EP3274622B1

EP3274622B1 - Composite lighting column

Info

Publication number: EP3274622B1
Application number: EP16722963.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zbigniew SZKOPEK; Marek Kozlowski; Radoslaw LOS
Original assignee: "alumast" Spolka Akcyjna
Current assignee: "alumast" Spolka Akcyjna
Priority date: 2015-03-24
Filing date: 2016-03-22
Publication date: 2020-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-22
Also published as: EP3274622A1; PL411727A1; PL227920B1; WO2016153372A1

Description

The object of the invention is a composite lighting column, which can be used in places that do not require intensive light. The column can be used as a powerline pole, a catenary pole, a lighting mast, a building support structure, a bearing structure of footbridges and bridges, as well as a roofing structure. The solution implemented according to the invention will also be used for determination of waterways or other, difficult to maintain, transport routes. The designed column may be used both outdoors and indoors, as well as in functional interiors, such as shopping centers or single-family houses.
A Polish description of an utility model number W. 110939 provides information about a solution called: "Stup, zwtaszcza reklamowy" [Column, mainly for advertising purposes] (publication of the Patent Office Bulletin (BUP) 23/2001 of 2001-11-05). The column, mainly for advertising purposes is characterized by its advantageous form of a pipe, made of a glass mat composite and polyester resins fitted with linestopping and a foundation flange, which inside contains stays mounted to the supports located on the inner surface of the linestopping and on the foundation flange.
Another Polish description of an application of invention number 404396 presents a solution entitled: "Sposób
czenia kompozytowych kszta
towników tworz
cych wysi
gnik stupa oświetleniowego oraz kompozytowy wysi
gnik wytwarzany tym sposobem" [The method of connecting composite sections that constitute a lighting column jib as well as a composite jib produced in this way] (publication of the Patent Office Bulletin (BUP) 01/2015 of 2015-01-05). The object of this solution is a method of connecting composite sections that constitute a lighting column jib, characterized by the fact that in order to connect two consecutive composite sections a connector in the form of an elbow with an appropriate bending angle is used, which joins the above-mentioned sections using a polymer binder with a filler in the form of pellets with wear-resistant properties and high level of hardness. The invention also concerns a composite lighting column jib, in which the above-mentioned method of composite sections connection is used.
Another known composite column is the column presented by "ALUMAST" sp. z o.o. in 2008 at the Polish trade shows Energetab in Bielsko-Biata and in 2010 during Infrastruktura Trade Show in Warsaw.
Document DE 100 53 255 A1 discloses a composite lighting column according to the preamble of claim 1.
The purpose of the designed invention is creation of a new type of a composite column structure, which, in the basic scope, will illuminate the surrounding area without the need for providing electric power supply. It will be relatively sufficient to supply electric power only to a minimum extent.
The essence of the composite lighting column, whose main structural element is the body in the shape of a pipe and which is made of a composite mainly of polyester and glass resin, usually chemically bonded and glass fibers, is that its body is covered with an external coating made of gelcoat and is in a colorless or colored version, or with a fully or partially printed coating, whereas, to the gelcoat mixture made of composites, a luminophore is added, which constitutes from 2% to 8% of column structure mass, wherein, most favourably, the composite mass contains at least 3% of filler with flare effects, while favourably, as luminescent materials are used powders with filler grain size of 10 - 40 micrometers.
The developed composite lighting column allows for easy illumination of the area in places that do not require intensive light. Installation of the designed column is not complicated, since there is no need to supply it with electric power. The designed structure allows for visual tracking of a path or road at night, which improves safety of persons who walk along them after dark. The invention allows for reducing the light infrastructure and lighting costs. Moreover, the developed column may be used in areas exposed to seismic activity and in other places with a power outage risk. The invention provides for a possibility of blending it with the landscape, as the developed composite lighting column can be decorated with graphics that matches the preferences of the user, printed over the column or embedded in its structure.
The solution submitted for patent protection also shows all benefits of the already revealed designed column made of polyester and glass mass and glass fibers. Thanks to that, the designed column is light, its transportation is not complicated, its installation is easy and there are no costs of hoop iron, operating costs are low, as it does not degrade, corrode or change color, and finally preservation of the column with the use of paint is not necessary. Thanks to the fact that composite access panels do not have a scrap value, they are not exposed to the risk of damage. The column does not require periodic testing of its insulating power. It shows high mechanical resistance and for example, absorbs part of the energy in the case of a collision. It is also UV resistant, and its smooth surface allows for easy soil removal. The composite column does not disrupt radio waves, radar microwaves - which is crucial in the case of using it in airport infrastructure.
The designed composite lighting column may be successfully used in housing estates, parks, bike paths, parking lots, pedestrian crossings, etc.
The object of the invention has been presented in more detail in the drawings, where: fig. 1 - presents an axonometric view of a composite lighting column, while fig. 2 - presents a cross-section of a composite lighting column.
As shown in the drawings, the main component of the composite lighting column is body 1, which is in the shape of a pipe, constituting the main structural element of the column. Body 1 is made of polyester and glass resin, usually chemically bonded as well as glass fibers, however, the composite contains a luminophore, i.e. a chemical substance which displays luminescent properties, which constitutes from 3% up to 7% of the column mass. The applied resin does not block excitation bandwidths or emission of applied fillers. The most advantageous dependency between the level of filling and light emission intensity is obtained in the case of composites with the minimum mass content of 3% of filler that has flare effects.
Powders in which the most favorable filler grain size is between 10 and 40 micrometers and depends on the type of applied substance have been used as luminescent materials.
Body 1 is covered by an external coating 2, which is made of gelcoat. The external coating 2 has a colorless or colored version and a printed coating. To the gelcoat mixture, made of composites, also a luminophore is added, which in a similar way, when e.g. exposed to light coming from the louver fitting 3 or headlamps of a passing car, is excited and emits a flare visible to the human eye still after 2 hours from the 15-minute excitation.
In order to trigger the described luminescence - a luminophore does not have to be permanently exposed to light. Its excitation follows after attacking the surface of the designed column also with ultraviolet light. A light wave of this length is included, e.g. in white LED or headlamps light. To trigger the phenomenon we can also use a light source, which will generate only a beam of ultraviolet light. In such a case, bursts of the luminophore-exciting light will not be visible to the human eye and no-one observing the column will notice them, and what is more, they will not be dazzled.
A luminophore can be added both to the external coating 2 and to the body 1. The designed solution allows for temporary excitation of a luminophore so that the time of a created flare lasts as long as possible.
The invention provides for a possibility of installing an optional light source 4 placed inside a body pipe 1, which can be, for example, an LED, emitting visible white light with low power, i.e. from 1 to 5 Watt [W]. If a lighting column is lit only with the louver fitting 3 and headlamps, the luminophore is blended with the mixture that constitutes the external coating 2.
The structure of the described invention also includes installation of the motion detector 5, which is an element of the column or which is placed nearby. The motion detector 5 reacts to movements within its reach, activating the louver fitting 3 or an optional light source 4, which send a beam of light, containing an ultraviolet light spectrum, stimulating, in this way, the luminophore contained in a composite lighting column. A luminophore excited in this way emits a flare visible to the human eye that illuminates the area around the designed composite lighting column. Thanks to the use of the motion detector 5 for activating the described phenomena - it is possible to turn on the louver fitting 3 only in the case of someone's movement, and thereby, someone's presence when a real need for illuminating a given area arises. At the same time, a luminophore is excited and therefore it is not necessary to excite it periodically. Operation of a composite lighting column with the described structure allows to save both energy and structure.

List of elements

1.: body;
2.: external coating;
3.: louver fitting;
4.: light source;
5.: motion detector.

Claims

The composite lighting column with a louver fitting, whose main structural element is the body in the shape of a pipe and which is mainly made of a composite of polyester and glass resin, usually chemically bonded as well as glass fibers, characterized in that the composite contains a luminophore, which constitutes from 2% up to 8% of the column structure mass and its body (1) is covered with an external coating (2) made of gelcoat and is in a colorless or colored version, or with a fully or partially printed coating, however, to the gelcoat mixture made of composites, a luminophore is added, which constitutes from 2% to 8% of column structure mass, whereas, in the most advantageous version, the composite mass contains at least 3% of a filler with flare effects, while in an advantageous version, powders with filler grain size of 10 - 40 micrometers are used as luminescent materials.