JP2006216498A - Lighting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep the illuminance of the inside of a tunnel independently of an ambient temperature therein, in a lighting apparatus to be mounted in the wall of the tunnel. <P>SOLUTION: The discharge lamp 4 contained in an apparatus 2 lights ignoring a light regulation signal when the ambient temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature even a light regulation signal is indicated by a control panel. The tunnel is illuminated with a required illuminance even the lamp efficiency is lowered by decreasing the ambient temperature. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus used in a cold region.

  Conventionally, for example, low-pressure sodium lamps and fluorescent lamps are well known as light sources for tunnel lighting fixtures. And it is designed to illuminate the road surface with a relatively small number of luminaires mainly with a uniform brightness as much as possible along the direction of traffic. For this reason, in recent years, a luminaire using a relatively long fluorescent lamp as a light source is used in order to illuminate more efficiently in the longitudinal direction.

  However, it is known that the efficiency of the fluorescent lamp varies depending on the ambient temperature. For example, light can be emitted most efficiently when the ambient temperature is 20 to 25 ° C., but when the ambient temperature is high or low, the lamp luminous flux is greatly reduced. In particular, a device used outdoors, such as a tunnel lighting device, has a problem that it is easily affected by the ambient temperature and the lamp efficiency is likely to change. In particular, when the lamp is dimmed and used, the input power to the lamp is small, so that the lamp itself is difficult to generate heat and a predetermined illuminance cannot be obtained.

For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-259669 discloses a closed-type fixture such as a tunnel lighting fixture, which aims to maintain the illuminance of the light source lamp and improve the illumination efficiency regardless of the ambient temperature. A lighting apparatus is disclosed in which a panel heater is provided in the vicinity of the coldest part of the discharge lamp, and the panel heater is operated only when the discharge lamp is dimmed.
JP 2004-259669 A

  However, such a lighting fixture is not economically preferable since the wiring in the fixture becomes complicated and the number of parts increases by attaching a heater.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the lighting fixture which can maintain illumination efficiency irrespective of ambient temperature.

  The lighting apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a chassis having an opening end, a lid body having a light projection opening attached to the chassis, and a translucent cover disposed in the light projection opening of the lid body. A lighting apparatus comprising: a main body; a discharge lamp disposed in the apparatus main body; and a lighting device disposed in the apparatus main body and capable of dimming and lighting the discharge lamp by a dimming signal from the outside. When the inside of the instrument is lower than a predetermined temperature, control for ignoring the dimming signal is performed.

  In the present invention and each of the following inventions, the definitions and technical meanings of terms are as follows unless otherwise specified.

  The discharge lamp is allowed to be a lamp that emits light by discharge, such as a fluorescent lamp, a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, and an electrodeless discharge lamp. In particular, it is preferable to adapt to fluorescent lamps and electrodeless discharge lamps whose efficiency decreases at low temperatures.

  The temperature drop inside the appliance is detected by, for example, a temperature switch such as a heat responsive element such as a bimetal or a combination of a temperature sensor and a switch. Then, when it is detected that the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, control is performed so as to ignore the dimming signal. This control can be performed by providing a temperature switch inside the instrument or a control panel installed outside the instrument. At this time, even if there is no temperature switch or the like inside the appliance, it is also possible to detect the temperature outside the appliance and control it as the temperature inside the appliance.

  A lighting fixture according to a second aspect of the invention includes a chassis having an open end, a lid having a light projection opening mounted on the chassis, and a translucent cover disposed in the light projection opening of the lid. A lighting apparatus comprising: a main body; a discharge lamp disposed in the apparatus main body; and a lighting device disposed in the apparatus main body and capable of dimming and lighting the discharge lamp stepwise in accordance with a dimming signal from the outside. In this case, when the inside of the appliance is lowered from a predetermined temperature, control is performed such that the dimming output is increased stepwise than the dimming signal.

  Dimmable in stages means that, for example, a dimming signal is 50 using a lighting device that can be controlled in stages so that the output of the ballast becomes 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%. When the output of% is requested, when the temperature inside the appliance is lower than the specified value, the lighting device controls the lamp output to be 75%. This control may also be performed inside the instrument, or a plurality of units may be collectively controlled by a control panel installed outside the instrument.

  According to the present invention, when the ambient temperature is low and the temperature inside the fixture does not rise, the lamp dimming signal is ignored or the lamp is lit at a level higher than the dimming signal level. Since the lamp is turned on in anticipation of a decrease in efficiency due to the temperature characteristics of the lamp, it is possible to provide a lighting apparatus that can illuminate with a desired illuminance regardless of the season.

An embodiment of a tunnel lighting device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In these drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted or simplified.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of, for example, a tunnel lighting fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram inside the fixture main body 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the luminaire includes a reflector 3 disposed in a sealed fixture body 2 made of, for example, stainless steel so as to face the projection opening. A bent fluorescent lamp 4 is arranged so as to face each other.

  The instrument body 2 is configured in a sealed form, such as a jet-proof instrument body defined in JIS C8140, for example, and is configured so as not to have a detrimental effect upon receiving a direct jet of water from any direction. A lid 2d having a substantially rectangular projection opening is attached to a light projection opening end of a chassis 2b having a plurality of mounting legs 2a, 2a,... Via a packing 2c. A translucent cover 2e is fitted into the opening in a watertight and airtight manner, and is fixed by an adhesive 2f such as a silicon-based adhesive.

  The lid 2c is attached to the chassis 2b by a hinge 2g so as to be openable and closable, and is held closed by a latch 2h provided on the chassis 2b on the opposite side of the hinge 2f. At this time, the closing edge by the lid 2c is subjected to a treatment to prevent moisture and dust from entering by the packing. In addition, a transparent glass plate is used for the translucent cover 2e.

Each mounting leg 2a of the chassis 2b is formed with a screw hole 2e1, and is fixed to the mounting device 6a such as a stay provided on the tunnel inner wall 6 by screwing using the screw hole 2e1.

  And the main reflector 3 is arrange | positioned inside the instrument main body 2 comprised in this way. The main reflector 3 has an inner surface whose longitudinal cross section forms a concave arc surface as an elongated reflecting surface. Note that the shape of the cross section in the longitudinal direction of the main reflecting surface may be concave, and may be any shape such as a curved surface, a combination of planes, or a combination of curved surfaces and planes. However, it is preferable that the main part has the same cross-sectional shape over the longitudinal direction. Further, the reflecting surface is finished as a mirror surface or a satin surface, and has a shape that can obtain a desired light distribution according to the installation location.

  Further, a bent fluorescent lamp 4 is disposed inside the main reflector 3. The bent fluorescent lamp 4 is fixed by fitting a single base 4a provided on one end side in the axial direction into a lamp socket.

  The bent fluorescent lamp 4 includes a discharge vessel made of glass or the like, a phosphor layer, a pair of electrodes, a single-piece base 4a, and the like. The discharge vessel is a single U-shaped discharge by bending a glass tube such as soda lime glass or soft glass such as soda lime glass or lead glass into a U shape on a flat surface. A path is formed, and has a pair of tubular portions 4b, 4b and a connecting portion 4c. Both ends of one continuous discharge path are sealed with a flare stem to form a single cap 4a at one end in the axial direction. . Accordingly, the tubular portions 4b and 4b and the connecting portion 4c are formed on a single plane.

  Further, a ballast 6 and a terminal block 7 are disposed at a place where the main reflector 3 is not disposed inside the instrument body 2. The terminal block 7 is supplied with a 200 V power supply 10a from a power supply panel 10 that is normally installed outside the tunnel, and inputs and outputs a dimming signal 10b and a blinking signal 10c. The ballast 6 lights the lamp 4 when the power supply voltage 200V is supplied to the power supply terminals 6a and 6b and the relay R1 is turned on by the blinking signal 10c. When the dimming signal 10b is supplied, the dimming relay R2 is turned on via the thermal switch S, whereby the dimming terminals 6c and 6d of the ballast are short-circuited, and the ballast 6 performs the dimming operation. In the case of this embodiment, dimming is an example in the case of control for obtaining an output of 50%. Further, the dimming signal 10b and the blinking signal 10c are transmitted to the adjacent appliance 2 &#0; via the terminal block 7.

  The power panel 10 is installed outside the tunnel, and turns on / off and supports dimming for each lighting fixture in the tunnel according to time and traffic conditions. For example, all lighting fixtures in the tunnel are turned on during the daytime, so that the difference in illumination between the inside and outside of the tunnel can be minimized to reduce the uncomfortable feeling of inserting the tunnel into the driver. The lighting of the tunnel is dimmed and dimmed to save energy, and the entire tunnel is lit by dimming the lamp to keep the lighting to a minimum even when there is little traffic. Lighting control of the equipment is performed.

  As the thermal switch S, a switch that opens when the temperature inside the apparatus is 5 ° C. or lower is used. FIG. 3 shows a graph of the ambient temperature of the bent fluorescent lamp 4 used in this embodiment-temperature characteristics of the total luminous flux. According to FIG. 3, the total luminous flux is high and the efficiency is optimum when the ambient temperature of the coldest part of the lamp is 20 to 40 ° C., but when the temperature is 5 ° C. or less, the total luminous flux is 50% or less of the optimum temperature. . For this reason, even when a dimming signal of 50% is input from the tunnel power supply panel, the lamp output is controlled by controlling the lamp not to be dimmed when the temperature in the fixture is 5 ° C. or lower. A luminous flux of about 50% can be obtained, and the tunnel can be illuminated with a desired brightness.

  In the past, the ambient temperature decreased, and when the dimming lighting could not be expected to generate heat from the lamp or ballast, the luminous flux of the lamp was significantly decreased, and the desired illuminance could not be obtained. According to this embodiment, desired illuminance can be obtained by a simple method. In addition, even when the ambient temperature is low, if dimming control is not performed and all lights are lit, heat is expected from the lamp and ballast, and in a sealed appliance, The ambient temperature gradually rises and you can expect lighting at the optimum temperature.

  Furthermore, as another embodiment, a temperature sensor is provided in the appliance body 2 and the thermal switch S, for example, in the power supply panel 10, and the temperature sensor is connected between the dimming signal terminals so that the temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. In this case, control for stopping oscillation of the dimming signal can be performed.

  In addition to installing a temperature sensor, the calendar function and timer function are used to predict when and when the ambient temperature will drop. For example, the dimming operation is prohibited at night in winter. Can also be implemented.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The tunnel device shown in FIG. 4 includes two fluorescent lamps 41 and 42 therein. From the external power supply panel 10, all two lights are turned on as a dimming signal (100% dimming), only one lamp is lit (50% dimming), and only one lamp is dimmed by 50%. Dimming can be performed at three levels of dimming levels of lighting (25% dimming). These dimming levels are determined by the power supply panel according to the traffic volume and time zone. Then, a temperature sensor (not shown) is provided inside the power supply panel, and this temperature is regarded as the temperature inside the appliance to perform control. For example, the dimming level is a time zone of 25% dimming, When the detected temperature of the temperature sensor is 5 ° C. or less, the dimming control is performed so that the actual dimming level is 50%. By performing dimming control in this way, the lamp can be turned on in anticipation of a decrease in efficiency due to the temperature characteristics of the lamp, and a desired brightness can be obtained.

The front view of the 1st Embodiment lighting fixture of this invention. The figure which similarly shows the circuit wiring inside a lighting fixture. Ambient temperature of bent fluorescent lamp-Temperature characteristics graph of total luminous flux. The front view of the 2nd Embodiment lighting fixture of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  2 ... Appliance body 3 ... Main reflector 4 ... Light source lamp (bent fluorescent lamp) 6 ... Ballast S ... Thermal switch

Claims (2)

A chassis having an open end, a lid having a light projection opening mounted on the chassis, and an instrument body having a translucent cover disposed in the light projection opening of the lid;
A discharge lamp disposed in the appliance body;
A lighting device that is disposed in the fixture body and can dimm the discharge lamp by a dimming signal from the outside;
The lighting fixture is characterized in that when the interior of the fixture drops below a predetermined temperature, control is performed to ignore the dimming signal. A chassis having an open end, a lid having a light projection opening mounted on the chassis, and an instrument body having a translucent cover disposed in the light projection opening of the lid;
A discharge lamp disposed in the appliance body;
A lighting device that is arranged in the fixture body and can light-control the discharge lamp in stages by a dimming signal from the outside;
The lighting fixture is characterized in that when the interior of the fixture drops below a predetermined temperature, control is performed such that the one-step dimming output is larger than the dimming signal.

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