JPH07198955A - Lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate an electric leak, to facilitate establishment and maintenance and to emit light in a line shape by connecting one end of an optical tube to a light source and embedding a light emission part in ice, etc. CONSTITUTION:A light beam is made incident on a core 2 from the light source 5 connected to one end surface of a light transmission tube 1 of a single core type consisting of a transparent core 2 and a cylindrical clad 3 with a refractive index lower than the core 2 through a window member 4. At this time, by using the clad 3 with the refractive index lower than the core 2, the reflection of the beam occurs in a both boundary surface, and this device is constituted so that the beam incident from one end is transmitted to the other end while outgoing/-emitting a part of light from the side part by the repetition of the reflection. Then, as the light transmission tube 1, the tube light emitting from the whole outer periphery and the tip is used, and is embedded in the ice of a skate rink so as to plot a character, a figure, etc., and the beam from the light source 5 is transmitted to the tube 1, and the design of the character, the figure, etc., is light-emitted on the ice.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting device used in ice or snow, and more particularly, it is used for an ice rink, a ski slope, an ice or snow monument and the like. The present invention relates to a suitable lighting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the problems to be solved by the invention
A lamp such as an incandescent lamp is used as a lighting device that emits light in ice or snow, and a method of embedding this in ice or snow to emit light has been adopted.

However, in this method, the lamp itself is large and a large space is required for installing the lamp,
In addition, there is a danger that electric leakage may occur, and there is a drawback that special protective equipment is required to prevent electric leakage. In addition, the heat generated by the lamp may melt ice and snow,
In addition, since it is not possible to emit light in a line shape, it is not possible to use light emission to design various shapes, and there are various problems that maintenance such as replacement of a ball is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.
An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device that is free from the risk of electric leakage, is easy to install and maintain in ice and snow, and can emit light in a line.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects at least one end of an optical transmission tube composed of a transparent core material and a clad material having a refractive index lower than that of the core material to a light source, and (EN) Provided is a lighting device in which a light emitting portion at the other end or a side where light of a light transmission tube is emitted is buried in ice or snow.

[0006]

In the lighting device of the present invention, since the light-emitting portion buried in ice or snow is the above-mentioned light transmission tube, there is no risk of electric leakage unlike lamps, etc., and it is safe and easy to install and maintain. In addition, it is possible to emit light linearly, and therefore, it can be used as a display or illumination.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an illuminating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is composed of a transparent core 2 and a single-core type light transmission tube 1 including a tubular clad 3 having a lower refractive index than the core 2. There is. In addition, 4 is a window material. A light source 5 is connected to one end surface of the light transmission tube 1. Light from the light source 5 passes through the window material 4 and enters the core 2, and at the same time, the cladding has a refractive index lower than that of the core 2. By using 3, the light is reflected at the interface between the two, and by repeating this reflection, the light incident from one end is emitted from a part of the side part and transmitted to the other end while emitting light.

The core 2 is a liquid,
Polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide,
Polyols such as glycerin, polyol esters,
Polyol ethers, chloroethylene phosphate,
Phosphoric acid esters such as dichloropropyl phosphate,
Liquid paraffin, fluorine oil, silicone oil, polyisobutylene, polysiloxane-modified polyether, aqueous solution of inorganic salt, polymer solution obtained by diluting polymer with appropriate solvent, etc. are used. These materials may be used alone or in a blend of two or more kinds. It can also be used. Further, the core 2 is not limited to a viscous liquid type, but a solid or gel type may be used. For example, solid materials such as plastic and thermoelastomer, epoxy resin, liquid silicone,
A gel-like material obtained by filling the clad 3 with a curable liquid material such as polyurethane or liquid polybutadiene and curing the same may be used.

The clad 3 is formed in a hollow tubular shape,
As the material, it is preferable to use a material such as plastic or elastomer that has flexibility, can be formed into a tube shape, and has a low refractive index. In this case, it is usually formed transparent in terms of side emission, but it may be formed opaque when side emission is not required. Specific examples thereof include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polystyrene, ABS, polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene-polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. Coalescing, fluororesin, silicone resin,
Natural rubber, polyisoprene rubber, polybutadiene rubber,
Styrene-butadiene copolymer, butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylic rubber, EP
Examples thereof include DM, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, fluororubber and silicone rubber. Among these, silicone-based polymers and fluorine-based polymers having a low refractive index are particularly preferable. Specifically, silicone-based polymers such as polydimethylsiloxane polymer, polymethylphenylsiloxane polymer, fluorosilicone polymer, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Fluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkoxyethylene copolymer (P
FE), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTF
E), tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer (ETF
E), polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride-trifluorochloroethylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene-tetrafluoroethylene Examples thereof include a terpolymer, tetrafluoroethylene propylene rubber, and a fluorinated thermoplastic elastomer.
These materials may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more kinds, and may be used as a single tube or a multiple tube. Furthermore, only the inner surface in contact with the core liquid may be subjected to treatment such as smoothing treatment by a method such as coating or double extrusion.

Crown glass, quartz, flint glass, chalcogenite glass, sapphire, quartz, polycarbonate, methacrylic resin, polystyrene resin, etc. can be used as the transparent window material 4 formed on both ends of the light transmission tube. This window member 4 is required especially when the core 2 is in a liquid or gel state, and when the core 2 is in a solid state, the window member 4 may be omitted. The window material 4 on the light source 5 side
Needs to be transparent, but the tip side can be made opaque when light emission is not required. In this case, it is desirable to impart light reflectivity to the end surface of the window member 4 on the tip side.

As the core 2, the clad 3 and the window material 4 used in the present invention, it is particularly preferable to use one having a small absorptance of light having a wavelength to be transmitted.

In the present invention, instead of the single core type optical transmission tube as shown in the figure, a bundle type in which a large number of optical fibers each having a thin core and a clad are bundled can be used. Examples of the optical fiber include optical fibers made of plastic such as PMMA, PC, PS and silicone resin, and optical fibers made of quartz, multi-component glass, chalcogenite glass and the like.

Further, a light scatterer can be connected to the tip end (the other end) of the light transmission tube. As the light scatterer, the core 2 is formed of a viscous transparent material and the inside of the clad 3 is formed. It is also possible to mix a large number of spherical reflective scatterers coated with a highly reflective film together with the core 2, and in this case, more efficient irradiation / diffusing is possible. In addition,
A light-scattering material obtained by dispersing a transparent material having a refractive index different from that of the matrix in a transparent matrix as a light-scattering body to form an optically inhomogeneous structure can also be used. Further, the light-scattering material may be formed into a rod shape to form a diffuser tube, or may be formed into any other shape such as a flat plate shape, a rod shape, a light bulb shape, a star shape, or the like to emit light.

Furthermore, an opaque outer layer is formed on the outer surface of the light transmission tube or the light scatterer for the purpose of shielding light.
It is also possible not to emit light in unnecessary portions. In addition, the inner surface of the clad can be roughened to increase the scattering of light over the entire length and make it uniform.

The light source of the light transmission tube includes incandescent lamps, fluorescent tubes, halogen lamps, metal halide lamps,
An artificial light source such as a light emitting diode (LED), a semiconductor laser (LD) or a gas laser, an electroluminescent body, a plasma arc tube can be used, and natural light such as sunlight can also be used.

Not only the light source is continuously turned on, but also pulsed lighting or flash lighting is possible. Further, the color can be changed by using a color filter, and as the light emitting state, for example, the light emitting interval, the light amount, the color, etc. can be changed in accordance with music.

The illuminating device of the present invention thus obtained can be used for a display of a skating rink and a course display, a guide line of a ski slope, an ice or snow monument, and the like.

An example according to FIGS. 2 to 5 is shown. That is, FIG. 2 is an example of a display of the skating rink A. As the light transmission tube 1, one that emits light from the entire outer circumference and the tip thereof is used so that characters, figures, etc. are drawn on the ice of the skating rink A. Buried, the light from the light source 5 to the tube 1
The design of characters, figures, etc. can be emitted on the ice.

Further, FIG. 3 shows an example in which the course is displayed on the skating rink A, and a part of the light transmission tube 1 is provided with a light emitting portion 1a.
By forming an opaque outer cover on the non-light-emission part 1b or by making the clad of this part opaque to block light, only the necessary line part (course) emits light.

Further, FIG. 4 shows an example in which a side-emitting type optical transmission tube 1 is embedded in an ice sculpture and the ice sculpture is illuminated. In this case, the tip of the tube 1 (the ice of a bird representing a bird is shown). A light bulb type light scatterer B is attached to a portion corresponding to the eyes of the engraving).

FIG. 5 shows an optical transmission tube 1 buried in snow. It has a display C for preventing a collision with a lift, an S-shaped guide line D, and a line for preventing intrusion into a crack or the like, and an illumination of a slope. Etc. can be used especially for night skiing.

In addition, the light transmission tube may be wrapped around a tree to emit light when rime is formed, and various other uses are possible.

[0023]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The illuminating device of the present invention is capable of emitting light in a line even when used in ice and snow, without fear of electric leakage, easy to install and maintain. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a light transmission tube used in a lighting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment using the lighting device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment using the lighting device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a third embodiment using the lighting device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a fourth embodiment using the lighting device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Optical transmission tube 2 Core 3 Cladding 4 Window material 5 Light source

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light transmission tube comprising a transparent core material and a clad material having a refractive index lower than that of the core material is connected to at least one end thereof, and at the other end or side of the light transmission tube where light is emitted. An illuminating device comprising a light emitting unit embedded in ice or snow.