EP2161491A2

EP2161491A2 - Focusing device for the light beam in illumination elements with damp chamber

Info

Publication number: EP2161491A2
Application number: EP09380149A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Javier Lopez Barbarin
Original assignee: Barbolight SL
Current assignee: Barbolight SL
Priority date: 2008-09-08
Filing date: 2009-09-04
Publication date: 2010-03-10
Also published as: ES1068734U; ES1068734Y; EP2161491A3

Abstract

Focusing device for the light beam in illumination elements with damp chamber, of the type of illumination element, such as torches, which consists of a chamber with a fluid, such as ambient air or water, in such a way that the torch body (1) incorporates externally with respect to the light emitter (2) a hollow tubular body (4), axially displaceable, said hollow tubular body (4) holding a plano-convex lens (3) and is connected to the ambient air or water chamber (6), the tubular body (4) including an axial slot (8) in which fits a projection (9) of the torch body (1) so that said axial displacement of the plano-convex focusing lens (5), mounted in the tubular body (4), provides a variable beam that can be adjusted to the needs of the user.

Description

As stated in the title of this descriptive specification, the following invention relates to a focusing device for the light beam in illumination elements with damp chamber, the illumination element, such as a torch, being of the type which has a light emitter and a chamber with a fluid, such as ambient air or water, for different uses, among which are to be found its use in underwater activities, such that the focusing device is defined by a plano-convex lens mounted in a tubular body, whose position can be axially adjusted with respect to the light emitter.
The said tubular body in which the plano-convex lens is mounted is external to the illumination body (for example a torch) with respect to the ambient air or water chamber.
In this way, the light emitter will be able to consist of several LEDs and, when the position of the plano-convex lens is adjusted, moving it further away or closer to the light emitter, a variable beam is provided that can be adjusted to the needs of the user and, moreover, the focusing will be carried out perfectly.

Field of application

The present specification describes a focusing device for the light beam in illumination elements with damp chamber, whose illumination element, such as a torch, will be able to be of use in carrying out different activities, among which is its application in underwater activities due to being provided with a chamber with a fluid, such as ambient air or water.

Background of the invention

As is known, focusing torches of utility for, among other uses, underwater activities have an illumination bulb with an aluminum reflector and a water chamber, in such a way that the focusing can be regulated at the will of the user by means of a rotary movement of the head of the torch body which moves the optic (light emitter) closer to or further away from the reflector, permitting the light beam to be opened or closed.
So, focusing torches for underwater activities have to meet a series of characteristics such as the optic having the appropriate watertightness, incorporating a damp chamber and being adjustable with respect to the aluminum reflector moving it closer to or further away from said aluminum reflector by means of rotating the head of the torch body.
When carrying out the adjustment of the optical system by means of rotating the head of the torch, if the light emitter consists of several optics it is not possible to obtain a concentrated beam, being valid for emitters based on a single light emitter.

Description of the invention

The present specification describes a focusing device for the light beam in illumination elements with damp chamber, being of the type of lighting elements, such as torches, in which the light emitter is protected by a lens and incorporates a chamber with a fluid, such as ambient air or water, so that, with respect to the damp chamber, the body of the illumination element incorporates externally a hollow tubular body in which a plano-convex lens is assembled and that is axially displaceable and defines a damp chamber between the protective lens of the light emitter and the focusing lens.
Moreover, the hollow tubular body presents an axial slot in which fits a projection of the torch body for the perfect axial guiding of the tubular body with respect to the body of the illumination element, in the focusing of the light emitter.
In this way, the axial displacement of the tubular body for the focusing of the light emitter allows the light beam to be focused independently of the number of light emitters that it comprises. So, if the light emitter consists of four LEDs the beam provided in the focusing will be perfectly centered, what that does not occur when focusing by means of rotating the focusing lens.
In addition, the damp chamber houses a fluid, such as ambient air or water, which is connected to the hollow tubular body in such a way that in the axial displacement of the tubular body the fluid can circulate between the damp chamber and the hollow interior of the tubular body, compensating the pressure.
In order to complement the description that is going to be made forthwith, and with the aim of facilitating a better understanding of the characteristics of this invention, this specification is accompanied by a set of plans containing figures in which, on an illustrative rather than limiting basis, the most characteristic details of the invention have been represented.

Brief description of the designs

Figure 1. Shows a view in detail of the focusing device for the light beam in an illumination element, such as a torch, with a damp chamber, in which it can be seen that it is in the position with the angle of the beam as open as possible.
Figure 2. Shows a view in detail of the focusing device for the light beam in illumination elements with a damp chamber, of the previous figure, in the position with the angle of the beam as closed as possible, due to the displacement of the tubular body on which the focusing lens is assembled.

Description of a preferred embodiment

In view of the commented figures and in accordance with the adopted numbering, it can be observed how the body of the illumination element 1 (torch body 1) incorporates the light emitter 2 which is protected by a protective lens 3 and it incorporates externally to the torch body 1 a hollow tubular body 4 in which a plano-convex focusing lens 5 is assembled, being said hollow tubular body 4 axially displaceable.
The hollow tubular body 4 is assembled with respect to the light emitter 2 and defines, between the protective lens 3 and the focusing lens 5, a damp chamber 6 for housing a fluid, such as ambient air or water.
In figures 1 and 2 it can be also observed how the watertight compartment of the light emitter 2 is protected by the protective lens 3 with a sealing ring 7.
Moreover, for the perfect axial guiding of the tubular body 4 when moving with respect to the torch body 1, said tubular body 4 is provided with an axial slot 8 in which fits a projection 9 of the torch body 1, in such a way that said axial movement of the plano-convex focusing lens 5 which is assembled to the tubular body 4, provides a variable beam that can be adjusted to the needs of the user.
In this way, the tubular body 4 moves axially, with no any rotation, perfectly guided by the projection 9 which fits in the axial slot 8 and the fluid housed in the chamber 6 will be able to circulate to the interior 10 of the tubular body 4, being both of them connected.
The device described presents the following advantages:

Greater degree of protection for the light emitter, permitting it to be used under immersion;
Greater ease of use and adjustment of the beam;
It is not affected by variations in pressure;
Possibility of focusing several emitters arranged on a single plane in conjunction with a complex focusing lens;
It permits greater concentration of the beam in smaller dimensions than the systems based on a reflector;
Especially suitable for LED type surface emitters;
It permits a lighting system to perform functions of "spotlight search" or "general illumination", such as video or photography.

In short, the focusing device in illumination elements such as torches can have the focusing "damp" or "exposed" chamber, and is of application in different situations among which is its use in underwater activities, so that an important advantage is that it improves the protection of the emitter and facilitates the focusing.

Claims

FOCUSING DEVICE FOR THE LIGHT BEAM IN ILLUMINATION ELEMENTS WITH DAMP CHAMBER, being of the type of illumination element, such as torches, which consists of a chamber with a fluid, such as ambient air or water, characterized in that the torch body (1) incorporates externally with respect to the light emitter (2) a hollow tubular body (4), axially displaceable, said hollow tubular body (4) holding a plano-convex lens (3) and being connected to the ambient air or water chamber (6).
FOCUSING DEVICE FOR THE LIGHT BEAM IN ILLUMINATION ELEMENTS WITH DAMP CHAMBER, according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow tubular body (4) includes an axial slot (8) in which fits a projection (9) of the torch body (1) for the guiding of the hollow tubular body (4) in the focusing of the light emitter (2).
FOCUSING DEVICE FOR THE LIGHT BEAM IN ILLUMINATION ELEMENTS WITH DAMP CHAMBER, according to claim 1, characterized in that in the axial displacement of the hollow tubular body (4) for the focusing of the light emitter (2) the fluid of the chamber (6) circulates between it and the hollow tubular body (4) and vice versa.