GB2537953A

GB2537953A - A lighting assembly and a retrofit device for a lighting assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2537953A
Application number: GB1520816.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Telford John
Original assignee: Abacus Lighting Ltd
Current assignee: ABACUS LIGHTING LIMITED
Priority date: 2015-11-25
Filing date: 2015-11-25
Publication date: 2016-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-25
Also published as: GB201520816D0; GB2537953B

Abstract

A lighting assembly including a housing 14 for a light source, a support 16 for supporting the housing above a surface with the housing being pivotably connected to the support to permit rotation relative to the support. The lighting assembly also includes a first measurement device 20 attached to the housing and a second measurement device 30 attached to the support. One of the measurement devices obtains from the other measurement device the angle (θ, Fig. 1) between a vertical line (110, Fig. 1) to the surface and the direction in which a light beam (100, Fig. 1) is projected from the housing. One of the measurement devices may provide a visual indication of angle on the other measurement device. The first measurement device may be a laser device 20 which directs a laser beam onto the second measurement device which may include a series of calibrated markings 32 for indicating the angle. Alternatively, the first measurement device may include a pointer or needle. The calibrated markings may include a series of graduations and resemble a protractor. There may be a second series of markings 34 which indicate the angle if the light source has been moved relative to the housing.

Description

Title: A lighting assembly and a retrofit device for a lighting assembly.

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a lighting assembly, and more particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a lighting assembly configured to determine the projection angle of a light beam emitted therefrom. The invention may also relate to a retrofit device for a Fighting assembly.

Lighting assemblies, particularly floodlights of the type found in sports areas and stadia (e.g. sports stadia) or other areas, include relatively heavy lamp housings which can be challenging to aim accurately, partly due to their weight. Currently, such lighting assemblies are aimed by an engineer's sight and therefore the installation involves an amount of trial and error. Typically, whilst the mast is in a lowered configuration an engineer will use his best judgement to align one or more lighting assemblies with respect to the mast. The mast may then be raised to an installed configuration so that the engineer can test the lighting to determine whether or not the or each light beam is projecting towards a desired location. The position of many lighting assemblies usually requires some adjustment, which can involve lowering the mast, loosening the bolts connecting the housing to the mast and tweaking the position of the housing relative to the mast. This process often needs to be repeated a number of times which can be time consuming and inefficient.

There remains a need to increase the speed in which a lighting assembly can be installed and accurately aimed.

Embodiments of the invention seek to provide an improved lighting assembly.

In some embodiments, the present invention seeks to overcome the problems associated with the prior art installation methods described above, by providing for a quick and accurate and / or efficient method of aiming a light beam, such as a light beam emitted from an area floodlight.

In one aspect of the invention, we provide a lighting assembly including: a housing for a light source; a support for supporting the housing above a surface, the housing being pivotably connected to the support to permit rotation of the housing relative to the support; a first measurement device attached or attachable to the housing; and a second measurement device attached or attachable to the support, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured for use in obtaining from the other of the first and second measurement devices the angle between a vertical line to the surface and the direction in which a light beam is projected from the housing.

In a second aspect of the invention, we provide a retrofit device for a lighting assembly, the lighting assembly including: a housing for a light source; and a support for supporting the housing above a surface, the housing being pivotably connected to the support to permit rotation of the housing relative to the support; wherein the retrofit device includes: a first measurement device attachable to the housing; and a second measurement device attachable to the support, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured for use in obtaining from the other of the first and second measurement devices the angle between a vertical line to the surface and the direction in which a light beam is projected from the housing.

The first and / or second measurement device(s) may be removably attached to the respective housing and support.

One of the first and second measurement devices may be configured to provide a visual indication on the other of the first and second measurement devices. The visual indication could be the angle between the vertical line and the direction in which the light beam is projected, or the visual indication could enable an engineer to quickly determine the angle.

One of the first and second measurement devices may be a laser device configured to direct a laser beam onto the other of the first and second measurement devices.

The other of the first and second measurement devices may include at least one series of calibrated markings for indicating the angle.

The lighting system may include a light source. The light source may include an associated reflector for enhancing and / or focussing the beam of light emitted therefrom. Alternatively or additionally, the housing may include a reflector for providing the same effect.

The light source may be adjustable relative to the housing between first and second positions, the direction of the light beam from the housing being different when the light source is in the first position from when the light source is in the second position. A first series of calibrated markings may therefore be utilised to indicate the angle when the light source is in the first position and a second series of calibrated markings may be utilised to indicate the angle when the light source is in the second position.

The lighting assembly or retrofit device may include a handle configured to be removably attached to the housing. The first measurement device may be attached or removably attached to the handle.

Embodiments of the various aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a floodlight embodying a lighting assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a lighting assembly according to the invention; Figure 3 is a part view of a lighting assembly according to the invention; Figure 4 is a part view of a lighting assembly according to the invention; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a floodlight embodying lighting assemblies according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a floodlight, indicated generally at 1, which includes a lighting assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The floodlight 1 may include a mast 2 which is configured to support the lighting assembly 10 20 above a surface 3.

In some embodiments, the lighting assembly 10 is of the type which includes a light source 12, a housing 14 for housing the light source 12 and a support 16 for supporting the housing 14. The light source 12 is configured to project a beam of light 100 from the housing 14 and towards the surface 3. The support 16 is connected to a part 11 of the mast 2.

In some embodiments, the housing 14 may include a reflector (not shown) for enhancing and / or focussing the beam of light emitted therefrom.

In embodiments, the housing 14 may be pivotably connected to the support 16 to permit rotation of the housing 14 relative to the support 16. For instance, the housing 14 may be connected to first and second arms 16a, 16b of the support 16 (see figure 2). The arms 16a, 16b may be connected to the housing 14 by bolts 18 (as shown) or by any other suitable attachment mechanism known to the skilled person. It is to be appreciated that in some embodiments the housing 14 may be connected to the support 16 in other ways. For instance, there may be fewer or more than two arms 16a, 16b to support the housing 14.

It will be appreciated that the housing 14 is rotatable relative to the support 16 about an axis A-A such that the housing 14 can be rotated in the directions illustrated by the double-headed arrow X (figure 1). It will also be appreciated that the direction in which the light beam 100 projects will change as the housing 14 is rotated about axis A-A.

The lighting assembly 10 may include a first measurement device 20 attached or removably attached to the housing 14 and a second measurement device 30 removably attached to the support 16.

In embodiments, the first measurement device 20 may include a laser device configured to direct a laser beam 22 onto the second measurement device 30.

In some embodiments, however, the first measurement device 20 may include a pointer rather than a laser device, the pointer being directed towards the second measurement device 30. In such embodiments, the pointer may be extendable so that an end thereof is movable towards and away from the second measurement device 30. The end of the pointer may be configured to come into contact with a surface of the second measurement device 30.

The first measurement device 20 (e.g. a laser device) may be attached or removably attached to a handle 40. For instance, the handle 40 may include a part 42 for receiving and holding the first measurement device 20. The part 42 may hold the first measurement device 20 by an interference or friction fit. The handle 40 may be attached or removably attached to the housing 14.

An actuator 44 may be provided for actuating the laser device to generate the laser beam 22.

In embodiments, the second measurement device 30 may include a series of calibrated markings 32 so that an angle reading can be obtained therefrom. The series of calibrated markings 32 may include a series of graduations, i.e. the second measurement device 30 may resemble a protractor.

In embodiments, and best illustrated by figure 3, the second measurement device 30 may include a second series of calibrated markings 34 or a second and a third series of calibrated markings 34, 36 for reasons which will be described below. In some embodiments, the second measurement device 30 may include four or more different series of calibrated markings.

The first measurement device 20 is configured for use in obtaining from the second measurement device 30 the angle between a vertical line 110a to the surface 3 and the direction in which the light beam 100 is projected (see figure 1). This angle is denoted by theta 0. For instance, when the first measurement device 20 is a laser device, the laser beam 22 is directed towards one of the series of the calibrated markings 32, 34, 36 to provide a visual indication of the angle 0. Of course, the engineer may set up the lighting assembly 10 such that the angle 0 itself is not visually indicated on one of the series of calibrated markings 32, 34, 36, but another angle is visually indicated instead. The other angle may be the angle between a vertical line 110b directed away from the surface 3 and the direction in which the light beam 100 is projected. In this example, the angle 0 can be readily obtained by subtracting the indicated value from 180°.

In embodiments, the light source 12 may be adjustable relative to (e.g. within) the housing 14 between two or more positions, such that the direction of the light beam 100 is different when the light source 12 is in one position from when the light source 12 is in another position. Adjusting the position of the light source 12 relative to the housing 14 is advantageous because the direction of the light beam 100 projecting from the housing 14 may be quickly and easily set depending on whether or not there are any lighting restrictions in the area in which the lighting assembly 10 is being installed. For instance, there may be restrictions on how high a light beam 100 can project for light installations in built up, e.g. residential, areas. In such cases, the light source 12 may be set to a position relative to the housing 14 which limits the height of the light beam 100.

In the illustrated embodiment, there are three series of calibrated markings 32, 34, 36 which correspond to three different light source 12 positions relative to the housing 14. The series of markings 32, 34, 36 from which the engineer can extrapolate the angle 0 will depend upon which position the light source 12 has been set relative to the housing 14, as will be readily understood by the skilled person.

In some embodiments, the lighting assembly 10 need not have a light source 12 that is moveable relative to the housing 14. In such embodiments the second measurement device 30 may include only one series of calibrated markings 32.

In embodiments, the lighting assembly 10 may include a third measurement device 50 attached or removably attached to the housing 14 and a fourth measurement device 60 attached or removably attached to the part 11 of the mast 2.

In embodiments, the third measurement device 50 may include a laser device configured to direct a laser beam 52 onto the fourth measurement device 60.

In some embodiments, however, the third measurement device 50 may include a pointer rather than a laser device, the pointer being directed towards the fourth measurement device 60. In such embodiments, the pointer may be extendable so that an end thereof is movable towards and away from the fourth measurement device 60. The end of the pointer may be configured to come into contact with a surface of the fourth measurement device 60.

The third measurement device 50 (e.g. a laser device) may be attached or removably attached to the handle 40. For instance, the handle 40 may include a part 46 for receiving and holding the third measurement device 50. The part 46 may hold the third measurement device 50 by an interference or friction fit.

An actuator 48 may be provided for actuating the laser device to generate the 20 laser beam 52.

In embodiments, the fourth measurement device 60 may include a series of calibrated markings 62 so that an angle reading can be obtained therefrom (figure 4). The series of calibrated markings 62 may include a series of graduations, i.e. the fourth measurement device 60 may resemble a protractor.

The third measurement device 50 is configured for use in obtaining from the fourth measurement device 60 the angle that the housing 14 is angularly displaced from the part 11 in a plane perpendicular to the vertical line 110a.

In embodiments, the fourth measurement device 60 may be magnetically attached to the part 11 of the mast 2. For instance, the fourth measurement device 60 may be magnetically attached to a member 64. The member 64 may be located around a bolt that connects the support 16 to the part 11. The fourth measurement device 60 may be rotated about the bolt 66 by grasping and turning a user graspable portion 68. In this way the fourth measurement device 60 can be set to zero. When the housing 14 is rotated relative to the part 11 in the plane perpendicular to the vertical line 100a a visual indication corresponding to the degree of rotation is provided on the fourth measurement device 60.

Embodiments of the invention are expected to reduce the time it takes to accurately aim one or more lighting assemblies 10. For example, it is anticipated that a floodlight 1 for an area including twenty five lighting assemblies 10 can be accurately aimed at the first time of asking. The desired angle 0 for each lighting assembly 10 can be determined from a construction plan. Thus, the installation engineer can accurately set the projection angle 0 for each lighting assembly using the first and second measurement devices 20, 30, without having to rely on trial and error.

Figure 5 shows a floodlight 1 embodying two lighting assemblies 10, 10' according to the invention. The lighting assembly 10 is referred to as being "under slung" and the lighting assembly 10' is referred to as being "over slung". The lighting assembly 10 is shown during installation with the first, second, third and fourth measurement devices 20, 30, 50, 60 and the handle 40 attached, and the lighting assembly 10' is shown post installation with the components removed.

Whilst the figures show embodiments where the laser devices are mounted to 30 the housing 14 and the measurement devices with calibrated markings 32, 34, 36, 62 are mounted to the support 16 or part 11, it is to be understood that the specification also covers embodiments having the alternative arrangement, i.e. where one or both the laser devices are mounted to the support 16 or part 11 and one or both of the measurement devices with the calibrated markings 32, 34, 36, 62 are mounted to the housing 14.

It is acknowledged that light beams can have varying beam widths. The beam width is indicated in figure 1 by the double-headed arrow Y. Generally, wider beam widths lead to a greater flood of light, with the light being weaker at the edges of the flood when compared to the centre. Thus, when used in this specification the term "beam of light" is intended to refer to the centre of a light beam, irrespective of the beam width, as this is where the light is at its most intense.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

Claims 1. A lighting assembly including: a housing for a light source; a support for supporting the housing above a surface, the housing being pivotably connected to the support to permit rotation of the housing relative to the support; a first measurement device attached or attachable to the housing; and a second measurement device attached or attachable to the support, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured for use in obtaining from the other of the first and second measurement devices the angle between a vertical line to the surface and the direction in which a light beam is projected from the housing.
2. A lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured to provide a visual indication on the other of the first and second measurement devices.
3. A lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is a laser device configured to direct a laser beam onto the other of the first and second measurement devices.
4. A lighting assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the other of the first and second measurement devices includes at least one series of calibrated markings for indicating the angle.
5. A lighting assembly according to claim 4, including: a light source, wherein the light source is adjustable relative to the housing between first and second positions, the direction of the light beam from the housing being different when the light source is in the first position from when the light source is in the second position, wherein a first series of calibrated markings indicates the angle when the light source is in the first position and a second series of calibrated markings indicates the angle when the light source is in the second position.
6. A lighting assembly according to any preceding claim including a handle configured to be attached or removably attached to the housing.
7. A retrofit device for a lighting assembly, the lighting assembly including: a housing for a light source; and a support for supporting the housing above a surface; wherein the retrofit device includes: a first measurement device attachable to the housing; and a second measurement device attachable to the support, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured for use in obtaining from the other of the first and second measurement devices the angle between a vertical line to the surface and the direction in which a light beam is projected from the housing.
8. A retrofit device according to claim 7, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured to provide a visual indication on the other of the first and second measurement devices.
9. A retrofit device according to claim 7, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is a laser device configured to direct a laser beam onto the other of the first and second measurement devices.
10. A retrofit device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the other of the first and second measurement devices includes at least one series of calibrated markings for indicating the angle.
11. A retrofit device according to claim 10, wherein a first series of calibrated markings indicates the angle when the light source is in a first position relative to the housing and a second series of calibrated markings indicates the angle when the light source is in a second position relative to the housing.
12. A retrofit device according to any of claims 7 to 11 including a handle configured to be attached or removably attached to the housing.
13. A lighting assembly or a retrofit device, substantially as hereinbefore 10 described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.Amendment to Claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A lighting assembly including: a housing for a light source; a support for supporting the housing above a surface, the housing being pivotably connected to the support to permit rotation of the housing relative to the support; a first measurement device attached or attachable to the housing; and a second measurement device attached or attachable to the support, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured for use in obtaining from the other of the first and second measurement devices the angle between a vertical line to the surface and the direction in which a light beam is projected from the housing and wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is a laser device configured to direct a laser beam onto the other of the first and second measurement devices.2. A lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured to provide a visual indication on the other of the first and second measurement devices.3. A lighting assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the other of the first and second measurement devices includes at least one series of calibrated markings for indicating the angle.4. A lighting assembly according to claim 3, including: a light source, wherein the light source is adjustable relative to the housing between first and second positions, the direction of the light beam from the housing being different when the light source is in the first position from when the light source is in the second position, wherein a first series of calibrated markings indicates the angle when the light source is in the first position and a second series of calibrated markings indicates the angle when the light source is in the second position.5. A lighting assembly according to any preceding claim including a handle configured to be attached or removably attached to the housing.6. A retrofit device for a lighting assembly, the lighting assembly including: a housing for a light source; and a support for supporting the housing above a surface; wherein the retrofit device includes: a first measurement device attachable to the housing; and a second measurement device attachable to the support, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured for (r) use in obtaining from the other of the first and second measurement devices the angle between a vertical line to the surface and the direction in which a o light beam is projected from the housing and wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is a laser device configured to direct a laserCOC\I beam onto the other of the first and second measurement devices.7. A retrofit device according to claim 6, wherein one of the first and second measurement devices is configured to provide a visual indication on the other of the first and second measurement devices.8. A retrofit device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the other of the first and second measurement devices includes at least one series of calibrated markings for indicating the angle.9. A retrofit device according to claim 8, wherein a first series of calibrated markings indicates the angle when the light source is in a first position relative to the housing and a second series of calibrated markings indicates the angle when the light source is in a second position relative to the housing.10. A retrofit device according to any of claims 6 to 9 including a handle configured to be attached or removably attached to the housing.11. A lighting assembly or a retrofit device, substantially as hereinbefore 5 described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.