is completely cast in a light-conducting massive material, characterized in that the fixing plate is light-reflecting.

11. Lighting element according to claim 10, characterized in that the LED's are cast at least approximately 5 mm and preferably 10 mm deep in the massive material.

12. Lighting element according to claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that the LED's are cast in a light-conducting high-quality polyurethane resin possibly provided with a massive material such as pearls of glass.

13. Lighting element according to claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that an electronic junction connects the LED's electrically with at least one and preferably two out of the massive material coming junction cables, whereby the massive material which encloses the electronic connection is made of a non-light-absorbing preferably with grains of sand reinforced high-quality polyurethane resin.

14. Lighting element according to one of the proceeding claims, 10-13, characterized in that in the lighting element at least one screw element partially lays cast in.

15. Lighting element according to claim 14, characterized in that the screw element lays in a diameter of the lighting element.

16. Lighting element according to claims 10-15, characterized in that on the outline of the lighting element clamping elements are provided, which clamping elements set the outline of the lighting element variably.

17. Method for applying an active lighting element according to one of the claims 10-16 in a lighting device according to one of the proceeding claims 1-9 comprising the steps of : - the drilling of a first free space in the to the road-way turned side with such a diameter for the detachable housing of a lighting element, the drilling of a second opening on the from the road-way averted side, which second opening has a diameter suitable for conducting the electronic cables of the lighting elements, whereby the passage of the second opening on one hand ends up at the groove and on the other hand at the passage of the first opening, and the detachable attaching of the lighting element in the lighting device.

18. Method according claim 17, characterized in that with the housing of the lighting element a suitable positioning of the lighting element is obtained by means of a partially in the lighting element cast in screw.

19. Method according to one of the claims 17 or 18, characterized in that the free space between the lighting element and the construction element is filled with a filling.