GB1597941A - Studio lighting - Google Patents

Description

(54) STUDIO LIGHTING (71) We, TELE-STAGE ASSOCIATES LIMITED, a British Company of Western Way, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3SP, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to lighting systems for film or T.V. studios.

A conventional studio is fitted with many luminaires which will be hung from any of various different suspensions, such as barrels, telescopes, pantographs and the like, and will be controlled through a dimming system so that the intensity of the lighting at different positions in the studio may be varied as required during the production. The dimming system includes heavy or "hard" wiring of high current capacity that extends from the luminaire up through the luminaire suspension. across the studio ceiling voids and returns down to a dimmer room on a lower level. The dimmer room contains large vertical metal racking cabinets, which require ventilation to carry away the heat generated in the dimmers, In some typical cases, the wiring run between luminaire and dimmer may be in excess of 250 feet and, because the dimmers will not operate correctly if there are voltage drops caused by the calble route and length, the cable used has to be of sufficiently large cross section to avoid significant voltage drop along its length. Such cable is very expensive. The cables are carried in ducting which, because of high amperage capacity required, can be filled to only say 38% of their capacity which makes them costly and bulky to supply and instal.

The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantage of the conventional systems described above.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a lighting unit for a T.V. or film studio comprising a frame that supports a bar from which lamps are to be hung, one or more dimmers mounted on the frame, power feeder cables adapted to extend, in use, from the frame to the ceiling level and control feeder cables adapted to extend, in use, from the frame to the studio ceiling and from there to a remotely situated control console.

Since the studio will in any case be amply ventilated the dimmers would thus require no special ventilation and, if provided in plug-in modular form, would be readily replaceable by studio technicians.

The frame may be of the conventional type which is connected to a ceilingmounted hoist, or may be of the selfclimbing variety, in which the frame carries a winch for lifting and lowering the frame.

The invention also provides a studio lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting units according to the said aspect of the invention having their relatively heavy power feeder cables connected to a supply at ceiling level and their relatively light control feeder cables extending from the ceiling level to a lighting control console.

The invention will now be described by way of - example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a studio lighting unit embodying the invention; and Figure 2 shows a second studio lighting unit embodying the invention.

Refering to Figure 1, the unit includes a longitudinally extending frame 11 that supports a bar 12 from which, in use, lamps (not shown) are hung. The frame 11 is supported from a ceiling- or grid-mounted hoist 13 by means of cables 14 that extend from the ends of the frame 11 over freerunning pulleys 15 also mounted to the ceiling or grid. Two dimmers 16 are mounted in the bottom of the frame 11 and power feeder cables 17 extend therefrom for connection to a ring main provided on the ceiling or grid. Control feeder cables 18 extend from dimmers 16 to the ceiling or grid and thence to a remotely situated control console (not shown). The power feeder cables 17 and control feeder cables 18 are accommodated, in conventional manner, in self-folding trays 19.

Turning now to Figure 2, there is shown a self-climbing hoist. A frame 11 supports a bar 12 from which lamps 21 are hung.

Also mounted in the centre of the frame 11 is a pair of drums (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown) around which are wrapped cables 24 by which the hoist 11 is suspended from the ceiling or grid. The frame 11 also has mounted at its centre two or more dimmers 16. Power feeder cables 17 are connected to the dimmers 16 from a grid or ceiling mounted ring main and are accommodated in self-folding trays 19.

Control feeder cables 18 are connected to the dimmers 16 via an outlet 25 and extend from the outlet 25 to a remotely situated control console, via the ceiling or grid.

The section of the control feeder cables 18 between the outlet 25 and the ceiling or grid is accommodated in the trays 19.

The dimmers 16 are in the form of plugin modules and so can be replaced, if necessary, by studio technicians working at floor level.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A lighting unit for a T.V. or film studio comprising a frame that supports a bar from which lamps are to be hung, one or more dimmers mounted on the frame, power feeder cables adapted to extend, in use, from the frame to the ceiling level and control feeder cables adapted to extend, in use, from the frame to the studio ceiling and from there to a remotely situated control console.

2. A lighting unit according to claim 1 wherein the dimmer or dimmers are of plugin modular form.

3. A lighting unit according to claim 1 or 2 and including a hoist for raising and lowering the frame.

4. A lighting unit according to claim 3, wherein the hoist comprises winch means mounted at ceiling level and connected to the frame by winch cable or cables.

5. A lighting unit according to claim 3, wherein the hoist comprises winch means mounted on the frame and connected by winch cable or cables to upper anchorage means.

6. A lighting unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A studio lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting units according to any of the preceding claims having their relatively heavy power feeder cables connected to a supply at ceiling level and their relatively light control feeder cables extending from the ceiling to a lighting control console.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Turning now to Figure 2, there is shown a self-climbing hoist. A frame 11 supports a bar 12 from which lamps 21 are hung. Also mounted in the centre of the frame 11 is a pair of drums (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown) around which are wrapped cables 24 by which the hoist 11 is suspended from the ceiling or grid. The frame 11 also has mounted at its centre two or more dimmers 16. Power feeder cables 17 are connected to the dimmers 16 from a grid or ceiling mounted ring main and are accommodated in self-folding trays 19. Control feeder cables 18 are connected to the dimmers 16 via an outlet 25 and extend from the outlet 25 to a remotely situated control console, via the ceiling or grid. The section of the control feeder cables 18 between the outlet 25 and the ceiling or grid is accommodated in the trays 19. The dimmers 16 are in the form of plugin modules and so can be replaced, if necessary, by studio technicians working at floor level. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A lighting unit for a T.V. or film studio comprising a frame that supports a bar from which lamps are to be hung, one or more dimmers mounted on the frame, power feeder cables adapted to extend, in use, from the frame to the ceiling level and control feeder cables adapted to extend, in use, from the frame to the studio ceiling and from there to a remotely situated control console.

2. A lighting unit according to claim 1 wherein the dimmer or dimmers are of plugin modular form.

3. A lighting unit according to claim 1 or 2 and including a hoist for raising and lowering the frame.

4. A lighting unit according to claim 3, wherein the hoist comprises winch means mounted at ceiling level and connected to the frame by winch cable or cables.

5. A lighting unit according to claim 3, wherein the hoist comprises winch means mounted on the frame and connected by winch cable or cables to upper anchorage means.

6. A lighting unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A studio lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting units according to any of the preceding claims having their relatively heavy power feeder cables connected to a supply at ceiling level and their relatively light control feeder cables extending from the ceiling to a lighting control console.