EP1848921B1 - Light comprising an elongate light source and a light-influencing element - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a light (1) comprising means (3a) for retaining and electrically connecting at least one elongate light source (2) and a light-influencing element (10) which is located next to the light source (2) and is composed of several individual elements (15). Said elements (15) that form the light-influencing element (10) can be swiveled or rotated independently of each other about an axis that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the light source (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a luminaire according to the preamble of claim 1, which comprises means for holding and for electrically connecting at least one elongated light source and a light influencing element arranged next to the light source. In particular, the present invention relates to a luminaire in which a grid arrangement is arranged consisting of a plurality of so-called cell grid elements in the vicinity of a light source, which serves to capture the light emitted from the light source into a plurality of light bundles.

A lamp with the mentioned cell grid elements is for example from the DE 101 51 958 A1 the applicant known. The - arranged in light emission direction - arranged in front of the light source cell grid elements consist of a light source at least partially encompassing back reflector part, which has a plurality of passage opening, which is followed by smaller cup-like reflectors. Through the use of such cell grid elements, the light emitted by the light source is radiated individually over the pot reflectors, so that overall the impression arises as if a multiplicity of small spotlights or spots were arranged next to one another. The effort to achieve this visually appealing effect is significantly less than the actual use of a plurality of individual emitters.

There are also lamps of the company NORKA known in which an elongated light source is surrounded by a transparent, oval in cross-section lamp cover. The cover is rotatably mounted at their front ends, so that the light emission characteristic of the lamps can be influenced to a certain extent by pivoting the cover. A corresponding lamp is for example in the DE 199 11 347 A1 shown.

From the DE 77 27 830 U1 a lighting device is known with a light source, in which a reflector is divided into a plurality of sub-reflectors, which are arranged directly surrounding the light source pivotally, whereby the radiation of the light source is simultaneously steered in different directions. The present invention has for its object, starting from the known lights to provide additional measures by which the lighting properties of the lights and their applications are further improved.

The object is achieved by a luminaire with the features of the independent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The main idea of the present invention is to arrange the cell grid elements in or on the luminaire such that they are independently pivotable or rotatable about an axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the light source. This further enhances the impression that the lamp would have a plurality of individual spots, since a typical feature of individual spotlights or spots is that they can be adjusted or rotated or pivoted. By the measure according to the invention, the possibility of pivoting is now also created in a luminaire whose light source is formed for example by an elongated fluorescent tube.

However, the present inventive concept is not limited to the pivoting of cell grid elements, but can generally be applied to so-called light influencing elements, with the help of which the light emitted by a light source is to be influenced in some way. It would also be conceivable, for example, to arrange suitable color filters, perforated grids or other lighting components rotatable about a light source in order to be able to influence the light emission characteristic of the entire luminaire in the desired manner.

According to the invention, a luminaire is accordingly provided with means for holding and electrically connecting at least one elongated light source and with a light source element arranged next to the light source and formed from a plurality of individual elements, the individual elements forming the light influencing element being independent of each other about a substantially parallel to Longitudinal axis of the light source extending axis on a cylinder-like, the light source at a distance surrounding bearing part are pivotally or rotatably arranged, which is transparent.

In this case, a bearing part for holding the light-influencing element is preferably provided, to which the light-influencing element or the individual elements for example, can be postponed or snapped. There is now also the possibility of rotatably arranging the bearing part itself, which has the consequence that - can be pivoted or rotated altogether - existing light influencing element - for example, from individual cell grid elements. In addition to this, however, it is also provided to support the light-influencing element forming individual elements rotatably mounted on the bearing part. For this purpose, the bearing part is designed like a cylinder, so that a simple pivoting of the individual elements can be performed independently.

The bearing part is formed by a translucent, preferably transparent element. This may, for example, be a so-called protective tube for luminaires of a higher protection class, since this fulfills the stated requirements very well. Such a tube is for example from the EP 0 400 318 B1 the applicant known. Such protective tubes are available in large numbers and inexpensive to manufacture.

The individual elements of the light-influencing element can then be clipped onto this cylindrical or cylinder-like protective tube, for example in the form of larger cell grid modules or as individual cells. The clip connection allows the light-influencing element or its parts to rotate freely, for example by 180 °. Since the protective tube is transparent over its entire circumference, the light emitted by the light source can enter the protective tube in any position of the light-influencing element. The protective tube used as a bearing part can be held for example by a device carrier or a cantilever and can - as already mentioned - also be rotatably arranged on this.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that between the light-influencing element and the support member, a kind of locking connection is provided, which allows a rotation only in certain angular ranges or in certain steps. This makes it possible to make the pivoting or rotation of the light influencing element or of the individual elements reproducible. In addition, a scaling can be provided by means of which the pivoting of the individual elements to a desired value can be carried out in a simple manner.

Overall, the present invention thus provides the possibility of influencing light elements with regard to an elongate light source to orient in any way. If cell grids with individual reflectors are used as light-influencing elements, then effects with regard to the changeability of the light emission characteristic of the luminaire can be achieved, which hitherto existed only when using a plurality of individual spots.

Fig. 1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Leuchte in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 2

eine weitere Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Leuchte von Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Stirnansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Leuchte;

Fig. 4

die Anordnung eines einzelnen Zellenraster-Elements auf einem Lagerteil in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 5

eine seitliche Schnittdarstellung des Stirnbereichs der Leuchte;

Fig. 6

einen Teilschnitt des Stirnbereichs der Leuchte in Ansicht von oben;

Fig. 7

die Anordnung eines Zellenraster-Elements auf einem Lagerteil gemäß einer ersten Variante;

Fig. 8

eine weitere Variante zur erfindungsgemäßen Halterung eines Zellenraster-Elements auf einem Lagerteil und

Fig. 8a

ein Detail des in Fig. 8 dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

an embodiment of a lamp according to the invention in a perspective view;

Fig. 2

another view of the lamp of the invention Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

an end view of the lamp according to the invention;

Fig. 4

the arrangement of a single cell grid element on a bearing part in perspective view;

Fig. 5

a lateral sectional view of the end portion of the lamp;

Fig. 6

a partial section of the front portion of the lamp in top view;

Fig. 7

the arrangement of a cell grid element on a bearing part according to a first variant;

Fig. 8

a further variant of the inventive holder of a cell grid element on a bearing part and

Fig. 8a

a detail of in Fig. 8 illustrated embodiment.

That in the Fig. 1 to 3 illustrated embodiment of a lamp 1 according to the invention comprises two elongate light sources 2 in the form of fluorescent tubes, which are arranged parallel to each other and at their end faces in each case - in the FIGS. 5 and 6 shown - sockets are held, which are arranged on two end portions 3 of the lamp 1. Between the two light sources 2 and parallel to these extends in the present embodiment nor a center support 4, which has a square cross-section and can be used for example for the arrangement of operating devices for the two fluorescent lamps 2. For example, electronic ballasts could be arranged to drive the fluorescent lamps 2 within this carrier 4.

The light emitted by the two fluorescent lamps 2 is emitted via a grid arrangement generally designated by the reference numeral 10. In the present case, this grid assembly 10 is formed by a plurality of cell grid elements 15, their configuration Fig. 4 can be removed. According to this illustration, a single grid element 15 initially consists of a pot-shaped reflector 16, which adjoins a cross-sectionally approximately semicircular designed back reflector 17, which surrounds the lamp 2 at least partially. The back reflector 17 has a - in Fig. 5 shown - passage opening 17a, to which the top reflector 16 connects, which in turn forms an approximately circular light exit opening 18 on its underside. Cell grid elements of this type are, for example, from those already mentioned above DE 101 51 958 A1 the applicant known. The peculiarity of these elements is that they emit the light of a single light source in the form of multiple bundles of rays, so that the impression arises as if a large number of light spots arranged side by side.

Such as the representation in Fig. 1 can be removed, in the illustrated lamp 1 per fluorescent lamp 2 each ten cell grid elements 15th provided, each having a single top reflector 16. These cell grid elements 15 are at least partially spaced from each other, wherein the gap between two elements in this case is then bridged by a tubular or in cross-section at least semicircular cover member 11 which is opaque. This ensures that light is emitted to the bottom side only via the pot reflectors 16 of the cell grid elements 15. As an alternative to the illustrated cell grid elements 15 with individual reflectors could also - as from DE 101 51 958 A1 known - modules with several juxtaposed pot reflectors are used.

A special feature of the luminaire 1 according to the invention is that - as in the Fig. 2 and 3 shown - the individual cell grid elements 15 are not fixed in a specific orientation on the lamp 1, but instead can be pivoted or rotated in a certain angular range. In particular, it is possible to pivot the cell grid elements 15 about an axis parallel to the lamps 2, so that the individual elements 15 can be aligned independently of one another in the desired manner. Preferably, this pivot or rotation axis coincides approximately with the longitudinal axis of the corresponding light source 2. This possibility of pivoting was previously only in the use of individual light spots.

The inventive pivoting of the cell grid elements 15 is made possible by a special storage of these on the lamp 1, which now based on the Fig. 4 . 5 and 7 will be explained in more detail.

The particular type of storage of the cell grid elements 15 is that they are held on a separate bearing part 5, which surrounds the light source 2 at a distance and is transparent to the emitted light rays. This bearing part 5 may be, for example, a transparent protective tube made of plastic, as it was previously intended only for use in luminaires with a higher degree of protection. As shown in Fig. 5 the protective tube 5 is held in the end parts 3 of the lamp 1, wherein the rotation of the lamp and thus the assembly or disassembly of the same is made possible by means of a special sleeve 5a.

As in particular the sectional view in Fig. 7 can be removed, a cell grid element 15 is now snapped onto the support member 5 with the semicircular or partially cylindrical back reflector 17 and can then be pivoted in an arbitrary manner about the longitudinal axis of the lamp 2 as shown. Of the As the protective tube 5 has a cylindrical outer side, it is ensured that in each position of the cell grid element 15 light passes through the passage opening 17a of the back reflector 17 and over the Top reflector 16 can be issued. Although no spot lamp is used, this can ensure that a focused light is actually emitted in the desired direction via the cell grid element 15.

As the representation in the Fig. 4 and 7 Furthermore, it can be seen, there is a special feature of the back reflector 17 of the illustrated cell grid element 15 is that the rear reflector 17 has an opening at its top, that is not a closed hollow cylinder. Since the back reflector 17 is flexible at least to a certain extent, this ensures that the cell grid element 15 can be snapped onto the protective tube 5 in a simple manner in a simple manner. As a result, a particularly simple assembly of the cell grid elements 15 is thus made possible.

An alternative embodiment of this would be that the rear reflector 17 and the correspondingly used holding part is completely closed, so as well as the protective tube 5 is designed in a hollow cylindrical shape seen in cross section. In this case, a simple snap on the side of the protective tube 5 would not be possible. Instead, the individual cell grid elements 15 would have to be threaded from the front side onto the protective tube 5, before it is finally placed on the luminaire. An advantage of this solution, however, would be that no light emission takes place in a direction opposite to the pot reflectors 16 direction. Although this is sometimes desirable in those cases where the pot reflectors 16 are oriented vertically downward, as soon as the cell grid elements 15 are pivoted, no light should be emitted in the opposite direction to the pot reflectors 16.

However, the emission of light in a direction opposite to the pot reflectors 16 direction could also be prevented by an alternative solution that in Fig. 7 is shown. In this embodiment, the back reflector 17 as well as in the Fig. 4 and 5 not completely closed. Instead, the still open part of the rear reflector 17 is now bridged by an additional, in cross-section circular arc-shaped head reflector 20, which is designed to be reflective or at least opaque. This Kopreflector 20 can be applied to the carrier part 5 after snapping the cell grid element 15 and has for this purpose at its two ends in each case two clamping parts 21, by means of where the head reflector can be snapped onto the back reflector 17. Upon pivoting of the cell grid element 15, the head reflector 20 is simultaneously rotated in this case.

In the embodiments according to the Fig. 4 to 7 the bearing part 5 has a smooth outer surface, so that the cell grid elements 15 can be pivoted continuously and in any desired manner. Often, however, it is desirable to make the pivoting of the light influencing elements reproducible, so that a uniform alignment of the individual elements can take place. This possibility is created by a variant with regard to the storage of the cell grid elements 15, which in the Fig. 8 and 8a is shown.

In this variant, the outer surface of the bearing part 5 is not completely smooth, but instead has a knob-like protrusion 6 at a certain point. On the inside of the pot reflector 17, in turn, a plurality of recesses 19 or notches are arranged, in which the protrusion 6 of the carrier part 5 can engage. By this measure, provided at certain angular intervals preferred positions are formed, in which the cell grid element 15 can be rotated and locked with the bearing part 5. A reproducible adjustment of the various elements is thereby significantly simplified. In addition to this, a scale or scaling could also be attached to the cell grid element 15, via which the current angular position can be read, so that a uniform alignment of the elements is further simplified. This scaling could of course also in the variant according to Fig. 6 be used, in which a continuous rotation of the cell grid elements 15 is provided.

It should be noted that in the embodiment according to the Fig. 8 and 8a provided stepwise rotation of the cell grid element could also be achieved that the support member 5 is not completely cylindrical, but instead, for example, designed only in the form of a cylinder in the form of a polygon. Also in this case, a stepwise rotation of the cell grid elements could be ensured with a corresponding embodiment of the back reflector 17 and the holding part for the light influencing element.

In the exemplary embodiments described so far, it was provided that the cell grid elements can each be adjusted individually and individually relative to the transparent bearing part. However, it would also be conceivable that a pivoting of the entire arrangement is provided, for which purpose not the cell grid elements individually but instead the entire bearing part to the Longitudinal axis of the light source can be rotated. By this measure, which can be provided alternatively or in addition to an individual pivoting of the cell grid elements, a uniform adjustment of the different parts of the light influencing element could be achieved in a simple manner.

In the illustrated embodiments, the bearing part for the cell grid elements was always arranged concentrically to the light source, so that the pivot or rotation axis coincided with the longitudinal axis of the light source. However, it would also be conceivable to arrange the light source rather in the lower region of the protective tube and accordingly to slightly shift the pivot axis relative to the lamp axis. In particular, the arrangement of the light center in the vicinity of the back reflectors of the cell grid elements would even be advantageous in this context.

Finally, it should be pointed out that instead of the illustrated cell grid elements, other light influencing elements could also be pivotally or rotatably arranged on a luminaire in accordance with the invention. For example, the use of certain color filters or perforated plates would be conceivable. Even in these cases, the possibility of pivoting brings additional benefits, since the light output of the lamp can be influenced in the desired manner.

Claims (10)

1. Luminaire (1) comprising means (3a) for holding and electrically connecting at least one elongate light source (2), and comprising a light-influencing element (10) which is disposed next to the light source (2) and which is constituted by a plurality of individual elements (15), wherein the individual elements (15) are capable of being pivoted or rotated, independently of each other, about an axis running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the light source (2),
   characterized in that
   the individual elements (15) constituting the light-influencing element (10) are pivotally or rotatably disposed on a cylinder-like mounting part (5) that surrounds the light source (2) at a distance and is translucent.
2. Luminaire according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the rotary axis or pivot axis for the individual elements (15) constituting the light-influencing element (10) coincides substantially with the longitudinal axis of the light source (2) or is displaced slightly relative to the latter.
3. Luminaire according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the mounting part (5) is constituted by a transparent plastics tube.
4. Luminaire according to one of Claims 1-3,
   characterized in that
   the mounting part (5) is polygonal in cross-section.
5. Luminaire according to one of Claims 1-3,
   characterized in that
   the mounting part (5) has a cylindrical outer surface.
6. Luminaire according to Claim 5,
   characterized in that
   cooperating arresting elements (6, 19), for defining preferred positions for the light-influencing element (10), are disposed on the mounting part (5) and on the individual elements (15) constituting the light-influencing element (10).
7. Luminaire according to one of Claims 1-6,
   characterized in that
   the mounting part (5) is rotatably attached to the luminaire (1).
8. Luminaire according to one of Claims 1-7,
   characterized in that
   the light-influencing element (10) is constituted by a matrix arrangement (10).
9. Luminaire according to Claim 8,
   characterized in that
   the matrix arrangement (10) has a plurality of cell-matrix elements (15), each comprising a back reflector (17) which faces towards the light source and which has a through-aperture (17a) adjoined by a pot reflector (16).
10. Luminaire according to Claim 9,
    characterized in that
    the pot reflector (16) has a circular light output aperture (18).

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