FR2787174A1 - Removable ground level installed lighting system for parks, gardens or similar places - Google Patents

Abstract

The lighting system (1) has a fixed part fitted below the surface (2) of the ground (3), inside of which is slide mounted a moveable part (3) fitted with a lamp (4) which can be raised above ground level. The lighting system (1) includes means (6) for supplying electrical power to the lamp (4) as well as means (5) designed to allow the movable part to slide with respect to the fixed part. The means (5) is of the hydraulic or pneumatic type. The fixed part has a tubular body (7) placed in a pit (8) which receives co-axially a second tubular body (9) which forms the movable part Of the lighting system (1). The first and second tubular parts (7,9) are respectively connected to the hydraulic or pneumatic systems (5) and to the electrical supply (6). The hydraulic or pneumatic systems (5) are connected to the tube (7) at two gas or hydraulic fluid supply points (12,12A) in upper (13) and lower (14) tube positions. A piston (15) sub divides into two chambers (17,17A) the internal volume (16) of the tube (7), between the two supply pints (12,12A). Injection of fluid or gas causes the tube (9) to move upwards from the tube (7).

Description

The invention relates to a retractable lighting device comprising a

  fixed part situated under the surface of the ground or the like and inside which is mounted, in a sliding manner, a movable part able to emerge out of the ground and receiving lighting means, said lighting device also comprising means capable of supplying electrical power to the lighting means as well as means capable of ensuring the sliding of the movable part relative to the fixed part. The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing retractable lighting devices capable of remaining invisible when they are not in use and intended, more particularly, to be installed in the open air, in particular in

gardens, parks or others.

  We already know this from the French document FR-2.744. 520 a lighting device corresponding to the

  description above and in the form of a part

  mobile able to slide in a fixed part under the impulse of a hydraulic fluid. The latter allows, in fact, the lighting means that comprises the movable part to emerge out of the ground. It will be noted that, between the mobile part and the fixed part, a spring is interposed which, on the one hand, is compressed when the mobile part is pushed out of the ground under the impulse of the fluid and which, on the other hand, when ceases the action of this fluid, expands in order to return the movable part to its retracted position. In such a lighting device, the electrical supply cable is connected to the lighting means at the movable part, this cable being located, in fact, in the internal volume of the fixed part before crossing the wall of the latter to join electrical power supply means. However, it will be observed that the internal volume of this fixed part contains the hydraulic fluid, in particular water, capable of setting in motion the mobile part. As a result, the electric cable is immersed in water which, in time, is likely to

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  generate electrical insulation problems. In addition, such a design requires, at the connections between said electrical cable and, on the one hand, the lighting means and, on the other hand, the wall of the fixed part, the installation of connectors and / or gaskets capable of guaranteeing watertightness when the latter are

subjected to a pressurized fluid.

  In addition, it will be observed that the presence of the return spring requires a particular design of the fixed and mobile parts which

  singularly limits the emergence of the mobile part above ground.

  Finally, in this emerging position, said spring is fully compressed, which requires a high hydraulic fluid pressure capable of compensating, on the one hand, for the weight of the

  mobile part and, on the other hand, the return force of this spring.

  The present invention is intended to provide a solution to the drawbacks of retractable lighting devices of the prior art through a device whose fixed and movable parts are capable of sliding, one relative to the other, according to the principle of a double-acting cylinder. This new device also allows, by its particularly clever design, to overcome all sealing problems and

  insulation of the electric power supply cable.

  Thus, the present invention relates to a retractable lighting device comprising a fixed part located under the surface of the ground or the like and inside of which is mounted, in a sliding manner, a mobile part capable of emerging from the ground and receiving lighting means, said lighting device further comprising means capable of supplying electrical energy to the lighting means as well as means capable of ensuring the sliding of the movable part relative to the fixed part, characterized by the fact that: - the means capable of ensuring the sliding of the movable part relative to the fixed part are of hydraulic and / or pneumatic type; - the fixed part is defined by a first tubular body taking position in a well and receiving, internally and TE i r - Frl

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  coaxially, a second tubular body defining the movable part of said lighting device, the first and the second tubular body being connected, respectively, to the hydraulic and / or pneumatic type means and to the electrical energy supply means; - Said means of hydraulic and / or pneumatic type are connected to the first tubular body at two supply points for hydraulic fluid and / or gas located, on the one hand, in its upper portion and, on the other hand, in its lower portion, while a piston dividing the internal volume of the first tubular body into two chambers, between these two points

  supply, is secured to the second tubular body.

  According to another feature of the present invention, the first tubular body comprises, internally, a tube extending coaxially and opening, on the one hand, into the well through the lower end of the first tubular body and, d on the other hand, in the internal volume of the second tubular body whatever the position of the latter relative to the

first tubular body.

  Another characteristic relates to the fact that said tube receives, internally, an electric power cable connected, on the one hand, to the means for supplying electrical energy and, on the other hand, to the lighting means integrated into the second body. tubular, the latter being capable of sliding,

tightly, on this tube.

  The advantages of the present invention relate to the fact that the tubular bodies of the fixed and mobile parts adopt the configuration of a double-acting cylinder which advantageously allows, by injecting a hydraulic fluid and / or a gas, as the case may be, into the upper portion or in the lower portion of the first tubular body of the fixed part, to ensure, through a single means of hydraulic and / or pneumatic type,

  retraction or emergence of the movable part.

  Such hydraulic and / or pneumatic means also make it possible to integrate the first tubular body of the

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  lighting device within a closed hydraulic and / or pneumatic circuit inside which the hydraulic fluid and / or gas circulates. In addition, the fact of removing this fluid and / or this gas from one of the chambers of the jack for injecting it into the other chamber, and vice versa, allows these hydraulic and / or pneumatic means to operate without calling on a

  external fluid and / or gas tank.

  This double-acting jack system also allows the second tubular body to slide relative to the first tubular body over almost the entire internal length of the latter. Therefore, the movable part is capable of emerging, almost completely, out of the ground in the deployed and active position of said

lighting device.

  In addition, the fact of having, coaxially and inside the movable and fixed parts, a tube whose internal volume is designed capable of receiving, in a sealed manner, an electric cable supplying the lighting means. , advantageously, to prevent this electric cable from coming into contact with the hydraulic fluid and therefore ensures its insulation

electric.

  Finally, in the case of pneumatic type means, the use of a gas, for example air, advantageously makes it possible to guarantee, in itself, the electrical insulation of the electric cable

  unlike the hydraulic means of the prior art.

  Other objects and advantages of the present invention

  will appear during the description which follows relating to

  to an embodiment which is given only by way of example

  indicative and not limiting. Understanding this description

  will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic, partial and sectional view of a lighting device according to the invention and in the retracted position; Figure 2 is a view similar to the previous one and

  corresponds to the device of FIG. 1 in the deployed configuration.

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  As shown in the attached figures, the present invention relates to the field of manufacturing retractable lighting devices, in particular intended to be

located outdoors.

  If, in the following description, it will be more

  in particular, with reference to a lighting device installed underground, it is obvious that the present invention is in no way limited to such an installation and that the latter can also be carried out at the level of a wall, of a low wall, of a

bridge, roadway or other.

  As visible in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, such a lighting device 1 can be buried, protected from

  eyes of the public, under the surface 2 of the ground 3 or other.

  This device i comprises, in a manner known per se, a fixed part situated under said surface 2 of the ground 3 and inside which is mounted, in a sliding manner, a mobile part

receiving lighting means 4.

  In fact, this movable part is of a retractable nature and is able to retract, in whole or in part, inside the fixed part, in particular so as to disappear under the surface 2 of the ground 3, and this in the inactive position. of said lighting device 1, that is to say when said lighting means 4 are off. This lighting device 1 is also designed so that, in the active position, this movable part, and, more particularly the lighting means 4 which the latter comprises, emerge, in

all or part, above ground 3.

  In this regard, it should be noted that the sliding of the movable part relative to the fixed part is ensured by means 5 of hydraulic and / or pneumatic type that comprises the lighting device 1, the latter receiving, in addition, means 6 capable of supplying electrical energy to the

lighting 4.

  According to a first characteristic of the present invention, the fixed part is defined by a first tubular body 7 capable of taking position in a well 8 and receiving, internally and

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  coaxially, a second tubular body 9. The latter is able to define the mobile part of the lighting device 1 and is connected to the means 6 for supplying electrical energy to the

lighting 4.

  As for the first tubular body 7, it is connected to the hydraulic and / or pneumatic type means which, as visible in FIGS. I and 2, comprise means 10 for supplying hydraulic fluid and / or gas connected, via at least two conduits 11, 11A, to said first tubular body 7 at two supply points 12, 12A. These are located, on the one hand, in the upper portion 13 and, on the other hand, in the

  lower portion 14 of this first tubular body 7.

  In this regard, it will be observed that, between these two supply points 12, 12A, this first tubular body 7 has, internally, a piston 15 which subdivides the internal volume 16

  of this first tubular body 7 in two chambers 17, 17A.

  According to a first embodiment not shown, this piston is defined by a strapping external to the second cylindrical body 9 and coming to cooperate, in leaktight manner, with the internal wall 18 of the

first tubular body 7.

  However and according to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, such a piston 15 takes the form of a flange 19 fitted to the lower end 20 of the second tubular body 9 and able to close the latter. This flange 19 cooperates, there again in a sealed manner, with the internal wall 18 of the first tubular body 7, in particular through a seal 21

equipping its perimeter.

  It follows that these two tubular bodies 7 and 9 have a configuration similar to a double-acting cylinder comprising two chambers 17, 17A able to be supplied, in particular alternatively, with hydraulic fluid and / or gas by the means of supply 10 in order to ensure the sliding of the second tubular body 9 relative to the first 7 and, consequently, the retraction and / or the emergence of the mobile part of the device

lighting 1.

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  According to another characteristic of the present invention, this first tubular body 7 further comprises, internally and extending coaxially, a tube 22 opening into the well 8, in particular through a bottom 23 closing the lower end 24 of this first tubular body 7. This tube 22 also extends inside the second tubular body 9 into the internal volume 25 from which it opens, regardless of the position of this second tubular body 9 by

  relative to the first tubular body 7.

  It will be observed that the second tubular body 9 is susceptible

  to slide, in a sealed manner, on this tube 22.

  In this regard and according to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flange 19 fitted to the lower end 20 of said second tubular body 9 has an orifice 26 adapted to be traversed, in a sealed manner, by said tube 22, this orifice 26

  can, for this purpose, be bordered by a seal.

  In fact, this tube 22 is intended to receive, internally, an electrical cable 27 connected, on the one hand, to the electrical energy supply means 6 located outside the first tubular body 7 and, on the other hand, to the lighting means 4 that comprises

  internally the second tubular body 9.

  In this regard, it will be noted that the seal between the tube 22 and the second tubular body 9 prevents the hydraulic fluid and / or the gas surrounding the latter and bathing in the first tubular body 7, from penetrating inside said tube 22 This prevents this gas and / or, more particularly, said hydraulic fluid, from coming into contact with the electric cable 27. The insulation

  electric power of the latter is then guaranteed.

  Such a seal also prevents the hydraulic fluid and / or the gas from entering inside the second tubular body 9 which, on the one hand, does not make it essential to install specific connection means 28, in particular waterproof type under high pressure, between the electric cable 27 and the lighting means 4. This also makes it possible to limit the

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  amount of hydraulic fluid and / or gas required to set up

  movement of the second tubular body 9.

  As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second tubular body 9 is completed internally by guide means 29 of the tube 22 in which the electric cable extends 27. Such guide means 29 take the form of a guide tube 30 made integral, directly or indirectly, with the movable part of the lighting device 1 and able to be fitted over the

tube 22.

  As mentioned above, the second tubular body 9 receives lighting means 4 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are in the form of a bulb 31 or the like secured to a plate 32 mounted inside said tubular body 9,

  preferably near the upper end 33 of the latter.

  It should be observed that it is, more particularly, this plate 32 which, on the one hand, is connected to the electric cable 27 via the connection means 28 and, on the other hand, receives the guide tube 30 thus ensuring the mounting of this

  the latter in said second tubular body 9.

  The latter has, near its upper end 33, an envelope 34 of which at least a portion is transparent or, at the very least, translucent so as to allow the light to pass

emitted by said bulb 31.

  The upper end 33 of this second tubular body 9 can be closed by a cover 50 or the like, the latter and / or the casing 34 which may be, in whole or in part, retractable in nature to allow access to the lighting means 4, more

  in particular, to said bulb 31.

  In this regard, it should be observed that, if the first 7 and / or the second 9 tubular body can be made of a very resistant material, in particular of metallic type, the transparent or translucent casing 34 is generally made of a more or less fragile material. The latter is liable to undergo choices and degradations which may cause gas and / or hydraulic fluid to leak through said envelope.

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  34 if the latter was in contact with this gas and / or this fluid.

  Therefore, and according to an advantageous embodiment, the feed point 12 of the upper portion 13 of the first body

  tubular 7 is then located downstream of this envelope 34,

  below the latter being disposed a seal or

  analog interposed between the two tubular bodies 7 and 9.

  According to another feature of the present invention, the tubular bodies 7 and 9 are arranged inside a well 8 taking, for example, the shape of a silo 35 buried under the surface 2 of the ground 3 and delimited by a side wall 36, in particular cylindrical. As visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base of this silo 35 can be consolidated by pouring, around the latter, a concrete block 37. According to another embodiment not shown, the well 8 can, again, be defined by an excavation

  carried out in soil 3 and, preferably, concreted internally.

  In order to ensure the establishment, in said well 8, of the tubular bodies 7 and 9, the first 7 thereof receives, near its upper end 38, a cover 39 of annular shape capable of being made integral with the '' a plate 40 or the like intended to cover the well 8 and / or to be fixed, as the case may be, to the wall

  lateral 36 of the silo 35 and / or on the concrete block 37.

  It will be observed that said plate 40 as well as the cover 39 each have an orifice adjusted to the passage of the second tubular body 9 so as to allow it to slide and, in particular, its emergence out of the ground 3. In addition, this first tubular body 7, said plate 40 and / or said cover 39 are equipped, in particular near the orifice of the latter, with a seal 41 capable of enclosing, in a leaktight manner, the second

tubular body 9.

  It will be noted that this seal 41 is disposed between, on the one hand, the feed point 12 of the upper portion 13 of the first tubular body 7 and, on the other hand, the end

  upper 38 of the latter, the cover 39, or even the plate 40.

  The presence of this seal 41 is intended to prevent the.- [X

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  any leakage of hydraulic fluid and / or gas at the

  emerging and sliding part of the lighting device 1.

  As described above, the tubular bodies 7 and 9 are, on the one hand, arranged inside the well 8 and, on the other hand, connected, respectively, to the means 5 of hydraulic type and / or pneumatic and to the electrical energy supply means 6. According to a first embodiment not shown, these means 5 and 6 are, like the two tubular bodies 7 and

  9, arranged inside said well 8.

  However and according to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures i and 2, these means 5 of the hydraulic and / or pneumatic type and these supply means 6 are, for reasons of accessibility, offset, at least in part, relative to the well 8. These means 5 and 6 are then installed, outside of said well 8, in a pit 42 or the like communicating with the latter through a channel 43 capable of receiving, on the one hand, part of the electric cable 27 and , on the other hand, part of the conduits 11, 11A

  connected to the first tubular body 7.

  As described above and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electric cable 27 emerges from its tube 22 at the bottom 23 of the first tubular body 7 before entering the internal volume 44 of the well 8 and to come to rest on the bottom 45 of the latter. In this regard, it should be observed that the depth of this well 8 is chosen so that the distance separating the bottoms 23 and 45 is such that said electrical cable 27 can be stored on the bottom 45 of the well 8 in the fully positioned position. retracted from the second tubular body 9 and that, when the latter slides, this cable 27 undergoes no restraint. In addition and according to a preferred embodiment, this electric cable 27 can receive ballasting means capable of facilitating its descent and its arrangement on the bottom 45 during the retraction of said body.

tubular 9.

  It will also be noted, in FIGS. 1 and 2, that the lighting device i also comprises means 46 capable of limiting the emergence of the movable part above the ground 3. Such l & -F- NF means 46 are found at the second tubular body 9 and are in the form of a stopper 47, in particular defined by an annular ring 48, continuous or discontinuous, welded to the external wall 49 of this second tubular body 9. This stopper d stop 47 is able to cooperate with, as appropriate, the seal 41, the upper end 38 of the first body

  tubular 7 and / or the cover 39 covering the latter.

  Finally, it has been described above, means capable of ensuring the sliding of the movable part relative to the fixed part, these means adopting the form of means 5 of hydraulic and / or pneumatic type. In this regard, it should be noted that the hydraulic type means involve a hydraulic fluid which may be, for example, water, this fluid may also be oil or the like. As for pneumatic means, they use a gas which, according to a preferred embodiment but

  not restrictive, can be air.

  Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it is possible to make various modifications to the forms, materials and combinations of these. various elements,

  without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

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Claims (11)

Claims   1. Retractable lighting device (1) comprising a fixed part located under the surface (2) of the ground (3) or the like and inside which is mounted, in a sliding manner, a mobile part able to emerge out from the ground (3) and receiving lighting means (4), said lighting device (1) further comprising means (6) capable of supplying electric power to the lighting means (4) as well as means ( 5) capable of ensuring the sliding of the mobile part relative to the fixed part, characterized in that: - the means (5) capable of sliding the mobile part relative to the fixed part are of hydraulic type and / or pneumatic; - the fixed part is defined by a first tubular body (7) taking position in a well (8) and receiving, internally and coaxially, a second tubular body (9) defining the movable part of said lighting device (1) , the first (7) and the second tubular body (9) being connected, respectively, to the hydraulic and / or pneumatic means (5) and to the electrical energy supply means (6); - Said means of hydraulic and / or pneumatic type (5) are connected to the first tubular body (7) at two supply points (12, 12A) with hydraulic fluid and / or gas located, on the one hand, in its upper portion (13) and, on the other hand, in its lower portion (14), while a piston (15) subdividing into two chambers (17, 17A) the internal volume (16) of the first tubular body (7 ), between these two power points   (12, 12A), is made integral with the second tubular body (9).   2. Lighting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first tubular body (7) comprises, internally, a tube (22) extending coaxially and opening, on the one hand, in the well (8) through the lower end (24) of the first tubular body (7) and, on the other hand, into the internal volume (25) of the second tubular body a V F- 13 2787174   (9) whatever the position of the latter (9) relative to the first tubular body (7).   3. Lighting device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said tube (22) receives, internally, an electrical supply cable (27) connected, on the one hand, to the supply means electrical energy (6) and, on the other hand, the lighting means (4) integrated into the second tubular body (9), the latter being able to slide, in a sealed manner, on this tube (22). 4. Lighting device (1) according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the piston   (15) takes the form of a flange (19) equipping the lower end (20) of the second tubular body (9) and capable of closing the latter, this flange (19) cooperates, in a sealed manner, with the wall   internal (18) of the first tubular body (7).   5. Lighting device (1) according to claim 4 and   any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that   that the flange (19) has an orifice (26) capable of being crossed, in a sealed manner, by said tube (22) allowing sliding, on the latter and in a sealed manner, of the second tubular body (9) - 6. Lighting device (1) according to any one of   Claims 2, 3 or 5, characterized in that the second   tubular body (9) is supplemented, internally, by guide means (29) of the tube (22) taking the form of a guide tube (30) fitted over the latter and made integral, directly   or indirectly, of said second tubular body (9).   7. Lighting device (1) according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the well   (8) takes the form of a silo (35) buried under the surface (2) of the ground (3) and delimited by a side wall (36), the seat of this silo (35) being able to be consolidated by sinking, around the latter, a concrete block (37).   8. Lighting device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the first tubular body (7) receives, it '- [e 14 2787174   near its upper end (38), a cover (39) capable of being made integral with a plate (40) or the like intended to cover the well (8) and / or to be fixed, as the case may be, on the side wall (36) of the silo (35) and / or on the concrete block (37), said plate (40) as well as the cover (39) each having a   orifice adjusted to the passage of the second tubular body (9).   9. Lighting device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the first tubular body (7), said plate (40) and / or said cover (39) are equipped, in particular near the orifice of the latter, of a seal (41) capable of tightly enclosing the second tubular body (9), said seal (41) being disposed between, on the one hand, the point d 'supply (12) of the upper portion (13) of the first tubular body (7) and, on the other hand, the upper end (38) of the latter, the cover (39), or even the plate (40) . 10. Lighting device (1) according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the means   (5) of hydraulic and / or pneumatic type and the supply means (6) are offset, at least in part, relative to the well (8) and are located, outside of the latter, in a pit (42) or analog communicating with said well (8) through a channel (43).   11. Lighting device (1) according to any one of   Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the depth of the   well (8) is chosen so that the distance separating the bottom (45) of the latter and the bottom (23) of the first tubular body (7) is such that said electrical cable (27) can be stored on the bottom ( 45) of said well (8) in the fully retracted position of the second tubular body (9) and that, during the sliding of this   last, this cable (27) undergoes no restraint. XU - r