US3558873A

US3558873A - Tunnel lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: US3558873A
Application number: US670913A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ross David Smith
Original assignee: Pyle National Co
Current assignee: BRAND-REX WILLIMATIC CT; Hubbell Inc; Pyle National Co
Priority date: 1967-09-27
Filing date: 1967-09-27
Publication date: 1971-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-26

Abstract

A sealed compact fluorescent lamp fixture for restricted space conditions such as tunnels which includes a reflector within a transparent tube surrounding the lamp, and wherein the sealing is adjustable and the required ballast and lamp are readily accessible for replacement purposes. A plurality of individual fluorescent and ballast fixtures constructed and interconnected in a string for wall mounting such that a substantially continuous and horizontal illuminating line is provided with reduced glare.

Description

United States Patent [72] lnvcntor Ross Da id Smi 2555,000 5/1951 Nitardy 1. 240/51.l 1 Brampton, Ontari Canada 2849,598 8/1958 Lipscomb 2411/] 1.4 21 App]. No. 670,913 3,064,121 11 1962 Greene 240/9x [22] Filed SQDL 7, 1967 3,136,489 6/1964 Oharenko. 240/1 1.4 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 3,179,792 4/1965 Weiss 240/1 1.4 1 Assignee The Pyle-National Company 3,230,360 1/1966 Short 240/11.4 r f' t a bn of New Jersey FOREIGN PATENTS a 240,457 9/1962 Australia 240 51.11

Primary Examiner-John M. Horan 1 TUNNEL LIGHTIPIG FIXTURE Assistant ExaminerRichard M. Sheer 12 Chums 4 Drawmg Flgs Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [52] U.S.Cl 240/5l.ll, 240/9, 240/1 1.4, 240/46.03, 240/46.49 [51] lnt.Cl ..Hb 33/02 ABSTRACT: A sealed compact fluorescent lamp fixture for [50] Field of Search 240/51.1l, restricted space conditions uch as tunnels hich includes a 9, l 1.4 46.4 4 -4 N. 2. 46-03 reflector within a transparent tube surrounding the lamp, and wherein the sealing is adjustable and the required ballast and References C'ted lamp are readily accessible for replacement purposes. A plu- UNITED STATES PATENTS rality of individual fluorescent and ballast fixtures constructed 2 962 581 11 1960 Kurose 0. 240/46.03 and interconnected in a String for wall mounting Such that a 2:l8l:295 ll/l939 Biggs et al... 240/46.49 substantially continuous and horizontal illuminating line is 2,298,824 10/ l 942 Darley 240/73X p vid d With reduced glare.

a; 6B .92 IE 44 A9 46 i a l w o o 68 av yd 1 I ll a4 .-1 a} 76 TUNNEL LIGHTING FIXTURE BACKGROUND OF TH E INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to electrical fluorescent lamps.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is common practice to utilize fluorescent lamps for outdoor illumination. Since the glass tubes of fluorescent lamps are relatively fragile. they are subject to breakage. Prior Art practitioners have contemplated providing a shield or sleeve member around the glass tube of such an elongated fluorescent lamp in spaced relationship thereto so that an insulating dead air space is provided around the tube to maintain the tube at an optimum temperature and to protect the tube against dirt and the rigors of the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to provide a solution to illumination problems in areas such as tunnels or 'underpasses where the optical system is subjected to extreme ranges of temperature, wind, humidity, etc. Further, the present invention affords a solution to such problems under limited space conditions in such a manner that the ballast and the lamp are readily accessible for replacement or servicing. Thus, a transparent tubular member surrounding a lamp end sealed at both ends has an adjustment at one end for varying the tightness of DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view partly fragmented and illustrating the details of construction of the lighting fixture according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the section line Ill-Ill of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the sectional line lV-IV of FIG. 2. Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present invention contemplates a sealed lighting fixture which is operable under varied environmental conditions and yet which may be quickly and readily unsealed when required for purposes of repair or replacement of parts. This is accomplished by providing a transparent tubular member surrounding a lamp end sealed at both ends, with one of the ends having an adjustment for varying the tightness of the seal. The lighting fixture is opened by unscrewing a threaded sealing cover to gain access to the lamp and other serviceable parts of the fixture.

The invention further contemplates a reflector positionably mounted within the sealed lighting fixture; and a plurality of such sealed fixtures connected end to end and in parallel relation to provide a continuous string wherein the light emanates from a line extending substantially along the string.

In FIG. I there is illustrated a composite lighting fixture 10 which is of the fluorescent type and which includes a plurality of light fixtures each having a lamp mounting chamber 11 and a ballast chamber 12. The composite lighting fixture 10 is constructed so that interconnections between the individual fixtures and their attachment to a wall is accomplished by a number of supporting members 13. It is to be noted that the lighting fixture 10 is arranged such that the ballast chamber 12 of the individual fixtures is located behind a lamp mounting chamber of the respective fixture so that the composite lighting fixture 10 provides a substantially continuous illumination from and between each of the lamp mounting chambcrs l I. This is accomplished by providing the support member 13 connected to one of the fixtures at a junction 14 between the lamp chamber 11 and the ballast chamber 12. and to another fixture at an end 15 of the respective lamp chamber ll.

Further, although the individual fixtures are in parallel relation with respect to each other. the composite lighting fixture 10 still provides illumination emanating substantially from a single reference axis passing through all of the fixtures. As is shown in FIG. I the support members I3 support the individual fixtures in parallel relation to each other in such a manner that the lamp mounting chambers ll appear to be in substantially end to end connection. This construction also maintains an angle between the composite lighting fixture l0 and a wall upon which the fixture I0 is mounted such that the glare usually occuring in continuous end to end connected illuminating sources is substantially reduced. Thus, although the particular structure shown in FIG. 1 maintains a substantially continuous illumination, the undesired effects resulting from usual fixtures with this characteristic have been reduced.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is illustrated the construction details of the individual lighting fixtures 10. In particular, the support member 13 includes a bracket 16 having an upper portion 17 for mounting one fixture thereto, and a lower portion 18 for mounting the end 15 of another fixture. The upper mounting portion 17 is formed with a first flange 19 which accommodates a ballast chamber cover20 and a threaded conduit 22. An input power supply line is connected via a conduit and associated conduit connections in the usual manner to the entrance 22.

Within the ballast chamber 12 there is provided a shelf 24 with a right-angled end 26, the shelf being supported within the chamber 12 by a pair of bolts 28 passing through the rightangled end 26 and threadably engaging a wall 30 in the chamber 12.

The ballast chamber cover 20 is adjustably positioned and connected to the flange 19 by a wing nut 32 passing through an aperture in the cover 20 and threadably engaging an end 34 of the shelf 24. A gasket seal 36 is fitted within a cavity 38 in the flange 19 so that as the wing nut 32 is tightened on the end 34, the cover 20 is reliably sealed to the flange 19.

Within the chamber 12 a ballast 40 of the type commonly associated with fluorescent lamps is mounted on the shelf 24. Also mounted on the shelf 24 is a terminal block 42 to supply the required interconnecting points between the ballast wires, the lamp wires, and the incoming power line. Immediately ad jacent the terminal block 42 there is mounted a fuse cutout panel 44 for fusing the incoming lines to the end of each individualfixture.

The lamp mounting chamber or compartment 11 is shown fragmented in FIG. 2, however, when also viewing FIG. I in conjunction therewith it can readily be seen that the lamp compartment 11 extends from the upper mounting portion 17 of one support member 13 to the lower mounting portion 18 of the second support member 13. Thus, in FIG. 2 a lamp compartment end 46 at the upper mounting portion 17 of the support member 13, and the lamp chamber end 15 at the lower mounting portion 18 of the support member 13 are illustrated to represent the lamp compartment ends of each of the separate individual fixtures.

In particular, it may be noted that a lamp 48 of the fluorescent type is supported within the compartment 11 by a socket 50 mounted to a wall 52 by the screws 54. The other end of the lamp 48 is supported by a spring biased socket 56 which includes a pair of ears 58 with a lip 60 engaged under a rim 62. A coil spring 64 acts on the base 66 of the lamp 48 to urge the lamp towards the socket 50 and thereby securely making the necessary electrical connection.

Completely surrounding the lamp 48 is a cylindrical transparent sleeve 68 formed of a heat-resistant glass such as Pyrex". The sleeve 68 being of a heat-resistant material permits the light fixture to be utilized in extreme environmental conditions. Both ends of the sleeve 68 are sealed in relation to the support members 13 at each end thereof. At lamp compartment end 46 the sleeve 68 is nested within a gasket 70 located in a cavity 72 of the flange 74 in the upper mounting portion 17.

At lamp chamber end 15 sleeve 68 is held by a gasket 76 lying within a sealing chamber 78 of an adjustable nut 80. The adjustable nut 80 is threadably mounted on the lower mounting portion 18 of the support member 13 so that tightening of the nut 80 on the portion 18 will tighten the seal on the sleeve 68. It can be readily appreciated that although the lamp 48 is mounted on the rim 62 of the nut 80, the spring biased socket 56 and the spring 64 operate to urge the lamp 48 towards the socket S regardless of what the final position of the nut 80 might be.

Mounted within the lamp compartment ll intermediate the sleeve 68 and the lamp 48 is a reflector 82 which covers half of the surface of the sleeve 68 and which may be rotated to different positions through an angle of l80. The reflector 82 is formed of aluminum and includes at opposite ends thereof a pair of biased locking rings 84. Two of these rings are located at each end of the lamp compartment 11 and each has an end 86 attached to the reflector 82, a bumper 88 which in the normal locked position rests against the sleeve 68, and a grip 90. Thus, in an unbiased condition of the locking rings 84 the bumper 88 would lie outside of the circumference defined by the surface of the reflector 82. Thus, by pulling back on the grip 90 the locking ring 84 may be biased so that upon release of the grip 90 the bumper 88 will be firmly urged against the sleeve 68 to maintain the reflector 82 in the desired position.

Forming an integral part of the reflector 82 is a wireway 92 which allows wires from the ballast chamber l2 and via a C- shaped cutout 94 between the walls 30 and 52, to pass through the wireway 92 and then to the socket 56. The C-shaped cutout 94 on the wall 52 extends for approximately l80 to accommodate different positions of the reflector 82 and the wireway 92. It can be seen in FIG. 3 that the sleeve 68 with the reflector 82 locked inside thereof can be rotated so as to position the reflector 82 where secured. This positioning of the reflector 82 can be accomplished through an angle to l80 with the wireway 92 cooperating with the cutout 94.

The lamp compartment end is sealed by means of a lamp compartment cover 96 which includes an O-ring-type seal 98 seated within a threaded end 100, the threaded end 100 threadably engaging the adjustable nut 80 at the threads 102 such that tightening of the cover 96 sealingly urges the seal 98 in firm contact with a wall 104 of the nut 80. Once the adjustable nut 80 has been tightened so as to properly seal the sleeve 68 there is provided a locking arrangement for locking the adjustable nut in position. This includes a chain 106 secured at an end 108 to the cover 96 and a bolt 110 captured by the other end of the chain 106. The bolt 106 is threaded into the lower mounting portion 18 and for locking purposes is tightened against the threads 102 of the nut 80.

It can be seen from FIGS. 1-4 that the lighting fixture according to the principles of this invention is constructed so that ready access can be obtained to the various parts thereof the replacement or repair purposes, even with the fixture providing a reliable seal of the lamp, wires, etc. under various environmental conditions For instance, when it is desired to gain access to the ballast chamber or compartment 12, it is only required to unscrew the wing nut 32 from the end 34. This allows repair or replacement to be performed on the ballast 40, the terminal block 42, the fuse cutout panel 44, the conduit entrance 22, or the lamp socket 50. Similarly, access to the lamp compartment ll is readily provided by unthreading the cover 96 from the adjustable nut 80. The lamp 48 may then be removed for replacement or service by depressing the cars 50 so as to disengage the lips 60 from beneath the rim 62 and pulling the socket 56 from the lamp base 66. The lamp 48 may then be disengaged from the socket 50. Thus, although the lighting fixtures are completely and reliably sealed units, no sacrifice has been made in terms of repair and maintenance of the unit in order to obtain such sealing reliability.

Also. it may be noted that a separate ballast is provided for I each lamp to minimize the loss of illumination in case of ballast failure. Further. all wiring necessary between the ballast. fuses, input supply line and the lamp is contained within the sealed lamp unit.

As an example of the assembly and installation of such a compact lighting fixture constructed according to the present invention, the following procedure is outlined. The support members 13 including the brackets 16 are mounted to the desired wall 112 such as a tunnel wall, by appropriate mounting means 114. The proper ballast 40 and the necessary wire interconnections between the conduit entrance 22, the ballast 40, the terminal block 42, the fuse cutout panel 44, and the lamp socket 50 are then performed. The glass sleeve 68 with the reflector 82 already locked in position therein is next mounted to the upper mounting portion 17 and the lower mounting portion 18 within the adjustable nut 80.

The ballast cover 20 is then placed in sealing position, and the nut is adjusted to provide a reliable seal at both ends of the sleeve 68. The lamp 48 is then placed within the compartment 11 and is guided by means such as a number of fingers I16 mounted within the sleeve 68 until the lamp 48 engages the socket 50. The socket 56 and the appropriate connections thereto is then placed in locking engagement with the nut 80, and the cover 96 is finely threaded onto the threads 102 until the seal 98 is adequately urged against the wall 104.

To illustrate the parallel angled construction of the composite light fixture shown in FIG. I, the individual fixtures are parallel to each other and at a 65 angle with respect to reference lines, between similar points on each of the individual fixtures.

While minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted thereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution of the art.

lclaim:

l. A lighting fixture comprising: a frame for supporting said fixture in position, a transparent cylindrical tube mounted on said frame, lamp means operatively engaged within said tube on said frame, a semicircular reflector positioned within and adjacent said tube to reflect the light emanating from said lamp means, and at least a pair of biased locking rings secured to the ends of said reflector t0 angularly selectively position said reflector in a desired position within said tube.

2. A lighting fixture comprising: a frame for supporting said fixture in position, a transparent tube mounted on said frame, lamp means operatively engaged within said tube on said frame, a reflector positionably mounted intermediate a portion of said tube and said lamp means, and means for readily gaining access to the lamp means, comprising a first bracket on said frame supporting one end of said fixture, a cover mounted on said first bracket and sealing one end of said fixture, said transparent tube having one end sealingly engaging said first bracket, a second bracket on said frame supporting the other end of said fixture; and means on said frame threadably engaging said second bracket for releasably sealing the other end of said fixture.

3. A lighting fixture comprising: a frame for supporting said fixture in position, a transparent tube mounted on said frame, lamp means operatively engaged within said tube on said frame, a reflector positionably mounted intermediate a portion of said tube and said lamp means, said frame comprising a first bracket for supporting one end of said fixture in position, said first bracket having separate ballast and lamp mounting portions; flat cover means engaging said first bracket for sealing said ballast mounting portion, said transparent tube having one end sealingly engaging said first bracket to define a lamp compartment with said lamp mounting bracket portion, a second bracket for supporting the other end of said fixture, said second bracket including an internally threaded member, a threaded nut including a sealing chamber, said nut threadably engaging said threaded member on said second bracket, with the other end of said tube seated within said scaling chamber so that the seals between said tube and said first and second brackets are adjustable, and lamp compartment cover means threadably mounted on said threaded nut to seal said lamp compartment,

4. A composite lighting fixture comprising: a plurality ofindividual light fixtures, each comprising; a frame for supporting said fixture in position, a transparent tube mounted on said frame, lamp means operatively engaged within said tube on said frame, a reflector angularly adjustable relative to said tube and lamp means mounted intermediate a portion of said tube and said lamps means, separate ballast means connected along the longitudinal dimension of said lamp means, and a plurality of support members each connected toone end of each of said fixtures and to the junction formed between a second of said fixtures and the corresponding ballast means, so that uninterrupted illumination is provided by said composite light fixture.

5. A composite fluorescent lighting fixture as defined in claim 4 wherein the plurality of support members are each connected to the other end of said fixture and to the junction between a second fixture and the corresponding ballast means, said fixtures being supported in parallel relation to each other on said wall and at an angle such that corresponding portions of each of said fixtures lie along a single horizontal line.

6. A tunnel lighting fixture comprising: a frame for supporting said fixture in position, a transparent tube mounted on said frame, lamp means operatively engaged within said tube on said frame, and a reflector positionably mounted intermediate a portion of said tube and said lamp means, said lamp means comprising an elongated fluorescent tube and a pair of spaced sockets for holding and energizing said tube, said transparent tube comprising a heat resistant glass sleeve encasing said fluorescent tube and said sockets, an end support bracket at one end of said transparent tube including a gasket for sealingly engaging said transparent tube and a cap member at one end of said tube having a screw threaded coupling connection with said bracket and abutting said glass sleeve to assure a positive gasketing action.

7. A tunnel lighting fixture as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by said support bracket having two vertically spaced openings, one end of the fixture being located in the uppermost opening and the other end of the fixture being located in the lowermost opening, whereby a plurality of lighting fixtures may be arranged in a line without being disposed on a common axis.

8. A tunnel lighting fixture as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by a ballast cover connected to said bracket member for the fixture at the end opposite said cap member.

9. A tunnel lighting fixture as defined in claim 8 wherein said ballast cover is removably detachable, thereby making the ballast and the lamp easily accessible for replacement.

10. A tunnel lighting fixture as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by a segmental reflector in said glass tube, and means supporting said reflector for angular adjustment through ll. A composite lighting fixture comprising a plurality of individually sealed light fixtures having fluorescent light means within a transparent tube, a plurality of support brackets each connected to the ends of said fixtures, said support brackets having two vertically spaced oppositely extending openings, one end of one of said plurality of fixtures being located in the uppermost opening and an opposed end of another of said plurality of fixtures being located in the lowermost opening, whereby said plurality of lighting fixtures are arranged in a line without being disposed on a common axis to provide uninterrupted illumination from said composite light fixture, a reflector angularly adjustable relative to said tube and light means in each tube for directing the light of each fixture, and a plurality of ballast covers, each connected to said brackets opposite said uppermost opening thereof for rapid and separate access to each of said fixtures.

12. A composite light fixture as defined in claim 11 wherein said support brackets are each provided with a mounting means spaced immediately from said oppositely extending openings for engagement with a wall substantially coextensive with said line.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 558, 873 Dated January 26, 1971 Inventor(s) ROSS David Smith It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 39, "secured" should read--deslred-;

line 40, "to" should read--of--;

line 59, "the (first occurrence thereof) should re for--.

Column 4, line 68, "flat" should rcad--first--.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of October 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Atte sting Officer Acting Commissioner of Pate

Claims

1. A lighting fixture comprising: a frame for supporting said fixture in position, a transparent cylindrical tube mounted on said frame, lamp means operatively engaged within said tube on said frame, a semicircular reflector positioned within and adjacent said tube to reflect the light emanating from said lamp means, and at least a pair of biased locking rings secured to the ends of said reflector to angularly selectively position said reflector in a desired position within said tube.

3. A lighting fixture comprising: a frame for supporting said fixture in position, a transparent tube mounted on said frame, lamp means operatively engaged within said tube on said frame, a reflector positionably mounted intermediate a portion of said tube and said lamp means, said frame comprising a first bracket for supporting one end of said fixture in position, said first bracket having separate ballast and lamp mounting portions; flat cover means engaging said first bracket for sealing said ballast mounting portion, said transparent tube having one end sealingly engaging said first bracket to define a lamp compartment with said lamp mounting bracket portion, a second bracket for supporting the other end of said fixture, said second bracket including an internally threaded member, a threaded nut including a sealing chamber, said nut threadably engaging said threaded member on said second bracket, with the other end of said tube seated within said sealing chamber so that the seals between said tube and said first and second brackets are adjustable, and lamp compartment cover means threadably mounted on said threaded nut to seal said lamp compartment.

4. A composite lighting fixture comprising: a plurality of individual light fixtures, each comprising; a frame for supporting said fixture in position, a transparent tube mounted on said frame, lamp means operatively engaged within said tube on said frame, a reflector angularly adjustable relative to said tube and lamp means mounted intermediate a portion of said tube and said lamps means, separate ballast means connected along the longitudinal dimension of said lamp means, and a plurality of support members each connected to one end of each of said fixtures and to the junction formed between a second of said fixtures and the corresponding ballast means, so that uninterrupted illumination is provided by said composite light fixture.

10. A tunnel lighting fixture as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by a segmental reflector in said glass tube, and means supporting said reflector for angular adjustment through 180*.

11. A composite lighting fixture comprising a plurality of individually sealed light fixtures having fluorescent light means within a transparent tube, a plurality of support brackets each connected to the ends of said fixtures, said support brackets having two vertically spaced oppositely extending openings, one end of one of said plurality of fixtures being located in the uppermost opening and an opposed end of another of said plurality of fixtures being located in the lowermost opening, whereby said plurality of lighting fixtures are arranged in a line without being disposed on a common axis to provide uninterrupted illumination from said composite light fixture, a reflector angularly adjustable relative to said tube and light means in each tube for directing the light of each fixture, and a plurality of ballast covers, each connected to said brackets opposite said uppermost opening thereof for rapid and separate access to each of said fixtures.