GB2589732A

GB2589732A - Lighting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2589732A
Application number: GB2017404.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fagg Lawrence
Original assignee: Kight Ltd
Current assignee: Kight Ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-04
Filing date: 2020-11-03
Publication date: 2021-06-09
Also published as: GB201915992D0; GB202017404D0; WO2021089553A1

Abstract

A lighting arrangement comprises a post 10 and an arm 12 projecting from the post 10. The post 10 carries a housing 16 including a plurality of flat external support surfaces 18, and substantially planar photovoltaic panels (18a, Fig. 4) supported by the support surfaces 18 of the housing 16. The post may carry a wind turbine 20. The photovoltaic panels and wind turbine may charge a battery within the housing 16 to power a lamp 14.

Description

LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT

This invention relates to a lighting arrangement, and in particular to a street light intended to provide illumination for a highway, footpath and the like.

A number of designs of street light are known. A typical design includes a post that, in use, is installed in a generally vertical orientation. At or close to the top of the post is provided an arm which extends horizontally or an angle away from the post. The arm may be straight, but in a number of designs is of curved form. Towards the free end of the arm, and supported thereby, is a lamp unit including a light emitting device, for example in the form of a light bulb, sodium lamp or array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) Suitable control electrical circuits are provided, typically within a housing located internally of the post, to control the supply of electrical power to the lamp unit from the electrical supply network and thereby control the operation thereof.

There is a desire to incorporate electrical generation means within or upon a street light, for example to generate electricity from incident light or from wind, the provision of such means being advantageous in that less electricity may be required to be drawn from the electricity supply network or the like. By using electricity generated at the location of the street lamp in a sustainable, low environmental impact manner, it will be appreciated that street lighting may be achieved in a more environmentally friendly manner.

Arrangements are known in which a solar panel or the like is supported by a street light, or in which a small horizontal axis wind turbine is carried by a street lamp to provide some electrical generation. However, such arrangements are typically mounted to the post of the street light in such a manner that off axis loadings experienced by the post are increased. This can result in the post needing to be of increased strength, typically requiring the post to be of increased size and weight, using increased levels of materials, which is undesirable. In one known arrangement, solar panels of a curved form are provided, located so as to extend around part of the post. However, such an arrangement has the disadvantage that the curved panels are expensive to produce, and mounting thereof onto a post is difficult to achieve in a cost effective manner.

It is an object of the invention to provide a street light in which at least some of the disadvantages associated with known designs of street light are overcome or are of reduced effect.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a lighting arrangement comprising a post and an arm projecting from the post, wherein the post carries a housing including a plurality of flat external support surfaces, and substantially planar photovoltaic panels supported by the housing, the panels being supported upon the support surfaces of the housing.

Such an arrangement is advantageous in that the loadings carried by the post as a result of the presence of the housing and panels may be directed axially of the post. The need to enhance the strength of the post may thus be avoided. The panels may be of generally planar form, and so may be relatively simple and efficient to produce.

The housing is preferably of a moulded plastics material form. Preferably it is of rotary moulded form. However, other manufacturing techniques may be used in the manufacture thereof. It may be of two piece, clam-shell like form to be fitted around part of the post. Alternatively, it may be designed to be fitted to the top of the post, and to carry the arm.

Conveniently, the housing is of one piece, rotary moulded form, preferably of a plastics material, and it is preferably arranged to be mounted to the top of the post, and to carry a spigot from which the arm projects. Using a one piece housing is advantageous in that it can readily be of substantially waterproof and weatherproof form, and so provide a good level of environmental protection to, for example, circuit components or the like located therein. It can also damp vibrations arising, for example, from passing road traffic or the operation of a turbine or the like carried by the post, through being of resilient form. Also, such an arrangement is of relatively low cost.

The lighting arrangement preferably further includes a lamp unit carried by the arm, and a control unit operable to control the operation of the lamp unit, the control unit being operable to allow the lamp unit to be supplied with electrical power generated by the panels. The arrangement may include an electrical storage device, for example located within the housing, operable to store electrical energy generated by the panels, and from which electrical power may be extracted for supply to the lamp unit.

The lighting arrangement may further include a wind turbine, for example supported at the top of the housing. The turbine could be of horizontal axis form, or may alternatively be of vertical axis form. The turbine may be used to generate electrical power, and the control unit may be operable to supply energy generated by the wind turbine to the lamp unit and/or to the storage unit.

By using a vertical axis turbine, it will be appreciated that off axis loadings experienced by the post are avoided. However, such loadings may also be avoided or reduced with a horizontal axis turbine, by appropriately positioning the turbine relative to the axis of the post, and the use of a horizontal axis turbine may be beneficial in that electrical output may be enhanced.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a lighting arrangement comprising a post and an arm projecting from the post, wherein the post carries a wind turbine, for example supported at the top of the post and positioned so as to minimise the application of side loadings to the post. Such an arrangement is advantageous in that off axis loadings experienced by the post are reduced compared to where other forms of turbine are used. The post may further carry at least one photovoltaic panels.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a lighting arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figures 2 to 5 are views illustrating parts of the arrangement of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating an alternative embodiment.

The lighting arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings takes the form of a street light intended for use in providing illumination to a highway or footpath or the like. The street light comprises a post 10 that, in use, is installed in a generally vertical orientation. The street light further comprises a projecting arm 12, the arm 12 extending generally horizontally. Whilst the arm 12 in this embodiment extends generally horizontally, arrangements where the arm 12 extends at an angle to the post 10, and/or in which it is of curved form are possible. At the free end of the arm 12 is located a lamp unit 14 that contains a light source in the form of an array of LEDs. Other forms of light source could be used if desired.

Fitted to the top of the post 10 is provided a housing 16, the arm 12 being fitted to a spigot secured to or carried by the top of the housing 16. The housing 16 is preferably of a plastics material form, and may be manufactured by, for example rotary moulding. It is thus conveniently of relatively light weight, hollow form as shown in Figure 3. The housing 16 is shaped in such a manner as to define a plurality of substantially flat, planar support surfaces 18 each of which carries a respective photovoltaic panel 18a (see Figure 4). The photovoltaic panels 18a are of substantially flat, planar form and so are relatively simple and economic to produce. By using a rotary moulded housing 16 to support the panels and mount them to the post 10, it will be appreciated that the panels 18a can readily be mounted upon the post 10. As the housing 16 is located at the top of the post 10 it will be appreciated that shading of the panels 18a, in use, is minimised.

The housing 16 is conveniently of one piece form, and so avoids joints that may leak, in use. Accordingly, the housing 16 provides an environment of good waterproof and weatherproof form, suitable for containing circuit components, batteries and the like. It is further sufficiently resiliently flexible that it can serve to damp vibrations arising from, for example, passing road traffic, wind, or the operation of a wind turbine (see below). Such an arrangement also has the advantage of being of relatively low cost.

The panels 18a are conveniently secured in position using clips 18b screwed, riveted or otherwise attached to the housing 16, preferably located in respective recesses formed in the housing 16. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the panels 18a are secured in position in a simple and convenient fashion, and that removal or replacement thereof may be undertaken relatively easily, if required.

The nature of the housing 16 is such that off-axis or side loadings experienced, in use, by the post 10 are substantially the same as would be the case if the housing 16 were not present. The provision of the housing 16 does not, therefore, require significant strengthening or the like of the post 10.

Located within the housing 16 is an electrical storage device, for example in the form of a battery or the like, and a control unit operable to control the supply of electrical power from the panels 18a to the storage unit and to the lamp unit 14. The control unit further controls the supply of electrical power to the lamp unit 14 from the electricity supply network. The control unit may be operable in such a manner as to preferentially supply the lamp unit 14 with electrical power generated by the panels 18a and/or from the storage device, supplementing this with electrical power from the electricity supply network when required to achieve operation of the lamp unit 14. In this manner, the electrical power requirements drawn from the electricity supply network may be reduced or minimised, and the operation of the street light may be achieved in a more environmentally friendly manner.

As shown in Figure 1, the street light further includes a vertical axis wind turbine 20 provided at the top of the housing 16 and comprising a rotor 22 including a plurality of blades 24. In the arrangement shown, the blades 24 are of a crescent shape, but it will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted in this regard and blades of other shapes may be used. The blades 24 and certain other parts of the turbine 20 are preferably of a plastics material, and may be formed by rotary moulding or using an alternative suitable moulding technique. The electrical output from the turbine is preferably used in substantially the same way as that from the panels 18a, the control unit controlling the supply thereof to the lamp unit 14 and/or to the storage device.

It will be appreciated that the street light described hereinbefore is advantageous in that the provision of solar and/or photovoltaic generation may be achieved without significantly increasing the application of off axis or side loadings to the post 10 of the street light, thereby avoiding issues such as requiring the post 10 to be of increased strength or the like.

It will be appreciated that the invention may be readily retro-fitted to existing street lights, if desired. Whilst the arrangement described hereinbefore includes a housing 16 intended to be fitted to the top of a post 10, it will be appreciated that the housing 16 could be of a clam-shell like form and be arranged to be fitted around a part of post, if desired.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which a horizontal axis wind turbine 20 is provided instead of a vertical axis turbine. With this exception, the arrangement of Figure 6 is substantially identical to the arrangement described hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The wind turbine 20 is conveniently angularly movable about an axis coaxial with that of the post 10, and the centre of mass of the wind turbine 20, in use, is preferably aligned with the axis so as to avoid applying side loadings to the post 10, or reducing or minimising the application of such loadings.

Whilst specific embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that a wide range of modifications or alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A lighting arrangement comprising a post and an arm projecting from the post, wherein the post carries a housing including a plurality of flat external support surfaces, and substantially planar photovoltaic panels supported by the housing, the panels being supported upon the support surfaces of the housing.
2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the panels are of generally planar form.
3. An arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the housing is of a moulded plastics material form.
4. An arrangement according to Claim 3, wherein the housing is of rotary moulded form.
5. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is of one piece form.
6. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is designed to be fitted to the top of the post, and to carry the arm.
7. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a lamp unit carried by the arm, and a control unit operable to control the operation of the lamp unit, the control unit being operable to allow the lamp unit to be supplied with electrical power generated by the panels.
8. An arrangement according to Claim 7, further comprising an electrical storage device operable to store electrical energy generated by the panels, and from which electrical power may be extracted for supply to the lamp unit.
9. An arrangement according to Claim 8, wherein the electrical storage device is located within the housing.
10. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, and further comprising a wind turbine supported at the top of the housing.
11. An arrangement according to Claim 10, wherein the turbine is used to generate electrical power, and the control unit is operable to supply energy generated by the wind turbine to the lamp unit and/or to the storage unit.
12. An arrangement according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the turbine is a horizontal axis turbine.
13. An arrangement according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the turbine is a vertical axis wind turbine.
14. An arrangement according to any of Claims 10 to 13, wherein the turbine is mounted upon a spigot located coaxially with the post.