US3652047A

US3652047A - Luminaire attaching means

Info

Publication number: US3652047A
Application number: US850853A
Authority: US
Inventors: George N Starr
Original assignee: AMERICAN ELECTRIC Manufacturing CORP
Current assignee: Thomas and Betts Holdings Inc; AMERICAN ELECTRIC Manufacturing CORP
Priority date: 1969-08-18
Filing date: 1969-08-18
Publication date: 1972-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-28

Abstract

Luminaire mounting or attaching structure adapted for cantilever attaching a street lighting luminaire to the support arm structure of the luminaire supporting mast or pole structure. The luminaire attaching structure includes means for trilaterally clamping the distal end portion of the luminaire support arm including the anvil jaw and a pair of wedge jaws. A single boltlike shaft having left-hand and right-hand thread portions is adapted to be turnably manipulated for causing converging or diverging movement of the pair of wedge jaw members respectively for causing trilateral clamping or loosening action of the anvil and wedge jaw members on the distal end of the luminaire support arm.

Description

llite ,tates Starr [54] LUMIINAHRE ATTACHING MEANS [21] Appl. No.: 850,853

2,908,469 10/1959 Mack et al ..248/23O 3,184,199 5/1965 Clark et al. ..248/230 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney-John R. Walker, Ill

[5 7] ABSTRACT Luminaire mounting or attaching structure adapted for cantilever attaching a street lighting luminaire to the support arm structure of the luminaire supporting mast or pole structure. The luminaire attaching structure includes means for trilaterally clamping the distal end portion of the luminaire support arm including the anvil jaw and a pair of wedge jaws. A single bolt-like shaft having left-hand and right-hand thread portions is adapted to be tumably manipulated for causing converging or diverging movement of the pair of wedge jaw members respectively for causing trilateral clamping or loosening action of the anvil and wedge jaw members on the distal end of the luminaire support arm.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTl-innms m2 3.652.047

I N VE N TOR. GEORGE N. STARR BY W zh/a ji LUMINAIRE ATTACHING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to street lighting luminaire fixture attaching means for cantilever attaching and elevatingly supporting a luminaire fixture on luminaire support arm structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art The conventional manner of attaching a luminaire on a luminaire support arm is by means of a pair of so-called fitter clamps supported by threaded fastener means from the luminaire housing structure. The pair of fitter clamps are adapted to bridgingly span the distal end portion of the luminaire support arm and to be threadedly clamped against the support arm. Each fitter clamp of the pair of fitter clamps is threadedly supported by two clamp bolts which are uniformly tightened or loosened in adjusting a fitter clamp to the luminaire support arm structure. An installer or lineman in installing a luminaire on the luminaire support arm structure typically tightens and loosens the bolts of each of the fitter clamps in obtaining horizontal linearity of the luminaire and in arranging the luminaire in correct horizontal alignment with the roadway surface. In aligning or obtaining horizontal linearity of a luminaire fixture, considerable skill and practice is necessary on the part of the lineman or installer of the luminaire. The conventional luminaire fixture mounting means includes means for angularly shifting the distal or nose portion of the luminaire fixture upwardly or downwardly substantially in either upwardly or downwardly direction. Such angular adjustment of the cantilever supported luminaire is obtained by respectively loosening and tightening the fitter clamps on the distal end portion of the luminaire support arm. Typically, the wrench-engaging head portions of the fitter clamp adjustment screws project downwardly and access to the fitter clamp adjustment screws are gained by opening the hinged lower housing of the luminaire. In mounting or adjusting the angularity of a luminaire, the workman or installer must assume a rather awkward position in tightening and loosening the fitter clamps and in working overhead in tightening or loosening the respective fitter head clamp screws projecting downwardly in the bottom opening of the luminaire fixture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes luminaire mounting means having only one threaded bolt-like shaft for clampingly securing the luminaire housing on the distal end of the luminaire support arm. By turnably manipulating only a single threaded shaft, a luminaire may be installed on a luminaire support arm and the luminaire fixture readily adjusted to obtain a desired horizontal linearity of the luminaire fixture relative to the roadway surface. The single adjustment or bolt-like mounting shaft of the luminaire attaching means preferably includes a wrench-engaging head portion extending laterally horizontally through an aperture in the luminaire housing and externally of the housing. A workman or installer installing a luminaire having the attaching means of the invention has only to turnably manipulate the single adjustment shaft in installing or adjusting the luminaire and does not need to gain entry or access to the interior of the luminaire as in prior art luminaire structures. The luminaire attaching means of the invention requires negligible skill or practice to accurately or properly install a luminaire and provides sturdy and secure attachment means for the luminaire fixture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an environmental showing of the luminaire attaching means of the present invention (shown in hidden lines) illustrating the mounting of a luminaire on the luminaire support arm structure of a luminaire fixture installation.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal plane sectional view of the luminaire attaching means as viewed upwardly on the line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical plane transverse sectional view of the luminaire attaching structure taken as on the line III-Ill of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical plane transverse sectional view taken as on the line IV--IV of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a vertical plane longitudinal sectional view taken as on the line V-V of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the jaw members of the attaching means of the present invention in a slightly modified form.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The luminaire attaching means of the present invention is indicated by numeral 1 l and is described in conjunction with a roadway or street lighting luminaire fixture 13 and luminaire support arm structure 15. Luminaire fixture l3 typically includes an upper main housing 17 and a lower housing 19 supporting the refractor 21 of the luminaire.

Luminaire attaching means 11 includes an anvil jaw member 23 and a pair of wedge jaw members 25, 25' adapted to trilaterally clampingly engage the distal end portion of luminaire support arm 15. Wedge jaw members 25, 25' include respectively obliquely extending

surface structure

27, 27 adapted to clampingly engage the cylindrical outer surface of the luminaire support arm. In FIGS. 1 5 the jaw members 25, 25' are shown in their simplified form to fit a support arm structure generally of one size. However, the oblique surface structure of each of the jaw members is preferably stepped as shown in FIG. 6 to provide two surface structures, 27a and 27b in place of the one (27) so that it is adapted to fit support .arm structures of two different sizes. In other words, surface structure 27a is for a smaller support arm and 27b is for a larger support arm. Also, the surface structures 27a and 27b preferably have a slight curvature as shown, to accommodate the different angular positions of the support arm relative to the jaw members. Guide structure including a U-sectioned guideway member 29 guidingly constrains left and right wedge jaw members 25, 25' in converging-diverging movement transversely of the luminaire support arm. Selectively operative force means including a contradirectionally threaded shaft 31 is operative for causing converging or diverging movement of

wedge jaw members

25, 25. Threaded shaft structure 31 preferably includes a wrench-engaging head portion 33 adapted to receive a hand wrench for turnably manipulating shaft 31 and for converging-diverging movement of

wedge jaw members

25, 25. Head portion 33 of threaded shaft structure 31 preferably extends through an aperture 35 formed in lateral vertical wall 37 of luminaire housing 17.

Anvil jaw member 23 preferably is adjustably supported subjacently on the underside of luminaire housing top wall 39; anvil jaw member 23 preferably is tiltably supported on the underside of luminaire housing top wall 39 and is adapted to be self-adjusting to a certain angular adjustment of luminaire fixture l3. Anvil jaw member 23 preferably is rectangular elongated in horizontal section and is adapted to be arranged in corresponding longitudinal extension relative to luminaire support arm 15. The underside portion of anvil jaw member 23 is formed with longitudinally extending concave structure 41 adapted to correspondingly engage the upper cylindrical surface structure of luminaire support arm 15. Anvil jaw member 23 is adapted to be longitudinally tiltably moved to corresponding parallel linearity with the luminaire support arm upon transverse clamping engagement of

wedge jaw members

25, 25 with the under cylindrical structure of the luminaire support arm.

The means tiltably supporting anvil jaw member 23 from luminaire housing 17 preferably includes corresponding raceway structure 43, 43' and runner structure 45, 45' formed respectively superjacently on anvil jaw member 23 and subjacently on luminaire housing top wall structure 39. Raceway and

runner structures

43, 43 and 45, 45' are arranged respectively symmetrically of a vertical plane lying coincident with the longitudinal axis of the luminaire support arm and function for longitudinally tilting anvil jaw member 23 relative to luminaire main housing structure 17.

A retainer bolt 47 extending upwardly through an elongated countersunk opening 49 in anvil jaw member 23 loosely retains race and runner structures 43, 43'; 45, 45' in corresponding arrangement while yet permitting longitudinal tilting movement of the anvil jaw member relative to the luminaire housing. Retainer bolt 47 extends upwardly through elongated countersunk opening 49 of jaw member 23 and is threadedly fixed in top wall 39 of luminaire housing 17. A downwardly projecting abutment flange 51 extending transversely across the inward end portion of anvil jaw member 23 defines abutment structure for limiting the entry of the distal end of support arm when luminaire fixture 13 is fitted on support arm 15, abutment flange 51 abuttingly engages distal edge 15" of tubular support arm 15 and correctly longitudinally positions the luminaire housing relative to the support arm.

Turnably manipulating threaded shaft 31 clockwise or counterclockwise is effective for causing simultaneous equidistant converging or diverging movement of left and right wedge jaw members 25, 25'. Lefthand thread means 53 and righthand thread means 53' interengaging respectively shaft 31 with left and right

wedge jaw members

25, 25 function for causing converging or diverging movement of the wedge jaw members upon turning movement of shaft 31. Clockwise turning of shaft 31 is operative for causing converging movement of wedge jaw members 25, 25' and wedging engagement of oblique surface structures 27, 27' of the wedge members with the under cylindrical surface of support arm 15.

Guideway member 29 extends subjacently transversely of support arm 15 and preferably includes upwardly opening integrally formed

channel structure

55, 55 configured for snugly freely engaging respectively substructure portions of wedge jaw members 25, 25'. Guideway member 29 preferably includes coplanar horizontal oppositely projecting paired

flange portions

57, 57; 57, 57 fixed respectively on the undersurfaces 59, 59' respectively of longitudinally extending depending

boss structure

61, 61. Capscrews 63, 63; 63, 63 extending upwardly respectively through

flange portions

57, 57; 57 57 and threadedly engaged respectively in boss structure 61, 61' fixedly dependingly secure guideway member 29 on luminaire housing structure 17 and transversely subjacently of luminaire support arm 15. Downwardly opening slot structure 65, 65' formed respectively in

boss structure

61, 61 accommodates the upper structure respectively of wedge jaw members 25, 25' and prevents upward displacement of the jaw members when they are in inactive disposition. A transverse web portion 67 depending from housing top wall 39 and bridgingly interconnecting

housing sidewalls

37, 37 preferably reinforces the luminaire housing structure and integrally intersects boss structures 61, 61'. Wedge

jaw members

25, 25 each preferably include paired

rib portions

69, 69; 69 69 projecting upwardly respectively on opposite sides of the jaw members (rib portions 69', 69 only illustrated in FIG. 5).

Rib portions

69, 69; 69 69 provide means for reducing the horizontal extension or thickness of oblique surface structures 27, 27' ofjaw

members

25, 25 Horizontally narrow oblique surface structures 27, 27' provide respectively narrow wedge surfaces engaging the luminaire support arm and provide means for ready tilting and angular adjustment of the luminaire housing relative to the luminaire support arm structure.

In installing street lighting luminaire fixture 13 on support arm structure 15, the following procedure may be carried out: With threaded shaft 31 turned counterclockwise and

wedge members

25, 25 in a diverged disposition, the luminaire fixture is translationally longitudinally moved over the distal end of luminaire support arm 15. While elevatingly supporting the forward nose end of the luminaire at a desired angularity, wrench means may be utilized for clockwise turning threaded shaft 31 thereby conver ingly clamping wedge jaw members 25, 25' on the undersu ace of the support arm; converging movement of wedge jaw members 25, 25' forces support arm 15 against concave structure 41 of anvil jaw member 23 thereby tiltably moving the anvil jaw member in parallel alignment with the support arm structure; the forward nose portion of the luminaire may be lifted or lowered to position the luminaire at a desired angularity; threaded shaft 31 is clockwise turned thereby with the luminaire arranged at a desired angularity, trilaterally clamping

jaw members

23, 25, 25 on the distal end of the luminaire support arm structure and cantilever supporting the luminaire structure on the support arm.

I claim:

1. The combination with a street lighting luminaire having a main housing and with luminaire support structure including support arm structure adapted for elevatingly supporting said luminaire, of luminaire attaching means adapted for attaching the luminaire main housing structure to the distal end portion of said support arm structure comprising coacting anvil jaw means and wedge jaw means supported from said luminaire housing and adapted to clampingly engage the distal end of said support arm and cantilever support said luminaire housing from said support arm, said wedge jaw means including a pair of wedge jaw members including a left and a right jaw member arranged respectively on opposite sides of a vertical plane lying coincident with the longitudinal axis of said support arm and with each wedge jaw member having surface structure adapted to clampingly engage said support arm, means guidingly constraining said left and right wedge jaw member in converging-diverging movement of each wedge jaw member respectively toward and away from said support arm, and including selectively operative force means for causing forcible converging movement of said pair of wedge jaws; said pair of wedge jaws and sail anvil jaw means being adapted to generally trilaterally clampingly engage the distal end portion of said luminaire support arm upon converging clamping movement of said pair of wedge jaw members; said means guidingly constraining said left and right wedge jaw members converging diverging movement including guideway structure defining left and right upwardly opening channel structure configured for snugly freely engaging respectively said left and right wedge jaw members and configured for translational bidirectional movement of each wedge jaw member in converging-diverging movement of said right and left wedge jaw members.