US3798443A - Light distributing ceiling structure - Google Patents

Light distributing ceiling structure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3798443A
US3798443A US00327176A US3798443DA US3798443A US 3798443 A US3798443 A US 3798443A US 00327176 A US00327176 A US 00327176A US 3798443D A US3798443D A US 3798443DA US 3798443 A US3798443 A US 3798443A
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Prior art keywords
grid
light
ceiling structure
accordance
light distributing
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00327176A
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English (en)
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C Bartenbach
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Individual
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V11/00—Screens not covered by groups F21V1/00, F21V3/00, F21V7/00 or F21V9/00
    • F21V11/06—Screens not covered by groups F21V1/00, F21V3/00, F21V7/00 or F21V9/00 using crossed laminae or strips, e.g. grid-shaped louvers; using lattices or honeycombs
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B9/32—Translucent ceilings, i.e. permitting both the transmission and diffusion of light
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B9/34—Grid-like or open-work ceilings, e.g. lattice type box-like modules, acoustic baffles
    • E04B9/345—Grid-like or open-work ceilings, e.g. lattice type box-like modules, acoustic baffles consisting of non-parallel slats, e.g. grids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S2/00—Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A ceiling structure consists of intersecting vertical reflecting strips or battens with reflecting surfaces with a mirror finish and having two surfaces which converge in a downward direction. Above some of the intermediate spaces, or above all intermediate spaces, between the battens or strips, reflector lights are arranged.
  • the present invention relates to a light distributing ceiling structure with a number of reflector lights and an anti-dazzle grid beneath the reflector lights, More specifically, the present invention relates to a light distributing ceiling structure with a number of reflector lights and an anti-dazzle grid beneath the reflector lights having a plurality of substantially vertically disposed, opaque members with reflecting surfaces.
  • the invention relates to a light distributing ceiling structure with a number of reflector lights, preferably, arranged at the same level and which are equipped, preferably, with fluorescent tubes or lamps, and an anti-dazzle grid, which is arranged underneath the lights and is made up of intersecting substantially vertically extending opaque members with reflecting surfaces, through whose intermediate spaces the lights can only be seen at an angle of view which is not less than a certain pre-established minimum value, and, preferably, both the height of the grid and also the breadth and length of the grid gaps lying between the reflecting surfaces is substantially greater than the diameter of the lamp or tube, which is, preferably, arranged horizontally.
  • angle of view is taken in the present context to mean the angle between the horizontal and the direction of incidence of the light at the eye.
  • FIG. I shows, diagrammatically, a light distributing ceiling structure, in accordance with the invention, in a vertical section through a row of untidazzle grid apertures and through a number of fluorescent lights above the anti-dazzle grid, running perpendicular to the plane of the drawing;
  • FIG. 2 shows, in a similar view to that of FIG. 1, a different embodiment of a light distributing ceiling in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 3 shows, in a similar view to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred form of a light distributing ceiling structure in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 4 shows, on a scale larger than that of FIG. 3, a section through two reflection surfaces of the antidazzle grid in accordance with the invention, having their backside facing each other, and in which the grid is constructed as an air supply duct for an air conditioning system;
  • FIG. 5 shows, on a larger scale, the construction of the light where it is used as an air removal device for air conditioning
  • FIG. 6 shows the geometrical relationships which are to be observed in the design of light distributing ceiling structures in accordance with the invention.
  • the aim of improving the light yield and providing a closer approximation to the lower limiting angle of view a to a value of approximately is achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing reflection surfaces having mirror finishes and having their upper parts inclined towards the oppositely placed reflection surface. Because of the mirror finish, the light loss, which was caused by the fact that part of the light incident on the prior art diffuse reflection surfaces was reflected upwards into the space above the grid, is prevented. Also, because of the inclination of the reflection surfaces, the lower limiting angle of view a is substantially increased.
  • references in the present specification and claims to a mirror finish or a silvered finish should not be taken to mean that a high luster mirror finish is implied as would be the case with mirrors in the narrow or household meaning. In fact, it is sufficient if the mirror finish is more or less matt, as is often used in reflectors and the like in practice. Furthermore, by the use of the word finish, it is not intended to imply that the refleeting surface is always uncovered. References to mirror finish" and silvered" are not intended to restrict the invention to the use of the element silver.
  • reflector light is instead used in a sense to mean that the light sources are to be provided with means which ensure that the light radiated by them shines substantially downwards onto the grid field and that the greater part of the light is not radiated upwards towards the upper roof or ceiling of the room. This is generally carried out by the use of reflectors above the lamp tubes or fluorescent tubes. If, as is preferred, the lamp or tube is arranged centrally above a field or opening in the grid, it is advantageous for the breadth of the reflector to be made substantially less than the breadth of the grid opening underneath it. In this respect, the reflector is advantageously so dimensioned that the light reflected by it and coming from the lamp or tube is caused to shine downwards through the underlying grid opening without a substantial part being directed on the grid.
  • the grid when measured with respect to the apparent or actual luminous or shining surface of the light should be comparatively large. This means that the grid opening located under each light is to be substantially larger than this apparent luminous surface.
  • the lights in a striplike manner over each second row of apertures of the grid.
  • lights in the form of intersecting light strips or strip lighting units can be arranged.
  • the fluorescent lamps or tubes in the form of light strips, each of which runs at a distance from two, three or more rows of grid openings from the adjacent light strip.
  • the reflection surfaces are plane and inclined at a suitable small angle towards each other.
  • the reflecting surfaces are made up of several, preferably two, plane part surfaces, of which the respective upper part surface is more inclined towards the vertical than the ones underneath it.
  • the reflection surfaces are curved concavely with respect to the oppositely placed reflection surface.
  • the curvature can in this case be determined, for example, graphically by drawing the corresponding limiting light rays, which shine on the other edge of the grid and drawing from their end points rays which run downwards at the angle a. As a result, one obtains the inclination of the reflection surfaces at the upper edge. It is now possible, by constructing intermediate values, to represent a corresponding curvature in points and then produce an approximation by a suitable curve.
  • the degree of inclination of the reflection surfaces, with respect to the vertical, should not be excessively large in order to ensure that the upper surfaces of the grid do not absorb an excessive amount of light. Very satisfactory results are obtained if the reflection surfaces are inclined at their lower edge at 0 to 10 and at their upper edge at 10 to 20, with respect to the vertical. The range is still more satisfactory when the reflection surfaces are inclined, with respect to the vertical, at their lower edge between 0 and 5 and at their upper edge between 12 and 17.
  • Satisfactory values can be obtained if the reflector of the light overlaps the respective underlying grid aperture by one to two thirds, and preferably by approximately one half.
  • the distribution of the light radiation coming from the light over the underlying aperture and the two adjacent apertures is satisfactory, that is to say, a large part of the light is shone directly downwards through the underlying grid opening.
  • so much light leaves the lamp or tube and the space and passes into the adjacent grid apertures that the latter do not appear dark.
  • the reflectors preferably, have a breadth which is approximately equal to five to seven times the lamp or tube diameter, while their height is advantageously equal to 1.5 to 2 times their diameter. This small height is sufficient, because the anti-dazzle grid with a mirror finish supplements the reflector of the light in a downward direction. The broader the reflector, the less height is required.
  • the height of the light above the upper edge of the reflector is equal to l to 3 times the light diameter.
  • the grid width can be varied to a relatively considerable extent. Useful results are obtained with grid widths of 3 to 20 times the lamp or tube diameter. A particularly favorable arrangement uses a grid width of approximately lO times the diameter of the lamp or tube.
  • the above data apply for the design of the grid which, in this case, is made square or possibly hexagonal.
  • the reflectors are round, square or hexagonal.
  • a particularly favorable construction is one in which the supports of the lights are constructed as air removal ducts of an air conditioning system.
  • the waste air drawn off can simultaneously cool the fluorescent tubes or lamps.
  • FIG. 6 which, in a manner similar to FIG. 1, shows an anti-dazzle grid opening 1 in a vertical section through one of its lights 2 and the vertically arranged reflection surfaces 3, which are curved in accordance with FIG. 3.
  • a denotes the shut off and minimum angle of view
  • A denotes the grid width
  • h denotes the grid height
  • I-I denotes the height of the source of light above the lower surface of the grid
  • d denotes the light source diameter
  • a and e are measured in radians.
  • e is, in this respect, selected as a preestablished fixed angle. Furthermore, it is assumed that the light source is located symmetrically in the center above the underlying aperture of the grid opening.
  • a row or series of reflector lights 12 is provided, which are in the form of fluorescent tubes and reflectors 11.
  • the reflectors throw the light shone onto them by the fluorescent tubes 10 downwards at an angle to the horizontal, which is greater than the preestablished minimum angle of view a and is preferably so large that this light shines downwards through the underlying grid opening without being incident upon the grid structure itself.
  • the anti-dazzle grid 13 is arranged, which consists of intersecting reflector strips 14, which together form a grid sheet with, in the present instance, a square aperture. It can be seen that the individual strips 14 consist of reflection surfaces 15 and 16, respectively, with a mirror finish and their backsides turned towards each other. The reflection surfaces are inclined, in this embodiment, at a small angle for example 10 with respect to the vertical.
  • the limiting ray 18 which is just incident on the other edge of the reflecting strip 16, emerges from the anti-dazzle grid below the minimum limiting angle a with respect to the horizontal. All other rays of the lamp 10, incident on the reflection surface 16, emerge at a steeper angle. The light ray emerging with the steepest angle is the light ray 17, which just manages to be reflected at the lower edge. It will be seen that the light ray 19, slightly adjacent to the light ray l7 and which just passes the lower edge, emerges at a substantially steeper angle than the light ray or beam 18.
  • a light ray 20 is drawn in, which comes from the light source 10 and shines on the upper edge of the reflection surface 15 of an adjacent grid strip 14.
  • this light ray 20 finally emerges very steeply in a downward direction as well.
  • This does not constitute anysubstantial impairment of the systems, since the intensity of light emerging at such angles from the fluorescent light 10 is very small and these portions of the light can, for practical purposes, be neglected.
  • these rays can readily be controlled by a suitable placement of the reflector 11 of the light 12 so that the reflector is lower down.
  • FIG. 2 shows a different construction of the light distributing ceiling structure, in accordance with the invention, which differs from that of FIG. 1 mainly in that the strips 22, forming the anti-dazzle grid, consist in the lower half of vertically extending mirror finish surfaces, while in the upper half they are inclined at the same angle as the reflection surfaces 14 and 15 of the construction in accordance with FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 An optimum construction of the light distributing ceiling structure in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 3.
  • the battens or strips 31 consist of V-shaped hollow girders whose flanks 32 and 33 are so curved that their mirror finish, reflecting outer surfaces have their upper parts concavely curved with respect to each other.
  • Such a construction has the great advantage that in the upper part of the battens 31, the reflection surfaces 32 and 33 can be inclined at a relatively large angle with respect to the vertical. For this purpose, there is no need to have a great angle of inclination of these surfaces with respect to the vertical in the lower part. In the lower part, this is also less important.
  • the angle of view for the various rays coming from each light differs less than in the case of prior art constructions.
  • three rays 34, 35 and 36 have been drawn in. In this case, it can be seen that it is just those rays, which otherwise shine downwards at a relatively small angle and are reflected downwards by the upper edges of the anti-dazzle grid, which are reflected downwards at a very steep angle.
  • a construction, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, can with a substantial advantage also be used as an air supply and air removal device for air conditioning.
  • the battens 31, preferably made of pressed plastics material have a narrow exit gap 40 at their bottom side, and, in the gap 40, narrow air guidance bridging pieces 41 are arranged. These bridging pieces divert air downwards which flows perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 4 through the batten 31.
  • the light construction shown in FIG. can be used for removing stale air.
  • an air supply channel 50 is provided at the ceiling or roof of the room, which at its lower end is provided with air draw-in openings 52 above the fluorescent tubes 51.
  • the holding means for the fluorescent tubes 51 are also provided in the air shaft 50.
  • the reflectors 53 of the light are provided in the air shaft 50. In this manner, the stale air, which is drawn off through the air shaft 50, also serves to cool the fluorescent tube 51.
  • the limiting value 1.15 is an empirically determined value, which can be departed from in accordance with particular constructions. Generally, however, departures should not be excessive in this respect.
  • the invention provides an optimum illumination of a room with a very steep angular view of downwardly shining light and with a minimum of dazzle, despite the use of an anti-dazzle grid with a mirror finish.
  • the light loss is as small as can be imagined.
  • the invention has made it possible to achieve an intensive illumination of large rooms without dazzle and without the light coming from the light distributing ceiling structure being considered disturbing.
  • a further substantial advantage of the invention resides in the fact that, because of the low light losses, it is possible to work with a comparatively low energy requirement per unit surface area (W per sq. meter), something which again is of substantial significance as regards technical requirements for air conditioning of the room illuminated with an illuminated ceiling structure in accordance with the invention.
  • the air conditioning plant can be made substantially smaller than with a light distributing ceiling of the initiallydescribed, previously-proposed type.
  • an anti-dazzle arrangement in accordance with FIG. 3 is particularly suitable, in which case the pitch of the square grid amounts to 500 mm.
  • the height of the grid amounts to 240 mm or slightly more.
  • the center of the fluorescent lamp should have a height of 320 mm above the lower limiting plane of the anti-dazzle grid.
  • the anti-dazzle screen can have a breadth of approximately 250 mm and have its lower outer edges extending approximately 15 mm below the lower edge of the fluorescent tube. While the breadth of the battens, forming the grid at the lower edge, can be approximately 10 to 12 mm, in the case of construction as an air supply duct for air conditioning, the battens can have a breadth of approximately mm at the upper edge.
  • an anti-dazzle grid including, a plurality of spaced, substantially vertically disposed opaque grid members, each of said grid members having a pair of curved and concave reflecting surfaces with a mirror finish facing outwardly toward the opposing grid members of said grid and diverging outwardly from the vertical from bottom to top at an angle of about to at their bottom portion and about 12 to 17 at their top portion, said grid members being spaced from one another a distance of at least twice their height, and a plurality of reflector lights spaced above the top of said grid members a distance less than the height of said grid members,

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
US00327176A 1972-01-27 1973-01-26 Light distributing ceiling structure Expired - Lifetime US3798443A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2203825A DE2203825A1 (de) 1972-01-27 1972-01-27 Leuchtdecke

Publications (1)

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US3798443A true US3798443A (en) 1974-03-19

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US00327176A Expired - Lifetime US3798443A (en) 1972-01-27 1973-01-26 Light distributing ceiling structure

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US (1) US3798443A (enExample)
AT (1) AT337310B (enExample)
CH (1) CH555996A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2203825A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2169319B1 (enExample)
IT (1) IT982477B (enExample)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4059754A (en) * 1976-01-12 1977-11-22 American Louver Company Louver for light distribution
US4425603A (en) 1981-07-14 1984-01-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Indirect light-distributing ceiling fixtures with alternate reflector array
US9733414B2 (en) 2013-02-08 2017-08-15 Quarkstar Llc Illumination system based on active and passive illumination devices

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4651259A (en) * 1983-10-03 1987-03-17 Heinrich Wendel Reflector device

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1251703B (enExample) *
US2971083A (en) * 1958-11-14 1961-02-07 Gen Electric Low brightness louver
US3051073A (en) * 1961-05-15 1962-08-28 Barber Colman Co Air distribution outlet
US3104834A (en) * 1963-09-24 Plastic grid
US3124310A (en) * 1964-03-10 lipscomb
US3291978A (en) * 1964-09-14 1966-12-13 Aluminum Louvre Corp Modular louver structure
FR1469067A (fr) * 1965-12-21 1967-02-10 Philips Nv Grilles de défilement pour appareils d'éclairage

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2918567A (en) * 1956-09-19 1959-12-22 Leitz Ernst Gmbh Fluorescent lighting system
GB993402A (en) * 1960-08-25 1965-05-26 Reginald Henry Bone Improvements in or relating to light shielding means and the like

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1251703B (enExample) *
US3104834A (en) * 1963-09-24 Plastic grid
US3124310A (en) * 1964-03-10 lipscomb
US2971083A (en) * 1958-11-14 1961-02-07 Gen Electric Low brightness louver
US3051073A (en) * 1961-05-15 1962-08-28 Barber Colman Co Air distribution outlet
US3291978A (en) * 1964-09-14 1966-12-13 Aluminum Louvre Corp Modular louver structure
FR1469067A (fr) * 1965-12-21 1967-02-10 Philips Nv Grilles de défilement pour appareils d'éclairage

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4059754A (en) * 1976-01-12 1977-11-22 American Louver Company Louver for light distribution
US4425603A (en) 1981-07-14 1984-01-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Indirect light-distributing ceiling fixtures with alternate reflector array
US9733414B2 (en) 2013-02-08 2017-08-15 Quarkstar Llc Illumination system based on active and passive illumination devices
US10132986B2 (en) 2013-02-08 2018-11-20 Quarkstar Llc Illumination system based on active and passive illumination devices
US10520663B2 (en) 2013-02-08 2019-12-31 Quarkstar Llc Illumination system based on active and passive illumination devices

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATA63873A (de) 1976-10-15
FR2169319B1 (enExample) 1976-11-05
DE2203825A1 (de) 1973-08-02
CH555996A (de) 1974-11-15
AT337310B (de) 1977-06-27
FR2169319A1 (enExample) 1973-09-07
IT982477B (it) 1974-10-21

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