Classifications

• • 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
  • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
  • F21V7/0058—Reflectors for light sources adapted to cooperate with light sources of shapes different from point-like or linear, e.g. circular light sources
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
  • F21W2121/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a reflector of the type disclosed in the preamble to appended Claim 1.
• the compact fluorescent differs from the traditional fluorescent tube above all in that it does not consist of a single elongate tube, but of a number of curved tubes.
• the configuration of compact fluorescents has become increasingly complex and now generally consists of between two and six rods which may. have different formations and which are mutually interconnected.
• the total cohesive length of the rods is one factor which is decisive for the light intensity of the compact fluorescent.
• the compact fluorescent has moreover achieved an increasingly higher light intensity.
• a further contributory factor in the greater light intensity is that the material which is employed for the new compact fluorescents entails that there is no "loss" of light which reflects back into the fluores ⁇ cent tube. It was previously a rule of thumb that light which was re ⁇ flected back into the light source was lost light.
• the present invention relates to a reflector which satisfies the above- outlined objects. This is attained by means of an arrangement according to the characterizing clause of appended Claim 1.
• Fig. 1 is a section through one embodiment of a reflector according to the present invention
• Fig. 2a shows a light distribution curve for a reflector according to the present invention.
• Fig. 2b shows an example of a light distribution curve in prior art reflectors.
• the reflector 1 comprises an upper portion 2, a lower portion 3 and a merging surface 4 between the upper portion 2 and the lower portion 3.
• a light source 6 is disposed in the upper portion 2.
• the light source 6 is a horizontally mounted compact fluorescent.
• the compact fluores ⁇ cent is mounted vertically or at an angle between the horizontal and the vertical.
• the configuration of the upper portion 2 of the reflector 1 is adapted to correspond to the mounting of the light source 6.
• the upper portion 2 of the reflector 1 is of a height which exceeds the width of the compact fluorescent and the upper portion surrounds the fluorescent 6 on three sides, as shown in section in Fig. 1, i.e. the upper portion 2 surrounds the fluorescent 6 on all sides apart from that which faces towards the lower portion 3.
• the inner surface 5 of the upper portion 2 is highly reflective without being dazzling. This is achieved in one embodiment in that the inner surface 5 is painted with a highly reflective white paint.
• the reflec ⁇ tion factor of the white paint is greater than 70 %, preferably greater than 80 % and most preferably greater than 90 .
• the inner surface 5 consists of hammered aluminium and in yet further embodiments, the inner surface has a faceted structure which gives a high degree of reflectance and a certain diffusion. Given that the up ⁇ per portion of the reflector surrounds the compact fluorescent on three sides with a highly reflective surface, it might be said that the whole of the upper portion, together with the light source, forms a "luminescent body".
• a completely polished inner surface 5 of the upper portion 2 gives daz- zling reflections, at least in certain directions, which is generally perceived as extremely disturbing in that it emits a light which is far too penetrating for the human eye.
• the upper portion 2 of the reflector 1 may have different forms. In the illustrated embodiment, it is circular, while in other embodiments it is octagonal, rectangular, oval etc. The same applies to the lower por ⁇ tion 3 of the reflector 1.
• the inner surface 7 of the lower portion 3 is smooth. In other embodiments, the inner surface 7 is of a faceted structure, and may, for example, be hammered.
• the lower portion is de ⁇ signed in a traditional manner for different means of light distribu ⁇ tion.
• the reflector according to the invention may, in the usual manner, be supplemented with various types of shades, decorations etc.
• Fig. 2a shows a light distribution curve for a reflector according to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 2b shows an example of a light distribution curve for a prior art reflec ⁇ tor.
• the light distribution curve for reflector 1 according to the present invention shows a more uniform configuration, while the curve for the prior art reflector shows an uneven or peaked configuration. This uneven configuration is perceived as uncomfortable to the eye since the light image is not wholly stable and uniform.
• the transition between the upper portion 2 and the lower portion 3 is effected by the intermediary of a planar merging surface 4 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is horizontal.
• the horizontal extent of the merging surface may vary, but normally lies in the range of between 1 and 30 mm.
• the planar merging surface 4 is of substantially the same orientation as the reflector 1, in other words if the reflector 1 is mounted vertically, the merging surface 4 is vertical and if the re- flector 1 is mounted horizontally, the merging surface 4 is horizontal. This may also be expressed such that the merging surface 4 is substan ⁇ tially parallel with the upper edge of the reflector 1.
• the even light distribution curve for the reflector according to the present invention is achieved thanks to the form of the merging surface 4 between the upper portion 2 and lower portion 3 of the reflector 1.
• the merging surface 4 is to be of substantially horizontal extent, as illustrated in Fig. 1, so as to give the desired effect, and deviations from the horizontal plane should not be greater than ⁇ 10° and prefera- bly not greater than + 5°.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
• Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20395975

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (3)

Citations (3)

• 1994
  • 1994-11-14 SE SE9403927A patent/SE9403927L/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1995
  • 1995-11-13 AU AU39432/95A patent/AU3943295A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-11-13 WO PCT/SE1995/001341 patent/WO1996015406A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (3)

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