NL2017169B1

NL2017169B1 - Street lighting luminaire

Info

Publication number: NL2017169B1
Application number: NL2017169A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Willem Van Leeuwen Peter
Original assignee: Lumin Special Projects B V
Priority date: 2016-07-15
Filing date: 2016-07-15
Publication date: 2018-01-18

Abstract

A street lighting luminaire comprising a housing , which housing has a light exit opening for the emission of light produced within the housing, a reflector arranged within the housing opposite the opening for the emission of light, at least one support arranged within the housing, a light source mounted on the at least one support, arranged within the housing in front of the reflector and a power supply, and a supply circuit for connecting the light source to the mains. The light source comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module, which LED-lighting module for retrofitting and replacement of an existing lamp e.g. a fluorescent lamp. The LED-lighting module is mounted on a carrier, the carrier is mounted on the at least one support. The luminaire further comprises a first translucent cover having elongated sides for diffusing the light from the light source, wherein the first translucent cover is arranged over the LED-lighting module.

Description

STREET LIGHTING LUMINAIRE

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a street lighting luminaire.

BACKGROUND

With the advent of semiconductor Light Emitting Devices (LEDs) as the illumination source, it has become attractive for existing lighting, particularly street lighting, to utilize retrofit LED light sources after the life time expiry of previously installed lamps such as fluorescent, incandescent or discharge lamps. LED lamps are manufactured by mounting high brightness LEDS on a circuit board, thereby creating LED-lighting modules. These LED-lighting modules can be housed in a translucent tube for creating a LED lamp. These lamps are manufactured with standardized dimensions and connections that fit in existing lamp holders, in which a previously installed lamp was mounted.

Contemporarily available LED lamps for retrofit in street lighting luminaires however are often not bright enough to sufficiently illuminate the illuminated road surface. This is caused by the LED-lighting modules being mounted in a closed lamp housing. The closed lamp housing limits the power consumption of these LED-lighting modules. Heat generated by the LED-lighting module cannot be sufficiently dissipated, in spite of the relatively high efficiency of light output of LED lighting in general. Moreover, most street lighting luminaires have fixed connections to the mains whereby dimming or switching to a dimming mode of the retrofit LED lamps is not possible.

As an alternative, individual LED-lighting modules can be deployed, however, their design with discrete LEDs on a printed circuit board can be disadvantageous in application to the existing lighting fixtures because to the eye, looking at the lamp, a pattern of LEDs appearing as bright dots will be perceived. That pattern may be experienced as restless. In addition, such light fixtures with LED-lighting modules may cause uneven illumination of the road surface.

SUMMARY

To overcome the above described problems and disadvantageous, it is an object of the invention to provide an street lighting luminaire which allows easy retrofit of the light source with LEDs whilst providing an even light distribution without dots or bright spots or shades.

The object is achieved in a street lighting luminaire comprising a housing , which housing has an light exit opening for the emission of light produced within the housing, a reflector arranged within the housing opposite the opening for the emission of light, at least one support being arranged within the housing, a light source mounted on the at least one support, arranged within the housing in front of the reflector and a power supply, and a supply circuit for connecting the light source to the mains. The light source comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module, which LED-lighting module is mounted on a carrier, the carrier is mounted on the at least one support. The luminaire further comprises a first translucent cover for diffusing the light from the light source, wherein the first translucent cover is arranged over the LED-lighting module.

The above described luminaire allows high power LEDs with higher power and higher efficiency than retrofit tubular LED lamps to be retrofitted in an existing luminaire by removing the existing fluorescent lamp, lamp holder and connections and fitting the carrier and LED-lighting module. The LED-lighting module mounted on the carrier can dissipate its heat to the carrier which acts as a heatsink. The first translucent cover from opaque material ensures that the light intensity distribution has a smooth profile, without spots and/or shades. Thus a high intensity retrofit LED street lighting luminaire is created with high intensity and smooth light intensity distribution. Moreover, by the use of LED-lighting modules instead of retrofit LED lamps, a great variety of LED-lighting module sizes can be utilized, where otherwise only a limited number of standardized sizes are available.

In an embodiment, the first translucent cover has an elongated tunnel like shape with elongated sides, which first translucent cover has openings at its ends which allow heat from the LED model surface to escape, which allows further increase of power to be consumed by the LED-lighting module which in turn allows higher light output of the LEDS.

In an embodiment, the first translucent cover is substantially U-shaped having sides and wherein the first translucent cover is arranged over the LED-lighting module by clamping the LED-lighting module with its elongated sides. Thus allowing easy fitting of the first cover over the LED-lighting module without a need for additional mounting means.

In an embodiment, the elongated sides of the first translucent cover are provided with opposite inward facing edges which can be pushed over the LED-lighting module for providing a snap-fit. This secures the first cover fitted over LED-lighting module.

In an embodiment, the power supply is mounted on the carrier at the side opposite of the LED-module. This allows the power supply to be fitted independently from supports already present in the luminaire housing. The power supply can this way be prefitted prior to mounting of the carrier into the luminaire housing.

In an embodiment, the supply circuit comprises a power supply for electrically supplying the LED-lighting module. In an embodiment, the power supply is mounted on the carrier in proximity of the LED-lighting module and/or at a side of the carrier opposite of the side having the LED-module.

In an embodiment, the supply circuit comprises a connector connected to the mains. The connector has terminals for a mains neutral, a mains first phase for evening supply, a second mains phase for night supply. The power supply is connected to the mains second phase and the mains neutral, wherein the power supply has terminals for controlling a voltage at its output leads by means of a resistance between the terminals. The supply circuit further comprises a controllable switch connected to the second phase and the neutral via the connector, which switch is controllable in two states depending on the voltage of the first phase, wherein in a first state corresponding to a high voltage of the first phase the terminals of the power supply are connected via a first resistance, and wherein in a second state corresponding to a low voltage of the first phase the terminals of the power supply are connected via a second resistor.

This allows easy switching between different light intensities in time periods when the luminaire used. This is normally performed by sing two phases from the mains, wherein a first phase supplies a first lamp for night light production at low intensity and a second phase supplies a second lamp, or an additional section of the first lamp for evening light production. Usually in the evening a higher intensity is required as more traffic can be expected. The skilled person will recognize that light intensities may be switched at more time periods depending on public demand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a street lighting luminaire according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a supply circuit for a street lighting luminaire according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows an example of a light intensity schedule for a street lighting luminaire according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows an street lighting luminaire 100 having a housing 101, reflector 102 attached to the inside of the housing 101, and at least one support 103. These supports 103 extend from the inside of the housing 101 towards the light exit opening 108, which is formed by the edge of the housing (109).

On supports 103 a carrier 105 can be attached, which carrier 105 may be provided with a LED-lighting module 106. The carrier 105 can be a plate form metal or plastic which can be used as a mounting plate for the LED-lighting module and further items within the luminaire housing 101. A translucent cover 107 can be placed over the LED-lighting module 106 for defusing light emitted from the LED-lighting module 106. A transparent or translucent cover 110 can be placed on the edge 109 of the luminaire housing 101 to cover the light exit opening 108 of the luminaire housing 101. The luminaire 100, including the reflector 101 and support 103, and transparent cover 110, can originate from an existing street lighting luminaire 100 which has been stripped down to the components mentioned., i.e. the lamp or lamps and their connectors have been removed.

The carrier 105, LED-lighting module 106 and translucent cover can be retrofitted in the luminaire housing (101) for replacing an existing lamp e.g. a fluorescent lamp or any other type lamp. For activating the LED-lighting module 106, a power supply 104 can be provided, which converts a voltage from a mains supply connection within the luminaire 101 to a voltage suitable for supplying the LED-lighting module 106. The luminaire housing 101 can be further provided with external clamps, brackets or supports or other mounting means for mounting the luminaire 100 to a wall or lamppost.

Fig. 2 shows a supply circuit 200 for supplying electrical power to the LED-lighting module 106 via supply leads or terminals 216. The supply circuit 200 comprises the power supply 104 which is provided with control terminals 206,207 between which a resistor 204, 205 can be connected for varying an output voltage at terminals 216. Power supplies having terminals for controlling an output voltage by means of a resistance at control terminals are commercially available. Thereby a light intensity of the LED-lighting module 106 can be adjusted.

In known standard street lighting luminaires, 2 phases from the mains are available for supplying a light source within the luminaire 100 achieving 3 lighting states corresponding to light levels “off”, “medium” and “high” respectively corresponding to a desired light intensity level in these states. The levels high and medium can be preset by choosing an appropriate resistance value for resistors 205 and 204. The power supply 104 is connected to the mains via connector 202 using connections 208, 209, 210 for a phase of the mains 213 which is powered during periods when the luminaire 100 is to be switched on, i.e. during evening and night, and a neutral 214.

The power supply 104 may be earthed via connections 210 and 215. Relay 203 is connected via lead 211 to a phase 212 of the mains which is powered in periods when high light intensity is required , for example during evenings, and via lead 217 with the neutral 214. When the high intensity phase 212 is powered, the relay 203 switches switch 216 to connect terminal 206, 207 to resistor 205 causing the power supply 104 to produce a voltage corresponding to high light intensity of the LED-lighting module 106. When the high intensity phase 212 is deactivated the relay 203 switches switch 216 back to resistance 204 causing the power supply 104 to produce a voltage corresponding to the medium light intensity of the LED-lighting module 106 as described.

Figure 3 shows an overview of the light intensity states of the LED-lighting module 106 for various states of the high intensity phase 212 and night phase 213. When the high intensity phase 212 and night phase 213 are both active from time T1 the light intensity state 301 corresponds to high intensity of the LED-lighting module 106. At time T2, the high intensity phase 212 is deactivated and the LED-lighting module intensity and state 302 of medium light intensity. When both the high intensity phase 212 and night phase 213 are deactivated at time T3, the power supply is off and thus the LED-lighting module 106 is in an off-state 303.

The embodiments descripted above are given by way of example only. The skilled person will understand that modifications and deviations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of protection provided by the claims set out below.

Claims

A street lighting fixture (100) comprising - a housing (101) which housing has a light exit aperture (108) for emitting light produced within the housing, - a reflector (102) disposed within the housing (101) opposite the light exit- opening (108) for radiating light from the housing (101), - at least one support (103) arranged within the housing (101), - a support (105) mounted on the at least one support (103), - a light source (106) mounted on the support (105) disposed within the housing (101) for the reflector (102), and - a power supply circuit (200) for connecting the light source (106) to the net (212, 213, 214) ) characterized in that - the light source (106) comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting module mounted on the support (105) with the support (105) attached to the at least one support, and - the fixture (100) further comprises a first light-transparent cover (107) for scattering li from the LED module (106), the first light-transparent cover (107) being arranged over the LED module (106).

The street lighting fixture (100) according to claim 1, wherein the LED lighting module (106) is elongated, and the first light-transparent cover (107) is tunnel-shaped with long sides, and wherein the first light-transparent cover (107) is arranged over the LED lighting module ( 106) by clamping the LED lighting module (106) with the long sides.

The street lighting fixture (100) according to claim 2, wherein the long sides of the first light-transparent cover (107) are provided with opposite inward-facing edges that can be pushed over the LED lighting module (106) to provide a snap connection.

Street lighting fixture (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first light-transparent cover (107) has openings at its end in the longitudinal direction.

The street lighting fixture (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply circuit (200) comprises an electrical supply (104) for electrically supplying the LED lighting module.

The street lighting fixture (100) according to claim 5, wherein the power supply (104) is mounted on the support (105) in the vicinity of the LED lighting module (106) or on the side of the support (105) opposite the LED lighting module (106 ).

A street lighting fixture (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply circuit (200) comprises a connector (202) connected to the network (212, 213, 214), the connector (202) having terminals for a network zero (214) , and a first net phase (212) for evening feed, a second net phase (213) for night feed where the feed (104) is connected to the second net phase (213) and the net zero (214), the feed (104) having terminals for controlling a voltage on its output wires (216) by means of a resistor (204, 205) between the terminals (206, 207), the power supply circuit (200) further comprising a controllable switch (203) connected to the second mains phase ( 213) and the network zero (214) via the connector (202), which controllable switch (203) is controllable in two states depending on the voltage of the first network phase (212), wherein in a first state corresponding to a high voltage on the first network phase (212) the clamps (206, 207 ) of the power supply are connected via a first resistor (205) and wherein in a second state corresponding to a low voltage on the first mains phase (212) the terminals (206, 207) of the power supply are connected via a second resistor (204).

A street lighting fixture (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second cover (110), which is transparent or slightly translucent, for covering the light exit opening (108) of the housing (101).